I head to Adobe.com to check out Photoshop Elements 8. They have a trial version so I give it a shot. First, a browser window pops up asking you to log in to adobe.com. I complete that. Then it says it will download an Akamai Downloader. The Akamai Downloader downloads and mounts the disk image.… Continue reading Can Adobe get worse? Yes! Photoshop Elements Downloader hell
Author: Steve Riggins
Using meta folders for time machine exclusion
Time Machine, Apple’s awesome automatic backup software is very aggressive about backing up your data because, well, that is it’s job. I’m beta testing a game with a large number of files that change constantly. The folder for the game is around 16GB of data, so I don’t want any of this backed up. I… Continue reading Using meta folders for time machine exclusion
Boxwave case for iPhone 4 helps reception
When the iPhone 4 shipped, Boxwave ran a promotion to get a free case (for $4.50 shipping). My case finally arrived some 5 weeks or so later. I ordered [an eclipse crystal slip](http://www.boxwave.com/products/eclipsecrystalslip/apple-iphone-4-eclipse-crystal-slip-case_3968.htm]. The case is quite nice. It provides enough grip so the phone doesn’t slide everywhere, but is also slick enough to not… Continue reading Boxwave case for iPhone 4 helps reception
It’s time for major change in the iWorld
Apple’s been fantastically successful, there is no denying that. Starting with the iMac, then with the hit iPod, moving to the iPhone and now the iPad, Apple has been hitting product home runs for 12 years now. The Macintosh software that controls the iOS world, however, has been evolutionary at best. It is obvious that… Continue reading It’s time for major change in the iWorld
3D Holograms generated on an iPad
These are the cool, geeky things I just dig. Check out this guy who uses a prism to display images generated on an iPad.
SuperDrive in i7 MacBook Pro works!
The SuperDrive in my late 2008 MacBook Pro rarely worked. I would get medium sense errors, or read errors, all sorts of issues. Since Apple replaced the machine with an i7, I’ve been testing things out and this machine is fantastic. I just burned a 1.7gb folder of movies to the exact same media batch… Continue reading SuperDrive in i7 MacBook Pro works!
Amazing Apple Store support, again
What can I say about Washington Square Apple Store genius’ other than awesome? Brandon and Kari went above and beyond my expectations in dealing with my Late 2008 MacBook Pro that kept kernel panicing in games. On top of that, it had a flakey superdrive, so they upgraded me to an all new laptop. Talk… Continue reading Amazing Apple Store support, again
You Tube loading slow? Clear Safari’s cache
Thanks to this discussion on the Apple forums, I ran across and verified a little performance tip. If you You Tube videos seem to load slowly, even over WiFi, try clearing Safari’s cache. Go to your iPhone settings, then click Safari, then click the Clear Cache button at the bottom.
More on iPhone 4 signal strength
When connected to the microcell, I can lay in bed on my back and cause the signal to drop from 5 bars to 1 bar. If I turn on my side, it goes back to 5 bars. I can only surmise that my body is blocking enough signal to cause the iPhone to give up… Continue reading More on iPhone 4 signal strength
Guy paints portrait on the iPad in 3 hours
Fairly amazing video of a portrait being painted on an iPad in 3 hours.
iPhone 4 Road Trip Report
My wife and I travelled to Canada over the weekend to visit family and I had the chance to test the iPhone 4 on the road. My wife drove up so I was able to test the iPhone 4 during the 5 hour drive from Portland to Vancouver, BC. I used the phone until the… Continue reading iPhone 4 Road Trip Report
ScreenTime
How long will it be before we have ScreenTime? Start a FaceTime call and switch to showing what is my screen (sans the image of the other person). Would be useful for support, no?
Apple offers support via FaceTime – let SupportRoulette begin!
Looks like Apple support is about to get very interesting. See bolded, red text in the bottom right corner. Shop Online | Find a Store Everything you need to know about your iPhone. Find the iPhone User Guide bookmark in Safari on your phone. Select it, then tap the plus sign to… Continue reading Apple offers support via FaceTime – let SupportRoulette begin!
Jobs tells users to hold phone differently
According to this Engadget story, Steve Jobs has responded to a customer’s email about the reception issues, telling the customer to “avoid holding it that way” Uh, hello? Later in the article, Apple claims that cases will help the issue, but my brother has reported that the Apple-sold bumper case did not help in his… Continue reading Jobs tells users to hold phone differently
On FaceTime
A lot of people are talking about FaceTime, Apple’s new iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 video chat. I’ve had three calls now and all were very successful. The video and audio quality is amazing. The wifi range on the iPhone 4 is incredible, allowing me to cross the street, when my Airport Extreme N (100baseT)… Continue reading On FaceTime
How good is the retina display?
Here is a screenshot, showing my connection to the microcell. however, notice how clear this screenshot is? Now imagine it on a tiny screen. yeah, super sharp. Update:Drag n drop from mail to MarsEdit caused the PNG to be converted to a jpg. Here is an even better version.
First call on the AT&T Microcell with iPhone 4
I hate having had to pay AT&T $150 for a Cisco 3G Microcell, but I did so out of frustration with the crappy signal we have here in north vancouver, washington. After authorizing the device, I added my wife’s and my cell number to the account. Then I plugged the Microcell into power and my… Continue reading First call on the AT&T Microcell with iPhone 4
Jawbone Prime on the iPhone 4
Fantastic. Never before have I had such a strong, quick bluetooth signal with any combination of headset and phone. This same headset would connect slowly to the iPhone 3GS, or sometimes make a lot of static and then disconnect. Not with the iPhone 4. I talked for almost two hours to various people. The quality… Continue reading Jawbone Prime on the iPhone 4
On touching iPhone 4 metal reducing signal quality
I’m one of the lucky ones to get an iPhone 4 and also run into the issue where touching the stainless steel band/antenna on the sides causes signal degradation. Here is what I can tell you: The signal degradation happens when the overall signal is weak. I may have 5 bars, but as soon as… Continue reading On touching iPhone 4 metal reducing signal quality
Partially updated apps
I tried updating 6 apps via the iPhone 4 today. 4 updated, 2 did not. They have the empty progress bar badge across their icons. Rebooting the phone asks me for my iTunes password, but they won’t update. Fun! Update: Never mind, it is updating Navigon at 1.5gb on the last page.