Hopefully this column won’t stink and disappear like Amanda’s first Rocketboom episode. I think her replacement is a poor imitation (that’s the worst Connecticut accent I’ve ever heard), and I can’t wait for Amanda’s big comeback. Anyway, we’re already off topic and we’ve just begun!
Welcome to the first edition of the MyMac.com Help Desk. This column will be along the lines of the Mac 911 and Ask Us columns in Macworld and MacAddict, not providing tech support but answering some of those nagging questions from readers. Unlike those columns, we’ll stray a bit from the letters from time to time. Tips, hints, ramblings, other stuff. You can send your questions to tom@mymac.com. I keep saying we instead of I because this is our column, not mine. Your letters will shape it. I will try to answer as many as I can (Obviously if I get hundreds some will be ignored. Sorry.), and put some in each column.
Continue reading »
There were quite a few surprises in Steve Job’s Macworld keynote address, mostly by what was not announced. The long anticipated iPhone was announced, but with features far beyond what many expected. iTV got a name – Apple TV. And not mentioned in the keynote, but also released today, was a new AirPort Extreme which supports 802.11a and 802.11n in addition to 802.11b & 802.11g.
The biggest surprise is that all of these announcements, with the partial exception of the new AirPort Extreme, have everything to do with Apple’s (notably Apple, Inc., no longer Apple Computer, Inc.) iPod division and nothing to do with the Mac division. How will these new products impact independent Mac dealers?
iPhone
Mac and iPod dealers, including my employer (First Tech Computer in Minneapolis, MN, USA), will not be carrying the iPhone. It will only be carried in Apple & Cingular’s own retail stores.
Apple TV
Mac dealers won’t be automatically able to carry the Apple TV. Since it’s from Apple’s iPod division, those reseller classifications apply. iPod resellers who wish to carry it will need to meet certain criteria in order to do so. If your local Mac dealer also has an extensive line of iPods and accessories and also carries a few HDTVs then chances are they will also have Apple TV.
AirPort Extreme
The AirPort line is carried by both Mac and iPod dealers, as evidenced by the fact that the AirPort Express has long been available at Best Buy. Unlike the AirPort Express (can an update be far off?) the new AirPort Extreme does not support AirTunes, but it is a perfect companion for Apple TV.
Expected, but not announced today, were iLife ’07, iWork ’07, and a demo of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Not even a sentence was said about any of them during the keynote. These announcements, now expected to come in a separate event sometime after Macworld Expo, more directly affect the Mac.
Most likely they were not announced at the same time as the iPhone so that they wouldn’t possibly be overshadowed by it. Remember, Steve Jobs said Leopard had quite a few unannounced features, many of which likely tie in to iLife ’07, iWork ’07, and the rumored .Mac service overhaul. The new iPhone probably also ties in with Leopard’s “secret” features. Surely these deserve center stage at a soon to come Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Introduction Specail Event.
The MyMac.com Help Desk column will be taking a brief hiatus, to be replaced this month by a review of Apple’s new AirPort Extreme Base Station. The biggest reason for the hiatus, though, is a shortage of help letters. As busy as the Genius Bars are, and as many questions as I answer all day long at First Tech Computer in Minneapolis, I know there are people out there who need help.
Send your questions to tom@mymac.com. New Macs, old Macs, iPods, networking – throw it at me. You will get the best answer I can give you. I am an Apple Certified Technician for one of the most respected Apple Specialist dealers in the United States, and I’ve been working on Macs for over 20 years. There’s not much I haven’t seen.
Something’s gotta give. I’ve been writing the monthly MyMac.com Help Desk column since last summer, and I almost did not do one this month (sorry for the editing mess that I’m sure it is, Tim) but I came up with what I thought was a fun idea for it. Right now I just have too much going on, especially in the next two weeks. Katie was sick, we’re painting half the inside of house, I have to trim our 8′ lilacs, I still need to finish the taxes, I have to renew my Apple certifications, I need to start writing my AirPort Extreme (802.11n) review, I’m dealing with my mother’s jewelry auctions, we have annual reviews at work, I have to take Benny to the vet today, Katie goes to the dentist tomorrow, I go to the doctor on Friday, I get the van’s oil changed Monday morning, we have to decide what to do for Katie’s day care over the summer, the phone line has been wonky (internet speed in the dumper – yes, I have dialup) ever since we got a couple feet of snow… Although they did fix the demolished phone wiring box a couple blocks over it’s only helped some. I’m sure I’m forgetting something.
Fortunately there is no Planning Commission meeting next week. That was on one of the painting nights. *sigh* I just need to get through the first half of April.
—————————— Tom has been a service technician with First Tech Computer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, one of the most highly regarded Apple Specialist dealers in the US, since 1994. Previous to that, Tom was the systems manager & a graphic designer for a small marketing firm from 1990 to 1992, then worked in technical & product support with Mirror Technologies & Envisio for 2 years. Send your questions to tom@mymac.com. He will personally reply to each message when received and select letters will be included in the MyMac.com Help Desk column.Due to a whole bunch of reasons (life sometimes becomes overwhelming) I was going to skip putting out an end of March/beginning of April column, but I changed my mind. Unfortunately due to those same types of things, and the editing challenges this particular column presented myself & others, it also ended up slipping until mid April. To finally get it out quickly, it’s on the blog half of MyMac.com instead of the feature side as normal. This time I’m do something a little different. It took longer than I expected to edit and it’s a bit of a challenge to read, but I hope you will enjoy it. Rather than the usual edited question-answer letters, I’m pulling back the curtain and showing the whole exchange – raw and (nearly) unedited. It’s pretty long, but it provides a good inside look into how this column comes into being. Thanks! Keep those emails coming! (Hope this works, because there’s a bug that doesn’t allow the blogs to be edited.)
——————————
That’s The Way, Uh Huh Uh Huh, It Just Is, Uh Huh Uh Huh
From: Michael L Johnson <---@-----.com>
Date: March 19, 2007 8:46:07 PM CDT
To: Tom Schmidt
Subject: Re: Some unsolved Mac Help Desk questions
Thanks for the reply.
#1) Yes, the PCI USB 2.0 card works fine with all USB devices I have tried. My
G4 will SLEEP and WAKE properly with card installed and no USB devices connected
and powered.
I just can’t SLEEP the G4 with anything connected to the card. But with a
connected and powered USB device it simply will not SLEEP correctly and will not
WAKE with no keyboard or mouse response and FORCED SHUT DOWN & reboot is only
way out.
#2) Thanks for comment on port number and I will certainly give that a shot on
the troublesome TRACEROUTE programs.
Best Regards and Thanks
MikeJ
>From: Tom Schmidt
>Date: March 19, 2007 3:18:10 PM CDT
>To: Michael L Johnson <---@-----.com>
>Subject: Re: Some unsolved Mac Help Desk questions
>
>Looks to me like you have pretty much figured it all out already. I have come
>across a lot of USB PCI cards of that vintage that simply will not allow a
>Power Mac G4 to sleep and wake, even if the vendor says it should as is the
>case with your IOGear card. From my experience, it seems to make a difference
>whether or not any USB devices are plugged into the card so it could be
>partially the bus and partially the USB devices. Does it make a difference if
>nothing is plugged in?
>
>As for the trace issue, my guess is that your router blocks port 33434. That’s
>the default for most tracers. Can you configure your router to block/unblock
>ports? If so, try opening up ports 33434-33534.
>
>Tom Schmidt
>
>On Mar 16, 2007, at 1:33 PM, Michael L Johnson wrote:
>
>>You asked for some HELP DESK type questions.
>>
>>I have two perplexing problems that I have been unable to solve, several years
>>now.
>>
>>Verbose details below.
>>======================
>>#1) Can’t WAKE from SLEEP with installed PCI USB 2.0 card
>>I have an older G4 my main Mac, a 2002 G4 933MHz QuickSilver, which did NOT
>>have USB 2.0 on the motherboard. I bought my daughter a 5th Gen iPod (the
>>Video iPod) which will sync ONLY via USB 2.0.
>>
>>So I added a PCI USB 2.0 card. All devices I have tested work fine with the
>>card. Mine happens to be IOGear GIC251U.
>>
>>But I can’t SLEEP the G4 and subsequently WAKE it successfully. If ANY USB
>>2.0 device is connected (did not test any USB 1.x devices) and powered and I
>>attempt SLEEP, the Mac screen dims, fans stay running, (I think HD still
>>spinning but not sure), and Mac will NOT WAKE. There is no response to
>>keyboard or mouse. Unplugging, plugging USB devices does nothing. ONLY way out
>>is to FORCE SHUT DOWN via power button. On reboot, all is well. This not fun
>>experience when the device is an iPod inadvertenty left connected and one must
>>FORCE SHUT DOWN with iPod still connected. Thus far I have not corrupted an
>>iPod yet this way.
>>
>>I have found others with similar dilemma and no solution on internet help
>>sites and usenet. There appears to be a bug mostly in PCI bus architecture
>>more than it is OSX faults, where there is no procedure for devices to send
>>notification there is a reactivation on WAKE. That last statement is conjecture
>>but all I have found being discussed or offered as a possible explanation.
>>The problem seems widespread or ubiquitous with most or all PCI USB 2.0 cards.
>>Some users with other cards (Belkin) have claimed it works for them but no
>>further details are ever given. Others with Belkin cards say they still have
>>same problem. It may be case of if one has a Mac with USB 2.0 on the
>>motherboard the PCI card may then work. All I know is mine does not, and same
>>for many others with other cards. I think mine is NEC chipset but not sure.
>>
>>Suggestions or advice?
>>
>>======================
>>#2) Can’t use most TRACEROUTE utilities with my router
>>
>>My hardware:
>>
>>older Cable modem with RoadRunner (shark fin 3COM) which likely is DOCIS 1.0
>>MIH 130A XRouter Pro by MacSense (Xsense.com)
>>problem occurs with all versions of OSX 10.0-10.4.8
>>G4 933 MHz
>>G4 iMac 1.25GHz
>>G4 450 MHz
>>
>>Everything seems to work fine with this router & OSX fine including PING.
>>
>>But I had and still am having trouble doing TraceRoute through my router under
>>OSX. After many months of frustration,finally OSX versions of TraceRoute
>>utilities did arrive that allowed choice of UDP (default) or ICMP, and ICMP
>>setting did finally allow TraceRoute to work through my router.
>>
>>Does a UDP port need to be open in my router configuration to allow UDP
>>Traceroute to run correctly under UDP & OSX? What port number is that? What
>>feature or options do I set on my router for that?
>>
>>I understand some people do have such problems through various routers.
>>I certainly am not an expert on network issues like this.
>>
>>MacSense router worked fine as I recall (including traceroute) under OS9.22 and
>>earlier (but have not used OS9.x for some time and memory (between the ears
>>that is ) ) may be faulty and router works in OSX for everything but any
>>Traceroute utility defaulting to UDP.
>>
>>
>>=======
>>I had a long exhausting search for a TraceRoute program utility that would
>>run under OSX working through my router under OSX. Even the TRACEROUTE
>>routine in Apple provided Apps/utilities/ Network Utility fails.
>>
>>All attempts will start a TRACEROUTE and show only the first hop, 192.158.1.1
>>succeeding (the router) all all subsequent hops failing. I don’t recall
>>details from years ago, but these utilities may work by bypassing the router
>>and have a direct connection from Mac to cable modem without the router.
>>
>>It took more than a year trying everything I could think of and nothing
>>worked, but IPNetMonitor 1.2x and WhatRoute 1.814 versions finally came out and
>>both of these (although they both use UDP protocol by default) do have a
>>feature to use ICMP for TraceRoute and when set to ICMP, the TraceRoute
>>function finally does work.
>>
>>Current and earlier versions of various shareware, free & commercial
>>traceroute OSX programs have not and do not currently work through my router
>>under OSX:
>>
>>GlobalTraceRoute, NetBarrierX3′s TraceRoute, and VisualRoute and the Apple
>>Network Utility all fail. None of these have any user setting or indication
>>for anything about a UDP or ICMP.
>>
>>I just want to be able to use some other TraceRoute tools on occasion (like
>>the one in NetBarrier).
>>
>>======================
>>
>>I have never found any solutions to either of these OSX related problems.
>>Neither are earthshaking but still annoying. The first problem the PCI USB 2.0
>>card SLEEP/WAKE problem, many other users are experiencing. The second
>>problem is likely specific to my router manufacturer or model and I have not
>>seen or found any other users posting a similar problem.
>>
>>Thanks. Hope you have some ideas.
>>
>>MikeJ
——————————
iBook, 2001-2007, R.I.P.
From: Gerald W Wennerstrom <---@-----.net>
Date: March 19, 2007 3:11:01 PM CDT
To: Tom Schmidt
Subject: Re: iBook
Hi Tom
Yep used is what I’m looking for. Its kinda of like cars with me, I’d rather
someone else take the hit of depreciation – that is if I can find one with low
miles.
Again thank you for your feedback, very much appreciated.
Cheers
Jerry
>From: Tom Schmidt
>Date: March 19, 2007 2:23:57 PM CDT
>To: Gerald W Wennerstrom <---@-----.net>
>Subject: Re: iBook
>
>Funny you should ask… I’m currently reassembling an original MacBook (Core
>Duo processor). Those have some issues, but not to the degree of your iBook.
>The current MacBook (the one with the Core 2 Duo processor) seems to be rock
>solid. Used iBook G4s are good too, if used is what you’re looking for.
>
>On Mar 19, 2007, at 2:18 PM, Gerald W Wennerstrom wrote:
>>
>>Hi Tom
>>>
>>>Sorry to take so long to answer. I have a 6 year old, it’s income tax time,
>>>and a sickly mother. I’ve been a bit overwhelmed of late.
>>
>>And you probably forgot to change the cat litter box too 
>>
>>Don’t worry about it I believe that everything happens at the right time for
>>the right reason.
>>>
>>>Unless you have experience disassembling laptops or electronics, especially
>>>similar iBooks, I would not consider it DIY. As for the odds of it
>>>happening again, I generally advise against fixing the white G3 iBooks once
>>>they are outside the 3 year period where Apple will repair them because in
>>>many cases I have seen the issue come back multiple times.
>>
>>OK. That solves wanting to DIY it.
>>>
>>>The parts are refurbished & the parts for your particvular model no longer
>>>go through the refurbishment process due to Apple classifying that model as
>>>obsolete.
>>
>>Ah, there in lies the rub. Oh well.
>>>
>>>To get the data from your hard disk, assuming it is perfectly ok, it will
>>>have to be removed from the iBook. It can then be put in a FireWire case.
>>
>>I’ll look into getting that done with the Firewire.
>>>
>>>Sorry for the gloom and doom.
>>
>>No doom and gloom there. The iBook has served its purpose well, and now I can
>>get a newer one. Cool
>>
>>Any of the other iBooks I should stay away from?
>>
>>Answer after you’ve changed the litter box (that poor cat).
>>
>>Cheers
>>Jerry
>>
>>>From: Tom Schmidt
>>>Date: March 19, 2007 1:37:47 PM CDT
>>>To: Gerald W Wennerstrom <---@-----.net>
>>>Subject: Re: iBook
>>>
>>>Jerry,
>>>
>>>Sorry to take so long to answer. I have a 6 year old, it’s income tax time,
>>>and a sickly mother. I’ve been a bit overwhelmed of late.
>>>
>>>Unless you have experience disassembling laptops or electronics, especially
>>>similar iBooks, I would not consider it DIY. As for the odds of it
>>>happening again, I generally advise against fixing the white G3 iBooks once
>>>they are outside the 3 year period where Apple will repair them because in
>>>many cases I have seen the issue come back multiple times. The parts are
>>>refurbished & the parts for your particvular model no longer go through the
>>>refurbishment process due to Apple classifying that model as obsolete.
>>>
>>>To get the data from your hard disk, assuming it is perfectly ok, it will
>>>have to be removed from the iBook. It can then be put in a FireWire case.
>>>
>>>Sorry for the gloom and doom.
>>>
>>>Tom
>>>
>>>On Mar 9, 2007, at 10:22 AM, Gerald W Wennerstrom wrote:
>>>>
>>>>Hi Tom
>>>>
>>>>Thank you for the research, very much appreciated.
>>>>
>>>>Questions:
>>>>
>>>>1) Are the two items difficult to replace via DIY.
>>>>
>>>>2) If I have the IBook repaired what are the chances of it happening again?
>>>>.i.e. Will the new parts be upgraded ones and thus more dependable than
>>>>Apple’s OEM?
>>>>
>>>>3) If I buy another iBook how do I retrieve my data on the G3?
>>>>
>>>>Cheers
>>>>Jerry
>>>>
>>>>>From: “Tom Schmidt”
>>>>>Date: March 9, 2007 8:37:42 AM CST
>>>>>To: Gerald W Wennerstrom <---@-----.net>
>>>>>Cc: Eolake Stobblehouse <---@-----.com>
>>>>>Subject: Re: iBook
>>>>>Reply-To:
>>>>>
>>>>>That model is an iBook (Dual USB), and it has known chronic issues with
>>>>>the logic board. The colored lines tell me this is the problem. All of
>>>>>the all white iBooks with a G3 processor (not the iBook G4) have this
>>>>>problem. You may also have a problem with the sleep switch/inverter
>>>>>cable. Apple no longer supplies service parts for this model. The best
>>>>>solution is to replace the computer. Sorry.
>>>>>
>>>>>I’ve attached a jpg from Apple UK showing the service provider’s closest
>>>>>to you. You should be able to get a repair estimate from them. Thank
>>>>>you. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
>>>>>
>>>>>———- Original Message ———————————-
>>>>>>From: Gerald W Wennerstrom <---@-----.net>
>>>>>>Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2007 13:02:43 +0000
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Hi Eolake, Tom, Tim
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Thank you for the follow up, any help is always greatly appreciated.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The SN is – UV12108GLCD
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Model – M6497
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I live in Ash, Kent CT3 2DG between Sandwich / Dover / Canterbury.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Cheers
>>>>>>Jerry
>>>>>>
>>>>>>On 6 Mar 2007, at 05:24, Eolake Stobblehouse wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>From what I recall from back when I had it, it crash immediately when
>>>>>>>one closed the lid without putting it to sleep first, it didn’t need time
>>>>>>>to heat up.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Thank you, Tom.
>>>>>>>Jerry will have the serial no.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Eolake
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>From: Tom Schmidt
>>>>>>>>Date: March 5, 2007 11:20:24 PM CST
>>>>>>>>To: Eolake Stobblehouse <---@-----.com>
>>>>>>>>Cc: Tim Robertson
>>>>>>>>Subject: Re: iBook
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I can’t definitely say without looking at it, but it sounds like it is
>>>>>>>>not going to sleep when the lid is closed, but that it may be
>>>>>>>>overheating & crashing. If so, the sleep switch/inverter cable needs
>>>>>>>>to be replaced. If not, it may be the logic board. I can give a
>>>>>>>>better answer with the serial number & Jerry’s city.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>On Mar 4, 2007, at 8:49 AM, Tim Robertson wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>humm…. Not offhand. I am CC:ing Tom at MyMac, a certified Apple tech,
>>>>>>>>>who may have some ideas.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Tim
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>On Mar 4, 2007, at 9:26 AM, Eolake Stobblehouse wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Hi Tim
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>A couple of years ago I sold a used white iBook to a good friend
>>>>>>>>>>(cheap). I advised him to put it to sleep before closing the lid,
>>>>>>>>>>otherwise it would crash with lines running down the screen, and have
>>>>>>>>>>to be rebooted. Well, now he reports as below. Any idea how he might
>>>>>>>>>>try to salvage the machine?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>At 09:35 +0000 4/3/07, Jerry wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>Eolake
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>I accidentally closed the iBook yesterday without shutting it off
>>>>>>>>>>>and it crashed.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>I turned the power off, and restarted it only now I get a white
>>>>>>>>>>>screen only, or a white screen with vertical colored lines.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Been to the forums and followed all the advice about resetting pram
>>>>>>>>>>>etc and to no avail.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Did you ever experience this happening to you?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Thanks
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Jerry
——————————
Stuff Just Won’t Do Stuff
From: Donny <---@-----.com>
Date: March 12, 2007 3:08:29 PM CDT
To:
Subject: update
So here’s the latest.
The iSight started working again after the computer was off for some time (I
actually found an article that said this might fix it).
He had Mail issues, but that was due to the comcast tech telling him the wrong
settings! Go figure.
So, now all is well. Printer is printing, and everything seems to be okay.
Thanks for trying to help.
Donny
>From: donny <---@-----.com>
>Date: March 11, 2007 6:17:49 AM CDT
>To: Tom Schmidt
>Subject: Re: the saga continues
>
>I found some information on the iSight issue. It said unplug everything from
>the computer and reconnect.
>
>If that doesn’t do the trick I’m sending him to the Apple Store.
>
>I’ll let you know what happens.
>
>Thanks for the help.
>
>Donny
>
>Tom Schmidt wrote:
>>Anything with an iSight built in shipped with a machine specific Tiger install.
>>Wrong disc used? Botched install? Bad internal drive? Combo of those? I
>>wish I could hook it up to my netboot.
>>
>>On Mar 9, 2007, at 4:05 PM, Yankellow wrote:
>>>
>>>Okay.
>>>
>>>My friend went for a fresh install of OSX, and he installed the printer
>>>drivers, and he can print!
>>>
>>>Here’s the catch (or two):
>>>
>>>He opened PhotoBooth and everything is black. No image from the built-in
>>>iSight.
>>>
>>>I’m starting to think he needs a trip to Apple.
>>>
>>>He had trouble installing the printer drivers off his Epson CD with the
>>>internal drive. I told him to try off his external burner. The drivers
>>>installed fine.
>>>
>>>Any thoughts?
>>>
>>>Thanks.
>>>
>>>Donny
>>>
>>>>From: donny <---@-----.com>
>>>>Date: March 9, 2007 4:47:11 AM CST
>>>>To: Tom Schmidt
>>>>Subject: Re: more on my friend’s computer
>>>>
>>>>We were going to try the printer on my laptop to eliminate the issue being
>>>>the printer going bad all of a sudden.
>>>>
>>>>I’m really considering backing up all his stuff and do an erase and install.
>>>>I have a feeling he might have done something and doesn’t know it.
>>>>
>>>>Donny
>>>>
>>>>Tom Schmidt wrote:
>>>>>If it prints the Epson utility test page on the same Mac that it won’t
>>>>>print from I’m not sure what that means. If the Epson utility test page
>>>>>bypasses the print driver for a routine in the printer’s firmware it could
>>>>>be a driver issue. If the test page uses the driver then it would be an
>>>>>application issue. Epson could answer that question.
>>>>>
>>>>>Do you have a FireWire hard disk with Mac OS X on it to take his OS out of
>>>>>the loop?
>>>>>
>>>>>On Mar 8, 2007, at 11:20 AM, Yankellow wrote:
>>>>>>Tom,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I just got back from my friend’s house to check out the messed up printer
>>>>>>situation. I can’t figure anything out.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I’ve narrowed it down to 2 options/possibilities. The printer
>>>>>>coincidentally died at some point during all this, or the computer has
>>>>>>something wrong.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I’m about to tell him to reformat the computer, and see what happens.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Donny
>>>>>>
>>>>>>On Mar 8, 2007, at 4:47 AM, donny wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Yup.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>He reset and installed the drivers several times last night. No crashing
>>>>>>>of the program, but no printing.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>He was able to add the printer, but now it won’t print.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>It will run a test page from the Epson utility.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Tom Schmidt wrote:
>>>>>>>>First the updates, then the “Reset Printing System” command?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>On Mar 7, 2007, at 2:54 PM, donny wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I just finished walking him through the archive and install and pages
>>>>>>>>>doesn’t quit anymore, but he can’t add his printer to the list. He’s
>>>>>>>>>reinstalled the drivers several times, he goes to printer utility, the
>>>>>>>>>printer is listed, but when he clicks it- add will not become
>>>>>>>>>clickable.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I’m running out of ideas.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I’m having him run software update until he can’t run it anymore, and
>>>>>>>>>I’m hoping that does the trick.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Any other ideas?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Donny
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>From: donny <---@-----.com>
>>>>>>>>>>Date: March 6, 2007 4:34:05 AM CST
>>>>>>>>>>To: Tom Schmidt
>>>>>>>>>>Subject: Re: crash log
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Thanks! I’ll let you know.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Tom Schmidt wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>It looks like the file that’s consistently crashing is
>>>>>>>>>>>/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework. An
>>>>>>>>>>>archive/install should do the trick.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>On Mar 4, 2007, at 12:52 PM, Yankellow wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>Tom,
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>Here’s the Pages crash log from my friend’s computer who is having
>>>>>>>>>>>>printer issues. It means nothing to me, but if you see anything let
>>>>>>>>>>>>me know.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>Thanks!
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>Donny
MyMac.com Help Desk 11 is coming soon, featuring free Windows utilities you can use with Windows under Boot Camp or Parallels, but your emails are needed for MyMac.com Help Desk 12 and beyond.
If you’ve got an issue or a question please write tom@mymac.com. Please include your Mac’s serial number and where you are writing from for the fastest, best response.
——————————
Tom has been a service technician with First Tech Computer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, one of the most highly regarded Apple Specialist dealers in the US, since 1994. Previous to that, Tom was the systems manager and a graphic designer for a small marketing firm from 1990 to 1992, then worked in technical and product support with Mirror Technologies and Envisio for 2 years.
Send your questions to tom@mymac.com. He will personally reply to each message when received and select letters will be included in the MyMac.com Help Desk column.
I’ve played with the iPhone a few times. Here at First Tech we can’t sell them yet, but we do have one on the sales floor. I’ve also placed some calls with the ones in the Apple Store. It seems to be everything Apple says it is, but for me there are 2 deal breakers.
The iPhone is, of course, the best iPod ever. It could easily replace my 2 1/2 year old 20 GB iPod. It does enough that it could replace my 3 1/2 year old Palm Tungsten C, except that’s what I use to do my checkbook. I don’t want to do my checkbook on a laptop or desktop, and MyCheckbook is simple and meets my needs perfectly. Dealbreaker #1.
Dealbreaker #2 is my cell plan. I pay $5 a month to Virgin Mobile with no contract and no expiring minutes. AT&T would charge me $60 a month, handcuff me for 2 years, and the rollover minutes eventually expire. I don’t use my cell phone enough to justify it. $5 a month, baby. Can’t beat it.
Here is the original review.
Today I discovered that Macally has released Macally Input Manager 1.0, the software I wished they had included in the first place. It is listed only for their Bluetooth mice, but it looks like it would work with their other mice as well. The popup menu on the first screen includes practically every mouse Macally has recently made plus the NetKey keyboard. The preference pane has tabs for Mouse and Keyboard, so it looks like this is what they will be using for most future products.
Macally Input Manager 1.0 can be downloaded at http://www.macally.com/EN/Techsupport/Drivers.asp. Settings are configurable for the scroll wheel and the left, middle (scroll wheel click), and right buttons as well as the usual mouse controls.
OK, let’s try this again… Kind of messes things up when you do a typo & can’t edit changes.
I haven’t installed Leopard yet. I can’t, because I depend on Unsanity’s FruitMenu to get around on my Mac. When Leopard was released they made a statement the following day, but since then absolute silence. How about letting us know what’s going on, Unsanity!
As this is a copy of an email, this is in reverse order, starting with my reply to Unsanity’s reply and ending with my original email.
——————————
Joseph,
Thank you very much for your reply. I appreciate the position you and your colleagues at Unsanity are in. It has been very difficult for all developers, as Apple kept making tweaks right up to the end – enough that I’m sure you weren’t certain exactly what had shipped until you grabbed a box off the shelf.
With as many under the hood changes as have been made, I’m sure it is much more difficult than ever to get your products ready for Leopard. I don’t recall your Jaguar to Panther and Panther to Tiger transitions taking this long. You said, “we will have no further status updates until [APE is ready].” That’s not particularly customer friendly. One man shows such as Mike Bombich (Carbon Copy Cloner) and Joel Barriere (Onyx), small developers such as Shirt Pocket Software (SuperDuper!) and Script Software (iKey), and big developers like Adobe and FileMaker have been keeping users informed about their progress toward Leopard compatibility.
You may want to read Shirt Pocket’s update blog at http://www.shirt-pocket.com/blog/. They are giving weekly updates on their progress. You have an update blog, but you don’t update it much. You said, “Please keep an eye on our official lines of communication for more information on compatibility releases”, then proceeded to list your web site, blog, newsletter, and compatibility page. None of these has been updated since October 27th regarding Leopard compatibility. Today is December 11th.
I’m not one of those raving nutjobs who leaves the “f*ck Unsanity!” comments in your blog. I’m just a paying customer who wants something to look forward to. Giving users an idea of what’s going on would likely have a positive effect and slow down the number of angry idiots posting comments in your blog. Thank you.
Tom Schmidt
On Dec 11, 2007, at 8:52 PM, Unsanity – Joseph wrote:
Hi,
We are hard at work getting Application Enhancer (APE) and our haxies compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. We’ve been so delayed because APE didn’t even run until we received the shipping version of Leopard. Unsanity has 9 shareware products and about 4 free products that *must* work in Leopard, and APE requires some of these other products be updated first. We will release APE when we feel it is ready and not a moment before, and we will have no further status updates until then.
Please keep an eye on our official lines of communication for more information on compatibility releases, calls for beta testers, and other updates, and watch our compatibility page for updates on application compatibility. You will find these resources at the following URL’s:
- Website: http://www.unsanity.com
- Blog: http://www.unsanity.org
- Newsletter: http://www.unsanity.com/list
- Compatibility Page: http://www.unsanity.com/products/compatibility
Original message:
> It sure would be nice if you could be a bit more public about what’s
> going on regarding Leopard compatibility. Haven’t heard a peep from
> you folks about it in over a month. Some of us are waiting for your
> products to be updated before upgrading to Leopard. Specifically I
> am waiting for FruitMenu. Please let us know what’s going on. Thank
> you.
>
> Tom Schmidt, First Tech Computer, Minneapolis, MN & MyMac.com
> http://homepage.mac.com/TomDar2/
>
Sincerely yours,
Joseph – Unsanity
:: unsanity@unsanity.com
:: www.unsanity.com / www.unsanity.org
–
Unsanity – Unsane Tools For Insanely Great People – Haxies and more for Mac OS X
I use FruitMenu. I have since version 1. At work I use it so much that I can’t upgrade to Leopard until I either replace it or it’s compatible. In my position I will probably need to install Leopard soon. As a service tech at an Apple Specialist I need to keep up with the times. I don’t know if Unsanity realizes this, but their silence is pushing customer’s away. Classic Menu, for example, is Leopard compatible. It’s not as elegant as FruitMenu, but it works and people can buy it today.
I thought of this after I sent my reply this morning. All I really want from Unsanity is some communication. Twice a month or so some tiny progress report. Like I said in the email, it doesn’t feel like they are doing anything at all with no customer communication. Show your customers that you care, Unsanity.
———-
From: Tom Schmidt
Date: January 21, 2008 7:02:20 AM CST
To: Unsanity – Joseph
Subject: Re: What’s going on? (Case #068696-640)
You wrote: “our programmers don’t feel the need to post with messages like “Still working, not compatible yet” all the time”
In case you didn’t notice, your customers DO feel that need. Isn’t it what the customer’s want that counts? Without ANY form of communication it feels like you are sitting on your butts & doing nothing. Thank you.
On Jan 21, 2008, at 6:08 AM, Unsanity – Joseph wrote:
Hi,
The story hasn’t changed yet — we’re still working on our updates. If you are talking about communication on our blog, as I said before, we won’t be posting updates — our programmers don’t feel the need to post with messages like “Still working, not compatible yet” all the time. If you meant directly to you by email, unfortunately we get way too much email to keep track of everybody who’s written to us and would like a response. I recommend signing up for the mailing list, if you haven’t yet, as that will be one of the first things we tackle when we have some news to release. Thank you for your continued patience until then.
>Original message:
>How about some communication? Anything more than silence would be
>welcome regarding Leopard compatibility. Thank you.
Sincerely yours,
Joseph – Unsanity
:: unsanity@unsanity.com
:: www.unsanity.com / www.unsanity.org
–
Unsanity – Unsane Tools For Insanely Great People – Haxies and more for Mac OS X
One of the things I missed switching to Mac OS X was the customizable Apple Menu. You could add anything to the Apple Menu just by putting it or an alias of it in the Apple Menu Items folder in the System Folder. Apple’s answer to this is the Dock, which loads up far too quickly with installed icons for less frequently used applications and documents.
One of the first pieces of software that I added in the early days of Mac OS X was FruitMenu, from Unsanity. FruitMenu cracked Mac OS X open and allowed you to remake the Apple menu any way you wanted. FruitMenu was so good I bought it within a couple days of trying it, and I’ve been using it until recently.
Major releases of Mac OS X always broke FruitMenu, but Unsanity was always very quick about getting a compatible version out. Unfortunately that hasn’t been the case this time, and needing to upgrade to Leopard as part of my job about 3 weeks ago, I had to find a replacement.
One of the first ones that caught my eye was Classic Menu 2.8.1, $10 shareware from Sig Software. Of all the software I’ve looked at this is the most like FruitMenu, although unlike FruitMenu the Apple menu’s commands can’t be directly integrated. It overlays the Apple menu, allowing access to it with a modifier key or by clicking on a certain part of the Apple menu. Item order is fully customizable and separators, lines that divide the menu into sections, can also be added. Classic Menu is simple, powerful, and inexpensive.
XMenu 1.8.1, free from Devon Technologies, is a menu extra that consists of as many as 5 menus of specific folders: Applications, Developer, Home, Documents, and the XMenu folder. Of these, only the XMenu folder is customizable with aliases and files but item order can’t be customized or separators added. Xmenu appears with other menu extras on the right half of the menu bar.
The most powerful of the bunch is MaxMenus 1.5.1, $29.95 from Proteron. Unlike the rest, which are applications, MaxMenus is a preference pane. It places a small colored quarter circle in each corner of your display with some well configured defaults. With multiple displays you can add additional menus in those corners. If I understand the documentation correctly, even in a single display configuration you could potentially make well over a dozen separate menus with modifier key/click options in all 4 corners and the empty area of the menu bar. Keyboard shortcuts can be added to individual menu items also. Menu items can be arranged any way you see fit, and section labels and separators can be added. You can also add keyboard shortcut triggered popup menus, and all the menus fully support drag and drop just like the Dock. MaxMenus is head and shoulders above the rest in power and flexibility. Of course it is also the most expensive.
RapidoStart 2.1, free from app4mac, isn’t a menu. It puts a green dot in the lower right corner of your display that, when clicked, pops up a translucent dark grey launcher window. Applications is the default category and you can add more and add pages to each category. There’s also a search box. RapidoStart is configured via a menu near the lower right corner, and there is a good variety of layout options. An F key can also be configured to open it. It is the most attractive of the bunch, but not being a menu it loses a little flexibility in that you can’t have folders that go down to sub folders. The first launch brings up an excellent visual tutorial that tells you everything you need to know to get started. Applications is the default category and you can add more and add pages to each category. There’s also a search box. Files are added via drag and drop.
SunnyMenu 1.2, $8.88 from Light Being Software, is the new kid on the block. It’s only been around since September, and it’s seen at least 4 updates since I started this project. Like MaxMenus, SunnyMenu puts a configurable menu in each corner, but instead of using empty menu bar space for its fifth menu it uses its Dock icon. On first launch the upper left corner menu auto populates with your applications broken out into the categories Apple, Office, Internet, Text, Imaging, Audio, Video, and Utilities, below which are the Edit Menus, Preferences, and Quit commands. It has labels and separators and item order is customizable. It’s not quite as polished as some of the others, but the developer’s support is very enthusiastic and features are being added at a rapid pace. Fortunately at this pace it lets you know when a new version is available.
All of these are less likely to be broken by future Mac OS X updates than FruitMenu as they do not dig down into the System. These products provide a wide range of capabilities, approaches, and pricing and one of them would certainly work for anyone looking for this type of solution. The full review should be complete sometime in the next couple months.
In December, Apple sent emails offering 20% off coupon codes for the iPhoto book and calendar services expiring February 29th. With the deadline approaching, last minute requests (myself included) overloaded Apple’s servers, according to an Apple representative I spoke with.
In response on Friday, Apple extended the deadine for redemption to March 8th for the following coupon codes:
North America:
NAWinterBook08
NAWinterCal08
Europe:
EUWinterBook08
EUWinterCal08
Japan:
JPWinterBook08
JPWinterCal08
Apple’s servers appear to be back online, as I was able to complete my book order this morning with no difficulty at all.
I have a dilemma. I’ve got an idea for a new Mac OS X application, but I’m not a developer. I’ve got a mockup of the document window and all the menus and submenus, and Donny Yankellow is working on a cool icon. Everyone I’ve shown it to thinks it’s a fantastic idea. The one thing I don’t have is the thing I need the most – a developer/partner to make this thing real.
I started out by asking around, and since I don’t hang out with lots of developers and most of my friends don’t know any developers that hasn’t gotten me far. I did manage to find the son of a friend who is perfectly qualified – and at the moment far too busy to help.
I was going to try craigslist, but the terms prohibit the kind of posting I’d need to do since it’s not exactly a salaried job – yet.
Forums were the next thing I thought of, but unless I’m using the wrong search terms there just don’t seem to be any major developer forums. Apple doesn’t have one, other than a “beta” of an iPhone developer forum. I’d like it to have an iPhone companion eventually, but right now that would be putting the cart before the horse.
Apple does have a developer mailing list, which was suggested to me by another developer who was unable to help. I tried that, but the moderators haven’t approved it yet. They may, but I guess a business proposition might not be an appropriate message for this particular list. They did recommend a Yahoo group I haven’t looked at yet.
Not sure where this will end up, but this is the start of what hopefully will be a very interesting journey. Messages for help will probably be what succeeds. Slowly I am getting in contact with more people who “know a friend who may be interested.” And then the friend is too busy or something but offers another suggestion. More dead ends, but some more suggestions.
What would you do find a developer? Are you a developer looking for a potentially big business opportunity? Do you know someone or have a suggestion? If so, please click my name above than click the email link. I think it’s gonna be a fun ride!
APPLE SPECIALIST DEALERS ANNOUNCE
HUGE PRE-HOLIDAY SALE
– More Than 130 Locations in North America to Offer the Best Deals Of the Year
On New Macs This Friday, Saturday and Sunday Only –
November 20, 2008 – San Diego, CA – The Apple Specialist Marketing Co-op (ASMC) is proud to announce the first annual Apple Specialist Pre-Holiday Sale. More than 130
independent Apple Specialist Reseller locations in the US and Canada are participating in this event. Buyers will receive up to $200 of useful gifts with each new Mac in
addition to special holiday pricing on both new and recently discontinued models. A full list of participating locations is available at www.applespecialist.com/sale.
“This is the biggest sales event in Apple Specialist history and we’ve pulled out all the stops,” said Kevin Langdon, ASMC Executive Director. “We have very strong support
from Apple, Brenthaven, Canon, Epson, HP, Mac Video Training and STM Bags – overall we have the best, most aggressive deals on a new Mac you can get anywhere.”
Buyers can receive a free color inkjet printer (up to a $99 value, after mail-in rebate), a free “Quickstart Your Mac” training disc (a $40 value) and, with new Mac portables,
a free high quality laptop case (up to an $85 value). And that’s on top of the special pricing deals that will only be made available to buyers at the event.
“Depending on which items you buy, you can save hundreds of dollars at this event,” said Langdon. “This is truly an unprecedented effort by the Apple Specialists to offer
their loyal customers something extra during these tough times.”
Not all locations will be participating for all three days, please see www.applespecialist.com/sale for specific location details. Also, prices and
participation may vary by location. The AppleCare Protection Plan may be required to qualify for some offers. All offers valid while supplies last. Some offers require
manufacturer mail-in rebates. All offers expire no later than end of business on Sunday, November 23, 2008.
“Apple Specialists provide the complete, one-stop solution for all their clients’ Macintosh product and service needs,” Langdon said. “Apple Specialists don’t just sell
boxes – we consult with our clients and design custom computing solutions to fit their specific requirements. And this weekend we have the very best deals in North America, too.”
# # # #
The Apple Specialists Marketing Co-op represents 160 Apple Specialist Dealers, Apple Authorized Resellers and Apple Authorized Service Providers with more than 300 locations
throughout the U.S and Canada. Our members are listed online at www.applespecialist.com.
Some of you do, but most of you don’t, know that I am the senior Repair Technician at First Tech Computer – an Apple Specialist in Minneapolis. I will be posting Snow Leopard tips and taking questions on Twitter. The username is tomdar2.
Comments. Be heard!
MyMac Podcast #403
Review
Review
Review