Maybe you've already tried the fun challenge from MacFixIt posted here? Art Gorski passes along the word, "According to this, and I've confirmed it, if you look at the icon of the TextEdit application at maximum magnification you will see an historic Apple message."
Curious About Cookies?
Remember when cookies were those yummy ones that Mama made? Cookies for the computer are something else!
Corresponding with John Carter I mentioned that "Never" doesn't seem to mean Never. Going to a website for a look before mentioning it on PMUG blog seems to have stirred up their Cookies. Deleting seemed to have taken the Cookies off, clicking Delete All, and then Allow Cookies Never didn't cancel their return. Later the Cookies were back.
Here's John's take: "This is very surprising. I haven't gone to the trouble to check if cookies come back on me - ever. So I have not experienced this problem, but it may be there nontheless. I am using Chrome as my default browser now, and you'll see my report on that in another email. I'm going to start checking for cookies on sites that I have deleted cookies on and don't revisit (pingtest.net being one) to see if those cookies return."
Soon John wrote back with more info on Cookies. "Ah-ha! I think I just discovered why you are getting those cookies. Safari has loaded the sites you visited in Top Sites. Every time you delete a cookie from a site, close Safari, and reopen (and maybe you don't even have to reopen), Top Sites might be reloading the cookies when it refreshes the list in Top Sites.
"Maybe if you clear all browsing data and your browser history from Safari after deleting cookies this will also clean out Top Sites and the problem will go away.
"But like I said, you should not choose Never for saving cookies because that will prevent you from visiting sites that require cookies to be set unless you have entered those sites in your cookie allowed list. It can be more of an inconvenience to update that list than it is to allow cookies only for sites that you visit.
"The only logical reason (logic and reason being at odds with each other) to block cookies is the fear that one of them will pass personal data to the outside world."
John continues, "Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia:
'A cookie can be used for authentication, session tracking (state maintenance), storing site preferences, shopping cart contents, the identifier for a server-based session, or anything else that can be accomplished through storing textual data.
As text, cookies are not executable. Because they are not executed, they cannot replicate themselves and are not viruses. Due to the browser mechanism to set and read cookies, they can be used as spyware. Anti-spyware products may warn users about some cookies because cookies can be used to track people or violate privacy concerns.
"Cookies act as spyware simply because they can report personal information that you enter at a site such as your name, address, phone, login name, and literally anything you enter into a field except a password. That information stored by a cookie is only readable by the site that put the cookie there. That's what makes doing online banking and online purchasing safe. Such personal information is used by the site to confirm you as a returning customer. This is why you should not allow cookies to be stored on a public computer (at the library). When you connect your computer to a public LAN (at the library), your computer is protected from prying eyes simply by the fact that the server (at the library) prevents crosstalk between computers even though you are able to see all the other computers connected to that same LAN.' This needs to be confirmed by one of our Internet gurus in the club, but I believe it to be correct.
"I take serious issue with the claim that cookies can be used to track people or violate privacy concerns. Information about what kind of computer you have, what kind of operating system you use, and what kind of browser you use is not considered private information. No other information can be collected from your computer by a cookie.
"Cookies cannot infect your computer in any way."
John's conclusion is reassuring, "That being said, nothing is impossible. Just keep your operating system and your browser updated when updates are available and you'll be protected in the best possible way."
--
Save Money on Ink and Refurbished Printer
Ink for that printer can be expensive, as David Passell reports here. "I was going broke paying $51.00 every two months or so for new ink cartridges for my Canon MP 470 printer. Think4Inc has Brother 1960C Refurbished printers for $89.00 (with tax it comes to $97.00). It uses separate ink tanks for each color and, according to Think4Inc's comparative rating, costs pennies per ML of ink used, as against dollars for the Canon. The ink comes in four cartridge tanks: black, yellow, magenta, and cyan.
"I bought one and have set it up. There is a free driver for Snow Leopard at brother.com which I downloaded. It didn't set up quite like the instructions said (what else is new), but I have it working and it is quite good for printing tasks. It prints/copies cleanly in color or black.
"In addition to being a printer, it is also a sheet feed copier, and is a FAX receive/transmit unit. I've never done Faxing, but I guess I can learn. For now I have the automatic receive function shut down.
"It comes with a 5.8 gb wireless telephone/speakerphone/intercom handset which I now have working nicely. It also contains an answering machine. In all, it looks like a good purchase.
"Paper is loaded into a print tray and will hold up to 100 sheets of 20# paper. It prints 4x6, letter, A4, and legal. To make a copy of anything from 4x6 up you just drop the original into a slot. I think it will copy/fax a stack of originals.
"It has a lot of functions that are selectable via a menu and an LCD screen.
"Jeff said he bought a pallet of them. If anyone is looking for a general purpose machine like this, check it out.
"I will use my MP470 mainly for when I need a flat bed scanner, or to scan things into my computer (which isn't often)."
A Ping Test
Internet connection running slow? David Passell alerts us to a test you can perform to determine the quality of your current broadband Internet connection.
First, he describes the problem, "Currently my ISP, commspeed, is having difficulty with their system which is resulting in slow download speeds and some other problems like video clips not running smoothly. I checked the speed to verify that, and also called their technician who acknowledged the difficulty and said it would be fixed shortly. I get my link from Badger (P) Mountain, but it gets a link from Mingus Mountain where the trouble lies.
"In addition to the speed test there is another test that you can perform. I'm not sure it is limited to commspeed; anybody may be able to use it. You will find it here.
"When you select a server and run the test, you will get a result (hopefully not quite) like this. Double click to enlarge these illustration.
Now, more from David. "So as not to make commspeed seem like such a bad guy, here is the same test this morning. Not outstanding but usable."
"I also ran a speed test and got a more typical result."
More on Slow Internet Connections
Can You Solve This Problem?
Anyone have an idea for solving David Passell’s problem? He describes it like this, “The problem is getting an older beige G3, running Jaguar 10.2.8, to connect to the Internet. (At first he said the problem was an older G3 iMac, running Tiger.) Read on, to see if this computes with you . . . Then please write to David.
"My wireless Router, a Linksys WRT54G, is remotely located (about 75 feet) from my computers. It is hardwired via a CAT 5 cable to a CommSpeed 'wireless modem' which is further remotely located (in a shed window) to get a decent signal.
"My Mini which is located at the same location as the iMAC has Snow Leopard and, of course, built-in Airport. With the Mini, when I turn it on I see the wireless fan in the top menu and Internet connectivity is just there. I don't recall doing anything special except finding the identifier for my Router (W...W...), asking to join the network, and entering a password. In my case it is a WEP 64bit binary requiring the entry of 10 binary digits. Then I am connected. Speed is usually around 1.5 MBs.
"Similarly with the LINUX OLPC, i just find the symbol for the network, click on it, enter a password, and I have connectivity.
"The iMAC is a totally different cat. I am using a rather elderly D-link DWL 810 bridge connected to the Ethernet port. The first step to connecting is to use a browser (Firefox) to access the DWL via its identifier (192.168.0.30). Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Apparently I have to reset (button on the back) the DWL or else the browser reports I'm not connected.
"Then I am to go to a 'wizard' and get around to searching to find the ID of the Router, click a connect button, enter the 10 binary digits (note: I use WEP because that is the only kind of security offered by that device) and then hope.
"The Preference Pane of the OS X gets into the act as well as diagnostics and network connect. I am offered umpteen choices of interacting settings. There I start going around in circles. Nothing achieves the desired result of accessing the Internet.
"Before I go out and just buy a 75 foot Cat 5 cable from the iMAC to my router, does anybody have any idea how I might connect my iMAC wirelessly; perhaps I should scrap the DWL and purchase a USB plug-in 'bridge' (sorry about the fuzzy terminology) that I see some Laptop owners use to connect to WiFi nets. I am having great difficulty understanding why this no longer works."
In conclusion David adds, “Even more mystified why that more primitive machine worked and the much later iMac with Tiger won’t. Can anybody help?”
Mac Makes It Easy
"Learn Without Limits," so declares the email from Apple today. Tips and videos will tell how to organize your mail, straighten up your files, and lists resources for business that will help you learn about networking, storage, security, collaboration, media creation, and more.
Remember, to find a specific word on the page you're looking at do Command + F and type the word in the search box that comes up.
What's the Best Home Page?
Want to simplify the Home Page in your Browser? Jim Hamm shares some info. "Usually I use iGoogle as my home page, but it contains a lot of information and portals to other websites. It needs a good broadband connection to load quickly. When I'm traveling, quite often the WiFi signals are weak and I need something that loads quickly. This article gives some examples of MSN, Bing, iGoogle, Fav4.org. Here's the one I might use because you can set up four links you frequently use, and it loads quickly."
Clutter on the Desktop: 5 Solutions
Have you ever wondered how to unclutter your desktop when you have multiple applications running at the same time? John Carter to the rescue!
"Let's say you have Mail and Safari and Finder and iTunes and iChat and iPhoto all running at the same time. The iTunes application is on top and buried somewhere behind it is Mail. How to find the Mail app? Well, don't do it by closing down applications.
As you know, there are at least always three ways to accomplish the same thing on a Mac. (And John proceeds to give us FIVE ways!)
1. The simplest way to bring an open application to the front (from behind other apps) is to find the icon for that application in the Dock and click on it.
2. Another simple method is to press Function key 9. This spreads out all the applications in smaller images across the desktop. Select the one you want to be in front.
3. Using the mouse isn't always fun for me because I like to keep my hands on the keyboard, so holding down the Command key and tapping the Tab key brings up a row of icons across the middle of the screen. The first icon on the far left is the application that is currently on top. While holding down the Command key, continue tapping on the Tab key and each icon in the row will highlight in turn. When you get to the application you want to be on top, let go of the Command key. Pressing the Shift key with the Tab key selects the previous icon in the row (moving right to left instead of left to right). You can also simply select the desired icon with the mouse and when you release the Command key that application will pop to the front.
4. You can assign applications to always be displayed in its own separate desktop window using Spaces (for Leopard and Snow Leopard only). Spaces is also known as Virtual Desktop. This method gets a little more technical, but plenty of help is available using Mac Help (select Help in the Finder, then select Mac help, then enter 'spaces' in the search bar). With Spaces, you can assign iChat to Space 2, iTunes to Space 3, iPhoto to Space 4, and allow Mail, Safari and Finder to be in all spaces (Mail cannot be assigned to any one Space, it is always displayed in all Spaces). You can create as many Spaces as you like. Each Space can be activated (brought to the front, so to speak) by pressing the Control key and a number key that corresponds to the Space number, or by pressing the F8 key (you can assign this function to any function key) and selecting from the displayed miniature Spaces. This could be fun, and it's the preferred method I use for putting certain apps in their own Space.
5. Yet another way to keep your desktop uncluttered is to switch your Mac from the default Multi-application mode (where all applications are stacked on the screen) to Single-application mode (where you only see on the desktop the one application that you are working with). This requires using a Terminal and entering command lines. The complete instructions can be found here.
Do you know of another way to pop an application to the front? Send your suggestion to editor@pmug.us. "
Making Video Tutorials
Thanks to John Carter for pursuing this question with Rich Charpentier . . . what software does he use for creating video tutorials on the Mac. Rich was the program presenter on Saturday for PMUG. His reply, "The capture program is IShow U. Fantastic program. As an example of what you can do with it, check out the following podcast I posted last year."
E-Card Scam?
Here's something to watch out for: an e-card scam. David Passell passes along this warning: "I got this message today. I am always suspicious of them, even the ones that Bobby sent for my birthday and Valentine's until I have verified with the sender. I went to the Hallmark.com website and after having been led through a 'labyrinth' of possibilities (including giving a name, email and phone number), to ask them a question, I determined that whenever you get a message like this you should forward it to
abuse@hallmark.com which i did.
"I am forwarding my copy of the email to them. I do not understand why these companies that are so attempting to protect their image make it so difficult to determine how to forward a question on the legitimacy of an email that purports to come from them. I would think that information would be right at the top of their home page. When you forward an email be sure to first select 'View long headers' as I have done. Notice the text in red that follows 'X-spam-report.'"
Date: February 20, 2010 6:54:26 PM MST
To: abuse@hallmark.com
Subject: Fwd: You've received A Hallmark E-Card!
Begin forwarded message:
From: hallmark.com
Date: February 20, 2010 4:27:20 PM MST
To: davidrex@northlink.com
Subject: You've received A Hallmark E-Card!
return-path: root@mail.krankenhaus-hale-saale.de
return-path: root@mail.krankenhaus-halle-saale.de
received: (qmail 20765 invoked by uid 1034); 20 Feb 2010 23:28:13 -0000
received: from spam2.commspeed.net (216.19.2.15) by 0 with SMTP; 20 Feb 2010 23:28:13 -0000
received: From mail.krankenhaus-halle-saale.de (80.64.188.130) by spam2.commspeed.net (MAILFOUNDRY) id nFRKCB53Ed+CoQAw for davidrex@northlink.com; Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:28:13 -0000 (GMT)
received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]) by mail.krankenhaus-halle-saale.de with esmtp (Exim 4.63) (envelope-from
received: from mail.krankenhaus-halle-saale.de (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by localhost (AvMailGate-2.1.4-7) id 20138-0UI6M4; Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:27:22 +0100 (CET)
received: from root by mail.krankenhaus-halle-saale.de with local (Exim 4.63) (envelope-from
x-envelope-from: root@mail.krankenhaus-halle-saale.de
x-envelope-to: davidrex@northlink.com
content-type: text/html
message-id:
x-antivirus: checked by Avira MailGate (version: 2.1.4-7; AVE: 7.9.1.172; VDF: 7.10.4.104; host: router2); id=20138-0UI6M4
x-spam-score: -1.3 (-)
x-spam-report: Spam detection software, running on the system "router2", has identified this incoming email as possible spam. The original message has been attached to this so you can view it (if it isn't spam) or label similar future email. If you have any questions, see the administrator of that system for details. Content preview: You have recieved A Hallmark E-Card. Hello! You have recieved a Hallmark E-Card. To see it, click here, [...] Content analysis details: (-1.3 points, 5.0 required) pts rule name description ---- ---------------------- -------------------------------------------------- 0.2 NORMAL_HTTP_TO_IP URI: Uses a dotted-decimal IP address in URL -2.6 BAYES_00 BODY: Bayesian spam probability is 0 to 1% [score: 0.0000] 0.0 HTML_MESSAGE BODY: HTML included in message 0.0 MIME_HTML_ONLY BODY: Message only has text/html MIME parts 0.0 MIME_HEADER_CTYPE_ONLY 'Content-Type' found without required MIME headers 1.1 HTML_MIME_NO_HTML_TAG HTML-only message, but there is no HTML tag 0.0 AWL AWL: From: address is in the auto white-list
Google & Gmail
How To Find It
Trying to find something you wrote or something you filed? Several simple solutions are at your side, just see which applies for your particular needs.
When you click on Finder (the smiling face icon) in your Dock notice that under Devices and Places there’s a triangle next to Search For. Click under Today, Yesterday, or Past Week.
When the window comes up notice that the tool bar gives 4 choices:(Double click to enlarge.)
First one, left to right: items come up as icons which you can rearrange.
The second choice is List view. Here you can click Date Modified and things arrange from first to last, or last to first date. Click on Name and they come up in alphabetical order, either A to Z or Z to A.
The third view shows Columns and expands to the right side as you open something from one folder to another. Note the two short lines. Double click to expand the width of the open column.
The fourth choice of View opens Cover Flow. Try it out and see what comes up!
Then click on Action and note your options here. Could be useful, yes?
Go to the Menu Bar at the top of your screen. Under File find Label. There are 7 colors and X which reverts back to no color at all. You could assign a certain color for documents or a folders. Here you invent a system to help find things.
You can also do Command + space bar to quickly open the Spotlight for Search. A few key words will help you automatically find that document, email, or folder you want.
To find a word inside a document do Command + F and type in the word. It will be highlighted throughout the document you have open.
With your Mac you can find things!
Let us know how you’re exploring and discovering new short-cuts and tips. This is how we all help make PMUG an interesting and helpful organization.
Be sure to bookmark the PMUG site, http://www.pmug.us/index.html
Subscribe (Posts:Atom at the bottom of the home page)
to our news blog which is frequently updated: http://pmugnews.blogspot.com/
Test Your DNS
Here's an article about Google's new program to test which DNS server might be best for you to use. Jim Hamm comments, "Realistically, I've been pleased with whichever DNS server I'm using, so this may be more of a theoretical exercise. But, if you do try it and switch DNS servers I'd be interested in hearing about your comments."
Keychain Access
Finding a PMUG Writer
You’ve found this blog and are informed and entertained by reading it. You’ve noticed quotes from De Prez Allen Laudenslager and others. In fact, you just read something sent to us from John Carter yesterday. You can find all the other information a particular person has sent. Go to the top of this Home page, fill in the little search box with a name and let the Blogspot do the finding for you. Other contributors include Art Gorski, David Passell, Roger Lakner, De Former Prez Jim Hamm and Bill Williamson.
If you subscribe to Google Alert you can also be notified when one of your favorite writers has something posted here or elsewhere on the Internet. Go to Google Home Page, under More, and then Even More. Click on Alerts and sign up for the person or topic of your choice. You'll get notified by email. Nifty!
Managing Your eBook Collection
Adobe® Digital Editions is a free, lightweight eBook reading application for Microsoft® Windows® and Mac OS X. You can use it to read and organize your eBook collection. Thanks to John Carter for sending on this information.
Deciphering the URL & More To It
If you receive emails or emailed forwards or if you notice ads on websites you may wonder where it comes from. This website lists alphabetically those two letter abbreviations on the end of URLs.
Now, thanks to Art Gorski we learn more: "Actually, that website doesn't list 'URL's, it lists the codes for the Top Level Domains (TLD). The second, third, and so on 'levels' are listed to the left of the TLD in each URL, separated by periods. So in www.pmug.us, us is the TLD, pmug is the second level (everything at PMUG), and www is the third level (the web server at pmug). You could have other third level devices, like a server at server.pmug.us for example.
"A fun thing to do with TLDs is to purchase a personal domain for yourself. For instance, I've thought about getting 'art.gors.ki'. Just because I don't live in Kiribati doesn't mean I can't own a domain name registered there. ;-)"
Wall Power Outlet
Glad To See It Solved
Another happy report of a PMUG member helping solve somebody's problem. This time it's John Carter to the rescue. He details the success, "I met with (prospective new member) this morning and we determined what all she needed to do to be able to edit the videos that she took with the Sony camcorder which records movies to a 3"(?) mini-disk.
Simple.
1. Use a PC to copy the VOB files (.vob) from the mini-disks to an external hard drive (or connect an external DVD player directly to the Mac - the player will play the mini-disks and the Mac can see the content like any external drive).
2. Connect the external hard drive to the Mac (if an external DVD player wasn't used).
3. Download and install the mpeg-2 codec ($19.99 + tax) from Apple Store to be able to view the VOB files using MPEG Streamclip.
4. MPEG Streamclip can then export the VOB files to a .dv format (or other appropriate format).
5. Import the converted files into iMovie and edit.
"I tried to use Quicktime Player 7 to view the VOBs, but it stop reading the files when it encountered the first time gap. MPEG Streamclip recognizes the time gaps and allows you to fix them, thereafter playing the entire set of VOBs.
"Quicktime Player 10 (for Snow Leopard only) will not recognize the VOBs even with the mpeg-2 codec installed, so for those Snow Leopard users, keep your Quicktime Player 7 installed."