Articles
Home » Resources » Articles » Search Results
Archive for March, 2006
Remembering All 100 Passwords
Friday, March 31, 2006 / Software / 0 Comments
Over the last decade, I have accumulated nearly 100 passwords, more than any one person should be expected to remember. During the early years, I used the same password for everything. Although this method works most of the time, it’s not very secure. Later on I started using Apple’s Keychain to remember my passwords. This worked well until the website changed its layout and consequently it was no longer recognized by Safari’s AutoFill function. Then I was stuck without any chance of remembering what the password was. Because AutoFill remembered the password for me, I did not even use a cute way of recalling that password (For instance, I once used a combination of my dog’s name and my childhood home’s street address). So I had to reset my password, right? No, I didn’t, and neither do you. If this happens to you, there is a perfect little utility on your hard drive waiting to bail you out. It’s called Keychain Access and like its name implies, it gives you access to all your saved passwords in the OS X Keychain.
Read More »
One Step To Safer Computing
Tuesday, March 21, 2006 / Security / 0 Comments
As Mac users, we are greatly protected from some of the perils of the online world. To date, OS X has not suffered from any major Trojan, worm, Spyware, or virus. Vulnerabilities in OS X have been only theoretical exploits that are quickly patched, or are infections that relied on gross user error. I, as do many experts, discourage Mac owners from using an anti-virus program because they are unneeded. We all need to remember that change is the only constant, but by just adjusting one setting, you can make your Mac nearly impervious to any future online attack.
Read More »
The Wireless that Wi-Fi Promised
/ Networking / 0 Comments
I was thrilled when Apple announced its Airport Wi-Fi hardware. Like many others, I envisioned walking down the street with my iBook constantly connected to the Internet. We all soon found out how difficult that was, at least without buying a cup of coffee. A small culture was born from people driving through neighborhoods looking for Open (Without a password) wireless access points. This scavenger hunt was not the wireless network we had envisioned. That dream connectivity came many years after Wi-Fi, and it is called EVDO.
Read More »
Another Hybrid For Your Shopping List
Sunday, March 19, 2006 / Product Review / 0 Comments
A wise man once told me “Be careful what you ask for, you just may have to buy it.” For me this advice has never been so relevant as it is now, with regards to the EyeTV Hybrid. Several years ago I reviewed Elgato’s EyeTV 500 and was substantially unimpressed. In my opinion, it lacked versatility because it could only be used with over-the-air HD broadcasts. If you wanted to capture standard definition TV or an analog video source, you would have to buy a different EyeTV box, and use it with the EyeTV 500. I wanted both units in one box for a reasonable price, and that is just what I got from the EyeTV Hybrid . Not only did Elgato pack the contents of two boxes the size of hardcover novels into one unit, but it all fits in a case smaller than my two fingers put together.
Hidden Free Features of iPhoto 6
Tuesday, March 14, 2006 / Software / 0 Comments
When iPhoto 6 was demonstrated at MacWorld, I barely noticed the addition of the Card and Calendar features. Both features are presented in the same fashion as the photo book feature that has been part of iPhoto for a long time. I was never thrilled with the “Book” feature because it had to be sent off to a printer who would then mail it to me. Ignoring the print fee aspect of the process, it’s inconvenient to have to wait for something I create on my computer to be mailed to me. Not having to wait for my pictures is why I have a digital camera in the first place. So I ignored the Card, Calendar, and Book buttons on the bottom of the iPhoto window. Because, to me, they were a bad idea just meant to collect more money from me and eat up my time.
Read More »
First Look at the Intel iMac
Wednesday, March 1, 2006 / Product Review / 0 Comments
It was widely expected that Apple would introduce at least one Intel-based Mac at the 2006 MacWorld Conference. So most attendees were not surprised that there was an introduction of the two Intel Macs, but they were in fact shocked by what models Apple chose to introduce. The year before, Steve Jobs had said that Intel processors would first be introduced into low-end Macs. Many assumed that would mean iBooks and Mac minis. Instead, we see the middle of the Mac lineup offered with the Intel chips. Apple really just slipped them in, quietly discontinuing the G5-based Macs, and in a very unconventional way kept the new Intel systems nearly identical in appearance to their PowerPC counterparts. The iMac G5 and the Intel iMac are so similar in fact; it is better to talk about what is different between the two instead of reviewing it by itself.
Read More »
