Computer Repairs in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Automatically close Safari's download window

2008-11-08T07:09:00.005Z

As a long-time Mac user, I'm also a fan of Safari. I think it works much better with the OS X interface on a visual basis than alternative browsers such as Firefox, although I do like the customisation options that Firefox supports.

One of the annoying niggles of Safari that I find, however, is that whenever you download a file, you then have to manually close the download window. It's just a little thing, but it's a pain in the ass.

So, when I read about a program called Glims, I thought I'd give it a go. And you know what? It works perfectly on Safari 3.1 OS X 10.5. A brilliant little tool; there's a bunch of other features that I haven't checked out yet, but the fact that the download window auto closes was enough for me. You can even specify how many seconds after downloading ends to close the window.

Free iPhone ringtones for iTunes 7 and 8

2008-10-30T08:42:00.004Z

I found this method of creating iPhone ringtones elsewhere on the web, but the way it's described to do it isn't exactly ... clear. So, here's a crystal clear explantion of how to use iTunes to create free ringtones for your iPhone (2G or 3G, it makes no difference).

I use a Mac, but the same method will work on Windows XP or Vista. There are seven very simple steps.

1. Choose your song

2. Right-click on the song in the iTunes 'Music' window, select 'Get Info', then 'Options' and choose the period of time you'd like to use as your ringtone. The maximum period is 40 seconds. Tick the 'start time' and 'end time' boxes, and you must use the number format 0:00.

3. Close the 'info' box, right-click on the song again and choose 'Create AAC version'. iTunes will duplicate the song and put it in the playlist immediately above the original version.

4. Go back to the original and de-select the start and end time boxes.

5. Right-click on the AAC version you just created and delete it; NOTE that you should only delete it from the library, and not the machine - do not put it in the trash.

6. Navigate to the song manually in the /Users/Music/ iTunes/ folder (or My Docs/My Music/iTunes if you're using Windoze), find the song you just created and change the file extension from .m4a to .m4r. Ignore any warnings about changing the extension, just do it (in Windows you might have to go into Folder/File options and select 'show file extensions for known file types').

7. Double-click on the new .m4r file to add in back into the iTunes library.

If you now check your 'ringtones' you'll see the file in there, and it can be synced to your iPhone.

iPhone 2.0 with Vodafone UK

2008-07-22T21:48:00.002+01:00

After a few months using ZiPhone (brilliant app!) on my 2.5G iPhone, I've upgraded it to v2.0 using the iPhone Dev Team pwn tool. So, how does it work?

Well, the first thing to do is download the 2.0 software from Apple's servers - download only though.

With all the right files from iPhone Dev Team, I ran the program and followed the prompts, backing up my shiny new 2.0 software before hacking it with the pwn tool.

The whole process took about 10 minutes and I find myself with the new software installed and working perfectly; although, having said that, it does seem a little slower to respond than 1.1.4 did - longer to open certain apps, longer to open my contacts list - things like that. Not major niggles but I wonder if that's just 2.0 or if that's pwnage that's done it. Either way, there's no going back now.

I still intend to replace the 2.5G with a 3G when the Vodafone contract is up in January '09, and sell the 2.5G on the Bay of E. Some minor scratches have appeared on the shiny silver surround which I expect have come from dropping it into the dock cradle - they were certainly never there when I just used the cable connection. No matter - the way I see it you either spend £25 on a case or you get £25 less for it when you sell it because it's got a few marks - and let's face it, those marks are pretty unavoidable if you actually use the phone and don't cradle it all day in cotton wool.

Anyway, glad to report that generally speaking, all is well with the Phone of I.

Outlook sending message 1 of ...

2008-06-10T20:58:00.003+01:00

If you've come across this ~~bloody infuriating~~ mildly irritating Outlook error, you'll know the kinds of problems it causes.

Outlook appears not to be sending the email you want to send, yet is sending X amount of 'ghost' messages that just aren't there.

The problem? People who are sending you emails are requesting read receipts, and Outlook is struggling to send them.

The solution? Download this program called Outlook Spy.

Once downloaded, close Outlook and install Outlook Spy. Then, re-open Outlook and you'll see a new toolbar at the top. Follow the steps below to resolve:

1. Select the folder you need to delete a read receipt from - this will be the top folder in Outlook Today or the Folder Menu on the left, normally titled something like 'Mailbox' or 'Inbox'.

2. Once highlighted, click the IMsgStore button that is on the new Outlook toolbar.

3. In the window that opens, clicks the Open Root Container button at the top left.

4. In the (new) new window, click the GetContents Table tab. The receipts will be listed on the left side, and the number shown underneath should correspond with the number of false messages Outlook is trying to send. Highlight one of the receipts, and choose Open Entry or double-click it to open (another!) new window.

5. Click on IMsgStore::Abort Submit. Then click OK in the pop-up box to confirm. Close the window.

6. With the same message highlighted, click Delete to remove the receipt.

7. Repeat as required, and when you're all done you can close all the windows and run the Outlook Spy installer again if you want to remove the application.

Computer Repairs in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

2008-06-03T06:39:00.003+01:00

Friendly and affordable Computer PC and Apple Mac repairs in Cambridge and the surrounding villages; 30 mile radius of CB23 3NY. Typical 24 hour turnaround on most jobs, and a fully mobile PC and Mac Repair service for Cambridge, Huntingdon, Royston, St.Ives, St.Neots and local towns and villages.

For a friendly and professional service, contact me using the details you'll find here: http://www.aardvarktechnology.net, or call on 01480 831 581 (9-5 Mon-Fri, 9-12 Saturdays. Sundays by appointment only.)

The best laptop for Vista? A MacBook.

2008-04-30T14:11:00.001+01:00

After my fracas this morning, I just ditched XP and loaded Vista onto the MacBook.

Now, in the last few weeks I've supplied quite a few Vista laptops, various specs. Mostly I'll power them up, install SP1 and any other bits and pieces, then put them back in the box and ship them to my clients; so, I know a thing or two about Vista setup.

Anyhow, as I sat there doing some work on my iMac, the MacBook leapt into life, a mere 22 minutes after slinging the Vista DVD in.

Yes, 22 minutes from installer setup to looking at the Vista desktop. Stunning. Most PC laptops take 20 mins to run the 'assesment' after Vista preload, so for it to be installed and assessed within 22 is amazing. Bootcamp then installed within 5 minutes off the OS X DVD and there it was - half an hour gone and Vista installed on my MacBook.

Due to the relatively poor graphics ability it only scores 3.8 on the Windows 'Experience' Index (who cares!) but it's the fastest-booting, fastest-running machine I've seen on Windows ever.

So, want Vista? Buy a Mac.

Boot Camp Woes - XP and Vista on OS X

2008-04-30T12:05:00.001+01:00

Whilst 'fiddling' with my MacBook this morning, I thought I'd have a go at getting a dual-boot installation of both XP and Vista going.

Figured I'd install XP first to a 30-gig partition, split that into a 10GB and a 20GB partition using the XP installer and then roll XP into the 10GB; then reboot off the Vista DVD, slide that baby into the 20GB and using VistaBootPro, set XP as the default OS startup. Plus, set XP as FAT32 and Vista as NTFS, and XP can be the 'swap' partition to allow me to copy data onto Vista from OSX, using the FAT partition as temporary storage.

Anyway, it was a great plan. Until, that is, the Boot Camp partitioner fell over, leaving me with a 120GB hard disk reporting as 80GB - 30GB missing.

I tried everything - disk utility, repair permissions, verify disk - all lucked out. Even the OSX installer on the Leopard DVD wouldn't have any of it.

In the end I've had to trash the whole damn disk using the XP utility on the XP disc, boot into the OSX DVD installer, erase the disc as Mac OS Journaled and then reinstall Leopard.

So, if you're thinking about doing it - my advice would be ... don't!

Leopard Server iPhone

2008-04-22T09:12:00.000+01:00

And here's the Leopard server iPhone background...

iPhone - The Ultimate OS X Leopard Theme

2008-04-22T09:04:00.002+01:00

I found the ThemeBuilder app available on installer to be a great little piece of kit. Having spent a while trying to find my ideal iphone theme - none of the Leopard ones I could find came close - I created my own, using the OS X system icons, photoshop CS3 and Fetch, along with ZiPhone's pre-installed BSD subsystem and SSH.

Here's what I came up with. The first two shots are using the default Leopard background with icons moved around to show it off - the third shot uses the Leopard server wallpaper, which I actually prefer I think.

The Book of Mac

2008-04-19T09:01:00.001+01:00

Ordered another new Mac yesterday ... hey-ho.

Have been in need of a Vista laptop for a while, much as I disike the Operating System. Didn't want to buy a Vista laptop though.

So, bought a new 13" MacBook with OSX Leopard, and I'll run that and bootcamp Vista onto it. With 2.5GB DDR2 even Vista should run reasonably well...

Why is Windows

2008-03-28T23:16:00.001Z

Vista so rubbish?

Sound familiar? A bit like one of my previous posts? Yes, that's because Vista is rubbish.

Seriously, Microsoft what were you thinking? Even with SP1 it's still a piece of junk. 2GB RAM minimum requirement and a half-decent CPU are required. I dread to think how badly it does actually run on the 'minimums' as specified by Microsoft.

Anyway, based on the last few laptops I've delivered (all with Vista), I think no-one really needs any more than Vista basic and a fat chunk of memory. Home Premium adds very little apart from a few naff games (ripped off from OSX Tiger) and the memory-gobbling Aero interface.

Roll on Windows 7.... Vista will die a death that's missed about as much as Windows ME was ...

First full day with iPhone

2008-03-28T08:57:00.001Z

Have to say yesterday I took and made a bunch of calls on iPhone and I can honestly say I think it is the best cellphone I have ever used; anyone who poo-poos it really should take a clear, unblinkered and unbiased view at it.

From a usability perspective, it really is brilliant. A complete moron could figure out how to work it in a few minutes, and as for taking pictures (brilliant camera imo, what is everyone moaning about?), sending texts, adding new or editing existing contacts ... it really couldn't be easier.

If you're thinking about buying one, do it.

Activated iPhone on Vodafone UK

2008-03-27T11:15:00.010Z

iPhone arrived at 10.05 am this morning. By 10.15am it was activated via ZiPhone, and on the Vodafone network. An absolute doddle, even if you know nothing about computers.

iPhone fresh out of the packing materials

Problem was, it wouldn't then update to 1.1.4 (current firmware at time of writing) from the shipping 1.1.2 firmware, although I'd downloaded 1.1.4

iPhone being 'assimilated'

Solution: restore the iPhone, and it restores 1.1.4, not 1.1.2. Then run ZiPhone again, and it runs the same modification, leaving you with a Vodafone-capable iPhone running 1.1.4

iPhone transformation is complete. Haha vodafone, you CAN run iPhone...

iPhone on Vodafone UK

2008-03-26T08:28:00.001Z

Well, after months and months of convincing myself that I could get by using a combination of an 8GB iPod Touch and my erm, lovely Sony Ericcson K320i, I bit the bullet and bought an iPhone yesterday, direct from the Apple Store UK.

Problem is (you might think) that I'm not a UK o2 customer, who are the airtime suppliers for iPhone here in the UK.

Nevertheless, with the amount of info on the web currently regarding unlocking them, and the recent release of the iPhone SDK, I'm confident that unlocking the beast to work with Vodafone will be a breeze.

I know iPhone 2.0 is due out at some point in Q2 (latest rumours) but even if that is the case, iPhone 1.0 will remain sellable should I need to upgrade. I bought my last iMac in Spring '07 and then they upgraded them in September which bummed me out a bit, but with 3GB of RAM my 24" iMac hardly dawdles; it'll get upgraded next May when it's two years' old anyway.

iPhone is due to arrive today or tomorrow so once it's here I'll crack on with it, and the iTouch will find it's way onto eBay. The Sony? Well, I might hang onto that for emergencies, or give it to someone. I doubt anyone will want it but that's another matter.

Watch this space.

Vista and Speedtouch 330

2008-03-25T12:15:00.001Z

Dammit, why did M$ have to go and make it so damned hard for so-called legacy hardware (speedtouch 330) to work with Vista?

Yes, you can download Vista drivers for the 330 from Thomson's website and yes the application will install - just a shame that it BSOD's half the time with a driver error.

A year after the launch of this 'fab' OS and here we are still having problems with the blasted thing.

Tweaks applied

2008-03-25T09:52:00.001Z

Oh and yes, I made some very minor tweaks to the template. The basic template that came with it pretty much fulfilled all my requirements - I can't be bothered faffing around to get it working fully with the design on the main site, so color matching will be fine. After all, I can't imagine many people are actually going to read it, especially as at the moment it's not even linked off the main page - not that that page gets that many views anyway.

So, black, blue and white is the flavour I think. And why the heck am I having such a problem getting a vehicle signwriting company to come up with a half-decent design for my new car? It's hardly rocket science.

Busy busy busy

2008-03-25T09:49:00.001Z

The start of a very busy week ahead.

I have a bucketload of quotes to do, and everyone wants their hardware yesterday and cheap as chips.

I've bowed out of a quote today and now I'm regretting it. The guy has written back saying he's disappointed and now I think I may have overestimated the requirements :groan:

Kick off...

2008-03-24T18:22:00.001Z

First post to the new blog. Got some design tweaks to apply to it, but what I'm loving is the ability to blog directly from Mac OSX without having to open a browser. Google take care of that with the Blogger widget for OSX dashboard, surely a must-have for any user of the Apple OS and Blogger.

Anyway, it's Easter Monday and there's no rest for the wicked, so hopefully the widget will keep me blogging more often than with the last (archived/deleted) blog.