Blog's from the Bush

Mac OS X CS4 Install Tip (Silent Fail)

2009-04-24T00:36:12Z

Recently I had to re-install my CS4 upgrade and hit a strange error, opening the "Setup" application resulted in the normal request for Authentication, as shown below. The problem is, nothing else happened - the dialog box went away and literally nothing happened.

]]> Naturally I tried again by opening the "Setup" application and again it asked for me to authenticate, and again it silently failed. After a fruitless search on the Adobe websites and Google I decided to dig around and find out what was actually happening.

My first stop when things are not working right is always the Console, and yet again it gave me the answer.

If you open Console and see a line like this being dumped in to the logs every few tenths of a second you know somethings not right.

23/04/09 16:22:55 PM authorizationhost[58799] Failed to authenticate user bob (tDirStatus: -14090).
23/04/09 16:22:55 PM authorizationhost[58799] Failed to authenticate user bob (tDirStatus: -14090).
23/04/09 16:22:55 PM authorizationhost[58799] Failed to authenticate user bob (tDirStatus: -14090).
23/04/09 16:22:56 PM authorizationhost[58799] Failed to authenticate user bob (tDirStatus: -14090).
23/04/09 16:22:56 PM authorizationhost[58799] Failed to authenticate user bob (tDirStatus: -14090).

The most annoying part of the experience is the complete and total failure by Adobe's Setup application to neither notify me about the error or to time out (the first time I authenticated I went and had a coffee before I came back to check on it). The problem may have been a result of something else going wrong in my Mac but surely an installer that is custom built should at least do as good a job as the OS's supplied Package Manger? Shouldn't it? Otherwise why build it?

Not wanting to waste any more time, on this silent failure I took the quick and simple way first - I rebooted the Mac Pro.

Upon restart the CS4 upgrade installed without a hitch. I hope this saves someone a few minutes somewhere.

Till next time - watch out for those silent failures. Right now I've got to go an look at some code that relies on system frameworks and user interaction to see if I've left a potential silent failure waiting to bite someone.

Just call me a sucker - expansys.com - how NOT to treat your customers

2009-03-27T01:26:14Z

Just call me a sucker, I always tell friends, family, anyone that asks in fact - research the web seller BEFORE you buy from them. Don't trust them unless you've dealt with them recently. If it's been awhile since you used them checkout their reputation - if only I'd done that, I'd be in a much better place.

]]> Of course I blame the release of the iPhone 3.0 Beta for all of this really, because Apple are the ones that added A2DP support. Great I thought - I've got this great idea I want to test out and the addition of A2DP seemed like the final piece in the puzzle for my coding exercise. Then of course I realised I'd need a good Bluetooth Stereo headset, enter the JayBird - which I did use and check the reviews on it before deciding to order.

Without checking I searched for a supplier that would ship to Australia and found Expansys which even has an office in Melbourne (well not really). A quick check and they had a good price and the units were in stock! Excellent lets press the buy button already and get those bad boys shipping out to me. (See how the excitement pushes you into driving yourself off a cliff, it all seems good, but, you forget to check things out first).

So I pressed the buy button and felt great - until a little while later I got an email saying that it was out of stock and that they were expecting stock to fill my order in 6 days. What? The site said expected to ship in 4 working days... what happened? Note the screen shot above, still, today, says there are 9 in stock and expected to ship in 4 days. OK, still not wanting to buy into "You're a sucker" line of thinking I thought that's OK I'll check in a few days.

A week later I remember to check on the site and it's still saying not in stock, 6 days before it will be in stock. I send off an email, 10 days after my order and 4 days after my followup email nothing nada. So, I finally buy into the "I'm a sucker" line of thinking, get pissed off, do a quick Google search and react in horror. Oh how could I be so dumb, you know better, wake up man!

In a previous life and business I had occasion to use Expansys and I can't remember any issues from that experience, but remembering my own advice that "things change" I still should have checked. If only I'd done the same search with expansys.com, a simple Google search using the terms "review expansys.com" and I would have have found good reason not to place the order and waste nearly two weeks waiting for a product that in all likelihood will never ship. For your edification here are excerpts from some "reviews" from the top links Google returned. I find the last one, that points out that they don't have a Melbourne office anymore to be particularly painful, sigh... guess I'm just a slow learner - I'm hoping you'll do better and learn from my experience. Now, let just hope my order cancellation goes through and I don't get double billed for a product that never shipped like some reviewers.

[From expansys - expansys.com - Reviews, Ratings and Prices at ResellerRatings]

I ordered a part on 1/20/09. Each time I emailed an inquiry they said they were expecting the item "by the end of the week".

A month later and it still is not in stock. Needless to say, I canceled my order. Fortunately, they were prompt in sending an email confirming cancelation. Now I just need to make sure my card doesn't get charged.
[From expansys - expansys.com - Reviews, Ratings and Prices at ResellerRatings]

[From Reviews on Expansys Look at tests, reports and read reviews: dooyoo.co.uk]

by Sven - written on 16/01/09
Rating: 1 star.
Expansys have double charged me for an item ordered a month ago and still have not delivered it even though they reported it as shipped a fortnight ago
[From Reviews on Expansys Look at tests, reports and read reviews: dooyoo.co.uk]

[From expansys.com - Read Reviews]

Quick review of expansys.com
Review of expansys.com by Graemehull
Don't buy from these people! I bought an HTC s710 top of the range mobile phone which arrived with a cracked screen. I contacted them on the day it arrived, and they said was HTCs responsibility, despite the fact that their website clearly states that they offer replacements and refunds within 21 days. I contacted HTC who said it was Expansys's responsibility. So I've paid £270 for broken phone from this bunch of cowboys, who's customer service was appalling DONT EVER BUY FROM THESE PEOPLE!!!!!!!
[From expansys.com - Read Reviews]

[From eXpansys Reviewed By Australians. http://www.expansys.com.au]

March 5th, 2009
Pros: Offer what u cant get here easily.

Cons: I couldnt agree more with the bad reviews they should have the decency to update their site and tell u the Melbourne office DOESNT EXIST anymore. When they say its in stock DONT BELIEVE IT!! Still waitingn to see if i get what i paid for.

Overall: What can i say, extremely disappointed. Wish i had serached out these reviews first. So far the jurys still out, but Im not happy so far. Horrendous that they seem to have not updated there site since there only Australian office closed not informing anybody here. Pretty shabby behaviour as far as Im concerned. SUX BIGTIME!!! That includes if, when & in what condition I receive my order. Avoid them.

Reviewer: SkyPilot
[From eXpansys Reviewed By Australians. http://www.expansys.com.au]

Spam Pot For 17 March 2009 - USD $40.6 Million

2009-03-18T01:38:25Z

Well to start the week off on a high our spam pot for Tuesday 17 March is more that $40 Million US dollars!

This is just spam that makes it through the ISP's filters and into the Junk folder of Mail, no one really knows how much money I'm really missing out on.

For your edification and enjoyment copies of the promissory notes are included after the jump.

]]> And for your reference here is todays supporting spam:

#1 - USD$5,100.000.00

From: Barrister Steve Khumalo [Esq.]

(For Trustees) Managing Partner (Dlamini Chambers)

PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA

Tel: +27-83-589-7873

Tel: +27-790-555-806

Email: steve.chambers@live.com

Attn: Sir

NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST:

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Mr. Edwin Gabriel, I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address on the WILL. I wish to notify you that late Mr. Edwin Gabriel made you a beneficiary to his [WILL]. He left the sum of Five Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars (USD$5,100.000.00) to you in the codicil and last testament to his will.

This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true. Being a widely traveled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past.

Mr. Edwin Gabriel until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers. He was a very dedicated Christian who loved to give out. His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his lifetime.

Late Mr. Edwin Gabriel died on the 16th day of February 2007 at the age of 90 years and his WILL is now ready for execution.

Please if I reach you, as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no distant date. Please contact me on this email: steve.chambers@live.com

Yours in service,

Barrister Steve Khumalo.

#2 - USD$25,000.000.00

BARCLAYS BANK PLC.
CLAPHAM JUNCTION BRANCH,
7 ST JOHNS HILL,SW 11 1 TN,
LONDON
WWW.barclaysbank.co.uk

Attention: Beneficiary,

REF: - INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT

This is to notify you about the status of your fund right now on my desk. After due vetting and evaluation of your Inheritance file which The Ministry of Finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Forwarded and contacted us to see to your immediate payment.From our findings you have been going through hard ways by paying a lot of charges to see to the release of your fund ($25 000, 000, 00) which has been delayed. We advice that you stop further communication with any correspondence from Nigeria. You don't have to pay any charges to receive your Inheritance fund anymore as you have met up with the whole requirements, your representatives in Nigeria will tell you to still go ahead with them but on your own risk.The only thing required from you is to obtain a Non-Resident Clearance Form/Receipt which we are not asking you to pay the fee to us here in United Kingdom as the Government of Nigeria have paid us for handling/processing of your payment with other customers.We will help you to see that you obtain the form so that our bank will effect immediate transfer of your inheritance sum ($25 000, 000, 00) into your designated bank account.If you follow up our directives your fund will reflect in your account within five Banking days from the day you obtain this form. Do not go through anybody again but through this Bank if you really want your fund.Please respond to my private email (davidbrw43@yahoo.de)

Yours sincerely,
Mr. David Brown
Head, Private Banking Section.
Barclays Bank Plc.

#2 - USD$10,500.000.00

DEAREST

BEQUEST NOTIFICATION/PAYMENT

On behalf of the trustees and executor to the Will of late Sir. Dennis Kute Estates. I wish to notify you that late Sir. Dennis Kute made you a beneficiary to his will. He left the sum of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand($10.5m) to you in the Codicil and Last Testament to his will.this may sound strange and unbelievable to you,but it is real and true.

Being a widely traveled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad that wished you good. Sir. Dennis, passed away peacefully in the General Hospital Ikeja after a brief illness at the Age of 60 years. He was born on May 10 1927; Died June 26 2007. Although he had enjoyed success as a millionaire businessman,Sir Dennis' Public fame owed most to his marriage to Margaret Kute,

In a tribute to him at a news Conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, British prime Minister Tony Blair said: "Sir Denis was a kind and generous-hearted man, a real gentleman who had many friends here and abroad. Until death he was a very dedicated Christian who loved to give out. He was also a member of several non-governmental organizations,his great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his lifetime. He is survived by his wife Margret, and twins Mark & Carol Kute and also two grandchildren.

According to him this money is to support your activities and to help the poor and less privileged. Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable the attorney executing the Will conclude his job. You should forward along your telephone and fax numbers including your present mailing address. Looking forward hearing from you in no distant time.

Reply to: revthomasellis@live.com

Yours in His Vineyard,SMMM

Rev.Fr.Thomas Ellis(Parish Priest)

A little Cell Phone Humor

2009-02-11T02:58:14Z

Here's a bit of video fun called "Cell Phone Reunion" by way of CollegeHumor.com. Isn't it great when humour and your work collide? It's also nice when there's a little bit of perspective thrown into the humour as well. Enjoy the video after the jump.

]]>

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Got 5 minutes and $5.00?

2009-02-11T02:11:49Z

Hi - this is not our usual sort of post but if you've got 5 minutes to spare and a $5.00 or more could you jump over to the Red Cross Australia site and make a donation?

]]> We have and honestly it's not much that's being asked, really it's about the same price as a Big Mac Meal Deal.

I can tell you that it will be appreciated.

New things is WebKit - Sparkle & CSS Animation

2009-02-06T07:21:11Z

Webkit, for the uninformed, is the Open Source engine at the heart of Apple's Safari for Macs & Windows and Apple's Mobile Safari for the iPhone. Now for the non-Apple fan before you start ragging on a great piece of OSS bear in mind that WebKit is also at the heart of Google's Chrome and a range of other browsers and pieces of software, including a range of new mobile phones from the likes of Nokia and Samsung.

]]> WebKit + Sparkle

The WebKit project offers nightly builds (in Mac & Windows flavours) that you can download and test against your favourite website or just to see what's new.

Lately one of the big bugbears with keeping upto date has been addressed by the integration of the Sparkle framework into the nightly builds. While this doesn't help you in the Windows space, most Mac users will be familiar with what Sparkle does but may not know the name. Sparkle is an automatic update system that checks for updates to the application or plug-in or System Preference that uses it. If there is an update the application that is hosting the Sparkle framework presents a nice dialog about any available updates. Like this one from a recent OmniFocus build:

If you think about it having something that updates nightly update itself is very handy for you the end user!WebKit + Sparkle

WebKit + CSS Animations

The WebKit project started dabbling with CSS Animations back in 2007 in the form of transistion's. This latest addition though goes well beyond that - see these advances you'll obviously need to get your hands on a nightly build, once you've done that check out the Surfin' Safari blog entry below for examples and code samples.

CSS Animation
WebKit now supports explicit animations in CSS. As a counterpart to transitions, animations provide a way to declare repeating animated effects, with keyframes, completely in CSS.
[From Surfin’ Safari - Blog Archive » CSS Animation]

I'm not interested in debates about web standards but I am interested in all things that move us forward. Interestingly we now have a standards based browser rendering engine that has a very fast widely used scripting language combined with a extensive animation system with 3D support - tell me how do you think that will play on an iPhone which apparently already has some of these features built-in?

More importantly I wonder what Adobe thinks of all of this? Which would be faster WebKit based CSS Animations and Javascript or a Flash plug-in for the iPhone?

All fun questions, sure to be answered one way or another in the coming months!

GetUp! 2009 Survey Results are in!

2009-02-05T09:22:12Z

The initial analysis of the GetUp! 2009 Survey are in and the results are worth a look.

]]> The results can be found here on the GetUp! website.

If you're a GetUp! member and you haven't filled out the survey by all means still fill it out - the survey is still open and a final analysis won't be done for a few weeks yet.

If you interested in Climate Change, Your Rights or just feel that you aren't being heard by your "local" member then maybe GetUp! is something you should look at. If you haven't already signed up with GetUp! and you do want to have a voice in Australian Politics then sign up by all means. That URL is case you missed it is http://www.getup.org.au/

Essential iPhone Dev Tip - read Mobile Orchard

2009-01-31T05:29:36Z

Mobile Orchard is becoming one of those websites that absolutely must be read by iPhone Developer and their latest article is good for anyone that uses Xcode.

]]> This is possibly the biggest collection of Xcode tips I've ever seen in one place - of course you forget more about Xcode than you know really. Xcode is just getting to be that deep a product.

14 Essential Xcode Tips, Tricks and Resources for iPhone Devs
[From 14 Essential Xcode Tips, Tricks and Resources for iPhone Devs]

May I suggest you read it, bookmark it, then stick it in a quarterly or half-yearly tickler so you can refresh yourself on what your've forgotten,

Nothing more to say - carry on.

iLife Updates - '08 users not left out in the rain!

2009-01-27T06:58:12Z

In case you haven't seen it yet there's updates in them thar' hills. Well to be precise Software Update is bringing a series of new updates your way, they include:

iDVD Update 7.0.3
iLife Media Browser Update 2.0
NVIDIA Graphics Update 2009 1.0

]]> Apparently to celebrate the shipping iLife 09 Apple has decided to grace us with a range of updates, presumably to make sure things work smoothly when you install the new software. Unfortunately the descriptions have gone back the very brief Apple format, here it is for you view pleasure:

NVIDIA Graphics Update 2009 1.0

This update improves cursor movement when using the Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter with the Mini DisplayPort enabled MacBook Air, MacBook and MacBook Pro. It also improves playback of HD video running on systems with NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT or GeForce 9600M graphics.

iLife Media Browser Update 2.0

This update improves overall stability and addresses a number of other minor issues. It is recommended for all users of Aperture, iLife ’08, iWork ’08, and Mac OS X 10.5.6 Leopard or later.

iDVD Update 7.0.3

This update improves overall stability and addresses a number of other minor issues.

You can follow each updates title link to Apple's standalone downloads if you're the kind that prefers to do things manually. Unfortunately at this writing there is no other info about any of them.

A quick Screensaver tip...

2009-01-24T05:02:09Z

Screensavers are one of those things that have really passed their original reason for coming into existence, ie. to prevent an image from burning into your cathode ray based computer monitor. Since then they've evolved into entertainment and infotainment systems providing everything from photo slideshows to RSS feeds to just pretty graphics. Some are even interactive like Soundstream...

]]> Some people get a little carried away by their Screen savers and end up with literally hundreds of them installed. Now installing is pretty easy these days - a recent screen saver is usually delivered as a bundle and to install you simply double-click the icon. In fact it's so easy you double click a few more just to try them out.

Of course, the reality is that you can only use one at a time and once you stop changing them you'll probably get the urge to clean up that list of unused Screen Savers.

Luckily it's just as easy to remove a user installed Screen Saver.

Step 1. Open the System Preferences (under the Apple Menu). As you can see System Preferences are divided into "logical" sections, the section you're after is the Personal settings, which is the first section. You should see something like this:

Step 2. Click on the Desktop & Screen Saver Icon in the System Preferences window. You can find it in the top row of icons, second from the left. It looks like this:

Step 3. Right click (or if you don't have a multi-button mouse Control-Click) the name of the screen saver you want to remove and you will get a contextual menu with the choices "Reveal in Finder" and "Move To Trash".

Step 4. Select "Move To Trash" to remove the Screen Saver (actually as you've guessed it just puts it in the Trash, so the next time you empty it the file will be deleted).

Step 5. There is no step 5 you're done.

If you're new to the Mac may I suggest right-clicking random things to see what happens - I'm betting you'll be happily surprised. If you do find something interesting let us know and we'll add it to our store of hints and tips for everyone to see.

Oh... and the best place to start looking for Screensavers - try the Staff Picks at Apple Downloads

Mail Keyboard Tip #2 - Navigating Links

2009-01-23T22:00:00Z

A few month's ago I wrote about ways to navigate around mail without using the mouse - and I promised to bring you a second article on navigating around inside the body of an email. Well, thanks to a gentle reminder (thanks Brian) here it is.

]]> Reading Emails

Mail allows you to receive both text and HTML emails. Thanks to a fairly vague interface there is no easy way to identify if you have TAB'd (⇥) into the body of the email you want to read, the only sure way is to hit the RETURN/ENTER key (↩) when you have the email you want to read selected in the list view. Doing this however, opens a completely new window - something I personally dislike so I just rely on the list selection turning grey rather than it's normal color (as show below).

Either way, once you are in the body of the email you have recourse to all of the expected keys - Up & Down Arrows move the body of the email up and down by what appears to be one line with each press, and auto-repeat from holding down the key gives a reasonable scrolling experience. Similarly, Page Up ( ⇞ ) and Page Down ( ⇟ ) move a page at a time, which in this context means about 90% of the displayed email body is either paged up or down. Finally, the Home and End keys on your keyboard will jump either to the start or end of email body. All of these should be obvious as they are part of the standard interaction used on the Mac.

What isn't so obvious is that when reading an email you can jump from link to link by using the combination of Opt + TAB ( ⌥ ⇥ ) and to go backwards SHIFT + Opt + TAB ( ⇧⌥ ⇥ ) As you can see in the second view of the Google Alerts email, Mail nicely highlights the selected link and will open it for you with a simple press of the RETURN/ENTER key (↩).

To paraphrase late night infomercials "BUT WAIT! There's more!" - if you hold down the Apple key (  ) Mail will launch the browser of your choice behind Mail for your later reading pleasure. Just to top it all off - you can force Safari to open a new Tab or Window by holding down the Option key ( ⌥ ) when pressing the RETURN/ENTER key (↩) with or without the Apple key (  ).

Finally - the nice thing is that it works in both text emails and HTML formatted email, and as you can see from the HTML formatted Footy newsletter - Mail still highlights the selected link with a nice focus rectangle.

Writing Emails

At this point - if you're still reading this longer than intended post - you should have discerned a trend in the way the "built-in" Mac OS X software work, ie. it adheres to a consistent standard that logically extends itself to the specific environment you are working in. The same process applies to editing an email that you're writing. Rather than run you through all the basic text editing keyboard tricks (like Opt-Left/Right Arrow to move one word or Apple-Left/Right Arrow to move to the beginning or end of a line), I'm just going to point out a few you might have missed.

Jump to Start of Paragraph: Opt + Up Arrow ( ⌥↑ ) will move the editing cursor to the beginning of the current paragraph, or the previous one if your already at the start. I'm betting you can figure out what happens if you use the Opt + Down Arrow combination. Of course following standard Mac interaction using the Shift key ( ⇧ ) these combinations turns the move into a selection.

Jump to Start of Email: Now you're probably saying that's easy just use the Home key - sorry fail. In fact when in editing mode to jump to the start or end of the current email that your typing in you use the combination of Apple key + Up Arrow ( ↑ ) or Apple key + Down Arrow ( ↓ )

That's enough for now - if you have any more not-so-obvious keyboard shortcuts feel free to sound off in the comments.

Mac 25th Anniversary Joy of Tech Issue

2009-01-23T08:07:31Z

Well that was a quick 25 Years - I still remember my dear old 128K Mac. Of course I also blame it for lack of interest in main frame programming from that point onwards.

]]> In honour of the first 25 years Joy of Tech have celebrated with a new cartoon - eh... enjoy.

Server Admin Tools for 10.5.6

2009-01-23T07:03:34Z

Apple's just sneaking out a bunch of hardware and software updates this week isn't it? First was the White MacBook update, then QuickTime 7.6 now it's Server Admin Tools turn.

]]> The notes aren't all that forthcoming but here they are none the less:

The Server Admin Tools update is recommended for remote administration of Leopard Server. This update includes the latest releases of:

- Server Assistant
- Server Preferences and Server Status widget
- Server Admin
- Server Monitor
- Workgroup Manager
- System Image Utility
- Xgrid Admin
- QuickTime Broadcaster

For detailed information on this update, please visit this website:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3314.

As far as Tech Note HT3314 is concerned the changes are fairly minimal when compared with the Software Update list:

System Image Utility

When deploying a system image created from a volume, the target computers will no longer have identical local KDC files. For more information, see this article.

Adds NetBoot/NetInstall model filters for the latest MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air computers.

Server Admin

Fixes an issue that could cause Server Admin to stop responding when propagating permissions on a folder which is on a volume other than the boot volume.

Adds NetBoot/NetInstall model filters for the latest MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air computers.

So there you have it - no more reasons not to go to 10.5.6.

Time to go and try it out in all it's glory - now where's that backup hard disk.

iTunes Australia Day Sale!

2009-01-23T02:00:00Z

Well here's another bargain from the iTunes Australia shop. Its an Australia Day special.

]]> Now some of you may not be into Chandon Pictures (Season 1 is only $11.92) but maybe McLeod's Daughters is your cup of tea. Of course a lot of you will have these already but there are some recent releases you may have missed including the incredibly plastic cop show based in Queensland - The Strip (at half price - $19.37 - Season 1 might be worth throwing a few shekels at).

Not sure how long this half-price pricing will be around but you could do worse and buy some other TV shows at full price - and you know we Aussies make great TV.

By the way with a little over a 1000 visitors a day I've got to say you're a quiet lot - we do have a comment system you know?

Hope you've all got a good Australia Day weekend planned!

Word play @ the Tennis

2009-01-23T00:44:52Z

Some clever word play in the crowd at the Australian Open during Andy Murray's brilliant game against Marcel Granollers.

]]>
I wonder if it worked?