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As you all know Japan has suffered a terrible earthquake. Apple has posted on thier home page a way to donate to the Red Cross and help the victims of this tragedy. Do your part as an Apple enthusiast, and help when help is needed.

Thanks

Victor Cajiao

I’m getting ready for a new MacPro that is coming in next week. One of the things that I’m going to do with this MacPro is run an OWC 128GB SSD as the start up volume for OS X. While preparing for this tasks  I needed to clean up my current 300GB HD and get rid of everything I don’t need in order to be able to have my boot drive as lean as possible.

I ran DiskRadar in order to find where my largest files were ,and found that the Garage Band Loop Library (including all the Jam Packs) was over 37GB. By default, Apple’s loops are stored in the start up volume and must be there in order for Garage Band to work. However, as you accumulate more and more loops , the disk space required by these loops increases, and if you buy or have all the Jam Packs it’s almost 40GB.

So, how run Garage Band but have the loops located in an external hard drive. Since Garage bands expects to see these loop file in  the folder  ~/Library/Audio/Apple Loops/Apple/Jam Pac .., if we simple move the Apple Loops folder to an external drive Garage Band won’t be able to find the loops. When you try to select one you will get an error that it can’t find the loops.

How can we fix this? Well the way that I’ve done it is to use symbolic links in order to fool OS X into thinking the loops are in the ~/Library/Audio/Apple Loops/Apple/ folder.

I used a great  script called SymbolicLinker. As is described on their web site “SymbolicLinker is a tiny contextual menu plugin (for Puma through Leopard users) and software service (for Snow Leopard & later users) that, once installed, allows any user to create symbolic links to files inside the Finder. SymbolicLinker does this by adding a contextual menu item to the Finder that generates symbolic links to the selected files”

So here are the steps I took

NOTE: Please make sure you back up your entire hard drive before attempting this. I did not run into any problems, but proceed at your own risk.

1. I copied the entire folder called /Apple in the path ~/Library/Audio/Apple Loops/Apple/ to one of my external drives

2. I then moved the ~/Library/Audio/Apple Loops/Apple to my desktop (temporarily)

3. From there I went into the folder and used SymbolicLinker to make symbolic links of each of the Garage Band Jam Pack folders (see picture below). Notice how SymbolicLinker renames each folder and adds ‘symlink’ at the end of the name (see below)

4. Now copy the symbolic link folder and put it back where Garage Band expects to see it in your main hard drive ~/Library/Audio/Apple Loops/Apple/

5. Now highlighted each symbolic link folder and press enter. Rename the folder by removing the “symlink.” For example change “Apple Loops for GarageBand symlink” to “Apple Loops for GarageBand”

6. Now when  you go to Garage Band , you should be able to use loops as you normally would.

7. If everything is working you are now safe to go to your desktop and trash the the/Apple folder that contained all your Garage Band loop. Your start up drive will now be a lot skinnier

update: I was also able to use this same process to get rid of an additional 17GB that was being used in GB  ~/Library/Application Support/Garage Band/Instrument Library folder

On Tuesday Paul Kent from Macworld Conference and Expo tweeted that they were looking for a few more speakers for the User Conference at Macworld 2011. I replied to Paul’s tweet, and I am happy and honored to announce that I will be a speaker at this year’s Macworld Conference and Expo .

I am really thrilled to have have been invited to speak. This is specially true because I switched to the Mac in late 2005, and have been working hard to learn and teach about all things Macintosh ever since.

My talk is called  “Tell Me Something…I don’t already know about…Spotlight, what you don’t know can cost you time.”  The session will be  January 27, 2011    1:00 PM – 2:15 PM.

During the session we will cover what you do know about Spotlight, but more importantly we will discover Spotlight features that will help you increase your productivity, manage your workflow and use this built in OS X tool to it’s full potential.

This includes, how spotlight works, what Spotlight knows about your “stuff”, using spotlight for more than searches, how we can make Spotlight smarter, as well as more advance search terms within Spotlight. So join me, and learn what you didn’t know about Spotlight. We will also get into some more advance search techniques , and how we can use Spotlight with Mestadata. If you are going to register for the conference enter Priority Code “SPEAKER” at time of registration for a 15% discount of the conference package.

I hope you sign up for the conference, and please come by and say hello if you see me. I’ll be in San Francisco along with George Starcher starting on Tuesday, January 25th. I’ll update the blog with more information as it becomes available. For more information you  can visit www.macworldexpo.com. Hope I see you there.

Places to find me during Macworld 2011:

Macworld Live (Expo Show Floor Booth 752)

Mac Roundtable – iOS and Mac OS X into the Future – Thursday, January 27th – 5:15 p.m.

Users Conference:

Speaking on January 27, 2011    1:00 PM – 2:15 PM

Macworld Live sessions are on the Expo Show floor which require an expo pass. My talk on Spotlight is  part of the Users Conference which requires a separate pass. You can find all the pricing information on Macworld Expo’s website.

by: George Starcher, Associate Editor

I picked up a zomm after Victor told me it was not as large as I thought it would be.  Now Victor has a few years on me.  So I do not have an issue misplacing my iPhone.  It is like my Binky after all, I take it everywhere and it stays within reach.  With that ashamedly admitted to the world, I DO happen to misplace my keys in my house from time to time.  So I got to thinking what if I got the zomm, and turned off my bluetooth on my iPhone tricking the zomm into thinking my iPhone went out of range.  Boom baby, there are my keys.

So what are my thoughts?  Well I like it well enough to keep it.  Victor has covered the good points already.  So let me cover the two issues I have had.

1.  Where do you keep your keys vs where you walk in the house with your iphone?  I carry my iPhone around often.  Particularly, I use it for an alarm clock so it ends up by my bed.  My keys however, try and live on the kitchen counter, well until they don’t and I can’t find them.  So that is just far enough combined with my house construction that it caused an issue last night.  I took it to bed, it was fine for an hour.  Just until I was drifting off.  Then it decided the iPhone was suddenly out of range despite not having moved an inch on my nightstand.  Instant alarm blaring across the house.  So I either have to retrain myself where I keep my keys, take them to my night stand at bed time or turn the zomm off when at home.  The last sorta defeats part of the benefit to me.

2.  Something got fixed in the iOS v4.0.2 firmware.  Sure they say it was pdf flaw only.  But before that update when I held down the home button for Voice Command it would come out of the iPhone not my built in handsfree bluetooth in my car.  Now it comes out in my car properly and hears me through that microphone perfectly.  I was in heaven again now I could make calls without waiting for the next stop light to dial.  BUT with the zomm the iPhone wants to use the zomm for handsfree even when it has a connection to both the zomm and my car.  So I have to retrain myself to press the zomm button to temporarily turn it off then back on before and after getting in my car.  Not a huge deal but an annoyance when my car keys are always in my pocket.  My car has keyless entry.

So other than that I like the zomm just fine.  You can even reprogram the emergency number from being 911 to that of say a family member instead.  You do this from the Activate Zomm application used to setup the device.  Just pick Custom when telling it what your emergency service is and enter the number manually.

Ultimately for me I think this becomes an insurance policy of sorts when I travel.  It will help me not drop my phone in a cab, leave it in the hotel etc.  And remember, iPad has bluetooth too.  You could use your zomm with your iPad instead and reduce the chance you will leave it laying around somewhere when you travel.

The folks who make X-Band for iPad sent me a free trial unit to test out on my iPad. The idea behind X-Band is simple. Take some elastic material and build a nifty holder for your iPad. All you do is slide your hand into the flexible neoprene glove.

There is no doubt that this product does exactly what it claims to do. You can use the iPad during presentations and be sure that it is secure and ready for you to view. I think this would work great, pecially during presentations. The build quality is good but in my opinion could use some polishing. It does not live up to the design style and material choice for a product that is a clean as the iPad. My only other complain is the price. In my opinion it is just slightly over priced at $19.99 U.S. I would rather see this product come in at  $12.99.

I expressed these concerns with the folks that run X-Band and they were gracious and more than willing to hear my feedback. As a matter of fact they said they would do a discount for the readers of this blog as a way to compensate a bit for my price complaint. Just Enter TMUP at checkout and you’ll get 10% off the purchase price.  This deal will expire August 31st.

So overall this product gets a 3 out of 5 stars, simply because in my opinion it could use nicer materials and design, and the price could be a bit. Check out X-Band and decide for yourself.

Listener Eric wrote to me and asked the following question. “When you had guest speaker Andrew Darlow he mentioned during the interview that his friend was able to put his digital images on film and then print them.  He also noted that he was able to get huge prints by doing this.  I checked the show notes but wasn’t able to find any information on how this was done.  Would you be able to provide any information about this.”

Well of course I went to Andrew Darlow, award-winning author, photographer and editor of imagingbuffet.com, and he offers this answer:

Regarding the question of sending images to film and then making prints, there are a few ways to do that:

1. The first option is by creating a new high resolution negative or positive, which can be output from a digital file at a very high quality on a film recorder. You can then print from those new negatives/positives just like you would make prints in a conventional darkroom using a negative from a roll of film. For example, an enlarger made for 35mm film can be used with a digitally output 35mm negative. It’s often cost effective to gang up multiple images on a single sheet of 4×5 inch or 8×10 inch film (note that the sizes for 4×5 and 8×10 are not exactly 4×5 and 8×10 inches). I can highly recommend one company for help with prepping your files and for outputting the film. I’ve visited their location and it is impressive. The company is Tech Photo & Imaging, based in NJ, and their website is:http://www.technicalphoto.com. Ask for John Castronovo.

2. Another option is to use a high quality inkjet printer or film recorder to make a “contact negative” from a digital file that matches the size of the image on paper. That negative is usually contact printed using a contact print frame. A friend of mine, Dan Burkholder, has taught many how to do this process. You can find out more here on his website: www.danburkholder.com (Click on the “Digital Negatives” link on the right side of Dan’s site for valuable resources. Interestingly, HP recently came out with software for one of their printers that helps people make digital negatives. The press release is here: http://tinyurl.com/39mml5g.

And for a great overview and slideshow of the Platinum/Palladium printing process, visit this page: http://tinyurl.com/36kjous . Even though many prefer to do Platinum/Palladium printing with these negatives, you can also do traditional silver halide contact prints or just about any other darkroom process using this approach.

For many more links to articles by Andrew Darlow and photo/imaging tips by others who he links to, visit his Facebook Fan Page here: http://www.Facebook.com/andrewdarlow . The companion sites for his two books have free chapter downloads and hundreds of links to more information: 301 Inkjet Tips and Techniques: An Essential Printing Resource for Photographers - http://www.inkjettips.com and Pet Photography 101: Tips for Taking Better Photos of Your Dog or Cat -http://www.PhotoPetTips.com.

*full disclosure Drobo is a sponsor of the podcast

Data Robotics has just announce some new features to the already capable Drobo FS. Being able to anticipate and deliver on their customers needs, Drobo has added many of the things that Mac users want from a device such as the Drobo FS.  The new Drobo Dashboard features seamless integration for multiple user, Time Machine functionality.

This includes a visual interface that lets you  control how much space is used. As we know the native behavior of  Time Machine is to consume all storage space avaiable. With this Drobo dashboard enhancement, you get to control those parameters. No need to buy third party applications or to spend your time in Terminal using Unix commands. The other wonderful benefits is that multiple users can simultaneously backup to the Drobo FS.

Drobo FS is available now  www.drobostore.com. Learn more about the Drobo FS,

I got a big surprise today when I was outside waiting for my wife to come out of a store. I decided to read on the iPad. I live in Southern California and it was about 86 degrees. After eight minutes of use, I got an error. It would not let me escape or go to any other app.  Fortunately it did let me take a screenshot. (See picture.)

I suppose with iPad having no fans, I should have expected something like this, but I have not heard or read about this anywhere else. The iPad glass was very hot to the touch. After I went inside for 10 minutes I was able to turn the iPad off and it was fine.