Apple pushes anti-virus for Macs

For the first time, Apple is recommending the use of anti-virus tools to protect Mac systems.
I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner in all honesty. Apple systems are becoming more and more popular and as such they will become a target for the virus makers.

The BBC website and The Register site both have more on the story. In the meantime I’d recommend ClamXav if you are running Mac OS X it’s free and frequently updated.

Google Contacts Nightmare

So a slight problem recently with contacts.
I use a number of tools and web apps in my daily life to keep things organised beacuse I work for myself I use a number of machines in a number of offices so it’s easier to rely on web applications for some tasks.

30 boxes (30boxes.com) for a calendar as this also allows my partner to add events and we can keep track of what nights we have free for stuff which is nice.
Gmail (gmail.com) for email as it’s usually reliable and has heaps of storage space and I like the search
plaxo (plaxo.com) for keeping my contacts up to date
linkedin (linkedin.com) for business contacts
mobile me (me.com) because it came free with my iPhone and works with my MacBook address book

The problem I have now is syncing al the data.

This used to be easy as every now and then I would sync with plaxo to my work machines and that would pick up new contacts and I would dump them into Gmail manually. Not too painful and simple.

Now though the iPhone sync has got the better of me. Gmail has a whacked-out idea of contacts management in that email addresses are automatically added to your contacts list each time you use the reply, reply to all, or forward functions to send messages to addresses not previously stored in your contacts list. Sounds great in theory. In practise I don’t actually know a lot of those people and I may not want them in my contacts list.

iPhone has imported contacts from Gmail bringing all this random data and that has synched with mobile me and now my phone has 1800+ contacts only around 300 of which I actually added myself.

Google what are you thinking adding all these people to my contacts list without asking me?
Apple what are you doing allowing me to sync with data that is so different from my original set without setting off alarm bells somewhere.

Gah!

Apple MagSafe power adapater replacement (free of charge hopefully)

This evening my magsafe was flickering red and green and when I went to check the connection it felt really hot to the touch. When I pulled the cable it came out leaving the magnet attached to the macbook. The cable is burnt through so it was lucky I was here. After a quick search on the apple site it appears I am not the only one.

If you’ve had any problems with your MagSafe power adapter, Apple has good news for you: They’ll replace it for free. You just need to bring it in to an Apple-Authorized Service Provider or an Apple store for evaluation. If you’re out of warranty, you’re still in luck-they’ll take it back if it’s defective.

magsafe burnt
—-

Symptoms
You may notice a separation of the white insulation on the magnetic end of the MagSafe adapter. Under continued use, the cable may discolor and the rubber molding may become deformed.

Products Affected
MacBook (13-inch Late 2006), MacBook (13-inch), MacBook Pro (15-inch Glossy), MacBook Pro (17-inch)

Resolution
Whether your product is in or out-of-warranty, you can take your adapter (you don’t need to take the computer) to an Apple-Authorized Service Provider or Apple Retail Store for evaluation, and replacement if necessary. You may be eligible for a replacement adapter free of charge provided there are no signs of abuse. Make a reservation at the Genius Bar before visiting your local Apple Retail Store. To make a reservation, go to http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/.

Funniest comment award goes to…

Just because Stephen Fry loves Apple does not mean you need to be bent to enjoy good design.

Jon Ive, the Apple design GOD, is married with kids. SUre, they might be photoshopped in but I don’t think so.

I love good design and I’m as straight as a fence post. I also enjoy Stephen Fry too, but not That Way.

More: @ the register

Mac OS X File Sharing

Open NetInfo Manager and authenticate.

Create a new subdirectory in /config/SharePoints/ (click on config, then on SharePoints, then select Directory -> New Subdirectory).

Set the name value to be what you’d like the share to be called (double-click on the Value column next to name).

Add a new property (Directory -> New Properyt) and name it directory_path.

Add a new value for directory_path. The value needs to be the path of the folder or volume (for example, /Users/username/Pictures).

name -NetInfo name
directory_path -Path to directory
afp_use_parent_owner -Boolean: Use owner of parent?
afp_use_parent_privs -Boolean: Use privileges of parent?
afp_shared -Boolean: Share this item?
afp_name -Name visble to clients

Save your changes in NetInfo.

In the Finder, set the privileges on the folder or volume you’ll be sharing. Do Show Info, then Privileges, and pick what you like — Drop Box, Read Only, etc.

Stop and restart the AFP Server from the Sharing preferences panel.

Connect from a client and they will see the new share.