Problem Solver

Blackberry Missing Sync for Mac- Plugin error

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:44:00 +0000

So every few months I have trouble syncing my black berry for one reason or another. Here is one of the solutions I have found:

If you are getting the following in the log "An error occurred while pulling data from Sync Services"

This error can occur if there is a problem reading Sync Services data from the Mac.

What you should do is backup your Calendar data and reset the sync history:
1. Go to iCal and choose 'File' menu and then 'Backup database'.
(Leopard - 'File' menu and choose 'Back up iCal')
2. Still in iCal choose 'File and then 'Revert to database backup' and choose the backup you just made.
(Leopard - click on the 'File' menu and choose 'Restore iCal')
3. In Missing Sync, click on the 'Help' menu and select 'Reset Sync History'
4. De-select other plugins and leave only 'Calendar' selected
5. Click the 'Reset Sync History' button.

Now try the sync again.

If the error persists, you should do a global reset of the Sync History for Sync Services.

1. Go to iCal and click the 'File' menu and choose 'Back up database'.
(Leopard - 'File' menu and choose 'Back up iCal')
2. Now revert to the same database you just backed up, click on the 'File' menu and choose 'Revert to database backup'.
(Leopard - click on the 'File' menu and choose 'Restore iCal')
3. Do the same process for Address Book click the 'File' menu and choose 'Back up Address Book'
(Leopard - 'File' menu and choose 'Export - Address Book Archive')
4. Now revert to the same database you just backed up, click on the 'File' menu and choose 'Revert to Address Book backup'.
(Leopard - click on the 'Import' menu and choose 'Address Book Archive')

Steps 1 through 4 are key to the process, they are not just a backup, but the revert part forces a reset of the relationship between Sync Services and iCal and Address Book.

5. Launch the iSync application, found in the /Applications/ folder. (iSync is not used for the sync, but iSync is where Apple handles Sync Services Preferences.)
6. Click on the iSync menu
7. Choose Preferences
8. Click the 'Reset Sync History' button. Read and follow the onscreen directions.
9. This may launch iCal. When the reset process has begun the button will go grey, it is complete when the button becomes active again, but there is no need to re-click it.
10. Restart the Mac
11. Soft reset your BlackBerry. Turn it off, pull the battery for 3 minutes, put it back and turn on.
12. In Missing Sync for BlackBerry, double click the Calendar plugin and reselect the calendar for the field: "Put events created on the device into:"
13. In Missing Sync for BlackBerry, double click the Tasks plugin and reselect the calendar for the field: "Put tasks created on the device into:"

Then, try the sync again.

For more help go to https://support.markspace.com

Green Screen Help

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:56:00 +0000

Live Green Screen Playback for Final Cut Pro
I'm going to try out the demo at my Grand Opening.

Reflecmedia's Light Ring Green Screen Technology

10 Online Video Ad Competitors Compared

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:11:00 +0000

10 Online Video Ad Competitors Compared

Posted using ShareThis

Startup Disk full? OS X 10.4

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:42:00 +0000

Is your Mac telling you that your startup disk (or volume) is almost full, or worse full! Here are your two solutions:

#1 You can test and repair disk permissions on your startup disk without starting up from another disk.

#2 You must start up from another disk, such as your Install Mac OS X disc and use Disk Utility to test and repair it.

Starting with #1 to repair your startup disk:

Open Disk Utility, in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder. (I actually keep a shortcut for this on my dock)
Select your disk, and click First Aid.
Click Verify Disk.
If the disk needs repairs, do one of the following:

Suggestion #2: If you have your Mac OS X installation disc

insert the disc and restart your computer holding down the Option key, then select the Install Mac OS X disc and click the arrow.
Open Disk Utility.
In the Mac OS X Installer, choose Utilities > Open Disk Utility.
Select the startup disk you want to repair in the list of disks and volumes, then click First Aid.
Click the button to verify or repair the disk or disk permissions.

If you don't have the install disc on hand... or at all... you can always try the following:

Restart your computer while holding down the Shift key. As your computer starts up, it performs a disk check similar to the one Disk Utility performs.

Use mac support to search for your answers. Here's where I found mine

apple- Repairing your startup disk

apple- Testing and repairing your startup disk

Constant Contact Address upload

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:54:00 +0000

Using Address book on my mac has been very helpful in organizing my contact info. However it's vcard file that is created on export can not be used to upload a mailing list in Constant Contact. Very frustrating! So here is my fix:

Download Address Book to CSV Exporter 1.3a
Export your address book using this tool
Then upload it to your gmail account
Now use gmail to export the correct format for constant contact
Upload this file to your contact uploader

Now you've uploaded your address book with little leg work!

MobileMe the new iSync

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:24:00 +0000

So I was recently having trouble getting my new imac and old g4 and laptop to all sync on isync. Today I realized I hadn't had a successful sync since 8/8/08, not good. The fix was:

go in to system preferences
click .mac
go into the tab that shows all the computers you sync with that idisk
select the computer you are on and select "reset sync data" (note this is the computer with the most current info).
Tell it to overwrite idisk.

It took a couple minutes to re-upload all that info, but once it was done the update told me that it had been synced today. Then I went to the new imac and powered up the mobile me app (aka iSync, .mac) and checked all the boxes, and said to overwrite this computer. And for the first time in a month I now have both computers with identical info! Hurray for Reset! Can't wait to fix my laptop!

Alicia, I want to buy a camera....

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:35:00 +0000

I get asked by my friends a lot "Which camera should I buy?". So I decided that my first blog would be about which camera is best for you and the pictures you shoot!

For the serious shooter Camera Labs is an excellent resource watch the videos to get a quick idea of what elements make-up the camera that you think apply mostly to you the images you are, and will be, trying to capture. PS I would love to have that guy's job.

Canon G9 this lil' *#@%er has live output to the LCD screen on the back, like a video camera! This is cutting edge technology and wasn't developed till around this year, and was actually mentioned in May's issue of PDN "46 reasons to love photography now". Looks like out-the-door (with tax and all) you can pick it up for around $500. It also records video I believe but won't zoom while recording, making editing a challenge.

If that's too high $$$ I'd still stay in the Canon family. Even though I don't own a single Canon I've really fallen out of love with the Nikon family mainly because of poor auto focusing and cheaper glass in the lenses.

RAW- The quality of the image really becomes apparent when your zooming in a bunch to say cut something out, touch it up, or add elements that weren't in the pic to begin with. If your taking photoshop classes I'm sure you guys have discussed RAW images and how vast their color depth is (16 bit) in comparison to jpgs (8 bit), so its a good idea to get a camera that has the capability to shoot RAW.

MEGA PIXELS- If you plan on talking pics you want to manipulate in photo shop I'd suggest a 8 mega pixel or higher. It'll keep you on the technology curve for a while. The higher mega pixels out there on the prosumer market are 12-14 mega pixels. The biggest one I've ever heard of was 30 MP, but that was to shoot large format $&!% like billboards.

MEMORY CARD- All consumer cameras will most likely come with like a 12mb one so you need to buy a bigger one. I have bought the cheapest of the cheap cards and found no problems. So my recommendation is don't pay more than $20 for a 2GB card. They rape you on price sometimes with these guys charging upwards of $60. If you plan on using the cards to archive $&!%, I'd say spend the extra doe, but if your dumping to drive religiously just get a cheap one.

Good luck and email me if you want to run a camera by me. I recommend writing a list of pros and cons of things you've experienced with cameras before. When it gets down to decision time you can be sure you don't screw yourself, by say getting a camera that doesn't zoom while in video mode. Here are some elements I often look for because I use my point and shoot mainly to capture nights out.

Alicia's List of things she wants a camera to do:

AMAZING fill flash (when shooting a group with background, does the flash fill the background or is it completely illegible and black? This happened to a friend traveling in Spain with many museums and buildings in the back not showing up at all, they may as well been in their own backyard and not half way around the world.)
Fast power up (like 2-4 seconds for those spur of the moment occasions)
Continuous shutter (I shot someones golf swing once and needed my camera to shoot 5 frames per second, luckily I had a mode on my camera that sufficed)
USB plug (or similar) to upload directly from the camera & streamlined charging cable (no hoakie bases which suck to haul around when traveling)
ISO control
White balance control
EV control for those super dark or super bright moments
Shutter control to shoot faster,hard to catch things like pets, kids, and moving objects. Usually you can turn the flash on to force the camera into a faster shutter speed, but I'd rather have the control
Video capabilities with variable recording sizes and the ability to zoom while recording which makes editing easier because you can cut from a MS to CU shot with out having to show the camera movement.
Audio pick up in front (mic's is the back only pick up he videopgrapher's voice!

Do yourself a favor and pick up one of these little Joby gorilla pods as well. Great for shooting things you have to hold the camera really still for like double exposures, sunsets, and low light conditions. And they hook to damn near everything! I've already bought and lost two!