clap Matte screen on the 17" MacBook Pro! The integrated battery isn't a deal breaker for me (especially for a work system). Too bad 4 GB SoDimms are $500 each, even from Crucial.
It's not really news, and it's not exclusively Mac related, but I'm loving Dropbox.
OK, this is serious. I'm in love.
Here's what I've been using it for:
Bypassing iStink, er, iSync. I've had a lot of problems with iSync working properly, and having to reset sync prefs. One app that I love is TextExpander, which uses iSync to synchronize settings across Macs. But iSync wasn't working. So, I had to fool TE. The settings file has a path ~/Library/Application Support/TextExpander/Settings.textexpander. I moved the file to my dropbox, and then created a symbolic link to make the Mac think that the file was in App Support. Here's the command: ln -s ~/Dropbox/TextExpander/Settings.textexpander ~/Library/Application\ Support/TextExpander/Settings.textexpander
You would change it depending on your paths, but basically it breaks down like this (string 1,2 and 3 together with a space between each):
1) ln -s (that's the command)
2) the path of where the file actually is, after you've moved it to wherever you want it to be
3) the path of where you want the symbolic link created.
NOTE: any space in either of the paths needs to have a \ preceding it. Spaces are only for breaking parts of the command, so if there's a space, as there is in "Application Support", you need to type it as "Application\ Support"
I've done the same symbolic linking with my Bento database, so I can work on it from either of my computers. It, too, insists that the file be in a specific location, but now I can share it between computers.
Other miscellaneous things I want to be able to access from either computer. My quicken files, for instance. I prefer working on the big dual 23" displays when I can, but want to be able to work on the lappy, too.
Sharing files with others. You can create a share folder and invite others. You can share an otherwise private folder with someone, and you can hand out links to things you've loaded into your Public folder.
What got me started on this was changing my 1Password keychain from the OSX Keychain to the Agile Keychain, which is fasterer, smarterer and more dependabler. But to sync it, they suggested Dropbox. I'm glad they did, I'm finding all kinds of cool uses for it!
This is iDisk on steroids, with instant updating. It only updates the portion of the file that's changed, instead of the whole thing. It's truly awesome!
2GB is free, 50GB is $99/year.
CAUTION: At present Dropbox does NOT copy the resource fork. Maybe my love isn't so strong, after all. It borked the Quicken files I had uploaded to it. The solution here is to put these files into a DMG. That works fine. Good thing I had a backup of my Quicken, cause the files I had put in the Dropbox were unusable!
This is iDisk on steroids, with instant updating. It only updates the portion of the file that's changed, instead of the whole thing. It's truly awesome!
2GB is free, 50GB is $99/year.
Sounds awesome. I've recently fallen in love with SugarSync - which sounds quite similar.
Okay - I'll bite (though I know you're half-kidding)
That means that your sync solution is actually comprised of 1) your ability to remember to sync often 2) your ability not to lose the thumb drive, have it stolen from you or fail.
DropBox and SugarSync remove those worries. (I'll talk about Sugar Sync because I have it but David has said similar things about DropBox.)
Sugar Sync is $25/year for 10GB (larger plans available). I've installed the software on all 3 of my computers (there's an iPhone version too - it works on Windows, Mac, and most mobile phones). I tell it what folders to monitor. When I edit a file in one of those folders (and hit save) it instantly uploads my changes to the version on my 10GB SugarSync store. Then, in sends the updated version of the file to my other two computers. I can work on a document on the road on my laptop and know that when I get to my desktop back at the office the new or changed files will be there. If one of my computers isn't around I can still access those files by logging in to the website.
Personally, I'm done with the USB drive method. This eliminates almost all potential for error so that I always have the files I need where I need them.
I'll add to this as well, but since I am a cheap b!@#%#d, I prefer free. Yes, I know Dropbox is free, but only 2GB.
Windows Live Mesh beta is a free solution from MS, similar to Dropbox and others. You get 5GB free. I have found it works seamlessly, and yes it works on my Mac and Windows PC. I have only used it for some Word Docs, and Powerpoint, as well as a few pictures, but I find it a good solution so far.
Okay - I'll bite (though I know you're half-kidding)
~~~snip~~~
DropBox and SugarSync remove those worries. (I'll talk about Sugar Sync because I have it but David has said similar things about DropBox.)
~~~snip~~~
Personally, I'm done with the USB drive method. This eliminates almost all potential for error so that I always have the files I need where I need them.
Actually you make a pretty good arguement, I am going to look at that, although I am also tempted to look at MobileMe/.mac (the wife has an account)
My apologies if this has already been discussed. Feel free to redirect me to the proper thread.
My calibration prints turned out too dark and I am in the process of calibrating my iMac 24" LCD monitor with an i1 display 2. However I cannot get the luminance down to the recommended value of 120. Not even close actually - I am stuck above 200.
Is there any way to decrease the luminance without spending money on more software, or will I just have to use the lowest brightness value I can reach and go with that?
Really? those apps will keep my calendar and address book synced between iphone, home Mac, and anywhere I can login to me.com?
I'll happily take back my me.com account if you show me something that does it as seamlessly (that's not baiting or sarcasm, it's serious).
Sorry. Braindead file syncing, which is what he was after. Calendar and address book is still Mobile Me for ... me.
Now, if you want to go the symbolic link method, you could probably use this to ditch your mobile me altogether, like I did with the TextExpander prefs and bento.db file.
EDIT: except I read over the whole iPhone thing. If you're OK syncing your calendar and address book manually when you sync your iPhone, then you're OK. If you want live syncing, then you're stuck with Mobile Me, I think....
Sorry. Braindead file syncing, which is what he was after. Calendar and address book is still Mobile Me for ... me.
Now, if you want to go the symbolic link method, you could probably use this to ditch your mobile me altogether, like I did with the TextExpander prefs and bento.db file.
How to move your iCal files to another folder and maybe let several people write to one calendar
iCal really wants to keep the iCal files in ~/Library/Calendars/. If you try to replace an individual calendar with an alias or a symbolic link, it will read the calendar alright, but overwrite the alias/link when saving.
A solution to this is to create a symbolic link to the Calendars folder! Do as follows (at your own risk, don't blame me if you miss the date of the century):
- Quit iCal
- open Terminal.app (located in Applications/Utilities/)
- type 'cp -r ~/Library/Calendars/ ~/Library/CalendarsBackup/' and press return (this creates a copy of your iCal files)
- type 'rm -fr ~/Library/Calendars/' and press return (this deletes your original iCal files)
- type 'cp -r ~/Library/CalendarsBackup /Users/Shared/Calendars/' and press return (replace '/Users/Shared/Calendars/' with the folder you want to have the files in)
- type 'ln -s /Users/Shared/Calendars/ ~/Library/Calendars' and press return
- start iCal and see if things are working
- You still have a copy of the original files in ~/Library/CalendarsBackup/! - remember to change the file privileges of the .ics files so everyone can access them in the way you want them to.
You can use this technique to share a calendar between several persons. It does not come close to a real groupware thing, but is workable in a family setting for example. Everyone enters their dates on the livingroom computer and the calendar is then subscribed by everone.
It should work as long as you only access it locally, as there usually is only one person logged in at a certain time. It will not work if you place the files on a fileserver volume and have several people access it with iCal at the same time (subscribing via WebDAV will work of course).
Unfortunately, this solution does not work for individual calendars, only for the whole folder.
Important: There are possibly some privacy issues with this solution, as others might gain access to all your calendars. Beware.
PS: This post was inspired by Simone Bettini of eVectors.
10:04:32 AM
You would just put the file in your dropbox and then point BOTH computers to it.
Share one Address Book among multiple users
Fri, Dec 3 2004 at 9:17AM PST • Submitted by Anonymous
This is how to share the Address Book on a single Mac with each user of the machine. No syncing is needed -- all users will work on the same data.
Have a separate partition with "Ignore permissions" checked in the Get Info box.
Make sure you have synced all Address Books via import-export.
Copy the Address Book folder you want to use as the master from /Users -> user_name -> Library -> Application Support to the other partition.
Delete the original folder for each user (after verifying the copy), and make a symbolic link from the new location of the master Address Book folder. Symbolic links are made in the Terminal: ln -s path_origin path_alias.
For each additional user: Delete the original folder and make a symbolic link.
This works on networks, too. But it is very slow when searching. My strategy for syncing the network (three macs, four users): My Address Book on my personal Mac is the master. Every new or changed entry on another Mac is dragged to a group called "New." Once in a while, I export the new entries to the master Address Book and check them. After that, I zip the Address Book folder and install them on the other Macs. The symbolic links will still work.
F14 does not do anything for me. I am 99% sure that I have my LCD at its lowest brightness setting.
I pressed the "lower brightness" key until I was at the far left of the scale (same as going through Displays). That should make the monitor as dark as possible, and I still get really high luminance values when calibrating (well above the recommended 120-140).
I pressed the "lower brightness" key until I was at the far right of the scale (same as going through Displays). That should make the monitor as dark as possible, and I still get really high luminance values when calibrating (well above the recommended 120-140).
I pressed the "lower brightness" key until I was at the far left of the scale (same as going through Displays). That should make the monitor as dark as possible, and I still get really high luminance values when calibrating (well above the recommended 120-140).
I haven't tried calibrating my monitor with any external device, but I must say I've noticed that even on the lowest setting, my iMac is still really bright!
I haven't tried calibrating my monitor with any external device, but I must say I've noticed that even on the lowest setting, my iMac is still really bright!
Put on some shades. Though I am not sure how this would affect correct color representation on the iMac for photo editing/displaying.
EDIT: should have read the previous post mentioning shades. Sorry for the duplicate info on that.
Put on some shades. Though I am not sure how this would affect correct color representation on the iMac for photo editing/displaying.
EDIT: should have read the previous post mentioning shades. Sorry for the duplicate info on that.
Thanks for your help guys. Shades seems to do the trick.
Win 7 Beta in Fusion
If any of you gearheads out there are interested in trying out the Windows 7 Beta, I finally got it installed in VMWare Fusion on the Mac by following this guys instructions. I could not get it to work using the VMWare Easy Install.
Pretty cool looking, some nice UI and general interaction enhancements. Fusion gives it a few fits, such as screen drawing, but that is my issue not Microsoft's. Fully compatible with VMWare tools it seems.
Let us know if you need any help with the transition. After we're done bickering over the correct answer, we'll get you squared away!
OK so you said if I need help well- Help!
I finally go Adobe to issue me a copy of CS3 for the mac ( it amazes me that more people aren't aware that Adobe will give you the software when you switch platforms). Were my troubles lay are that I don't now where/ how to install my onOne plugin. Any help would be appreciated.
Cherie-Lynn SM Web Site SIS Web Site Blog
Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 50D- Canon EF 28mm 1.8, Canon EF 50mm 1.4, Canon EF 85mm 1.8, Sigma DC 18-200mm OS
Canon Speedlite 580 EXll X2, PocketWizaed Plusll x2
Mac
[FONT=georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif]Everyone has a photographic memory, but not everyone has film. ~Author Unknown[/FONT]
I found this online backup solution. It's $5/month no matter how much you're storing. I'm just trying it out and it seems really really easy, easier than Jungle Disk, which I may ditch. The Mac version is in private beta, but there's a link to an invite in the link above. Check it out.
I found this online backup solution. It's $5/month no matter how much you're storing. I'm just trying it out and it seems really really easy, easier than Jungle Disk, which I may ditch. The Mac version is in private beta, but there's a link to an invite in the link above. Check it out.
I also highly recommend Mozy Home. Its $4.95 a month for unlimited backup, and the Mac version is very mature, not in beta like the above. They offer a free version with 2GB limit, so its simple to try. I have an account for my Mac, and free accounts for all the other computers in the house (2GB free).
Basically it runs in the background. You can choose files, file types, directories etc to be backed up. It does not appear as a virtual disk, however you can open the client (or web client) for easy access and download of any file that has been uploaded.
Comments
haha!! The Onion, best news publication ever!
www.tednghiem.com
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
OK, this is serious. I'm in love.
Here's what I've been using it for:
You would change it depending on your paths, but basically it breaks down like this (string 1,2 and 3 together with a space between each):
1) ln -s (that's the command)
2) the path of where the file actually is, after you've moved it to wherever you want it to be
3) the path of where you want the symbolic link created.
NOTE: any space in either of the paths needs to have a \ preceding it. Spaces are only for breaking parts of the command, so if there's a space, as there is in "Application Support", you need to type it as "Application\ Support"
This is iDisk on steroids, with instant updating. It only updates the portion of the file that's changed, instead of the whole thing. It's truly awesome!
2GB is free, 50GB is $99/year.
CAUTION: At present Dropbox does NOT copy the resource fork. Maybe my love isn't so strong, after all. It borked the Quicken files I had uploaded to it. The solution here is to put these files into a DMG. That works fine. Good thing I had a backup of my Quicken, cause the files I had put in the Dropbox were unusable!
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
Sounds awesome. I've recently fallen in love with SugarSync - which sounds quite similar.
Yes, in that it also strips out the resource fork!
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
Pictures | Website | Blog | Twitter | Contact
Okay - I'll bite (though I know you're half-kidding)
That means that your sync solution is actually comprised of 1) your ability to remember to sync often 2) your ability not to lose the thumb drive, have it stolen from you or fail.
DropBox and SugarSync remove those worries. (I'll talk about Sugar Sync because I have it but David has said similar things about DropBox.)
Sugar Sync is $25/year for 10GB (larger plans available). I've installed the software on all 3 of my computers (there's an iPhone version too - it works on Windows, Mac, and most mobile phones). I tell it what folders to monitor. When I edit a file in one of those folders (and hit save) it instantly uploads my changes to the version on my 10GB SugarSync store. Then, in sends the updated version of the file to my other two computers. I can work on a document on the road on my laptop and know that when I get to my desktop back at the office the new or changed files will be there. If one of my computers isn't around I can still access those files by logging in to the website.
Personally, I'm done with the USB drive method. This eliminates almost all potential for error so that I always have the files I need where I need them.
http://www.sugarsync.com/products/
and
https://www.getdropbox.com/tour#1
Windows Live Mesh beta is a free solution from MS, similar to Dropbox and others. You get 5GB free. I have found it works seamlessly, and yes it works on my Mac and Windows PC. I have only used it for some Word Docs, and Powerpoint, as well as a few pictures, but I find it a good solution so far.
https://www.mesh.com/Welcome/Default.aspx
it is in beta, so YMMV.
Actually you make a pretty good arguement, I am going to look at that, although I am also tempted to look at MobileMe/.mac (the wife has an account)
Pictures | Website | Blog | Twitter | Contact
If you're looking for braindead syncing, then either sugarsync or dropbox kick Mobile Me's buttocks. Just sayin'.
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
Heck I appreciatte it
Pictures | Website | Blog | Twitter | Contact
Hi guys.
My apologies if this has already been discussed. Feel free to redirect me to the proper thread.
My calibration prints turned out too dark and I am in the process of calibrating my iMac 24" LCD monitor with an i1 display 2. However I cannot get the luminance down to the recommended value of 120. Not even close actually - I am stuck above 200.
Is there any way to decrease the luminance without spending money on more software, or will I just have to use the lowest brightness value I can reach and go with that?
Thanks for your help.
Paul Zizka Photography: zizka.smugmug.com
The Blog - Twitter - Facebook
F14 does not do anything for me. I am 99% sure that I have my LCD at its lowest brightness setting.
Paul Zizka Photography: zizka.smugmug.com
The Blog - Twitter - Facebook
What makes you so sure? How are you setting it?
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
I'll happily take back my me.com account if you show me something that does it as seamlessly (that's not baiting or sarcasm, it's serious).
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
Sorry. Braindead file syncing, which is what he was after. Calendar and address book is still Mobile Me for ... me.
Now, if you want to go the symbolic link method, you could probably use this to ditch your mobile me altogether, like I did with the TextExpander prefs and bento.db file.
EDIT: except I read over the whole iPhone thing. If you're OK syncing your calendar and address book manually when you sync your iPhone, then you're OK. If you want live syncing, then you're stuck with Mobile Me, I think....
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
Like this:
You would just put the file in your dropbox and then point BOTH computers to it.
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
Share one Address Book among multiple users
Fri, Dec 3 2004 at 9:17AM PST • Submitted by Anonymous
This is how to share the Address Book on a single Mac with each user of the machine. No syncing is needed -- all users will work on the same data.
Have a separate partition with "Ignore permissions" checked in the Get Info box.
Make sure you have synced all Address Books via import-export.
Copy the Address Book folder you want to use as the master from /Users -> user_name -> Library -> Application Support to the other partition.
Delete the original folder for each user (after verifying the copy), and make a symbolic link from the new location of the master Address Book folder. Symbolic links are made in the Terminal: ln -s path_origin path_alias.
For each additional user: Delete the original folder and make a symbolic link.
This works on networks, too. But it is very slow when searching. My strategy for syncing the network (three macs, four users): My Address Book on my personal Mac is the master. Every new or changed entry on another Mac is dragged to a group called "New." Once in a while, I export the new entries to the master Address Book and check them. After that, I zip the Address Book folder and install them on the other Macs. The symbolic links will still work.
[robg adds: I haven't tested this one.]
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
I pressed the "lower brightness" key until I was at the far left of the scale (same as going through Displays). That should make the monitor as dark as possible, and I still get really high luminance values when calibrating (well above the recommended 120-140).
Paul Zizka Photography: zizka.smugmug.com
The Blog - Twitter - Facebook
You mean far left, right?
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
I do. Sorry about that. Xrite suggested I use the Shades freeware. Will give it a shot.
Paul Zizka Photography: zizka.smugmug.com
The Blog - Twitter - Facebook
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
EDIT: should have read the previous post mentioning shades. Sorry for the duplicate info on that.
GreyLeaf PhotoGraphy
Thanks for your help guys. Shades seems to do the trick.
Paul Zizka Photography: zizka.smugmug.com
The Blog - Twitter - Facebook
If any of you gearheads out there are interested in trying out the Windows 7 Beta, I finally got it installed in VMWare Fusion on the Mac by following this guys instructions. I could not get it to work using the VMWare Easy Install.
Pretty cool looking, some nice UI and general interaction enhancements. Fusion gives it a few fits, such as screen drawing, but that is my issue not Microsoft's. Fully compatible with VMWare tools it seems.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-download.aspx
I finally go Adobe to issue me a copy of CS3 for the mac ( it amazes me that more people aren't aware that Adobe will give you the software when you switch platforms). Were my troubles lay are that I don't now where/ how to install my onOne plugin. Any help would be appreciated.
SM Web Site
SIS Web Site
Blog
Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 50D- Canon EF 28mm 1.8, Canon EF 50mm 1.4, Canon EF 85mm 1.8, Sigma DC 18-200mm OS
Canon Speedlite 580 EXll X2, PocketWizaed Plusll x2
Mac
[FONT=georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif]Everyone has a photographic memory, but not everyone has film. ~Author Unknown[/FONT]
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
I also highly recommend Mozy Home. Its $4.95 a month for unlimited backup, and the Mac version is very mature, not in beta like the above. They offer a free version with 2GB limit, so its simple to try. I have an account for my Mac, and free accounts for all the other computers in the house (2GB free).
Basically it runs in the background. You can choose files, file types, directories etc to be backed up. It does not appear as a virtual disk, however you can open the client (or web client) for easy access and download of any file that has been uploaded.