I recently had to resize 48 images of various types and formats into 20×40 images.  I am not an expert in Photoshop and started manually making changes.  I noticed the Batch action available in the file menu (when saving the 4th file for those curious), and after a quick google search found this GREAT article.

Follow it explicitly (except don’t SAVE the file choose DONE.  Saving the file in the custom action results in every file in the batch being saved as that file – and subsequently rewriting every previous effort).

Enjoy the added efficiency, and like my friend David used to say – get a sandwich while it works…

James

To counter a post by someone I respect is hard, but given the subject I thought it best to throw in my hat.  The recent CanSecWest conference has a contest where security experts are given monetary incentive to break into three separate systems – Linux, Vista, OS X.  Now the rules are to use a non-published vulnerability.  The MacBook air was the first one down, using an already published Safari bug.  So, in my remote mind (and not actually at the conference) the hack was not pure or new.

Beyond general denial, I thought it important to point out that EVERYONE of the attackers (at least in the picture) are running Macbooks!  So, while there may exist a vulnerability… if it is good enough for the Leet it should be good enough for the common people.

Just a thought…

I am wrapping up my manuscript for my first book, and one task is to build an index.  This requires searching through hundreds of pages for key phrases.  I was provided my proofs as PDF files, but separates.  So, after a bit of searching using the OS X Finder and Preview I decided to merge these together.  The task is VERY simple and requires no installation of any software.  I used the automator to get it done.

Follow this gentleman’s article to the T, and you will be merging with no problems.

Best,

James

* BTW – this was my first foray into Automator, and I definitely will be going back…

Seems like a simple task, and the reverse is very simple – RIM has a “Copy all from SIM to address book”, but not the later.  So, given I have a need to place my most important numbers on a SIM to transfer them to another device I did a quick Google search, and found dozens of suggestions on how to do it.  The best is here from an actual RIM support guy.

Nonetheless, when I was trying to copy over to the SIM I discovered I did not always get the menu option to copy the contact over.  After much playing around I discovered that the CURSOR must be on the PHONE NUMBER you want to transfer before you hit the menu key.  Otherwise it will not give you the option.

So that is it…. check out the link, place the cursor on the number you want to COPY and then hit save once it refreshes.  Took a couple of hours to get the whole task done, and I hope this post will save you that fun.

James

So, I have been a huge vmware fan for many years.  As a result, I have nearly a dozen separate images that were carefully built and customized for each purpose.  When I switched to the Mac I found my vmware images trapped in the older OS.  After several searches online I found the following sites to help me along my way:

• How to Convert vmware to Parallels at Virtualization
• MakeVM – $20
• Old Parallels Forum that was informative 

Each was very good and thorough but unfortunately they were both painful in their descriptions (not that they were bad or poorly written, but instead that each required special software and specific configuration awareness).  I finally took the plunge and just turned on Parallels Transporter and voila – 15 minutes later my first vmware image was up and running – with ZERO problems.  The process I followed was the following (first make backup of your image – always a good idea):

1. Open Parallels Transporter in the Parallels directory
2. Choose Express, Whole virtual computer and point it at your vmware file
3.  When it is done – check your disk space (it defaults the outputted files into your /application/parallels/ directory)
4. Open the new image with Parallels, ignore Windows errors and force install the Parallel Tools
5. Done – enjoy your images in Parallels

That is it – have fun!

James

* Yes I know… read the documentation on your own software before Googling the world looking for the answer.  Interesting fact – 1,600,000 results found when searching for “how to convert vmware to parallels”, and not one (at the time I searched) plainly state to use Transporter.

Playing with this new drive today – a nice 160 gig.  The drive is super slick looking and requires no power cord.  Runs completely off of the USB drive.  One catch is to be sure you plug it into your highest powered USB port.  If you didn’t know that one may be more powerful than the either you are not alone.  I saw this tip here and I am grateful they are on the top hits of Google.

Quick review – works perfectly on OS X Macbook and is pretty fast (transferring 45 gigs at present).  Costco had one that included a case, and I would advise to get a case – it is super shinny and prone to scratches and fingerprints.  (who wants that!)

Best,

James

So, it has been a while but the verdict is in.  The Pearl is a great little phone.  Despite the shifty small buttons it has run like a champ, and handled nicely a few tumbles down a road or two – clumsy users.

I have been using shortcuts as the keyboard is so small, and have posted the top site I found below.  I hope to add a few more interesting links as I try and make the phone just a wee bit better.

Great shortcuts site

-James

Rarely has there been time to play with toys, but there are a few that I have my eyes on.

First off – I LOVE NYC. In this case I love REGAL CINEMAS. They have introduced a “Regal Guest Response System” where you may click a button and summon a company bouncer. Perfect for parents who don’t realize being a parent means taking care of the child – a rated R movie at 10pm does not qualify, or those annoying individuals who bring burritos into the establishment.

Second – Microsoft introduced something called Surface. Really cool technology, and I am glad it is in production. I do not buy their timeline on how it was developed, because I recall seeing demonstrations by non-Microsoft persons with this same tech. As I said, happy it is out and welcome the shift.

Google Developer’s Day just “completed” and announced Gears!  Offline access to your wonderful online applications.   It is an open source API, so this means ALL web applications can be made available offline with a bit of programming magic.  Be aware this is still in beta, but probably pretty rock solid as other Google launched applications.  (Gmail, Reader, etc…)  Here is a nice review

Finally – I started this post off with toys, and none better than Blizzard’s long awaited STARCRAFT II. Looks like it is finally time to upgrade to some rocking hardware (vista won’t make me upgrade, but Blizzard gets my vote)!

Ciao,

James

Another interesting video from the Google folks.  A worthy video of anyone’s time who works in groups, but more so those who deal with rolling out projects.  Grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy… someday I will figure out how to download these (is that a contrary to these online video distribution sites?) videos so that I can watch them on the plane.  Maybe the functionality already exists, I shall have to look – if anyone knows of a way please add a comment.

Thanks to Josh Simons for pointing me to this video from his post.

- James

So, I have been a videophile for a longtime and greatly desire to have my digital media made available to my television. I have tried connecting my PC and my Mac to the televisions, and despite the functional usage it is not elegant nor likely to last given the extreme manual effort (and the incredible overkill of using a $$$ multi-gigabyte and multi-processor machine) to do what a $50 dvd player from WaloMart.

Apple iTV is close to being the perfect solution except for two concerns – 720p is a bit weak in quality for my movie playing enjoyment, and what about my non-itunes media? The hard drive size is a bit small too – considering a single movie can be several gigs in size.

Crafty folks have gotten iTV to boot on a MacBook:

It seems that some brilliant folks have determined a way to upgrade the hard, and the ability to run divx files. So, is there any hope for upgrading the HD output to 1080? I will keep my eyes out, and this may be the straw that broke my self-control (2 out of 3 addressed – play any files, upgraded hard drive and only lacking on the HD output).

If anyone has any new upgrades or mods, please add them below. I will update this post as I find new information.

• Credits to MacOS x86 Blog guys for these great links and constant quality posts

• Upgrade Apple iTV Harddrive
• Support XVID and add SSH (Updated 3/28/07)
• Support added for Torrent download queues (grab your shows automatically)

One thing that would be incredible and maybe really enhance the experience would be to place the appletv os on a mac mini.  Greater drive size, more horsepower, better graphics card (?), better expandability… albeit more expensive.

James