Thursday September 2
13:37
iMac (Mid 2010): Using the correct Mac OS X system s...
Learn what to do if your iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010) or iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010) exhibits symptoms that indicate the wrong Mac OS X system software is installed. Symptoms may include:
Upon opening iMovie, a message states that iMovie requires a graphics card that is compatible with Quartz Extreme and that one or more of your graphics cards do not support Quartz Extreme.
The computer may not go to sleep when you choose Sleep from the Apple () menu.
Difficulty opening or a message may appear when you open the DVD Player application.
Only one video resolution available in the Displays System Preferences pane.
Using the Grab application (located in the Utilities folder) to take a screenshot may produce only a blank image with a white background.
The correct LCD profile may not be present in the Color tab of the Displays System Preferences or under the profile in ColorSync Utility.
Compatibility and... | Read more »
07:30
Improved iTunes 10 Classic Visualizer
The iTunes Classic Visualizer is great. For starters, it keeps you interested, and it seems uncannily good at matching the mood of the visuals to the style of music. The new Visualizer style just doesn't make sense to me -- pulsating orbs?
Anyway, the problem with the Classic Visualizer is that it would always force a low resolution on you when using full screen mode.
I'm happy to point out that the Classic Visualizer in iTunes 10 now uses your current display resolution when you go into full screen mode. Now it looks absolutely awesome on a nice 720p/1080p TV set. Unfortunately it still blanks secondary displays in full screen mode.
I know I'm not the only one to have searched for an answer to this, only to be disappointed with the 'Use screen zoom' solution that's been around for years.
[crarko adds: I tested this, and it works as described, although I didn't try the external output. Thanks to Tom Karpik for this hint.]
... | Read more »
07:30
Make the iTunes 10 control buttons horizontal
iTunes 10 provides a different layout for the Close, Minimize and Maximize buttons. Instead of being ordered horizontally, in iTunes 10 they're arranged vertically, like a traffic light.
Reverting the buttons to a horizontal layout can easily be done. With iTunes not running, open Terminal and enter the following code:
defaults write com.apple.iTunes full-window -1
To restore the vertical layout, simply use this command:
defaults write com.apple.iTunes full-window -0
[crarko adds: Thank you very much. iTunes 10 has a lot of good points, like better performance, but some of the UI changes are perplexing.]
... | Read more »
Wednesday September 1
21:29
iTunes Store: How to rent TV Shows
You can rent TV Shows from the iTunes Store and watch them on your Mac or Windows computer, iPhone, or iPod touch.1
|
Read more »
19:23
Apple security updates
This document outlines security updates for Apple products.
|
Read more »
15:28
iOS Developer Program
The iPhone Developer Program is now the iOS Developer Program. You will continue to access the same program benefits and technical resources for developing and distributing your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch apps.
|
Read more »
15:27
iOS SDK 4.1 GM Seed Now Available
iOS Developer Program members can log in to the iOS Dev Center to download iOS 4.1 GM seed and iOS SDK 4.1 GM seed. Review the Xcode 3.2.4 Readme and the iOS SDK 4.1 GM seed Release Notes before installing and developing with these new releases.
|
Read more »
15:25
Getting Started with Game Center
Game Center is Apple's new social gaming network that allows your users to invite friends to play a game, start a multiplayer game through auto-matching, track their achievements, and compare their best scores on a leaderboard. Learn everything you need to know about developing your apps for Game Center, from understanding the fundamentals to updating your Game Center app once it’s on the App Store.
|
Read more »
12:07
iTunes Store: Movie rental frequently asked question...
See the frequently asked questions below to learn more about renting movies from the iTunes Store.
|
Read more »
08:29
Powering Apple and third party peripherals through U...
Learn more about the power available via USB on Apple computers and displays and how to use peripheral devices that may require more power than is available through the USB port.
|
Read more »
07:30
Get details about your iOS apps in a .csv file
Since iTunes does not give you a lot of information via print or export of your apps, I wrote a little shell script to retrieve information from the app files themselves.
The script creates and opens a .csv file. To correctly display the columns, choose 'semicolons' as the column delimiter in your csv viewer (e.g. OpenOffice Calc).
You can choose what information to retrieve by commenting/uncommenting them in the Attributes definition at the beginning of the script.
To run the script do the following: [crarko adds: Note that the path to the Mobile Applications folder may be different depending on your previous upgrade path(s), for example mine was located at ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music/Mobile Applications. Just be sure to put the script in the same folder as the app (.ipa) files.]
- Save it as getproperties.sh in your Mobile Applications Folder at ~/Music/iTunes/Mobile Applications.
- Open that folder in Terminal and run ...... | Read more »
07:30
Display location information in Safari 5
Whenever I go to a website that asks for my location I wonder what exactly I am giving out. I found a neat Safari 5 extension from Upper Atmosphere called FindMe. FindMe displays your location in a tool bar. Your location is just a button press away. You can also click on the result to display it on a map.
Interestingly, Mac OS X Location Services are only available if you have a wireless connection enabled. I would've expected Apple to default to your external IP if it couldn't determine your location based on your wireless connection, but it doesn't.
Most people probably already know where they are but this tool is surprisingly useful.
[crarko adds: I tested this, and it works as described. It asks for permission to find your location just like an iOS app would.]
... | Read more »
Tuesday August 31
12:17
Apple Cinema Display (30-inch DVI) has 1280 x 800 as...
When you connect an Apple Cinema Display (30-inch DVI) to one of the products noted below, you may find that the highest available resolution is 1280 x 800, even though the optimum resolution for the display is 2560 x 1600. The maximum resolution available when this display is connected to a single-link DVI port is 1280 x 800; you must connect the display to a dual-link DVI port to access the higher resolutions available to the display.
|
Read more »
07:30
An updated guide to recording HDTV signals
This hint is an update to this rather old hint which explains how to record HDTV signals from a FireWire capable box.
For the most part, everything is the same as in the original guide, however there are a few differences.
First, with the rise of FireWire 800, you should note that cable boxes supplied by your provider will have FireWire 400, so if you only have FW800 cables, you'll need to get a 400-800 cable or adaptor.
Second, Apple's Firewire SDK is rather old, and its contained applications, like VirtualDVHS, are designed for Tiger, and are rather buggy and difficult to use. A better choice is FireRecord, a simple app that does most of the work for you, including detecting which channel to stream from, which can be frustrating to do manually. (63, 0, and 1 are the common channels).
Third, while the file forma ...... | Read more »
07:30
Easy quitting of multitasking apps in iOS 4
Apple made it quite easy and intuitive to quit out of apps in iOS 4; however I have not seen this method mentioned anywhere.
Double tap the Home button to bring up the multitasking applications view, then tap and hold on an app (as if you were arranging your home screen). A small red circle will appear on each app; tap one to close that app. And, of course, you can still swipe through the list to see more.
[crarko adds: I can't test this one on my iPhone 3G. Please confirm that this works.]
... | Read more »
Monday August 30
16:04
iMovie '09: Importing AVCHD clips from some mul...
Some camcorders that record multiple formats require extra steps to import both formats into iMovie ’09. If you have recorded both AVCHD and MP4 (or iFrame) formats with certain camcorders, iMovie will only recognize the MP4/iFrame video clips in its 'Import' window.
|
Read more »
10:17
Vintage and obsolete products
Apple has discontinued support for certain technologically obsolete and vintage products.
|
Read more »
07:30
Save Safari 5 from the FastBrowserSearch plugin
There are some obsolete plugins that can give Safari 5 a lot of grief, and there are some reports on the Apple forums of a problematic plugin called FastBrowserSearch. It's apparently not new but I didn't see it posted here so thought I'd submit it. It's not hard to uninstall but it's a little tricky where it's placed. If you open Safari and get the FastBrowserSearch Plugin error, this hint is for you.
Quit Safari the delete this plist file (If you look in this plist, it calls MTWB.osax):
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.MTWB.Product.plist
Next, delete the MTWB.osax file located here:
~/Library/ScriptingAdditions/MTWB.osax
Relaunch Safari and it should be working again.
[crarko adds: I haven't tested this one. I didn't have the MTWB.osax installed, as FastBrowserSearch is a third party plugin. If you liked the feature you could ping on the developer ...
... |
Read more »
Sunday August 29
14:50
iTunes for Windows Vista or Windows 7: Troubleshooti...
This article provides some general suggestions when trying to troubleshoot an issue where iTunes for Windows Vista or Windows 7 won't open, stops responding, or unexpectedly quits. It may be useful to print this document before following the steps outlined below.
For a discussion of troubleshooting similar issues in iTunes for Windows XP, see iTunes for Windows XP: Troubleshooting unexpected quits, freezes, or launch issues.
If you are having trouble installing iTunes, see Trouble installing iTunes or QuickTime for Windows.
|
Read more »
Friday August 27
07:30
Remove arrows from aliases updated
I dislike the Windows-like arrows in the lower left corner of alias icons. Ever since Panther came out, I'd been using the technique described in this hint to get rid of them. After updating to 10.5.8 the pesky arrows were back, I had a little trouble locating the tip for 10.5, because it is categorized for 10.3, and updated information for Tiger users is only presented at the end of the comments. This method works for Leopard [crarko adds: and Snow Leopard] as well. Hence, this version summarizes (and slightly elaborates on) the Tiger-specific instructions from the original submission.
The procedure, which renames the arrow-image file AliasBadgeIcon.icns so that the System won't find it, affects all users and accounts and requires administrator privileges. Open Terminal and type or copy/paste:
cd /System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources
Pre ...
... |
Read more »
07:30
Move VMware Fusion to another drive/partition
I had moved all my /Applications to /Volumes/apps/Applications, and VMware Fusion 3 would not start.
What VMware Fusion is looking for is to use the shell command "cd" ../Library to look for its files. So I sym linked /Library to /Volumes/apps/Library, and it started right up.
The Terminal command used to do that was:
$ sudo ln -s /Library /Volumes/apps/Library
If you have a separate volume or partition for your applications, use the appropriate name in the command.
[crarko adds: I haven't tested this one. In general it's not a good idea to move programs from /Applications elsewhere, especially the Apple installed programs. You can do this by creating symbolic links, but if you miss anything, Software Update may break moved applications. Many third party apps can be placed elsewhere, and if there are problems fixing them may be as simple as using the method of this hint. It may also be neces ...
... | Read more »
Thursday August 26
16:02
Mac Pro (Mid 2010): Migration does not complete
In some situations, your migration may not seem to complete or may stop running and report a Network Connection message.
|
Read more »
16:00
Mac Pro (Mid 2010), Mac Pro (Early 2009): Issues wit...
If you have three displays connected to each graphics card in one of the following configurations:
a Mac Pro (Mid 2010) that has either the ATI Radeon HD 5770 or ATI Radeon HD 5870 graphics upgrade kit
or
two ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics cards
or
a Mac Pro (Early 2009) that has a ATI Radeon HD 5870 graphics card
... one of the following issues may occur:
When using a DVI connection, a Mini DisplayPort, and an HDMI connection, the display connected via DVI may turn black.
When using a DVI connection and two HDMI displays, the display connected via DVI may turn black.
When using a DVI connection and a HDMI connection, adding an additional HDMI connection or a Mini DisplayPort connection may cause the initially-connected HDMI device to no longer appear in the Graphics tab of System Profiler.
|
Read more »
13:31
TA10-238A: Microsoft Windows Insecurely Loads Dynami...
Original release date: August 26, 2010
Last revised: --
Source: US-CERT
Systems Affected
Any application running on the Microsoft Windows platform that uses
dynamically linked libraries (DLLs) may be affected. Whether or not an
application is vulnerable depends on how it specifically loads a DLL. Please see
the Vendor
Information section of Vulnerability Note VU#707943 for information about
specific vendors.
Overview
Due to the way Microsoft Windows loads dynamically linked libraries (DLLs),
an application may load an attacker-supplied DLL instead of the legitimate one,
resulting in the execution of arbitrary code.
I. Description
Microsoft Windows supports dynamically linked libraries (DLLs... | Read more »
13:14
iWork: About the iWork 9.0.4 update
iWork Update 4 is recommended for iWork 9.0, 9.0.1, 9.0.2, and 9.0.3. It addresses issues in Keynote, Pages, and Numbers, and adds export compatibility to Pages for the standard ePub file format (for use with iBooks).
|
Read more »
13:00
EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Macs
This article lists firmware updates that were released for Intel-based Macintosh computers. They update the firmware that originally shipped from the factory. If your computer does not appear on this list, an update from the factory firmware is not necessary.
Some firmware updates for Intel-based Macs may not be displayed automatically using Software Update. If they do not appear in Software Update, they must be manually downloaded from the Apple Downloads site. If you are unsure whether your computer needs a particular update, simply download and open the update installer. The installer will alert you if the firmware update is already installed or not needed.
|
Read more »
12:59
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010), MacBook Pro (17-inc...
You may notice a rare issue that can cause the MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) or MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) to stops responding during startup or operation.
|
Read more »
12:46
Creating ePub files with Pages
ePub is an open ebook standard produced by the International Digital Publishing Forum. Pages ’09 lets you export your documents in ePub format for reading with iBooks on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
iBooks supports both ePub and PDF file formats, and you can export both from Pages.
|
Read more »
12:39
Tips on sharing photos from Aperture with iLife and...
Since version 1.5, Aperture offers full-size previews of images that can be used with iLife '06 and iWork '06 or later. Here are some tips on getting the most out of this feature.
|
Read more »
12:37
iLife '09: Music and Photos may not be accessib...
If you installed the iLife Support 9.0.3 update, and subsequently used Migration Assistant to transfer your files to a new Mac, you may be unable to see your iPhoto images or iTunes music in the Media Browser of your iLife '09 applications.* Also related to this issue, your screen saver preference pane in System Preferences may become unresponsive.
* If this issue occurs in only one of your iLife '09 applications, this article does not apply and troubleshooting should be performed for that application, not the entire suite. See the following articles for more information:
How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists
iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library
|
Read more »
07:30
10.6: A Service to shorten URLs
Services are all the rage in 10.6 now. Since Apple let non-developer users make their own Services in Automator, people (like me) have been suggesting many services.
This hint is how to make a shortened URL using a lesser-known service named qgf.in. You can use other services too, as long as they have an API (usually the syntax is 'http://shortener.name/api?url=http://foo.bar').
Credits to all the people in the MacOSXHints Forums who helped with writing of the Perl script.
Download the pre-built perl modules and source code from CPAN here (or here is that same link after being shortened using the Service), unpack it, and put it somewhere in your Home ...
... | Read more »
07:30
Typing tricks and shortcuts in iOS
These are not my creation, but I've found the tips in this webpage very useful for mastering iPad (and iPhone) typing. Full credit goes to that site.
There is a list of ten useful tips for making efficient use of the onscreen keyboard(s) in iOS based devices. Some of them are generally known, such as the URL autocomplete and spellchecking completion, but others are less widely publicized, such as the final tip about toggling the alpha and numeric keyboards.
[crarko adds: I tested some of these on my iPhone, and they worked as described. There are some screen captures and a video on the referenced web site which shows how these tips appear. I'm putting this up because keyboard shortcut hints are generally useful things, but I refer you directly to the original site to preserve their copyright.]
... | Read more »
Wednesday August 25
17:13
MobileMe: Supported system requirements
This article explains the supported system requirements for the best experience with MobileMe, as well as the minimum system requirements for using MobileMe.
|
Read more »
14:52
Xsan: Some features are not supported with StorNext...
Some Xsan features are not supported when accessing a SAN volume running on Quantum StorNext metadata controllers.
|
Read more »
14:50
Xsan: Troubleshooting "Disk Stripe Group DOWN f...
An Xsan metadata controller's system log may show repeating messages similar to the following:
Aug 25 08:37:12 mdc1 fsm[123]: Xsan FSS 'MyVolume[0]': [Node 42] Disk Stripe Group 1 is DOWN for this client. # disks 2 unitmap[1] 0xfffff partaccess 0x1
Xsan Admin may report that there are no visible LUNs for an Xsan client.
Attempting to mount a volume in Xsan Admin may not work, and this alert may appear: "Not all data LUNs of the volume are visible to this computer. Check the Fibre Channel cables and try again."
|
Read more »
14:41
MobileMe: About email aliases
If you're a MobileMe member, you can create up to five email aliases for better organization, for fun, or even to prevent unwanted email from being sent to your primary MobileMe email address.
|
Read more »
12:32
Mac OS X Server v10.6: Server Admin does not open Se...
In some situations, the Server Assistant application may not open as expected when you select a remote server in Server Admin and click the Set Up button.
|
Read more »
10:52
New iTunes Connect Payments and Financial Reports Mo...
We're excited to announce the new Payments and Financial Reports module in iTunes Connect. This new module provides you with details on all financial reports and payments. From a dashboard view, you can quickly obtain information including last payment, amount owed, latest monthly earnings, a rolling transaction history, unit sales, and payment trends. In addition, we've also made significant updates to how your payments will be processed and how they are presented on iTunes Connect, including:
- Reduction in the thresholds required to be paid, increasing the frequency you will receive proceeds.
- A consolidated single monthly payment for all your proceeds worldwide, reducing bank fees and costs.
- Clearer presentation of amounts earned, amounts owed, and a reconciliation between the reported sales and the amounts paid.
For more detail, read the iTunes Connect Payments & Financial Reports Guide available from the... | Read more »
07:54
Using MSCONFIG to troubleshoot conflicts in Windows...
In Windows XP, some background processes can cause issues that may prevent applications such as iTunes and QuickTime Player from working correctly, opening, or even installing. Learn how you might resolve these conflicts by disabling some items using the System Configuration Utility (MSCONFIG).
|
Read more »
07:30
Mail.app plugin for bottom posting of reply text
The QuoteFix plugin for Mail.app formats your email reply for bottom posting. It puts the original message on top of your reply and sets the cursor between the original message and your signature. Mail's default action in to place the reply text at the top of the message.
QuoteFix can be downloaded from here.
Following the description from the developer's site: QuoteFix is a plug-in for Mail.app which fixes some issues with replying to email.
- it removes the signature from the original message
- it removes certain unnecessary empty lines
- it positions the cursor below the original message, instead of above it (in other words, bottom-posting instead of top-posting)
- it can (optionally) prune nested quotes from a specific level and above
QuoteFix should be Snow Leopard (10.6) compatible from revision 25 onwards, and 10.6.1 from revision 27 onwards. From revision 28... | Read more »
07:30
Fixing appointment times on iPhone's Calendar
I've been noticing for weeks now that several of my repeating appointments are showing up at the wrong time on my iPhone's Calendar application, even though the right time shows up in iCal on my desktop. The appointments are showing up on the right day, but many hours earlier, e.g. 4:00 AM.
In iCal on my Mac, I opened one of the events that was showing up incorrectly on my phone. Lo and behold, the 'Time Zone' setting was set to floating, rather than to my local zone (North America Central Time). Apparently this was true of all my repeating events that had been around for a long time, presumably before I upgraded to Leopard or Snow Leopard and iCal included time zone support. Just set the time zone to the appropriate region, make sure to change this for all future events, and all should be well.
[crarko adds: I looked in iCal on my machine and all the time zone information appeared to be correct, so this may, as implied, be the residual result of m ...
... |
Read more »
Tuesday August 24
13:02
About Security Update 2010-005
This document describes Security Update 2010-005, which can be downloaded and installed via Software Update preferences, or from Apple Downloads.
For the protection of our customers, Apple does not disclose, discuss, or confirm security issues until a full investigation has occurred and any necessary patches or releases are available. To learn more about Apple Product Security, see the Apple Product Security website.
For information about the Apple Product Security PGP Key, see "How to use the Apple Product Security PGP Key."
Where possible, CVE IDs are used to reference the vulnerabilities for further information.
To learn about other Security Updates, see "Apple Security Updates."
|
Read more »
12:58
Resetting PowerBook and iBook Power Management Unit...
Learn how to reset the PowerBook and iBook Power Manager. Resetting the power manager also resets date and time settings.
|
Read more »
12:40
Xsan: Compatibility of SAN clients with Xsan and Sto...
Learn which versions of Xsan can be used in the same SAN with StorNext controllers, and which versions of StorNext can be used in the same SAN with Xsan controllers.
|
Read more »
12:37
Boot Camp is not included with Mac OS X Server
Boot Camp is not included with Macs that ship with Mac OS X Server pre-installed. This includes all Xserves as well as Mac mini and Mac Pro configurations that include Mac OS X Server.
|
Read more »
10:42
iOS 4: About multitasking
Multitasking is a feature of iOS 4 that allows applications to perform specific tasks in the background while you are using other applications. Multitasking in iOS 4 is supported on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and iPod touch (3rd generation).
|
Read more »
09:45
iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: Windows displays a blue...
A message may appear on a blue screen when connecting your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to a Microsoft Windows computer. This can happen if your iOS device has saved photos that were taken with the built-in camera or were saved from Safari, Mail, or other apps. This issue can also occur due to a USB driver conflict with other devices connected to the computer.
|
Read more »
08:32
Mac Pro RAID Card and Xserve RAID Card: Frequently A...
This document contains frequently asked questions (FAQ) regarding the Mac Pro RAID Card and the Xserve RAID Card, with answers to those questions.
|
Read more »
07:30
A few free fonts from iMovie '09
I was changing some preferences in iMovie '09 when I noticed there's a cool font in the last tab - Coolvetica.
I was sure I don't have it installed on my system, so I dug in the application itself and there it was, together with some other nice fonts, like Duality or Strenuous, which I might use later for some titling in FCP - that's what those fonts were used for.
Right-or control-click the iMovie icon in Applications folder, and select Show Package Contents. Then go to Contents/Resources/Fonts, and double-click and install those you like.
I searched Hints but only found a story about one font in Aperture. People in the comments there are discussing the legality of extracting fonts from Trial software, but iMovie is on every new Mac.
[crarko adds: If you have iLife '09, I would think your conscien ...
... | Read more »
07:30
10.6: Add screen grabs to Stickies
This might already be well-known but I've never spotted it before. If you right-click a Stickies note, there's an option for Capture Selection from Screen. This effectively brings-up the screengrab tool and you can click and drag to not only capture part of the screen, but also automatically insert it into the note. If you use Stickies for research and note-making purposes, like I do, this is a superb and fuss-free way to grab a photograph or diagram from a web page, or even a document you're reading (or a block of text if you can't be bothered to cut and paste).
[crarko adds: I tested this, and it works as described. Stickies has been around forever (since System 7.5), and there are many hints about it. This seems to be a new thing added to the program in Snow Leopard; I looked at a 10.5 version and the contextual menus did not have this op ...
... | Read more »
Monday August 23
14:30
Bookmark Your Favorite MobileMe Web Applications for...
To give yourself quick access to the MobileMe web applications you use most often, sign into me.com and navigate to those applications. Then drag their web URLs to your browser's bookmark bar. Afterwards, whenever you're using your browser they'll be only a click away.
|
Read more »
12:00
Well known TCP and UDP ports used by Apple software...
Learn more about TCP and UDP ports used by Apple products, such as Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server, AppleShare IP, Network Assistant, Apple Remote Desktop, Macintosh Manager, and MobileMe. Many of these are referred to as "well known" industry standard ports.
Note: Mac OS X v10.5 and later includes the Application Firewall, which is different from a port-based firewall.
|
Read more »
10:24
Configuring firewalls on Windows for use with Apple...
Once you have synced or paired the Apple TV to your PC to establish a syncing or streaming connection, iTunes may state "The Apple TV 'name' is not responding. Check that any firewall software running on this computer has been set to allow communication on port 3689."
|
Read more »
10:20
Mac OS X Server 10.6: Installing Mac OS X Server on...
Learn how to install Mac OS X Server v10.6 on a computer that already has Mac OS X installed.
|
Read more »
07:30
A Search Google contextual menu
In Mac OS X, there's a cool feature that let you search in Google from the contextual menu in a lot of apps (Mail, TextEdit, iCal...) but this features uses Safari instead of your default browser (Firefox in my case). I wanted to be able to do the same with my default browser; read on to see how this was accomplished using OnMyCommand.
OnMyCommand is a program that executes shell scripts and AppleScripts. You can build your own Contextual Menu Items or GUI applications with it. If you don't already have OnMyCommand installed be aware that it logs you out as part of the install process, so save everything first.
- Download and install OnMyCommand/OMCEdit.
- Run the OMCEdit application (in /Applications/OMC/).
- Click on 'Download Commands' in the toolbar and then 'Download.'
- Click on 'Command Library' in the toolbar.
- Choose #22 (Search google for) and click on '... | Read more »
07:30
Fast-seek in iTunes with touchpad scroll
If you want to seek in your current song whitch is being played in iTunes, simply position your cursor to the seek bar, then scroll to left or right with two fingers in your touchpad to the position you want.
[crarko adds: This is because the two finger gesture can be set to emulate the scroll wheel on a mouse. This applies to other apps besides iTunes, but the above usage may not have been obvious at first.]
... | Read more »
Sunday August 22
20:27
Americas: Service Certification Training and Testing...
Apple authorizes the companies listed in this article to train Apple Authorized Service Providers, dealers, and customers, to repair Apple products.
The Apple Authorized Training Centers (AATCs) deliver training and administer tests within the Apple Certified Service Technician Program, using Apple developed training materials and certification tests. Apple recommends using these AATCs to train service technicians for the Apple Certified Macintosh Technician exams.
|
Read more »
10:18
iOS: Providing Apple with diagnostics and usage info...
Apple asks customers to help improve the iOS by occasionally providing diagnostic and usage information. Apple collects this information anonymously.
By default, opting in is a one-time decision. If you'd like to change your decision, you can reset warnings so that you will be asked again.
|
Read more »
Friday August 20
12:20
Mac OS X versions (builds) included with Intel-based...
Learn which versions of Mac OS X ship with Intel-based Macs. If you have a PowerPC-based Mac, see Mac OS: Versions, builds included with PowerPC Macs (since 1998) instead.
Tips
Some computers shipped with different Mac OS X versions at different times. When a computer is not bundled with a later version, a "-" appears in the "Later Mac OS included" column.
The build information is available in the About This Mac window.
Some Macs may include a slightly later build version (but same numbered version) of Mac OS X on the Install or Restore discs than was preinstalled on the computer.
Do not use a Mac OS X version earlier than the one included with the computer.
|
Read more »
11:50
iOS: Birthdays Calendar does not display Birthdays s...
iCal, iOS 4, and MobileMe all offer a Birthdays Calendar. This calendar is automatically generated from birthday information found in your Address Book contacts. Contacts whose first birthday is more than 77 years ago do not display when viewed in the Birthdays Calendar on an iOS Device, such as an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad.
The Birthdays Calendar can be synced via cable (USB) in iOS 4 or earlier versions. In iOS 4, the Birthday Calendar is available directly on the device, either from contacts stored on the iOS Device or synced with MobileMe. This issue occurs regardless of whether the Birthdays Calendar was created on the iOS Device or synced to it via MobileMe or iTunes.
|
Read more »
09:26
MobileMe: Keeping Junk mail folder contents consiste...
For Mail at me.com, junk mail filtering is turned on by default. If you use Mac OS X Mail to check your MobileMe email, the contents of your Junk folder may not match unless you choose the right settings. By default, Mac OS X Mail stores junk messages locally, whereas MobileMe Mail stores messages on an IMAP server.
|
Read more »
07:30
Updated script to create dual Finder windows
I revisited this hint recently. This script should be compatible with Tiger and higher system versions. It tries to make tandem windows from bottom of the screen up from the first two eligible Finder windows. If only one eligible window is available, it uses that one and creates another, and if no eligible windows are available, it creates and arranges two. It doesn't respect Spaces, so if a single eligible window exists, the existing window and the new window may end up in different spaces.
Here is the modified script. You can save it to ~/Library/Scripts/Applications/Finder to make it available from the AppleScript menu. You may need to create the Finder folder.
set danswer to (do shell script "/usr/sbin/system_profile ...
... | Read more »
07:30
Revised script to toggle Safari cookies
I modified a script from this hint of phow4rd to toggle Safari's Accept Cookies setting from 'Never' to 'Only from sites I visit.'
Here is the modified script. You can save it to ~/Library/Scripts/Applications/Safari to make it available from the AppleScript menu. You may need to create the Safari folder.
tell application "Safari" to activate
tell application "System Events"
tell application process "Safari"
click menu item "Preferences…" of menu "Safari" of ¬
menu bar item "Safari" of menu bar 1
end tell
tell application "System Events"
click button "Security" of tool bar 1 of window 1 of ¬
application process "Safari"
delay 1
if the value of radio button "Never" of radio group 1 of group 1 of group 1 o ...
... | Read more »
Thursday August 19
14:12
TA10-231A: Adobe Reader and Acrobat Vulnerabilities
Original release date: August 19, 2010
Last revised: --
Source: US-CERT
Systems Affected
- Adobe Reader 9.3.3 and earlier versions for Windows, Macintosh, and
UNIX
- Adobe Acrobat 9.3.3 and earlier versions for Windows and
Macintosh
- Adobe Reader 8.2.3 and earlier versions for Windows,
Macintosh, and UNIX
- Adobe Acrobat 8.2.3 and earlier versions for Windows
and Macintosh
Overview
Adobe has released Security Bulletin APSB10-17,
which describes multiple vulnerabilities affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat.
I. Description
Adobe Security Bulletin APSB10-17
describes a number... | Read more »
08:00
FQDN change to hints.macworld.com
The site's fully-qualified domain name changed yesterday from www.macosxhints.com to hints.macworld.com.
DNS redirection should be taking place automatically but you will want to update your bookmarks. You may also need to update saved login credentials to reflect the new domain.
Please let me know if you encounter any difficulties resulting from the changeover.
Thanks!
Craig
P.S. The MacOSXHints forums will be changing as well: hintsforums.macworld.com.
... | Read more »
07:30
Change desktop picture without Finder restart
This is a revision of an 8 year old hint - listed here - on how to update the desktop picture from a downloaded image.
Things have moved on a bit from 2002, but since at least one person is still interested in this hint, here's a revised version for 10.5.x and 10.6.x.
There are three changes:
- The wget command has been replaced with a curl command. wget in not installed by default on 10.6, if in fact it ever was, but curl is.
- The entire script has been converted to applescript as a matter of convenience.
- The Finder's desktop command has been deprecated, so System Events is used instead.
The Script (test image courtesy of XKCD Comics):
set pi ...
... | Read more »
07:30
Use additional buttons of Logitech gaming mice
Logitech sells several button-laden gaming mice, but does not provide any software support for them on the Mac. Worse, applications like USB Overdrive and SteerMouse are unable to detect many of the buttons on said mice, severely limiting their utility. For instance, on the Wireless Gaming Mouse G700, four of the buttons are tied up with on-the-fly DPI switching, profile switching, and battery status and cannot be changed on the Mac side.
The solution is to hook up the mouse to a Windows system (or use Boot Camp) and install the Logitech Setpoint software for Windows. After the software is installed, simply open the gaming mouse application and set the preset for each of the buttons to the 'generic button' setting. Save your settings and unplug the mouse. Now, when you hook it up to your Ma... | Read more »
Wednesday August 18
14:38
Mac Pro (Early 2009), Mac Pro (Mid 2010): Supported...
Learn about supported graphics card and display configurations for the Mac Pro (Early 2009) and Mac Pro (Mid 2010) configured with either an ATI Radeon HD 5770 or Radeon HD 5870 graphics card.
|
Read more »
14:38
Mac Pro (Early 2009), Mac Pro (Mid 2010): Supported...
Learn about supported graphics card and display configurations for the Mac Pro (Early 2009) and Mac Pro (Mid 2010) configured with either an ATI Radeon HD 5770 or Radeon HD 5870 graphics card.
|
Read more »
12:35
Mac OS X: 64-bit kernel frequently asked questions
Learn about the 64-bit kernel on Mac OS X and its default configuration on some Macintosh models.
|
Read more »
11:04
Aperture 3: Book ordering panel turns white when sub...
When you order a book in Aperture, the order panel may turn white when you click the Place Order button and nothing seems to happen.
|
Read more »
11:03
Apple Photo Services: Print Details
Apple Photo Services gives you a variety of print sizes for your projects. See the tables below for the sizes offered in your area .
|
Read more »
10:57
iMovie '09: Sharing a movie with iDVD may resul...
When Sharing a movie from iMovie to iDVD, you will be prompted to save your current iDVD project if you have already started but not saved it. Selecting the Cancel button may result in the loss of your current iDVD project.
|
Read more »
07:30
Cleaning up a messy font installation
Recently I installed several hundred fonts in one fell swoop. This was a mistake, because all my apps slowed down (especially Microsoft Office). While the fonts are useful, and I needed to keep them, I needed them only for DTP. My mistake was to install them to the computer, rather than just the user account I use for DTP.
I tried using various font management apps to move them across to the user account but I wasn't sure which fonts were the new ones, compared to the old or System fonts.
The solution was to dig into /Library/Fonts/ and sort the files by date. Sure enough, the new fonts had the same creation date and I was able to manually drag them across to my own ~/Library/Fonts/ folder.
After a quick flush of the font cache, everything is back to normal and my system speed has been restored. Other user accounts now work perfectly.
[crarko adds: I've had to do similar things for clients of mine, and yes it can be a ...
... | Read more »
07:30
Force fsck on headless servers and remote macs
Following a system crash I had a server which was failing 'Verify Disk' in Disk Utility on the boot drive. Read on for how to use Safe Boot mode to repair a boot drive over ssh.
I administer a network of Mac clients and OSX server for a small business. I'm usually remote from the office so I look for ways of doing system admin tasks via ssh wherever possible. The main production OSX server, an ageing PowerMac G5 running headless, had crashed recently requiring a forced reboot (getting someone in the office to hold down the power button).
After any crash I usually run diskutil verify /.
In this case diskutil found corruption on the boot disk. To fix this on any Machine I have physical access to I would usually just start up in single user mode (hold down 'S' when booting), then run fsck -fy but in this case I couldn't get to the Machine, and there's no keyboard or monitor attached to it in any case.
For emergencies, I set the Macs up wi ...
... | Read more »
07:30
Cleaning up a messy font installation
Recently I installed several hundred fonts in one fell swoop. This was a mistake, because all my apps slowed down (especially Microsoft Office). While the fonts are useful, and I needed to keep them, I needed them only for DTP. My mistake was to install them to the computer, rather than just the user account I use for DTP.
I tried using various font management apps to move them across to the user account but I wasn't sure which fonts were the new ones, compared to the old or System fonts.
The solution was to dig into /Library/Fonts/ and sort the files by date. Sure enough, the new fonts had the same creation date and I was able to manually drag them across to my own ~/Library/Fonts/ folder.
After a quick flush of the font cache, everything is back to normal and my system speed has been restored. Other user accounts now work perfectly.
[crarko adds: I've had to do similar things for clients of mine, and yes it can be a ...
... | Read more »
07:30
Force fsck on headless servers and remote macs
Following a system crash I had a server which was failing 'Verify Disk' in Disk Utility on the boot drive. Read on for how to use Safe Boot mode to repair a boot drive over ssh.
I administer a network of Mac clients and OSX server for a small business. I'm usually remote from the office so I look for ways of doing system admin tasks via ssh wherever possible. The main production OSX server, an ageing PowerMac G5 running headless, had crashed recently requiring a forced reboot (getting someone in the office to hold down the power button).
After any crash I usually run diskutil verify /.
In this case diskutil found corruption on the boot disk. To fix this on any Machine I have physical access to I would usually just start up in single user mode (hold down 'S' when booting), then run fsck -fy but in this case I couldn't get to the Machine, and there's no keyboard or monitor attached to it in any case.
For emergencies, I set the Macs up wi ...
... | Read more »
Tuesday August 17
15:02
Sync Services: Advanced troubleshooting for contact...
Sometimes, you may encounter an issue which involves syncing contacts, contact groups, or calendar events.
The issue could involve syncing with MobileMe, syncing your iPhone or iPod with iTunes, or syncing other mobile phone devices using iSync.
This article describes advanced techniques to attempt if you have NOT been able to fix your syncing issue using Reset sync history.
Note: This article does not apply to MobileMe Calendar beta. See this article for MobileMe Calendar beta troubleshooting information.
|
Read more »
13:50
Mac OS X Server v10.6: Custom Recurring Events dimme...
When modifying an event from the web calendar, the option for Custom under the Repeat Menu may be dimmed ("grayed out").
|
Read more »
12:57
About the Snow Leopard Graphics Update
The Snow Leopard Graphics Update contains stability and performance fixes for graphics applications and games in Mac OS X v10.6.4.
|
Read more »
12:53
iOS 4: Unable to view message body preview or mail r...
After setting up an email account, you may find that Mail loads message titles but not the message body previews or that mail receives blank messages:
With preview
Without preview
Blank message
|
Read more »
08:54
Mac OS X Server v10.6: Junk mail filter always bounc...
When junk mail filtering is enabled in the Mail Service provided by Mac OS X Server v10.6, you may notice that some messages are always bounced when the action taken is not set to bounce.
|
Read more »
07:41
iTunes for Windows: Device Sync Tests
iTunes for Windows includes Device Sync Tests within iTunes Diagnostics. Device Sync Tests can assist you in troubleshooting an issue when trying to sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in iTunes. This can assist with issues around syncing contacts, calendars, mail accounts, bookmarks, and notes over USB on your computer.
|
Read more »
07:30
Keyboard mapping for Kensington presenter
I do presentations, and I purchased a Kensington Presenter to assist with them. This worked great with Keynote, but I also wanted to use it for iPhoto, without success. The device sends only a page-up & page-down and iPhoto wants left & right arrows.
I found a utility called KeyReMap4MacBook. It took a few messages back and forth with the author and now it works this way: the page-up is seen as a left arrow and a page-down is seen as a right arrow and only in iPhoto. The response of the author was quick and good. The changes were included in this build, and I'm not sure if they have been merged into the general release. I think that the Apple remote may function the same way, but haven't tried it.
Another feature of KeyReMap4MacBook is that it can display key... | Read more »
07:30
10.6: Screen sharing/app switching compromise
Here is a way to switch between a remotely shared screen and a local machine without losing the newly added remote control with Command keys, specifically, Command-Tab.
I just finished reading a post on how to bypass (and users weighing in on) the new Screen Sharing feature where commands are passed to the remote machine. I'm split; I do like the increased control over the remote machine with one exception: switching applications, specifically back to the Finder. Command-Tab is now sent to the remote machine, but that is how I used to switch from the shared screen to my local machine. I want both; remote commands but local switching.
My first solution works because my remote machines are desktops, and my local machine is usually my laptop. This allows me to use the four finger swipe which is ignored by the remote machine.
But then I hit o ...
... | Read more »
07:30
Keyboard mapping for Kensington presenter
I do presentations, and I purchased a Kensington Presenter to assist with them. This worked great with Keynote, but I also wanted to use it for iPhoto, without success. The device sends only a page-up & page-down and iPhoto wants left & right arrows.
I found a utility called KeyReMap4MacBook. It took a few messages back and forth with the author and now it works this way: the page-up is seen as a left arrow and a page-down is seen as a right arrow and only in iPhoto. The response of the author was quick and good. The changes were included in this build, and I'm not sure if they have been merged into the general release. I think that the Apple remote may function the same way, but haven't tried it.
Another feature of KeyReMap4MacBook is that it can display key... | Read more »
07:30
10.6: Screen sharing/app switching compromise
Here is a way to switch between a remotely shared screen and a local machine without losing the newly added remote control with Command keys, specifically, Command-Tab.
I just finished reading a post on how to bypass (and users weighing in on) the new Screen Sharing feature where commands are passed to the remote machine. I'm split; I do like the increased control over the remote machine with one exception: switching applications, specifically back to the Finder. Command-Tab is now sent to the remote machine, but that is how I used to switch from the shared screen to my local machine. I want both; remote commands but local switching.
My first solution works because my remote machines are desktops, and my local machine is usually my laptop. This allows me to use the four finger swipe which is ignored by the remote machine.
But then I hit o ...
... | Read more »
Monday August 16
13:06
Troubleshooting iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch accesso...
If you are having issues with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch accessory, try the following troubleshooting steps:
|
Read more »
13:00
iOS: Unable to switch between song-repeat options in...
After using Nike+ on your iPhone or iPod touch, you may be unable to switch between options for repeating songs in the iPod/Music application.
|
Read more »
10:31
iPhone 4: Using FaceTime behind a firewall
For most Wi-Fi networks, FaceTime video calling will just work. If you are on a Wi-Fi network that is behind a firewall, see below.
|
Read more »
08:24
Xserve and Mac Pro: Some services unavailable when s...
In Xserve and some Mac Pro configurations where the Mac OS X Server operating system is installed on an SSD drive and data for services is housed on internal drives, an internal RAID, or an external RAID, some services may not start up properly or may not be able to find the associated data during the startup process.
|
Read more »
08:23
Mac Pro RAID Card: Capacity for four-drive RAID 5 co...
When a Mac Pro RAID Card is used for a four-drive RAID 5 configuration, the available capacity may be lower than expected due to data placement and layout techniques. In this configuration, the available capacity is approximately 66% of the total capacity of all four hard drives.
Note: This rule does not apply to RAID 0, RAID 1, or the use of three hard drives in a RAID 5 set.
|
Read more »
08:20
Mac Pro (Early 2008) and later: FireWire slow or unr...
When running the 64-bit version of Microsoft Vista on a Mac Pro (Early 2008) and later, the FireWire port may seem slow or unresponsive.
|
Read more »
08:19
Xsan Admin 2.2: Xsan Admin recommends Xsan 2.2.1 for...
After you upgrade your Mac Pro (Mid 2010) to Xsan 2.2.1, Xsan Admin 2.2 may display the status warning message "Xsan 2.2.1 recommended".
|
Read more »
08:19
Mac Pro RAID Card (Early 2009): Enabling system slee...
Learn which conditions you need to meet to put your Mac Pro (Mid 2010) with a RAID Card (Early 2009) to sleep.
|
Read more »
08:18
Mac OS X Server: Can't use Bluetooth devices wi...
When you set up a Mac OS X Server system locally, you may not be able to pair a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse with the server while Server Assistant is running.
|
Read more »
08:18
Mac OS X v10.6: Compatibility with the 64-bit kernel
Learn about compatibility with the 64-bit kernel included with Mac OS X v10.6.
|
Read more »
08:16
Mac OS X v10.6: Starting up with the 32-bit or 64-bi...
Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard includes a 64-bit kernel. On hardware that supports the 64-bit kernel, you can choose whether to start up (boot) your Mac using the new 64-bit kernel or the earlier 32-bit kernel.
|
Read more »
08:15
Mac OS X v10.6: Macs that use the 64-bit kernel
Learn which Macs can use the 64-bit kernel in Mac OS X v10.6 and which use it by default.
|
Read more »
08:10
Mac Pro: How to locate the Serial Number
The Mac Pro computer's serial number can be found within the model's configuration label, which is located on the computer's back panel directly below the video ports.
|
Read more »
