iMac update.
Techs were boggled over my iMac—it runs fine for them. Until they ran the more extensive diagnostics. So far, the hard drive fan is consistently failing, kicking up the heat in that section of the logic board. They’ll leave it running overnight, to see if anything else fails. Hard drive’s fine, system software is fine. Purely hardware issues. I hope to be ‘back to normal’ sometime Wednesday morning.
Macworld: Developers dish on iCloud’s challenges.
I think, given my 5-month-old iMac’s recent breakdown, cloud services are going to become very attractive and more popular as time goes by. It is in Apple’s interest to get the API right, sooner than later.
iMac update.
So, I think it’s hardware. Soon as the system tries to load any information-bearing screen (any screen other than an Apple symbol), it goes grey. I can hear the hard drive churning loading the various screens in the background, and then resolving to a quiet, waiting state ... the iMac just can’t show ‘em. Firewire ‘target mode’ allows me full access to the hard drive ... so I don’t believe it is drive related. I do have 16G of Crucial memory installed, but I don’t believe modern iMacs use this RAM for video display.
Calling the local Apple warranty outfit this morning. Good thing I didn’t sell my old 24” iMac. And it’s still configured as a primary - only six months behind in files. Didn’t realize how accustomed I’d gotten to the speed boost and larger screen. Moreso, the features of Lion (I love multiple desktops. Just love them). I’ll have to suffer with the reverse-mouse-scroll and 4G of RAM for a week or two, I suppose.
So postings here will be catch-as-catch-can as I readjust to the new reality.
It’ll be quiet here today.
Installed an update to MAMP Pro, Flash ... and found my 27” iMac displaying grey vertical bars later in the evening. Restarted to green vertical bars. This morning, grey screen of death. After zapping PRAM, I briefly got a desktop, only to dissolve into blue vertical bars when I dove for the Dock. Using ‘Target’ mode to be sure I’ve got all my files, then a Lion Recovery experiment will take place. It may be the display hardware, but I’d like to rule out software first.
So it’s gonna be quiet on the blog today. If it’s hardware, I’m not happy. A six month old iMac shouldn’t do this.
Had to move stuff around in my office closet ...
… and now I’ve got a Syquest drive staring at me. Proudly advertising ‘44 Megabyte’ capacity. That’d fit … oh, three of my photos these days (as TIFFs). My, how far we’ve come.
CNet: Tips and checks for buying a used MacBook.
Nice tips. The refurb Macbook I bought, the display bezel was a little jigged at one corner. Sign of display issues. Which continued, under warranty. You see loose or unseated items, it’s a tipoff.
dv creators: I Warp Speeded my MacBook Pro!
Dual SSDs. Jealous.
naked capitalism: China Punches Back in Rare Earths Row.
“… letting China gain control of rare earths production was a self inflicted wound.” Indeed.
New Scientist: Tablet PCs preserve indigenous knowledge.
Until the next hardware/software change. Then, how ‘portable’ is the information?
iFixit: MacBook Pro with Retina Display Teardown.
Better buy Applecare. And keep the number handy in emergencies. Given the nature of the new Macbook Pro, shouldn’t the Apple Store start making loaners available … ? If not free, for a price?
Macworld: Logitech announces Solar Keyboard Folio for iPad.
Solar keyboard for iPad. Wish we’d see more of these, more innovation in this sector. Tired of plugging in my gadgets daily.
Macworld: Apple prompting some users for extra App Store security details.
This happened to me this morning, followed by some of the ugliest, most scammy-looking emails I’ve seen from Apple. One simply repeated the entire email in the subject line (long, cut off). Wasn’t sure I should go ahead and do it, but it prevented my purchasing a needed app, so I went ahead. Having gone through the process, seems legit. But Apple, clean up those follow-up and verification emails. They are truly UGLY.
Joshua Topolsky/Google+: Lots of people were asking what my office setup looks like…
Definitely optimized for the journalist/writer/social media maven.
ShortFormBlog: The tale of the graphing calculator’s consistent price.
vowe dot net: Update your Mac. Now.
Carbon Fiber Magic: Carbon fiber your Magic Mouse.
But won’t you wear off your fingerprints?
Macworld: New iPad complicates life for HTML 5 developers.
“ The tablet’s iOS 5.1 operating system complicates HTML 5 data storage, offers no expanded HTML 5 support, and the tablet’s Web performance is at best only at par with iPad 2.” Given the glowing reviews, it may not be good enough for programmers, but it is certainly good enough for users.
Flickr: Draft one, Evolution of Storage.
Infographic of how, historically, we’ve stored music, photos and data.
[ShortFormBlog > GoodTechnology > Flickr]
Burrard-Lucas Blog: BeetleCam vs the Lions of the Masai Mara.
Cool. These guys have also done some other experiments, like with Komodo Dragons.
Macworld: Six ways to give an old iPad new life.
Hmmph. My iPad 1 is still perfectly suitable. The only thing I want that I’m locked out of is playing with Adobe’s new app. If more apps go iPad-2-or-newer, then I’ll think about retiring it.
DP Review: Pixel-binning 41MP Nokia smartphone hints at a future for small sensor cameras.
Noisy, but cleaner than ISO 400 film was.
Yahoo News: Pressure builds for civilian drone flights at home.
Salon: There is no ethical smartphone.
CNet: Noise-canceling vs. noise-isolating headphones: What’s the difference?
Sorry. Can’t stand those in-ear ‘phones. The sound of the cable hitting my body (which transfers up to the ears) drives me NUTS.
B-Reel: Mind Scalextrics.
Think and make your Lambo slot car go faster. I like it.
