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Alexander is attracted by my red-clad MacBook Pro, and ventures towards it. However, there is no fear! For MagSafe, protector of notebooks and small children, is here!

Alexander meets MacBook Pro from Vanessa Tan on Vimeo.

Here they are, finally… after restoring my old laptop’s hard drive.

I have no idea what key I hit, but suddenly, Alex’s voice is everywhere.

When I open a new Firefox tab. When I close one.

When a popup message appears. When I open System Preferences (to see if I can uncheck anything so the voice will stop talking to me!).

It was amusing initially but it’s starting to get a little obsessive-compulsive as it reads out every little step I take.

Admittedly, Alex’s voice is the most accurate and human like. I prefer listening to him over Bruce and Fred. There are lots of things you can make Alex do for you.

But could someone please tell me how to turn him off? :)

[Update: Turns out I hit Command + F5 by accident and that turned Alex on. I’ve just put him back to rest.]

Ivan’s just started one. Sign up at the new blog.

I am actually more of a Logic Pro user but I did use GarageBand initially when I got my first Mac. Thanks to integration by Apple, which bought over Logic, the latest version of Logic feels very much like GarageBand.

What I hope to get out of joining this group:

1. Meet other Singaporeans, or people currently living in Singapore, who are interested in making music on their Macs
2. Share ideas and tips with fellow musicians, discuss the latest add-ons and hardware, and troubleshoot problems
3. Help GarageBand users who may have more advanced needs and would like to know more about Logic

(Aside: Ivan and I seem to be involved in various GBMs… GahmenBloggers meetup, GarageBand meetup… what’s next? :)

This is a list of all the extra applications and accessories I’ve added to my MacBook Pro (glossy) since I purchased it. I will update it as I go along. If you have any more suggestions, do post a comment!

Software

1. iWork, because I think Keynote’s presentations look better than Powerpoint’s. (installed)
2. FlickrExport, because it’s neater to upload photos directly from iPhoto. It uploads the photos according to the names I’ve given it, and not the default numeric names given by the camera. I previously didn’t have to pay for it but I guess it’s worthwhile supporting good software. (installed trial version, planning to pay for full version)
3. Firefox 3 beta, because it already rocks on the PC and looks even better on the Mac, taking on the metallic look that Safari has but with added features. No serious bugs encountered yet. Check out the predictive address input feature, and zoom in on text and images at the same time. Bookmarking is also smarter. (installed)
4. Adobe Photoshop. I may transfer my old Photoshop licence from my G5 PowerMac to this laptop, as I forsee myself editing and uploading more photos on the MacBook Pro. (planning to install)
5. Macromedia Studio. Likewise, I expect to do all my web stuff on this MacBook Pro, so I’ll remove it from my G5 PowerMac. (installed it, thinking of upgrading to the 2008 version)
6. Logic Studio. While it’s currently on my G5 PowerMac, Logic can only open if you have the USB token inserted. I think it is nifty, because that means you could have Logic running on different Macs (e.g. one at the big studio, one at the home studio) and still keep usage down to one machine at a time. (planning to install)
7. Second Life. Even though none of my friends seem to be using it anymore, I like to log in and take my Avatar for a spin, because this MacBook Pro’s graphics card rocks!
8. Microsoft Office (installed, and planning to upgrade). Despite having iWork, I still have an extra home user licence for Office 2004, and after drooling over Kevin’s review I will most likely upgrade to the 2008 version.
9. Facebook Exporter for iPhoto I wondered if there was such a program, Googled and found it! It is so handy. It can even tag people in each photo you want to upload. And it’s free.
10. Senuti, which transfers music files on your iPod back into your Mac. When my hard drive containing countless music files crashed, I was in despair as that meant I’d have to re-rip all my audio CDs. Now it’s restored, complete with all the track info including the ratings and number of times played. Also free.

Hardware and other accessories

1. iSkin Protouch keyboard protector, because dirt, eyelashes and other little pieces of grit tend to get stuck in between the keys.
2. Speck SeeThru red hardshell case. It’s been catching people’s eyes and some even think the MacBook Pros now come in different colours! Heh.
3. MobileGear USB hub and card reader. This is an old gadget I bought two SXSWs ago but as the MacBook Pro only comes with 2 USB ports, I have to extend it. What’s cool about it is that it is entirely white and glows different colours when plugged in.
4. iPhone. For mobile synchronisation purposes. OK, I just had to rub that one in :)
5. ExpressCard reader that can be inserted into my MacBook Pro slot, so I don’t have to lug around a USB hub when I’m out of the house or office. Anyone have recommendations? (planning to get)
6. *Backup. * Once my credit cards recuperate from the consecutive purchases of an iPhone and MacBook Pro, I will get an external hard disk as backup.
7. Screen protector that doubles up as a matte display. This is for when I go outdoors, so that the screen doesn’t shine so much. Even now, the reflection isn’t too bad. I’ve seen it worse on other laptops. Anyone know a good brand?

America has a glorious ‘return’ culture that I’m not accustomed to. Still, I have a good reason to return my newly-acquired MacBook Pro. At the Apple Store, we had a big discussion with our salesman on whether to get a glossy or matte screen. As our salesman was also an electronic musician, he understood how difficult it can be to look at a glossy screen in the outdoors where it reflects light. So he kept recommending a matte screen.

However I knew I would also be using my MacBook Pro to view photos and videos. I asked if there was a screen protector that could also take away the shine - and he Googled and found such a screen!

So… actually I could have the best of both worlds - both a glossy screen (indoors when doing photo and video editing, where it looks brilliant) and when working outdoors I could put on a screen protector. As time was running out - I had to rush back for Mark Zuckerberg’s infamous keynote at SXSW - we paid up and dashed back to Downtown Austin.

When I took the MacBook Pro to my hotel room to charge, the lighting was dim and I was so enthralled by it that I did not notice it was not glossy.

Only the next day at a SXSW did I realise it, when I sat next to a guy with the same MacBook Pro but with a glossy screen. The difference was remarkable. I called the Apple Store but my salesman had already left for the day. So I spoke to his colleague who said there’d be a 10% charge (over US$200) for opened items.

If so, that would defeat the whole purpose of me buying a MacBook Pro from the States (where I saved money due to the weak US$). But I did ask for a glossy screen and did not get one. He said as it’s their mistake, mayyybe they’d waive the fee. He can’t guarantee it, he has to get his manager to make the decision.

So now I’m heading back to the upmarket The Domain and hoping that the Apple Store there will be empathatic and provide me with the product that I want. If they insist on charging me the opening fee, I’d say forget it. The matte screen is OK but I’ll just be disappointed that my salesman made this mistake.

Update: I took the MacBook Pro, back in its box and whatever wrappings I hadn’t yet thrown away, to the Apple Store. I couldn’t find my original salesman nor the guy I spoke to on the phone. However, a third salesman was there, consulted his manager and managed to waive the charges for me. Feeling happy, I bought a couple more Apple accessories to further protect my new MacBook Pro and extend my iPhone.

And yes - I took my second MacBook Pro out of its box and can happily confirm it has a glossy screen!

i came, i saw, i Conquered. iPhone.

I got the iPhone! from Vanessa Tan on Vimeo.

Spending the past 2 days going from shop to shop and not finding the 16GB iPhone in stock was like an anticlimax. However after calling a few more shops around Los Angeles, I finally found one Apple Store at Beverly Center which had stock.

When I finally bought the iPhone, I went back and Googled for help. Initial attempts didn’t seem to work, then I discovered Ziphone (then saw Kevin’s comment on my earlier post). It was really good! Only thing is, don’t run the software alongside iTunes, as iTunes will think something funny is happening and ask to restore your iPhone.

For part two, YouTube was quite helpful (again, I’ll leave you to search for the links) and with the ‘drop of a pin’ (or should that be ‘push’?) my phone was working! I made a phone call, messaged my parents and sent a message to Twitter.

I had heard all kinds of stories back home, with friends hiring people to saw off their SIM cards. I thought things were pretty straightforward, and I’m using firmware version 1.1.3. So far, there have been no problems on my side, fingers crossed.

Anyway, I am still on the AT&T network. Screen shots, photos and a video will soon follow. Am having trouble connecting my Dell laptop to my relatives’ network, so have to rely on thumb-driving my data back and forth, and using their computers when they’re available. Once I’ve uploaded everything I’ll post them on this blog.

Rumours abound of MacBook Pro updates.

I've owned a G5 for a few years and have been planning to get a portable (yet powerful) Mac for a while - though at 15 inches wide the MacBook Pro may require some weightlifting, from what I've been told.

I'm not tempted by the MacBook Air, as slim as it may look. I'm a power user. I plan to run Photoshop and other creative/graphics programs, as well as Logic Studio on this baby when I'm on the move.

What would make me buy a MacBook Pro soon:

• Updates to Intel processors, namely the Penryns we've been hearing about
• Multi-touch trackpad features, which the MacBook Air already has
• Incorporation of OS10.5.2 which I expect to be launched around the same time

What I wouldn't mind having as well:

• A slight drop in price (wouldn't we all want one?)
• A slightly slimmer body, inspired by the Air
• One or two new features or improvements on existing ones
• Better screens that are also more environmentally-friendly
• More USB ports, if possible. Dare I suggest removing Firewire?
• A built-in memory card reader. Of course I can always get a 3rd-party one, so it's not a big deal
• Better battery life (this is a difficult one)

What's on your wish list?

Having an iPhone locked to a network which doesn't provide 3G connectivity, and is unable to make VoIP calls despite having good wireless networking built in, is like buying a Ferrari and finding that the only thing you can do with it is power your lawnmower. It's nuts - and our regulators have allowed it to happen.

So sayeth the Observer, and I empathise. What's the point of having a state of the art handset when you are only allowed to perform basic phone functions on it, because of the phone company's insecurities?

As I've been using Windows-based PDA phones for the past few years, starting from an O2 Atom to a short-lived HP iPaq 6828, a Dopod 818 Pro and now a HTC Touch, and because I was a Mac user even before that, I've relied on the Missing Sync to coordinate my phone data with iCal and Address Book.

As my system was last running on Mac OS 10.3.9, I was happy to install Leopard because that meant I could finally upgrade to the latest version of the Missing Sync, which only runs on OS10.4 and above.

However, after a few successful attempts at synchronising my newly-upgraded PowerMac with my newly-upgraded Missing Sync, my phone and Mac stopped talking to each other.

I suspected it was due to incompatibilities, and sure enough, the Mark/Space website confirms that running the Missing Sync on Leopard can lead to connectivity problems, not just for Windows Mobile but for other systems too. The company is working on a fix within 90 days of Leopard's release. I will wait for it.

What's strange is that I did sync my phone for the first few times using Leopard and Missing Sync. And right after upgrading to Leopard, I was still able to connect to the Net. It was only after an Apple Update that Airport started giving problems. And perhaps it affected my Missing Sync software too!

So in summary, I have Leopard on my system but 1) No internet connection and 2) no synchronisation with my devices! One step forward, two steps back! This is a warning to all readers... wait if you can until the software bugs are fixed.

In the interim, I should back up my phone data on Outlook which used to be installed on my Dell laptop. However, since the laptop's last major crash, the IT folks upgraded my Office software (which I do appreciate) but the latest version doesn't come with Outlook. And Microsoft ActiveSync doesn't talk to other mail programs as far as I know, so I'm totally relying on my HTC Touch for scheduling now.

A few weeks ago I had 'fantasised' about having perfectly synchronised calendars and address books on my work and home systems. Now it is just an illusion :(

I thought I had fixed my Airport problem which occured after upgrading to Leopard. However, while the network card is now working again, it cannot detect my wireless network.

Things are more complicated. My PowerMac is in my music studio, which happens to be in an old part of the house that does not have a LAN point. My only Internet source is a wireless router at the other side of the house, which I stretch out as far as possible to get the maximum signal. Usually there is no problem for my PowerMac to connect to the wireless network. However, it was only able to detect my wireless network for a brief moment in time before losing the connection totally. Subsequently it was unable to detect a network at all.

I thought maybe some hardware was damaged but after reading forum threads like this and this, I've realised many people who have upgraded to Leopard are going through the same thing. I am surprised that Apple did not do their testing properly before releasing the upgrade. Now we are all waiting with baited breath.

It is certainly an anticlimax, after marvelling at the wonders of Leopard, to discover that it impairs your Mac from doing something as basic as connecting to the Internet. Steve Jobs, are you listening? Maybe you are, and probably you're firing some manager's ass right now for overlooking this problem.

I seriously hope that Apple will release more than a 'Software Update' to fix this, as that assumes we users still have alternative ways to connect to the Internet. I cannot update my Mac this way because it does not have another Internet connection... unless someone lends me a 30-metre LAN cable which I can then wire around the house through the window to my music studio.

I think this problem is happening with various other Leopard users. I updated my keychain today and now my system says it cannot detect an Airport card! What the...

This forum discussion seems to have a solution except I don't know how to go about doing it! I've been on Windows for too long and don't know how to locate this particular file that needs deleting. Can someone help me, pretty pleeease?

[Update: It occured to me where fo find that file. Now Airport is back on.]

[Update 2: Correction. The Airport card is activated, but it cannot detect my home network. It did once but lost the connection soon after. I haven't touched my router which is several metres away. Nope, I cannot use a LAN cable because my Mac is at the other end of the house and it doesn't have a wired LAN point. Apple, I hope you're working on a fix that can be downloaded from another computer!]

I am glad to report that Leopard finally arrived at my doorstep a day later than promised… but it made up for it by being so darned easy to install. I started with my iMac G5 and there were no problems.

The package.

What was inside.

Selecting a hard drive.

It was just that to be safe, the system checked the DVD for consistency before proceeding with the installation. That took quite some time. For my subsequent upgrade of my PowerMac G5, I skipped that function.

It hung on my PowerMac though, which got me worried. On restarting, the system hung again probably because it was trying to boot in Leopard which wasn’t installed yet. I managed to restart the PowerMac and immediately eject the DVD. Then I realised my external hard disk could be making things complicated so I turned it off as well. Immediately, the system started up, and I installed Leopard without a hitch.

What I thought was cool:

1. How my PDF and Office document icons suddenly took on their own individual look, displaying their contents.
2. Similarly, Quick View was handy when flipping through my music scores and notes.
3. I like how I can select a section of a website in Safari and it will display it as a widget.
4. Coming from OS10.3.9 I finally got to play with Apple widgets. Goodbye, Yahoo! Konfabulator.
5. The stacked documents in the Dock is useful. If I used a Mac for work, I’d arrange all my projects this way.
6. Finally, I was able to install The Missing Sync for my HTC Touch (Windows Mobile 6) phone! Needed OS10.4 or above to do so.
7. The latest version of iLife came with Leopard! Woohoo.
8. This is one of my favs: Time Machine. A bit slow because I have so many files to backup, but I think it will give me a sense of assurance. Assuming my external hard disk doesn’t die, like it did for Kevin’s.
9. Things look a bit better than before. Like the icons and the Dock.
10. Full screen video preview.

I don’t have much time to play around with it today as I’m now doing some paperwork… but will definitely get round to it!

What are *your *favourite features?

I ordered a Mac OS Leopard family pack upgrade a few weeks ago and received two emails yesterday (26 Oct) telling me that Leopard would be shipped to my home by 26 Oct. Naturally I was very excited about it.

However up to today (27 Oct) I have yet to see any traces of this feline. To double-check, I logged in to my account page and was told that it had been shipped!

Which leads to two possible conclusions:

1. The delivery man went to the wrong house and someone else is now in possession of my copy of Leopard.
2. Leopard has not been delivered yet; due to the (possibly) high number of orders Apple has been unable to cope, yet their system isn’t well-synchronised and has informed many of us that our orders have been delivered when they haven’t.

Option 2 has happened to one of my previous orders and I am not surprised if nobody has bothered to improve this process since then. Apple Asia standards lag behind the US headquarters. I’ve found more broken links on the Asia website and wonder if Steve Jobs should shake things up a bit.

I have been holding on to the line for the past few several minutes. I suspect that many other people are in the same situation, baffled by the emails informing them that Leopard has been delivered to them when it hasn’t.

Post a comment if you’re in the same situation as me! Misery loves company.

According to rumours, Mac OS X Leopard (aka version 10.5) will be out on 26 October 2007. That means we can upgrade the two Macs at home, and my sister will be able to run Final Cut Studio which we purchased a couple months ago (only then to realise it wouldn't run on our Mac OS 10.3.9).

It will be a big jump for me, I suppose. I don't have fancy widgets because that came with OS 10.4. So I expect to be pleasantly surprised.

Hopefully the upgrade process won't kill me. Better backup all my Logic Pro songs. Or else I'll really cry.

More updates: Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac will be coming out, too.

While I was getting my own vision upgraded, I also decided to fix my RAM problem. My PowerMac G5 was only registering 512MB of RAM when I had actually much more than that. Seems it was a problem of loose fitting and my re-arranging the slots in the wrong order.

Man, I feel powerful now.

Calling all Mac experts! I'm having the same problem that Andy Budd had - the family iMac has been unable to get past the startup screen. The blue loading bar looks like it's 95% complete but it just hangs there. Even when starting in Safe mode, it hangs at exactly the same spot. I can't get beyond this stage to type anything.

I, too, checked out the Apple Support site and did more Googling, but have yet to find a solution. It is not reassuring looking at people's forum posts and not getting any replies so far that have helped!

What may have happened is that a software update was recently attempted, but it was not successful/complete. The iMac's running OS10.3.9 (the last I recall). Since then, the iMac has been hanging on startup. The iMac uses a G5 and not an Intel processor. It's the older version without the built-in iSight.

I tried calling AppleCentre Orchard's support line as we bought it from that store a couple years ago, but it is closed today. Any other ideas as to what I can do? In any case, I will probably call the store tomorrow.

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