Note to self: Memorex brand DVD+R dual-layer discs do not work with the SuperDrive on my MacBook Pro from Disc Utility: “The attempt to burn a disc failed. The device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media.” Looks like I have to switch media.
Hrm. Use the directions on this page to flash the ROM on a MacBook Pro and make the DVD player region free. I have not used these directions, so caveat emptor.
Undercover is a $49 MacBook utility that aids in recovery if the laptop is stolen. If the stories on the website are to be believed, the company is pretty involved in the recovery process—I wonder what customer service will be like with multiple thousands of stolen laptops. Related: Setting up firmware password protection via Apple.
After waiting patiently in our closet, the $300 Powerbook I bought a few months ago finally got some attention this week.
To recap, I bought a G4 Powerbook off Craigslist with a very wobbly display knowing I’d probably have to do some work to it, but not soon after I got it home the display completely crapped out. After doing a bunch of research, I found the parts I needed and an english PDF of the Apple Service Guide on a German website after a lengthy Google search.
I replaced the DC power board, the display inverter, and the display cable in May, but the problem still persisted, and my budget for parts was depleted. So we put it on the shelf and waited. Later, my MacBook Pro had a similar problem, and the Apple Store replaced my LCD under warranty. I knew the only thing I hadn’t replaced was the culprit.
In the meantime, I got a call from a client who needed a larger drive in their Powerbook, which turned out to be an identical model. So, having dissected one laptop, I had plenty of experience opening another, and I used the fee for that job to pay for a new LCD.
After two hours’ work this evening (I’m getting faster as I go) I had the new LCD in place and tested out, and after buttoning up the top case, she was ready to go.
From TidBITS this week: a review of OfficeTime, another time tracking app for OS X (Windows version in beta). From what the review says, it has more features than our current tracking app, On The Job, including iCal integration, report generation, expense tracking, and flexible category pricing (handy when doing tasks with different hourly rates.) The review was good, so I’m going to try it out for a while.
I’m doing some research on automating workflows for a client, and I figured I’d need to brush up on my Applescript. Here’s a link to the Applescript Sourcebook, a fantastic collection of tips, tricks, and lists of scriptable applications. Through this page I realized I might be able to use the Automator to build my workflow—something I hadn’t even considered. Automatorworld has a pile of workflows and actions, although it’s weighted towards the Apple-authored applications.
Update: FontDoctor, the app I’m trying to automate, crashes with a -609 error (connection is invalid), even when I use the included scripts.
Update: This error simply means the Applescript can’t run because the application crashes.
I just did a major upgrade from 10.3 -> 10.4 for a client, and ran into a problem with two of ten machines: printing from any application crashed the app without getting to the print dialog. This problem affected all user accounts and did not go away after resetting the Printer Setup Utlility (hold down Option while booting, which nukes all saved printers and preferences.) The culprit: bad/old/flaky HP drivers. The solution: delete the “hp” folder in /Library/Printers/ . Go to HP’s site, download the latest drivers (it’ll be one package containing drivers for everything) and install them as instructed. Then go back to the Printer Setup Utility and set up the printers again. (via)
Hmm. Mossberg seems to like the iPhone. The sealed battery kind of worries me, personally. I like the ability to switch between my carrier’s data network and wi-fi. I don’t know if I’d want to pony up $100 for an extra 4 gigs of memory, but having only 4 gigs would probably get crowded pretty quick.
Gizmodo tallied up the total cost of ownership of an iPhone for the two-year minimum plan: $1974.76 for for 450 minutes a month and the 4GB iPhone. Ouch! I’ll have to add up my current phone/plan cost is (it’s only a 1-year) and see what the difference is.
I found the excellent application Senuti before I left for vacation, and just now have it set up with my backup music archive to find and pull any music I’ve got only on my iPod and not backed up to disc somewhere. It’s probably the slickest app of its kind I’ve seen so far. The key feature is comparison of what’s on your iPod vs. what’s in your iTunes library, which makes syncing manually very easy.