Saturday, December 31, 2011

Top 15 Terminal Commands for Hidden Mac OS X Settings


Top 15 Terminal Commands for Hidden Mac OS X Settings

Update: This article is very old. Most of the Terminal Commands still work, but consider checking out our top Terminal commands for Leopard and Snow Leopard. Our Terminal Tipscategory also has loads of other ways help you get the most out of your Mac.
There are a huge amount of hidden settings for Mac OS X and its applications that aren't accessible from preferences dialog boxes or the System Preferences. Applications such as Tinkertool and Mac Pilot allow you to access some of these, but the real flexibility is from the Terminal. From here it is possible to edit any preferences file for any application on your Mac.

You'll find the Terminal in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder. To carry out any of the following commands you will need to copy/paste or type in the line of text then hit enter. For the most part, applications will need restarting before changes take place. For most applications you can just quit and open them again, but for the Finder and the Dock it is easiest to just type “killall Finder” or “killall Dock” into Terminal after the command.

To reverse any of them, just repeat the command with NO at the end instead of YES, or vice versa.

Feel free to add any of your favourites in the comments.

1. Make hidden applications' dock icons translucent.
defaults write com.apple.Dock showhidden -bool YES
Translucent dock icons hidden applications
2. Normally the arrows next to artists and albums in your iTunes library search the iTunes store when you click them. This command changes them so that clicking will search your iTunes library instead.
defaults write com.apple.iTunes invertStoreLinks -bool YES
3. This allows you to drag widgets out of Dashboard onto the desktop. Requires the dock to be relaunched to take effect, so type "killall Dock" and press enter. Now, if you click and hold onto a widget in the dashboard and press F12 to return to the desktop, the widget won't disappear with the rest.
defaults write com.apple.dashboard devmode YES
Dashboard Widget on Desktop
4. Force all mail to be displayed as plain text.
defaults write com.apple.mail PreferPlainText -bool YES


5. Set expanded save dialogs as default (showing column/list view of folders rather than a drop down menu). Replace TRUE with FALSE to reverse.
defaults write -g NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -bool YES


6. Display the currently chosen screen saver to be shown as the desktop background. Press Control-C or Command-. to stop. More details here.
/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Resources/ ScreenSaverEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine -background


7. Display useful system stats in the login window. More details here.
defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow AdminHostInfo SystemVersion 

Replace "SystemVersion" with one of the following for different stats:
SystemBuild 
SerialNumber 
IPAddress 
DSStatus 
Time
HostName


8. To remove accounts from the login window type this command with the short name of each account you wish to remove. More details here.
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow HiddenUsersList -array-add shortname1 shortname2 shortname3


9. Skip disk image verification. Potentially risky, use with disk images from trusted sources.
defaults write com.apple.frameworks.diskimages skip-verify -bool YES


10. Put double scroll arrows at both ends of scroll bar. Use Appearance pane in system preferences to reset.
defaults write "Apple Global Domain" AppleScrollBarVariant DoubleBoth
Horizontal Scroll-bar
11. Disable the unexpectedly quit dialog that normally appears when an application crashes. Replace "none" with "prompt" to enable again.
defaults write com.apple.CrashReporter DialogType none


12. Set the history limit in Safari to a certain number of items and and/or a certain age.
defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitHistoryItemLimit 2000
and/or
defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitHistoryAgeInDaysLimit 30


13. Show hidden files in the Finder.
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool YES


14. Enable the debug menu in Safari.
defaults write com.apple.safari IncludeDebugMenu -bool YES


15. Deactivate Dashboard. Requires the dock to be relaunched to take effect, so type "killall Dock" and press enter. 
defaults write com.apple.dashboard mcx-disabled -bool YES
via : http://www.macosxtips.co.uk/
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How to fix: This device isn’t eligible for the requested build


Photo credit: B Rosen (Flickr)
One of our regular readers, @nishmyshkin recently got in touch to ask us why his iPhone 3GS wouldn’t let him upgrade his iOS to a newer firmware. Each time he tried he got the following message: “The iPhone could not be restored . This device isn’t eligible for the requested build.
Thankfully the solution is simple and falls into one of two areas:
  1. The iOS version that’s been downloaded isn’t the right one for the device.
  2. There’s an entry in your host file redirecting Apple traffic to another location.
In most cases, it’ll be the second option. As a quick test on the machine where you’re trying to do a restore put the following into a web browser http://gs.apple.com If an Apple 404 page (page not found) is displayed then you should be good to restore and therefore you should re-download the required firmware, reboot both your computer and the iPhone and try again. If an index page is displayed (like displayed below) then it means you’ve got entries in your host file you need to remove.
The process for removal on Mac and Windows machines is slightly different but we’ve detailed them below:
Mac OS X
1. On your Mac, open your Applications folder.
2. Navigate to the Utilities folder.
3. Open Terminal.
4. Type “sudo nano /etc/hosts” (without quotes) and press enter.
5. Enter your password
6. Use the down arrow key to find the gs.apple.com entries. Once the cursor is in front, make sure you comment out the line(s) by entering # in front of the text.
7. Save the file by pressing CONTROL+O.
8. Exit the nano editor by pressing CONTROL+X.
9. Restore your iDevice.
Windows
1. Press Start, then Programs, then Accessories
2. Launch Notepad or WordPad
3. Click Open from File menu.
4. Browse to Windows/System32/drivers/etc
5. In “files of type:” select all documents
6. Open “hosts
7. Delete all line that have gs.apple.com or similar
8. Hit Save
9. Restore your device
via : http://lastplaceonthe.net
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Friday, December 30, 2011

Apple's Original iPhone From 1983 [Image]


 


out this image of Apple's original 'iPhone' designed in 1983 by Hartmut Esslinger.

Esslinger is the same designer behind the Apple IIc computer and according to Wikipedia he was contracted by the company for $1,000,000/year .

In 1982 he entered into an exclusive $1,000,000 per year contract with Apple Computer to create a design strategy which transformed Apple from a "Silicon Valley Start-Up" into a global brand. Setting up shop in California for the first time, Esslinger and Frogdesign created the "Snow White design language" which was applied to all Apple product lines from 1984 to 1990, commencing with the Apple IIc and including the Macintosh computer. The original Apple IIc was acquired by the Whitney Museum of Art in New York and Time voted it Design of the Year. Soon after Steve Jobs' departure, Esslinger broke his own contract with Apple and followed Jobs to NeXT.

Take a look at the phone below...

Read More [via iPhoneFreakz] [via Wikipedia]


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Download RedSnow 0.9.10 beta 3 To Fix MobileSubstrate Error

Well, you have just jailbrokne your device running on iOS 5.0.1 by using Redsn0w 0.9.10b1 but after many hours some problems began appearing like especially for those guys who used Corona 5.0.1 Untether jailbreak tweak   "LaunchctI" Error and we gave a solution by updating it to a new version, but today a new problem also appeared which is  MobileSubstrate Error, so today iPhone dev team released a new version of Redsn0w which fixes this error:

Just a few moments ago, iPhone dev team has just released Redsn0w 0.9.10b3 which released specially to fix MobileSubstrate error which many users faced it..
From iPhone Dev Team blog:
The b3 version of redsn0w fixes a problem where re-running redsn0w over an existing jailbreak would cause MobileSubstrate-based apps to stop running until MS was installed again. Now you can re-run the redsn0w jailbreak step without worrying about that (but still remember to de-select the “Install Cydia” option if it’s already installed).
Another tip: If RedSn0w tells you that no identifying data was found when it auto-detects your IPSW, then you can pre-select your iOS device’s 5.0.1 IPSW in RedSnow’s Extras >Select IPSW menu.
Now let's began downloading it:
Download Redsn0w 0.9.10b3 [Windows users] "Run it in Administrator mode"
Download Redsn0w 0.9.10b3 [Mac users]

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(Via Ultrasn0w.)

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Mac Tip: Force empty the Trash


Mac Tip: Force empty the TrashSometimes the Trash on your Mac won't empty - even when you tell it to. Ever since I dragged and dropped a bunch of leftover Windows system files into my Mac's Trash bin, no matter how many times I tried to empty it, there those trashed files stayed, staring at me in defiance.
If the affected account is:Then type the Terminal command:
Your Admin account:sudo rm -ri ~/.Trash
Another user account:sudo rm -ri /Users/user_name/.Trashwhere user_name is the short name of the affected account.
Luckily, The X Lab site offers a few options for force-emptying the Mac's Trash. Being acommand line gal, I used the old rm -rf ~/.Trash/* technique in Terminal, but apparently holding down the Option key while emptying does the trick too. Here's to empty trash bins!
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Zephyr Jailbreak Tweak Enables Cohesive iPhone Multitasking Gestures

The iPad brought four (or five) finger gestures for multitasking in iOS 5, but due to the screen size, the iPhone didn’t receive the same gestures. Today however, Grant Paul (known more commonly as chpwn) has released a jailbreak tweak that brings gestures to the iPhone for those same multitasking functions.

The tweak, named Zephyr, is available on the Cydia store and is currently made up of two key gestures. The first is based on Max Rudberg’s concept video from earlier this month, and is essentially a single finger swipe up from the bottom of the screen (ie. the Notification Center gesture but from the bottom of the screen, moving up) and it reveals the multitasking tray. The second gesture is swiping in from the sides of the iPhone screen, allowing you to go back to your last opened app and then back again.

Emulating the gesture functions of the iPad and iOS 5, this Zephyr tweak looks and works really well and it’s clear that Paul took the time and effort to perfect how it works. It’s available for jailbroken devices for $2.99 on the Cydia store. Unlike some other, similar tweaks, Zephyr does not require Activator or other jailbreak tweaks to work.

Paul says he is looking to update the tweak with more gestures and actions in the future, including perhaps a gesture to exit to the home screen (as is possible with the iPad on iOS 5). You can view a demonstration of the tweak below the break.

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(Via MacStories.)

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The Best 30 Apps For Your New iPad

So you have just bought a new iPad but asking yourself what apps should I download it for my iPad ?! Well this is a very nice question from you, because today we have got for you the best 30 apps that your new iPad really needs them, also from some time we gave you a list for some perfect apps for your iPhone Now let's check what are they after the jump:





Social

With high-res photos, games, chat and more, now you can get the best of Facebook—on your iPad.
Follow your interests: instant updates from your friends, industry experts, favorite celebrities, and what’s happening around the world. Get short bursts of timely information on the official Twitter app.
Bring your Skype contacts closer with full screen video at your fingertips. Beautiful and simple, this is Skype built especially for the iPad. Call, video call, or instant message anyone on Skype. Plus, if you add a little Skype Credit, call landlines and mobiles at really low rates.

Camera/Photography

Browse popular photos, search for users, follow others, favorite and comment on photos. Instapad also let’s you see all your feeds, so you can keep up with what followers are doing. Instapad brings beautiful Instagram photos to life on your iPad to enjoy and share in a way that can’t be matched on a smaller screen.
PhotoForge2 is the definitive photo manipulation software for iOS. Completely rewritten from the ground up, PhotoForge2 is a breakthrough for image editing on the go. Edit full resolution photos just like on your desktop. True layers support means you can now composite multiple photos into amazing works of art. Unparalleled powerful tools like curves and levels allow you to manipulate your photos with ease. Amazing filters and effects will allow even a beginner to transform their photos into masterpieces. Once your photo is ready to be seen by the world, easily send to friends and family directly from PhotoForge2. PhotoForge2 is a must have app for any photographer: easy enough for beginners to start getting creative, yet powerful enough for the professional on the go.
Diptic helps you easily combine multiple photos and apply artistic effects to create exceptional photo collages that can be shared with friends and family via email, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr or Posterous. With rounded borders, 21 customizable layouts and color effects, there are unlimited options to create unique images!

Entertainment

GarageBand turns your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch into a collection of Touch Instruments and a full-featured recording studio — so you can make music anywhere you go. Use Multi-Touch gestures to play pianos, organs, guitars, drums, and basses. They sound and play like their counterparts, but let you do things you could never do on a real instrument. Enjoy a full range of Smart Instruments that make you sound like a pro — even if you’ve never played a note before. Plug an electric guitar into your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch and play through classic amps and stompbox effects. Use the built-in microphone or a guitar to record, or capture any performance. Then mix up to eight tracks to create a song you can share.
iTunes Movie Trailers puts the newest and most exclusive movie previews in HD in your hands. Browse trailers, clips, and featurettes for the biggest Hollywood blockbusters and independent cinema; view stunning HD photos; explore a year-long calendar of movie releases; find showtimes near you and get ticket into directly from your iPad or iPhone.
Just download this free app and you can instantly watch TV shows & movies streaming from Netflix.
New – Shazam TV commercials and shows to watch exclusive content, get coupons and other goodies. Look for the Shazam logo! Shazam on iPad offers unlimited tagging and innovative features
djay transforms your iPad into a full–fledged DJ system and seamlessly integrates with your iPod library, giving you direct access to all your favorite tracks and playlists. A hyper–realistic touchscreen interface and ultra low–latency converge to offer you a true professional mixing experience, all with your own music. You can perform live, record mixes on–the–go, or enable Automix mode and let djay mix your favorite playlist from your iPod library auto–magically!

Reading/Web

Google Reader Client.
Fill Flipboard with the things you like to read, from the smallest blogs to publications like Rolling Stone or Vanity Fair, and use Instapaper or Read It Later to save articles to read later. Connect Flipboard to all your social networks, and you’ll have a single place to enjoy, browse, comment on and share all the news, photos and updates that matter to you.
Save web pages for later offline reading, optimized for readability on your iPhone or iPod touch’s screen. Featured by Apple and critically acclaimed by top blogs, newspapers, and magazines! Great for long articles and blog posts that you find during the day and would like to read, but don’t have the time when you find them. Save with Instapaper, then read later when you’re commuting, in a meeting, or waiting in line.
The Amazon Mobile App allows iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users to quickly search, shop, compare prices, read reviews, and make purchases on Amazon using a simple, yet elegant, interface. To make on-the-go shopping and price comparison even easier, the Amazon Mobile App includes helpful shopping features that allow users to scan a barcode, snap a photo, or type a search, to quickly compare prices and check availability.
The Kindle app is optimized for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, giving users the ability to read Kindle books, newspapers, magazines, textbooks and PDFs on a beautiful, easy-to-use interface. You’ll have access to over 1,000,000* books in the Kindle Store plus hundreds* of newspapers and magazines.

Games

The survival of the Angry Birds is at stake. Dish out revenge on the greedy pigs who stole their eggs. Use the unique powers of each bird to destroy the pigs’ defenses. Angry Birds features challenging physics-based gameplay and hours of replay value. Each level requires logic, skill and force to solve.
The God King has been defeated, an unlikely hero has emerged and now you must discover the truth behind the secrets of the Infinity Blade. The continuing journey of young Siris unfolds as you delve deeper into the world of the Deathless tyrants and their legion of Titans. Can you unlock all the mysteries and successfully wield the power of the Infinity Blade in this timeless swordplay adventure of champions and villains?
From the makers of the award-winning best-seller Harbor Master® comes the most exhilarating running game on the App Store. Test your reflexes as you race down ancient temple walls and along sheer cliffs. Swipe to turn, jump and slide to avoid obstacles, collect coins and buy power ups, and see how far you can run!
Fly Willow the Whale high through the sky in the magical world of Rainbow Land. Watch out for the angry sea monster Baron Von Barry who is ever close on Willow’s tail. Collect Blubbles, loop the loop, smash the grumpy Thunder Bros enemies and meet friends along the way.
Are you ready for the ultimate racing experience for iOS? Optimized specifically for iPad and iPad 2, Real Racing 2 HD is a heart-pounding, visually astounding 3D racer that puts the steering wheel directly in your hands. The expansive, 10-plus hour career mode and extensive, one-of-a-kind multiplayer means the fight for first place is never over.
SHADOWGUN puts you into the role of John Slade, the galaxy’s most infamous bounty hunter. Your mission: hunt down Dr. Edgar Simon, maniacal genius and leader of his own mutant army. Infiltrate Dr. Simon’s mountain fortress and fight his personal guard of cyborgs, battle droids, and genetically-enhanced humanoids. Using state-of-the-art weaponry, ships, and the assistance of S.A.R.A.—Slade’s personal android assistant—SHADOWGUN combines intense tactical combat with 3rd person action.

Utilities

If you misplace your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, the Find My iPhone app will let you use another iOS device to find it and protect your data. Simply install this free app on another iOS device, open it, and sign in with your Apple ID. Find My iPhone will help you locate your missing device on a map. You can then choose to display a message or play a sound, remotely lock your device, or erase your data on it.
Control iTunes and Apple TV using your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad over your Wi-Fi network. Choose playlists, songs, and albums as if you were right in front of your computer or Apple TV. From anywhere in your home change a song, pick a playlist or browse through your entire library.  With a flick of your finger, you can even control every aspect of the Apple TV user interface.  Use your device’s QWERTY keyboard to quickly tap out the title instead of clicking letters on the Apple TV screen. Then keep tapping to play, fast forward, rewind, and pause to your finger’s content. Remote has been fully optimized to take advantage of the large screen real estate of the iPad as well as the spectacular Retina display in the iPhone 4, and new iPod touch.
Never lose your place in a calculation again with the live as-you-type expression view. Simply swipe the keypad to the left to reveal advanced functions. See your past calculations in the history tape. You can even send old values and expressions back to your calculator or to a friend via email.
Transform your iPhone, iPad or iPod to remotely control your computer through WiFi. Extended keyboard, Multi-Touch Trackpad and Apple Remote.
1Password for iPad securely stores your important information and can automatically log you into websites with a single tap.

Productivity

Wunderlist HD for iPad will boost your productivity. Organize your to-do lists on the go and synchronize them with your free Wunderlist account. View and modify your tasks on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone/iPod Touch, Android and the web. Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide use Wunderlist everyday. Wunderlist – your tasks anywhere, anytime.
Pages is the most beautiful word processor you’ve ever seen on a mobile device. This powerful app has been exclusively designed for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Create, edit, and view documents wherever you are. Use dictation in iOS 5 on your iPhone 4S to easily create and edit documents. Pages works with iCloud, so your documents stay up to date across all your iOS devices — automatically.
Keynote is the most powerful presentation app ever designed for a mobile device. Built from the ground up for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, it makes creating a world-class presentation — complete with animated charts and transitions — as simple as touching and tapping. Use full-screen view to present right on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. Or use video mirroring to present it on an HDTV, and preview your slides and notes on your device using the presenter display. Keynote works with iCloud, so your presentations stay up to date across all your iOS devices — automatically.
If you have some more apps in your mind, it will be a great from you to know it from you, but really the above apps are the most important for your iPad, enjoy all and happy downloading :)

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(Via Ultrasn0w.)

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