Tag Archives: 10.5 Leopard

fixed : get the WMA-recordings from an Olympus voice recorder into iTunes

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Question :

I have an Olympus VN-88500PC voice memo recorder and I can get the WMA-recordings onto my Mac, but not into iTunes – what can I do ?

Answer :

iTunes for Mac doesn’t import WMA audio files (even though it seems like for some reason iTunes for PC does…).

So you will have to convert the WMA into a file format that iTunes does understand like MP3 or AAC, before you can import the recordings into iTunes.

There are a lot of audio converters available on the Mac, but a lot of them won’t allow you to convert WMA-files. Others might suggest Switch or Tunesify,  but I would recommend Smart Converter, as it’s FREE, it has a simple user interface and it creates small MP3s.

FYI :

my source was a 30MB WMA-file,

Switch (FREE version) turned it into a 225MB MP3-file, even though I was using the “small file” option

Tunesify (the €3 version) turned it into a 180MB MP3-file,

and Smart Converter (FREE version) turned in into an MP3-file of only 45MB (using the “Music” conversion option)

Smart Converter is available in the Mac App Store :

http://itunes.apple.com/nl/app/smart-converter/id447513724?mt=12

…and after the WMA-to-MP3-conversion is done, you can just drag & drop the MP3-file onto the iTunes window to import.

BEWARE ! : FBI warns not to upgrade software through free-WiFi !

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The FBI has reported that users of ‘out-of-home-WiFi’ (free-WiFi hotspots, hotel WiFi, etc.) have become infected with malware, while upgrading ‘a widely used software product’.

http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/e-scams

The original report states :

“Recently, there have been instances of travelers’ laptops being infected with malicious software while using hotel Internet connections. In these instances, the traveler was attempting to set up the hotel room Internet connection and was presented with a pop-up window notifying the user to update a widely used software product. If the user clicked to accept and install the update, malicious software was installed on the laptop. The pop-up window appeared to be offering a routine update to a legitimate software product for which updates are frequently available.”

Even though the software product is not mentioned by name, it is good to inform you that one of the most common software products using this type of upgrades is Adobe Flash… so watch out when upgrading Adobe Flash (and any other software upgrade that is offered) when you are not on your own private WiFi-network.

So… here are some useful guidelines regarding software updates while traveling :

1- if you can do without upgrading, don’t upgrade while traveling ; wait until you’re back home on your own trusted WiFi-network

2- if you really need to upgrade, take these precautions : when you are prompted to upgrade any software while on an ‘out-of-home-WiFi’-network, click to close the pop-up window that is urging you to upgrade. Then either use OSX’s built-in “Software Update…” feature, or open the (Mac) App Store to download your updates from there, or manually type the URL of the known software-maker and download the software update directly form their site (after having double checked that your installed version is not the latest one).

Note : in the case of of the Adobe Flash browser plugin, the software-maker’s website is Adobe.com

tip : play some Angry Birds on your Mac for free [1]

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Question :

On my iPhone and iPad I can play some Angry Birds games for free by using the “Lite” (demo) version from the iTunes App Store instead of the full (paid) version… but on my Mac I can only get Angry Birds in the full (paid) version and only through the Mac App Store… why isn’t there a free (demo) version for my Mac ?

Answer :

You can play Angry Birds for free on your Mac (some levels), not only on OSX 10.6+ Intel Macs…

…even G4 & G5 PPC Macs running OSX 10.5 Leopard are eligible…

just use your web browser, and play online from Rovio’s official Angry Birds website :

Angry Birds Chrome beta (using Safari 5 you can play online, Google Chrome will give the option to play offline) :

http://chrome.angrybirds.com/

Angry Birds FuijTV (Japanese costumes version) :

http://fujitv.angrybirds.com/

Angry Brids Wonderful Pistachios (“The Hunt For The Golden Pistachio” version)

http://getcrackin.angrybirds.com/

Angry Birds Volcano (“Tyrkisk Peber” version)

http://fazer.angrybirds.com/Index.jsp

Enjoy ! 😉

—— [ UPDATE ] ——————————————————————–

I found some other ones, but they’re not on Rovio’s official webpage (so please be aware of any potentially harmful links these may present to you ; even though we don’t expect any) :

Angry Birds Rio (asian online demo version)

http://www.angrybirdsriogame.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/angrybirdsrio.swf

Angry Birds (asian online demo version)

http://www.mijngame.nl/files/angry-birds-flash-game.swf

—— [ UPDATE #2 ] ——————————————————————–

There is a new Angry Birds promotional version on Rovio’s official webpage :

Angry Birds Coca-Cola (asian language version)

http://coca-cola.angrybirds.com/

(you need to register and be of legal age, but as it’s in some asian language that I don’t understand, I can’t help you on this one ; please report back is you’ve figured it out…)

—— [ UPDATE #3 ] ——————————————————————–

Yet another new Angry Birds promotional version on Rovio’s official webpage :

Angry Birds Heikki (‘Finnish unite’ team-up of F1 racer Heikki Kovalainen and Angry Birds)

http://heikki.angrybirds.com/

(registration required)

new levels will be added as the F1 season unrolls :

Upcoming levels:
Hockenheim — 11.7.2012
Budapest — 25.7.2012
Spa — 22.8.2012
Monza — 5.9.2012
Singapore — 12.9.2012
Suzuka — 26.9.2012
Yeongam — 3.10.2012
New Delhi — 17.10.2012
Yas Marina — 31.10.2012
Austin — 7.11.2012
Sao Paolo — 21.11.2012

—— [ UPDATE #4 ] ——————————————————————–

Some new links to official demos of Angry Birds Rio and Angry Birds Star Wars are in my follow-up post :

https://macmanus.nl/2013/03/23/tip-play-some-angry-birds-on-your-mac-for-free-2/

tip : TimeMachine will also backup attached USB-sticks that are Mac-formatted

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Question :

My old G4 iBook running MacOSX 10.5.8 Leopard has a hard drive of just 40GB inside ; upgrading that will cost far more than plugging in a 32GB (nano) USB-stick, but…

If I do so… will TimeMachine also backup the files from my 32GB USB-stick ?

Answer :

Yes !

TimeMachine will backup the data from any USB-stick without have to make any adjustments to TimeMachine, but you need to make sure that :

1- the USB-stick is properly plugged into your Mac (seems only too obvious, but since it is so easy to detach it without thinking about it… just double check !)

2- the USB-stick is formatted as a genuine Mac-drive, so in HFS+ format (PC/FAT-formatted USB-sticks need to be re-formatted to HFS+, else TimeMachine will not recognize them… but beware : reformatting a USB-stick will erase all it’s content… so start out by moving all data to your hard drive, then reformat the USB-stick and only after that, put the data back onto the USB-stick)

fixed : get iMovie 8.0.6 (from iLife ’09) on the unsupported G4 Macs

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Question :

The official installer DVD of iLife ’09 refuses to install iMovie 8 on my good old iBook G4 (1.33 GHz, 1GB RAM, OSX 10.5.8 Leopard) – Is there an other way to install and get it running ?

Answer :

Yes, you can !

iMovie 8.0.6 (a.k.a. iMovie ’09) is the last version of iMovie that will run on the pre-Intel PowerPC Macs (which have G4 and G5 processors), and you can even install it on an unsupported G4 Mac that runs OSX 10.5.8 ; here’s how :

1- Download the app called “Pacifist” from MacUpdate.com :

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/6812/pacifist

2- Use it to install only the iMovie.pkg from the official iLife’09 installer DVD

3- Do NOT run the iMovie app after installing ; update it first using OSX’s built-in “Software Update” function (under the Apple-logo in the top left corner of your screen) ; after upgrading you will have iMovie 8.0.6 installed

4- Do NOT run the iMovie app yet ! ; download this pre-tweaked iMovie file :

iMovie.zip

5- Rename the file to “iMovie.zip” and unzip it (just double click)

6- Now go to Applications –> iMovie –> [right-click the icon] –> Show Package Contents –> Contents –> MacOS

inside that folder is the un-tweaked version of iMovie.app (or just “iMovie”, since you might not be able to see the .app-fileextension) ; replace it with the tweaked version you’ve just downloaded

7- Now go to System Preferences –> Accounts –> select the user you are installing iMovie for and make sure that “Allow user to administer this computer” is checked during iMovie’s first run, else iMovie will not be able to set up the configuration needed…

8- Start up iMovie for a first run and see how it works 😉

9- Remember to re-adjust the account-settings back to “Managed” and/or “Parental Control” if you need to, since Administrator rights are only needed on the first run

10- Note that in the “Parental Control” settings of your System Preferences, iMovie will no longer be listed under the iLife-applications, but under the “Other” applications…

NOTE : there is (as always) a minimal, remote possibility that Apple might update iMovie 8.0.6 to a newer iMovie 8.0.x or 8.x version… If you upgrade your tweaked iMovie 8.0.6, it will no longer run… and you will have to do a new tweak yourself…

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If you need more info on this, look here :

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/feedback/iLife09_user_feedback_tips.html#imovie_G4_patch

http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20090130074400511

BEWARE ! : MAC Defender = malware ! don’t install ! remove it !

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Since some of you might not know… just a quick note to inform you :

Your Mac is not completely immune to viruses and malware (and never has been). The  weakest link in the security chain of Mac-protection is often the user himself…

A program called “MAC Defender” claims to be your best protection, but do not install it ! If you really need a reliable virus-protection app for you Mac, go only with the renowned ones like Sophos, Kasperski, Norton, ClamXav or VirusBarrier (downloads available via MacUpdate.com, or from their respective brand’s websites).

MAC Defender is a fake AntiVirus-app ! It’s a trojan horse intended for phishing your valuable data, passwords and credit card info.

Apple has put info on how to avoid or remove MAC Defender online here :

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4650?

…but still : best remedy is not to install it at all !

tip : make your own iPhone ringtones with QuickTime 7 Pro

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How to create an iPhone ringtone with Quicktime 7 Pro

With Quicktime 7 Pro you can transform any audio file into an iPhone ringtone – for free.

  • Open Quicktime 7 Pro and load an audio file that you want to convert (AAC or mp3)
  • Adjust the sliders to mark the part of the song that you want to use with the left and right locater in the time bar. NOTE : The length cannot be longer than 30 seconds (29 seconds max)
  • Go to the Edit menu and trim the file to the marked length
  • Go to the File menu and select “Export”
  • Change the export format preset to “iPhone”, that will export to a file with the .m4v file extension
  • Manually change the file extension to .m4r ; when asked “Are you sure…?” click “Use .m4r” (the the text in the file icon will now change from “MPEG 4” to “Ring” or the entire icon will change into a black square music icon)
  • Drag the .m4r-file onto your iTunes music library (check under “Ringtones” to see if it’s been imported)
  • Sync your iPhone to get the new ringtone on your iPhone (make sure you’ve selected “Sync Ringtones” before syncing)
  • Then on your iPhone change the ringtone to your self made ringtone