Address Book Privacy

Keeping up to date on the latest in security and privacy, we hear from John Carter. We had asked if putting Google or Yahoo or MobileMe to link to Address Book could in any way be something to avoid.
Here's his take on that.  .

 "If you frequently switch between Mac Mail and something like Google Mail or Yahoo Mail when you are away from home and you also frequently update your address book on one or the other, then synchronizing your address book across these platforms could make life a little easier for you.

"If you have a cell phone that you always carry with you, you could also keep your contact list updated between Mac Address Book and the cell phone Contact list and rely on your cell phone Contact list when you are not at home, which is what I try to do."

What's the Apple News?

This morning’s Google News sends us scurrying for more information. Stories on the Fall 09 iMac 27 inch computer problems and delays brought us to this report at AppleInsider. Two other headlines jumped out: “Tablet rumors: February production start, 10-inch LCD screen” and “Apple offers free taste of iTunes LP format with ‘Holiday Sampler.” In red headlines, “Black Friday Deals Extended" takes us to a price comparison chart.  It's interesting to see what's up with our favorite Apple products.  And now, John Carter finds a nifty app for iPhone.  Take a look . . .

"If you’ve ever spent too much time composing an email on your iPhone’s tiny keyboard you are going to LOVE this! Dragon Dictation is an amazing, free, dictation app for your iPhone.

"Just launch the app, press the record button, and start talking. You can dictate anything from a short note to a longer soliloquy. Once the text is transcribed, you can send it as an email, text message, or copy to the clipboard. Clean up some missed words and add punctuation, and you are set!

"Link: Dragon Dictation at App Store   (Do take serious note of the complaints, however, which warn of security and privacy issues.)

"The accuracy of the speech-to-text conversion is amazing. There are typically a few errors, but they are easy to fix.

"Tip: You can add punctuation to your text by saying ‘period’, ‘question mark’, or ‘exclamation mark’ as you talk. It’s a nice touch."  (Double click to enlarge.)

Author Mode, User Mode: Blog Views

To view a browser's text and images of a blog without colors was the challenge that David Passell recently experimented with, and he reports here.

"Both Firefox and Opera have a means of displaying the text and images of a blog without colors. I couldn't find an equivalent for Safari. Only Opera, though, provides something that could be printed in black/white.

"In Opera: on bar just above the main page there is a button titled 'Author Mode.' If you click it the button changes to 'User Mode.' All the formatting disappears and all information on the blog is displayed. Even things that are hidden show up. It can be printed as displayed. I prefer to print/save as a PDF first though."

He sends a screen shot of our blog from Opera Browser "User Mode." Double click to enlarge.

He says, "I know of no equivalent feature in Safari. The Firefox view 'No Style' Option doesn't come close and is not suitable for printout.

David concludes, "In the styled (Firefox) or author (Opera) the blog looks the same as Safari. It is the No Style or User Mode that looks different."

Want to Change Your View?

If changing your startup screen on the Mac appeals to your artistic side, or you just need something fun to do today, Jim Hamm sends us these simple instructions from Kibbles & Bytes newsletter #650.

There's no Terminal commands involved.  It works with 10.5 Leopard and 10.6 Snow Leopard.  Of course, you need to be the admin user in order to make these changes.  It sounds like it's applicable back to 10.2, but the name and location are different.  Let us know if you try it out.

Website Design

If you've ever aspired to doing a bit of programming or creating your own website, here is an informative article by Gina Trapani from the "Lifehacker" newsletter .  Jim Hamm sends us this info,  commenting, "As I read through the article I recognized names that I've heard of or read about before — Such as Ruby on Rails or Greasemonkey — but have never tried them. I'll save this article in case I ever get ambitious and want to try something like this."

The article, "Programmer 101: Teach Yourself How to Code" is by Gina Trapani.  She writes, "You've always wanted to learn how to build software yourself—or just whip up an occasional script—but never knew where to start. Luckily, the web is full of free resources that can turn you into a programmer in no time.

"Since the invention of the internet, programmers have been using it to discuss software development techniques, publish tutorials, and share code samples for others to learn from and use online. If you're curious about how to become a programmer, you can get off to a running start using tons of great free web-based tutorials and resources."

The article goes on to discuss choosing a language, desktop scripting, web development, command line scripting, add-ons, web development for the desktop, mobile app development — and she closes with advice on patience, elbow grease, trial and error.

Amazon Selling Apple at a Big Discount

"On sale!"  Two urgent words!  De Prez Allen Laudenslager rushes us this news, so check it out right away.  Amazon advertises some smoking deals on Apple products. He announces, "I looked at their website and found the MacBook Pro for $101 off and free shipping."  He wasn't aware that Amazon was an authorized Apple reseller and is offering discounts on Apple products. Did you know that?!

Talking About Google's Chrome

In case you haven't read them, here are three more articles about Google's Chrome OS.  Jim Hamm explains, "After reading and understanding a bit more about what this new OS is-and isn't--I have trouble understanding what significant role this might play in the computing world. I don't have much--if any--enthusiasm for it, at least at this time. Maybe as time goes on I'll see more of a place for it."  He goes on to give links to the articles . . .

Click to bring up these three articles from Computerworld.   One, two,  three.

Jim concludes, "Regardless of my thoughts, it's always interesting to read about new developments in the computing world. That's what keeps me--and many others-- spending money on the latest 'gadget' (did I hear 'Magic Mouse') or software upgrade."

DIY, Serious or Fun

David Passell passes along this link to the Instructables. It's an eclectic collection of DIY (Do It Yourself) projects, ranging from Christmas gifts and decorations, (now's the time to get going on these!) to the tech-oriented stuff.  He reminds us, "To get the full benefits you will have to establish a subscription, but it is FREE.  Every week you will get a new email with a link to the latest madness."

Maybe You Don't Need TWO Computers?

What's the future of computing?  Obviously, things keep changing. This article at Daring Fireball talks about one possible direction for computing. What a snazzy title:  "Maybe Instead of Two Cars, You Just Need a Car and a Bicycle." Instead of two computers maybe the second one could do a lot less, and that could be liberating, they say.

De Prez Allen Laudenslager piques our interest with, "While I haven't tried a netbook myself yet, the idea of the netbook as a partially capable 'junior' computer for travel use has some real potential for those who don't need to do everything on the road." Check out their archive for other thought-provoking pieces.

Advance Look at Google Chrome

We've heard a little about Google Chrome, and we do want to keep up with the latest in Internet technology. Well, here's a little more from both De Prez Allen Laudenslager and Jim Hamm.  Jim starts us off with, "After reading this article on Google Chrome, any potential interest I might have had in this has cooled considerably. I had envisioned it to be a download one would install, like Firefox, but apparently not. Also, Google's first focus is on netbooks, about a year from now."  Allen recommends this article.  And Jim comes up with two other links that explain the situation.

Jim continues, "The way I understand the comments, Google Chrome will be for computers with 'specific reference hardware.' Does this mean a computer has to be built to accommodate Google Chrome? Why would any manufacturer want to do this? I can't, for example, envision Apple doing this. This concept seems like a very limiting factor in Google Chrome gaining any significant market share. Maybe I'm not understanding all this correctly."

Allen's comment from the Computerworld article, "This report is claiming that the final Chrome release may only run on devices without a hard disk drive and use solid state memory in its place."

Jim has more information, "Here's a further clarification--and understanding on my part--of the difference between Google Chrome OS and Google Chrome. The first one is a web-based operating system that will be available on computers configured to handle it--such as a solid state drive. Here is an article explaining more about this concept.

"There are instructions available now on how a person can go ahead and install Google Chrome OS and run it in a virtual machine using the free software, VirtualBox.

Jim concludes with, "Now, Google Chrome is a web browser contained within the Google Chrome OS that a person, eventually, can download and install on their computer.  It will be interesting to see how both concepts fare as time goes on. The latest issue of MacLife compared several browsers, including Google Chrome, which came out well in the tests. These tests were done on a Mac."

Printer Upgrade, Download Precautions

Today’s advice is copy the settings you’ve got on Mac for your particular printer. Here’s how and here’s why.

Look at System Preferences > Print > Fax. Go to Options and Supplies to then access General and Driver. Copy these numbers. Easy way is to do a screen shot (Command + Shift + 4) and pull the target-looking lines over the parts of the window you want to copy. Then drag the screen shots onto Pages; file one set on the computer, print another set out for a paper folder in the file cabinet.

Here’s why:  Yesterday, automatically up popped an upgrade notice on Mac. Besides a little upgrade for Safari there was one for the HP printer. Of course, keep current, so click it on. Everything went well, etc. until this morning when awakening the printer and clicking to print something. The printer couldn’t find itself. It took a little hunting around, trial and error, but now all is well. It happens that this exact HP model is not listed in the long list under Printer Set Up, General, and Driver. What works for HP LaserJet P4515n is the designation HP LaserJet 4350. All is well. Keep good records.