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| Enjoying iPhoto at last | |
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12.30.2009
6:11 PM | Link0 comments |
 For the past several months I've been moving my entire photo collection into iPhoto, and it's going really well. For a few years I avoided using iPhoto, since it used to have problems choking on as many photos as I take every year, but since it's a mature application now I decided to make the move, and it's doing fine with 20,000 images so far (though I have many more to add!). I really love the concepts of Events, Faces, and Places, and as I bring in old photos I'm taking the time to be sure every face is recognized (which is why I'm only doing a small batch every morning!). I'm also really enjoying the full screen mode, which helps me find the best image to post on Flickr from all my macro toy photos that I'm so obsessed with taking! I'm also learning a lot about the various enhancement features (thanks to reading David Pogue's Missing Manual that I borrowed from Dad), I finally understand what a histogram means and how to manipulate it to get my preferred "blown out" white background look. I even used iPhoto for this year's calendar gift that I always make for my parents (it was so easy to do the layout and ordering), and while I was in Oklahoma City recently I was able to do some quick image tweaking (straightening, removing dirty lens spots) before uploading my Christmas photos. I guess iPhoto has finally become indispensable software for me, and I can't wait to see what Apple does in the next version (hopefully in the near future)!
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| Final Cut Express 4 / Apple Pro Training Series : 4 of 5 | |
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11.04.2009
12:36 PM | Link0 comments |
 I've done a lot of video editing (mostly fun projects for friends and family, but some of it pretty advanced) in the past (from way back in my iBook days!), all with Apple's iMovie, and although it can be a lot of work, I really enjoy the art and process of editing. So a couple years ago I decided I needed to make the switch to Final Cut Express (the less expensive version of Apple's Final Cut Pro, which is actually used on Hollywood films), just to experience how the "big boys" do it, but it took me a while to find the time. This year I finally took the plunge, and since I'm always more comfortable with a goal in front of me, I bought this excellent book, which I followed to the letter as a full-fledged course. I can see why this particular book is sanctioned by Apple, since it has a beautiful layout with loads of screen shots, and comes complete with a disc of all the files needed (video, music, and projects) to work with each lesson. The lessons are extremely detailed, and always demonstrate multiple ways to do the same thing (such as completing a command via menu, command key shortcut, or contextual menu). They are so thorough that the actual editing doesn't even begin until after the sixth lesson! Everything before that emphasizes project organization, which might have been a little heavy, but definitely useful (and so incredible compared to iMovie). As I followed each lesson I constantly found myself totally amazed at what Final Cut Express can do, and I could see how each technique would dramatically help an editor based on my previous experience. I was thankful for the coverage of the slip, roll and slide tools, as well as simple keyframe animation. There are also excellent advanced lessons (and I did them all) that expand on the physical book, but these are only provided as PDF files on the disc (actually, it was so convenient to open the PDF on my second monitor that I wish the entire book had been included in PDF format as well). I know when I start working on my first Final Cut Express project I will forget some of the techniques I have learned, but I will definitely remember "I've seen that done before" so I can refer to this book. I can't imagine a better way to discover the power of this excellent editing software!
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| Routine Mikey | |
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10.07.2009
12:01 PM | Link0 comments |
I’ve always been the kind of person that enjoys a routine, especially in the morning. It’s funny how I settle into something, which will last quite a while, then it will slowly morph into a different routine (I’m sure if you dig around on WEBmikey you’ll find several mentions of past routines!). Lately I’ve been pretty focused on a fairly extensive set of activities, and it always makes me feel great when I do them all! Of course, sometimes I leave things out, but here’s what a “perfect” day looks like for me. I wake up at 5:30 AM (I’ve always loved getting up early, and it’s been so easy since I started using my soothing iPhone alarm instead of my awful alarm clock!), and sit down at my iMac. One of my current projects is moving my entire photo collection to iPhoto (which includes tagging faces), so I do a few sets of pictures (it will take me months to finish it all, but doing a little every day is the way to go). Next I usually upload one of my latest toy macro photos to Flickr. I take these ahead of time, which is sometimes the next activity. I shoot a few photos of whatever new toys I’ve added my collection, and these transfer to my iMac automatically via my EyeFi card (once again, doing just a few shots each morning is much easier for me than doing a ton all at once, since I will just keep putting that off). Now I’m ready to go downstairs, take my vitamins, and start studying Japanese. I do three lessons on Smart.fm, then at least 100 words on LearnTheKanji.com. After that I turn on some classical music and read a chapter or two of whatever book or manga I’m working on. Finally, I have a quick breakfast (oatmeal or yogurt) while watching a few minutes of whatever Jpop TV shows I have ready on my Apple TV. After all of this, it’s finally time to get dressed for work! My weekday routine (aside from actual work in the office) starts during my lunch break. I almost always go home for lunch, and the first thing I do is fire up the Wii and play Gold’s Gym Cardio Workout before I eat, and usually post something on WEBmikey after I eat. Back at work, I’m in the habit of taking walks around 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM (a little under 1.5 miles each), which breaks up the day nicely. When I go home, I like to immediately work a little on whatever project I’m into, which currently is learning Final Cut Express, so I do a lesson from a book I’m working through. If I don't have band rehearsal or something going on with my pals, then most nights I watch a movie, and I even have kind of a schedule for that, somewhat rotating through purchased DVDs, Netflix rented DVDs, or Netflix Watch Instantly options. On the weekends, I still do my usual morning routine, then on Saturdays I talk to my parents on the phone, and right after that I go to the Domain or the Arboretum for a long walk. Sundays are almost the same, except I go to church before the walk. Some of this rigidity (or monotonous repetition) sounds a little crazy even to me, but somehow I really like it. I always enjoy blowing everything off once in a while, but most of the time I’m just happy living the same day over and over! |
| Old band clips with iMovie 9 | |
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6.13.2009
4:15 PM | Link0 comments |
 Transitioning to my new iMac has been really cool for lots of reasons. First, it helped me get some files organized that I had forgot I even had, such as tons of short video clips (mostly shot with still cameras using movie mode) that needed a little editing! Next, it gave me a great excuse to try out iMovie 9. I'm kind of an "expert" when it comes to the old iMovie HD, but after I saw how radically they had changed the application in the last version if iLife, I didn't even bother upgrading. But since the latest iLife came with my iMac, I wanted to see what it can do. It definitely takes some getting used to, since almost none of my "skill" applies to this version! But for short clips, the transition and title capabilities really make it worth it (I would never use it for a long project, but I hope to be learning Final Cut Express in the future!). Finally, the speed of my new iMac really made it a joy to mess with this stuff!So, I have three "never before seen" clips of a couple of my bands. The first is my old jazz combo Stella, back in the days when we played some crowded, well-paying gigs! The next two are Halloween shows of the Greatest American Heroes playing in costume at the Carousel Lounge. It's fun to watch people dancing, and it's also quite historically important to have preserved footage of Ernesto dressed as Jeannie!  Watch video: Stella Watch video: Greatest American Heroes 2006 Watch video: Greatest American Heroes 2008
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| New iMac bliss | |
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5.31.2009
2:08 PM | Link0 comments |
 Although I use my MacBook 90% of the time, I still like having an additional desktop Mac to encode DVDs, download torrents, and other long-haul tasks like editing videos. I've been using a Power Mac for the past four years, which was a screamer when it came out, but lately I just felt so behind the times using a non-Intel Mac. I've been eyeing the new iMac for a long time, since I love its simplicity, and last week I finally got one! I thought it would take forever for me to get everything moved and setup how I want, but I actually blazed through the job in a couple evenings. There are lots of things I'm really happy about, starting with the 24-inch screen, plus I hooked up my old Cinema Display as a second monitor (which just worked like magic the moment I plugged it in). The new tiny keyboard took a few minutes to get used to, but I love the small footprint. Although I've avoided iPhoto for years, I've finally decided to use it now, and I'm having a blast running through my entire photo collection and watching it do face recognition on my pals! I've also decided to start using Time Machine, so I won't have to mess with my usual monthly backup (except for my MacBook, but I may remedy that in the future). This weekend I've really enjoyed using it and enjoying that elegant Apple feeling - I'm really happy with my iMac!
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| Welcome to Macintosh : 4 of 5 | |
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3.05.2009
6:48 AM | Link0 comments |
 Since I've been a Mac fan from my college days and I love following Apple history and lore (such as the incredible Revolution in the Valley), I knew I would enjoy this independent 2008 documentary, and I was thrilled to find it available from Netflix even though it seems to be a self-distributed release. Welcome to Macintosh is filled with fascinating interviews, featuring tons of legendary Apple employees and lots of interesting folks who embody Macintosh mania, all put together into a really well-produced and edited production, given its limited budget. Some of the "stars" include Andy Hertzfeld (author of Revolution in the Valley), who is just about the most likeable and brilliant software engineer you could ever meet, and Guy Kawasaki, who everyone knows as the first Mac evangelist (and is still a highly active voice today). Along with the former employees, there's a guy who has literally 100s of old Macs littering his home (talk about hoarding!), along with early computer store owners, an Apple I replica maker, and authors of various Apple books. It was really to cool to see so much original Apple hardware and software, too, which made me feel nostalgic for my days of developing for System 7! By far the most hilarious interview is with Jim Reekes, who gave us the foundations of everything we take for granted about sound and QuickTime today. It's so much fun to watch him talk over a couple beers about playing the classic startup sound that we all know, as well as get bitter over his original ideas for iTunes that never came to fruition until he left the company! The DVD has a cool menu structure and lots of bonus material, including uncut extended interviews with everyone. I really enjoyed Welcome to Macintosh, which gave me awesome feelings of how far Apple has come and why I enjoy using their products so much!
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| Three Small Things 11.30.08 | |
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11.30.2008
7:34 AM | Link0 comments |
 Today's three things are all related to Apple! I recently bought the cool new aluminum MacBook (which feels so sleek and light), so I had to get my old white MacBook ready to give to my dad (which was a big upgrade from his 500Mhz iBook!). Since I had taken that white MacBook so many places, the bottom surface was totally scuffed up, discolored and gray. I tried things like Windex, Fantastik and even pure alcohol, but nothing would clean it! Then I remembered reading some rave reviews of Magic Eraser, so even though I was skeptical, I decided to give it a try. It worked perfectly, and with a little scrubbing, the MacBook looked brand new again! I was totally amazed and impressed - I have no idea how it works, but I definitely recommend Magic Eraser!Now that Dad has the white MacBook, he's truly enjoying the speed boost, and he can do things that just weren't possible on the iBook. Since both of our MacBooks have built-in iSight cameras, we can also use iChat to video chat! It's so easy to get a chat started, and the video and audio quality is really amazing to me. The video is quite smooth, and the audio can handle simultaneous talking so well (much better than a speakerphone). It's been really fun to see Mom and Dad and show each other things that before we could only describe! iChat can also handle screen sharing, so if Dad ever needs some Mac help, I can control his screen and show him what to do. I use screen sharing everyday at home between my two Macs, and it works great. My Power Mac upstairs tends to be my workhorse machine, constantly cranking on torrents or video conversions, so I'm always wanting to know when it finishes a task so I can start up the next one. Rather than walking upstairs all the time, I can just view the Power Mac screen using my MacBook, which saves me a lot of steps (but maybe I could use a few more trips up the stairs to stay in shape)! Labels: mac, small things |
| A gift from Apple | |
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4.10.2008
9:12 PM | Link0 comments |
 Every time I have to visit the Genius Bar at the Apple Store, I always leave as an even bigger Apple fan! Lately I had been experiencing some weird behavior with my MacBook battery - when the power was running low, it would shut down with no warning message! I tried a few possible solutions that I found on the web, but it still happened every now and then, so I figured the battery was definitely freaking out. I could almost live with it, since it was simple enough to just plug-in a little sooner than I normally would, but then I decided I should just give the Genius Bar a shot (especially since my last visit had gone so well). So, I explained my situation (including how my warranty ended two months ago), and I figured they would do a little diagnosis and finally sell me a new battery, and that would have been fine. To my total surprise, the guy just checked out their records on my MacBook, and said, "Well, it's not authorizing a replacement, but I'm going to give you a new battery anyway." Absolutely amazing! I was completely prepared to spend $130 for a new battery, and they gave me one for free - out of warranty! That's the kind of service that will keep me happily buying Apple products forever. Since Dad is going to inherit my MacBook someday, I'm glad he's going to get a fresh battery, too!
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| Forgotten passwords in Keychain Access | |
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3.18.2008
6:57 AM | Link0 comments | The other day I completely forgot an old FTP password that I needed, and it wasn't something I could easily reset. I knew I had it saved in some web accounts, so I tried to find it in the HTML source, but they were too smart and had it encrypted and non-copyable. Then as a last straw I realized it would be in my Mac OS keychain, so I checked out the Keychain Access application (in the Applications/Utilities folder), and there it was! I found it in just a few seconds, protected by my Mac password (which I never forget!), and I suddenly became a Mac OS fan all over again. If you find yourself in the same situation, give this tip a try! |
| Instant MacBook repair | |
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2.15.2008
8:54 PM | Link0 comments |
 A few weeks ago my precious MacBook developed a crack in the right palm rest, just above the sleep light. It wasn't too bad, and a small piece of tape held it together nicely, but I thought I would check out the Apple support forums anyway. It turns out that lots of people had this same crack develop, and when I read that Apple would repair it under warranty, I decided to have it fixed (especially since my warranty is only good for another two weeks!). So, last night I got everything prepared (backing up, moving things to my iDisk and so on), and made an appointment at the Genius Bar of the Apple Store at the Domain. After work I showed up for my appointment, and as soon as the guy saw the crack he recognized it and started writing up the repair. I was sure they would need to ship it to a repair center, but surprisingly they said it could be fixed in-house, right away! They said it would be ready in a couple hours, so I figured I would pick it up tomorrow, and left to do my grocery shopping. Before I could even get to the checkout line, they called me and said it was done (in less than an hour!). So, I just went right back to the store to get it, and now I'm happily typing away on my "new" MacBook! I'm pretty sure they replaced the entire case/keyboard/trackpad assembly, because my keys and trackpad both feel fresh. The whole experience was incredible, and as always, I couldn't be more amazed at Apple service!
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| Sweet shift | |
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1.23.2008
6:18 PM | Link0 comments | The other day I was typing up some vocabulary from my last Japanese lessons with Mikie and Kumiko, and I accidentally discovered something incredibly useful when typing in kana on the Mac! I'm sure everyone already knew this but me, but I was so excited about it that I just have to mention it just in case it makes someone else's life easier. Previously, I used to hate switching between hiragana and katakana - I would either use the menubar, or suffer through the weird keystroke Ctrl-Shift-K to get to katakana and then Ctrl-Shift-J to get back to hiragana. As I was making this bizarre stroke, I had the Shift key down and accidentally typed a few letters and realized they were coming out as katakana, even though I was in hiragana mode! Since Japanese has no upper and lower case distinction, the Shift key is totally open for this kind of shortcut, and it works beautifully. Now I can effortlessly switch when I need to type a katakana word, which will make typing Japanese so much better for me! |
| Revolution in the Valley / Andy Hertzfeld : 5 of 5 | |
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1.21.2008
6:45 AM | Link0 comments |
 This book was actually a Christmas gift from last year that I never got around to reading (how embarrassing!), but since I'm on a quest to read more this year (and not buy any more books until I make a dent), I decided it was finally time. Little did I know this book would become an obsession and steal all my time for a few days - I simply could not stop reading it once I started! Andy Hertzfeld was part of the original Apple engineers who created the first Macintosh, so I have to thank him (and everyone else, including Steve Jobs) for nearly all the computer fun I've had in my life, including typing this very sentence. This book is a collection of anecdotes covering all phases of development, from circuit boards to software, from release day to revisions afterward. It's filled with amazing old photos, and even original notebook pages scribbled with diagrams and To Do lists (which are fantastic to see)! It was fascinating to learn about other members of the Mac team, especially Burrell Smith, who seems like such a character. Smith designed the logic board and other hardware, and his personality is full of interesting quirks (such as his unique way of playing Defender). Sometimes the writing actually gets into semi-serious code discussion, mentioning Toolbox routines that I can still remember from my Mac programming days years ago. Of course, the stories about Steve Jobs are wild - he's definitely the kind of person that you can love and hate at the same time, but there's no doubt that his team was loyal and worked like crazy for him (I imagine his personality could be similar to Walt Disney at times - brutal, but inspiring). I could go on and on about this book. There are certainly other Apple history books available, but hearing the tale from someone who was right in the middle of the action is a a wonderful experience!
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| Enjoying Leopard's new features | |
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11.28.2007
8:05 PM | Link0 comments |
 Being the Mac fan that I am, of course I pre-ordered Mac OS X Leopard (and got a great deal from Amazon), but when it arrived I was in the middle of too much video editing to worry about installing it. But as soon as I got a chance, I upgraded my MacBook and Power Mac right away, and I've really been enjoying it (and I didn't have any problems with the installation!). There are lots of great visual changes that I love, but the new Dock is definitely a little space-age (I thought the reviews I read were just whining, but I kind of agree now). But I've always been kind of a Mac purist – I never use hacks or utilities to modify the behavior or look of the OS, so I'll stick with the true Apple design for now (I'm betting they will offer more visual preferences later). I'm getting used to Stacks in the Dock, too - I really like the concept, and it definitely seems helpful to me (especially the Downloads stack), but I hope there will be a way to pick a stack icon someday. I think my favorite improvements have to do with using my two Macs together. File Sharing is much easier since my other Mac shows up nicely in the Finder sidebar, but even better is Screen Sharing, which is a fantastic way to monitor my machine upstairs from my MacBook downstairs! It's great when I need to check on a bunch of videos I'm converting, or change the tunes I'm listening to. I'm also using Quick Look all the time! It's so nice to browse through a folder of documents, movies, or images and see them with a single press of the space bar. And I can't forget to mention the fantastic Print dialog with it's awesome built-in preview - I can't imagine a better way to do it. I'm definitely happy with Leopard, and there are still lots of features I haven't even touched yet!
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| Check again, iTunes | |
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6.23.2007
2:46 PM | Link0 comments |
 iTunes has a feature called Sound Check that would be so much better if it actually worked! The idea is that iTunes will analyze all of your songs to determine the general volume of each one, and then when it plays back it's supposed to equalize the volume so you don't have to keep turning it up and down when it plays quiet songs or blasts the loud ones. This is supposed to carry over to the iPod, which I listen to almost every day for eight hours straight at work, but I can tell you from experience, it doesn't do much at all. I still have to keep fiddling with the volume, which is kind of a pain. I'm sure my listening habits aren't quite normal (Bach's Coffee Cantata followed by Morning Musume's Kanashimi Twilight, for example), but I still wish Sound Check could help me out more.
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| Backing up my backup | |
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6.19.2007
6:57 AM | Link0 comments |
 Probably the best thing to come out of my recent MacBook defect is getting serious about backing up everything. Previously I would backup things like photos to DVD, but I didn't have any backups of my 14,000 plus song iTunes library! So, I finally bought a LaCie 500 GB external hard-drive (which matches the LaCie 120 GB drive I already had), and now everything is backed up properly! It definitely feels good to have all of my photos, video projects, songs, and home folders (from both my MacBook and my Power Mac) safely copied with plenty of room to spare. Speaking of my MacBook, I have great news - the repair is complete and FedEx tracking says I'll have it back today! I'm totally thrilled - it's been weird not having it for a while (and it's been crimping my blogging frequency, which I'm going to use for my excuse this time)!
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| Two computers in one | |
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3.17.2007
7:11 AM | Link0 comments |
 As usual, this post is coming to you from my trusty MacBook, but this time I'm posting via Windows XP! Having a Mac that can use either Mac OS X or Windows XP is both weird and convenient at the same time. Since I will probably only need to use Windows once a week or so (just to keep track of my bills and things), I'm using Apple's Boot Camp software, since I don't really need both operating systems at the same time (and Boot Camp is free!). The installation was pretty painless - it's cool how it partitions the drive and actually kicks off Windows Setup (though it feels like the Twilight Zone when you see your Mac display that Windows logo!). Once the Windows installation is done, you have to install the Mac drivers for everything (which fixes the screen resolution, gets wireless networking going, and even does nice things like enabling two-finger clicks for Windows right-clicking), and that's it! Once I get rid of my old PC, I'll be down to only two computers, which feels just right.
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| Hello, MacBook! Farewell, iBook! | |
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3.01.2007
7:50 AM | Link0 comments |
 Time for some really big news! This blog post is coming to you from my new MacBook! I'm finally retiring my old iBook G3 that has served me well every day of my life since 2001 (amazing!), and my excuse for doing it now is part of my de-cluttering effort. Since the new Intel Macs can also run Windows XP, I will able to use Microsoft Money, the one PC program that I can't do without, on my Mac, which means I can get rid of my old Dell PC! As usual for Apple, getting started with my MacBook was totally amazing. The setup process includes migration from an old Mac, so I hooked up my iBook (via FireWire) and all of my settings, applications, and files were transferred. Suddenly my brand new computer was identical to my old one! It was like I was using the exact same machine, except for the fact that it's a jillion times faster. I was amazed to discover that there's only one non-Universal application that I use every now and then, so all of my usual programs are super-speedy. I'm really excited to be in the Apple/Intel world now!Labels: decluttering, mac |
| Power struggle | |
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9.23.2006
11:40 PM | Link0 comments |
 I had a minor Apple crisis today! My trusty iBook G3 has been surviving hours of daily use for years now, but the power adapter was suffering. The amber light that turns to green when the charge is complete stopped turning amber years ago (it was just stuck on green), and then about a month ago the green light went out, too. I could tell it was still working by watching my battery indicator, but once or twice I noticed when I plugged it in that it didn't start charging, so I knew it was getting sketchy. Today I let my battery run down to almost nothing, and when I came home from shopping it didn't have enough power to start up. I plugged it in, but it was still total silence with I pressed the power button! I figured the power adapter had finally gone out totally, but it still felt like I was missing a vital organ! So, I quickly searched around online - you can barely find the original Apple replacement adapter, since my iBook is getting so old. Apple sells it, but it takes four weeks to ship! Thankfully, I discovered there are third-party adapters - I found one that CompUSA said was in stock at my local store, so I was back home with it in 20 minutes. It felt so good to hear that startup chime! The new adapter is a Kensington, and I think it's pretty cool - it has various tips to work with other Apple devices, so I can even use it to charge my iPod if I want. I'm relieved to have healthy, fully charged iBook again!
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| One more battery | |
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3.21.2006
5:19 PM | Link0 comments |
 I've been using my trusty iBook G3 600 nearly every day of my life for the past several years now. It's definitely reaching the end of it's coolness, even though it runs Mac OS Tiger like a champ, but I can deal with the semi-slowness since it's really only my web/email/writing computer. My only real problem is that I'm a chronic battery abuser! I'm on my second battery, and I've cooked it down to a max charge of 30 minutes (I tend to charge too often for too long). It's so bad that I can't even use it at Barnes & Noble now, since I feel like it's a race against time every time I open the lid! So I've been struggling with the decision of buying a third battery, or getting a new iBook, since I know I want a hipper machine anyway. The decision is even more difficult because of the Intel chip switch, since the speed of those new machines is so tempting, though I like the security of the tried and true Motorola chip. This weekend I made a choice - I was almost ready to buy a new iBook G4 from Amazon, and then suddenly I decided to go for the battery instead. I will hold on until the iBook line is revved with the Intel chip, wait for some reviews, and make the big switch then. So, I ordered the fancy Newer Technology iBook battery that's supposed to have much higher capacity than Apple's original battery. I'm looking forward to spending longer sessions with my iBook at Barnes & Noble, and hopefully I can be nice to my battery this time around!
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| A cool utility, a cool site | |
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11.23.2005
7:41 PM | Link0 comments |
 I do most of my computer activities on my iBook downstairs, but I like to be able to print to my shared printer on my Power Mac upstairs, and control iTunes on my iMac upstairs, too. I always leave these machines on, but of course, they go into sleep mode where I can't use them remotely. That's where WakeUp comes in - one of the simplest, yet most useful, utilities I've seen (and I use it just about everyday!). WakeUp uses the hardware address of a remote machine to send it a special signal that will actually wake it from sleep mode (just like if you move the mouse or press a key), so when I want to print, I can just wake up my Power Mac and do it - without dragging myself upstairs!Forty Faces is an interesting website with a single purpose - every time someone posts to their blog, their photo appears on the site. It stays there until 40 other bloggers post, which could be a really short time, but while it's there people can click the photo to visit the blogger's site. I signed up for it soon after it started, and I actually do get a little bit of traffic from it. I like the idea and the clean design, too! If you're lucky (and have good timing) you might see my face there. |
| IMovie HD & iDVD 5: The Missing Manual / David Pogue : 4 of 5 | |
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11.03.2005
5:39 PM | Link0 comments |
 I'm starting to work on my usual end of the year video project, and since I'm using my new Power Mac G5, Mac OS Tiger, and the latest iMovie, I thought it might be a good idea to read the latest edition of this excellent book. I read pretty much the entire book in a day, skimming over sections that didn't pertain to me (such as all the QuickTime compression options, since I generally only burn DVDs), and actually there's wasn't a lot of new material that I didn't know. I don't mind, though, because it always helps to have a refresher course, and this is the best book for that purpose. This edition is printed completely in color, so all of the screen shots look fantastic! I also really appreciated the excellent chapters on professional editing techniques, which give a great overview of general film school knowledge. Reading stuff like this always makes me want to do some serious projects (and now I want to buy a mini steady-cam unit!). I also really like how the author lists every transition and effect that Apple provides, complete with ideas of when you might want to use each one. There are also some great website recommendations for plug-in vendors and sources of free background music. All in all, it's a fantastic book that will help anyone to push iMovie to the limit!
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| Mac OS X Tiger: The Missing Manual / David Pogue : 4 of 5 | |
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9.21.2005
10:46 PM | Link0 comments |
 I've been a fan of the Missing Manual series for quite a while. I read an edition of this same book several years ago when I returned to the Macintosh fold (lured by the incredible iPod), and I've also read an older version of his iMovie book, which really helped me down the video editing road (and taught me a lot about the craft itself). Since Tiger is such a major new release of the Mac OS, I decided I should buy this edition and get a good overview of all the new goodies (I finished about half of the book before my new Power Mac arrived!). I rarely read computer books anymore, but the Missing Manuals are something I can actually sit down and go through cover to cover. They are well-written and full of little-known tips, yet still "chatty" enough to feel like light reading. Of course, there are tons of screen shots to illustrate everything, and they also make use of sidebars to go into subtopics right where they make sense. The chapters on the new Automator and Spotlight features were really well done, but even the basic information on the Finder was excellent. I actually learned about several cool settings that have been around for years that I never knew existed! This is a massive 800+ page book, but it's well worth the reading (or skimming) time to discover all of the new Tiger goodness. I definitely recommend it to beginners and experts alike!
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| Multi-Mac Mikey | |
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1.14.2004
10:31 PM | Link0 comments |
 I haven't mentioned it here before, but I recently became the proud owner of an iMac (it was my traditional "Christmas gift to myself")! I've loved the design of the iMac since it was first available, but I wasn't too fond of the screen sizes larger than 15-inch - they just seem to throw off the aesthetics since they're so wide. Anyway, I was able to get a refurbished 15-inch model (with a G4 and SuperDrive) for just over $1,000, which seemed like a steal to me. I've had it since November, and my digital life has definitely improved! The speed is really nice for certain things (especially video editing), and now I can finally burn DVDs (which made for a fun Christmas gift project for my pals this year). I'm also using it as my iTunes server, so all 7,500+ of my tracks are usually blasting through my condo (I have the iMac in the loft upstairs, so the sound drifts down below and fills the whole place!). It's fun to control the iMac with my wireless iBook from downstairs via VNC, too. It's a beautiful machine - I'm happy to have a multi-Mac house!
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| iBook gifts | |
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12.09.2003
5:50 PM | Link |
 Tomorrow is my Japanese final, which means tonight is all study - I've already got the coffee made, so I'm ready to go over the past semester's work. I'm pretty amazed at the vocabulary I've learned - I would guess it's at least 350 words by now!
I recently bought some Christmas gifts for my loyal iBook. I decided to go ahead and max out the RAM (because I kept reading about Panther being even faster with more memory, which is correct!), plus I bought a new battery, since I had abused my original battery to the point of worthlessness. Now my good ol' iBook feels great again - I can actually use it for a few days without plugging it in, and the extra RAM really helps when I have a lot of applications open! Eventually I'm going to want a new Apple laptop (of course), but there's a lot of life left in my two year-old iBook.  It Came Upon a Midnight Clear / Narada Christmas Collection
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| Panther on the prowl | |
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10.21.2003
8:33 PM | Link0 comments |
 This is a big week for Mac users like me, since Mac OS X 10.3 Panther is coming on Friday! I've always been happy with new versions of the Mac operating system. This version has some great Finder improvements I'm looking forward to (like Expose, which lets you see all your open windows at once), an updated Mail application, plus tons of other features and speed enhancements (which is always appreciated by my little iBook). The coolest thing about this upgrade was the price - since now I'm an official daigakusei (college student), I was able to buy it at student pricing, which is about 40% off retail! Doomo arigatoo, Apple!
Hikari / Utada Hikaru / Deep River
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| Mac OS X: The Missing Manual / David Pogue : 4 of 5 | |
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2.02.2002
12:11 AM | Link0 comments |
 Soon after I got my iBook and started using Mac OS X, I decided I should read up a little to find out all of the cool features that were waiting to be discovered (I knew previous versions of Mac OS inside and out in my younger days, but OS X is new and exciting). The reviews seem to think this is the best book, and I would say they are right! Even though it only covers OS X 10.1 (I'm currently using 10.1.4), the differences are very slight. Each chapter contains a wealth of information about the OS - both on the surface and underneath. Now I know lots of cool tricks that make my iBook experience even more fun.
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| Apple iBook | |
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4.30.2001
10:15 PM | Link0 comments |
 As you can see, I was raised on Macintosh, so to speak, but I haven't really used one in several years, until now. I must confessed I was lured by the iPod commercial - I simply had to have one of those sexy devices in my pocket! So, I actually bought an iBook just to be my MP3 warehouse for an iPod. I also hooked up a wireless router, so I can use my cute little iBook to surf the web while I kick back on the couch, plus I'm really enjoying using Mac OS X (which is so much fun). Guess I'm bi-sexual again when it comes to computers.
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| Apple Macintosh IIsi | |
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10:12 PM | Link 0 comments |
 My development group at CITGO used Macs, so they actually bought me this wonder to use at home. During this time, I was a full-fledged Macintosh developer, going to conferences in San Jose, trading emails with Apple employees in Cupertino, and I even got to speak at some conferences. To be truthful, I used this machine mostly for moonlighting - Cheri and I started 1:05 Design on this one and made lots of logo design money.
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