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kottke.org posts about OS X

A list of iPhoto 5 annoyances. I wish

A list of iPhoto 5 annoyances. I wish iPhoto were as finished a product as iTunes is. (via df?)


“This guide demonstrates using SSH tunnels and

This guide demonstrates using SSH tunnels and VNC screen-sharing software to use your Mac from any PC over the Internet. It’s fast, secure, cross-platform, and can be done entirely with open source software.” (thx tag)


Apple announces Aperture, professional-grade software for managing

Apple announces Aperture, professional-grade software for managing and manipulating photos. A little bit o’ iPhoto mixed with Photoshop, it looks like. (Also, new Powerbooks…higher res, better battery life.)


Profile of designer/illustrator/photographer Michael Elins

Profile of designer/illustrator/photographer Michael Elins and how he uses Macs to get his work done. “It’s hard for someone like me to talk about technology, because the Mac has gotten to the point where it’s a nonissue. It’s so good and so fluid, so fast and so freaking reliable that it becomes something I really take for granted.”


A couple of recent OS X interface

A couple of recent OS X interface ruminations: rethinking the Finder and Spotlight revisited. Some good ideas in both of these, particularly the Spotlight one (I find Spotlight disorienting at times).


Justin’s looking for the largest inbox smoothly

Justin’s looking for the largest inbox smoothly handled by Mail.app…the current high is 26,700 messages. Mine only has around 100 because I filter most messages into a variety of folders. Update: he’s up to 43,000 283,686! (That’s gotta be on a G5 with a ton of RAM…my Powerbook would melt under that kind of weight.)


Here’s how to connect to Google’s IM

Here’s how to connect to Google’s IM network with iChat or Adium. The audio works with iChat as well. Not as good as a Google Talk client for OS X, but I guess it’ll have to do.


Playstation 3 to support OS X?

Playstation 3 to support OS X?. “The operating system has also yet to be clarified. The integrated Cell processor will be able to support a variety of operating systems (such as Linux or Apple’s Tiger).”


Cory Doctorow to Apple Computer: put Trusted

Cory Doctorow to Apple Computer: put Trusted Computing in your kernel and I’m done as your customer. This doesn’t look promising. You’ve got a good thing going here, Apple…don’t fuck it up.


Some iPhoto 5 tips and techniques for managing your digital photos

Some iPhoto 5 tips and techniques for managing your digital photos.


How to record a podcast using GarageBand

How to record a podcast using GarageBand. Using GB like this is overkill, but there it is anyway.


Apple’s obsession with simplicity has gotten a

Apple’s obsession with simplicity has gotten a bit out of control with the latest release of OS X.


Locket is the best Dashboard widget yet

Locket is the best Dashboard widget yet. “Locket is a Dashboard widget that provides an ambient monitor for a single iChat user on your buddy list. When the person is available, the locket opens. Otherwise, it is closed.”


iTunes 4.8 does video

iTunes 4.8 does video. An interesting development. Why is video in iTunes and not iPhoto? (Update: iPhoto 5 does video. Hard to breathe with my head in the sand here…)


Extra! Extra! Tiger Headlines Roar!

Apple’s codename for the new version of OS X clearly inspired headline writers to dust off a few of their favorite cat expressions. Here’s a sampling of actual headlines (thanks, Google News) about Tiger’s release:

Apple Sets Tiger Free on Public
New Mac System ‘Tiger’ Roars
Apple’s new Tiger springs into action
Apple lets Tiger OS out of cage
Apple unleashes Tiger in Taiwan
Apple’s Tiger unleashed in San Francisco
Apple’s Tiger earns its stripes
Longhorn on Tiger’s tail
Apple unleashes Tiger
Apple users are likely to be on the prowl for Tiger
Apple takes Tiger by tail with free installation
‘Tiger’ roars into stores
Apple to let loose its sleek Tiger system, good at hunting down files
Apple Lets Tiger OS Out of Cage
Apple unleashes Tiger operating system
Apple’s Core Supporters Roar Approval At Tiger
Apple aficionados grab Tiger X by the tail
Apple Unleashes Highly Anticipated ‘Tiger’
Tiger roars onto the Mac mini
Apple’s Mac OS ‘Tiger’ Ready to Pounce
Tiger is out of its cage.
Apple’s powerful Tiger leaps to the forefront
Apple’s Tiger stalks Windows market
Mac users will be happy to have a Tiger by the tail
Apple’s “Tiger” aims to take a bite out of Microsoft
Apple’s Tiger Leaps Out To Operating-system Fore
Apple’s Tiger Begins To Prowl, Set for Release Friday

I’m somewhat disappointed I couldn’t find a headline that depicted a battle between Tiger and Microsoft’s Longhorn, something like “Apple’s Tiger Slays Microsoft’s Grazing Longhorn, Leaving Bloody Entrails Strewn All Over OS Marketplace”. I mean, why even bother if you’re not going to go completely over the top? Amateurs.


Keyword Assistant plug-in fixes iPhoto’s stupid ass keyword-adding interface

Keyword Assistant plug-in fixes iPhoto’s stupid ass keyword-adding interface. Software developers, say it with me: “auto complete, auto complete, auto complete!”


Tiger, the new version of Apple’s OS

Tiger, the new version of Apple’s OS X operating system, is out on April 29.


Edward Tufte’s thoughts on OS X

Information design hero Edward Tufte has some thoughts on Mac OS X:

The OS X interface design is distracting and self-conscious, with a marketing slickness rather the straight-forward transparent charming style of the past. It is out of tune with the superb industrial design of Apple hardware. Mac users will probably get used to it.

For my own current work (Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark with large files on large monitors), I see no particular reason to prefer the new design to 9.04. Indeed I regard 9.04 as nearly ideal (large flat-screen monitors are key; the Apple Cinema monitor is an enormous advance in design and as a working tool). Maybe when we do digital video that will make a difference in favor of OS X.