Hello There Macintosh User!
If you are getting this email you have sometime been a client of mine — Thank you for your past custom!
1. Apple Mail Tamed: The main problem with Apple’s Mail is that the attachments aren’t handled properly — they always appear in the email whether you want them to or not. With Attachment Tamer you have a choice, at last! Why Apple didn’t fix this in Lion I don’t know…but these guys have and it’s free, or $15 to remove the reminder when you open Mail. http://lokiware.info/Attachment-Tamer
2. Not YouTube But Vimeo: Even though YouTube is the second biggest search engine after Google, it’s not the only video website. There are others and some say better ones like Vimeo which tends to have more serious content. http://vimeo.com/
3. Increase Your Linknet Speed: If you are on Linknet’s wireless network because you can’t get regular ADSL where you live then you may be suffering with a slow speed connection to the internet. By upgrading the rooftop receiver you can increase the speed dramatically. A client in Sunrise is getting 6MBps. Well worth giving them a call on 6684 3345 to ascertain prices because we all need a fast pipe to all our favourite sites don’t we.
4. Different Covers for iPhones, Laptops and iPads: Most computer and mobile device covers are pretty much the same but a local shop in Byron Arcade in Lawson Street, Byron Bay called New Vintage has a range of covers that look like books, completely different from anything else and not like computer bags at all. These are tailored specifically for Macs even though other laptops “might fit” says Vicky the MacBook Pro using proprietor. http://www.nvnewvintage.com/
5. External Keyboards for iPads: Many people are using the iPad as their laptop these days but a decent keyboard helps keep the process painless. There are many different models so do your research first… http://allthingsd.com/20110817/how-to-outfit-the-ipad-2-to-make-typing-easier/?refcat=personaltechnology
6. Filing Problems?: I see so many Macs with heaps of files lying on the Desktop rather than filed away that I realise it is the Achilles heel of computer use. Well your physical desk isn’t that messy is it? This application, FileMyFiles aims to do the tidying for you with the good old ’just one click’! It is $10.49 via the App Store. It also lets you trash Applications including all their related files which is handy because there are preferences and other files to delete with some apps. http://www.filemyfiles.com/
7. Why Switch to Google Chrome?: Safari seems to be the most popular browser amongst Mac users and if you are happy with it then ignore the rest of this entry. I have been using Firefox for a few years because it was a lot quicker than Safari and remembered your user names and passwords for websites that you need to register with. Meanwhile up on the outside lane came Chrome, Google’s offering. I have installed the latest version and have been using it to see if there is any advantage and the main one I can find is speed. It is faster than both the others and as Firefox has been crashing a lot lately I made the switch. It automatically imported all my bookmarks and away we go…it also has Google search built-in, so you just type your query in the address bar and it searches Google right away. Chrome http://www.google.com/chrome Safari http://www.apple.com/safari/ Firefox http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/
8. Digitised Book Sites: There are ongoing projects to digitise books resulting in a continuing increase in the availability of previously unobtainable works. The links below are to sites that allow access to these works. http://openlibrary.org/ http://www.archive.org/ http://biodiversitylibrary.org/ is the Biodiversity Heritage Library has natural history and botanical works. http://books.google.com/ is Google’s oft controversial site which is digitising heaps of works, sometimes to the dismay of their owners!
9. Internal iMac Backup: I have just taken delivery of a 27” iMac — lucky me! — and it has a custom installed feature courtesy of the boys at Lightforce. An internal hard drive for Time Machine backups. There is an extra hard drive bay in the current 21” and 27” iMacs which can have a 2nd hard drive installed so your backups happen internally, no cables and wires and no “I forgot to plug it in” scenarios! Time Machine runs happily on the hour and it all happens inside the box. Magic. About $300 all up.
10. Why Jailbreak Your i-Device?: I get asked a lot about Jailbreaking iPhones so here you go, JailbreakMe. This site is a safe way to jailbreak your iPhone or any other i-Device so you can install apps from outside of Apple’s control. Apparently you can restore it in iTunes afterwards if you don’t like it, and its free. Personally, I am happy to live in the Apple walled garden of apps and have no need for more. There are over 500,000 of them after all! The guy who invented this method is so good that Apple have hired him… http://www.jailbreakme.com/ http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/iphone-hacker-golden-boy-hired-by-apple-20110830-1jj18.html
11. A Reminder of My Rates: I charge $88 per hour including GST. No call-out fee or travel charge in the Byron Shire. Half hour minimum. Telephone support costs the same in 15 minute increments. Email support is still free! Please include plenty of detail in your email inquiries. Serving the Byron Macintosh community for over 10 years.
Items for Sale is a free monthly service for my Mailing List. If you want to list something for sale send me the full description/specifications and contact details. Goes out around 14th of the month. Until next time, Thank you Tommi ;>)
Mr Macintosh Tom Hain http://www.mrmacintosh.com.au PO Box 1040 Byron Bay NSW 2481 6685 5504 041 840 8869