http://www.bresink.com/osx/TinkerTool.html

I was looking around to see how I could disable smoothing of fonts on the Mac and came across this.

Thanks for the information Andrew

iScroll for Mac

Google Maps API

Background
I just got an iPod Shuffle. After returning the original one as per Apple chat support, I exchanged it for a new iPod Shuffle with the hope that would do the fixing. It did not. Here’s what happened on chat, with no resolution. I’m currently on the phone waiting for a product specialist.

Another fun addition to the story: I tried to take the iPod shuffle back to Walmart store B after the iPod shuffle was bought at store A. The customer service manager told me I had to return it to the store it was purchased from because Apple would question the return. He looked really uncomforable, like maybe the Apple rep came to the store and threw iPods at him once before because he took back an iPod that was purchased at another store. After 15 minutes or so of customer service fun, I decide to take a loss, leave and regroup. If you have ever been to Walmart you know what I mean.

So, I went back 2 days later and like magic I was able to get a full refund. I drove a mile down the road and bought a similar iPod Shuffle at Target. They have a 90 day return policy vs Walmart 15 day return.

And now the chat portion of our story…

Nick:
Customer Last Page[ configinfo : IPOD SHUFFLE 1G 2ND GEN ORANGE-USA symptom : Other Mac issue country : us product : IPOD SHUFFLE 2ND GENERATION case number : serial number : 4H706LJ2XR1 dsid : 91646613 ]

Agent:
Thank you for contacting Apple Chat support. My name is Sridhar.

Nick:
hello

Agent:
Hello Nick, how are you doing today ?

Nick:
my ishuffle doesn;t work

Agent:
Are you contacting Apple for the first time regarding this Ipod shuffle?

Nick:
I’m good, how are you?

Nick:
Yes

Agent:
I am fine, thanks !

Nick:
Similar issue as a previous shuffle i had

Agent:
Ok, may I know what exactly is the issue with this iPod shuffle ?

Nick:
support told me to get a new one, so i did, but no better

Nick:
I’m on 10.4.9

Nick:
itunes is 7.1.1

Nick:
Shuffle doesn;t show on the desk top

Agent:
As I understand, you had an issue with the iPod shuffle and you contacted our chat support and one of the agents suggested to go for a replacement .. however, the replaced iPod is also facing the same issue .. right ?

Nick:
in itunes, it being prompted to be restored. I do that, but nothing gets better

Nick:
100% correct

Nick:
Please help

Agent:
Sure, the iPod was not getting recognized in the desktop and the iTunes gives a pop-up message saying that the iPod has to be restored … this was the original issue .. right ?

Nick:
yes

Nick:
hello?

Agent:
May I know the model of the Mac which you are using right now ?

Agent:
Yes

Nick:
1.8 PowerPC G5

Nick:
also happens on my G4 laptop

Agent:
Sorry for the delay in my response

Agent:
Ok

Agent:
We will now try formatting the iPod …

Nick:
OK

Agent:
please follow the below procedure

Agent:
Open the Finder window and go to Applications/Utilities .. and double click on “Disk Utility”

Agent:
Select the iPod drive as designated by an orange USB

Agent:
Click the Erase tab.

Nick:
OK, i’m here

Agent:
Choose MS-DOS File System from the Volume Format menu.

Agent:
Click the Erase button.

Agent:
Please let me know once when the erase process is completed

Nick:
Disk erase failed

Nick:
“could not open the device”

Nick:
was the error

Agent:
Ok, may I know the color of the status indicator on the iPod ?

Nick:
wait,

Nick:
i tried again

Nick:
and itunes is not popping up

Nick:
Ipod now wants to restore?

Nick:
shall I do that?

Nick:
968 ipod media is in orange

Agent:
Yes, please go ahead ..

Nick:
Untitled is white

Nick:
in the finder

Nick:
ok - restoring

Agent:
Fine, please let me know once when the restore process is complete

Agent:
You will get the iPod set-up assistant window once when the restore process is complete

Nick:
Donea

Nick:
but

Nick:
itunes thinks it is corrupted and wants to restore again

Nick:
it is orange in disk utility

Agent:
Ok, may I know the color of the status indicator on the iPod ?

Agent:
Is it a flashing orange or a steady orange ?

Nick:
in disk utility? = Orange

Nick:
oh

Nick:
flashing orange on Ipod

Nick:
power is off on shuffle

Agent:
Ok, please eject the iPod using the Finder .. and check whether the status indicator changes to steady orange or steady green

Nick:
can’t eject w/ finder, it doesn’t show in finder

Nick:
or on desktop

Agent:
Ok, do you see the iPod name listed there in the iTunes source list under “Devices” below “Music Store” ?

Nick:
yes

Nick:
ejected from itunes

Agent:
Now, may I know the color of the status indicator on the iPod ?

Nick:
blinking orange still

Agent:
Ok, please open the iTunes window .. do you still see the iPod name listed there ?

Nick:
yes

Nick:
and I get an error for corrupted and prompted to restore again

Agent:
Do you see the “Ok” button in the pop-up message ?

Nick:
yes

Nick:
i hit ok

Agent:
Ok, now click on the iPod name …

Agent:
and go to the “Settings” tab to the right of the iTunes window ..

Agent:
and check whether you see the “Disk Use” option under “Options”

Nick:
hold

Nick:
i only see a tab for summary

Agent:
Sure

Nick:
in the ipod area in the right

Agent:
Is it possible for you to try connecting the iPod to a different computer and try formatting it from there ?

Nick:
Lap top will probably give the same

Nick:
I will try

Agent:
Please .. try using the same procedure and format the iPod

Nick:
on the laptop i get

Nick:
the disk you interted was not read able by this computer

Nick:
initialize, ignor or eject are the actinos

Agent:
Due you have “Initialize” option ?

Nick:
yes

Agent:
* Do

Agent:
Fine, please choose “Initialize”

Nick:
OK

Agent:
It will invoke the Disk Utility

Nick:
back to disk utility,

Nick:
right

Agent:
Please try formatting the iPod using the same procedure

Agent:
Select the iPod drive as designated by an orange USB

Agent:
Click the Erase tab.

Nick:
in process

Agent:
choose MS-DOS File System from the Volume Format menu

Agent:
Click the Erase button.

Nick:
Prompted by disk utility (?) to go itunes and retore

Nick:
shall i?

Agent:
Fine, now open the iTunes window ..

Agent:
yes, please go ahead

Agent:
and try restoring the iPod using the iTunes

Nick:
looks different/better

Nick:
ipod software update

Nick:
bug fixes

Agent:
Fine

Agent:
Ok .. is the iPod window open now ?

Nick:
Itunes thinks it’s corrupt

Nick:
promting to restore

Agent:
Please try restoring the iPod again …

Nick:
ok

Agent:
using the iTunes

Nick:
Same thing

Nick:
corrupted

Nick:
may need to restore before using it with itunes

Nick:
try disconnecting and reconnecting

Agent:
Yes, please .. before reconnecting, try resetting the iPod using the below procedure

Agent:
switch off the iPod and wait for 10 seconds, after that switch on the iPod and wait for 5 seconds

Agent:
please connect the iPod switched on to a different usb port

Agent:
after that try formatting and restoring the iPod

Nick:
in progress

Agent:
Ok ..

Nick:
different usb and it is still corrupt

Nick:
ipod is on and orange blink

Agent:
I would like to escalate this chat to a Product Specialist, who, I feel will be in a more comfortable position to help you out with this issue. Please contact our telephone support agent, he will escalate this issue to a product specialist. Would that be ok with you?

Nick:
sure

Agent:
Please contact our telephone support ( 1-800-275-2273 ) which is open from 8 AM to 8 PM CST and ask the telephone support agent to escalate the call to a product specialist

Agent:
please mention this case number XXXXXXXX

Agent:
Nick, do you want to confirm anything else ?

Nick:
what options to choose from

Nick:
tech support?

Agent:
Yes ..

Agent:
and iPod

Nick:
OK- we are done

Agent:
Thank you for contacting Apple Chat Support. Have a good one. Good-bye.
Chat Session Ended, Goodbye. (5010)

Study finds podcast use rising but small

A quick one - from Yahoo!

You know how some people step on the gas as they are approaching a red light?

That’s how my last few week at NYU are looking. There’s a definite finish line as of December 22, but that doesn’t mean things are winding down. To the contrary. Some of the highlights for the next 7 weeks include 3 group presentations, 2 or 3 finals and my culminating experience paper.

As a result of the ever shinking timeline and compressed hours in the day, I’m converting the reading of one of my books from paperback to audio. I know I won’t be highlighting and taking notes as I listen, which could affect the amount of information that sticks in my head, but at least I won’t be blowing off the reading, or listening in this case.

I bought the book on iTunes, not because I’m 100% pro Apple, though I do see many bonuses in their thinking (some bummers too, sorry Steve.) but because I simply couldn’t find it anywhere else online. It came up in the iTunes Store in seconds and downloaded to iTunes with a little bit of trouble shooting. I’m sold.

In case you were wondering, the iPod head set does indeed work in the arm rest of the plane - and it works in both ears. Or at least on Delta this past August. No need to buy the headset or look for the clumbsy headset you bought years ago for 5 bucks.

And it should, given that my Delta flight was less than desirable. This was a cross-country flight, coast to coast, and the total number of meals they provided going to and fro was a grand total of nothing, zero, nada. I was informed that the “big guys” in first class got eats. That was good to know, and knowing that sure did fill my stomach.

Now, I may have missed it, but I thought food was going to be served somewhere between Atlanta and San Diego. Alas, I was incorrect. Also, food does not equal gross little crackers and gross little cheese. My mistake. Last I heard, Continental serves food.

Funny how Adobe products work better on PC right about now. Maybe there should have been more coordination between Apple and Adobe. Hey, iTunes still works and you can make photobooks in snap!

Get a mac ads.

Is this precious or what? From Yahoo!

A government Web site that aims to serve as a one-stop shopping point for scholars and others in search of federal grants is creating headaches for users of Macintosh computers.

Two things jumped out at me on this one.

First – The Grants.gov website, was not tested for Mac compatibility. Wouldn’t you think to do some market research on who applies for these grants? Could it be academics? You might just find out that much of academia uses Macs. Now, if this were true, wouldn’t you include in the requirements doc that Mac users be able to apply for grants? This is where testing and QA comes in handy. But when has the government been about quality. Really.

Grant.gov, if you are in need of a consultant, by all means feel free to contact me. I live in the US. Which brings me to my next thought.

Second - Grants.gov, based in Washington, DC, chose a Canadian vendor as per the article. Is the US economy that good that DC is now giving jobs away? Maybe a little lead by example was needed here.

This site was made in the USA using a Mac and tested on a PC using multiple browsers.