Posts Tagged ‘Support Apple’

The perfect home theater system using Macbook’s

Sep 14th, 08 / 1 Comment

Been experimenting with the Macbook’s as a way to drive a home theater. it is actually quite awesome what you can do assuming you really want something easy to use. Here is what I’ve found:

# MacBook Pro’s has DVI and can convert to VGA. With older televisions (like my 10 year old Mitsubishi 73903) that have only component input, you need a VGA to Component converter. With newer televisions that have HDMI, you just need a DVI to HDMI cable like “Amazon”:http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Unlimited-6-Feet-Dvi-d-PCM-2296-06/dp/B0007MWE1E/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_b carries for $15.
# MacBook’s detect the new display and have a mirroring mode so that you can see your video on the screen. They only output two channel stereo, so you have to find something that take out the output as 5.1 channel. Still looking for that.
# Still it means that you can now have a box that shows the Internet, shows videos, plays DVDs and with Front Row, you have a very nice system. My Mitsubishi only like 1080i input so if the breakout box does 720×480p, you are done. In my case, my old box only does 640×480p, so I have to live with letterboxing or find a new VGA to Component converter.
# Now if you have a bluetooth mouse and keyboard, you can now work just fine along with the Front Row remote.
# But, the best mode is to have another MacBook by the user. That is great because Mac’s have this Share Screen feature. What is so cool about the Mac implementation is that when you have a machine with two displays, it shows *both* displays on the mac on your lap. So, n, net, you have the dream, show anything on the screen *and* you can surf the internet at your seat. I’m in heaven.
# More amazing is that the “MacBook Pro”:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2541 supports digital optical input (Toslink). It sasy that is accepts a standard Toslink cable with a Toslink mini-plug adapter for both input and output, so all you need is a Toslink mini-plug adapter. These aren’t expensive. “Amazon”:http://www.amazon.com/Toslink-To-Optical-Mini-Adapter/dp/B0002MQGRM has then for $2.50 each or for $11, get a “Toslink to miniplug cable”:
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-THIN-TOSLINK-MINIPLUG-THINTOSMIN6/dp/B00016W6Y6/ref=pd_cp_e_2?pf_rd_p=413863501&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0002MQGRM&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0XEB8P4ETE6SC6M9AT6J ehivh id 2 meters long.

What’s needed to complete the picture:

# If you are using a MacBook Air, you need to find a box that speaks 5.1 audio digital or Toslink optical to an audio video receiver. If you are using a MacBook or MacBook Pro, you need to find a mini-plug adapter since these both allow optical input.
# If you wait for October, the rumor is that the new MacBooks will have Blu Ray, so at that point you are really set.
# If you are starting from the ground up, look at speakers that just need wireless audio to each. Then the system is just, the speakers whereever there is AC power, the MacBook for displaying and then the
# Need to find a good DVI to component output for my old RPTV. “HDFury”:http://www.hdfury.com/ might be the device, it is tiny, but is HDMI input that converts to RGB Component on the other side, so my old Mitsubishi gets a lease on life. It takes HDMI or DVI input and produces 1080p output into. the main issue here is that while computers don’t have copy protection through DVI, dedicated Blu Ray players do have HDCP copy protection, so they disallow showing them at high resolution through unprotected analog. Note to self, this is another reason to like a simple Mac as a player. Right now HDFury is on preorder for HDFury2. Both of these devices, take HDMI input and output through a VGA connector, so you need a VGA to component cable to make it work properly (they include it). The thing cost $250 though, so really have to want it. “AVS Forum”:http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=858154 mentions the HDFury and also something called the VisionFC4 whcih does the same thing of HDMI to component. Most folks seem to the “like”:http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=861296 the HDFury best.

Geek

Battery Calibration

Jul 31st, 08 / Comments Off

Apple has really made this way too hard, but if you want to get the most out of your battery, it is going to take all day. Basically, you have to run the thing into the ground and then recharge it every few months according to http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/30/battery-calibration-recommended-by-apple-why-no-utility/ explains what to do from “Apple”:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490. I actually do this every night :-) YOu can use coconutBattery to see how close your battery is to factory original maximum charge.

  1. Plug in the power
    adapter and fully charge your PowerBook’s battery until the light ring
    or LED on the power adapter plug changes to green and the onscreen
    meter in the menu bar indicates that the battery is fully charged.
  2. Allow
    the battery to rest in the fully charged state for at least two hours.
    You may use your computer during this time as long as the adapter is
    plugged in.
  3. Disconnect the power adapter with the
    computer still on and start running the computer off battery power. You
    may use your computer during this time. When your battery gets low, you
    will see the low battery warning dialog on the screen.
  4. Continue
    to keep your computer on until it goes to sleep. Save all your work and
    close all applications when the battery gets very low, before the
    computer goes to sleep.
  5. Turn off the computer or allow it to sleep for five hours or more.
  6. Connect the power adapter and leave it connected until the battery is fully charged again.
Geek

MacBook Air Disk problems and how to Remote Bookt

Jul 7th, 08 / Comments Off

Well, when my machine was freezing, I was used to Windows so my first thought was, uh oh, the hard disk is crashing. Ran Disk Utility and it asked me to Repair the disk with the installation Mac OS X. First note, you should always have this DVD with you whereever you go (I didn’t), since it does things that the operating system can’t do.

Second, pray your SuperDrive doesn’t get erratic and won’t turn on. Mine did this exactly.

Third, you can actually “remote boot”:http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2008/02/07/remote-install-mac-os-x-on-macbook-air-pokey-but-it-works from any Windows machine if you have that magic OS X installation DVD. it is a little arcane, but as “Apple”:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2129 lays out you:

# you basically find another Mac or Windows machine.
# On a Mac, you then run _/Applications/Utilities/Remote Install Mac OS X_
# On a Windows machine, you insert the Mac OS X Install Disc 1 and choose _Remote Install Mac OS X from the Install Assistant
# Click continue twice and then choose the network connection, either AirPort for wifi or Ethernet if you are using the USB Ethernet Adapter on your MBA
# Restart start your MBA and hold the Option key during start up.
# From here you can run Disk Utility from your remote install disk.

MacBook Air