I am a BIG fan of Google’s Gmail service. It has the best webmail interface by far and offers nearly unlimited storage. Now that Gmail allows IMAP access I am using it as my primary email service on the iPhone. I’ve configured Gmail to check all of my other email [...]
Ideal Settings for iPhone and Gmail IMAP Syncing [iPhone Guide, iPhone Tip]
By Franklin Davis on Jun 20, 2009 within Apple, Google, Guides, Technology, Tips | Comments
How to Enable Apache HTTP Server with PHP in OS X [Mac Guide]
By Sam Davis on Jun 26, 2008 within Apple, Guides | Comments
Mac OS X (currently Leopard 10.5.3) includes an implementation of the Apache HTTP server. However, it isn’t running by default nor does it have the PHP engine enabled. This guide shows you how to activate Apache with PHP support in a few easy steps.
Ripping and Burning DVDs in Linux with K9Copy and Brasero [Ubuntu Guide]
By Sam Davis on May 31, 2008 within Guides, Linux, Ubuntu | Comments
If you have installed software and codecs for watching DVDs on Ubuntu as per this post, then this guide will get you started ripping and burning DVDs using Brasero (the CD/DVD burning application included with Ubuntu) and an application called K9Copy, which is similar to the popular program DVD Shrink for Windows.
How to Install Media Codecs for Flash, DVD, QuickTime (MOV), MP3, WMV, WMA, and ACC (MP4, M4A) Playback in Linux [Ubuntu Guide]
By Sam Davis on May 30, 2008 within Guides, Linux, Ubuntu | Comments
Due to copyrights, Ubuntu (currently Hardy Heron 8.04) is distributed without codecs to play many of the most prevalent media formats including DVD video (unencrypted and encrypted), Flash (.swf and .flv extensions), QuickTime movies (.mov ), MP3s (.mp3), Windows Media Audio and Video (.wma and .wmv), and unencrypted ACC files (.acc, .mp4, and .m4a). [...]
How to Mount and Share a USB Hard Drive with Macs Using Netatalk [Ubuntu Guide]
By Sam Davis on May 29, 2008 within Guides, Linux, Ubuntu | Comments
At home, I’ve installed a Netatalk Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) file server on a machine running Ubuntu Hardy Heron (8.04) so that I can easily share files between my Macs (mostly running OS X 10.5.3) and the Ubuntu machine (see this post for details). Using an open source network service discovery protocol similar to Apple’s [...]
Five Guides on How to Integrate Ubuntu into a Mac OS X Network
By Sam Davis on Apr 30, 2008 within Featured, Guides, Linux, Ubuntu | Comments
I have a machine running Mac OS X (currently Leopard 10.5.2) and another running Ubuntu (currently Hardy Heron 8.04) and have been striving to get these two machines to interact more harmoniously on my local are network (LAN). In particular, I’ve been trying to get my Ubuntu machine to act more like a Mac in [...]
Configure Netatalk on Ubuntu to Share a USB Printer [Ubuntu Guide]
By Sam Davis on Apr 29, 2008 within Guides, Linux, Ubuntu | Comments
If you have installed Netatalk following this post and Avahi following this post, it is fairly straightforward to share a USB printer connected to your Ubuntu machine with Macs on your local area network (LAN) via AppleTalk. By default, Netatalk installs and runs the print sharing service called papd. So, after the printer is installed [...]
Configure a Firefly (mt-daapd) Media Server in Linux for Streaming to iTunes and Front Row [Ubuntu Guide]
By Sam Davis on Apr 29, 2008 within Guides, Linux, Ubuntu | Comments
Using Firefly, your Ubuntu machine can host an iTunes media server which, with the help of Avahi installed as per this post, will show up in the iTunes “SHARED” list and will be accessible via Front Row. The following guide (written for Ubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04 and OS X Leopard 10.5.2) will get you started.
Configure Vinagre in Ubuntu to Share the Screen with Mac OS X [Ubuntu Guide]
By Sam Davis on Apr 29, 2008 within Guides, Linux, Ubuntu | Comments
The image at left shows a windowed VNC session where I am sharing the desktop of my Ubuntu machine (running Hardy Heron 8.04) with my Mac (running OS X Leopard 10.5.2). If you have installed Avahi following this post and are running Ubuntu Hardy Heron (8.04), then it is easy to configure Ubuntu to use [...]
Configure Avahi in Linux to Broadcast Services via Bonjour to Mac OS X [Ubuntu Guide]
By Sam Davis on Apr 29, 2008 within Guides, Linux, Ubuntu | Comments
If you followed this guide, your Ubuntu machine can now serve files to Macs on your local area network (LAN) using AFP. It would be nice if this Ubuntu/Netatalk Apple file server was discovered automatically by your Macs. This can be accomplished by installing Avahi, an implementation of Zeroconf similar to Apple’s Bonjour that allows [...]
Configure a Netatalk File Server in Linux Based on Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) [Ubuntu Guide]
By Sam Davis on Apr 29, 2008 within Guides, Linux, Ubuntu | Comments
Apple computers communicate with one another using the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP). Using the freely-available implementation of this protocol called Netatalk, Ubuntu (currently Hardy Heron 8.04) can interface with Mac OS X (currently Leopard 10.5.2) and you can set up a AppleShare file server on a Ubuntu machine that is accessible to Macs on your [...]
Ideal Settings for Apple Mail and Gmail IMAP Syncing [Mac Guide]
By Franklin Davis on Apr 22, 2008 within Apple, Featured, Google, Guides | Comments
I am a BIG fan of Google’s Gmail service. It has the best webmail interface by far and offers nearly unlimited storage. Now that Gmail allows IMAP access I am using it as my primary email service via Apple’s Mail.app. I’ve configured Gmail to check all of my other email [...]
Use SSH to Create Secure Tunnels for File Transfers (SFTP), Remote Desktop (VNC), Subversion (SVN), and Firefox Traffic [Mac Guide]
By Franklin Davis on Jan 4, 2008 within Apple, Guides, Linux | Comments
This guide will show you how to access a computer located on your home network from outside of your local area network. For the purposes of this guide, let’s assume we are trying to access a HOME SERVER such as a Mac Mini located on your home WiFi router. The home computer could [...]
How To Create a Poster Using Microsoft PowerPoint
By Bill Wagner on Dec 12, 2007 within Guides, Tips, Windows | Comments
If you are like me, everyone around you uses a Mac and you’re the only one with a Windows machine. So, when you have a computer question about something, you can’t lean over and ask your co-worker (because they just laugh at you and say ‘Apple has a sale on MacBooks right now’). Instead [...]
Automated Cover Letters in LaTeX
By Riley Porter on Dec 7, 2007 within Featured, Guides, Tips | Comments
Anyone who has been through a job search can attest to the fact that the process can be overwhelming, especially from an organizational standpoint. Suppose you are applying to more than 100 places. That means writing more than 100 different cover letters. It is beneficial if you tailor each letter to a specific job, but [...]