Weblog of a “Switcher”

Daring Fireball Linked List: April 2008:
"Counterpoint ★

Darby Lines:

Apparently Apple needs to also not check the box to install Safari by default. Again, the take home message here is that Windows users are so fucking confused by a checkbox that they can’t be trusted with the horrible responsibility of installing a browser."

(Emphasis added by myself)

Update: I originally titled this: Great quote from John Gruber (Daring Fireball). I later found out that the quote was actually from a Mr. Darby C . Lines that runs the site The Angry Drunk. (Sorry Darby!)

(Via Daring Fireball Linked List: April 2008.)

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Apple, apple software update, darby, darby c lines, darby lines, Daring Fireball, Gruber, lines, Software, the angry drunk, update

A friend of mine wrote up an interesting take on the value of some products and if they are really worth anything at all:

Radical Liberation: Worth What You Pay:
...
"If you’re interested in being able to do even more with your phone, like surf the web, then the iPhone quickly becomes worth the additional cost. Studies have already shown that even though other phones are capable of doing things like surfing the web it is only on the iPhone that people actually do such things regularly. That is no accident. If a user interface is so poor that people tend not to use a feature then, for all practical purposes, the feature might as well not be there in the first place."
...
A perfect example of this is the new Time Machine feature in Leopard. This is essentially a backup program, definitely nothing new in the world of personal computers. Not only have backup programs been available for decades, but every computer expert has pleaded with users to backup their important data. The reality though, according to a study by Apple of its customers, is that 90% of people do not backup regularly. (Regular, automated backups is pretty much the only way to have the backup you need when disaster strikes).
...

I would also say that some smart phones like Blackberry also fall into iPhone's category. However, I fully agree with the browsing part. I use my iPhone almost exclusively now for browsing when I am not in front of a computer. Even when my MacBook is just a few feet away. It's just easier and way more convenient. I would never ever consider browsing with any other phone, smart or otherwise. There really is something to having a real browser in the palm of your hand.

As to backing up home computers... Microsoft Windows Vista is suppose to have a backup solution that is pretty much always on. The interesting thing about it is that it's on for all versions of Vista as far as backing up goes, but is only accessible to restore on the most expensive versions of Vista: Business, Ultimate and Enterprise. This is great for businesses, but they already have backup solutions that work for them and really don't need something added on to that. Home users are where backing up a computer is really important and yet they don't allow Vista Home Basic or Home Premium to restore from the backups that Vista creates. Plus, there is the issue of the space those backups take.

I often wonder what was going thru the engineer's heads when they created this feature. I would love to know why they didn't allow home users access to such a useful feature.

There are folks out there that think that Time Machine is over the deep end when it comes to it's interface. The animation and windows that go off into infinity do seem a little over the top. However, those animations don't really slow down the feature all that much and really help the user understand what they are doing when it comes to restoring a file or folder. This also works for iPhoto, Address Book and other applications. It really gives the user a great idea of what they are about to do as well as helps them find a file or address that might have been removed my accident or somehow become damaged.

I would have to say that Apple has raised the bar for quite a few products that we use everyday. Phones, computers and even portable media players.

written by Dave M. \\ tags: backup, Backup Program, Blackberry, Cell Phones, computers, Home Computers, iPhone, Leopard, Macbook, Microsoft Windows Vista, opinion, Palm Of Your Hand, Personal Computers, product, Smart Phones, Time Machine, User Interface, Versions Of Vista, worth

One of the biggest pet peeve's of mine is when an OS doesn't follow it's rules and does something it's not supposed to do. This happens frequently in Microsoft Windows, but as John Gruber writes, it happens in OS X too.

Daring Fireball: Mac OS X's 'Search in Google' Safari Tie-In:
"Cocoa’s contextual menu ‘Search in Google’ command, as currently implemented, does hook specifically into Safari’s Google Search feature: the terms you search for appear in the Google Search field in Safari’s toolbar. A simpler way to implement the feature would be to construct a Google search URL containing the terms and open that URL in the default browser. This would make the feature work equally well in all browsers — but would deprive Apple of a few pennies in Google affiliate lucre for each such search."

As my families IT director, I make it a point to make sure they are using Firefox as a browser so that 95% of the crap out on the web won't sneak into their Windows box and otherwise destroy their installation of Windows. This happened to them back in 2006, but I'll get to that soon.

What happens is that the user sets up Windows or OS X to use a specific browser as the "default" browser. In my parents case, Firefox. Later, some program wants to take one of my parents to a webpage, so instead of following the "default" browser setting, it launches Internet Explorer and takes them there. From that point on, my parents think that they are using Firefox when in fact they are using Internet Explorer. Now they go off surfing somewhere else and bam!, they are hit with a virus or trojan and the OS is no longer usable. This is what happened back in 2006 for my parents and was the main reason I switched them over to OS X and a Mac Mini.

You see, my parents don't know Firefox from Internet Explorer from a hill of beans. All they know is that they are using a web browser and are able to get to where they want to with it. You and I are different, we can tell right away that there is something wrong and deal with it. I imagine that 90% of the computer using population are like my parents and don't know one browser from another.

From my experience with the Mac at that time, it seemed that OS X followed the rules it had set up and always launched the "default" browser no matter what. Now I learn that there is a way that OS X will launch Safari even if I have set Firefox up as the default browser. Now, fortunately, my parents will probably never use the "Search in Google" right click pop-up menu item, so they are unlikely to see Safari due to that. However, if the "Search in Google" item does it, then what else does it? At some point, there is going to be another program that will launch Safari instead of the browser selected as "default".

To me, this is a much bigger offense than the Apple Software Update program adding Safari to it's list in Windows. (But let's not go there again. That news item has been bantered to death) Mainly because the user is expecting to get the browser that they set to be their default browser to launch each and every time. With Windows, as I found out, this can be a huge security hole that just shouldn't be allowed to happen. Some could say that it's also a huge hole in OS X since Safari has some pretty serious holes in it that Firefox or another browser might not have.

written by Dave M. \\ tags: default browser, Internet Explorer, Mac, Os X, Safari, Windows

I usually find most of the articles on "ars technica" pretty informative and well researched. However, this latest bit of "reporting":

An errant Command-Q could leave your Mac unbootable:
By Chris Foresman | Published: March 25, 2008 - 03:02PM CT

Command-Q to Quit. Many of us know that shortcut so well that it's used without conscious thought. The shortcut is even honored with its own t-shirt. But an unfortunate MacOSXHints reader ran into some trouble when he hit Command-Q while installing the latest Safari update.

The update was being installed remotely using Screen Sharing. Software Update was showing the progress before rebooting, so Chris Platts hit Command-Q to quit Screen Sharing. However, the keystroke was sent to the remote machine, causing the update to quit. Since Safari 3.1 included a major WebKit update, applications that relied on WebKit started crashing after the aborted update. Oops.
A manual install of the update package cleared things up. But if an OS X update had been in progress, it could have rendered the machine unbootable. Until Apple puts some kind of protection in place, you'll want to keep your hands off the keyboard while updates are in progress."

Leaves me to wonder if they let anyone willing to write report on their site. I almost get the impression that this author "Chris foresman" has only just started using a Macintosh.

I have been using a Mac since May of 2006. My memory of security updates and OS updates are that they are done in such a way that it's impossible to quit Software Update in the process of the update. Maybe not the download, but the actual update itself. In Leopard, I have seen Software Update download the update, then reboot the computer to do the actual install after the system boots back up but before the OS actually starts up.

If Mr./Mrs. Foresman had actually been using a Mac for longer than a week, I think he/she would actually know this fact and not be reporting that it's possible that an errant Command-Q could destroy your OS
I'm actually surprised that Software Update allowed him to quit his update for Safari 3.1. I thought that when I updated that, my system rebooted and finished the update the same way an OS update does. However, I can't say for sure because I wasn't paying that close attention to the update. Plus, I don't go around pressing Command-Q when I'm doing something as important as a software update anyway.

I do run updates via Screen Sharing to my MacBook which is upstairs. I usually let the updating computer kill the connection to screen sharing or I'll close the window with the mouse. I just don't quit Screen Sharing by trying to use Command-Q. Maybe this is because I use "Chicken of the VNC" and Command-Q doesn't work to quit that program unless you have all connections to other computers closed.

Anyway, I hope that ars technica reads the comments about this questionable post and maybe reviews future articles from Mr./Mrs Foresman before he/she is posted on their site. Articles like this make sites like ars technica look a little amateurish. Much like my blog.

(Via ars technica.)

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Apple, Ars Technica, Author Chris, Keyboard, Keystroke, Macintosh, Macosxhints, March 25, Memory, Mr Mrs, Os Updates, Os X, Platts, Safari, Security Updates, Sharing Software, Software Update, System Boots, T Shirt, Unbootable

Temporarily change Dock magnification settings |
Dock/Exposé/Dashboard | Mac OS X Tips
"Here's a quick tip about a keyboard shortcut new to Leopard (OS X 10.5) that I didn't know about.

If you normally have Dock magnification turned off, holding Control and Shift while moving the mouse along it will temporarily turn on magnification. As soon as you let go of the keys, the magnification will turn back off again.

The Dock will magnify based on the settings in the Dock section of System Preferences, which you can only change when magnification is turned on. As a result you'll have to turn it on, choose your preferred magnification level and turn it back off again.

The keyboard shortcut works the other way round too. If you normally have magnification on, holding Control and Shift will temporarily turn it off.

I'm not sure how useful this feature is, but it's interesting none the less. "

This is the kind of thing that sets Macintosh and OS X apart from any other OS out there. It doesn't seem like much, but it's just the level of thought that is put into every application written for the Mac.

Thanks a bunch Mac OS X Tips for such a great tip! I'm so loving this tip!

(Via Mac OS X Tips.)

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Control, Dashboard, Keyboard Shortcut, Leopard, Mac Os X, Mac Os X Tips, Mac Tips, Macintosh, Macintosh Os, Magnification Level, Magnification Settings, Os X, System Preferences, Thanks A Bunch

Stay on target… « Lolcats ‘n’ Funny Pictures - I Can Has Cheezburger?

(Via ma.tt.)

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Can Has Cheezburger, Funny Pictures, Target, Target Pictures, Tt

1.1.3 Update May Break Gmail (Nobody Wants A Styl.us): "Nobody Wants A Styl.us
Tips for using Apple's iPhone.
« HOW TO: Create WebClips Icons | Main

1.1.3 Update May Break Gmail
I got a call this morning from my Dad.

Him: Bad news.

Me: What?

Him: Your mother’s Gmail isn’t working on her iPhone.

Me: Oh no!

Him: Yes. Houston, we have a problem.

This basically ground my parent’s house to a halt this morning.

It turns out both of their Gmail accounts weren’t working, but they don’t appear to be alone in this. The specific error message is that imap.gmail.com isn’t available, and it just keeps checking for email. Outbound mail does go out, but there’s no verification that it goes.

I don’t really know what’s going wrong here, but if you recreate the Gmail account fresh on the iPhone, everything seems to work right again.

(Fortunately, the Gmail setup is pretty easy.)

(Via Nobody Wants A Styl.us.)

This is interesting. I have read a couple of blogs now that have mentioned that Gmail was messing up on their iPhones.

This seems odd to me. I haven't seen any issues at all with Gmail on my iPhone. Now, I know that problems can crop up for some people and not others, but it just seems odd.

Now I have had problems with IMAP Gmail not working correctly with Mail.app. It works really nicely with Thunderbird, but I had some strange problems when sending email's via Mail.app. They may have been fixed by now. I haven't spent the time to try it since the first time I tried.

I guess I should be glad that I am not seeing these problems. I use Gmail as my main email account and all my other email accounts forward messages they receive to my Gmail account so that I can have access to all my mail all the time.

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Apple, Bad News, Blogs, Break, Dad, Email Account, Email Accounts, Error Message, Gmail Account, Houston We Have A Problem, Icons, Imap, iPhone, Iphones, Outbound Mail, Strange Problems, Styl, Thunderbird

Another Get a Mac ad: are they even trying anymore?: "The tone of the commercial also makes Time Machine seem a bit like you will never lose anything again, when in actuality if you create a document and delete it in the same hour Time Machine wont save you, no matter how many cables Mac has coming out of him."

(Via Ars Technica: Infinite Loop.)

This is actually a good point made by Charles Jade (Wasn't he a private-eye from Alpha-verse?). If a user creates a document minutes after Leopard's Time Machine finishes it's backup, then 45 minutes later, he accidently deletes the file and want's to get the file back. He's S.O.L. I guess that's one thing that Microsoft Windows Vista has over Leopard. Vista uses a file versioning system similar to CVS or SubVersion where every time the file is changed, a record of the changes made to the file is recorded. This way, Even if the file was created, then deleted by accident immediately afterward, you would be able to recover the file. Of course you have to have Vista Business or greater in order to take advantage of this feature. Vista Home Premium doesn't have a way of recovering the file. (What were they thinking!)

Even with the above mentioned flaw in Leopard's Time Machine, it's nice that there is a backup system that is basically invisible to the user. Just plug in an external Hard Drive and tell Leopard that it's a Time Machine drive and your finished.

My concern is mostly things like iTunes and iPhoto getting it's data files corrupted. I used to do a daily backup that would overwrite the backup everyday. So if I didn't notice the corruption quick enough, I would loose the files. With Time Machine, I can go back to just before the file was corrupted to recover the file and I'll be good to go.

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Actuality, Ars Technica, Backup System, Cables, Corruption, Cvs, External Hard Drive, Guess, Infinite Loop, Iphoto, iTunes, Leopard, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows Vista, Private Eye, Subversion, Time Machine, Vista Home Premium

I’ve Given Up Arguing with Windows Users Too! at My Own Reality

This guy hits the nail right on the head! It's pretty much the way I feel and have felt for quite some time. Why fight with Windows and Windows users when Mac users know perfectly well that they have the better systems and have the saner way of using computers.

I only wish I had the elegance and writing ability that this author has.

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Better Systems, Elegance, Mac Pc, Mac Users, Os X, Pro Con, Quite Some Time, Using Computers, Windows Mac, Windows Users