Pem’s Tech Blog

Edit -> Preferences -> iTunes Media folder location –> [folder]\iTunes_Media
* check Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library
* check Keep iTunes Media folder organized

File -> Library -> Organize Library, check Consolidate files, OK
=> consolidates your files into [folder]\iTunes_Media, can take seconds or hours depending on how many files it has to copy
=> when it’s done, you can delete the original files

iTunes Database files will still remain here, including (for Windows 7): C:\Users\[you]\Music\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl

This was the way to go when upgrading from (iTunes 8 to iTunes 9), since it used to be “iTunes Music” centric organizing, but now it’s “iTunes Media” (more generic).  Or when moving to a new computer.  Or when moving the location of your iTunes library.  Let iTunes organize the files for you, and consolidate them.

Here’s a really long tutorial for this with iTunes 9, posted 2009/09/21 (for moving your files to a new location, or to a new computer): http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to-a-new-hard-drive

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/09/27 (Sunday, September 27, 2009) :: Mac OS, Windows OS :: No Comments »

> Recent studies find significantly higher risks for brain and salivary gland tumors among people using cell phones for 10 years or longer. The state of the science is provocative and troubling, and much more research is essential.

> We at Environmental Working Group are still using our cell phones, but we also believe that until scientists know much more about cell phone radiation, it’s smart for consumers to buy phones with the lowest emissions.

– http://www.ewg.org/cellphone-radiation

* phones go as low as 0.35 W/kg, the Verizon BlackBerry Storm is 0.57 W/kg
* my Samsung Saga is very low at 0.69 W/kg
* the AT&T iPhone 3G says (0.52 – 1.19 W/kg) (the 0.52 is WiFi only mode?)
* the LG env3 is 1.31 W/kg and the LG env2 is 1.34 W/kg
* the worst phone on the list is the T-Mobile myTouch 3G, one of the Google Android phones, 1.55 W/kg
http://www.ewg.org/cellphoneradiation/Get-a-Safer-Phone?allavailable=1

Supposedly bluetooth headsets are much lower, such as:
> Bluetooth radio module generates an SAR of just 0.001 watts per kilogram
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2005/tc20050427_5651.htm

Besides getting a high radiation cell phone, the main concern is if you are holding the phone next to your head/ear (touching your head, near your brain) having a voice conversation (emitting high radiation).

I carry my Samsung Saga around all day, but hopefully I’m safe since I mostly use it for texting and data, and even when I take phone calls I almost always use a headset (and it’s a wired headset).

http://www.ewg.org/cellphoneradiation/8-Safety-Tips

Maybe something I should be more concerned about is to check whether it’s smart that I sleep right next to my computer (in a small apartment), including a WiFi router right next to my head!

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/09/26 (Saturday, September 26, 2009) :: Health / Food, Mobility :: No Comments »

Deaf Hear: cochlear implants
* wikipedia today says: It was estimated in 2002 that around 10,000 children in the US and an additional 49,000 people worldwide had received Cochlear implants. By the end of 2008, the total number of cochlear implant recipients has grown to an estimated 150,000 worldwide.

Blind See: put a tooth in your eye

* http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/09/16/tooth.eye.vision/
* http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Technology/woman-regains-vision-tooth-implanted-eye/story?id=8595589
* http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/22/video-doctors-implant-tooth-into-eye-restore-sight-creep-ever/
* Martin Jones of Great Britain
* Mary Shelley of Florida

Blind See: bionic eye
* recent project at MIT, prototype / research
* The eye implant is designed for people who have lost their vision from retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration, two of the leading causes of blindness. — http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/microchip-blind-092309.html
* it wouldn’t restore complete sight, but could let them see enough to find their way through a room or walk down a sidewalk (which is certainly no small feat). They’ll also have to wear a special set of glasses (or visor, if you prefer), which will not only wirelessly send images to the implant, but keep it powered wirelessly through a set of coils. — http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/24/mit-researchers-tout-progress-with-retinal-implant-yes-it-com/

This is my first post in (Health, Safety, Food, Drinks, Exercise).

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/09/26 (Saturday, September 26, 2009) :: Health / Food :: No Comments »

Tools –> Accounts –> Edit –> Pictures –> Configure FTP

Speaking of Live Writer…  Would be interested if anyone else has a favorite alternative, and specific details of why they like it better.

Overall, I think Live Writer is great, although it didn’t take me long to run into some wish list improvement ideas.  For example, I want it to ftp pictures to a dynamic folder based on date-time, such as 2000_09_25.

If you ask me, having a good (preferably open / free) SDK for plug-ins (or app stores etc) is a huge deal (for programs, platforms, etc).  Another thing I like is having both a GUI and an automation console/script UI, but maybe that’s not relevant to Live Writer (Live Writer does have Edit and Preview and Source tabs; Source lets you preview your posts HTML) (You can do automation or scripts for blog posting other ways, such as via WordPress).

So here’s where it’s uploading the picture right now (as I write this):

http://www.mepem.com/pemtech_files/0_unsorted/TestingftppictureuploadwithLiveWriter_13640/image.png

I specified www.mepem.com/pemtech_files/0_unsorted , and it generated TestingftppictureuploadwithLiveWriter_13640 based on the title of my blog post (that is, the first title I uploaded the post with).

What I really want is for it to upload here:

http://www.mepem.com/pemtech_files/2009/09/25/[name].png

Where [name] is a file name that I specify with a GUI property in Live Writer.

So… maybe I should write a plug-in?

Edit: well it turns out, there is already a plug-in called (Clipboard Capture), which lets me specify a name when I paste the picture into Live Writer.  However, it doesn’t let me specify the directory.

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/09/25 (Friday, September 25, 2009) :: Blogging :: No Comments »

Well it just came out, and since my Mac Mini was purchased recently, I only had to pay $9.95 instead of $29.

I think it sounds like a great deal.  Although to be a skeptic, I might ask, which is better:
A) release a free service pack every year for 5 years, then sell a new version on the 6th year for $100

B) release a a service pack every year for $30

So maybe you can argue that “B)” is closer to what Microsoft did with Windows XP vs. Vista?  But I only say that for the sake of argument (devil’s advocate).

Overall, I’m enthused to try out Snow Leopard.  I think the low cost is awesome, and the focuses on real improvements (like performance) (rather than random feature bloat) is also great

Also, as far as new features goes, I am excited about out-of-the-box support for Microsoft Exchange 2007, seeing as it’s what most corporations use.

They definitely got my $10, and with no complaints

Although keep in mind I wrote this post after I ordered it, but before the DVD arrived in the snail/paper mail

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/09/04 (Friday, September 4, 2009) :: Mac OS :: No Comments »