MailTab for Gmail v7.8 Review!

 MailTab for Gmail, like MenuTab for Facebook, is a nicely integrated application designed by Fiplab and is compatible with OS X Lion.  It creates a nice portal into your Gmail account and has all the bells and whistles an email client needs in 2016.  Let's dive into the review.

The first thing you notice is the nice integration into your file menu at the top of your screen.  It has a nice envelope icon that turns red and has a number listed beside it to let you know when you have new mail.  Once you left click on the icon it opens up your Primary Inbox by default.  You receive a mobile type interface where you can read, delete or archive the mail within the window.  Full Gmail labeling is available from within this application.  This isn't just a dumbed down version of Gmail, you have all the tools available to you that you would from the web interface. 

 Just like with MenuTab for Facebook, MailTab offers you the ability to switch between the mobile view and a desktop view.  This is the web interface within a window on your desktop.  I find I use it in the mobile view the majority of the time but if an email needs more screen real estate  to view properly then you do have that option.

The one thing it does lack and I wish it had was access to your Google Calendar.  Yes I know this is the Gmail app but being able to access your Google Calendar from within the app would be a very helpful feature and is sorely missed by this reviewer.  Perhaps a future update will implement this.

Overall this is a very good application and is essential for anyone who is still on Lion (and has a Gmail account of course).  Give it a try and you won't be disappointed!

Bye Bye Chrome, you will be missed!

I use Chrome everyday on my Windows 10 PCs, Android phone and my iPad Mini 2.  Where don't I use Chrome?  On my 2007 Mac Mini of course!  Why?  Google no longer supports Chrome on Lion, that means no new features or security updates.  What is a poor Lion user to do?

Use Firefox of course.  Mozilla is still supporting Lion and Firefox works great on my ancient Mac Mini.  Even though I miss Chrome and the syncing of all my devices with the same bookmarks, passwords etc., I am getting along just fine with Firefox and recommend it to the rest of the pride (see what I did there Lionheads?).

I will do a browser free-for-all soon, discussing and comparing all the Lion compatible browsers that are still being actively supported.

MenuTab for Facebook v6.9 Review!

There is no official Facebook app for Lion and when looking at 3rd party apps it was very difficult to find one for Lion, the majority needed Yosemite or El Capitan.  I did find one and it is actually really good.  Say hello to MenuTab for Facebook.

The standout feature of the app is that it resides in your menu bar at the top of the screen and fully integrates into Lion.  As there are post updates your a notified with a pop up and the same goes for when you get Facebook Messenger ... ehr ... um ... messages.  Clicking on it brings up a nice mobile like view of Facebook that you are use or, if you opt to do an in app purchase, can make it a full screen app by clicking "desktop."  I found I leave it in the mobile mode most of the time because it is very handy and attractive.

If you don't opt for the in app purchases (every feature is $1.99 or you can get all five for $2.99 total, which is what I did) then you will get advertisements and nag messages to go pro.  For me it was worth the $3 to have the full, uncompromised application (I went pro within ten minutes so I am not sure what all nagging there is) as I had advertisements. 

Fiplab, the makers of MenuTab for Facebook, has several other applications that work with Lion and I actually own one other, their Gmail application called MailTab for Gmail which I will be reviewing soon.  It works the same way as MenuTab for Facebook and is just as good of a product.  Hopefully more developers out there will continue to support Lion in all it's greatness!

MenuTab for Facebook proves you can still make a great product for a forgotten operating system!

Hear the Lion roar!

Just because you are stuck with Lion on your aging Mac doesn't mean you can't get a ton of use out of the machine.  In fact, you can actually use a Mac running Lion as your everyday machine if setup properly.  That is what this blog if for; to help others who are still using Lion to use it to their best advantage.  I will be posting stories about my experiences using Lion in 2016 (and beyond) and also reviewing some of the best software that is still compatible. 

Let the adventure begin!