Hardware: iMac G5 Developer Note
Geek literature.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Monday, September 27, 2004
EXTREME photo editing
TidBITS: Editing Photographs for the Perfectionist
Forget Photoshop. This guy uses about a dozen special purpose photo tools. Good uses for a G5 -- I wouldn't try any of them on a G3.
Next week he threatens to discuss ColorSync. That I want to see. (The Horror, The Horror ...).
Forget Photoshop. This guy uses about a dozen special purpose photo tools. Good uses for a G5 -- I wouldn't try any of them on a G3.
Next week he threatens to discuss ColorSync. That I want to see. (The Horror, The Horror ...).
Getting Things Done: integrating the Outlook add-in with Palm synchronization across multiple machines
Getting Things Done Outlook Add-In Support Site
GTD is the latest geek fad. It translates "anxiety into action" and makes productivity very much like a flowchart. Geeks like flowcharts and methodologies -- esp. if they render the world of social interaction more programmatic.
Heck, I'll give it a whirl. Problem is, I sync Outlook with my Palm and I took ten years off my life getting all the outlook/exchange/palm bugs working. I use Chapura's KeySuite for synching my Palm to Outlook/Exchange at work, and PocketMirror for synching to Outlook at home. (I'll skip the part about using iSync to ALSO sync with my iBook -- I haven't dared go there. Yet.)
I also have all kinds of ways to use Categories that aren't compatible with GTD. Also, GTD expects to OWN Outlook -- it doesn't know anything about PST files outside of the core Outlook files. I keep all my data in local PST files.
Then it occurred to me -- the Chapura KeySuite Palm app can sync with multiple Outlook folders. I can use GTD without disrupting its operation.
GTD owns my OST (root folder). KeySuite sync is set so all task/notes/contacts from that folder overwrite my corresponding Palm folders. So no exchange issues. Those items are read-only (for now).
My PST folders (contact, tasks, etc) continue to sync with the Palm. They work the same as ever with their own categories.
And, of course, I continue to use Lookout voraciously, updating its index hourly and rebuilding completely at every opportunity.
The best revenge on Outlook is to crush it mercilessly with programs and techniques that make that abomination useful. Too bad Word is unredeemable.
GTD is the latest geek fad. It translates "anxiety into action" and makes productivity very much like a flowchart. Geeks like flowcharts and methodologies -- esp. if they render the world of social interaction more programmatic.
Heck, I'll give it a whirl. Problem is, I sync Outlook with my Palm and I took ten years off my life getting all the outlook/exchange/palm bugs working. I use Chapura's KeySuite for synching my Palm to Outlook/Exchange at work, and PocketMirror for synching to Outlook at home. (I'll skip the part about using iSync to ALSO sync with my iBook -- I haven't dared go there. Yet.)
I also have all kinds of ways to use Categories that aren't compatible with GTD. Also, GTD expects to OWN Outlook -- it doesn't know anything about PST files outside of the core Outlook files. I keep all my data in local PST files.
Then it occurred to me -- the Chapura KeySuite Palm app can sync with multiple Outlook folders. I can use GTD without disrupting its operation.
GTD owns my OST (root folder). KeySuite sync is set so all task/notes/contacts from that folder overwrite my corresponding Palm folders. So no exchange issues. Those items are read-only (for now).
My PST folders (contact, tasks, etc) continue to sync with the Palm. They work the same as ever with their own categories.
And, of course, I continue to use Lookout voraciously, updating its index hourly and rebuilding completely at every opportunity.
The best revenge on Outlook is to crush it mercilessly with programs and techniques that make that abomination useful. Too bad Word is unredeemable.
iMac can be hacked to support montior spanning
The Cult of Mac Blog
I'm sure this voids the warrantee -- so probably not something to do immediately. A good use for an old CRT?
The new iMac G5 will drive an external monitor (monitor spanning), as long as you're willing to zap the firmware with this Screen Spanning Doctor script, according to the AppleInsider forums.
Of course, the operation is not endorsed by Apple, and there's a risk of frying the machine.
I can say for sure the hack works on the eMac. I zapped my 2003 eMac -- a nerve-racking process -- but it worked well. It also reportedly fixes up iBooks and the G4 iMac.
I'm sure this voids the warrantee -- so probably not something to do immediately. A good use for an old CRT?
iFire adapter for Apple Pro speakers
Griffin Technology: "Adapter and Amplifier for Apple Pro Speakers"
Provides 18 Watts to drive Apple Pro speakers (Harmon Kardon). I need to look at those speakers. I don't think they work with the G5 iMac. This won't work with most PC firewire laptop adapters -- they don't provide enough power. Might work with an iBook. I'd worry about burning the firewire bus.
Provides 18 Watts to drive Apple Pro speakers (Harmon Kardon). I need to look at those speakers. I don't think they work with the G5 iMac. This won't work with most PC firewire laptop adapters -- they don't provide enough power. Might work with an iBook. I'd worry about burning the firewire bus.
Adobe's file format for raw digital camera images: DNG
Digital Negative (DNG)
Be interesting to know how "open" this format really is. Adobe is not known for its charity.
An open raw image format would be valuable.
Update: Slashdot coverage was very positive about Adobe's spec. It's an extension to TIFF, basically it's a spec for metadata that describes the RAW file and a spec for embedding that metadata in TIFF. I think it might even be applicable to compressed files (JPEG2000, JPEG) wrapped up in a TIFF wrapper. It may give TIFF new life. Sounds like a real plus.
Be interesting to know how "open" this format really is. Adobe is not known for its charity.
An open raw image format would be valuable.
Update: Slashdot coverage was very positive about Adobe's spec. It's an extension to TIFF, basically it's a spec for metadata that describes the RAW file and a spec for embedding that metadata in TIFF. I think it might even be applicable to compressed files (JPEG2000, JPEG) wrapped up in a TIFF wrapper. It may give TIFF new life. Sounds like a real plus.
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