XNJB - Use your Creative MP3 player on Mac OS X

While considering purchasing a Creative Zen Micro MP3 player, I found that they do not (unbelievably!) list Mac OS X compatibility on their system requirements.

Be that as it may, all hope is not lost. Thanks to the guys on the XNJB OpenSource project, Mac compatibility is a reality with most Creative devices (like the Zen Micro & various Nomad models):

XNJB

So it may not be a really interesting name, but this is just another case where intelligent, benevolent developers saw a need and filled it.

Thanks, guys!

Third Party Applications on the iPhone! Yay!

This just in from the Apple Hot News page:

Third Party Applications on the iPhone

Let me just say it: We want native third party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an SDK in developers’ hands in February. We are excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users. With our revolutionary multi-touch interface, powerful hardware and advanced software architecture, we believe we have created the best mobile platform ever for developers.

It will take until February to release an SDK because we’re trying to do two diametrically opposed things at once—provide an advanced and open platform to developers while at the same time protect iPhone users from viruses, malware, privacy attacks, etc. This is no easy task. Some claim that viruses and malware are not a problem on mobile phones—this is simply not true. There have been serious viruses on other mobile phones already, including some that silently spread from phone to phone over the cell network. As our phones become more powerful, these malicious programs will become more dangerous. And since the iPhone is the most advanced phone ever, it will be a highly visible target.

Some companies are already taking action. Nokia, for example, is not allowing any applications to be loaded onto some of their newest phones unless they have a digital signature that can be traced back to a known developer. While this makes such a phone less than “totally open,” we believe it is a step in the right direction. We are working on an advanced system which will offer developers broad access to natively program the iPhone’s amazing software platform while at the same time protecting users from malicious programs.

We think a few months of patience now will be rewarded by many years of great third party applications running on safe and reliable iPhones.

Steve

P.S.: The SDK will also allow developers to create applications for iPod touch. [Oct 17, 2007]

"Flying Toasters" Lives!

For any lovers of Berkeley Systems' Flying Toasters screen saver, it's been resurrected for Mac OS X (and a limited version for Windows):

Retro Toast Lives!

I had a strange sense of nostalgia on seeing it (plus, I was getting bored with the default "Flurry" screen saver...).

Running OS9 on an Intel Mac

I wasn't even sure if this was possible, but from the looks of things it is:

Run MacOS 9 on an Intel Mac

glad it's possible, even if it's a little difficult to get it set up...

Inhibiting AutoCompletion of contact names in Word for Mac OS X

One of the most annoying features to me in Word (in this case, for Mac OS) is that it is always trying to insert contact names while typing a document. Dates don't bug me so much, but contact names??? That can get really annoying if you've got a lot of contacts in your Entourage address list! Grrrr...

Thankfully it turns out you can turn off that "feature" - here's how:

1. On the Insert menu, point to AutoText, and then click AutoText.
2. Leave the Show AutoComplete tip for AutoText, Contacts, and dates check box selected (the important step is the next one...)
3. Select the Exclude contacts check box.
4. Click OK.

When you begin typing again, the engine will keep suggesting dates, etc., but will not suggest contacts.

Saving PDF versions of web pages on Mac OS X

I'm sure most seasoned users of Mac OS X probably already know this, but I've been creating PDF versions of web pages (and any document, really) by just doing the following:

• Select the File > Print... menu (or Command-P)
  
• Click the "PDF" button
  
• Click "Save as PDF..." menu item

Sometimes I prefer to see the output first, so then the procedure is:

• Select the File > Print... menu (or Command-P)
  
• Click the "Preview" button
  
• Click "File" >> "Save as..." menu item and save the file.
  

Kind of a no brainer, but I thought I'd just share it.