Apple stuff - Mac, iPad, iphone
 

This thread is for Apple and Mac users to share hints, tips, problems, solutions and advice.

If you don't like Apple, stay out!

SD

Helllloooo ... anyone in?

OK I'll kick off with a little personal experience..
If you have a problem do a thorough search of the discussion forum on the Mac website. I have had the video card replaced twice on my old iBook despite being out of warranty, and on my MacBook I have had the battery charger, cover and battery all replaced free after discovering that they had known problems, this despite all being out of warranty. All info' I gleaned from the discussion forum.
Some years ago I had a software problem (either the mail programme or the address book I forget which), initially the gentleman dealing with my problem actually made things worse, I called back, but part way through the consultation (which wasn't going well) the call was dropped. I called back, and was redirected to a VERY clued up lady in Ireland who solved the problem quicksmart. Now the interesting snippet here was that she said that if you need to make three calls concerning the same problem, you will be redirected to a "level 2" technician who should be more experienced and better placed to solve your problem.

Here's a tip - don't drop your Macbook onto a tiled floor. The hard drive doesn't like it

5 best free software
 

OK, here is my personal list of 5 bits of software you should download now. They are all free and unrestricted:

1) VLC - http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ - this is a media player that allows you to play almost anything. Doesn't restrict you to DVD regions like DVD Player and will allow full screen (goodness know's why Quicktime doesn't - seems like a rip off to me)

2) iStumbler - http://www.istumbler.net/ - lets you find available wireless networks. Don't steal wifi though...

3) Handbrake - http://handbrake.fr/ - lets you rip DVDs onto your hard drive so you can watch them without having to lug discs around. Don't pirate them though, that would be wrong

4) Firefox - http://www.mozilla.org/download.html - not as pretty as Safari but if you are used to it, you can use it on Windows or Linux too. Highly extensible

5) Gimp - http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/ - Macs like to bang on about how great they are for graphics. They don't come as standard with anything that can edit photos. Gimp is like free Photoshop


For many other recommendations, try http://www.opensourcemac.org/

Open Office 3 is going to fully support the Mac, so no need to pay for Microsoft Office any more!
(The link's just to a brochure - OO3 isn't out for a few months yet.)

Perian is an add-in to Quicktime which will play .mkv files and is WAY better than VLC if you watch anything with soft subtitles.

Flip4Mac is another add-in for Quicktime which plays Windows Media files.

I believe the latest Quicktime does let you view in full screen mode without having to shell out for Quicktime Pro.

Totally agree with all the previous recommendations and would add the following useful free utilities:

Onyx (www.titanium.free.fr/pgs2/english/download.html) is a free tool for occasional maintenance and cleaning out of cache files.

Stuffit Expander (my.smithmicro.com/mac/stuffitexpander) is a free tool for expansion of various compressed file formats.

Useful websites for support help and news of the latest updates are:

www.macfixit.com
www.macintouch.com

Flight simulator on Google Earth.......
Google Earth>Tools>Enter Flight Simulator>Enjoy!

NeoOffice is a version of OpenOffice especially designed for Mac's

iSquint - converts all video formats into mp4 (itunes and ipod) format, efficiently and without fuss.

I was so impressed that I paid for the upgrade (£11 approx) to VisualHub and have never looked back.

Skitch - from plasq.com(the people who gave you Comic Life) - lots of fun and more useful than you may imagine!

I can highly recommend Firefox. I've run it for years alongside Tiger and Leopard. No issues at all and a world of difference from Safari.


Thanks for the links to the free stuff, I've been after some of those!

Bea

I find iphoto buddy really useful as an add-on to iphoto - it allows you to use different photo libraries.

Lots of useful downloads from apple's own dowload section

Peter Borg's "Smultron" - http://smultron.sourceforge.net/ - is an excellent free text editor.

"...some of its features are tabs, line numbers, support for syntax colouring for many different languages, functions list, support for text encodings, snippets, a toolbar, a status bar, preview, split window, multi-document find and replace with regular expressions, possibility to show invisible characters, authenticated open and saves, command-line utility, full screen editing and running commands and scripts from within the application."

http://smultron.sourceforge.net/screenshot1.png

Mac

VirtualBox
 

X86 Virtualiser, free for personal use, currently in beta for Mac, availble to download from:
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Right.....Sticky is up and running, Keef's tried to have a bite of the Apple, but was not tempted ;) , other macophiles have kindly informed us of helpful free software and now may i humbly be the first to ask for help to a problem.

Me bluetooth has done a runner.

It was there and now it doesn't seem to exist anymore.....:ooh: There is a jagged line through the bluetooth symbol and "bluetooth not available" shows when it is clicked upon....I have done nothing out of the ordinary in the last days that might have deleted it from the OS. I checked on the Apple discussions forum and it would seem that it happens to others, one chap recommending that a resetting of the PRAM and NVRAM might be the answer.

Does anyone have any recommendations/ advice ?


Regards


SHJ

I operate with an iBook G4 laptop.

Can anyone please tell me where I could find the necessary software to 'jailbreak', or 'unlock' an iPhone?

Ta!!!

http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/08/iphon...-jailbreaking/

is one suggestion, along with

http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/11/...r.iphone.v112/

and

http://blog.gadgetlite.com/2008/01/2...team-released/

HadesEdge


Thanks a bunch! Been to all the URLs that you have suggested.


The first one has not worked out: I found too many 'ifs' and 'buts' there!! And then, there was some other issue there which confused me!!

Am reading up on the second suggestion right now.

Look: I did not mention this earlier, but I am bit of a 'virgin' in using these fiddling sites etc!! :hmm::hmm:


However, thanks very much indeed!


When I actually try and tackle the iPhone, will surely report back on the results!! :ok:

The easiest unlock
 

Is here: http://www.downloadziphone.org/

I used it to unlock my UK iPhone. It is idiot proof. Just tick jailbreak, activate and unlock.

lekkerste


Someone from Apple has obviously been wised up about this!! :ugh::ugh:


When I click on the download for Mac option, I get the computerese goobledygook instead of a d/l file!! :confused::confused:


And then, the Safari goes into a hang!!:{:{

Apple Product Self Repair
 

If, heaven forbid, your 'out of warranty' Apple product fails and needs a repair. Those of you with some technical skill may find this site useful:

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/

Here you can find step-by-step guides on how to do various tasks with all manner of Apple bits of kit:

e.g.
To change a hard drive in a 17" 1GHz PowerBook G4...
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/Powe...lacement/55/6/


or

How to install a Bluetooth board into a Core 2 Duo MacBook...
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/MacB...-Board/116/22/

Its an American site, so although they do sell individual spare parts, it may be difficult or expensive to get them shipped to the UK. I have used the following UK suppliers in the past:

http://www.applemacparts.co.uk
http://www.thebookyard.com/

Parts aren't cheap though, as I suspect they come from broken machines, and therefore in short supply.

:ok:

Seekayess, I've just tried the link out and it works. I'm using Safari on a macintel. If you click on the mac choice on the link, you should see the download start. The file is called ZiPhoneOSX-2.4tbz. If after clicking on the download link nothing happens, click on Window->Downloads and the download window should appear, which will enable you to follow the progress of the DL file. It takes about 3 minutes on an 8Mbps connection.

Double click on the .tbz file and it should unzip automatically. The application is called ZiPhoneOSX. If you open this, it should hopefully be plain sailing from there. Let me know what happens.

lekkerste

:{:{



There is something definitely fishy in the state of Denmark!!



Was enthused by your response, so tried again -- same results!! Took a screen shot to post it here to show you what results I get, but PhotoF*ckit won't let me upload!!


You figure it would be possible for you to send the zip file to me via email? Would really be thankful: [email protected]


Thanx in anticipation
:)

seekayess did you manage to get a copy of the file you were after?

Jet II



Pls see my post above yours.



Every time I try and click on the d/l icon for the mac, it promptly dowloads a whole lot of computer language instead of a file.


I have tried this about four times now, but no joy! Very frustrating indeed!!


I have a request from lekkerste pending where I have requested him to please email me the necessary file -- he has, possibly, not had the time to look at this thread for a couple of days, I guess.


You figure you can help me on this?


It would be highly appreciated if you would! :ok::ok:

seekayess

go here - this has the instructions for unlocking the phone and a link to Rapidshare who host the program.

Direct link to Rapidshare


If you are still having problems let me know and I will find a way to send the program to you - it is 9MB

Jet II




Thanx a bunch!


Went to the Rapidshare direct linkup and have got the file down.



Shall try it out when I am back in the office (that is where the iPhone is) and revert to you asap with the results.



:ok::ok:

Outlook to Mac
 

LilleMachines O2M is a neat little app for exporting your Windows Outlook email, contacts, and calendar appointments from your PC to your Mac.

http://www.littlemachines.com/

Works very nicely.

10$ - worth it even if you only use it once.

:ok:

Just bought myself a MacBook - 120gb HDD 1GB ram, 2.2 Dual Core and I love it!!!!

Anyone thinking of buying one, do it!!!!

As an addition:

Apple Aperture 2.0 available as a trial from www.apple.com/aperture - free for 30 days then you have to buy or find a serial number. Excellent program!

Seekayess, I've been away for a few days. I've just sent you a link to program called iNdependence, which I now think is the best solution available on the mac. Maybe it's the same as Jet 2's suggestion? Hope you've got it sorted anyway.

Cheers

lekkerste



Got it, thanks!:ok:


Shall revert asap on progress etc.


Check you email box, too!

I'm just trying out a MacBook Air with the thought of buying. Keyboard is "different", but quite acceptable, and the screen is very clear for its size. Magnification with two finger spread has already caught me out a bit, but otherwise I'd love to see a touch pad included. Quite an attractive piece of kit, I'm sorely tempted to have it for travel: it is so light, and the usual Mac intuitive operation. And half the weight of my MB Pro :cool:

Anyone else got one: comments, pros, cons?

The Macbook Air really IS attractive but it's awfully expensive for what you get.

Have you considered an Asus eeePC?

:ok: Mac

Why?

Thats a bit like going to by a Lexus and ending up with a Hyundai ;)

'Cos you can buy 3 for the price of one and still have 95% of the functionality.

Don'r get me wrong - I'd love a Macbook Air, but it really is vastly overpriced for what it does, unless you're buying it for bragging rights.

Not having a LAN socket (yes, I know you can buy a dongle) is a big nono for me.

There are several ultralightweights around that aren't as pretty but do the same job for much less.

:ok:

Mac

Since I changed over to Mac, I haven't bothered to cable to my router: neither the iMac nor my laptop, so the lack of LAN socket isn't currently an issue. Down the line: maybe I'll need to, I'm open to suggestions.

With an iMac and (currently) MacBook Pro, I don't want to either go back to Windows, nor play with an alternative OS.

Currently using the Air, and getting quite taken by it. I suspect I'll take it, and ditch the Pro (or give it to No 1 daughter ;) ).

So the car comparison was pretty valid then?

Tell what car you drive Mac?

Opel Corsa

'81 Series III Landy

:ok:

Someone mention a Series 3?

Ethernet adaptor for the Mac Air is 19 bucks. Couldn't justify the computer for home or office use but with 220 plus nights a year on the road it is very tempting.

Rob

For those of you who can take a joke and are not TOOOO precious about your Big Mac, check this out


http://www.flogged.net/media/video/whymacssuck.wmv :}