Saturday, September 20, 2014

Updates: Safari 7.1 and Xcode 6.0.1

The updates include Safari 7.1 and Xcode 6.0.1.




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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before Safari…5,488,700
After Safari…4,740,172
Difference (A-B)-748,528
After Xcode…2,838,028
Difference (AX-AS)-1,902,144
Capacity50%

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Mac OS Updates

After Apple event at September 9, 2014, with iPhone 6, Apple Pay and Apple Watch release, the iOS was released today on September 17 Wednesday. I have updated my iPhone 5s today.

Today I also got the following updates: Apple Configurator version 1.6 and OS X update 10.9.5. The OS X update requires reboot.




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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before Configurator…69,064
After Configurator…11,844
Difference (A-B)-57,220
After OS…24,540
Difference (AOS-AC)12,696
Capacity50%

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

iMac Experience

This is my recent experience with my iMac 27. No thing wrong with it, however, I mistakenly put my flash camera disk into DVD slot when I was trying to import photos to iPhoto app. My old iMac 27 has both DVD and flash disk slots on the right side.

I tried to pull the disk out. As most of disk was already in the slot, it was so hard to grab it. I tried to use a think screw drive to move it out, but it was pushed completed in to the slot. The DVD slot is so small, and there is no easy way to find my disk.



The only way to get it is to open my iMac. I could do it by following instructions from YouTube videos. However, it would be too risky and time consuming. I thought about Apple Retail Store genius support. Then I made an appointment.

The next day I went to local Apple Retail shop. I told a technician my story. He smiled and told me no worries. He carried the iMac to the back room. Within minutes, he came back with my camera disk out. He told that they have tool to get the disk out.

There is no any charge for this service. I was so happy. I talked to another lady nearby with my story. She said, Yes, I love Apple service!

I used to work at computer store. This kind of service there must be a minimum one hour charge. Apple service is absolutely excellent. Normally, you can bring your computer or mobile devices to their genius bar to get consulting service, most of them are free, unless there is any hardware replacement.

Anyway, still I had to find time to travel to the store to get it serviced. Since the DVD disk is almost useless, I just put a tape over it, to avoid similar mistake.


Thursday, August 21, 2014

Update: iWorks

These updates includes ones for iWork package: iMovie 10.0.5, Keynote 6.2.2, Numbers 3.2.2, and Pages 5.2.2. The following picture contains detail information about the updates.




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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before iMovie…4,041,052
After iMovie…3,083,968
Difference (A-B)-957,084
After Knote…2,957,564
Difference (AK-AM)1,083,488
After Numbers…2,900,344
Difference (AN-AK)-57,220
After Pages…2,824,100
Difference (AP-AN)-76,244
Capacity48%

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Software Update: Safari 7.0.6

These updates is about Safari, version 7.0.6




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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before…3,434,572
After…2,978,992
Difference (A-B)-455,580
Capacity48%

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Update: Digital Camera Raw and iTunes 11.3.1

These updates include Digital Camera Raw Compatibility 5.06 and iTunes 11.3.1.




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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before Digital…3,447,692
After…2,643,068
Difference (A-B)-804,624
After iTunes…2,552,508
Difference (AiTunes-A Digital)-90,560
Capacity48%

Monday, August 4, 2014

Update: Epson Printer Drive 2.18

This update is about my Epson printer drive.




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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before…1,373,480
After…995,432
Difference (A-B)-378,048
Capacity49%

Friday, July 11, 2014

Update: iTunes

Today I noticed software update in App Store, iTunes with version 11.3.




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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before…70,062308
After…69,717,412
Difference (A-B)-344,896
Capacity49%

Friday, July 4, 2014

File Versions

Since Mac Lions, Apple introduces a new feature: file versions. All Mac document based app have this feature. This feature is based on the new APIs from Apple, and developers can enable this feature for customized documents in their apps easily.

I like this feature very much. For example, I have one Number file for my invoice. I don't need to save my invoice file as different files if I want to keep all my history files. I can use versions to view all my past invoices.

However, I think this feature is not well used by Mac users. Recently, I could not find versions as the way it was introduced: from title bar's context menu. It is not there any more.

Fortunately, I found this hidden feature still exist. It is within File menu->Revert. From there you can browse all the past versions.


Here is an example of version history of above image file:



A familiar Time Machine like view. This is great and convenient way to go back history to find previous changes.

Since Lion, OS X has been updated several times. Tags was introduced in OS S Mavericks. The new file title bar is changed to a new UI with several text boxes for easy editing.



Maybe this change pushes versions to less obvious place.

Anyway, versions are still there. I like all those features with documents.

References

Updates: OS X 10.9.4 and iMovie10.0.4

Today is the start date of western stampede season with parade on Calgary downtown area. The weather is beautiful, blue sky and sunshine. This Friday is my work date off and I stay at home. With parade on TV, I enjoy cool shade at home.

The following are two updates I just finished: OS X update 10.9.4, and iMovie 10.0.4.




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

Command: df -lak
Used(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before iMovie
…9,292,680
After
…8,390,796
Difference (A-B)
-901,884
After OS X
…8,787,620
Difference (A OS-A iMovie)
39,6824
Capacity
49%

Today I changed my HTML table with alternative way by using div. This allows me to use css class so that rows can be in alternative color.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Update: iBookAuthor 2.1.3

There have been no updates for a while. This update is about iBook Author 2.1.3




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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before…872
After…588
Difference (A-B)-284
Capacity48%

Thursday, May 29, 2014

iTunes 11.2.2 Update

This update is for iTunes with version 11.2.2. I think this may be the last update before WWDC on June 2. iOS and OS will have new updates or versions. Hoping Apple will release some great products as well.




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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before…6,067,476
After…5,865,440
Difference (A-B)-202,036
Capacity49%

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Updates: iTunes 11.2.1 and Safari 7.0.4

Apple released new updates this morning, according to AppleInsider. I did updates when I got home. This updates include iTunes 11.2.1 and Safari 7.0.4




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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before…7,661,000
After iTunes…6,490,312
Difference (A-B)-1,170,688
After Safari…6,512,876
Difference (AS-AiTunes)22,564
Capacity49%

Friday, May 16, 2014

Mac OS and iTunes Updates

There has been no updates for a while. This is a package for Mac OS and iTunes, as well as Raw Digital Camera updates.




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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before…6,975,260
After…5,739,752
Difference (A-B)-1,235,508
Capacity49%

Monday, May 12, 2014

Desktop Icons Not Displayed

Recently, I noticed that icons on my Desktop do not displayed correctly. Only the new ones are displayed. Quickly I found a solution to bring my icons back!

Here is the solution:


Go into Terminal and type:

rm ~/Desktop/.DS_Store
rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
killall Finder

The first two are to delete corrupted files. The last one is to relaunch Finder. It works for me.

Note: the original solution is to move plist file to another old one. I just don't like to keep it anywhere.

By the way, my MacBook Pro 15" 2008 was dead. The screen does not show Apple icon correctly. It does not boot up to log in session. I tried many times with power off. No luck. I brought it to my local Apple store and the genius boy told me that the video card is dead. The video card is on main-board and they don't have it any more.

I have to wait for new MBA out, I hope with Retina display, at WWDC in June.

References



Thursday, April 24, 2014

Safari Security Update 2014-002 1.0

I think that this update was released couple days ago. I did this Safari update at work with my MacBook Pro. This is a security update, which may be related to Heartbleed bug.




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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before…7,228,020
After…6,412,568
Difference (A-B)-815,452
Capacity49%

Friday, April 11, 2014

Updates: iMovie and Xcode

Today I have updated two apps from Apple: iMovie 10.0.3 and Xcode 5.1.1




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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before iMovie…80,896,328
After…79,866,816
Difference (A-B)-1,029,512
After Xcode…79,753,764
Difference (AX-AM)-113,052
Capacity49%

Saturday, April 5, 2014

File size feature in Preview is back!

Recently I noticed the the missing feature of file size in Preview is back! I noticed this missing feature when I updated my OS to Lion. I relied on this feature to decide which image size is smaller, png or jpg. When this feature was removed from Lion, I was so disappointed. I had to find other ways to compare file size difference between png and jpg.

I posted my request to Apple Discussion Forum. I remember that one WWDC encouraged users to post their questions to the forum and Apple is watching for discussions. I think that the roll-back of this feature may be related to my post. That's awesome!

References


Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Update: Safari 7.0.3 and iWorks

Today I have updated four apps from Apple: Safari 7.0.3, Keynote 6.2, Numbers 3.2 and Pages 5.2





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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before Safari…7,359,252
After Safari…6,949,820
Difference (A-B)-409,432
After Keynote…6,522,276
Difference (AK-AS)-427,544
After Numbers...6,392,380
Difference (AN-AK)-129,896
After Pages...6,263,140
Difference (AP-AN)-129,240
Capacity49%

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Updates: Digital Camera Raw Compatibility and GarageBand

There were updates I did two days ago: Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 5.04 and GarageBand Version 10.0.2



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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before Camera…6,977,744
After Camera…6,260,412
Difference (A-B)-717,332
After GarageBand…5,664,320
Difference (AG-A)-596,092
Capacity49%

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Mac Updates: Configurator and Xcode

I just finished two updates today: Apple Configurator 1.5 and Xcode 5.1.



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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before…80,724,036
After…80,683,620
Difference (A-B)-40,416
After Xcode…76,694,872
Difference (AX-A)-3,988,748
Capacity49%

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Update: Mac OS 10.9.2

This update, Mac OS 10.9.2, was done on Feb 28, 2014.



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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before…2,631,852
After…512,228
Difference (A-B)--2,119,624
Capacity50%

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Updates: iTunes, iWorks and iMovie

This is long list of updates: iTunes 11.1.4, all iWorks apps (Numbers 3.1, Keynote 6.1, and Pages 5.1) and iMovies 10.0.2.



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

Command: df -lakUsed(Kilobytes in 1024-blocks)
Before iTunes…83,000,260
After iTunes…82,688,564
Difference (A-B)-311,696
After Keynote…82,451,124
Difference (AK-AT)-237,440
After iMovie…78,172,316
Difference (AM-AK)-4,278,808
After Numbers…78,100,352
Difference (AN-AM)-71,964
After Pages…78,079,852
Difference (AP-AN)-20,500
Capacity50%

Friday, January 24, 2014

My 6 years, part of 30 Mac stories

Today I found this news from AppleInsider and then Apple web sites: 30 years of Mac anniversary. This is really inspiration day. I have been part of the Mac stories for 6 years, since my first iMac in 2008.

Not enough words to express my appreciation of Mac enchained my life. Here is my survey from Apple web page.








Tip on Spotlight: Finding files


Spotlight is a very useful feature in Mac world. Here is my quick tip: how to use spotlight feature to find a file when you try to find file from Finder. This is specially  useful when you try to update files from internet browser.

Step 1: click your home icon on the left side.
Step 2: type in file name in spotlight
Step 3: files you are looking for will be displayed!

In short, you don't need to know where you files are in your Mac.