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Some info for When you Finally Move to Mountain Lion

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The Macworld Help Desk has a really helpful article about what to expect when upgrading to Mac OS 10.8 (currently 10.8.2) Mountain Lion. The article can be seen at http://bit.ly/10n5gNc

Personally, I haven’t performed this upgrade, but there’s really only one reason for this at this point. I HAVE upgraded to Lion (10.7) and do not particularly like it. It’s GREAT for new users, but for those of us who’ve been using the Mac for a long time, we have to jump through too many hoops to do anything with real control. This is the same issue with Mountain Lion, and from what I see, Mountain Lion has some improvements over Lion. So, you ask, WHY have I upgraded to Lion, and skipped Lion?

Well, I NEED my old applications that run in Rosetta. “But” (you say), “Lion doesn’t run Rosetta either, so how can this be a good reason?”

In my efforts to keep my old apps running, I found the ONE version of VMWare Fusion that allowed us to install Snow Leopard as a guest operating system so I can run my old Snow Leopard installation (my favorite OS so far, btw) in emulation – much the same way I run Windows. Now, I need you guys to know that installing Snow Leopard’s Client OS may be breaking the “letter of the law” unless you use the Server version.

The ONE version of VMWare Fusion that will allow the use of Snow Leopard’s Client (means end-user version) will stop working if I upgrade it, and the old version will not run on Mountain Lion – simple as that!

Oh, and I should tell you that I HAVE tried using the Server version of Snow Leopard in Parallels and VMWare. They work fine, but don’t have the same capabilities as they do when emulating Windows – they don’t allow copy/paste to work between environments, and they don’t allow drag and drop of files from the main environment to the virtualized one (a VERY helpful feature between Mac and Windows – non-existent in Mac to Mac emulation – can you believe it?!)

All this, so you can understand the implications of upgrading your Operating System on the Mac. It may not affect you as most of you have been using the Mac for a short enough time that you don’t have any older programs that require Rosetta. But if you do, you may wish to take heed.

Apple Malware Identified – Looks like we finally “Made the Grade”

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It’s very rare to see Macs targeted for Malware and Cyber Attacks. In large part, it’s because the Mac OS is really quite a secure Operating System, based on UNIX and containing lots of built-in security controls. However, I believe another factor in it’s lack of focus by the “bad guys” was because it has always been a “smaller target” a less popular, less-used OS, because there’ve never been as many Macs out there as Windows computers.

This time, it’s not the OS that’s been targeted directly, but an addition to the OS, called Java. Java (developed by Sun Microsystems) is a programming language that’s used within operating systems to enable the development and implementation of many functions and applications that can work on both Windows and Mac systems (and others). It’s something we rarely see directly being used, but lots of interfaces interact with Java: in particular lots of web apps and games.

So, imagine my surprise when MacWorld released an article named “Apple confirms cyber attack, releases Java update and malware removal tool”. Don’t worry – there’s a fix already posted by Apple in their software update – but you should all know.

Read MacWorld’s article at: http://www.macworld.com/article/2028740/apple-confirms-cyber-attack-will-release-security-tool.html#tk.nl_macwk

Adobe Offers CS2 FREE

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Last week, Adobe did something unprecedented for them. They set up a website from which you can download any or ALL of the the Adobe CS2 Creative Suite for Windows and/or Mac. The site includes valid serial numbers, and is a valid Adobe site.

Just so you know, these programs may not run on your newest computer or operating system. Here’re the Adobe CS2 System Requirements:

  • Mac OS X v.10.2.8–v.10.3.8. PowerPC® G4 or G5 processor
  • Microsoft® Windows® 2000/Windows XP. Intel® Pentium® III or 4 processor

If you can use these programs, you can snag them here:
http://www.adobe.com/downloads/cs2_downloads/index.html

No telling how long Adobe’s going to keep this page up, so get it while you can!

My Favorite Subject – BACKUP!

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You all know that Backing Up your data is a practice I highly recommend. In fact, I’m a fan of multiple backups (because you just don’t want to be without a backup if you need it!)

A couple of days ago, Macworld Magazine posted  a very good article on restoring data when you use “The Cloud” for your backups, as well as some background information that supports why I’m more of an advocate of a local cloned startup drive. Take a look:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2013632/how-to-restore-your-data-from-the-cloud.html#tk.nl_mwhelp 

Adorama’s Having a May Day Sale! One Day Only.

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Today, until 11:59pm EST, Adorama’s offering 50% off

Adobe Photoshop Elements 10:
(http://www.adorama.com/ABPSE10WM.html?emailprice=t&utm_source=ET&j=Email050112Adobe&utm_term=Other&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Email050112Adobe&utm_source=ET)

Adobe Premiere Elements 10:
http://www.adorama.com/ABPRE10WM.html?emailprice=t&utm_source=ET&j=Email050112Adobe&utm_term=Other&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Email050112Adobe&utm_source=ET

And, the Adobe Photoshop/Premiere Elements 10 Bundle:
http://www.adorama.com/ABPSPEBV10.html?emailprice=t&utm_source=ET&j=Email050112Adobe&utm_term=Other&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Email050112Adobe&utm_source=ET

Very Good software – Very Good Deals.

 

Adobe has Announced a CS6 Promotion

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Today, I got an email from a rep from JourneyEd.com, one of my vendors. Her message states:
Adobe has a current promotion with the release of  CS6. Adobe is giving a free copy of CS6 to anyone that purchases CS 5.5 now until May 6! Please see attached promotion and contact me today for pricing!

Here’s her contact info:

Shelly Bishop | HigherEd Sales-Digital River Education Services, Inc.
sbishop@journeyed.com | www.JourneyEd.com | www.AcademicSuperstore.com
Office: 800.876.3507 x12513 | Mobile: 214-907-7310 | Fax: 972.481.2100
Digital River, Inc | 5212 Tennyson Pkwy Suite 130 Plano, TX 75024

 

 

Sad Statistics for Freelancers

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So many of my students and friends are freelancers (aka Independent Workers), so I had to share this infographic.

The numbers depicted here display how badly independent workers get stiffed for their pay in only the state of NY, so you can imagine how bad this is all around the country.

Please, be aware of this and provide yourself the safety net of written contracts, payments up front, deal with reputable companies, do whatever you can do to ensure payment. Also, you may want to view the “Mission Statement” of the Freelancer’s Union. Check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Freelancers-Union/26962494725?sk=info

I know… the potential employers may just tell you “well, we’ll just hire somebody else”, playing on our fears so that we cave and do the work. But remember the percentage of that work that may end up being for free.

https://be.freelancersunion.org/blog/2012/03/15/getting-stiffed-infographic/

Making Green Beer for St. Patrick’s Day – In Photoshop

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Last year, I made a tutorial on how to use Adjustment layers and masks to Create Green Beer for St. Patrick’s Day.

I thought this would be a good time to pull that one out again! Check it out at:

http://aym4training.com/2011/make-green-beer-for-st-patricks-day-using-photoshop/

A Little Sound Nostalgia for the Good ‘Ol Days of Mac

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I’ve been a Mac user since about 1990 and, despite a zillion improvements on the Mac and in all computing, I find myself nostalgic for Mac’s Good ‘Ol Days. The days when it didn’t take itself too seriously. The days when cute little extras and Easter Eggs could be found in software, and in the Finder.

One man has managed to bring back a little bit of the quaint times on the Mac by recreating the original  Classic Mac sounds for the New OS’s and for the iOS as well.

Check out the free download from http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/19079/mac-os-classic-sound-pack

Also, I recommend checking out the Steven Jay Cohen’s Blog, on which he has some serious software development stuff, his resume, and some very cool Doctor Who stuff! http://www.stevenjaycohen.com/tags/development