Flickr upload alternatives to iPhoto

For greater control on data sets and uploading:

http://arstechnica.com/apple/guides/2009/12/flickr-uploading-alternatives-for-the-discerning-iphoto-user.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

Magic Mouse configuration preferences

So, the Magic Mouse is the new multi-touch mouse from Apple, but still really hard to find in HK.
In the meantime, there have been several smart developers who've gone afew steps further than Apple in allowing full configuration of the Magic Mouse beyond the three-finger swipe to go back and forwards in iPhoto/Safari.

BetterTouchTool: http://blog.boastr.net/

MagicPrefs: http://vladalexa.com/apps/osx/magicprefs/ or from http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/magicprefs.html

MouseWizard: http://www.samuco.net/web/node/23 or http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/mousewizard.html

Gizmodo guide to Win-Mac networking

Mini tutorial on how get Windows and Macs to share files over the same local workgroup

http://gizmodo.com/5430678/how-to-make-your-pc-and-mac-share-stuff-like-best-friends

Browse iPhone storage like a USB flash

http://www.redmondpie.com/browse-iphone-like-a-usb-flash-drive-without-ssh-9140156/

Powerbook G4 12" assembly instructions

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/xcart1/files/G4alum12.pdf

Small apps to consider

Convert & transfer movies from your computer and the web
http://thelittleappfactory.com/evom/

One-touch app to rip DVDs
http://ripitapp.com/

Resize photos
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/automator/resizepicturessuite.html
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/imaging_3d/osximageresizer.html

Iphoto library management

Reviews of iPhoto library manager softwares:

http://foleypod.com/ezine/2009/09/iphoto-multiple-computer-and-multiple-libraries-the-headache-is-over/
http://www.macworld.com/article/53474/2006/10/iphotolibrarymanager.html
http://www.applematters.com/article/iphoto-library-manager-makes-multiple-iphoto-libraries-a-whiz/
http://www.macworld.com/article/139633/synciphotolibraries.html?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a38:g26:r17:c0.000400:b21009671:z0
http://discussions.apple.com/search.jspa?objID=c256&search=Go&q=facebook

Direct software links:
http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/
http://www.iphotobuddy.com/

Another video of Space-Time creation

http://gizmodo.com/5342012/the-creation-of-time-and-space

MotionTouch solar/ambient light charger for iPhone

This baby's solar chargers doesn't only rely on real solar light, but also ambient office lighting too!  Unlimited energy for the iPhone.... definitely a must-have!!!

http://www.motiontouch.com/case-studies/powcell.asp

Macworld: Beyond HandBrake's defaults

Damn useful article about particulars of Handbrake:

http://www.macworld.com/article/142301/2009/08/beyond_handbrake_defaults.html?lsrc=rss_main

Most humbling picture of the universe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAVjF_7ensg&feature=player_embedded

Taken from Gizmodo  http://gizmodo.com/5335503/the-most-amazing-photo-of-the-universe-now-in-3d

Remote Desktop enhanced

http://theappleblog.com/2009/08/02/cord-remote-desktop-0-5-released/

Macnewsworld: The iPhone's Not the Cause of Apple's Success - It's the Effect

"There's a reason why Apple is doing well right now, and it's not the iPhone. It's quality. Attention to detail. Simple, elegant, durable design. More people than ever are starting to notice because they understand value. All a person has to do is walk into an Apple retail tore and pick up an iPhone. They can feel the value. It's solid. It has nice lines. Everything fits together perfectly. That's Apple, and that's why the company is kicking butt and taking names these days."

http://www.macnewsworld.com/rsstory/67677.html

Six Tips for Supercharging Safari

http://theappleblog.com/2009/07/22/six-tips-for-supercharging-safari/

Sent from my iPhone

Free eBooks through Stanza

Follow this link instructions on iPhone to read eBooks.

http://www.drinkmalk.com/stanza/

Sent from my iPhone

Time Machine backups after changing Logic Board

Important details about Time Machine backups.
Main article covers altering the .SparseBundle file (several hundred gigs) that relates to the old machine, so that it now recognises the new mac Logic Board's MAC address and HDD UUID.  

Forum posts stress the importance of a SuperDuper clone, that is way more efficient in restoring a machine to scratch.  
There are also others who state that Time Machine restorations can be done via the Leopard install disc and selecting Utilities > Restore From Time Machine.

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/20/mac-301-time-machine-backups-after-your-macs-brain-surgery/

How to do the right-click > New File thing on OSX

http://theappleblog.com/2009/07/14/document-palette-creating-new-documents-from-the-desktop/

How to create a new document without having to open the Application first:
1) Make up the folder
2) Fill it with templates
3) Go to Get Info
4) Lock it and drag it into your dock to make it a stack
5) Click on the Stack and then the document type to create that one

Trick to configure .IPCC carrier settings file to enable Tethering and MMS

http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/03/19/how-to-enable-tethering-under-iphone-firmware-30/

Step 1: Check if you own a 3G iPhone. If you're on EDGE (as I am): sorry. Tethering does not seem to work with EDGE phones.

Step 2: Check to see if AT&T is your carrier. If it is: sorry. AT&T will not let you tether.

Step 3: Navigate to ~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Carrier Support. Notice the spaces in that last folder name! If you're at the command line, use backslashes to escape the spaces, i.e. cd ~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Carrier Support. You will find a file with an ipcc extension. Copy that file: e.g. cp foo.ipcc foo.ipcc.original. This creates a backup for when you mess up.

Step 4: rename the ipcc extension to zip. For me that was ATT_US.ipcc renamed to ATT_US.zip. (Did I mention how I'm on a 1st Gen iPhone with AT&T?). Unzip it. This creates a new folder called Payload.

Step 5: Navigate into Payload and then into the folder under that. Mine was called ATT_US.bundle. Yours will differ. Inside that folder you will find three files that you will edit: Info.plist, version.plist, and carrier.plist. Open all three in the Property List Editor that comes with the dev tools on a Mac.

Step 6: In Info.plist, change the CFBundleVersion to 5.0. Save.

Step 7: In the version.plist, change the CFBundleVersion to 5.0. Save.

Step 8: In carrier.plist do the following and then save:
(a) Add a new dictionary to the apns array:
apn = internet
password = password
username = iphone
(b) In the wap dictionary (mine is wap.cingular, sts's was wap.dol.ie), add a new pair. Do not edit the password or username:
type-mask = (NUMBER) -2
(c) Add a new pair at the top level dictionary of the carrier.plist file. (We're not sure this is strictly speaking necessary but go ahead and do it.):
AllowEDGEEditing = (BOOLEAN) YES

Step 9: Zip up the Payload folder in which you just made your edits. Rename it to the same name as the original ipcc file. (For me that was ATT_US.ipcc).

Step 10: Connect your iPhone to iTunes.

Step 11: In the Summary tab, option-click "Check for Update". Navigate to your ipcc file, select it. It takes no more than a second or two to update.

Step 12: Reboot your iPhone.

Step 13: In prefs (on the phone) navigate to Settings > General > Network.

Step 14: Let me know how this worked for you.

HOW TO FIND A CARRIER IPCC FILE:

curl -s -L http://phobos.apple.com/version | grep -i carrier

Create an SD card startup disk

Article from Macworld about how to use SD cards as a startup disk in case of main HDD failure.
Should also be possible via a Sandisk Micromate USB reader too.....

http://www.macworld.com/article/141401/2009/06/mwvodcast114.html?lsrc=top_1

MobileMe's killer app - FindMyiPhone

True story of someone finding their iPhone after someone nabbed it!
http://happywaffle.livejournal.com/5890.html

free iTunes visualizers

http://theappleblog.com/2009/07/02/14-free-itunes-visualizers/

After starting the visualizer via CMD-T, hit ? key for options.
Punkt
Circle
Fountain Music
Dragon
WhiteCap
Figure
Bugaboo
Cubism
Gaslight
Snow
LED Flow
G-Force
Sing

Mag cover drawing done entirely on iPhone!

A video that shows how the artist created this drawing from start to finish, using Brushes application. I bet there are gonna be alot of downloads of that app soon...!

FireWire saves an iMac from a failed 10.5.7 upgrade | Mac OS X | Editors' Notes | Macworld

Good example of how FireWire target disk mode is used

http://www.macworld.com/article/140607/2009/05/imacsaved.html

Sent from my iPhone

Free MobileMe Alternative: How to Set Up Google Sync for Mac and iPhone

Some more notes to... Urm... Take note of!

http://theappleblog.com/2009/05/13/free-mobileme-alternative-how-to-set-up-google-sync-for-mac-and-iphone/#more-22759

Sent from my iPhone

Why iTunes takes ages to backup the iPhone - Solution?

So, I've had this 2G iPhone for ages and hardly ever done a backup on iTunes. Why? Because it takes so damn long to do it! I've left it on for over 2hrs only to see it come up with an error message that says it failed for some unknown reason. I forget the exact words, but basically I shouted expletives at it.

Scouring around on the web and multiple forums, I think I may finally have the answer!
It seems that for someone, the culprit was AppSniper! It caches the billions of AppStore icons that it sees for viewing offline, and over time this seems to have accumulated to the point where iTunes practically gives up on backing up the iPhone. When you think about it, AppSniper does see on average 100 new apps EVERY DAY.

So I'm giving this a try, and hopefully it solves my problem. Just deleting the cache took just over 2mins....

Here's the link to the Apple support forum: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9129763�

UPDATE: IT WORKED!!!!! :D

First backup took just over 15mins. Incrementals were over in just afew minutes!!! Amazing!

Fwd: OS X Snow Leopard - what it really does

The following is a great account from http://www.Obsessable.com of the advances that the next OS X update will provide.  Handy, since I'm strongly considering a new iMac and want to ensure that it will be fully capable of taking advantage of this!!!  :D

Part one at: http://www.obsessable.com/news/2009/02/10/how-apples-new-mac-os-x-snow-leopard-will-change-your-life-or-wont-pt-1/

Apple is set to release the newest addition to the OS X family, Snow Leopard, sometime this year. However, the slew of interface tweaks and cool new additions that have made OS X such a hot seller will be eschewed for features that will make your Mac a much faster system. Snow Leopard will be that plus a little more. Here's a look at three new features that might change how you use your Mac.
Multi-core utilization
One of the biggest features in Snow Leopard will be Grand Central, Apple's way of micromanaging multi-core processors. This is great news for any one using a Mac Pro or a grid of Xserves as they already have multi-processor configurations at their finger tips.
But the big problem with putting so many cores on a silicon chip is your operating system just won't know what to do with that much processing power. Grand Central is Apple's solution to this problem as it does two very important things: allows developers to better use today's new processor architectures and optimize OS X to scale across multiple processors.
Stripping out some of the geek talk to put things in perspective, you will be bragging about how many engines your car has (suspend your disbelief just for a moment, you can pick it up in the next paragraph) and not how much horsepower it has. For the geek in all of us, you'll be boasting how many cores your Mac has and not how high its CPU clock is.
Why it matters: Computers are advancing all the time but we're starting to reach the point where faster clock speeds don't mean as much as they used to. To combat the diminishing performance gains, processors are going multi-core and aren't slowing down. While four or even eight cores seems like something reminiscent of a towering, obsidian-clad supercomputer, it won't be long until your desktop and laptop have CPUs packing that many cores.
Snow Leopard won't show any speed improvements for the average user but it definitely paves the way for more advanced computing setups to be even more efficient. This doesn't mean you'll have a supercomputer any time soon, but smaller, multi-core devices like laptops and even the iPhone will catch up to desktops in terms of computing prowess.
OpenCL
Similar to Grand Central in that both deal with multi-core management, OpenCL will leverage the vast amounts of processing cycles inside a graphics processing unit. It sounds ambiguous and may have you thinking why this wasn't done sooner but CPUs are vastly different than GPUs when it comes to advanced algorithm calculations. Typically, the later outpaces the former.
Since a GPU utilizes a unique processing method to execute code, you can't run any ordinary application on it. You need an intermediary to translate data that only a CPU can understand into something a graphics processor can understand. This is where OpenCL comes in. Developers can tap into OpenCL to construct applications that can ship off a large amount of work to the GPU.
Why it matters: OpenCL in Leopard is going to matter as much as Grand Central, while both pave the way to more powerful and efficient computing. The difference: OpenCL is gaining much more traction and Applications are being coded to take advantage of the GPU such as Adobe CS4 which taps into a graphics chip for more fluid photo editing.
The biggest advantage won't be how much faster you can open Text Edit and type out an essay but rather more efficient computing. You'll slowly see some tasks transition from the CPU to the GPU such as video rendering, intense photo editing and number crunching. You'll see massive benefits in some portable devices as well since power hungry processes such as video decoding can be run on a GPU in a shorter amount of time with fewer cycles, saving your battery from having to be recharged as frequently.
64-bit compatibility
You might be thinking: "Isn't Mac OS X already 64 bit compatible?" That's only half true. But Snow Leopard will complete that transition with a full 64-bit kernel, meaning the hardware advantages of such a platform can be fully utilized by the operating system. Having a full 64-bit kernel means the older 32-bit architecture that you've been used to will be rendered obsolete in a few years but developers will be making sure their software runs on tomorrow's newest hardware. In a nutshell, 64-bit systems can access more stuff at a time than 32-bit systems. It doesn't stop there.
32-bit systems could only take advantage of four gigabytes of system memory; anything more than that and the system won't recognize it. 64-bit capable systems can allocate up to 16 exabytes of memory, or 17.2 billion gigabytes. We won't be hitting that limit any time soon and Snow Leopard's 16-terabyte memory support is more than what's needed today.
Why it matters: Despite RAM coming in capacities of only a few gigabytes, we won't be adding terabytes of memory any time soon. Cost and physical space are all limiting factors but we're slowly progressing. Snow Leopard and later versions of OS X could speed up programs by ending dependence on virtual memory, a kind of cheat that uses hard drive space when RAM runs low.

Part two at: http://www.obsessable.com/news/2009/02/17/how-snow-leopard-will-change-your-life-or-wont-part-2/

Apple is set to release the newest addition to the OS X family, Snow Leopard, sometime this year. However, the slew of interface tweaks and cool new additions that have made OS X such a hot seller will be eschewed for features that will make your Mac a much faster system. Snow Leopard will be that plus a little more. Here's Obsessable's follow up to part 1 on the ways that Snow Leopard will change your Mac as we take a look at 3 more.
QuickTime X
QuickTime X will be the biggest overhaul to QuickTime since its inception 17 years ago. This release will add a wider support for media codecs and much more efficient playback. This will ensure QuickTime is your default media playback app as other video and audio formats that weren't supported will then be playable in QuickTime X without the need for additional apps or plugins.
Why it matters: When Apple ported the desktop version of OS X to the iPhone, it included one very important component to enable media playback: QuickTime. This of course makes one of the major selling points of the iPhone, the iPod app, work so well. But what separates the mobile version of QuickTime from its desktop counterpart is the expanded support for more commonly used media codecs and more efficient media playback.
The support for more widely used codecs will play a major part in Apple revamping Quicktime which seems to have been a major theme since development on Snow Leopard started. What this ultimately means is Quicktime will use fewer resources when playing. Notebook users could see an increase in battery life and Windows users could finally stop complaining about how sluggishly Quicktime runs under XP or Vista. You will also finally be able to stop hunting for obscure plugins to play media encoded in rarely used formats.
Multi-touch
The iPhone first pioneered the widespread use of multi-touch gestures or using multiple fingers to manipulate on screen objects such as photos or web pages. Snow Leopard will extend that experience outside of the iPhone and the few applications into which Apple has baked the functionality by allowing developers access to the multi-touch tools so they can enjoy the same functionality.
Why it matters: Lately Apple has been shipping Macbooks with a multi-touch capable trackpad. This means that you can use more than one finger to control your Mac, ranging from the simple point and click to using three of four fingers for switching applications and virtual desktop spaces. However, the fun doesn't stop there since the potential for multi-touch trackpads has yet to be fully tapped.
The iPhone is a great example of this but don't expect a touchscreen Mac in a tablet form factorsoon. Snow Leopard will merely make the touch pad of any MacBook capable of accepting multiple types of gestures which could be more productive than just dragging a cursor and clicking. While Apple has been mum on what types of extra gestures will be included with Snow Leopard, there is still time before it is made available later this year.
Location awareness
In addition to QuickTime X, Snow Leopard will also bring with it another component exclusive to the iPhone: Core Location. Since the iPhone started using cellular and Wi-Fi triangulation (plotting a location by calculating the distance from several base stations) inside Google Maps, Core Location has been responsible for making this happen. Making this feature available is cheap and painless since no additional hardware is needed besides an active network connection. While you won't be able to pinpoint your exact location, Snow Leopard will be able to give you a general area of where you may be.
Why it matters: GPS and other software alternatives have come a long way from being a luxury item to another selling point in phones and laptops. What this ultimately means is every gadget you own could become location aware and give a heads up to your whereabouts to social networks such as Facebook or data aggregation services like Google Maps.
This has yet to catch on because it made little sense for someone using his or her computer to know about their general location when they hardly move around. That said, smartphones helped propel the crazy trend of telling you and all your friends the exact location of where you might and extending this to a laptop now seems less far-fetched. If you want a glimpse of where this is going, look at all the location-aware apps available for the iPhone. With an active internet connection you could track down your stolen Mac, find areas of interest within a certain distance, and update your social network wherever you are.

iPhone fix: When iTunes cannot backup the iPhone

Here's what to do if you try syncing or backing up the iPhone, but get the following error after afew minutes:

itunes could not backup the iphone because the iphone disconnected

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6791982

I think the better solution is deleting the itunes preferences. My original solution only works for short time before iTunes starts complaining again. But I thought I would make this clearer. To delete iPhone Backup:

1) On the Mac, open iTunes and choose preferences from the iTunes Menu.
2) Then click on the iPhone icon
3) Use that screen to delete the iphone backup(s) listed.

To delete the reset the iSync preferences
1) Find the iSync application in the applications folder and launch it.
2) Choose preferences from the iSync menu.
3) Then click the button that says "Reset Sync History..."

Then go to iTunes and verify the data syncing is set up how you want it and hit the "Sync: button. Actually, if you make changes, you will see an "Apply" button instead. Click on that.

Now after all of this, you will really want to make sure you do have a backup of your iPhone on the computer. To make sure this happens, you can disconnect your phone, and quit iTunes. Now plug the iPhone back in and open iTunes. The iTunes application will backup your phone again when it does the syncing process.

Hopefully this fix is more permanent than my original post. 

How to upgrade the internal Time Capsule Hard Disk

Just for a point of reference when you might need to upgrade the Time
Capsule hard disk, here are some clear instructions and photos of the
process at http://www.hardmac.com/articles/79/

Sync bookmarks across Safari, Firefox and IE!

What a day!
Not only does Google threaten MobileMe's usefulness by having Push Contacts and Calendar.  But now also the Bookmarks syncing that MM does so well is now sideswiped by Foxmarks, who has recently updated its software to allow Bookmarks to sync across Safari, Firefox and IE!  It even has a web-based management system that users can edit directly.
You need to download and install the plug-ins for each browser, and apparently Uncle Walt says the IE is still a Beta and quite flakey.  

For iPhone, there is only a web-based optimized page but no true synchronisation for the handset yet.  

http://thenextweb.com/2009/02/07/sync-bookmarks-firefox-safari-foxmarks/

Damn, looks like I'll be saying goodbye to my mac.com address alot sooner than I thought!!!



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Google Sync Beta - Exchange for the iPhone

Today, Google unveiled the Google Sync Beta, which licenced the Microsoft ActiveSync software to allow push contacts and calendars for Google users.
This works for both iPhone/iPod Touch devices as well as WinMob6 devices.  

Be warned that if already using MobileMe, this will erase all data!  And since MM is push technology too, it could result in ALL data being deleted from everywhere.
Recommend that you backup or archive the Address Book first, and then disable MobileMe from the iPhone.

Here are Google's instructions:

http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?answer=138740&topic=14252




Jefferies archives and monitors outgoing and incoming e-mail. The contents of this email, including any attachments, are confidential to the ordinary user of the email address to which it was addressed. If you are not the addressee of this email you may not copy, forward, disclose or otherwise use it or any part of it in any form whatsoever. This email may be produced at the request of regulators or in connection with civil litigation. Jefferies accepts no liability for any errors or omissions arising as a result of transmission. Use by other than intended recipients is prohibited.  In the United Kingdom, Jefferies operates as Jefferies International Limited; registered in England: no. 1978621; registered office: Vintners Place, 68 Upper Thames Street, London EC4V 3BJ.  Jefferies International Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Changing schedule of Time Machine backups

Here's a free utility to change the hourly backups of Time Machine, to something more useful for ordinary folks (ie. twice a day, daily, or weekly)
http://www.macworld.com/article/133938/2008/06/timemachineeditor13.html
http://timesoftware.free.fr/timemachineeditor/

MobileMe renewal for only $65 (save $34!)

Ebay seller who will actually ship the shrink-wrapped MobileMe box internationally.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-1-Year-Online-MobileMe-Dot-Mac-Free-Deliver_W0QQitemZ370152557461QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Software?hash=item370152557461&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

Quite afew others who will email the activation key instead of shipping, afew dollars cheaper.

iPhone stand.... from one paperclip!

This is just brilliant - Forget buying a fancy iPhone stand that cost at least $20.... some ingenious guys have even drawn out a blueprint on how to make it exactly perfect! hahha

Check it out! :)

http://www.deanying.com/PermaLink,guid,a99a1c06-b55b-4001-afeb-46a707055ecc.aspx