2011-10-05
2011-07-20
Lion Tips #1
Lion Finder Tip: Select several items and choose New Folder With Items from File Menu
Lion System Preferences Tip: You can sort preferences alphabetically, instead of those categories
Lion Desktop Image Tip: You can drag the system prefs window to another desktop (via drag to edge of screen, or in Mission Control) and set different desktop pics per desktop
Lion Tip: Check out Apple Menu-> About This Mac->More Info. You can get all sorts of system info, warranty and support help there now.
2011-07-19
Getting Ready for Lion
Mac OS X Lion (10.7) is going to be released soon. Are you ready? If not, I suggest you wait for 10.7.1 to be released. Let others find the bugs and issues. In the meantime, make a list of your printers and other peripherals, then research their Lion compatibility before upgrading.
Another great resource to help prepare you for Lion is Macworld’s Article on Getting Ready for Lion. Be sure to check it out before considering upgrading to Lion.
Whatever you do, create a full clone backup of your hard drive before installing Lion. This will allow you to revert to a known working system should something go awry.
2011-06-05
If you own Pixelmator 1.0, you might as well buy it again
If you own Pixelmator 1.0, you might as well re-buy it now in the Mac App Store for $29.99.
2.0 is coming and the upgrade for 1.x owners will be $29.99. By re-buying it from MAS, you get a free upgrade to 2.0, and also the advantages of MAS (install on your Macs as often as you like without effing with licenses)
It means NEW customers are only paying $29.99 for BOTH versions, where I paid $75 for both (1.x was $50) but the Pixelmator Team are kinda screwed in how MAS operates. They want all customers to move to MAS as it makes their distribution model simpler (even though they make 30% less!) Not having to deal with customer license issues a big time saver for indie developers.
These are wild times, but if you like Pixelmator, pick up a new license from the App Store. Pixelmator – Pixelmator Team (affiliated link)
2011-05-31
Apple has posted a Mac Defender security patch
Check software update and install it now.
2011-01-29
Temporary workaround to MacBook Pro Kernel Panic
In the video drivers of Mac OS X 10.6.6 for the latest MacBookPros (as of January, 2011), it appears that there is a kernel panic bug related with H.264 HD acceleration of video. I ran across this crash watching certain youtube videos with the ClickToFlash Safari Extension set to prefer 1080p H.264 video.
After trying numerous things, including going back to Flash 10.1, removing unused kernel extensions, etc, I found that telling ClickToFlash to prefer 360p video eliminated the kernel panic.
I have reported this bug with Apple.
A discussion between others experiencing similar kernel panics can be found here.
2011-01-24
Infotopia
People have asked me to distill everything I know and like into a small list. I have created Infotopia as an experiment. I’ll try and keep it up to date with what is relevant in the Mac and iOS worlds.
You can find Infotopia here or at the top of this blog.
2011-01-06
The Mac App Store will be a huge success
The Mac App Store will be a huge success. Why?
- Software discovery is simple
- Software purchasing is simple
- Software updating is simple
- Uses your iTunes account, so iTunes credits work in the Mac App Store
Here is an example. I am perusing the Mac App Store and notice there is a new Mavis Beacon for the Mac. I wish there was a demo, so I go to the MacKiev website via the link in the store. No demo there either, oh well. I click Buy on the website to compare prices. Buying on the web:
- Click Buy
- Click United States
- Find software in list again and click
- Select the version I want
- Click Add to Cart
- Taken to PayPal
- Click Checkout
- Log in to pay pal
- Make payment
- Get link for software
- Click link to download software
- Find software in Downloads folder
- Run installer
- Find installed software in /Applications
Compare that to the Mac App Store experience:
- Click Buy
- Enter iTunes credentials
- See software downloading to the dock
- Click icon on Dock to launch
Apple does it again.
2010-12-25
Caution and Warning free today only!
Caution and Warning gives you a bright, flashing warning sign that you can use while stranded to get attention or make sure people see you in an otherwise dark, dangerous scenario.
Caution and Warning for the iPhone is free today only! Get your copy now!
2010-11-12
ATT Promises
I’ve lived in the Vancouver, WA suburbs for several years now. When we moved in, I had 2G service from AT&T. I would get 1 bar if lucky, but I dealt with the dropped calls. I complained to AT&T who said that they would send out an engineer to evaluate my neighborhood. Nothing changed.
I then upgraded to an iPhone 3GS in 2009. Same issue, awful service, dropped calls, more promises of technicians coming out who never did.
This year i upgraded to an iPhone 4. AT&T told me that the map, which says I am in solid “best” coverage, pertained to data only. Unfortunately for the representative, the map clearly says “Voice quality.”
I have been reporting dropped calls and other issues with the AT&T Marks the Spot app. I just looked at the Network Messages in the app, and oh look, AT&T has been promising upgrades since January. I still get 1 bar and dropped calls if i turn off my microcell. The microcell I was forced to spend $150 on because AT&T has not made the promised “best” network function. The microcell that stops functioning at random times and leaves the phone connected, thus rendering the phone completely useless. The microcell that reboots often.
AT&T promises to fix the network but fails to keep those promises. It has been 2 1/2 years and they wonder why customers are frustrated?
