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Progress is a myth. KPT Bryce 4ever

TextBundle, an open format for text-based notes
TextBundle
The TextBundle file format aims to provide a more seamless user experience when exchanging plain text files, like Markdown or Fountain, between sandboxed applications.

Sandboxing is required for all apps available on the Mac and iOS app store, in order to grant users a high level of data security. Sandboxed apps are only permitted access to files explicitly provided by the user - for example Markdown text files. When working with different Markdown applications, sandboxing can cause inconveniences for the user.

An example: Markdown files may contain references to external images. When sending such a file from a Markdown editor to a previewer, users will have to explicitly permit access to every single image file.

This is where TextBundle comes in. TextBundle brings convenience back - by bundling the Markdown text and all referenced images into a single file. Supporting applications can just exchange TextBundles without asking for additional permissions. Beyond being a simple container, TextBundle includes a standard to transfer additional information - to open up new possibilites for future integration.

Hmmmm

So are we gonna break desktops, phones or both
Long detailed fascinating ideas for the evolution of iOS and OS X

A lot of these are, cough, relevant to my current job as well.

It's hard for me to imagine developers building serious apps without root access to their development environment. On the other hand, who's to say that should drive platform evolution. Either way, the idea of OS X and iOS "growing together" is seductive, if only because it suggests a plausible future in which OS X still exists. Not sure how it squares with the constraints that make the iOS experience so unique - part of what makes iOS apps so great is the limited target area.

The scariest thing about eliminating OS X, which the author is aware of, is Apple's restrictive policies towards apps in the App Store.

Custom View Controller Extension Providers

I mean, maybe OLE's time has come again.

Text file geeks only
Currently using Simplenote+Notational Velocity+Dropbox, thinking about switching to PlainText+Notational Velocity+Dropbox.

Going to adapt this for my own purposes. iTunes not so great at managing huge libraries.

It's not just me! launchd is fucked
It's rare to find that one page that answers your question once and for all:
> Known bug in Tiger, and fixed in Leopard.
> For most practical purposes, LaunchAgents don't function as
> advertised in Tiger.
> You can use them as long as you never logout.

- Apple's launchd dev

More annoying than you'd think. Involves the word "compile". You can just right-click and select "Do Not Auto-Delete" if you don't mind the track appearing in your list of podcasts until the end of time.

OS X: copy to clipboard from the command line with pbcopy
So: "ls -ld | pbcopy" (via)

If you're sharing your Mac's drive over the network, you don't need this. But if you want to access files from a Mac drive when the Mac isn't running (you're using Boot Camp, or you have an external drive you want to plug into a Windows box) this is for you.

This has bothered me for a while. Thanks Joel. Of course, in our bright new high-DPI future this won't matter. Right?

Update from the far future of 2014: well, it took longer than expected, but yes, text finally looks really nice in OS X browsers.

Change the short name (login) of an OS X user.

What if your blog was a local disk?
I don't think BlogFS actually works right now, but used with MacFUSE the possibilities are sort of amazing. Start with finding stuff from your blog posts (even private posts) via Spotlight.

e.g...what if BlogFS was really smart about OS X integration?
  • What if copying a file to a BlogFS-mounted folder uploaded the file?
  • What if creating a shortcut to a file in a BlogFS folder (depending on where you're accessing the blog from) ...
    • gave you the local file
    • ftp'd the file from its source

Update: Detailed look at MacFUSE + sshfs

It's a pdf. Why is it a pdf. Mooooan.

Sync from iPod to iTunes (or th' other way 'round.) Perfect. Looks better than Ephpod.

Put any command-line app into the OS X Services menu
ThisService (I wonder where the output shows up?) (Probably right at the cursor.) (I am _so_ living off a MacBook Pro ASAP. Imagine the "productivity".)

Daniel says I should watch this.

Wow, I actually like his writing better than his cartoons.

How did I miss this? Badass way to access the command line in OS X, from the people that brought you Quicksilver.

incremental backup using ftp for OS X
Harder to find than you'd think. There's this: Retrospect Desktop Edition; an Express edition apparently comes bundled with some "backup devices" (hard drives?)

Quicksilver file tagging module
Add Spotlight comments to a file with QS.

Gimpshop
Make the Gimp's menus more like Photoshop's.

7 steps to a healthy Macintosh
I'm convinced some of this stuff is pure superstition.

applescript for iTunes: re-randomize smart playlists
Smart playlists in iTunes that have "Selected at random" checked don't automatically re-randomize. So if you have a smart playlist set up to choose 25 techno tracks rated 4 or higher, you'll always get the same 25 unless you go in and clear the tracks from the playlist every once in a while. This script re-randomizes all your smart playlists.

Download the script here. If you've never used Applescript in iTunes before, here are some instructions. If you find this script useful, leave a comment, I'm curious.

Update: this script is now included at Doug's AppleScripts for iTunes. Woo!

USB audio for OS X
Edirol UA-1EX

Use Streamload for big backups
They don't mention on their website, but ftp access is available. For $5 a month you can upload as much as you want. My backup solution has arrived! C'mere prince, gimme a kiss! (Ok, there is a catch ... if you ever need to get at those backups, you'll need to shell out a few hundred bucks to actually be able to download them. But that will never happen surely?)

OS X: play DVDs from your hard drive
I had no idea it was this complicated.

SpotMeta
"Attach custom definition tags, category information and annotations to any file or folder on your computer with SpotMeta's easy-to-use editor."

HOWTO use your Mac from anywhere
Haven't look at this yet, but I sincerely doubt it'll work going through both my work and home firewall. Update: yeah so I was wrong, go go ssh port forwarding.

uploading and downloading files with applescript
Including servers that require authentication. I guess to get the Automator workflow I want (download files from a web server that requires authentication) I'm going to have to rewrite the URL of each file. Ugh.

firefox theme for os x
Wow, sorry, that's not so good. Let me see what else I can dig up.

tiny mac apps
Can we stop calling it OS X and just call it Macintosh again?

Matt Groening Apple Ad
A 1989 Macintosh ad from the creator of the Simpsons.

graphviz (unix, win32), pixelglow (os x)
Feed it a list of what connects to what, and it'll create a pretty graph of your network.

solar-powered iPod charger
Someday I'll need this.

joining the scary mac people
tidbits
macnn
versiontracker
macintouch
macslash
macupdate supposedly better than versiontracker; sherlock plugin available
list of OS X AskMe threads
cult of mac
MacFixIt
xlr8yourmac

Smultron
free text editor

Force Empty Trash
RCDefaultApp
YuBurner (instead of Toast ... although it might not burn video dvds ... grrr) (current version is 0.7.0)
fast dvd copy (rip & burn dvds, ps2 games)
doom9 "the definitive dvd backup resource"
disk inventory x
iJames Lullaby
broadband optimizer for os x
detour control volume & output port on a per-application basis [this is important]
audacity: sound editing/recording: ugly but free
vnc for os x
disctop hee hee hee
cyberduck ftp client
flame browse rendezvous services
accessTunes
keyword assistant for iphoto
Coverscout - iTunes album art
Aurora alarm clock (can be set to go off even if your Mac is asleep - and even if it's turned off)

Senuti - everything in reverse
"Senuti is a simple utility that makes transferring songs from an iPod to your computer quick and easy."

So I ordered an iMac, which is supposed to arrive around the end of the month. Now I visit the Apple support forums every day, so I can do things like check out pictures of someone else setting up their iMac. What's wrong with me?

macmedia
Supposedly PhoneDirector will help OS X talk to a Nokia 6820.

macrumors buyer's guide
"know when to buy your mac"

Folklore.org: Macintosh Stories
"Anecdotes about the development of Apple's original Macintosh computer, and the people who created it."

mac buying tips
"Secret Mac buying tip #1: CompUSA has a much better return/exchange policy than the Apple store...

Secret Mac buying tip #2: Read the Apple forums... "

discussions.info.apple.com
forums.macnn.com

get RAM elsewhere

macreviewzone buyer's guides

google search: used powerbook

Crazy Apple Rumors
"At first I thought he was kidding!" Anderson exclaimed. "Then [Apple Senior Vice President for Applications] Sina [Tamaddon] says 'Wow, that's really beautiful. You're a beautiful, beautiful person.' All of a sudden I'm thinking, 'Oh, shit.'"

This is Lukas Bergstrom's weblog. You can also find me on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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