Tag Archives: Apple

fixed : Logitech Craft keyboard not recognized during macOS 10.14 Mojave startup

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Question :

I have bought this great Logitech Craft keyboard and it works perfectly. I love it. With it’s backlit keys, it’s programmable crown-dial, it’s USB-C charging, it’s multiple device-switching and it’s very responsive keyboard keys, it’s a joy to work with and a very interesting alternative for Apple’s own Extended Magic Keyboard at roughly the same price point if you shop around.

The only problem is : when I start up (or restart) my Mac, the keyboard isn’t recognized so I can’t type my password to unlock my Mac…

When using the Carft keyboard with my MacBook Pro that isn’t a huge problem, since I can just open the MacBook Pro and use the built-in keyboard to bypass this, but with my new Mac mini… I’m stuck…

The only option I could come up with is to keep an old USB-keyboard connected to my Mac mini and just use it for loggin in only… but that’s not a very tempting solution…

Isn’t there any alternative solution ?

 

Answer :

Yes, there is… there are actually 3 alternative solutions (option 3 is the most versatile in my opinion) :

  1. use your Apple Watch to login on macOS Mojave (of course, this won’t work if you don’t wear an Apple Watch…)
  2. use the on-screen keyboard during login (the so called Accessibility Keyboard that you can use when only your mouse or touchpad is recognized)
  3. use Logitech’s Unifying Receiver (the 2.4GHz RF-connection USB-plug that came with your Craft keyboard)

1. To enable your Apple Watch to unlock macOS Mojave, do this :

  • go to Settings.app
  • click on “Security & Privacy”
  • in the window that opens, click on the “General”-tab
  • put a check mark at  “Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac”
  • then use the “<“-button to go back to the main Settings screen
  • then exit Settings.app (by clicking on the red dot top left)
  • now, you’ll only need to make sure you wear your Apple Watch and have it unlocked before you try to login on your Mac… (this seems trivial, but turns out to be complicated from time to time…)

2. To enable the on-screen keyboard during login, do this :

  • go to Settings.app
  • click on “Users & Groups”
  • in the window that opens, click on “Login Options”
  • then, click on the “Accessibility Options”-button
  • in the window that opens, put a check mark at “Accessibility Keyboard” and click the “Apply”-button
  • then use the “<“-button to go back to the main Settings screen
  • then exit Settings.app (by clicking on the red dot top left)

3. To setup the connection with your Craft keyboard using the “Unifying Adapter”, do this :

  • find the Unifying Receiver (the USB-plug) that came with your Craft keyboard… it might still be in the original box… if you can’t find it, you can get a new one here or at Logitech (Logitech charges $15 or €13 plus shipping for it)
  • plug the Unifying Receiver in one of the USB-ports on your Mac (or in a USB-port of a USB-hub that is connected to your Mac)
  • go to Settings.app
  • click on “Bluetooth”
  • in the “Devices”-list click on the Craft keyboard, the non the X-marked dot that appears on the right side of it (to un-pair the Craft keyboard from your Mac)
  • then go to https://support.logitech.com/en_us/downloads and download the latest version of the Logitech Options software
  • install the Logitech Options software on your Mac
  • then, go to Logitech Options.app and follow the directions to pair your Craft keyboard to your Unifying Receiver
  • note that in macOS 10.14 Mojave you will need to also allow Logitech Options.app in the Privacy settings, to do so do this :
    • go to Settings.app
    • click on “Security & Privacy”
    • in the window that opens, click on the “Privacy”-tab
    • then, click on “Accessibility” in the list on the left
    • then, put a check mark at “Logitech Options Deamon” on the right
    • then use the “<“-button to go back to the main Settings screen
    • then exit Settings.app (by clicking on the red dot top left)

That’s it !

enjoy 😉

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fixed : repair or replace broken 24″ Apple LED Display ?

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Question :

Just a few hours ago, the 24″ Apple LED display that I have connected to my 13″ MacBook Pro (Late 2011) started smelling… the odor was giving me a headache as if something plastic or electrical was burning… now, my beloved Apple Display is not showing anything on screen anymore : even though it’s USB-ports, the MagSafe-power and the sound are still working, and my Mac still detects a connected external screen, the display stays black…

What can I do ?

 

Answer :

I’m sorry to bring you the bad news : your beloved Apple Display is a ‘total loss’… Even though this could probably be fixed by replacing the internal ‘motherboard’ of your monitor (99% chance some component on it burned, which is getting an increasingly common problem with these 8 year old monitors…), the fact that Apple does no longer supply any new components for these LED Displays makes that no official Apple repair station will do any repairs on it any longer, and even if you would be able to find a working second-hand replacement part, the replacement procedure is so delicate that it is not a do-it-yourself job… don’t go there.

So you want a replacement ?

Apple does no longer produce or sell any “Apple Display”-monitors. The only monitors available for sale on the Apple Store are LG-branded 4K and 5K monitors… these are said to be co-developed by Apple, but BEWARE : these can only be connected to the most recent Macs that have Thunderbold3-over-USB3 !!!

For older Macs that have miniDisplayPort or Thunderbold (which is Thunderbold1-over-miniDisplayPort) you need something else…

If you just need a plain ‘extra screen’ of GraphicDesigner-quality, you could choose any monitor by Dell, Acer, LG, Samsung, etc. that gets good reviews by graphic designers and meets these specs :

  • IPS-type screen (which has a far better viewing-angle then the TN-type screens)
  • miniDisplayPort, DisplayPort or DVI input (not HDMI-only)
  • a black and/or minimal bezel around the screen
  • preferably as much or more pixels than your Apple Display (the 24″ Apple Displays had 1920×1200 and the 27″ Apple Displays had 2560×1440)
  • preferably an internal USB-hub (to connect an external USB-keyboard, USB-mouse or USB-scanner)

…but for most of you, since you are still hanging on to your not-so-new MacBook, you will want an affordable replacement that will still be useful when you buy a new MacBook…

…then there is only one good option for you at this current time :

the BenQ BL2420PT monitor ; buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.de

with a StarTech 4K@60Hz miniDisplayPort-to-DisplayPort1.2-cable ; buy it at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.de

BEWARE : there is no displayPort-cable included with the BL2420PT monitor, so don’t forget to add a 4K@60Hz capable miniDisplayPort1.2-cable

…okay, this is no way comparable to the sleek industrial design (the ‘box’) of your Apple Display… you won’t get MagSafe-power connection and an iSight webcam built-in, the screen is not high-gloss and it’s bezel is about .5cm thicker than the screen, the monitor speakers volume can’t be adjusted from your keyboard (you should do that on screen or use your Mac speakers) and you won’t get the ‘one cable’ connection you’re used to…

…but, it’s non-intrusive black, the screen can be easily adjusted in height and can even tilt to portrait, it has the 27″ amount of pixels on a 24″ screen (admitted : even though that’s a PRO for most, it might be a CON for some), it has built-in speakers, it has special settings for CAD/CAM and AnimationDesign and it’s the highest value-for-money around…

…if you would mind that, you wouldn’t still be using such an old MacBook… right 😉

enjoy !

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tip : discounted and refurbished Macs, iPads & iPods on Dutch online Apple Store

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I don’t have any idea how long this has been around, but I had not yet come across this info :

Apple is now selling refurbished (*) Apple-hardware like Macs, iPads, iPods and accessories though the Dutch online Apple Store.

Go here to see if what you’re looking for is available at more-interesting-than-usual “Special Deal” prices.

(*) “refurbished” would mean that these hardware products have been produced from hardware that was either taken out of the primary production process or returned to Apple, of which all malfunctioning parts have been replaced by (as-good-as-)new parts ; due to the fact that this refurbished hardware has been thoroughly tested, this hardware comes with 1 year of limited Apple-warranty and the option to buy additional AppleCare.

Enjoy !

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fixed : what’s the location of Apple’s official Mac icons in OSX ?

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Question :

I want to change the icon of my hard drive into an icon-sized picture of my Mac.

How do I do that ?

Answer :

For (nearly) every model of Mac, iPhone, iPad & iPod, the ‘official’ icon is already included inside OSX. If you want to use it, e.g. as an icon for a hard drive or folder, or as a profile pic on a website (a.k.a. an Avatar), you just have to did a little inside OSX…

– in the Finder, select “Go” in the top Menu-bar, and select “Go to folder” from the pulldown-list

– in the screen that opens, paste the following line :

/System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources

– now the folder that holds all Apple’s hardware icons and system icons will open

Note : be sure not to mess things up in this folder ! do not delete anything ! deleting or messing up could mean you will have to reinstall OSX !

– in this folder the hardware icon of (nearly) any Mac can be found, the names start with “com.apple.”

– find the Mac-icon you’re looking for, some examples :

aluminium iMac 27″ = com.apple.imac-unibody-27

black MacBook 13″ = com.apple.macbook-black

MacBook Air 11″ (2010 and newer) = com.apple.macbookair-11-unibody

MacBook Pro 13″ (with DVD-burner) = com.apple.macbookpro-13-unibody

– then right-click (CTRL-click) on it and select “Copy” from the popup-menu

– then close the folder (to avoid messing things up, keep this folder open no longer than strictly needed)

– then return to your Desktop (in the Finder) and right-click (CTRL-click) anywhere there

– then choose “Paste” from the popup-menu, and on your Desktop a .ICNS-file with the selected Mac as it’s icon will appear

– then, on the Desktop, right-click (CTRL-click) the icon of your hard drive (normally a generic hard drive icon named “Macintosh HD”) and select “Get Info” from the popup-menu

– then in the “Get Info”-window that opens, select the icon so it will get a blue (selection) glow around it

– then drag&drop the .ICNS-file from your Desktop onto the icon in the “Get Info”-window

that’s it !

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Note #1 :

if you would also like to give your generically named Macintosh HD a different name, go to the chapter “Name & Extension:” in the “Get Info”-window ; if the small triangle icon in front of it is pointing to the right, click on it to let it point down and the chapter will expand to reveal an entry box where you can type the name you want to give to your hard drive

Note #2 :

if you do not see your hard drive on your Desktop, go to “Finder” in the top Menu-bar and select “Preferences…” from the pulldown-menu ; in the “Finder Preferences”-window that opens, click on the “General”-tab/icon and put a checkmark at “Hard disks”

tip : get Texaco Rocks’ loyalty points for your Apple purchases

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— this tip is only for people living in the Netherlands —

Did you know that you can get Texaco Rocks’ loyalty credit points when buying online at the dutch Apple Store, at Bol.com and at Wehkamp.nl ? (that’s right… the same loyalty points you get from buying gasoline for your car at Dutch Texaco petrol stations)

Only if you go to the official Rocks’ loyalty website, and you login to Apple.nl, Bol.com or Wehkamp.nl, you can get Rocks’ loyalty point for all your Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPods and related purchases. (…and for other purchases also, except for Dutch & Frysian language books). Go to the Rocks’ loyalty website to do so :

http://www.rocks.nl/online-sparen/

NOTE : of course, if you want to get the sharpest prices on your Apple-gear, do not go to the online stores mentioned above straight away, but check other stores also before you buy. (you will rarely find ‘below standard’ pricing on the latest Apple hardware, so this especially goes for the non-Apple stuff)