Mac Net Journal

Eastgate has rolled out another update to Tinderbox, this time taking the information management tool to version 3.5. Among the new highlights: Separators in outlines, independently adjusted font sizes in outlines and maps, and a similar note palette that shows you the notes most similar to the one you're currently reading. Mark Bernstein offers 55 improvements in this new version. I can't wait!

Apple releases Mac OS X 10.4.7
Tuesday, June 27, 2006, 2:50 PM

Apple: Mac OS X 10.4.7 - Apple issues lots of fixes for PowerPC and Intel Macs, as well as Mac OS X Server. Combo and Delta updates are available for each "Tiger" configuration. [MacInTouch]

Oh no...there goes iView MediaPro
Tuesday, June 27, 2006, 1:28 PM

I have yet to examine the details, but I am concerned to read today that Microsoft has acquired the iView Multimedia, the maker of the iView MediaPro media cataloging tool that I have used for years. I will try to remain optomistic, but my immediate fear is that this high-end photo management tool will be ruined by the folks in Redmond, and that it could become a less viable alternative to iPhoto for Mac users.

Why be concerned at all? Check the FAQ on iView's Web site regarding Macs:

Q: What are Microsoft’s plans for the Macintosh versions of iView software?

A: The Macintosh versions of iView software are great products with a large and loyal user base that is important to Microsoft. As Mac users know, workgroups and teams often include a mixture of users working on both Windows and Mac workstations with a need for a high degree of collaboration.

Microsoft will fully support the existing Mac products, will continue to sell Mac versions of the current iView product line and will offer upgrade pricing to all Mac users of future products that may be available based on the iView products

Note there is no mention of continuing development of the Mac version on iView MediaPro. Only time will tell if the features continue coming to the Mac version...

Doc Searls on the joys of outliners and outlining
Thursday, June 22, 2006, 3:52 PM

Doc Searls writes today with his reminiscences about the early days of outlining on computers. As someone who lives in outlines, takes notes in outlines, writes this blog in outlines and plans and tracks projects like books in outlines, his message hits home with me. I look forward to hearing about any new ideas for bringing live outlining to stage in a major way on the Web.

Security updates for Office, PowerPoint under Mac OS X
Tuesday, June 13, 2006, 4:33 PM

Via MacInTouch: Microsoft Security Updates - "This update fixes vulnerabilities in Office 2004 for Mac that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code." A similar PowerPoint X Security Update is also available. [MacInTouch]

How to easily compress images in PowerPoint
Monday, June 12, 2006, 9:50 PM

Lifehacker offers a link with tips for how to easily compress images in Powerpoint. I point to this because so many people insist on using Powerpoint and other presentation software like it. My advice would be to avoid Powerpoint and if you must use a standard old presentation program, pick Keynote. Other options - use a simple image program or try using HTML to create a winning slide show. Whatever you do, avoid using too many words. Images, simple slides, real ideas - those are the keys to a good presentation.

Tiptoe through the Mima Mounds
Sunday, June 11, 2006, 4:05 PM

Yesterday Natalie and I took a three or four mile walk in the Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve [Birding Washington excerpt, Washington Dept. of Natural Resources (PDF)], just a few miles from where I grew up in Southwest Washington. We made the afternoon drive down to explore and see what wildflowers and birds we could find on a cloudy day, and this was the first time that I have made the trip in June, when the blooms are moving to their peak. It was the perfect way to unwind from a busy week and an antithesis to Natalie's week of travelling to and from Washington, D.C.

We found plenty of flowers, and a host of birds - especially Savannah Sparrows like the one in this photo that were plucking insects and feeding them to their hungry young who were just out of our sight in the grasses and blooms.

Of course, despite my background of spending time in and around the Mima Mounds as a teen, we still managed to get turned around while walking the long loop trail at the preserve. Under threatening skies that never did open up and rain on us, we had to turn back at one point to get back to the car. The only real disappointment of the day was that the skies were too cloudy to see many butterflies. We saw just two species - the Western Tiger Swallowtail and a few Ochre Ringlets.

Lifehacker on carrying your life on a thumbdrive or iPod
Wednesday, June 7, 2006, 7:59 PM

Lifehacker's Geek to Live series of articles explores the idea of carrying your digital life with you on a thumbdrive or an iPod. What, a real utilitarian use for an iPod? Is that authorized by Apple?

Disable Flash-based ads from loading in Firefox
Tuesday, June 6, 2006, 7:20 PM

There is finally a way to stop my Web browser from running wild every time you encounter a site that subjects you to Flash-based ads. Amy Gahran mentions the new Firefox extension called Flashblock today on Poynter E-Media Tidbits.

Productivity and Macs
Tuesday, June 6, 2006, 10:44 AM

43Folders points to an interesting post about productivity and Macs. This is worth reading!

Signs of old PowerBook batteries going bad
Sunday, June 4, 2006, 11:35 PM

This afternoon I took some advice from Apple and decided to run the 3-plus year old battery in my 12-inch PowerBook G4 all the way down until the machine went to sleep and then to charge the battery back up - the kind of battery conditioning that should be done now and then to keep a battery healthy. Well, after doing the trick this time my battery is sick. Over the last 30 minutes the estimated time it will take to recharge the battery has increased from 3 hours to 4 hours and 46 minutes, and the estimate keeps going up minute by minute.

CoconutBattery shows that my battery is slowly dying. It has a current capacity of 3484 mAh, compared to the 4200 mAh that it had three years ago. And right now the utility program says that my battery isn't charging at all, even though the machine is plugged in and the power ring on the power plug is glowing amber like it actually is charging.

Maybe it's time to start pricing a 15-inch MacBook Pro again. Or at least to buy a replacement battery for this aging PowerBook.

P.S. Shortly after posting this, my PowerBook's power manager woke the hell up and realized that the battery was indeed charged. Go figure. This is the third or fourth time that the battery has shown this behavior for me in the last three months. I'll just think of it like aching joints, changing eyesight and ear hair - signs that this machine is getting a wee bit old.

Free iPod Book 2.0
Sunday, June 4, 2006, 1:40 PM

Lifehacker points out the availability of the Free iPod Book 2.0, with tips and customizations for your iPod. Seems like a useful weekend link.

A look at fountain pen inks
Sunday, June 4, 2006, 11:49 AM

The Web site PigPog is starting an interesting series of reviews of fountain pen inks. As a fan of using fountain pens, I will be watching this one...