~ Ezra Moore ~

I like the new Safari (5.0). It seems like a sturdy update to the application, and while I prefer Google Chrome (because it syncs with everything else I use) I have discovered quite a unique use for the Reader function of Safari 5. If you print the ‘Reader-ed’ page as a PDF to Evernote you lose all the ads and line-break garbage and just get a clean, nicely formatted page to read whenever you have more time.

www.apple.com/safari

www.evernote.com

UPDATE:
When I wrote this the other morning I failed to identify the usefulness of the following procedure as it applies to the overall removal of the Antivirus XP, et al.

The instructions below deal specifically with the scenario in which the rogue software has disabled the launching of executable or .exe files. This is a common practice on the part of the rogue software developers, because it limits your ability as a user to initiate many countermeasures.

My preferred malware cleanup tool is MalwareBytes, though my complete procedure involves several applications, the exact combination of which varies from infection to infection.

For reference I prefer:

Sunbelt Software’s VIPRE – Paid General Antimalware
Grisoft’s AVG Free – Free General Antimalware

* I do believe there is a difference between paid and free antivirus protection. The main differences lie in the features of the application and the support available to a user if a problem arises. I feel there is no advantage to a paid solution from a definitions standpoint.

How to use the instructions below:
These instructions assume two things.
1. You have been infected with one of the Antivirus XP/Vista/7 variants.
2. You are unable to run executables as a result of the infection.

How to restore your ability to launch executables:
1. Start | Run| type ‘command.com’ to launch DOS command prompt.
N.B. This opens the old-fashioned command prompt, thus TAB does not auto-complete folder names, and the up arrow does not reenter the last command. Most importantly you must use eight character folder names. See step 2.
2. Run ‘dir /x’ to reveal 8 character folder names.
3. Open ‘notepad.exe’ from the command prompt.
4. Input:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe] [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile] [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile] [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command] @="\"%1\" %*" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe] @="exefile" "Content Type"="application/x-msdownload"

5. Save the file as ‘registryfix.reg’ to the desktop.
6. Open the ‘registryfix.reg’ file from the desktop to merge these changes into the registry.
7. Load MalwareBytes from local source (flash drive, CDROM, Ext. HDD, etc.)
8. Run MalwareBytes per normal procedure.

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There will be a forthcoming opinion on this software, but let me just give you a preview: it is a godsend!

I was browsing lifehacker the other day and came across this little gem. Let me get this out of the way: I really don’t see a purpose to all this. With that said; who cares?! Font Capture is a nifty site that allows you to download a PDF template that amounts to a font drafting sheet, complete with drawing guidelines etc., that you then scan and upload back to the site, once you have drawn a representation of each letter in your own handwriting. What this ultimately amounts to, is a font based on your own personal handwriting. Free for your use. Give it a shot, and don’t be afraid to let me know what you would use it for in the comments.

… instead of paying $100 for Microsoft’s USB adapter.

In this post you will learn how to use your Mac as a wifi bridge for your Xbox 360. You might consider doing this if your router is not in the same location as your Xbox 360.

What you will need:

• Your Mac.
• Your Xbox 360.
• A crossover Ethernet cable.

1. Open the Network Preferences pane from the System Preferences main window.
2. Ensure that Airport is above Ethernet in the list of network connections on the left. If it is not, click the gear (or settings) icon beneath the network connections box and select ‘Set Service Order.’ Click on Airport and drag it above Ethernet. Click OK.
3. Select the Ethernet connection from the left. From the drop down box labeled ‘Configure,’ select ‘Manually.’
   In IP Address: type ’10.10.10.2′
   In Subnet Mask: type ’255.255.255.0′
   Skip the box labeled Router for the time being.
   In DNS Server: type 208.67.222.222 (which is the openDNS nameserver, in case you were wondering).
   Leave the Search Domain box blank.
   Leave the window open.
4. Open a Terminal window. Terminal is located in ~/Applications/Utilities/, or you could simply do a Spotlight (CMD + Space) search for it.
   In the Terminal command line type ‘ifconfig eth0′.
   After typing that command the second line returned should start with the word ‘inet’ immediately followed by an IP address. Write that address down. Close the terminal window.
5. Return to the Network preference pane, in system preferences. 
   In Router type the ‘inet’ IP address you just copied down from the terminal window.
   Click Apply.
   Click Airport from the network connections pane at the left.
   Find the IP address for your Mac on this connection under Status. Write it down.
   Click Show All at the top of the window.
6. Click on the Sharing preference pane.
   In the left hand pane find ‘Internet Sharing’ and make sure it is UNCHECKED.
   With Internet Sharing unchecked, find the ‘Share internet connection from:’ dropdown box and select ‘Airport.’
   In the ‘To computers using:’ box select ‘Ethernet.’
   Now go back to the left-hand pane and CHECK the box marked ‘Internet Sharing.’
   Quite System Preferences.
7. On the Xbox 360 start at ‘My Xbox’ blade and find settings all the way to the right.
   Select ‘Network Settings.’
   Select ‘Configure Network.’
   Select ‘IP Settings.’
   Select ‘Manual.’
   In ‘IP Address’ type ’10.10.10.3.’
   In ‘Subnet Mask’ type ’255.255.255.0′
   In ‘Gateway’ type ’10.10.10.2′
   Select Done.
   Select ‘DNS Settings.’
   In ‘Primary DNS Server’ type the IP address of your mac. This is the address you were instructed to write down from the Airport section of the Network preference pane.
   In ‘Secondary DNS Server’ type the ‘inet’ IP address from the Terminal session on your Mac.
   Plug the crossover Ethernet cable into both your Mac and your Xbox 360.
   Select Done.
8. Select ‘Test Xbox Live Connection.’
   All the tests should pass with the exception of one NAT warning on the Xbox Live Connection portion. You will be able to play games online and take advantage of Xbox Live with the warning, but this can be resolved by forwarding ports:
   TCP 80
   UDP 88
   UDP 3074
   TCP 3074
   UDP 53
   TCP 53
   one way or the other to the Mac acting as the bridge, from your router. This is different for each model of router and beyond the scope of this article.
9. You just saved $100!

I’m posting this because I could not find the solution to this problem anywhere online, and I hate having to call into customer support to get a step-by-step answer.

I purchased a Mac Mini for use in my home theatre around the same time that my Boxee (www.boxee.tv) beta invitation came in, so naturally, the first thing I did was install it. I never bothered to test Watch Instantly functionality in the browser before I tried it in Boxee. Upon attempting a Watch Instantly session in Boxee I was greeted with the famous ‘Individualization Failed/Error: 8152′ message. This error seems to be primarily affecting Hackintosh users, but a few of us with legitimate Apple hardware are getting it too.

It has to do with how Silverlight verifies your network interfaces. If your wired interface, regardless of whether you are using it to receive Watch Instantly traffic, is not interface ‘en0′, Silverlight fails to authenticate with the Netflix DRM server correctly.

• To verify which network interface is assigned ‘en0′ do a Spotlight search for and open: ‘Network Utility’. On the first page/tab (Info) you will see a drop down box with an entry for each of your network interfaces. The ‘en0′ interface should show drivers for a wired NIC. If you are having trouble identifying which interface is the wired NIC, check the ‘Vendor’ information. The Airport (which should be assigned to ‘en1′) has Apple listed as the vendor, the wired NIC in my Mac Mini has a chipset made by Marvell.
• To correct this issue you need to delete two .plist files, they are both located in ‘/Library/Preferences/’
• Delete: NetworkInterfaces.plist, and preferences.plist
• Reboot your machine. These two files will automatically be generated with their default (and correct) settings upon rebooting.
• Now try and log into Netflix Watch Instantly.

FWIW: I had to click to reconnect to my wireless network, this will deleted your preferred list, but it should not delete your login info from the Keychain.

Please let me know if you have anything to add, or if I have forgotten anything.

When setting up Google Analytics, remember to give GA the path to the area of your site where the code has been added to the pages.

For example, I’m only tracking the blog, so:

http://www.ezramoore.com = no good.

but

http://www.ezramoore.com/blog = was able to connect with GA just fine.

I’m happy to be experimenting with all this stuff and plan to implement GA over to the rest of the site as well. Maybe I will execute that after a redesign, I’ve never been able to make it all that interesting.

I’m not going to lie and say that I expected unannounced features from Apple in the new iPhone 3.0 software, but I am a little put out at the lack of parallels between the current iLife (09) and the iPhone.

Bad Stuff (first, cause thats how I roll)

• Where is my ability to upload to Facebook and Flickr? I can do it in iLife but there seems to be no parallel in the iPhone ‘photos’ app, even in 3.0, what gives?
• Why can’t I move photos into other album? Create, rename, and publish albums? Where is this (hopefully) simple functionality?
• The iPhone’s newfound ability to copy/share batches of photos (instead of one at a time) is fantastic. Both times I’ve tried to send about 20 photos to myself, the email app crashed. I can only hope this bug is resolved in future updates.

Good Stuff

• CalDAV appears to be working well. This is a great enhancement that allows you to  use your Google Acounts calendars instead of ones local to your iPhone/computer.
• Pictures appear to be sharper through some sort of change to the software (as reported).
• There is now a preview square that acts as the ‘review’ button for photographs, allowing you to see a tiny representation of the last photo you took.
• Call logs/VM now show which number a contact called from (home, cell, work, etc.).
• The ability to email a contacts vCard is now present, via ‘Share Contact’ on the contact’s info page.

Overall the update is a strong one, I’m just sad to see the photo app is still so lacking.

Hey AT&T! Where the hell is MMS?

Has it gotten any better?