Posts by Scott Mcnulty at The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Scott McNulty
- http://blog.blankbaby.com/

Scott McNulty is a techie with an English degree. His first Mac was an iMac in the summer of 1999 and he hasn�t looked back since. Considered an expert by few, and an annoyance by many Scott takes it all in stride. When not writing in the third person about himself, he can be found taking care of several Windows servers and more Windows desktops than you can shake a stick at (hey, a guy's gotta make a living). He also maintains a personal website; Blankbaby, and is "Philadelphia's Most Influential Blogger", a title which is self-proclaimed and entirely unfounded.

Scott McNulty, signing off

Posted Jul 31st 2008 7:00PM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: TUAW Business

I'm not used to writing about myself here on TUAW. I'm usually not the story, but just this once we thought it would be appropriate to break with tradition.

After 3.5 years here at TUAW (here's my first post), and serving as lead blogger for a good portion of that time, I will be moving on to other things (perhaps bigger, if I'm lucky, but it is hard to think that they will be better. If they are just as good I'll count myself as a lucky fellow indeed).

TUAW's destiny is now in the very capable hands of Dave Caolo and Mike Rose. TUAW will continue to grow by leaps and bounds under their leadership, and it will bring you all the great tips, tricks, and Mac news you have come to expect.

Read on for more of this treacly goodbye post.

Continue reading Scott McNulty, signing off

Mac 101: organize Spotlight results

Posted Jul 30th 2008 9:00AM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: OS, Mac 101

Welcome to another entry in our series for new Mac users: Mac 101. This installment brings us to the preference panel of Spotlight, OS X's integrated search that makes finding that needle in your hard drive's haystack as easy as pie (clearly, it doesn't protect against mixed metaphors).

You're familiar with the way Spotlight returns results, but did you know that you can change the order in which those results are shown? Read on to find out how (and why you might want to do this).

Continue reading Mac 101: organize Spotlight results

MobileMe update: mail restored to 1% of users, syncing issue resolved

Posted Jul 29th 2008 11:57PM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: Bad Apple, MobileMe

Good old David G., the mysterious author of Apple's MobileMe Status blog, has good news for that unfortunate 1% of MobileMe users who couldn't use their email accounts. All email services, including 'historical messages,' have been restored (it is unclear if this means all messages are back in their right place).

Apple has set up a special MobileMe Mail Dedicated Chat Support to help those folks who had email issues sort everything out. If you were one of the chosen few, head on over there to discuss what happened with a friendly, and helpful, Apple support tech.

In addition to resolving the email issue, David G. says that nasty syncing issue (you remember, the one that was wiping people's iPhones of any and all contacts) has been corrected as well. Most MobileMe users didn't see this issue, and for the few that did it seems to have sorted itself out, however, if you're still having this issue check out Apple's KB article for the solution to your syncing woes.

Hey, David G., since it looks like you have MobileMe under control can I report a bug about the MobileMe Status blog? Thanks! There is no way to link directly to a post, like the post I'm talking about right this second, which makes it hard to make sure people see the entry I'm talking about. I'm sure you just forgot to click a button in iWeb or something.

Beverly Hills, 90210 iPod nano

Posted Jul 29th 2008 10:00PM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: iPod Family, Odds and ends

Beverly Hills, 90210 is a show that is near and dear to many people's hearts... at least I assume so, because how else do you explain this Beverly Hills, 90210 limited edition iPod nano? CBS is selling 2000 of these suckers for $269. For your money you get an 8 gig iPod nano engraved with a picture of the 90210 cast and a slogan of your choice (as long as it is 30 characters or less) and all the normal accessories that come with an iPod nano. If a 4 gig iPod nano is more your speed, you're in luck because you can get one of them for $219.

I think I'll be passing on this iPod nano, but CBS has a whole line of iPods branded with various shows. They have everything from CSI iPods to Amazing Race iPods. I will pay good money for a Barney Miller iPod nano (which I have helpfully mocked up to the right. Oh, Wojciehowicz, you card!).

[via Engadget]

Adobe ships Lightroom 2

Posted Jul 29th 2008 1:30PM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: Software

Adobe announced today that Lightroom 2, a major update to their photography workflow app, is now available. Lightroom 2 will cost you $299, with an upgrade price of $99, but it includes a host of new features, improvements, and general whizbangery.

The biggest news for Mac users is that Lightroom 2 is Adobe's first native 64-bit app for OS X. Also new in Lightroom 2:

Libraries can span harddrives
Customizable print templates
Smart Collections to automatically organize photos

And much more. The Lightroom 2 Learning center has a nice list of new and improved features. And to help you Lightroom 1.0 users decide whether or not to upgrade Adobe has a comparison of Lightroom 1 vs. Lightrooom 2.

Lightroom 2 requires OS X 10.4 or above, and a 1 GHz G4 processor or better.

TUAW Tip: exclude your Time Machine disk from Spotlight indexing

Posted Jul 29th 2008 10:00AM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: OS, Tips and tricks, TUAW Tips

Just the other day I noticed an odd thing: the Spotlight magnifying glass on my MacBook Pro had that little pulsating dot in it that means it is indexing something. That was odd, since I hadn't added any large files to my Mac, nor had I connected an external harddrive. Or did I?

As you might be able to guess from the picture above, Spotlight was dutifully trying to index my Time Capsule's harddrive every time that drive was mounted by Time Machine (which is once an hour). This process was making my backups take a little longer than I wanted them to, so I simply excluded my Time Capsule from Spotlight's indexing.

Here's how you do it:

Launch System Preferences (or you can open the Spotlight preferences from the Spotlight dropdown menu).
Click on the 'Privacy' tab.
click the little plus icon ()
Choose your Time Machine disk (as you can see mine is cleverly named)

That's it! Now Spotlight will ignore your Time Machine disk, your backups will run a little faster, and there will be a spring in your step.

Update: As some commenters have noted, this tip does mean that you won't be able to use Spotlight to search your Time Machine backups. That's fine for me, since when I'm using Time Machine I'm restoring a file that I noticed is missing, or an entire folder. I don't need to search for something, however, if you find yourself routinely searching your Time Machine backups via Spotlight this tip isn't for you.

Apple stores issue 'golden tickets' for iPhone 3G buyers

Posted Jul 29th 2008 8:00AM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: Retail, iPhone

People are still lining up at Apple stores to pay iPhone 3G's. Clearly, people are crazy about Apple's new phone, but what is Apple doing to make it a little easier to get your hands on a shiny new iPhone? Our friends at iPhone Central note that Apple stores have new, extended hours to pack the people in. Apple stores are now opening at 8am, for you early rising iPhone seekers.

Apple retail staffers will also be roaming the lines and prequalifing people for iPhone purchases. Once you've been prequalified you are issued a ticket that is good for an iPhone 3G. You can use the ticket right then and there (when it is your turn, of course) or return later in the day.

Sounds like a pretty fair system to me. Have you stood in line for an iPhone lately? What do you think of Apple's new methods?

MobileMe: the case of the vanishing iPhone contacts (Update)

Posted Jul 28th 2008 8:00PM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: Bad Apple, Apple, MobileMe

Another day, another new way for MobileMe to anger folks. Today we are hearing lots of grumbling about people seeing their contacts and calendars disappearing from their iPhones after a sync with MobileMe. Luckily, it looks like it is only the iPhone that is wiped, the contacts/events are still on their Macs.

Wyn called Apple support and they suggested disabling automatic syncing and manually syncing to clear up the problem. That gives a new definition to push.

This seems like a good time to remind people to back up your data before you enable any sort of automatic syncing. Read on after the jump to see how to backup your Address Book and iCal events, just in case.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in and thanks to FailMe for the graphic.

Update: It is 8:30pm on the east coast of the US, and Apple has just posted this note on the MobileMe System Status: "Some MobileMe members may be unable to sync new, edited, or deleted contacts, calendars, and bookmarks over the air between computers and mobile devices (iPhone and iPod Touch). Service will be restored ASAP. We apologize for any inconvenience."

Continue reading MobileMe: the case of the vanishing iPhone contacts (Update)

Aperture 2.1.1 now available

Posted Jul 28th 2008 5:10PM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: Software, Software Update

Apple has just released Aperture 2.1.1, the latest update to their photo workflow application aimed at pro photographers. The description, as usual, is terse. It would seem this update 'supports general compatibility issues, improves overall stability, and addresses a number of other minor issues.' Sounds like it fixes some bugs and adds MobileMe support.

The update is available via Software Update, though Apple hasn't posted it to their website as of yet.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

Mac 101: Safari tab tricks

Posted Jul 25th 2008 6:30PM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: Mac 101

I've found myself using Firefox 3 more and more as of late, though there is one feature of Safari that I miss dearly. Picture it: you have a bunch of tabs loaded up in one window of your browser. For some reason you decide that you would really like to see one tab in its very own window. In Safari all you have to do is click on that tab and drag. As you can see to the right, a little picture of the website you're viewing appears and you can drop that picture anywhere on your screen. Once you drop it, the picture expands into a Safari window displaying that website.

This cool feature is a little tough to explain in words, so read on for a brief video demonstration.

Please note that I'm using Leopard and Safari 3.

Continue reading Mac 101: Safari tab tricks

Bricksmith 2.0

Posted Jul 25th 2008 3:00PM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: Software

It has been awhile since I posted about Bricksmith, it looks like Allen Smith hasn't spent all his time pining for more TUAW coverage. Nay! He has been working on Bricksmith 2.0, which brings some new features to this open source Lego modeling app. The renderings have been improved, part search has been beefed up, and new addition to the Help file will aid those looking to create nifty models.

My favorite part of this app has to be the Minifig generator (which I used to create the image that accompanies this post). You can use it to create more aesthetically pleasing minifigs, to be sure, but this guy has got character I tells ya.

Bricksmith is free, but if you find yourself using it often a donation would be nice.

Multiple iPhone household? Share your apps.

Posted Jul 25th 2008 2:00PM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: Apple, iPhone, App Store

Let me start this post off by pointing out that I am not a lawyer, and I don't even play one on TV. I have, however, been called for jury duty a few times, so I know my way around a courthouse.

Melvin Rivera isn't a lawyer either, but he and his wife own two iPhones. Melvin knew that iPhone apps are wrapped with Apple's delicious flavor of DRM called 'FairPlay' that has some fairly open terms of use. You can authorize up to five computers to access items purchased from the iTunes store (that aren't iTunes Plus tracks, since they don't have any DRM on them) and you can then play those tracks (and one assumes applications) on any unlimited number of iPods and iPhones.

Melvin, being the clever man that he is, realized that he shouldn't have to purchase two copies of Super Monkey Ball: one for his wife's iPhone and another for his. FairPlay makes it clear that those apps should be able to run on multiple iPhones, so after some poking around Melvin got it to work. Check out his blog for the blow by blow account.

Clearly, this approach is kosher as far as the DRM is concerned, but do iPhone apps have licenses that supersede the FairPlay wrapper? I haven't agreed to any per app licensing agreements when installing something on my iPhone (as of yet) though that doesn't mean they don't exist (as I pointed out above I'm no Perry Mason).

Montreal Apple store grand opening today

Posted Jul 25th 2008 11:00AM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: Retail, Apple

The rumored Apple Store, Sainte Catherine in Montréal is opening today, in grand style. If you're in the area of 1321 Ste-Catherine st west besides the Ogilvy Department Store at the corner De la Montagne st (which I totally just grabbed from the store's website, I have no idea where any of that is) you should stop on by.

It looks like the store will also have a number of musical guests for the next few days to keep interest up. Amongst the musical folks stopping by the store are:

The Stills on July 26th
Alex Cuba on July 27th
Anik Jean on July 28th
David Usher on July 29th

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

iPhone OS 2.1 and SDK 2.1

Posted Jul 25th 2008 9:30AM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: Developer, iPhone

Attention iPhone developers: get ye to Apple's iPhone Dev Center. Apple released the image for the iPhone OS 2.1 and SDK 2.1 last night. You must be registered to get at these files, which means that you have to agree to an NDA (First rule of iPhone development: don't talk about iPhone development), though for those curious registering for Apple's dev center is free (as noted below, the free account won't get you access to these files).

According to numerous tipsters this .1 release includes the beginnings of the iPhone notification services as well as some improvements in the location awareness area. iPhone users, this is an advanced release of the software so that devs and make sure their apps work, and start whipping up new apps. This won't be available for phone in the wild until some later date (that only Steve and his hairdresser know for sure).

One thing to note: apps created using this SDK/OS combination cannot be sold on the App Store at this time, so I hope you have an extra iPhone or iPod touch laying around.

Update: I was mistaken, this new files aren't available via the free Apple Dev accounts. You have to have a paid membership to get them (though I would imagine they will trickle down to the freebie accounts at some point in the near future), and be a registered iPhone developer.

Update 2: Some folks in the comments are saying they are paid, registered developers and they can't see these files so your mileage may vary.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

Apps for Apple TV: sign me up

Posted Jul 24th 2008 7:00PM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple, Apple TV

Saul Hansell, over at the New York Times Bits blog, takes Microsoft's recent announcement about Xbox LIVE Community Games as a jumping off point to some speculation about Apple TV (and who doesn't like speculation?). Hansell wonders what would happen if Apple were to open up an App Store for the Apple TV, and I have to admit that I think that's a brilliant idea.

I've always thought that the Apple TV would greatly benefit from third party plugins (official ones, I mean, not hacks), if not full blown apps. Take, for example, the YouTube functionality. Wouldn't it be cool if you could watch videos from Viddler, Vimeo, or any of the other countless video sharing sites, in addition to those on YouTube? And let's not forget Netflix. Microsoft and Netflix have teamed up to offer the 'Watch it now' library of videos to XBox Live Gold members. Being able to watch those videos from Netflix on my Apple TV would make me one happy panda.

Hansell notes that to make apps on the Apple TV viable something has to be done about that horrible onscreen keyboard. He thinks that Apple might tie the iPhone into the Apple TV as a way to control it. Luckily, Apple has already done this. As John Gruber points out, when you have Apple's Remote app on your iPhone you are able to use the iPhone to enter text into your Apple TV.

Let's hope Apple stops thinking about Apple TV as a hobby and starts making an aggressive push for the living room. I like my Apple TV, but my XBox 360 offers up more functionality (and more heat!).

Next Page >

#	Blogger	Posts	Cmts
1	Cory Bohon	56	1
2	Robert Palmer	55	44
3	Steven Sande	51	15
4	Mike Schramm	27	0
5	Erica Sadun	25	1
6	Michael Rose	23	30
7	Mat Lu	21	10
8	Dave Caolo	21	0
9	Giles Turnbull	20	0
10	Christina Warren	14	28
11	Brett Terpstra	12	0
12	TUAW Blogger	7	0
13	Victor Agreda, Jr.	5	12
14	Jason Clarke	2	1
15	Scott McNulty	2	0

Wanted: a PAX attendee really good at video game trivia PSP Brite diagnosed with lower battery life expectancy We might actually go see the Max Payne movie	10 Awesome BlackBerry apps Googleholic for August 29, 2008 3 Mobile Web Apps that keep old Pocket PCs relevant
Rumor: Apple and AT&T working on tethering deal My favorite iPod touch apps: Mike R.'s picks Meet Spore's creator at Regent St. Apple Store	Closing Bell: Dow, NASDAQ and S&P down on inflation and oil worries Is infrastructure investment good for the U.S. economy? Broadcom (BRCM): Behind the iPhone display, and more
PAX 08: Witness a Bungie and The Behemoth booth construction Watch Left 4 Dead running on 360 [update] Here's the Halo 3 tribute song "Thank You Bungie"	Empty the 401k: Riddler-winning Ferrambo up for sale VIDEO: Viper ACR and Corvette ZR1 battle on the 'Ring BMW helping disabled vets get back behind the wheel
New Max Payne movie trailer hits the web Neverwinter Nights 2 prepares for the Storm of Zehir Prince of Persia limited edtion announced; Penny Arcade comic coming	Vikings' Bryant McKinnie Suspended 4 Games, Tarvaris Jackson Will Get Off to a Rough Start Oh, Adrian Arrington, Your Rookie Season Has Ended Much Too Soon And You Thought You Knew Mario Manningham

Scott McNulty, signing off

Mac 101: organize Spotlight results

MobileMe update: mail restored to 1% of users, syncing issue resolved

Beverly Hills, 90210 iPod nano

Adobe ships Lightroom 2

TUAW Tip: exclude your Time Machine disk from Spotlight indexing

Apple stores issue 'golden tickets' for iPhone 3G buyers

MobileMe: the case of the vanishing iPhone contacts (Update)

Aperture 2.1.1 now available

Mac 101: Safari tab tricks

Bricksmith 2.0

Multiple iPhone household? Share your apps.

Montreal Apple store grand opening today

iPhone OS 2.1 and SDK 2.1

Apps for Apple TV: sign me up

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