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Apple's TextEdit program is a convenient utility that allows for quick viewing of various basic text formats, including standard TXT and RTF formats, as well as other ASCII text documents such as property lists, HTML, and programming and scripting codes. Many people have come to rely on TextEdit for making small and quick changes to files, but recently some have encountered a problem in Lion's version of TextEdit in which the program does not seem to handle file name extensions properly.

MacFixIt reader "Edward" writes:

T-Mobile announced a new messaging phone today called the Samsung Gravity TXT. It looks like a successor to the Samsung Gravity 3, with the same slider-QWERTY form factor. Features are fairly basic, and include a 2-megapixel camera, GPS, 3G, support for Microsoft ActiveSync in e-mail, and Bluetooth.

(Via T-Mobile's Twitter account)

Media Converter for Android lets you convert images, videos, audio files, and more into just about any compatible format, from PDF to MP4 to you name it. It can even convert video files to MP3s.

Media Converter's interface is as straightforward as it gets. Just launch the app, then choose one of the converter options on the Home screen: Video Converter, Audio Converter, Image Converter, Document Converter, Ebook Converter, or Archive Converter. From there, browse for your file, choose your output format, hit Convert, and watch the magic happen. The app itself actually doesn't do much converting. What … Read more

Sony Ericsson took to Facebook today to announce two new feature phones, the Mix Walkman and Txt pro.

Features phones, if you remember, have become a new class of handsets that aren't quite smartphones, but aren't basic models, either. Indeed, the Mix Walkman and Txt Pro fit right into this category. They do much more than make calls even if they lack the fanciest features available on a mobile device. The handsets also run Sony Ericsson's OS (so no Android here, folks), but they offer elements of the Xperia Mini's interface including the touch controls resting … Read more

Dropbox is a free and extremely easy-to-use tool for sharing files and syncing them between computers, and you can also use Dropbox to back up files and access them from other computers and devices (including from your iPad or iPhone, with dedicated apps for each of those devices).

Dropbox's interface is largely invisible, which is part of what makes this app so easy to use. When you install Dropbox on your Mac or Windows machine, you create a Dropbox folder. This is a local folder that lives on your desktop, but you can access the folder from other computers (… Read more

The DIR command displays a list of files and subfiles in a selected directory, and it's been a useful if somewhat old-fashioned feature of Windows since before it was Windows, back in the MS-DOS days. KRKsoft's Directory Lister Pro generates lists from any directory and saves them as HTML, CSV, or text files. It's a shareware utility that wraps the old-school functionality of the DIR command in a modern Windows interface with many options.

Directory Lister Pro's interface is plain but efficient and clearly configured, with three resizable panels: A left-hand navigation panel with a tree … Read more

When Josh Lowensohn bought and wrote about the TyPad--the Bluetooth keyboard and iPad case combo--I knew that I had to have it. Though it's a bit expensive for a case ($129), the included black keyboard and fold-over leather case just seemed too convenient and classy to pass up.

I just received mine today, and I'm already glad I bought it, but it does have some minor annoyances. There is no right-Shift key, for example, which will be tough for formally trained typists to get used to. It also makes it difficult to play a lot of games because with the added keyboard it can be pretty unwieldy. Still, the ability to quickly convert my iPad into a laptoplike experience will be better for working than using the onscreen keyboard, and the controls for music, cursor arrows, and tactile typing make the case worth it to me.

What do you think? Does the TyPad seem like a good deal to you or should I have just bought a laptop if that's what I wanted? Is there a better case/keyboard combo you know about? Let me know in the comments.

This week's apps include an iPhone/iPad text editor that automatically syncs up with your desktop, and a game in which you control a man-eating giant worm.… Read more

NativeWinds is an interesting software developer based in the mountains of Western Montana; its Tomahawk Gold is an interesting word processor that does a lot in a small, affordable package. It combines many of the essential features found in Microsoft's Word, like quick formatting and advanced editing, with the ability to create and save PDF documents. It handles other documents, too, and includes Mail Merge, network compatibility, and 15 language versions.

Tomahawk Gold's zipped executable is accessible immediately after extraction, with no installation needed. You can download the Help file separately, as well as extras such as a … Read more

As its name would suggest, Konverter does indeed give users the ability to convert their files to a wide variety of different file formats, and it does so with ease. But its other included features didn't quite measure up.

The program's simple, self-explanatory main interface features drop-down menus lining the top of the window, as well as frequently used commands. We started by testing the Convert option. The program offers an impressive list of file format options, including PNG, PTIFF, SGI, and more. We selected a JPEG file and, using the Convert menu, opted to convert it to … Read more