In my release statement of ScreenGrab earlier today I noted how most of my time for the past several months has been devoted to a secret project. Well this secret project has gained so much support from those testing it and it contains such a good toolbox of features that I am making a public announcement for those interested in testing it. The application is known as “Textual” and is an attempt at simplifying IRC on Mac OS X. The purpose of it was not to outdo the competition, but instead to improve on the other clients currently available. Major focuses were placed on performance and stability.

The client itself is a highly modified version of the open source project known as LimeChat. The user interface is tailored towards users that have used darker themes of the Windows IRC client mIRC. The design of the client is mostly based around the open standard of WebKit which means it can be themed using CSS and JavaScript. Further customization options are still in the works, but it will be some time until they are fully integrated. It comes with one default theme which is a port of work done by Ben Alman.

I would like to note that Textual is still considered beta as some features have yet to be implemented to make it a full release, but I feel that it has come far enough that it is ready for mainstream testing. Since this is a beta those familiar with reporting hazards and crashes should be the the primary group using it. There also daily updates which means those who use it should be fine with the idea of constant updating.

Documentation and more information will be made available when the client is ready for use by everybody, but that is not the case right now. Therefore, if you are not comfortable with testing it and using it, do not. Textual can be downloaded over at the website for Codeux Software. Codeux Software is the name under which Textual will be released as it is intended to be more than a hobby application.

Those that have known me for a long time know that I am what is known as an “Apple Fanboy,” but more specificly I am a Mac OS X “fanboy.” – While I do enjoy the devices such as the iPhone, iPod Touch, and the iPad that Apple develops I do not own any them even though they are nice looking devices. Since the end of WWDC 2010 a frustration has been growing within me in regards to Apple and with recent rumors that Apple is considering renaming Mac OS X I thought I would write down a few of these frustations to get them out of the way.

The most prominent thing that is currently bothering me in regards to Apple is how Mac OS X and the Macintosh computer in particular is starting to become neglected. Now there has been rumors and I have noticed some hints while watching the session videos from last WWDC, but there is little acknowledgement made by Apple about the next major release of Mac OS X. In fact, this neglect got so out of hand that I went as far as sending an E-Mail to Steve Jobs. Amazingly I did get a response and it simply said that “No, just not the stars of every event anymore. “ – Speaking about the Mac that is.

Now it is understable that the mobile phone market is the current fad for technology companies, but Apple really should rethink their priorities because they are basically giving the middle finger to the users that helped them recover from near bankruptcy by buying their computers. Hopefully this is all just a phase of mentality for them and that it will blow over quickly, but it does seem that they are letting success get to them. Apple was a much better brand when they were the underdog scratching and clawing its way to the top by being the most innovate.

Speaking of innovation the renaming of Mac OS X as mentioned above into iOS is not what I deem innovate on Apple’s part. Now these are only rumors and they should be treated as such, but if Apple would seriously consider to do a rename I think I would have lost all respect for them by then. Is Steve Jobs redoing past mistakes? This blog post was really an oppritunity for me to vent, but maybe an Apple employee or Steve Jobs himself will see it. If that is the case then try and listen to my advice when I say you are moving in the wrong direction Apple. Go back to your grass roots of being the underdogs not the topdogs. You were more innovate and in touch with the community that you helped foster in those times.