Last Minute WWDC Predictions

 New iPhone: 3G, GPS, Video Calling (iChat Mobile), Some New Apps (in addition to App Store) WiFi Enabled iTunes Sync using Bonjour .Mac Rebrand: Possibly to this Mobile Me thing everyone is talking about (OTA Sync) OS X 10.6 Timeline New iTunes New Mac Mini 

With the Apple WorldWide Developer’s Conference kicking off in about an hour, I figured I’d throw my $0.02 out there for what I think might be coming. Let’s see how correct I am in a few hours.

 

  •  New iPhone: 3G, GPS, Video Calling (iChat Mobile), Some New Apps (in addition to App Store)
  • WiFi Enabled iTunes Sync using Bonjour
  • .Mac Rebrand: Possibly to this Mobile Me thing everyone is talking about (OTA Sync)
  • OS X 10.6 Timeline
  • New iTunes
  • New Mac Mini 
  • New OS X Touch product

 

Installing Leopard Using an iPod

Follow these steps to use your iPod.Prerequisites: You must have an iPod with 8GB (that means 8GB iPod Nano, any HD based iPod, etc) Note: the iPod Touch + iPhone will not work for this.

So I had a lot of traffic and comments on my previous entry about how to install Leopard from an ISO without burning a DL-DVD. With that, the number one question everyone has been asking me is, “Can you an iPod to install Leopard?” and the answer is an astounding Yes! Follow these steps to use your iPod.Prerequisites:

  • You must have an iPod with 8GB (that means 8GB iPod Nano, any HD based iPod, etc)
  • Note: the iPod Touch + iPhone will not work for this. You need to have a click-wheel iPod that supports Disk Mode
  • A Leopard ISO

UPDATED: 11/18/2007Important Notes:

  • Intel based Macs can only boot from USB devices using the GUID partition scheme (this means 5G iPods, 2 & 3G iPod Nanos)
  • PowerPC (PPC) based Macs (ie G3, G4, G5 Processors) can only boot using Firewire devices using the Apple Partition Map scheme (all firewire iPods) 
  • I have had a lot of people have random problems when restoring the disc image to the iPods. Please make sure you have an exact image of the Install DVD. If there are any inconsistencies, there will be problems restoring the image. Please check the checksum of the images.

Procedure:

  1. Reset your iPod and force it into Disk Mode – Press and hold Menu + Center until you see the Apple logo. Then Press and Hold Center + Play/Pause. The screen should turn to gray-scale and show “OK to Disconnect” (circa old old ipods).
  2. Connect the iPod to your computer (do not use a USB hub if possible).
  3. iTunes will launch automatically and probably start syncing. Make sure “Enable Disk Use” is checked on the settings for iTunes and press Sync one more time.
  4. Quit iTunes and launch the Activity Monitor and quit the iTunes Helper.
  5. You should still see the iPod listed on your desktop as a mounted drive. If you don’t see the iPod mounted on the desktop, return to step 1.
  6. Open Disk Utility
  7. Select the iPod (the top one, mine is labeled 74.5 GB Apple iPod Media) then select the Partition tab.
  8. Change the selection from “Current Partition Scheme” to “1 Partition”. Click on Options and select GUID Partition Table and press OK. (NOTE: If you are going to use a PowerPC based Mac, ie G4 or G5, you need to select Apple Partition Map here. GUID is for Intel Macs ONLY)
  9. Give the Partition a name and select Partition. The system will ask you to authenticate.
  10. Click on the Restore tab and drag the iPod partition to the Destination field
  11. Drag the Leopard image file to the Source field and press Restore. LeopardIpod 1
  12. Once complete, open System Preferences and go to the Start up Disk option. Make sure you see the iPod listed there. Select the appropriate drive and click restart.   LeopardIpod 2
  13. Install Leopard!

** If you are using a PowerPC Based Mac (G4, G5), you must use the Startup Disk utility in System Preferences to select the startup volume and reboot from this tool. Notes:

  • It’s really important the iPod stay in Forced Disk mode. If you try and boot up the Mac with the iPod connected but not in Disk Mode, it won’t do anything

Video Guide: 

Full Resolution Quicktime MOV Because of the amount of feedback I get on this article, I am disabling comments on this post and would like to invite readers to discuss on the newly created forum, http://nickganga.com/forum

Hi everyone. Since there is so much feedback to this article, I’m going to have to close the comments. If you want to chat with me, use my GTalk Widget on the sidebar or send me a message on Twitter. Thanks.

SlimServer

I just found a program for OS X that lets you stream all of your iTunes content, including purchased media, to any computer. Slim Devices server software SlimServer is the FREE solution. SlimServer

Wow. I just found a program for OS X that lets you stream all of your iTunes content, including purchased media, to any computer. It’s like having your iTunes everywhere! Slim Devices server software SlimServer is the FREE solution. Check it out!

SlimServer

iTunes + CD Text

Well it’s finally arrived! iTunes 7 now allows users to burn the CD text alongside their audio CDs. With more and more cars supporting CD Text, its good to see that apple FINALLY added this much needed feature.


Well it’s finally arrived! iTunes 7 now allows users to burn the CD text alongside their audio CDs. With more and more cars supporting CD Text, its good to see that apple FINALLY added this much needed feature.

Simulate Full Audio Experience Without Disturbing Others

Connect headphones to headphone jack and raise volume to desired level.B.(PC Only) Prerequisites: Audio Card, Headphone jack that can be enabled simultaneously with external speakers1. Put headphones back in.*You can get even more control by adjusting the headphone volume (usually system volume).**For best results, disable all system sounds.C.(Platform Independent) Prerequisites: Airport Express (with firmware V6.3 or higher), headphone jack1.

So, living in a house with other people can sometimes be hard when you like to enjoy your music on the louder side but it is late a night. To compensate for this inconvenience, I’d like to share a few ways to enjoy full music whilst not bothering the others.
If you use headphones and have external speakers (preferably 5.1 or higher) playing the music simultaneously and synced, you can simulate hearing very full music without sacrificing quality or disturbing others. Over the past few years, have learned 3 ways to accomplish this task.

Universal Prerequisites: a computer, iTunes (latest version), external speakers, headphones

A.
(Platform Independent) Prerequisites: iPod*, iPod Dock
*This known working with the following iPods: 3G iPod (4 buttons), 4G iPod (click wheel), iPod mini. Not tested with iPod 5G (with video).

1. Connect the external speakers to the line out port of the iPod dock.
2. Place iPod in dock.
3. Play song and adjust external volume (as desired) using external volume controls (i.e. remote control, volume pad)
4. Lower iPod volume using wheel.
5. Connect headphones to headphone jack and raise volume to desired level.

B.

(PC Only) Prerequisites: Audio Card, Headphone jack that can be enabled simultaneously with external speakers

1. Lower external speaker volume using external controls.
2. Connect headphones and increase volume to desired level.
3. Remove headphones from ears and adjust external volume to a low level (as desired).
4. Put headphones back in.
*You can get even more control by adjusting the headphone volume (usually system volume).
**For best results, disable all system sounds.

C.
(Platform Independent) Prerequisites: Airport Express (with firmware V6.3 or higher), headphone jack
1. Enable “Multiple Speakers” in the Airport Express selector.

2. Make sure ‘Computer’ and you external speakers are selected.

3. Lower external speakers & iTunes volume and play a track.
4. Raise iTunes volume to desired headphone level.
5. Raise external speakers volume to desired level.
6. Put headphones back in.
*You can get even more control by adjusting the headphone volume (usually system volume).
**For best results, disable all system sounds.

This unique method of listening to music gives you the ability to experience the fullness of music you enjoy while maintaining the sound clarity and not disturbing others.

Save the Internet

Giant tech players, such as Apple, Microsoft & Google, have voiced their support for Net Neutrality and warned against the drastic and irrevocable harm the Internet would face without it.Broad Right-Left Coalition, Consumer Groups Rally Public Behind Internet FreedomGun Owners, Librarians Unite Against BellsAverage Joe and Saving The InternetHere is a short video explaining what Net Neutrality is and what is at stake today.MoveOnSaveTheInternet.comEliminating Net Neutrality has the potential to completely change the face of the Internet as we know it.ONLY YOU CAN HELP SAVE THE INTERNET.SIGN THE PETITION and CALL CONGRESS TODAY!Your voice needs to be heard.


As I am sure you all know, Net Neutrality is a HOT issue right now. After last week, we need to take some fast action to help protect the internet. Since we, the end users (consumers) are going to be the ones screwed by this legislation, we need to speak out TODAY. If you haven’t already done so, sign the petition and PASS it on to your friends, family, EVERYONE! We all know this is an important issue, and it only takes 2 minutes to fill out the form. JUST DOOOO IT.

Not sure what Net Neutrality is all about? Think about it this way, when you visit Google or use the iTunes Music Store, your internet traffic is treated the same. The network’s only job is to move your data from Point A to Point B and all data is treated equally. This is known as Network Neutrality.
America’s largest telecom and cable operations (AT&T, Verizon, Comcast etc.) want to get rid of the Internet’s first Amendment. They want to become the Internet Gatekeepers deciding which website go fast, slow or don’t even load at all. These providers want to ensure that the content that is most financially valuable to them is the content that performs the best. Let’s take a look at a few hypothetical examples:

1.Imagine the following. You use Google as your primary search engine and you love it. One day, your ISP (ie. AT&T, Comcast, etc.) partners with MSN Search. Suddenly, Google takes 30 seconds to load, and even longer to perform a simple search, but MSN Search runs at peak performance. Imagine if the ISP started blocking Google all together! Is that what you want the future of the internet to be?

2. Let’s say you have an iPod and you use iTunes with the iTunes Music Store to LEAGALLY purchase digital music for your enjoyment. One day, your ISP announces their own online digital music store and suddenly the iTunes Music Store takes 60 seconds to load or even longer. When you purchase a song it goes almost slower than DIALUP! The ISP is almost forcing you to use their own service by severely limiting and controlling your access to competing services.

3. Suppose you are part of a local band and use MySpace to help get your name out in the world, Flickr to share pictures on the net, and YouTube to broadcast your band. What if one day, your fans couldn’t get to your Flickr page or watch a video on YouTube because their ISP is blocking adequate bandwidth to use those services.

Still think this is a joke? Let’s take a look at some REAL LIFE examples of how ISPs are already abusing their power with the internet:

• In 2004, North Carolina ISP Madison River blocked their DSL customers from using any rival Web-based phone service.
• In 2005, Canada’s telephone giant Telus blocked customers from visiting a Web site sympathetic to the Telecommunications Workers Union during a labor dispute.
• Shaw, a big Canadian cable TV company, is charging an extra $10 a month to subscribers in order to “enhance” competing Internet telephone services.
• In April, Time Warner’s AOL blocked all emails that mentioned www.dearaol.com — an advocacy campaign opposing the company’s pay-to-send e-mail scheme.

This isn’t a joke. Net Neutrality is so important, groups, organizations, and companies are all voicing their support for Net Neutrality. Giant tech players, such as Apple, Microsoft & Google, have voiced their support for Net Neutrality and warned against the drastic and irrevocable harm the Internet would face without it.
Broad Right-Left Coalition, Consumer Groups Rally Public Behind Internet Freedom
Gun Owners, Librarians Unite Against Bells
Average Joe and Saving The Internet

Here is a short video explaining what Net Neutrality is and what is at stake today.
MoveOn
SaveTheInternet.com

Eliminating Net Neutrality has the potential to completely change the face of the Internet as we know it.
ONLY YOU CAN HELP SAVE THE INTERNET.
SIGN THE PETITION and CALL CONGRESS TODAY!
Your voice needs to be heard.

Save the Net