Control iTunes with your iPhone/iPod Touch

June 27, 2008 at 9:58 am · Filed under Software, Hardware

Mac Rumors has some interesting news after reviewing the “Read Me” file accompanying the pre-release version of iTunes 7.7:  An application is in the works to allow controlling of iTunes from an iPhone or iPod Touch.  The to-be-released remote application will be made available as a free download from the App Store.

If you’re an average Joe, you can’t get the remote application yet (or iTunes 7.7), the 7.7 pre-release as made available to developers only.  Expect a public release in upcoming weeks.

The exact verbiage from the “Read Me” file:

Use iTunes 7.7 to sync music, video, and more with iPhone 3G, and download applications from the iTunes Store exclusively designed for iPhone and iPod touch with software version 2.0 or later. Also use the new Remote application for iPhone or iPod touch to control iTunes playback from anywhere in your home — a free download from the App Store.

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Apple: Let there be Exchange (just not right this minute)

June 24, 2008 at 9:11 pm · Filed under Mac for PC Users, Predictions, Software

Last Fall I in a post about the frustrations of using a Mac in a corporate setting where Microsoft’s Exchange provides calendaring, contacts, and email, I considered the possibility of support for Exchange in Apple’s native applications.

If that is true, I’d have to say that while that while that is a great move on behalf of the iPhone, there is likely another story here. That story: Full Microsoft Exchange support with an Apple authored application. Far fetched? iWork’s interoperability with Microsoft Office’s Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents is proudly displayed on the iWord ‘08 landing page already. And, if Apple was going to make the iPhone play nice with Exchange, I’d find it hard to believe that a desktop solution wasn’t also in the works.

Well, it’ll be a bit more of a wait, but eventually it is to be. A colleague recently pointed me to a page on Apple’s site for the next version of OS X, “Snow Leopard.” The page confirms Exchange support for Mail.app, iCal and Address Book.

Microsoft Exchange Support

Snow Leopard includes out-of-the-box support for Microsoft Exchange 2007 built into Mail, Address Book, and iCal. Mac OS X uses the Exchange Web Services protocol to provide access to Exchange Server 2007. Because Exchange is supported on your Mac and iPhone, you’ll be able to use them anywhere with full access to your email, contacts, and calendar.

Why this feature isn’t coming sooner is my only question!

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Get rid of Mail.app SPAM

March 29, 2008 at 1:11 pm · Filed under Mac for PC Users, Tips, Support, Software

A few tips you can try to get a handle on SPAM for your .Mac email account for users of Mail.app (Apple’s default email application).

Be Sure SPAM Filtering is Enabled in Mail

Mail provides some basic SPAM protection.  If it’s off it’s of no use to you, so be sure that it’s enabled.

1. In Mail navigate to Mail > Preferences…
2. Click the Junk Mail option
3. Ensure “Enable junk mail filtering” is checked

With junk mail filtering enabled, there is one more thing you need to do: train Mail. Mail constantly learns from what you flag as SPAM to try to do a better job in the future. Be sure that you flag junk mail as such as opposed to just deleting it.

Get a More Advanced SPAM Protection

The junk mail filtering for Mail on OS X is a nice feature, but it does seem that it takes it awhile to learn a new strain of SPAM when it encounters it. I’ve considered getting more SPAM protection for Mail.app, but just haven’t bitten the bullet yet.

The program which holds the most appeal to me is called SpamSieve by C-Command Software. If there is an opportunity to evaluate SpamSieve prior to purchase I’ll give it a test drive and report back on how effective it is.

Report SPAM you Receive

I’m not sure if it will assist in your short-term battle with SPAM, but being a part of the solution is always a good thing (right?). When you do get SPAM, submit it to a SPAM reporting service such as SpamCop–be sure you go to spamcop.NET not .COM.

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Office 2008 breaks fonts during installation

March 12, 2008 at 9:01 pm · Filed under Tips, Miscellaneous, Support, Software

I just installed the retail version of Office 2008 for Mac and ran in to a problem. After running the installer, I started experiencing font issues. Safari specifically was having issues. I’m not the only one who has experienced this; it’s an issue that reared its head during the Beta testing but apparently didn’t get taken care of completely before Office shipped.

Avoiding font issues when installing Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac

It’s simple: When the Installer recommends that you close ALL applications, take the installer’s advice. If you do so, you should be in the clear.

Correcting font issues after installing Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac

If you didn’t heed the installer warning and you’re reading this post, you likely have some interesting font issues. The problem stems from the installation of fonts which took place as a part of the Office 2008 installation. Here’s how to bring things back to normal:

1. Open the Font Book application
2. Look for fonts which have a circle indicator next to their name. This indicates that there are duplicate versions of the font installed.

   

3. Expand the font and identify the variant (bold, italic, condensed, etc.) of the font that has the issue (or variants).
4. Click on one of the font variants and click Command-I to Show Font Info

   

5. Identify which of the fonts is the original version, and which was later installed (look for the “Duplicate” attribute toward the bottom of the criteria in the right-hand side pane showing the font information. If it says ‘yes’, this is the one you’ll want to remove).
6. To remove the font variant, Control+Click on the font/variant name to remove.
7. Continue to do this until you’ve removed all the newly installed, duplicated fonts.
8. Restart your Mac. Everything should be back to normal.

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iPhone Exchange ActiveSync: granted

March 6, 2008 at 12:03 pm · Filed under Mac for PC Users, Software

At this morning’s iPhone SDK announcement, Apple put the end to the question of the iPhone’s viability in the enterprise by announcing Exchange support by way of Microsoft’s ActiveSync technology.

ActiveSync will synchronize contacts and meetings with the iPhone’s native address book and calendar, leading to the inevitable question: when is OS X’s Mail and iCal going to get Exchange support?

The improved iPhone Exchange support will be made available at the time of the next iPhone Software Update.

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iPhone SDK announcement with ActiveSync/Exchange news?

February 28, 2008 at 4:12 am · Filed under Predictions, Software, Hardware

Although slated for a February release, the iPhone SDK will be released next Wednesday (March 6th).  Of interest:  specific mention of “exciting new enterprise features” in the invitation sent to reporters.

This has to be an iPhone/ActiveSync/Exchange announcement.  If it’s not, there’s going to be some disappointed current and potential iPhone enterprise customers out there.

If Wednesday’s iPhone SDK enterprise features do include Exchange synchronization, I’d look for enterprise Exchange support in an OS X mail client to follow as I previously predicted.

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10 big web sites gone iPhone small

January 20, 2008 at 10:49 pm · Filed under Software, Hardware

The iPhone’s Safari browser allows browsing of any web site.  Sites designed specifically for the iPhone’s form factor often provide a better experience by eliminating the zooming gestures and focusing on the most important content and functionality the visitor needs.  Here’s a few big web properties gone small-screen for the iPhone and iPod touch:

• Facebook for iPhone
• Digg for iPhone
• Travelocity for iPhone
• CBS News for iPhone
• Amazon for iPhone (beta)
• Hotels.com for iPhone
• Fox News for iPhone
• The Weather Channel for iPhone
• The Food Network for iPhone
• Google Docs for iPhone

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Playstation games on your iPhone? Yes and no.

December 26, 2007 at 10:50 pm · Filed under Games, Software, Hardware

Yes. You can play (some) PlayStation 1 games on your iPhone. If:

• You feel cleverness trumps quality of gameplay (the hack may be elegant, but the gameplay doesn’t appear to be)
• Your iPhone has been jailbroken (prematurely “opened” to allow installation of third-party applications)
• Legality isn’t of much concern (this should require no explanation)

Still reading? An iPhone application called pxs4iphone brings PlayStation 1 gaming to the iPhone if you’re fine with the caveats above. YouTube videos and postings on the developer’s forum do demonstrate the application being installed and games running. The reality: the majority of games that will run don’t replicate the PlayStation experience—they are running notably slower than the native PS1 games. Even with emulator tweaks (frame skipping, etc.) and iPhone overclocking this early release of psx4iphone trails behind PlayStation performance.

Will psx4iphone improve? Undoubtedly. Even without major rewrites of psx4iphone, hardware improvements alone would eventually make it plausible. For the mainstream, however, the future of gaming on the iPhone and iPod Touch will take a different form (in fact, require it).

Links:

• psx4iphone forum
• psx4iphone forum thread with psx4iphone application download
• iClarified’s psx4iphone installation guide

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NOT a rumor: Think Secret shutting down

December 21, 2007 at 3:39 pm · Filed under Rumors, Software, Hardware

Popular Apple/Macintosh rumor site Think Secret will cease to be published as a part of the terms of an undisclosed settlement with Apple, Inc.

Apple sued Think Secret in 2005 citing leaked software and hardware information published on Think Secret.  While no formal mention of money changing hands has been made, it has been widely speculated that Think Secret was compensated financially as a part of the agreement.

The following press release was posted to the ThinkSecret web site:

Apple, Think Secret settle lawsuit

December 20, 2007 - PRESS RELEASE: Apple and Think Secret have settled their lawsuit, reaching an agreement that results in a positive solution for both sides. As part of the confidential settlement, no sources were revealed and Think Secret will no longer be published. Nick Ciarelli, Think Secret’s publisher, said “I’m pleased to have reached this amicable settlement, and will now be able to move forward with my college studies and broader journalistic pursuits.”

As a part of the settlement no sources of Think Secret’s content were named.

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Apple hiring: iPhone Exchange test/sync

December 13, 2007 at 10:47 am · Filed under Rumors, Support, Software, Hardware

Apple may be looking to close the iPhone/Exchange/ActiveSync loop itself depending upon how you read into this recent Cupertino job posting (emphasis mine):

Job Description

We can only hope…

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