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Sometimes I am not allowed to browse directories I know are there.

Such as? If you're talking about stuff like /usr, /sbin, /etc, those are hidden so as not to confuse newbies or become a target for people who stupidly delete things they think are cluttering up their hard drive without considering they might be important.

You can get to those directories by doing "Go to Folder..." from the Finder's "Go" menu, or make them visible by editing the .hidden file in the root directory of the hard drive.

As for a link, check out macosxhints.com.

~Philly

"To invoke a command, hold down "Caps Lock"...

Isn't the fact that the Mac requires a bit of trickery involving rewriting the keyboard driver to get the Caps Lock key to report it's state like the Control key going to make this paradigm a bit difficult to port to the Mac?

I discovered, while I was writing this, that "sudo open < filepath" won't launch as sudo. /me thinks it's because sudo executes an Apple app called "open" that digs into the app package and opens the app. Problem is, the app doesn't get executed as root....only the package opener does. Not sure why that is the way it is, but this seems to work pretty well (for Cocoa apps...)

sudo /Applications/TextEdit/Contents/MacOS/TextEdit &

sudo /Applications/System\ Preferences.app/Contents/MacOS/System\ Preferences &

I discovered, while I was writing this, that "sudo open < filepath" won't launch as sudo. /me thinks it's because sudo executes an Apple app called "open" that digs into the app package and opens the app. Problem is, the app doesn't get executed as root....only the package opener does. Not sure why that is the way it is, but this seems to work pretty well (for Cocoa apps...)

sudo /Applications/TextEdit/Contents/MacOS/TextEdit &

sudo /Applications/System\ Preferences.app/Contents/MacOS/System\ Preferences &

The problem is that you can't use internet and sync at the same time.

I wonder if that's a routing issue? At one time it was impossible to use a broadband connection and a VPN tunnel at the same time, but someone figured out a fix

That's not true. Since Mac OS X is simply a Unix under the hood, all you need is to set up a Bluetooth serial port (can be done in System Settings) and let pppd run on that port. I have that setup running here without problems (similar to this actually). If Eugenia can't manage it, it doesn't mean that it is impossible. Of course it's another thing if you complain that this is not possible via a nice System Settings panel, I give you that.

I know its still a programming language, but its pretty close to just out right writing what you want it to do. Here is my favorite Applescript. Does resizing of photos to a specific size, or in later in posts, they have it asking size and place to save the duplicate. LINK

No, you actually can run the screensaver engine itself in the background. The original poster probably meant to link to this hint instead.

Since you can use a screen saver as a desktop background, all you would need to do is write a screen saver that displays whatever the video camera sees. Probably need to use the Quicktime Framework to connect to a DV device?

Here is a short tip on how to enable Flash blocking for OmniWeb and Camino:

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20050 313224837662

I don't know about Safari or image-blocking, sorry.

HTH

There's at least one extension that works pretty well under Camino, and once I installed it, Camino became a lot more responsive on my old-ish iBook. It's flashblock, and since I hate pretty much all flash, especially all the ads, this has been a great addition.

Your question was discussed pretty throughly here a couple days ago.

"I will say that OS X is ridiclously memory hungry and that has to limit percieved speed."

The fact that you still don't realise that you have misunderstood the OS X memory model just adds to your cluelessness. Read for example the 2nd eMail here, and learn. Calling OSX memory hungry and worse thinking that that must limit speed quite simply proves that you didn't understand the OS X memory model.

I'll continue to deal in facts if you don't mind.

it only works on macs with a motion sensor, which is only the new powerbook upgrades.

you may have an option

I've been using this solution for playing DIVX files from my laptop (which is connected to my projector, while the audio is routed to AirPort Express) for some time, and works well, thanks to the author's knowledge, and the power of VLC !

I've been using this solution for playing DIVX files from my laptop (which is connected to my projector, while the audio is routed to AirPort Express) for some time, and works well, thanks to the author's knowledge, and the power of VLC !

No support for a folder of applications as a single widget on the dock.

Open Finder. Drag the 'Applications' folder (or any other folder) to the right side of your dock (beside the Trash).

Right click or click & hold to bring up a list of applications.

macosxhints.com is your friend.

They just need to follow this hint

On the login screen you enter >console for the username and press return to get to a text-only environment. this helps too.

Shoot. Those XML tags got stripped by /.

Here's a site that documents the addition of graphical logon banners to Mac OS X.

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20020 921074429845

Try the Apple support forums for the Mini -- the users who post there tend to be pretty helpful. On top of that you may also find some answers at Mac OS X Hints -- even if they can't help with this particular issue, you're bound to find some good info on other things there.

Firewire and USB external DVD writers are not supported natively by iDVD

That may just not be true anymore. It would make sense if it weren't true, as consumers might not be so quick to buy the SuperDrive option when buying a Mini ("When will I ever have need to burn a DVD?"), but then find out later down the line how ridiculously easy it is on a Mac and decided to go get one. It wouldn't surprise me, Apple has so very totally gotten everything right with this box, such a minor detail (and major forward-thinking) wouldn't be out of the question.

On a lighter note, while browsing through CompUOverpay yesterday, I finally got to meet a Mini "in person". Holy crap! I'd seen the pics, but it really and totally doesn't hit you how small this thing is untill you hold one in your hand (singular!)

The missing piece of the puzzle is the commands systemsetup and networksetup. These are the only non-GUI way to administer certain things, and they are not included in plain OS X, only Server. However they are free downloads from Apple, though in a slightly roundabout way, as detailed on Mac OS X Hints: they are inside ARDAgent.app in the Apple Remote Desktop 2.1 Client.

What was that about ogg plugins, again?

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20040 426151111599

Only works for digital signals, I guess, but still.

HTH

Everything parent says is absolutely correct, just apart from one little thing. MacOS X automatically starts X11 when you run an X application. The launcher does this by looking at the libraries that the app links to.

I use several X11 app under OSX and it functions great. However, native Aqua apps are generally easier on the eye.

use vnc2swf

I'm still trying to find the right combination for backup/restore on OSX.

First off, I don't do the default OSX install. I always slice up the partition (not partition the drive, this is a *bsd type OS people! :P) as described in this article that I wrote for MacOSXHints a couple of years ago.

Then on a semi-regular basis, I will (should rather) clone everything save /Users using
Carbon Copy Cloner. This would be applicable to other *nix's of making a bootable clone minus /home. Ghost for Unix perhaps?

Then all that's left to do is an incremental backup of /Users. I've thought about modifying this to include an incremental on /sw, and /usr/local, but that's being complicated. If worst came to worst, I could recompile any customizations I've done, it would just take a while.

Now, for those Mac users that know their stuff:

CCC will clone nicely to another disk. I've tried cloning to a disk image when everything minus /Users came out to be ~3GB. It takes FOREVER to complete on an external firewire drive.

WTF? Is this an issue that has been resolved in the last year? I haven't even bothered trying, but knowing that 10.4 is around the corner, and I haven't done a decent OS backup in a while bothers me. I backup /Users to DVD every once in a while, and I have an external firewire drive full of MP3's that I do optical backups of from time to time and mail them off to my brother in law in LA (I'm in St. Louis). Any better suggestions on getting a bootable OS image that is easily restored? Possible something I can dump to a DVD and mail off as I'm doing now?

Well, you don't need anything extra to record HDTV.

You don't need Server to fully administer OS X without the GUI: enjoy.

I don't know if this is available outside the mac world, but my powerbook lets me use what it calls Interference Robustness which, according to apple, may slow your connection but will improve the ability to connect.

1. Media Center, no video in/out
2. Router, no dual NIC
3. Gaming Rig, no upgradeable AGP

However, the first two can be partially met by Firewire: VirtualDVHS and IP over Firewire. But I'm still waiting for my PowerMac LC.

What a coincidence. Mac OS X Hints is just this morning running a hint on protecting your Mac by using an Open Firmware password, and setting a banner that pops up a warning and/or ownership message when booting is attempted. There are also interesting comments as to why this might not be a good solution.

It is amazing when its Apple but evil when its Microsoft?

This is how it's done. There are also a couple of other .calcviews in there that you can enable by following the same procedure.

Here ya go: Enable new Graphing Calculator view mode

Not if you disable HTML rendering entirely. This MacOSXHints.com article has instructions on how to do so. It forces Mail to show the plain text part of multipart messages by default. You can still view the HTML part via a menu option. Works like a charm.

Here are some good techniques for picking a strong password. It helped me out. http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20040 920120520528/

If you've got a Mac, this AppleScript over at Mac OS X Hints will get you full screen Quicktime movie viewing with the standard version: http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20020 722081156794/

Nope, this only works with powebooks.

There is a workaround: 'fooling' the magnet on the lid.

This link has a full-screen work-around for quicktime.

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20020 722081156794&query=full+screen+quicktime

Mac OS X Hints is a great free resource for those wanting to get under the hood of OS X. They have stuff like Applescripts for automation, shareware reviews, and command line stuff. Bookmark it!

As was mentioned above, it is not the technical compliance with the machine that would cause the switch (ipod already works with PCs,) it is the "ease of use," fit and finish, attention to detail that makes PC users "mac curious."

The "fit and finish" that causes the cheap-ass titanium paint on the TiBooks to flake off after two weeks?

Or the "attention to detail" lets through serious defects in the screen? And what about the high rate of premature logic board failures?

My ipod is the only gadget I own that I can let someone play with and have them understand it immediatly and enjoy the the design of not only the hardware but also the software.

Which, of course, explains why iTunes should crash repeatedly when syncing a 40gb ipod on a four-month-old powerbook. And why Applecare won't help the guy, because his 4-month-old powerbook is now "out of warranty."

Yeah, these thousands of people are probably just doing something wrong. Their problems aren't Apple's fault, with their "beautiful hardware," and their "joyful software." After all, everything JUST WORKS, right? Right?

here is article with link to software from OSXhints..
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20040 426151111599&query=HDTV
It'll work if you have a HDTV box with firewire outputs given MPEG TS stream is unencrypted.. I was able to get it to work with my tuner from Time Warner.

Having to select the application window before I can quit it using the application menu. Or I have to right click on the dock icon to quit. Annoying still.

OK, use Splat-Tab (Apple/Command/Cloverleaf, call it what you will) to switch between apps. When you get to the one you want, hold down Splat and press Q. It quits the application. Press H instead and it Hides it. There's more of these...

Hope this helps.. It seems this is OS X 10.3 only, so you might want to check out LiteSwitch X which does the same thing.

Mark

I was thinking that if you partitioned your hard drive so that you have a "Case Sensitive/Journaled" partition for your *nix files and a non-case sensitive/Journaled partition, ie. Mac OS Extended, for your Mac OS X Server Boot drive. Perhaps this would be the simplest way to keep the two file systems organized and working natively. I have used the application iPartition to slice up an existing working drive with no problems...

I understand that it is possible for OS X to actually work on a UFS file system although some things such as AirPort and Classic I beleive will not. (not an expert on this!).

Personally I keep all my applications on a seperate partition anyways. ( Currently 4 partions per HD for testing ).

I know very little about this subject but I am sure there must be a work around although I do agree with your logic that Apple should have gone the extra metre to rework a completely case sensitive boot system.

Hey, certainly there are peoples with social complexes about OS's not their own, too bad for they. Check out these sites which are OS X friendly and very geeky :)

http://forums.osxfaq.com/index.php
http://forums.macosxhints.com/
http://discussions.info.apple.com/

Good Luck, I hope some where down the line you will find a user that can help you!

cheers!

There are tons of MacOS Ogg Vorbis players, here are some:

Sourceforge Quicktime Components
Play Ogg Vorbis file on QuickTime (including QT-based players, like iTunes). Note that this is still under development and may have bugs.
http://qtcomponents.sourceforge.net/

A Better QuickTime Ogg Vorbis Plugin
Try this one if the Sourceforge one above dosen't work for your configuration.
http://www.macosxhints.com/article .php?story=20021 103065300430

MacAMP
Like WinAMP or XMMS.
http://www.macamp.com/

Whamb
Whamb player, haven't tried it.
http://www.whamb.com/

More Ogg Vorbis Software for MacOS X
Here's a list from the Vorbis folks.
http://www.vorbis.com/software.psp/

Admittedly, on a Mac you have to resort to the Terminal (basically all the music files are hidden in Finder), but it's not exactly rocket science!

I've had both problems happen (the bad and the recoverable), the bad one has not happened since I updated to 10.3.1. For the recoverable with a re-login one, near as I can tell this comes from some legacy 8 character password weirdness. As this post indicates, if you have upgraded your computer from jaguar to panther you will only need 8 characters of your password to be correct to log in. What I have noticed is that is FileVault does not have the 8 char limit and needs *all* of the characters in your password to be correct. This causes some weirdness if you have a 12 character password and have a typo in the 10th character: you will be logged in but not see any of your data. The really stupid thing is there is no error message displayed*.

Having said that, I haven't had the problem crop up in a while so they might have fixed it.

*Sort of: if you do not have FileVault on, your keychain will choke and ask for your password again.

Many people had problems with it first came out. It was caused by the "recovering space" thing not completing before the user logged in again. I still don't trust Apple's default configuration since there are warnings in their own documentation against using a sparse image, which File Vault does.

I've used this hint for over six months now without problem.

On the other hand, it's trivial to get the user's password from swap, unless Apple fixed this hole already, so there's not much point to File Vault right now.