The best text editor for Mac just keeps getting better! I just learned today that you can edit any text field in any application using TextMate. This means that when replying on a forum or using a tiny textarea on a poorly designed web page, you can simply type "Ctrl-Cmd-E" and a TextMate window will popup and take over. Once you save, the web page (or mail, or any application that uses Cocoa's NSTextField) will be updated.
Here's how to install the "Edit in TextMate" plugin. From TextMate, click the gear in status bar; there are some fun things listed under the TextMate folder.
Follow the instructions and click the button to create the symbolic link. After installing, Restart Safari and go to any web page with a form, the Contact 1Passwd page is a good example. Place focus the Message textarea, and press CMD-ctrl-E.
Type the message you want to say, and when you save, your document is automatically pasted into the text field:
If this wasn't cool enough for you, you can tell TextMate what syntax colouring should be used for specific sites. This can be set in the preference file:
~/Library/Preferences/com.macromates.edit_in_textmate.plist
I added our forum to the list to use BBCode:
{ URLAssociations = {
'forum.agilewebsolutions.com' = bbcode;
};
}
As always, Firefox doesn't get to participate in these fun and games. Be sure to checkout this post on TextMate and Firefox to see how to do a similar trick in Firefox.
We've all seen the latest [Firefox exploit](http://www.info-svc.com/news/11-21-2006/) that allows a criminal to steal your user id and password without your knowledge. There is even a handy [proof-of-concept](http://www.info-svc.com/news/11-21-2006/rcsr1/) to show you how easy it is to have your password taken.
If you use Safari and its AutoFill feature, you will find that Safari does not fill the hidden login form. This is because Safari is smarter and doesn't automatically fill forms that are hidden.
You might be tempted to feel safe when using Safari, but you would be making a grave error.
[The Apple Orchard](http://www.in-my-opinion.net/apple_orchard/) had some wonderful [comments about 1Passwd](http://www.in-my-opinion.net/apple_orchard/archives/2006/11/independent_software_developer_1.php) today. I included my favorite snips below, but I recommend you read the full article and subscribe to the RSS feed too — it has become one of my A-list feeds b/c there aren't that many articles and each one is well thought out.
Anyway, here's my favorite part (emphasis mine):
We all know that freedom-loving super-pundit [Stephen Colbert](http://colbertnation.com/) is a huge hero, but I never knew his skills were so diverse.
It turns out that not only is Stephen a freedom fighting, truthiness lover, and anti-bear advocate, but he has also joined the fight against the tyranny of Microsoft and its hideous creation, Internet Explorer. That's right, Stephen has joined the Firefox development team:
As loyal viewers of his show know, Stephen has expressed his concern that people are not taking internet security seriously enough. He advised all online users to take the following precautions while online to protect their identity:
1. Always type with your non-dominant hand; so it's not typed in your handwriting.
1. Pick the right password and make sure you don't even know it. That way you don't lose your money gambling.
1. Get hundreds of credit cards; never use the same one twice.
1. Defrag your hard drive once in a while; overheard a nerd say it somewhere at best buy.
1. For every real search on a search engine do a fake search; make it seem it's not you doing the search.
1. An infected computer is a vulnerable computer; make sure you wash your computer once a month.
Of course, Stephen's modesty prevented him from pimping his own product, otherwise Firefox would have been #1 on his list.
Stephen's ability to use the keyboard with his non-dominant hand was honed by his light saber duals with George L, runner-up of the green screen challenge.
It is unknown if Stephen's involvement with Firefox will continue after the recent Google acquisition of YouTube. Colbert is currently awaiting his rightful remuneration of royalties for his role in making YouTube successful.
Special thanks to freedom fighter Majken Connor for [bringing Stephen's work](http://steelgryphon.com/grand/?p=19) to our attention.
In other news, we look forward to the epic OHL Western Conference finals where the [London Knights](http://www.londonknights.com/) will surely be defending their title against the [Saginaw Spirit](http://www.saginawspirit.com/) and there fledging mascot.
