I Jumped the Fence to Apple!

I should first open this article by saying that I will never be one of “The Apple People”.   In my recent job search, I noticed that since I was on the market last, there was a lot more people who wanted OS/X experience.  (Macintosh). 

So I have made it 10 years in I.T. and my last dealing with a Mac was in Junior High (we can forget about how long ago that was, but your hint follows).  I had the opportunity to help run the school library computers.  A network of 10 Mac Classics and about 15 old Apple IIe’s in the back.   But lets forget about the IIe’s.  The Mac network consisted of Network Bootable MacClassic systems using the MacJANet server.

Flash forward decade and a bit, I take the plunge from PC’s with Windows/Linux.  Yes folks, I acquired a MacBook Pro 13”.  Remember here, I will never be one of those cultish “Apple People”.  I am sure many of you know the people I am talking about or are indeed a closeted one.   If you don’t, spend 10 min in an Apple store and you’ll know what I mean.     Seriously, no offence intended to those “Apple People”.   I can understand why you are addicted. 

Ok, tech talk.  In this line up of MacBook Pros you have a choice of a Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz, or 2.66Ghz.  In my opinion, its not really worth the extra $$$ for the CPU.  The 2.66 also has 8 gig ram rather than the 4 gig on my unit, the 2.4ghz one.  As far as I am concerned, I don’t need the extra cpu, and I can add more memory if I need.  So that was an easy choice.    They all come with OS X 10.6.5.  The latest and greatest OS X at the time of this writing.

==Hardware==

Lets talk Hardware design.   This thing of beauty is made from a single piece of aluminum.   Its uni-body frame make picking it up easy, and no creeks and cracks.  You can tell this is a solid piece of hardware.   It’s not loose at all.  From the way the lid comes down and forms a nice illusive seal.  (note the gasket around the screen that you likely have never noticed if you have looked at one. )  Its virtually invisible built in web cam to the back-lit keyboard which illuminates behind the keys with lettering on the keys that let light pass through. 

Its lack of keys makes up in its elegance.  I have personally missed my home and end keys that are standard on PC’s.  But Command+Left/Right makes up for that missing home/end. 

The very large track pad allows for great multi-touch gesture control.  (If you have a Mac and are not taking advantage of this feature, go to your AppleMenu>SystemPreferences>TrackPad control and set it up and learn.  It has a little video showing them to you.

It’s a great design.  Some of the things I don’t like hardware wise are its lack of USB ports, MiniDisplay Adapters required for various video attachments.  Also resting your palms on the edges of the unit can be a little sharp and thus uncomfortable.  Although I like its lithium polimar battery, I don’t lke the fact that its not user serviceable.  So Battery replacement is not easy.  It’s a hard trade up as a built in battery makes fitting it into empty space easier.    However it is rated for up to 10 hours on the 13” mode.  (Hard to actually achieve that, more likr 5 good hours with decent screen brightness)

==Software==

So yes, it’s a great piece of hardware, but what’s the system like.  First you should know that I am a Windows/Linux user, primarily a Linux user.  First and foremost, there is no Maximize.   Nope, None, Zilch, Zip, Nadda.  I don’t like that.  Although I am getting my ADD like brain used to using a clutter of windows. 

I did start manually dragging windows to full screen, but soon gave up on that.  It took too much time.  So I just adapted.    This system dosn’t appear to suffer from too much slowdown.   It just purrs ever so nicely.    I can have many apps opened and switching between them is effortless.

Application installation and removal took a little getting used to.   Compared to the Apples counter part, Microsoft, it was  unbelievably simple.  To install an application, you drag it to the Applications folder on the launch bar.  To remove it, drag it from that applications folder into the trash.  That’s it.

Its included suite of applications integrates tightly together.  Garage Band and iTunes work nicely in tandem.  Safari needs no talking about, a very good browser.  I also must say that waking from sleep is FAST!  I rarely shutdown the system.  I just close the lid.  After opening the lid, its waiting for a password within 5 seconds or less. 

I am personally not a big fan of the launch bar.   Its nice the way applications get your attention by jumping up and down, cute, but I guess I am still more used to the “Start” menu idea.  Takes less screen real-estate and is more functional.  

As a Linux person, I LOVE the fact that this is a BSD based system.  (Unix Like, and thus also Linux like, but there are differences).  But its nice to open a command prompt and feel at home!

On the whole, I think this is a great system.   I prefer working on a Mac day to day than any other computer now.  If you are considering it, I say its worth it, so long as there are applications available for you to use.  You cant use windows applications on this system as a general user.  There are ways such as BootCamp (duel boot) or VirtualBox (Running windows inside Mac) but not for the faint of heart.  Maybe something we can talk about another time.

Comments?  Questions?

Apache: DocumentRoot IS a directory!

[root@UNNAMEDSYSTEM html]# /etc/init.d/httpd start

Starting httpd: Syntax error on line 282 of /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf:

DocumentRoot must be a directory

  [FAILED] 

So you have diligently moved the location of your WebRoot to a new volume.  You have gone through your httpd.conf file with a fine toothed comb for any careless errors.  What the hell is going on here.

Fret not my interested reader.  You are likely being blocked by SELinux.  So you have 2 options.  Seems that SELinux is not happy a change of volumes for the WebRoot.

Option 1,
Tell SELinux this is ok

chcon -R -h -t httpd_sys_content_t /path/to/directory

Option 2,
Disable SELinux.  In CentOS/RedHat run system-config-security.  I would suggest setting it to permissive.  At least that still logs messages.

Good luck!

Android Market Place and Firewalls - Solved!

Hi all fellow humans, and others!

A problem I recently encountered, and would like to offer a solution is that of the Android Market Place not working on WiFi.  If you are having issues communicating with the market place then you are likely behind a firewall thats preventing access to port 5882.

Providing you know how to, and have access to adjust your firewall, the solution is easy.  You need to allow access to and from port 5882.  Important thing here is to allow BOTH TCP and UDP connections.  That should do it!

Lets share here all, if you have found other issues and/or solutions, please share here!

Good Luck!
//Ian\\

Android OS, a quick look

So I finally did it.   My cellular provider (Telus) made me an offer to renew my account with them.  In doing so I was able to get a new phone.  Those of you who know me, have probably had to hear me blathering on in quite a verbose manner that I am waiting to get myself an Android phone.   Two days ago was the day.

After going back and forth with Telus about the offer they were giving me, we finally came to an appropriate term to which I would pay $100 for a new LG Shine Plus.   I had my heart set on the Motorola Milestone (I would have had to pay $400 after my offer, yeah, as if!).  However when I did my searching for specifications and reviews, the Shine was surprising up there with the mile stone.   Same Android OS, Same CPU.  The only differences I could find was a SLIGHTLY smaller screen and resolution, and no forward facing camera.  I could live with these shortcomings.  In essence, all the extra money was for the brand.   I am fine with LG Technology, it has never burned me yet and even with the screen resolution smaller by a few pixels, I still can’t make out any pixels with the naked eye.

So let’s talk Android!  I am coming from a Windows Mobile 6.5 world.  My previous phone was the Samsung Omnia.  Love the hardware on that phone.  It has sooooo much potential if you could change the OS to Android  :P   Which I tried and could not get the radios to work.  However since it runs Windows Mobile it’s innately slow, choppy and prone to the traditional Windows Application/Memory management issues.  In other words, get yourself an app killer!

So Android.  Right now I am sitting here in the coffee shop, my “Droid” is playing music via Bluetooth, using the wireless internet to gather a crap load of apps I want to try, keeping me updated on email, and there is no performance issues to note.

The first thing I had to get used to (and it wasn’t hard coming from Windows Mobile) is that there is no close.  Not even an “X” as there is in Windows Mobile.  One can only go to the home screen.  The system does a great job of keeping only 6 applications in memory.  It seems to flush out the ones not used as they are dormant.  So there is no closing apps, just going “home”.

So far I don’t have much to complain about.  The two things that are noteworthy are the emergency calling on the pattern lock screen and the sync issues.  Today while walking I did end up calling 911 with the phone in my pocket.  It won’t take much, just a button press then pressure at the right spot on the touch screen and I heard the ringing.  When I looked I had in fact dialed 911.  This is not good.   So I have since turned off the pattern lock and went back the traditional slide lock which has no emergency calling button.

The other issue which I have to get around if the lack of native built in ability to sync to my Microsoft Outlook.   Though I am not a fan of Microsoft products, I do use Outlook extensively in my day to day work at the office.  Though this LG phone did not come with any software, those of you who use LG phones can download the "LG PC Suite 4".  Be sure you get 4, or it will not work with Adroid.  I can now sync my calendar, and contacts.   However, I miss the ability to sync Memos and Tasks.   If you dont have software supplied by the phone manufacturer, the only native way way to sync your calendar is to use the Google Outlook linker to my online Google Calendar and then have the phone sync your Google calendar to the device.  This is not clear cut and prone to issues if you don’t book your appointments to the Google calendar.   There is an aftermarket product called Companion Link which I could not be bothered to pay money for.   Google, please get your act together and offer such a tool (and incluse Tasks and Memo sync please).  Clearly people are demanding it.  Use your own technology and Google this and you will see.  These are my only two complaints.  For those of you who want that bridge between your Outlook and the Google Calendar here is the link…
http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=89955

Here are some tips to people who are just getting started out in Android.  First, your notifications.  To see your system notifications, you will need to drag from the top of the screen to the bottom.  This will “unroll” the system notifications.  Here you can see missed calls, calendar reminders, download alerts and other alerts.  At the top of the rollup screen, you can also turn on and off other sub systems like the Sound, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and cellular radio.  I would recommend taking advantage of these switches and shutting down what you don’t need as it will save your power.  If the unroll does not stay on screen you need to drag from top to bottom.  To close it drag from bottom of screen to the top.

To access a complete list of installed applications use the screen button in the bottom middle.  It looks like a grid.  This will open the applications screen.  Here you will see a complete list of installed applications.  In that list is the “Settings”.  This would be the equivalent of the Windows control panel.

To modify any of your home screens, press and hold on an empty area of the screen.  Here you can add new applications and widgets to the screen.  To get rid of an item on the home screen, tap and hold then drag to the trash can that will appear at the bottom middle.   You can also set wallpapers here too.   If your like me and like your pretty bloat ware, I do suggest you check out the “Live Wallpapers”  these are animated wallpapers.  Such as a star field, storms, waving grass, and you can download more from the Android Market Place.

Also remember to use your menu button.  Like a black berry, this will open other options such as individual program settings.  This could also be the equivalent of a right click of a mouse.
I will leave you with one last tip as it left me stumped for a little while.   To access your SD Card from your PC, you will need to allow your droid to share this.  Make sure that you have Mass Storage enabled in your settings screen, plug in your USB line to your PC and roll down your notifications screen.  You will see a message there about your USB cable is connected.  Tap it, you will then be able to enable your PC link so you can drag and drop files.

All in all, after 2 days of using a droid, I freaking love it.  It just works!  No matter what I throw at it, it just works.  No sluggishness.  It’s still too early to talk about power usage because I am just using it constantly… so it’s obvious that the battery will not be lasting long.  So I will report on that later.

Happy Droid’ing and Cheers all!
Ian.

Find in Firefox

Hey all,

Not sure how much of a power surfer you are.  But personally when I am looking for specific information, will often load a page and use the old "trusted" CTRL+F and find key words that I am looking for.  This is a daily thing for me.   I have been using Firefox 3.x with a theme installed.  Chrome theme to be specific.  Recently after a minor update the find never found anything.  It would just draw blanks.

So I figured this was a result of the update and I patiently waited for another update.  Today was the day.  I was looking forward to my find function again.  After update, I immediately sunk my fingers to the CTRL+F and searched for words that were in my sight.   Nadda.

With disappointment I began to Google this to see of others have had my misfortune.  I learned that this was an issue in earlier version 1 Firefox releases.  But I could not find much on version 3.x.  So I began to trouble shoot this.  Let me save you all some time.  Folks, kill your theme if you have this issue and you will see that the happy key strokes work fine.  Firefox was finding once again!!! 

Just thought I would share that with you all and save you the hassle.

Have a good day folks, and happy finding.

//Ian\\