Splash of Style...Macs, Photography, Design, and other Passions

iPod Shuffle Not Able to Play Podcasts

September 22, 2008 by debbie T | Mac Corner • iTunes

I was having difficulty with my iPod Shuffle (bought refurbished a couple of months ago). I could not play podcasts. It would play music, but when I tried to play a podcast, the little yellow light would flash, and nothing.

I reset several times (which by the way, doesn’t seem to work on my Shuffle anyway) and I tried deleting and adding several different files in iTunes.

I was all set to call Applecare and request a replacement, when I realized the “random shuffle” switch was on. I clicked it back on “normal” and voila, it now worked. sigh. I wonder why podcasts cannot be randomly played, and why it makes the shuffle choke.

As a whole, the iPod Shuffle is a bit buggy, and I probably wouldn’t ever recommend it to anyone. I only purchased mine because I needed a cheap replacement for my 20gb iPod until I decided on an iPhone or iTouch. But they are cute and small, and it does the job. It is a little irritating that there is no screen and I still don’t know why it won’t reset properly either. (Something for google another day)

At least I got it working again~

Photoshop Elements 6 Mac - Save For Web Not Working

September 22, 2008 by debbie T | Digital Photography • Mac Software • Photoshop

I don’t normally use the “save for web” option in Photoshop Elements, but tonight I wanted to. Click, click, click, I was choosing “File>Save for Web” and nothing would happen.

Google to the rescue. Found this helpful post on Adobe’s forum

I run as a standard, non-admin user so it appears that the Save for Web option is a little buggy for non-admin users.

The thing to do is launch Photoshop Elements in your Admin user account and run the Save for Web option at least once. Then log back into your standard, non-admin account and it should work from then on.

Worked for me! whoo-hooo!

haha, New Windows PC Ads Made On Mac

September 20, 2008 by debbie T | Computers • Internet • Mac Corner

I love it! Computerworld reports that some of the new ad still photos posted to Microsoft’s own web site were created with Photoshop CS3 on a Mac.

By way of Macrumors

Aperture 2 Tip: Selecting Multiple Photo Files

September 19, 2008 by debbie T | Aperture 2 • Digital Photography • Mac Software

Most Mac users know that they can select multiple files either by using the Shift key or the Command (Apple) key, but did you know in Aperture 2, you can select both consecutive and non-consecutive files by using both keys.

For example, I have 50 files. I can choose the first file, then hold down the shift key to select any sequential files following that file. I can also hold down the Command key to select a non-consecutive file….and the cool part is that I can then again hold down the shift key to select more consecutive files.

It sounds confusing, but try it.

I love Aperture 2. Oh and my “official” copy arrived today from Amazon.

Ordered Apple Aperture 2

September 13, 2008 by debbie T | Aperture 2 • Art and Graphics • Digital Photography • Mac Software

UPDATE 2008-09-19: My official Aperture 2 software arrived from Amazon tonight. I haven’t opened the box yet though.

Yay, I ordered Aperture 2 from Amazon.com tonight

I have been messing around with the trial for a few days (again) and I am really enjoying it. I thought about Adobe Lightroom, and I read some articles & watched a few tutorials, but I just don’t think I would be happy with the interface and workflow.

I know it’s kind of silly to judge Lightroom without even actually using it, but I just don’t have the time to learn two apps when all I need is one. So, I picked Aperture 2. I think it will pair well with Photoshop Elements 6.

Plus, all of my files are organized in iPhoto. Originals, modified, keywords, descriptions, etc. It will be much easier to import into Aperture, while keeping my meta data and modified versions intact. With Lightroom, I would have to create new keywords and descriptions, and import each of my modified photos; that would be very time consuming since iPhoto creates a new jpg for every RAW file whether its actually modified or not. Oh and that is the reason I am switching from iPhoto in the first place. I am drowning in files. I calculated that iPhoto grabs approximately 4gb of file space for every 3gb in original files. It’s just getting to be too consuming, so a change was needed.

Since I ordered Aperture 2 with free shipping at Amazon, it will take its sweet time getting here. It’s supposed to ship next week on the 17th, so probably the week after, I will receive it. I am looking forward to learning more about Aperture. I will probably sign up for a months subscription over at Lynda.com. They have what looks to be a good series of video tutorials for Aperture 2.

Adobe Installation Error

September 4, 2008 by debbie T | Mac Software • Photoshop

Whoo-hoo! I purchased the download version of Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 (Mac) and after downloading, I tried to install the app.

I had previously installed then uninstalled the trial, and now the full version would not install. An error message appeared and shut down the installation.

“critical errors were found in setup incompatible payloads already installed” - see screen shot below.

adobe install error

I googled the error, and found an answer on the adobe.com web site http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=kb403796

I followed the steps for Solution 2, and whoosh, Photoshop Elements started to install. I am a happy camper!

Photoshop Elements Download or Box?

September 4, 2008 by debbie T | Art and Graphics • Digital Photography • Mac Software • Photoshop

I have been wanting to purchase Adobe Photoshop Elements (Mac) for awhile now. I downloaded the trial, and I really enjoyed using it.

So, today I went to Adobe.com again to check out prices, and surprise! PSE 7 is coming out for Windows. But that is another story for another day. The versions are so “off” that I don’t anticipate the Mac version coming out until early next year.

So, it’s $70 for the upgrade version, and there is a choice of box or download. Amazon is selling the full boxed version for $70, but I would have to wait for shipping. So, I google to find what the differences are between download and boxed. Hmm, not much help anywhere online.

The Adobe Help Chat link was staring at me, so I clicked on it to start my Help Chat. According to the Help Chat person, everything is virtually the same, except that the box version has a paper manual. There is a pdf version for Mac users.

I asked again if there were any missing brushes or art files? Nope, according to chat.

So, it sounded good, but I wanted to be extra sure so I called the Adobe 800 Sales phone, and spoke with a sales rep. I got a different story from him. He said that I wasn’t able to download a full pdf of the help manual. When I mentioned that the Chat rep said that there was one, he claimed that he never heard of it, but he did a search and did indeed find a downloadable pdf file of the Help Manual. For those interested, the manual can be found on their PSE Resources/Documents page.

I questioned him about any missing brushes or files, he said no, the software was exactly the same, except the download version didn’t have extensive help.

He then said something very troubling. He said that once I upgraded to version 7, I wouldn’t have access to the version 6 file anymore. Huh? If I had the DVD boxed version, I would have a physical disk, but with the download, I would be losing out. Again, huh?

I told him that I could burn my own DVD disk. He tried to tell me that home burned disks don’t have the longevity that commercial disks have. Yeah, but duh, I can burn more than one copy, and even copy it over to an external hard drive for backup. And by the time the disk was bad, years later, I probably wouldn’t care about that old version anyway. I was pretty shocked that he was so misinformed.

And the real kicker is after I hung up, I was browsing over at Adobe.com again, and found this quote on their Download Info & Instructions popup page:

I quote:

How to re-download software: Sign in to Your Account at the Adobe Store at any time to re-download your purchased software. Just follow the instructions given above for downloading your software.

So, he pretty much didn’t know what he was talking about!! sigh. I just love customer service. There is an option to download the file at any time later!

Well, dinner is probably ready in a minute, and I still have to make my purchase! whoo-hooo!

Firefox 3 - Edit the Personal Dictionary

August 25, 2008 by debbie T | Firefox Browser • Mac Software

Have you ever mistakenly added a misspelled word to the Firefox custom dictionary. It has happened to me a few times, and I always google to find the answer for editing the dictionary entries.

Found this forum post and I wanted to blog it so I remember it for next time!

http://www.trap17.com/forums/firefox-dictionary-word-edit-t48009.html

Hmm, now if I can just remember that I blogged it, we will be all set!

Automountd Trying to Connect to Backups.backupdb

August 9, 2008 by debbie T | Computers • Internet • Mac Corner • Mac Software

I just bought a new 1TB external hard drive yesterday, and my Chronosync backups were still working last night to sync all my files from various hard drives to backups on the new drive.

This morning I noticed a Little Snitch (gotta love this app!) requesting to allow “Automountd” to connect to “Backups.backupdb”

I recognized Backups.backupdb as the location of Leopard’s Time Machine backup, but I was unsure why automountd wanted to connect to the Internet; besides Time Machine is not configured to auto backup. I always click the Time Machine icon in my menu bar for manual backups AND the drive I do use for backups was definitely attached to my Mac overnight.

So I googled “automountd” and found this article. http://installingcats.com/2008/06/01/automountd-backups-backupd/

He received the very same message from Little Snitch. In the article he explains in plain English what is going on. Even though the first time I read it, I was a bit muddled, but when I read it again, I think I understand the answer to the problem, but I still don’t know why automountd was trying to connect in the first place, especially since Time Machine is not set to auto backup.

In the article, another article was referenced. That might contain the answers to automountd, but seriously, I don’t have the time right now to read it. So, I will list the article for future reading reference: http://rajeev.name/blog/2007/11/22/autofs-goodness-in-apples-leopard-105-part-i/

I ended up denying access (until quit) in Little Snitch, and there appears to be no impact on Time Machine’s backup ability. I manually started the backup and it did take a very long time to start the tiny backup (a few mb) but when it was finished, the files looked okay.

I will keep an eye on it.

DNS Poisoning & How To Protect Yourself

August 7, 2008 by debbie T | Computers • Internet • Mac Corner • Web Design • Web Development • Wireless • WordPress
UPDATE: I will be updating this article very shortly. I have new info on how to change the DNS settings for dialup as well as wired users. I will be adding a few screen shots and step by step instructions.

Now I am not one to panic about malware on the web. I have always prided myself on smart & safe browsing. But when I first heard about the new DNS Poisoning problem on the Nosillacast podcast a couple of weeks ago, it scared me. This could be a problem affecting everyone, no matter what safety precautions they take while surfing the Internet.

The subject is so complicated, and I won’t pretend to understand it fully, but I think I understand it enough to explain the situation to my family and friends, which is what I am trying to do with this blog article.

Okay, bottom line is there is a type of flaw that can be exploited by the bad guys, which enables them hijack vulnerable unpatched systems at your Internet Service Provider (Comcast for example) and change the path of traffic to their own web pages. So, if you are trying to go to amazon.com, your browser address bar will display “http://www.amazon.com” but you might be redirected to the hijacker’s site who has created a web site that looks very similar to Amazon. From there, it could be possible to install malware to your computer or to trick you into giving your personal info like credit cards or passwords.

This vulnerability can also affect your email, which is even scarier. A bad guy could intercept your email message(s) and insert a malware attachment or web site link. And you wouldn’t even know it was happening.

Are you vulnerable?

The Security Now podcast lists several links to sites that will “test” your site for the vulnerability: http://www.grc.com/sn/notes-155.htm

I ran the test @ DoxPara and the following message appeared: “Your ISP’s name server, xxxxx, has other protections above and beyond port randomization against the recently discovered DNS flaws. There is no reason to be concerned about the results seen below.”

I have heard that similar messages are appearing for other Comcast users. Since the information I am finding online concerning Comcast is vague and unclear, I am not 100% sure I trust Comcast to deal with this. So, I am taking matters into my own hands until I am sure.

I have read that other ISPs like Time Warner and AT&T have NOT patched, so there are still a lot of people out there that are in trouble!

Good News - Use Open DNS

The good news is, you can bypass your ISP’s DNS computers, and use another. Open DNS is a very secure and highly recommended DNS server that offers use of its servers for FREE! All you need to do is change a couple of settings in your router.

Not using a router? If your computer is attached directly to a high speed modem (ie DSL, Cable, satellite) then you are highly vulnerable to this flaw, as well as many other attacks.

Using a router keeps you safe behind a “hardware” firewall, and that firewall can thwart most attacks…so do yourself a favor and head to Staples, Walmart, Target, or Amazon and buy a Linksys, Netgear, or DLink router. It is an absolutely necessary tool in today’s times!

Change Your Router’s Settings

It is very easy to change your router settings to use Open DNS servers instead of your ISP’s.

Note: Don’t worry, you aren’t changing to a new Internet Service Provider, you will still be using the same ISP, it’s just the DNS computer information that you are changing.

There are detailed instructions on the Open DNS site, but I will walk through the instructions for changing a Linksys router.

First you need to access your router’s settings. Linksys router users can use this link: http://192.168.1.1/.

A password window will appear. The user name is “admin” and unless you previously changed the access password, the default password will be “admin”.

Important note: in the router settings, your password should be changed for extra security. To learn more about configuring your router for better security, please read my prior article.

Once you have logged into your router, you should be on the “Setup” page/tab.

Toward the bottom of the page, there is a setting called “Network Address Server Settings (DHCP)”. Locate “Static DNS 1″ and “Static DNS 2″ and type in Open DNS’s server numbers, which are:

208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220

NOTE: If you have current DNS settings, then write them down just in case you need to revert back.

change dns servers on linksys router

Once the new DNS numbers have been entered, click the “Save Settings” button. And that is it!

Again, if you are not using a router, I cannot stress enough that you need to go out and buy one. They are usually about $50 and sometimes less. I recommend the Linksys WRT54G series routers, but DLink and Netgear also make good routers. Buy whichever is on sale that week; most will have detailed instructions explaining how to set security.

Okay, next, a word or two about Open DNS. Besides free use of their DNS servers, they also offer all sorts of parental controls and other security. I haven’t really delved into their offerings, but from what I gather, it’s all free. How can all this be free? Well to offset their costs, they have advertising revenues. Keep in mind, that whenever you type in a wrong address into your browser, Open DNS will take you to a custom search page, usually with your corrected web site URL on top.

For instance, if you type “ebay” instead of “ebay.com”, your browser will take you to a search page for “ebay”. Some have complained that this isn’t fair, wah wah wah…but who cares. They have to make money somehow. I don’t mind that they make a little on searches.

To learn more about Open DNS and all their offerings, check out the Typical Mac User podcast for a special 3 part series on all the details.

Personal Computer Patches

Besides your ISP computers, personal home computers, as well as business computers also need to be patched.

As far as I can tell, Microsoft issued a security patch a week or two ago, so make sure you are 100% up to date with all your Vista or XP critical patches.

As for Mac users, there was a patch issued, but it looks like it doesn’t fix everything, so when I am out from behind my router, I think I am still vulnerable if I connect to an open wifi spot. I am still a bit foggy on that issue, so more research is needed.

More Questions

Since I am still learning about this vulnerability, I still have additional questions that I haven’t found answers to.

For example, are cell phones that connect to the Internet still vulnerable? What about if you use a VPN (virtual private network)? What about web based email like gmail?

There is also a problem with routers being vulnerable too, but the issue isn’t as dire, because they would only be attacking your small network. Initially, I think routers will be okay, and the bigger networks like ISPs will be attacked first. I would like to find out more about the router issues, and whether firmware patches will be issued.

Hopefully I can find the answers online soon.

Helpful sites if you want to learn more about the DNS Flaw: