iPhone: Why to take the rumors with a grain of salt.

The big rumor buzz right now is that the iPhone is soon to make its debut from Apple, all news outlets are reporting some version of this story. I have said the same thing in the past. I personally really want and iPhone, really want one. But still you must take these rumors with a large a grain of salt and here is why:

1. They ARE rumors, you have to take all rumors lightly.
2. In the past most of the accurate rumors were not reported until the last minute, not months ahead of time, weeks ahead of time, maybe 3 weeks at the most.
3. The iPhone rumor has been a persistent one for a long time now.
4. People talk about these rumors to get traffic to their sites, so just because a respected news outlet or even a lot of outlets report it, does NOT make it true.

I hope this helps to keep you well balanced when reading these rumors. Most importantly, Apple please make this.

A New Week New Ass Talks of Security Breaches on OS X

I like reading Techdirt the shortness of the posts and amount of links makes for good reading. I saw one post today though that I thought was rather, well ill-thought out, or not thought out at all. This is not earth shattering stuff, and they are just jumping on the MS loving bandwagon, and I am not about to stop reading the blog but listen to this.

There’s little doubt that some tasks are far easier for users on Macs than on Windows, but Apple probably doesn’t want that to extend to attackers being able to install malware — but a security company that says it’s found a proof-of-concept Mac OS adware program and notes that launching the web browser to serve ads when opening other applications is “easier to do than with Windows. After all, it’s a Mac.”

Aside from the fact that this is a really long sentence, are they serious? Apple probably doesn’t want it easier for attackers? Probably? How about it doesn’t, no probably about it. Second how is the proof of concept adware program correlated to the fact that safari will easily open ads when in other programs? I don’t see the connection. Even if Safari loads a malicous page, what can that page do? Auto download a file? Sure, but then Mac OS X saves it on the desktop and will not install it with out a password. Oh and if you auto open files (option in Safari) it will not install a program or download it with out your permission! Grrr.

Aperture: Updating the iPhoto library.

Well I have decided that I will commit 100% to Aperture, not only for editing and workflow, but for library management and everything. I will not be using iPhoto anymore, except for things like calendars and other features that Aperture is lacking. the main reason for this is because I like the Projects versus Albums. I can easily export a project to take with me, that is very nice. Another reason for this is simply because I spend 99% of the time in Aperture versus iPhoto, meaning it just makes sense.

So over this long holiday weekend I took the time to reorganize all of my photos, a daunting task. I took it piece by piece and organized all of my photos from iPhoto into Aperture projects. Sunday afternoon I finally finished this, now it is on to tagging (something I never did with my photos, but do do with my files) and then after they are tagged I can finally go back to playing with the pictures and enhancing them.

Review: Pantone Huey

I have been reading the Inside Aperture blog lately, and one of the last articles talked about the importance of color calibration on your monitor. I have long known about these devices and what they do, but never saw the reason why I would need one. After reading the article though it made sense to me. I mean I am editing photos all the time, I really should make sure what I see on my monitor is close to what it actually is. I went to trusty newegg.com and bought the Pantone Huey device.

It is small, and works well, though if you are installing on an Intel mac download the update first from Pantones website. I first calibrated the screen on my Mac Pro, which is a 20″ Apple Cinema Display. After I went through all the calibration processes there was only a slight change. The monitor was pretty close already. This disappointed me, but having the monitor slightly change settings as the lighting in my room changes is neat (the Huey must stayed connected for this).

So I thought well maybe I wasted some money seeing as how close the color already was. So I threw it on my old 12″ Powerbook, and oh boy.

Mobility Today

Since I graduated I have been lugging my powerbook (12″) everywhere with me. It is a small machine, but couple the bag and accessories that I take with me, it is not light. Small in form, but heavy. I saw this as necessary to do, I wanted and needed to be able to access all of my information no matter where I was. The problem then became the unpacking and repacking of all these things, it added up to quite a bit of work and time. Then I got my Treo, and this seemed to be yet another thing that I had to lug with me.

Slowly though I started to take my Powerbook with me less and less, and just have my Treo on me. This has been working out very well for me. No I don’t have access to all my information, but I am ten pounds lighter on my feet.

This approach surely is not for every one, as many do need their files with them. One thing that would be cool to see is a file sharing system like FolderShare that works with a mobile phone like my Treo. That would be great for me.

Better information, or problem solving?

Reading and article this morning on Wired news about the Italian train system, got me to thinking about one of the main points the article brings up, in relation to traffic here in the Seattle / Tacoma region. The article discusses the tardiness of the train system, and how now people can use their phones and the internet to look at accurate information about where and when the trains will arrive. Very cool sounding, and surely helpful. But the question was raised, is better information needed, or really should the problem just be fixed? Lets forget about trains in Italy and talk about big SUVs on I5, I405, SR18, SR512 and I90.

There are several companies that I know about in the area that are creating traffic flow analysis and information using various technologies, to track traffic and help people through it. The WSDOT has cameras and on their website you can see traffic slow downs in particular areas (the bad areas that is). Other online services offer the same things.

Powerbook Sleep Light Death

Yesterday I was having a nice lazy sunday, reading articles on my Old Powerbook 12″ after I was done I put the computer down, and closed the lid. I was watching TV when I looked down at my PB to see the sleep light flicking erratically. I was concerned, so I opened the lid and it fired right back up, no problems with the computer it seemed. So I shut it down.

About 2 hours later I turned it back on to get some files off of it. Then I put it to sleep by closing the lid again. This time, the light never came on. A sad sad day.

I have searched around and have yet to find a solution to this. Can anyone help, the computer is way out of warranty, so I am not paying Apple to fix it.

UPDATE: I fixed the problem, it was a simple solution post a blog about the problem, and then sleep the laptop. The light starts working. OK not really, but it did start working again all on its own.

Aperture on a Mac Pro is slow when…

When you insert a 512mb xD card into a card reader, and try to import 635 photos to Aperture. Ok not really 635, I just wanted to import 2, but it had to load all 635, it took over 10 minutes! Seriously on a Mac Pro with 3gb RAM and Aperture, a LaCie USB 2.0 card reader took over 10 minutes to load a preview and data about 635 pictures.

It was one of the only times I have seen this Mac Pro beachball in both Finder and Aperture.

Lesson learned?

Do NOT buy memory cards because they are cheap, make sure you buy the ones with the fast read write speed, and a quality manufacturer. If you think I am exaggerating and all cards take that long, keep in mind that I can pull 200 pictures shot in RAW off a 150x CF card in a few minutes. Not a dozen minutes.

Cables make all the difference

Remember when the only cables you had coming out of the back of your computer were for a keyboard/mouse, monitor, power, printer? I do, I also remember never having trouble because the cable was in adequate.

But then USB 1.1 was replaced by 2.0 and things got a little confusing, which brings me to my point. Much like wiring a good speaker system the wire you use makes all the difference. I have bought the 2 dollar cables from websites, and also the 60 dollar cables from stores. For the most part I can’t tell the difference, except with a few things. Scanners, external hard drives and card readers.

So I have some advice from my own experience to impart to you all, if you want to know it, read on.

MS Blue Screen of Death Screensaver

Every have one of those days when it seems you just can’t win? Rest assured knowing that it happens to Microsoft more than any one else. The latest is the Blue Screen of Death screen-saver that is available for download from MS. They are catching a lot of flak over this. Why? Because people can’t take a joke.

Seriously, it is a joke, yes MS makes jokes, or tries to as the case may be. I actually kind of feel bad that people are reacting this way, but then I remember the days of fear and staring at that dreaded screen.

Ahh how nice it is to be a Mac user, and only be greeted by the occasional dimmed, multi-lingual screen of death, about once a year or so.