Update: Configurator 1.4.3

This is update for Apple Configurator 1.4.3

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before OS	…7,848
After OS	…35,228
Difference (A-B)	27,380
Capacity	49%

Update OS 10.9.2 and others

This is another long list of updates: OS 10.9.2, iWork, and iPhoto.

Here are the space differences between before and after for the updates:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before OS	…556,048
After OS	…433,064
Difference (A-B)	-122,984
After Keynote	…250,252
Difference (A K - A OS)	-182,812
After Numbers, Pages	…290,848
Difference (A N-A K)	40,596
After iPhoto	…137,508
Difference (A P-A N)	-153,340
Capacity	48%

Updates: iWorks and others

After I updated my OS to Mavericks, I got a long lists of updates: OS updates, iWork, Apple Configurator, iLife, iBook Author and Xcode.

Here are the space differences between before and after for the updates:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before OS RDC	…673,264
After OS	…233,268
Difference (A-B)	-3,339,620
After Configurator	…463,904
Difference (A C-A OS)	23,908
After Keynote	…744,436
Difference (A K-A C)	280,532
After Numbers	…938384
Difference (A N-A N)	193,948
Before iMovie	…49,938384
After iMovie	…52,046,836
Difference (A - B)	2,108,452
Before Xcode	…46,836
After Xcode	…153,952
Difference (A - B)	107,116
After iBook Author	…424,512
Difference (A B-A X)	270,560
After iPhoto	…585,992
Difference (A iP-A B)	161,480
After Pages	…884,288
Difference (A P-A iP)	298,296
Capacity	47%

OS Mavericks

I did my OSX Mavericks update after my vacation back. I got the OS installer a few days after its release. I hold on the update because I want to wait for information of how to create an installer.

Create Bootable USB Disk

Here is the instruction of making an OS X Mavericks installer:

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Mavericks.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Install\ OS\ X\ Mavericks --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Mavericks.app --nointeraction

Where I named my USB disk as "Install OS X Mavericks".

Install Mavericks

Before starting the installation, make sure you use Time Machine to do the last back. I will need to use migration app to transfer all my applications, accounts and other data to the new OS.

With this USB installer ready, I set up my boot disk from System Preference|Startup Disk:

To do a clean installation, I use Disk Utility to erase my Mac HD first. Then I start to install OS X to the HD. It took about 1 hour to install Mac OS. After that I choose to do migration by transferring accounts, applications from Time Machine. Depending on how much data, it may take several hours to do the transferring.

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before	…7,563,652
After	…4,224,032
Difference (A-B)	-3,339,620
Capacity	47%

References

• Mac World: How to make a bottable Mavericks install drive

Lots of Updates before OS Mavericks

Apple made announcement on Noct 22, 2013 that the new Mac OS Mavericks released on the same date for free. What a surprise to all Mac users! That means all mac computer users as early as 2007 can get their Mac OS updated. I checked my 2008 MacBook Pro. It was not able to update to Mountain Lion, but now it is legitimate for update.

Here is the information about Mac OS Mavericks:

Last night I hold on the update. The reason one is to prepare for the update: checking all the updates available before updating.  Another reason is to wait for any issues related to Mavericks. So far, I have not notice any issues. As my schedule, I'll do my preparation updates first.

OS Update: Safari 6.1, iTunes 11.1.2...

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before	…376,180
After	…402,852
Difference (A-B)	26,672
Capacity	48%

iBooks Author

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before	…402,852
After	…584,468
Difference (A-B)	181,616
Capacity	48%

Apple Configurator

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before	…68
After	…80
Difference (A-B)	12
Capacity	48%

Xcode 5.0.1

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before	…584,480
After	…733,808
Difference (A-B)	149,328
Capacity	48%

By the way, I had trouble to use Safari after updating yesterday. My Safari kept crashing when it was opened. Fortunately, I has Chrome as a way to browse internet. I found that many people had similar issues, but different causes. Some are history to be cleaned, or Safari db files to be removed from Library folder. 

Eventually I found a solution for my case after I submitted my case. It was caused by Glims. I have to uninstall it or update it. I removed it from my Mac. After that, my Safari is stable.

One lesson learned from this incident: always be prepared for browser failure. Second one is valuable, even I don't use Google's Chrome in most of time.

Mac OS Java Update

Apple has announced that the next media news event will be on Oct 22, Tuesday. I guess the new Mac OS Mavericks will be released anytime after the event.

This update is only for Java update.

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before	...958,660
After	...893,340
Difference (A-B)	-65,320
Capacity	48%

Mac OS Updates: OSX 10.8.5 and iTunes 11.1.1

Mac OS Mavericks Golden version has been released to developers. The new OS will be out in any time.

Today I got two updates: OS X 10.8.5 and iTunes 11.1.1

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before	...70,212,604
After	...69,932,920
Difference (A-B)	-279,684
Capacity	49%

Finder and Alias

Finder is a UI interface to access to Mac file system. This UI is a pure UI interface with no direct way to enter a path, such as address text box in a browser or Windows File Explorer. In Finder's menu, there is one menu item Go to Folder... under Go, or press Shift+Command+G. From there you can type in a path.

The first issue I open encounter is how to get the full path of a folder. From Finder's status bar (if enabled in Preference), or Header area on top(in Mountain Lions +), the full path are layout like a hierarchy chain, which is not full path for copying.

The second issue is that in a browser, if you try to upload or attach a file, a Finder like dialog does not have "Go to Folder..." menu. From this pure UI, it is really hard to browse to a deep path on your Mac.

Here I found a solution to resolve the issue: using Mac alias. Mac is Unix system, alias. Alias is a small file reference to another object in Unix file system, file or folder, for example. I put an alias on left panel of Finder. This is a quick shortcut to a folder.

There are many ways to create alias. Here are two I found very convenient.

Create Alias in a Folder

I use Automator to create an alias in a specified folder, for example, MyAlias. I create this folder first at my home account, and then place it on the left panel of my Finder.

The service created by Automator is a very simple one like this:

Select Service.

First block: Service received selected "Files or Folders" in "Finder.app",
Second block is New Alias and in "MyAlias"

Save the service as "AddToMyAlias". Now this service is ready for use.

For example, try to review a photo in iPhoto app to Finder. Right click on the folder, select "AddToMyaAias" from services.

A new alia is created in MyAlias folder!

Using Terminal ln Command

An alias can be easily created in Terminal by Unix command. The command is ln with source path and an alias name. The source path may be a long string as a full path, for example, the above one. I prefer to find out a convenient way to get full path, instead of typing it from Finder.

Here I use Automator again to create a tool, which is used to get full path in Finder. The auto-workflow is a very simple one, just passing Finder's file or folder to clipboard:

I give the service a name as CopyPathToClipboard.

With a full path available, an alias can be easily created by ln command in a Terminal.

~ myAccount$ ln -s /Users/myAccount/Library/Services ~/MyAlias/MyServices

The above command creates a symbolic alias "MyServies" to my account's Library/Services folder. As a result, I can easily see what are in my services from Finder:

By the way, alias is a kind of shortcut to a file or folder. Deleting it will not cause original one lost.

Update: OS 10.8.5, iTunes 11, Xcode and Configurator

This looks like a bundle of updates of Mac OS 10.8.5, Epson Printer drive and Camera RAW data. I got this update done couple days ago.

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before	...6,159,148
After	...5,661,148
Difference (A-B)	498,000
Capacity	48%

Today I got several packages updates: iTunes, XCode, and Configurator.

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before	...461,584
After(iTunes)	...420,912
Difference (AiTunes-B)	40,671
After(XCode)	...940,284
Difference (AXCode)-A)	519,371
After(Configurator)	...945,580
Difference (AConf)-A)	5,296
Capacity	48%

iTunes Uodate

Apple has confirmed a media event on September 10. By that time, we will know more information about iOS 7 and Maveriks OS, as well as new mobile devices and Macs.

This iTunes 11.0.5 update may be related to the preparation of new releases. Another one is Digital Camera Raw Compatibility update 4.08

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before iTunes	...607,684
After iTunes	...566,628
Difference (A-B)	-41,056
After Dig	...563,704
Difference (AD-AiT)	-41,056
Capacity	47%

Apple Configurator Update 1.3.1

Apple Configurator is a tool to allow developer to configure large number of iOS devices with the settings, apps, and data you specify for school students, business employers or customers.I I downloaded this app long time ago, however, I have ever got chance to use it. Today I got this update from Apple's App store.

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before	...8,784
After	...3,380
Difference (A-B)	-5,404
Capacity	47%

Mac OS AirPort Update

This Mac OS X update: AirPort Utility Update 6.3.1.

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before	...62,036
After	...43,132
Difference (A-B)	-18,904
Capacity	47%

Update: OS X Security 2013-003 1.0

This Mac OS X update: security 2013-003 1.0. The update requires a reboot.

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before	...67,772
After	...52,956
Difference (A-B)	-14,816
Capacity	46%

Update: OS X Digital Camera Raw Compatibility 4.07

This update is about Digital Camera Raw Compatibility.

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before	...10,516
After	...7,816
Difference (A-B)	-2,700
Capacity	46%

Updates: OS X Airport Utility 6.3, Xcode 4.6.3, Java for OS X.

The first two update was done long time ago. Today I got another update. Here I summarize them all together.

Here is the space difference between before and after for the first two updates:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before (OS X)	...372,916
After (OS X)	...312,976
Difference (A-B)	-59,940
After (Xcode)	...292,508
Difference (A_X-A_OX)	-20,468
Capacity	46%

Here is the recent update: Java for OS X 2013-004 1.0

Here is the space difference between before and after for the update:

Command: df -lak	Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before	...880
After	...4,344
Difference (A-B)	3,464
Capacity	46%