Category: Apple

I got my CueCat today from Aramex. So far I have been having problems with it. The CueCat works like a keyboard, when I scan a barcode with the CueCat, it types out the barcode number on my mac. The problem I have is that when I scan the number in the organizing software Delicious Library and when I scan a number into TextEdit (like Notepad on Windows) I get 2 completely different numbers where the one in TextEdit is the right one. For example I picked up a random book lying around here, when I scan it into Delicious Library I get the barcode “978908090103408” but when I scan it into TextEdit I get “9780891348382 90000”.

I don’t know whats wrong with Delicious Library, I am going to try and google it now and figure out the issue. Other then that the CueCat is pretty cool, works like a charm. Unlike regular barcode scanners you don’t hold the CueCat from a distance and highlight the barcode, you have to take the CueCat and touch the barcode and then swipe it across. It doesn’t matter if you hold the barcode upside down or vertically it will still scan it right.

Anyway if you are interested in the CueCat it sells for only $9.99 on Amazon. The cheapest barcode scanner you can get.

Update: Ok figured out the problem, or atleast figured out how to get the barcode scanned right. Instead of clicking on “Add a new item” and then scanning, I should just scan right away and it will add it for me. Cool.

A new Apple stored has recently opened up in Hawalli called ZMacShop. Its located in the basement of Al-Walla Complex, shop number 116. The store stocks regular iPods, iPod mini’s, shuffles, U2 Editions, mighty mice, shit loads of ipod covers, genuine and various ipod accessories, mac minis of various specs, iMacs and ibooks. Soon they will be getting iPod nano’s also.

Their prices are a bit cheaper then other Apple stores, here are some examples of their prices:

Shuffle 512 – KD37
Shuffle 1GB – KD55
iPod Mini 4GB – KD70
iPod Mini 6GB – KD76 KD86
Mac Mini 1.25Ghz/40Gb – KD180
Mac Mini 1.42Ghz/80Gb – KD210
Mac Mini 1.42Ghz/80Gb with SuperDrive and bluetooth – KD266
iBook G4 14″ – KD560

For more information you can call them after 5PM on 2617575.

Here are two links showing the history of Apple.com’s front page. The first link is a flickr set while the second link is to Archive.org. I used to sooo love the beige G3 PowerMac’s…

Flickr Set
Archive.org

“This is a real but minor issue involving a vendor quality problem in a small number of units,” Apple said in a statement, referring to the reports of seemingly unprovoked nano screen breakage. “Our figures show this issue has affected less than 1/10 of 1 percent of the total iPod nano units that we’ve shipped. It is not a design issue.” The company said affected customers should contact Apple to arrange for a free replacement unit. [Link]

I just downloaded two amazing freeware games for the mac. Both of them are shooters, fast and have great soundtracks. For Gunroar make sure you select the mouse as your targeting tool and then use the letters W A S D to move around. Both games are easy to pick up on and have a nice retro look to them so have fun.

Gunroar
Torus Trooper

Flickr Backup is a utility that allows you to download the pictures you have uploaded to Flickr back down to your computer for personal backup or restore. [Link]

Google Video have stopped using VLC and now use Flash to play the movies. This means I can finally check it out using my Mac! [Link]

A guy in the office got four iPod Nano’s, 3 black and 1 white. It has attracted a large crowd here in the office and everyone is ooohing and wowing. It looks extremely tiny in person, it’s very cool. Definetly going to reorder this now instead of the Sony Walkman Bean which I found out today you have to use a special Sony software to copy music onto the walkman and the software doesn’t work with Macs.

Update: Ok, I am just confusing myself to much. I just decided that I am going to hold out till the next generation iPod gets updated so then I can carry all my MP3s with me. I don’t need super tiny MP3 player. Will use the Shuffle till the new iPods come out.

The iPod Nano problems seem to have hit the main stream media. Today Gizmodo, Engadget and iLounge reported on the issue. It will be interesting to see Apple reaction to all this. [Link]

Seems a lot of people have been having problems with their Nano. The surface of the device scratches very easily and its upsetting lots of people. I checked out some of the pictures and it got me really worried. Luckily my Nano hadn’t shipped yet from Amazon so I just canceled my order. Will wait and see how serious of an issue this is and if Apple will fix it. [Link]

I have a lot of CDs, Videogames and Books and it has always been a dream of mine that I could organize them in some sort of catalog so I could keep track of what I have. I believe I finally found what I have been looking for all my life, Delicious Library.

Delicious Library is a software for the Mac that allows you to organize your stuff very easily. There are various ways you could add stuff to the library, at the moment I am entering the bar code numbers manually and the software automatically searches various sources online and then returns with a whole bunch of info on the product I just entered. Current prices, reviews, ratings, album cover, and a ton more info just by entering the bar code. If you have iSight or any other firewire camera you don’t even have to manually type the bar code numbers, just take the bar code and place it in front of the camera and it will automatically scan it just like the supermarket people use the bar code scanners. If you are lucky enough to have a bar code scanner (cuecat owners click here) you could also use it to input information into Delicious Library. You could even add stuff by typing in the CD or book titles, for example I typed in Blind Melon Soup and it returned 2 results, I clicked on the right one and thats it, its automatically added into my library.

After you add all your items to the catalog you can then search for songs, artists, authors, publishers etc.. you can even have it print out the whole catalog for you with all your items listed. You can add notes under each item also for example the name of the person you lent the item to and even find items similar to one you have highlighted.

Delicious Library isn’t free though, it costs $40 but its worth it. So make sure you check it out. [Link]

Note: If you are interested in a cuecat modified to read barcodes, you can find them on Amazon for only $9.99. [Link]

Note 2: If you are a PC user there is a software called Readerware that supposedly does the same thing except not as pretty looking. [Link]

Tivo-Guy just purchased a new machine Intel machine to run OS X and he installed and ran Xbench and here are the results:

My Mac at Work
G5 Powermac
CPU Speed: Dual G5 2.0GHZ
L2 Cache: 512KB
Bus Speed: 1GHZ
1GB RAM
Score: 97.06

Tivo-Guy
Intel Computer
CPU Speed: Pentium 4 3Ghz
L2 Cache: 2MB
Bus Speed: 800Mhz
1GB RAM
Score: 47.63

My Mac at Home
Digital Audio PowerMac
Dual G4 1.6ghz (GigaDesigns)
L2 Cache: 512KB
Bus Speed: 133Mhz
1.25GB RAM
Score: 44.86 46.16

Tivo-Guy’s Mac mini
mac mini
CPU Speed: G4 1.4ghz
L2 Cache: 512KB
Bus Speed: 167mhz
1GB RAM
Score: 37.04

Ripping Fabric
12″ PowerBook
CPU Speed: G4 1.33ghz
L2 Cache: 512KB
Bus Speed: 167mhz
512MB RAM

Score: 29.18

Nat
12″ PowerBook
CPU Speed: G4 867mhz
L2 Cache: 256KB
Bus Speed: 134mhz
640MB RAM
Score: 25.13

I was expecting Tivo-Guy to get a much higher score then mine but surprisingly we are pretty close. My brothers (Ripping Fabric) and Nats Powerbooks were the slowest but thats expected. Although again I was expecting my brothers Powerbook to be a lot faster then Nats.

Update: I added a Mac mini and G5 Powermac to the list above.

Update 2: I rearranged my hard drives and somehow I now score a 46 instead of a 44 bringing me 1 point difference between my Mac and Tivo-Guys Intelmac.

Sounds reasonable. [Link]

Makes me worry a bit, still won’t cancel my order though. [Link]

Update: Definetly not worried now, check out these nano stress tests performed by Ars Technica. [Link]

This is a cool mac app I just downloaded. The application is called Comic Life and allows you to easily create comics using your pictures and text. Its VERY EASY to use and has numerous options for a variety of layouts and balloons. I was easily able to create a stupid but really cool looking comic in like less then a minute since it automatically loaded up my iPhoto pictures automatically in the sidebar and allowed me to just drag and drop images into the layout. You can download it and try it and its only 4MB. [Link]