Apple iCloud and iWork beta for iOS hands-on

We’ve had a few weeks to get accustomed to iOS 5 and Mac OS X Lion, but one headlining feature has been notably inaccessible since it was unveiled earlier this summer. During his WWDC keynote, Steve Jobs touted iCloud as a service that will sync many of your Apple devices, for free. Macs, iPhones, iPads, and even Windows computers can synchronize documents, contacts, calendar appointments, and other data. You’ll also be able to back up your iOS devices remotely, use an Apple-hosted email account, and store your music in the cloud. Well, this week Apple finally lit up its cloud-based service for developers, letting some of us take a sneak peek at the new service.

Apple also announced pricing, confirming that you’ll be able to add annual subscriptions with 10GB ($20), 20GB ($40), or 50GB ($100) of storage ‘atop your free 5GB account. We took our five gig account for a spin, creating documents in Pages, spreadsheets in Numbers, and presentations in Keynote, then accessing them from the iCloud web interface to download Microsoft Office and PDF versions. We also tried our luck at iOS data syncing and the soon-to-be-controversial Photo Stream, so jump past the break for our full iCloud hands-on.

Continue reading Apple iCloud and iWork beta for iOS hands-on

Apple iCloud and iWork beta for iOS hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iomega Mac Companion Hard Drive offers 3TB of storage and a filling station for your iPad

How to get a hefty new hard drive for your Mac without making your other gadgets jealous? Iomega is offering up a solution with the fairly elegant Mac Companion Hard Drive, a two or three terabyte external drive designed with Apple computers in mind that adds a high-powered charging port for your peripherals. The drive also packs additional USB and FireWire ports (no Thunderbolt, guys?), plus a set of four LEDs, which let you know how full it is with a glance. The drives are available via Apple at $195 and $295, for 2TB and 3TB, respectively.

Continue reading Iomega Mac Companion Hard Drive offers 3TB of storage and a filling station for your iPad

Iomega Mac Companion Hard Drive offers 3TB of storage and a filling station for your iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Batch Convert Videos Using Handbrake and AppleScript

This article was written on October 20, 2010 by CyberNet.

handbrake conversion.pngarrow Mac Mac only arrow
I’ve been working with some AppleScript lately to help with my video conversions, and I’ve come up with something that saves me quite a bit of hassle. It uses the free command-line interface of Handbrake called HandbrakeCLI, and is able to convert all videos from specified extensions (ex. avi and mkv) to something that is a bit more widely supported (ex. MP4). All you have to do is point it to a directory and it will start converting all matching videos one-by-one.

How does it work? This is (kind of) a step-by-step walkthrough of how the code processes files if you’re using it without any reconfiguration. You can, of course, tailor it a bit more to your needs.

  1. The script looks at a drive called “SecondaryHD” in a directory called “Movies” for any video files that have an extension of AVI or MKV (it even looks recursively through all subfolders), and also makes sure that the video has no label color assigned yet. You’ll find out why the label color thing is important in the next step.
  2. It loops through all of the files it found, and before it begins processing it sets the label color of the file to gray. That way if you run multiple instances of this at the same time it will not process the same file twice. If you do run this multiple times, however, it only runs one instance of Handbrake at a time.
  3. It now runs the HandbrakeCLI using a set of parameters that I’ve found to work well on my Xbox 360 (I know the bitrate is unnecessarily high at 4000Kbps, but it helps make sure I don’t lose quality). You can configure the parameters to your liking using the information on this page. Also, it’s important to note that the command is run using “nice”, which will run the conversion process using low priority. That way it shouldn’t affect the overall performance of your system.
  4. It sets the label color of the original file to green, which assuming the next step works will be worthless. It’s just good measure.
  5. The original file is deleted so that all you have left over is the MP4 version of the original video.
  6. That’s it. If any error occurs during the conversion process or on any of the other steps the label color of the original file will be set to red. That way you’ll know something didn’t go as expected. Plus if the label color is set to red the video will not be reprocessed if you decide to run the script again, unless you manually remove the label color by right-clicking on the file.

Here is the code (download the script):

--on adding folder items to this_folder after receiving these_items

with timeout of (720 * 60) seconds

tell application "Finder"

--Get all AVI and MKV files that have no label color yet, meaning it hasn’t been processed

set allFiles to every file of entire contents of ("SecondaryHD:Movies" as alias) whose ((name extension is "avi" or name extension is "mkv") and label index is 0)

--Repeat for all files in above folder

repeat with i from 1 to number of items in allFiles

set currentFile to (item i of allFiles)

try

--Set to gray label to indicate processing

set label index of currentFile to 7

--Assemble original and new file paths

set origFilepath to quoted form of POSIX path of (currentFile as alias)

set newFilepath to (characters 1 thru -5 of origFilepath as string) & "mp4'"

--Start the conversion

set shellCommand to "nice /Applications/HandBrakeCLI -i " & origFilepath & " -o " & newFilepath & " -e x264 -b 4000 -a 1 -E faac -B 160 -R 48 -6 dpl2 -f mp4 –crop 0:0:0:0 -x level=40:ref=2:mixed-refs:bframes=3:weightb:subme=9:direct=auto:b-pyramid:me=umh:analyse=all:no-fast-pskip:filter=-2,-1 ;"

do shell script shellCommand

--Set the label to green in case file deletion fails

set label index of currentFile to 6

--Remove the old file

set shellCommand to "rm -f " & origFilepath

do shell script shellCommand

on error errmsg

--Set the label to red to indicate failure

set label index of currentFile to 2

end try

end repeat

end tell

end timeout

--end adding folder items to

Notes about the code:

  • You can specify any extensions you want to include in the conversion process, but it really only works with extensions that are 3 characters based on the way it generates the filename of the new path. I’m sure this can be improved, but I only wanted AVI and MKV files converted.
  • You’ll likely need to update the folder location that is searched. The way the path is specified is in an AppleScript format, and this may help you if you’ve never dealt with them before.
  • This is is assuming you’ve downloaded HandbrakeCLI and put it in the Applications folder.
  • You can use this with folder actions if you uncomment the first and last lines. Keep in mind that this enables it to run when a file is added to a particular folder, but will still process every matching file in that folder. It doesn’t actually use the items it is passed.
  • You can schedule this to run at certain times using iCal.
  • Try downloading the script directly if you copied and pasted the script and are having troubles. There may be some characters that got incorrectly encoded when being posted here, and won’t translate well in the code.

If you’ve got any updates to the code please feel free to send them our way. There are probably much more elegant ways of doing this, but this works well for me. Hopefully this will at least point some of you in the right direction for creating your own scripts.

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Mac mini review (mid 2011)

For those familiar with last year’s Mac mini, what you’re peering at above isn’t likely to strike you as jarring. Heck, it may even seem somewhat vanilla at this point. In truth, Apple did exceedingly little in terms of design changes with the mid 2011 Mac mini, but given the relatively recent cosmetic overhaul, it’s not like we were genuinely expecting anything above a top-to-bottom spec bump. And that, friends, is exactly what we’ve received. The mini remains quite the curious beast in Cupertino’s line — it’s the almost-HTPC that living room junkies are longing for, yet it’s still a country mile from being the headless mid-tower that Apple steadfastly refuses to build. It’s hardly a PC for the simpleton (given that it’s on you to hunt down a mouse, keyboard and monitor), and it’s actually taking a giant leap backwards on one particularly important front. Care to hear more? You’ll find our full review just past the break.

Continue reading Mac mini review (mid 2011)

Mac mini review (mid 2011) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac OS X Lion 10.7.2 beta brings iCloud support, no bug fixes

We know what you’re thinking: Mac OS X Lion (10.7) has been out for nearly a week, so why have we yet to hear anything about Snow Lion? Patience friends, Apple will roar soon enough — but for now, 10.7.2 will have to do. Apple released the beta update to developers over the weekend, eschewing any acknowledgment of 10.7.1, or correcting any of the bugs that have popped up over the last week. Instead, Lion’s pending second update (build 11C26) is required for testing the operating system with iCloud — a feature notably absent in the public version of the OS released last week. The new System Preferences iCloud module enables granular management of select features, letting you choose which accounts and services to sync. Full iCloud support is coming in the fall with the release of iOS 5, so it’s probably safe to assume that Apple plans to patch some of those bugs in the meantime — any day now, we hope.

Mac OS X Lion 10.7.2 beta brings iCloud support, no bug fixes originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: A Three-Headed Lion

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Kerberos, the hound from Hades that lent its name to an MIT-developed network authentication protocol, is often visualized as having three heads. But if dogs can have multiple heads, why can’t other technology species? Many of the features in Lion have impact for different kinds of users, and the value users see in them may well depend on which face they tend to view.

The new user. Lion represents the biggest user interface change to the company’s desktop experience since the debut of Mac OS X. With the Mac hard drive hidden by default, full-screen apps that hide the menu bar, and omnipresent scroll arrows put out to pasture, it even dispenses with some user interface conventions that have been around since the original Mac. The focus on multitouch gestures — while enabling more fluidity in the user interface — are not as self-evident. Overall, though, the gradual shift away from contrivances such as windows, menus, and cluttered icons should make things less intimidating for new users.

The iPad user. One can only wonder what features the successor to Snow Leopard might have sported had Apple not launched the iPad. The most prominent design theme in Lion has been bringing user experience elements of Apple’s tablet to the Mac. This is highlighted best by Launchpad, the iPad-like collection of sliding home screens, and full-screen apps, but also includes support for full-screen apps and bundling of the Mac app store introduced with Snow Leopard.

Continue reading Switched On: A Three-Headed Lion

Switched On: A Three-Headed Lion originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple initiates replacement program for ‘small number’ of iMacs with 1TB Seagate HDDs

Did you pick up a new iMac between May and July 2011 sporting a 1TB Seagate HDD? You should probably know that the platter might be of the prone to failing variety. No worries though, Apple’s announced it’ll replace potentially faulty drives at no cost to keep ya smiling, and your fixed disk a-spinnin’. Owners of registered rigs at risk are being notified via email, but if you skipped that form you can check the serial number on Camp Cupertino’s website (linked below). After confirming that the machine’s eligible, you’ll be able to drop it off at an Apple Store or authorized service center for the swap. It’s also suggested that you back up the drive prior to bringing it down; at the very least, it’s an excuse to make use of that Thunderbolt port, right?

Apple initiates replacement program for ‘small number’ of iMacs with 1TB Seagate HDDs originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 12:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac OS X Lion: what’s broken (or working) for you?

Funny — we (almost) asked this same exact question in August of 2009, just after Snow Leopard had been loosed on the unsuspecting public. But as fate seems to have it, each and every OS overhaul brings gobs of issues, and regardless of how hard the problem finders in Cupertino work, there’s simply too many unchecked variables to squash each and every bug prior to release. And with that, we present to you just a handful of the biggest quirks that have cropped up since a cool million of you downloaded Lion. For one, you can kiss Rosetta support goodbye, and secondly, it seems as if 10.7 is seriously cramping third-party NAS support for Time Machine. We’ve also had numerous reports from folks that are having issues dragging application installs to their Applications folder, not to mention an uptick in Guest account crashes. Of course, there’s also the whole “I can’t get my free update to Lion!” thing, busted Windows partitions and a veritable plethora of dilemmas when looking at Pro Tools and Cubase. Hit the links below to join the misery party, or feel free to start your own in comments below. Oh, and if you’re furious that Lion and its incompatibilities have ruined your livelihood… well, welcome to the downside of early adoption. Here’s hoping a raft of updates cures whatever’s ailing you in the days and weeks to come.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

View Poll

Mac OS X Lion: what’s broken (or working) for you? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Jul 2011 13:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple expands iOS and Mac App Store into 33 new territories, Tuvalu strangely absent

Brought that shiny new unlocked iPhone 4 home to Tanzania, only have your first App Store experience end in tears? We certainly sympathize, and apparently Apple’s heard your plea. Interested developers can now head on over to the iTunes Connect portal, where they’ll tick some new checkboxes and soon be on their way, peddling their wares to an additional 33 locales — but not the home of .tv, unfortunately. Curious if your nation made the cut? Hop on past the break and see if Cupertino thinks you’re worthy.

Continue reading Apple expands iOS and Mac App Store into 33 new territories, Tuvalu strangely absent

Apple expands iOS and Mac App Store into 33 new territories, Tuvalu strangely absent originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 20:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Mac mini gets iFixit teardown treatment, leaves space for 2nd hard drive

What do you do the day after an arsenal of new Apple products are announced? Why, take them apart as soon as you can get your hands on them, of course! Wouldn’t ya know it, iFixit is at it again — this time, tearing down the new Mac mini. At first glance, the only noticeable difference is the inclusion of the powerful Thunderbolt port. Once under the hood, though, a second hard drive port was spotted, along with just enough space for a second storage device. Perhaps the only thing standing the way of a dual HDD welding compact desktop is your ability to secure another SATA cable. If you want to give it a shot, the updated mini scored a solid eight out of ten in the repairability category as the machine had no proprietary screws or glue. Moreover, easy access makes a DIY RAM upgrade a piece of cake, especially when you’re already in there adding that extra disk. So if you’re looking to get your teardown feet wet, swan dive right in.

Update: Sure, you can get dual HDDs straight from the Apple store, but you’ll pay dearly for it. As in, the base Mac mini will run you $1550 — and that’s for the only option: a 750 GB ATA and a 256 GB SSD. The other option is to splurge for the Lion Server model, where dual 500 GB or dual 750 GB options are available. Still, going this route will set you back at least $1000. Since these bad boys are so easy to work on, you’d put far less strain on your wallet by going the DIY route.

New Mac mini gets iFixit teardown treatment, leaves space for 2nd hard drive originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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