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Removing Leopard download quarantine

2008-05-09T21:11:00-05:00

MacOSX Leopard tags files downloaded from the web with a special metadata bit. This bit is later referenced to warn about running downloaded apps and scripts. Even archived files maintain this tag through the compression/decompress process.

I needed to update the firmware on my Canon PowerShot SD1000 camera and couldn’t get the camera to recognize the file. Turns out the com.apple.quarantine xattribute was set. To fix:

xattr -d com.apple.quarantine *.FIR

xattr does not have a man entry. Use:

xattr -h

I found most of my information on this helpful post.

Open Apple Remote Desktop selection in SSH

2008-05-07T13:31:00-05:00

John C. Welch posted a handy AppleScript which grabs selected addresses from Apple Remote Desktop and opens SSH sessions in the terminal for each one. Hard to believe this isn’t built into ARD. I’d previously used a hard coded AppleScript to open up these sessions. Having them opened from the live scan list is very handy!

I took out the hard coded username in the SSH string and added an activate command to the terminal to bring the windows to the front.

set theSSHList to {}


tell application “Remote Desktop”


	set theComputers to the selection


	repeat with x in theComputers


		set the end of theSSHList to Internet address of x


	end repeat


end tell


tell application “Terminal”


	activate


	repeat with x in theSSHList


		do script “ssh “ & (contents of x)


	end repeat


end tell

Examining & editing Time Machine backups

2008-05-02T04:50:00-05:00

A modified version of the GrandPerspective disk sizing utility has surfaced which understands the file structure of Time Machine backups.

With this tool, you can scan Time Machine backups and immediately discern how much space it is really using. Also, you can look for large files taking up unnecessary space.

To actually recover space, enter Time Machine and delete the unnecessary backups of your large files using the gear menubar item’s: “Delete Backup” and “Delete All Backups Of” commands.

via Tidbits

Expand those print dialog boxes

2008-05-02T00:51:00-05:00

Here’s how to expand all those pesky minimized print dialog boxes in Leopard:

defaults write /Library/Preferences/.GlobalPreferences PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint -bool TRUE

ah, that’s better.

Finally: iTunes to sell movies same day as DVD release

2008-05-01T13:45:00-05:00

At long last, iTunes will begin to sell movies same day as the physical DVD release. With Fox, Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, Sony Pictures, Lionsgate and New Line on board, Apple is clearly aiming for rival Walmart after having recently surpassed them in music sales.

Previously, Apple’s releases have been available 30-45 days later than DVD releases- presumably to avoid sales cannibalization.

Happy Birthday, iTunes!

2008-04-28T17:12:00-05:00

Apple is celebrating iTunes’ 5th birthday today with a look back on all the great things that the service has brought us.

Handy script to unmount drives before sleeping

2008-04-28T13:02:00-05:00

Trevor’s Bike Shed has posted a nifty script which ejects your drives before sleeping. This should come in handy for disconnecting my Time Machine volume before going to work in the morning.

McDonald’s has a corporate podcast

2008-04-26T02:07:00-05:00

I was shocked to see that McDonald’s has a corporate podcast. Unsurprisingly, the series is called: “The McDonald’s You Don’t Know.”

The scintillating topics include such favorites as:

- Less Is More: Sustainable Packaging at McDonald’s
- JPMorgan Conference Webcast
- Well Seasoned: In the Ktichen with Chef Dan Coudreaut (Yes, they have a typo)

I’m McLovin it!

Fixing Word 2008 crash on quit

2008-04-22T21:45:00-05:00

How to fix Word 2008 crash on quit. (Office 2008 Mac)

1. Delete or move ~/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Normal

2. Delete or move ~/Library/Application Support/User Templates/Normal.dotm

3. Delete or move ~/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Word Settings (10) (Or the whole folder)

How to properly set the “Normal” template in Office 2008

2008-04-22T19:26:00-05:00

To properly set up the “Normal” template in Microsoft Office 2008 Mac, you must first know where it is. The location has changed!

The new 2008 office location is:

~/Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft/Office/User\ Templates/Normal.dotm

And the template must be saved as a “Word Macro-Enabled Template” (.dotm).

Hope this helps!