Articles
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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First Look at the Intel iMac
Wednesday, March 1, 2006 / Product Review / 1 Comment
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.
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The insides of the Intel Core Duo iMac!
Tuesday, January 31, 2006 / Disassemblies / 2 Comments
Twice as fast as the old iMac? Intel chips inside? With this kind of hype buzzing around, we had to take a look inside one to see what all the fuss is about. As usual, the inner workings of the iMac are as unique as the external case. Let’s take a look…
MacWorld 2007 Was All About “The Network”
Wednesday, January 18, 2006 / MacWorld / 0 Comments
Three new advancements in the Apple universe were announced at this year’s MacWorld conference, and the most useful one of them didn’t even make it on stage. The much-anticipated iPhone and Apple TV (Formerly iTV) received the Steve Jobs treatment, but the all-new Airport Extreme Base Station wandered quietly into existence.
All three devices focus on connecting to the network in some way. The iPhone is about connecting you when you’re out in the world. The Apple TV and the AirPort Extreme Base Station is about connecting everyone in your home in as many ways as possible. Both home devices will be available in February, which will make it a very fun month for a lot of us.
I/O and You!
Wednesday, January 11, 2006 / Hardware / 0 Comments
I/O stands for input/output, which is just geek-speak for any peripheral device that talks to and/or listens to your computer. Apple has slowly and quietly been changing the included I/O ports of its new computers. It is important to understand what changes, because the add-ons you buy and the ones you own will be affected by these changes. So before you buy that FireWire 800 hard drive, check your connections and read on.
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Apple Tries to Create Tranquility Out of “Universal” Confusion
With Apple’s introduction of Intel based Mac models, they also introduced a new icon for Mac users to look for when buying software. The “Universal Binary” icon indicates that software will run on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. The new icon has the suggestion of peace and order by impersonating the Chinese “Yin-Yang.” The reality of what this will mean is almost the complete opposite. This is because these first Intel Macs are the incentive for software makers to introduce versions of their applications that will run on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. Even Apple is not ready for all its software to run on these new computers. Before running out today and buying one of the Intel Macs, you’ll have to consider what this will mean for you.
Self-diagnosing Your Sick Mac
Thursday, December 22, 2005 / Support / 0 Comments
When your Mac is sick, the first thing you want to do is to find a utility to console you. Macs are solid computers that some of us have come to think of as being maintenance-free, but any computer is bound to have some trouble within its lifetime. Here are some tricks to solving your problems, or at least finding the cause of them.
What does Apple’s announcement about the move to Intel processors mean?
Tuesday, December 20, 2005 / Apple Culture / 0 Comments
With Apple’s announcement that they will be switching from the IBM PowerPC chip to Intel at the Worldwide Developers Conference last week, many people have been wondering what impact this change will have on the Mac.
From our point of view, there is a lot of good news in regards to this announcement.
First of all, this move reinforces Apple’s commitment to remaining a market leader in all aspects of the Mac platform. It had become abundantly clear that IBM was not able to keep up with the performance increases users have come to demand. On laptops, for instance, Intel simply has much better technology when it comes to low-heat processors; IBM simply wasn’t able to produce the G5 chip in a form factor that would work in a portable computer.
iPhoto in the RAW
/ Software / 0 Comments
iPhoto has been doing some growing up lately. When it was first released I had great hopes for its potential to “iTunes” my photo collection… hopes that were soon dashed. One of my biggest complaints was that it would make copies of all my photos and organize them as it saw fit. I resisted for a year, not wanting to give up control of my photo filing system. But after discovering my system was not really easier to use, I opted for the visual scan and album method of iPhoto. Little by little, iPhoto changed into an invaluable friend of my photos the way iTunes bonded with my music. Photo albums are published to my .Mac account in minutes, and pictures are compressed for easy email. iPhoto 5 has an abundant list of features, including support for the RAW file format. However, iPhoto 5 only supports RAW taken from some cameras and only if you get them directly from the camera. Not from a folder or older collection.
I Luv Disk Utility
/ Software / 0 Comments
My favorite Apple application is an often-overlooked program called ‘Disk Utility.’ Found in the ‘Utilities’ folder located inside the ‘Applications’ folder, it has been included in every version of Mac OS X. As OS X has advanced, so has Disk Utility; becoming much more than the hard drive formatting application it used to be. Some of you have used Disk Utility to format or repair a damaged hard drive. Perhaps you have read about ‘Repairing Disk Permissions’ and that’s how you use Disk Utility. All of those things are great features, but with Disk Utility 10.4 there is a world of additional features far more useful than just maintaining a hard drive.
Super Secret Twitter Giveaway: LaCie d2 Quadra Hard Disk 500GB Hard Drive
Sunday, November 20, 2005 / PowerMax Culture / 74 Comments
If you’re reading this chances are you’re one of PowerMax’s Twitter followers, and you get to participate in one of our super-secret Twitter giveaways. In honor of LaCie’s recent announcement of their super cool 1 year free online backup service, we’re putting a brand new 500GB LaCie d2 Quadra Hard Disk Drive up on the chopping block.
Phishing, It’s in your email not the sea.
/ Email / 0 Comments
During my very first online experience I encountered phishing. It was back in 1991. I had just logged into AOL as a trial member to test my new modem. Before clicking on anything, a message popped up saying that my credit card information had been lost and my account would be terminated if I didn’t respond back with the name, number, and expiration date on my credit card.
The Internet Disappeared!
Saturday, November 19, 2005 / Support / 0 Comments
Seventy percent of your fellow Internet users are on broadband at home. So many users have made the switch that Apple has stopped including 56k modems in G5 towers, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the other Apple desktop computers ditch them soon. There are several reasons that broadband is surpassing dialup. Speed is obviously an issue, but another primary feature is also having a constant connection. But, when you suddenly find yourself offline and don’t know why, it’s annoying.
The New Face of IT, It’s in the Mirror.
Thursday, October 20, 2005 / Software / 0 Comments
Just like in many businesses, most families have an IT person. One person that will always get “the call” when technology stops behaving. It often starts out as a compliment: “you’re so smart at these things,” they say. But then the calls keep coming. Because you’re reading this, you may be that person. So perhaps you should come to grips with your new, non-paying, IT job and start using some professional IT tools.
The New Dual-Core Power Mac G5 Unveiled!
Monday, October 10, 2005 / Disassemblies / 0 Comments
Once again, Apple has thrown out some shiny new hardware for us to slobber on, so we thought we’d give you a peek at the very latest from Cupertino.
The Power Mac G5 gets a big technology bump this time around, with new dual-core processors, a brand-new PCI Express architecture and some other very cool stuff that gets us geeks all misty-eyed. Let’s start with a view inside the case…
I Have My iPod nano. Where’s Yours?
Tuesday, September 20, 2005 / iPods / 0 Comments
Take out four credit cards from your wallet. Stack them and hold them in your hand. Apple’s iPod nano is about the same weight and half an inch less wide than that stack of cards. Now put three cards back in your wallet and use the remaining card to go buy yourself a nano.
The nano’s introduction should not be misinterpreted as just another iPod in the lineup. It is, in fact, exactly what the iPod should have been in the first place: a flash-based jukebox with a long battery life and stunning color screen. This new iPod is not a smaller version of another iPod, or combination of any other two iPods. The user interface is the same (which has always been iPod’s strength) but that’s it. The differences here are under the skin, most notably with the screen.
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Your Mac and Your Kids
/ Support / 0 Comments
For some Mac fans reading this, their Mac is almost like their child. However, for those of us who have both children and Macs, we have to take responsibility for educating and protecting our children on the computer. This was never made clearer to me than one late night a few months back.
PowerMax Giveaway Rulez
Saturday, July 30, 2005 / PowerMax Culture / 5 Comments
No Purchase Required to Enter or Win
Eligibility: The PowerMax Giveaways (the “Giveaways”) are open only to individuals who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (including the District of Columbia) and are 18 years of age or older. Employees of CSNW their advertising or promotion agencies, those involved in the production, development, implementation or handling of Giveaways, any agents acting for, or on behalf of the above entities, their respective parent companies, officers, directors, subsidiaries, affiliates, licensees, service providers, prize suppliers any other person or entity associated with the Giveaways (collectively “Giveaway Entities”) and/or the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members (whether related or not) of each such employee, are not eligible. All U.S., federal, state and local, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations apply. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law.
To Clone or Transfer
Wednesday, July 20, 2005 / Support / 0 Comments
After years of entrenching your digital life inside your computer, moving to a new system is not always easy. You can choose to make a clean break, opting to move files by using CD-Rs or an external hard drive and then reinstalling all their applications. For the digital packrat this is often a good thing to do, especially since hard drives can clutter up worse than the average teen-ager’s bedroom.
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Bluetooth Enabled Artistic Freedom
Thursday, July 7, 2005 / Product Review / 0 Comments
I don’t like being chained to a desk. Often I will have to pace around the room or change my sitting position to find inspiration. This has always meant I had to stop working, walk away, and run back to the desk when I had an idea. That is until now, because Wacom recently introduced Bluetooth to their popular Graphire tablet line. For those who are unaware of Wacom and their products, they are the undisputed heavyweight of penned input for computers. Many companies have copied Wacom tablets but few have bested them in innovation, and the Bluetooth Graphire is no exception.
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