Mac App Review - Hidden

<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-5518" src="http://www.mactalk.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/hidden_light.png" alt="hidden_light" width="346" height="135" />As time goes on, we rely more and more on portability. Laptops, iPhones and iPads (soon) have a common presence around the community and with that increase, the chances of them being stolen increase too.
<p style="text-align: left">If you are a MobileMe user, then Find My iPhone is a essential tool for your iPhone. But what about your laptop, is their an option for that? As the FBI have reported, 97% of stolen computers are never recovered. There are a couple of apps out there right now, but can set you back with a burden in your pocket, with most having annual fees included.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">So taking this into account, the some guys from <a href="http://www.flipcode.co.uk/">Flipcode Ltd</a> over in the UK have come up with a brand new app, <a href="http://hiddenapp.com/">Hidden</a>. Hidden can track your Mac's location, plus provide you with photos from the iSight's camera and more. How much do you ask? A one off fee of $20 per laptop. Not much to have a 'just-in-case' policy for your laptop.</p>
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<h3>Setting up</h3>
[caption id="attachment_5533" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Tracking Control Panel"]<a href="http://www.mactalk.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Screen-shot-2010-03-08-at-2.58.10-PM.png"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-5533 " src="http://www.mactalk.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Screen-shot-2010-03-08-at-2.58.10-PM-150x150.png" alt="Tracking Control Panel" width="150" height="150" /></a>[/caption]

This could not be any easier. Once you have signed up, you input your Mac's serial number and get a small file to download to install on your Mac. The small application runs in the background and is very non-CPU-hungry. The only place where you can see that Hidden is running is in Activity Monitor and you can only uninstall it by deleting a file located at a secret location with the administrator password. Once installed, go onto the Hidden website and check whether the laptop has registered correctly. If so, you're done!
<h3>My Mac has been stolen!</h3>
[caption id="attachment_5535" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Collecting Information"]<a href="http://www.mactalk.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Screen-shot-2010-03-08-at-3.15.46-PM.png"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-5535 " src="http://www.mactalk.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Screen-shot-2010-03-08-at-3.15.46-PM-150x150.png" alt="Collecting Information" width="150" height="150" /></a>[/caption]

This is where Hidden really shines. All you do is go to your Tracking Control Panel on the Hidden website and mark your computer as 'Stolen'. Then Hidden goes straight away to your laptop (if it is on and connected to the internet), and starts collecting information about it. Within a few minutes, you will be able to see a estimated location on Google Maps (with lattitude/longitude and accuracy, usually to around 100m), a screenshot, a photo from the iSight but also Packets, which include the IP address, a traceroute and a ifconfig. Sometimes this can take a while to do, but patience is the key!

[caption id="attachment_5534" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Retrieved Information"]<a href="http://www.mactalk.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Screen-shot-2010-03-08-at-3.16.33-PM.png"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-5534 " src="http://www.mactalk.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Screen-shot-2010-03-08-at-3.16.33-PM-150x150.png" alt="Retrieved Information" width="150" height="150" /></a>[/caption]

Until you change the status of your computer to 'Not Stolen' again, Hidden will retrieve new information every so often. This provides an updated location if they have moved, plus a new screenshot, iSight photo and a new Packet. This information then can be passed onto your ISP and the Police. It also should be noted that when the status is 'Not Stolen', that no information is collected from your Mac. Also on their website, they state that people who frequently change their computer's status to 'Stolen' will be banned. This is so their servers are free enough for people who actually need it.
<h3>Interface</h3>
The only real interface is on their website, as that is where all the tracking is done. Though saying this, their website has been designed with looks and simplicity in mind. It is extremely easy to use and presents all the information neatly.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
Hidden is a extremely simple, yet powerful app which gives you peace of mind just in case your laptop is stolen. The online interface is nicely designed and information collected from your Mac is useful and can significantly help you to retrieve your laptop. Often though, the time to retrieve information can be slow, but this is understandable. Though, Hidden performs extremely well and has not once played up while reviewing it . The information retrieved currently is small compared with other apps, but is sufficient enough to help substantially in getting your Mac back. Though, the app has just been released and the developers have promised more features in the near future.

But of course, one of the strongest selling features of Hidden is it's superb price. At only $20 per computer for it's lifetime, it's something which you can do once and just forget about it until you should need it in the future. Plus, if you are currently with another service and make the move, you can get 10% off. I highly recommended this app if you currently don't use something like this or are not happy with the one that you are using now. With promise of more features soon, I look forward to the future of Hidden.

If you have any further questions about Hidden, have a opinion or sign up, please leave a comment below!

<strong>Version reviewed: </strong>1.0
<strong>Price: </strong>$20 for lifetime of one computer
<strong>Developer:</strong> Flipcode Ltd<span style="color: #333333"><strong>
</strong></span><strong>Size:</strong> 1.1MB
<strong><a href="http://www.hiddenapp.com">Hidden Website</a></strong>