Macblog tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2009-01-08:/mt-static/macblog//9 2010-11-24T05:04:21Z Movable Type 4.34-en Got an iPad or IPhone? - Get iOS4.2 Now tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2010:/mt-static/macblog//9.1842 2010-11-24T04:49:54Z 2010-11-24T05:04:21Z Kevin Gill
If you've got an iPhone 4, iPad or iPod Touch you need this update, too.  Find My iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch is now FREE!  No MobileMe pay for subscription required. If you have an iPhone 3G or 3GS, you are out of luck on the free part. Only the iPhone 4 can do Find My iPhone for free.

Other really cool features in iOS4.2 include AirPrint and AirPlay.  AirPrint lets you print from your iPhone or iPad wirelessly, instantly and without drivers - BUT hold on - it only works with a few brand new HP printers.  But hey, the holidays are right around the corner, right?  Add one to your wish list.  The Apple website has all the details and demos for the new iOS4.2 features.  Check it out here.
]]> Mac @ Eastern: Communications, Webb 410 and Physics Labs Upgraded tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2010:/mt-static/macblog//9.1493 2010-08-11T01:44:25Z 2010-08-11T01:55:05Z Kevin Gill
Five new iMacs with the same configuration as the Comm 229 Macs will be available in the General Purpose Computer Lab located in Webb Hall 410 for the start of the fall semester.  These new iMacs double the total number of Macs available in the Lab to 10.

The Physics Classroom Lab is also scheduled for upgraded hardware later this summer or early fall. The current G4 eMacs will be replaced with brand new Mac Minis connected to 23" Apple Cinema monitors.
]]> How To: Live@EDU Email On Your iPhone tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2010:/mt-static/macblog//9.1492 2010-08-11T01:34:14Z 2010-08-11T01:42:58Z Kevin Gill

Did you know that you can have your Eastern student email delivered to your iPhone automatically?  Eastern's Live@EDU uses the latest version of the world-standard email system, Microsoft Exchange.  Apple recognized from the very beginning that the iPhone needed to support Exchange and in fact, they licensed the necessary software from Microsoft to just that.

You need to make a few simple configuration settings on your iPhone and your Eastern student email will be automatically delivered to your phone. 

  1. Tap the Settings icon on the iPhone home screen
  2.  Tap Mail, Contacts, Calendars
  3. If this is your first email configuration on the phone, tap the Microsoft Exchange icon; if you have already setup at least one other email account on your iPhone, tap the Add Account...option, then tap Microsoft Exchange.
  4. Complete the configuration settings using the information below:
      • Your @my.easternct.edu student email address
      • Server =  pod51004.outlook.com
      • Domain = leave this field blank
      • Your Eastern student email address
      • Your Eastern email password
      • Enable SSL
  5. Your iPhone should attempt to connect to verify the setting.  Once verified, it will take several minutes before your email begins to arrive and display.
]]> How To: Adjust Entourage 2008 Signature Block Placement tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2010:/mt-static/macblog//9.1171 2010-03-16T00:54:45Z 2010-08-11T01:57:44Z Kevin Gill
If you'd like to have your signature block behave the way it does in Outlook, inserted at the end of your reply which appears above the original message, here's how:

  1. Click on "Entourage" menu item
  2. Click on Preferences
  3. Click on Reply and Forward
  4. In the Mail Attribution section click the radio button next to "Place reply at top of message and include...." See the graphic below for proper setting
  5. Click OK
  6. Done!

preferences_small.jpg


]]> Microsoft Office 2008 Critical Security Update Released tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2010:/mt-static/macblog//9.1163 2010-03-10T02:00:53Z 2010-03-10T02:23:31Z The Microsoft has released a critical security update for Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac. The update improves security and includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code. It... Kevin Gill The Microsoft has released a critical security update for Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac. The update improves security and includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code. It also includes several improvements to enhance stability and performance. If you are running Office 2008, you need this update - now.

The Office 2008 for Mac 12.2.4 Update includes the following improvements (courtesy of Microsoft.com)

Improvements for all Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac applications

  • Helps improve security.
    This update fixes vulnerabilities in Office 2008 that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code. For more information, see the security bulletin that is listed earlier in this document.

Improvements for Microsoft Excel 2008 for Mac

  • Stability is improved. 
    This update fixes an issue that could cause Excel to close unexpectedly in the following scenarios:
    • Corrupted fonts are present.
    • You insert a row or value into a calculated column.
    • You drag the scroll bar when Excel is displaying trendlines.
  • Performance is improved.
    This update fixes an issue that causes slow performance with certain printer drivers in Mac OS X Snow Leopard.
  • Imported content from a text file is formatted correctly.
    This update fixes an issue in which multiple line values in a single cell appear in separate rows when you save the contents as a text file and then open the file in Excel.
]]> Coming Friday: AT&T Will Launch Support for MMS on iPhone 3G & 3GS tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2009:/mt-static/macblog//9.602 2009-09-23T03:23:20Z 2009-09-23T03:45:57Z Kevin Gill iPhone 3.1 - Get It or Pass? tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2009:/mt-static/macblog//9.601 2009-09-23T03:11:46Z 2009-09-23T03:23:03Z Kevin Gill here]]> How To: Entourage 2008 Global Address Book From Off-Campus tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2009:/mt-static/macblog//9.600 2009-09-23T02:21:14Z 2009-09-23T02:51:57Z If you use Entourage 2008 from off-campus, you probably realized, almost immediately, that you can't lookup users in the Global Address Book, also known as the "GAL". Fortunately, one of the smart folks at Microsoft created an AppleScript that is... Kevin Gill If you use Entourage 2008 from off-campus, you probably realized, almost immediately, that you can't lookup users in the Global Address Book, also known as the "GAL". Fortunately, one of the smart folks at Microsoft created an AppleScript that is easy to install and even easier to use, that allows you to search Eastern's Global Address Book and even display the user's contact information. 


To get the script and instructions on how to install and use it, click here.  Note: once installed you will access the GAL lookup script by clicking on the Script icon on the Entourage menu bar.  Many are unfamiliar with this, so I've included a graphic below to help illustrate it.
GAL.gif

]]> How To: Faculty & Staff Email On Your iPhone or iPad tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2009:/mt-static/macblog//9.461 2009-07-13T14:34:41Z 2011-09-12T13:00:51Z Kevin Gill * UPDATED TO REFLECT NEW EXCHANGE 2010 SERVER *

Did you know that you can have your Eastern email delivered to your iOS device automatically?  Eastern uses the world-standard email system, Microsoft Exchange, for faculty/staff email.  Apple recognized from the very beginning that the iPhone and iPad needed to support Exchange and in fact, they licensed the necessary software from Microsoft to do just that.

You need to make a few simple configuration settings on your iPhone or iPad and your Eastern email will be automatically delivered to your phone. 

  1. Tap the Settings icon on the home screen
  2.  Tap Mail, Contacts, Calendars
  3. If this is your first email configuration on the device, tap the Microsoft Exchange icon; if you have already setup at least one other email account on your device, tap the Add Account...option, then tap Microsoft Exchange.
  4. Complete the configuration settings using the information below:
      • Your Eastern email address
      • Server = webmail.easternct.edu (*updated information for Exchange 2010 accounts)
      • Domain = easternct.edu
      • Your Eastern username
      • Your Eastern email password

NOTE: You may get a "pop-up" message during the initial setup and again later warning you about a problem with a certificate. You must OK the certificate error or your iPhone/iPad won't connect to the email server. 

]]> Apple Releases iPhone 3.0 Software tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2009:/mt-static/macblog//9.453 2009-06-18T20:04:20Z 2009-06-18T20:19:53Z Kevin Gill June 17, 2009 - Apple released for download through iTunes, the much-awaited 3.0 version of the iPhone's operating system.  The new iPhone 3G S arrives on Friday, June 19th.

There are many new features in this latest version of the software, however many of them are specific to the actual hardware version of your iPhone.  Those with the first generation iPhone get some of the most wanted features, those with the second generation iPhone 3G get most of them, but if you want them all, you must have one of the new iPhone 3G S models. 

I downloaded and installed it on my first gen iPhone and experienced no issues with the download/install or new features, so I suspect most everyone will have a good experience upgrading the software on an existing 1st Gen phone, at least. Unfortunately, tethering your iPhone to your laptop, while supported in this latest software version is hidden by Apple in the US, at least until AT&T can come up with a plan to manage/charge for that feature.

To learn more about Software 3.0 or the iPhone 3G S, go to www.apple.com.  If you want to get the software upgrade on your iPhone, simply connect your iPhone to your computer, open iTunes and click on your iPhone's icon in the left panel.  iTunes will present you with the option to download and install the software.  Set aside an hour to get it done, but it will likely take less time.

]]> Your Mac Needs Help - OR - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Plug-ins tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2009:/mt-static/macblog//9.450 2009-06-15T12:57:26Z 2009-06-15T20:07:41Z Kevin Gill Your Mac will do lots of things right out of the box, but there are some things that it just can't do on its own - for those your Mac needs help.  That help comes in the form of helper apps or "plug-ins".

Plug-ins add functionality that Apple doesn't directly support in the operating system or in some cases, they enhance the capabilities of existing functionality.  A great example of the former is Adobe's Flash Plug-in. One of the best examples of a plug-in that enhances existing capabilities is another Adobe Plug-in, Adobe Reader.  While your Mac can view PDF files using Preview, installing Adobe's Reader will allow Safari to open PDF's on the web seamless, rather forcing the operating system to handle it by launching Preview.

Have you tried to open a Windows Media video, on your Mac?  WMV, (Windows Media Video), is one of the most popular formats for video on the web today, but your Mac can't work with them natively; it needs a plug-in. Below is a list of links to the top 5 plug-ins.

  1. Adobe Flash Player
  2. Adobe Reader
  3. Flip-4-Mac
  4. Real Player
  5. Adobe Media Player
]]> Disappearing Toolbars in Office 2008 for Mac OR It Isn't Always Microsoft's Fault tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2009:/mt-static/macblog//9.299 2009-05-05T14:33:56Z 2009-05-05T15:22:39Z Kevin Gill Have the toolbars in Microsoft Word, Excel and/or PowerPoint 2008 disappeared on your Mac?

If they have an you haven't figured out how to turn them back on or you turn them on and the next time you open the application you are back at square one (no toolbars), you can actually thank Apple and not Microsoft for this "feature".

The next time you open one of the Office 2008 applications, take a look and find the oblong button at the right end of the application's title bar.  Click it - your toolbars will switch state - from hidden to visible or vice-versa.  Why you would want them hidden is something I will never understand. 

If your toolbars haven't disappeared on you yet, just knowing  how this "feature" works just might lessen the pain should an errant click occur.

 

 

]]> Data Analysis Pack Gone in Excel 2008 - Solver To The Rescue tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2009:/mt-static/macblog//9.124 2009-03-06T04:14:36Z 2009-03-06T04:40:41Z Kevin Gill
Academia was outraged and rightly so. Many universities and individual faculty rolled their Office 2008 installations back to Office 2004, to regain the critical, lost functionality or put upgrading on-hold until a solution could be developed. 

Fortunately, Microsoft's Mac Business Unit heard the message - loud and clear.  Frontline Systems, working with the Mac BU's support has created an AppleScript-based solution named "Solver" to return the missing functionality to Excel 2008 and released it last fall.

The best news, is that Solver works great and is available as a free download from Frontline Systems' website.  If you rolled back or stayed on Office 2004 or have been frustrated with Excel 2008's data analysis functionality, Solver for Excel 2008 is just what the doctor ordered.

Many thanks to Eastern's Dr. Ross Koning (Biology) for discovering this solution and bringing it to our attention.
 
]]> Killer iPhone App - Kindle for iPhone tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2009:/mt-static/macblog//9.123 2009-03-06T03:10:59Z 2009-03-06T04:10:11Z Got an iPhone or iPod Touch? Get Kindle for iPhone! Amazon's Kindle for the iPhone is now available free from Apple's App Store. In simple terms, Amazon's Kindle, recently upgraded to version 2, is a wireless electronic reading device. Over... Kevin Gill Kindle Overview on Amazon's website

The Kindle for iPhone app allows iPhone and iPod touch owners to read Amazon Kindle books purchased from a Mac, PC or IPhone using a web browser and then wirelessly transferred to the iPhone. As with the Kindle, you can read the first chapter of any book for free. In addition, your iPhone, through the Kindle App can sync with your Kindle seamlessly. That includes annotations and your bookmarks. Checkout Amazon's Frequently Asked Questions about Kindle for iPhone for more information.
]]> Apple Releases Safari 4 Browser Beta tag:nutmeg.easternct.edu,2009:/mt-static/macblog//9.121 2009-03-06T02:57:11Z 2009-03-06T03:10:35Z Kevin Gill the Safari 4 features page on Apple's website for details and links to the free download.  

As with any beta, use extreme caution on and expect issues to arise.  For every day use, be sure you have another browser like FireFox, Opera, Camino or another proven, supported browser.
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