Posted on Mon, Jul 02, 2012
With the growing popularity of the MacBook Air, optical drives seem to be slowly disappearing.
Apple’s “Remote Disc” feature, built into OSX, will allow any Mac with an optical drive to share it over a network so a MacBook Air can access it. Now, what if you don’t have a MacBook Air? Or maybe your optical drive is broken. Here is a simple way to share a CD or DVD on any Mac:
First, on the Mac with the optical drive you want to share, go to “System Preferences” and click on the “Sharing” icon. Make sure CD/DVD Sharing is selected.
Second, on the Mac that doesn’t have an optical drive (or a broken drive), open up Terminal and write these two commands:
defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser EnableODiskBrowsing -bool true
defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser ODSSupported -bool true
Then reboot the computer. This turns the shared optical drive into a shared folder on your network. To go back to default settings, open up Terminal and write the same two commands replacing the word “true” with “false”.
If that doesn't work, contact us and we'll walk you through it.
Give Us a Call 617-731-6319 and Ask a Professional IT Support Technician Any Questions You May Have!
Sincerely, Terminal We Serve All of Greater Boston and Cambridge, MA
Posted on Mon, Jun 11, 2012
The G4 was Apple’s first serious pro computer after Steve Jobs became iCEO. Classified as munitions and under export restrictions because of its power, the G4 offered twice the performance of the G3 and three times the power of a Pentium 3 at the same clock speed. When it came out in 1999, the government considered it by definition, a supercomputer. Tiger (10.4.X), is the latest supported Mac OS for all G4s. Unfortunately, there’s not too much you can do with 10.4. But, here’s an easy way to get G4s to run Leopard.
First, make sure your firmware is up to date. The latest firmware update is 4.2.8 for PPC G4s. If you don’t have 4.2.8 installed, you need to install Mac OS 9 (9.1 to 9.2.2 will work) on a writable partition and boot to it. Download the firmware, run the application and follow the onscreen instructions to reboot in service mode.
Second, 512 MB Ram is the minimum requirement for Leopard. Using less would be a painfully noticeable difference, so make sure you at least meet the minimum.
Third, insert your Leopard OS X Install disc and shut down the machine.
Fourth, turn on your machine and immediately hold CMD + OPTION + O + F until you get a black screen with white text. This is open firmware, similar to bios in PC computers. Leopard checks system information and if your processor is clocked under 867MHz, you WILL get a kernel panic error, which might be the scariest looking thing in the world. Type these simple lines in Open Firmware and you can trick leopard in thinking you meet the processor requirements.
Single CPU G4s, use:
- dev /cpus/PowerPC,G4@0
- d# 8967000000 encode-int “ clock-frequency” property
- boot cd;,\\:tbxi
Dual CPU Gr4s, use:
- dev /cpus/ PowerPC,G4@0
- d# 8967000000 encode-int “ clock-frequency” property
- dev /cpus/ PowerPC,G4@1
- d# 8967000000 encode-int “ clock-frequency” property
- boot cd;,\\:tbxi
**Pay special attention to spacing.
**Hit “enter” and Open Firmware will display “ok” after each accepted line.
Give Us a Call 617-731-6319 and Ask a Professional IT Support Technician Any Questions You May Have!
Sincerely, Terminal We Serve All of Greater Boston and Cambridge, MA
Posted on Fri, Jun 08, 2012
Terminal IT Technicians Compare and Contrast The Leading Smartphone Operating Systems
There is lots to be excited about these days in the cell phone industry, and many of the innovations have been led by the big two: Apple and Android, Google's mobile operating system. Gone are the days when phones ran on proprietary systems unique to each manufacturer. Now, the majority of smartphones, especially mid to high range models, run on mobile operating systems made by one of several industry giants. Manufacturers must align their product line behind one systems, which can mean all the difference. Just ask Samsung and Nokia.
Samsung now leads smartphone productions, and all feature Android's ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich). If you are in the market for a new smartphone, it is important to know how Android ICS stacks up against its two main rivals, Windows Phone Mango and Apple iOS5.
Google v. Windows v. Apple
Android leads the pack when it comes to email and messaging. Because roughly the population of the US uses Gmail, Google's email service, Android is able to make a seamless connection between computer, phone and inbox. Second place goes to iOS 5, which offers many of the same features while Mango takes a distant third.
In others areas, Mango is the clear winner. Mango makes home screen notifications an automated and hassle free affair, better than Android's notification bar and sleeker than iOS 5. Mango also multitasks better than the rest. That can be vital, especially with BYOD and the way that we rely on our phones at work.
Android Flexes Its Muscles
Android is the browsing (and searching) king. Its browser cruises past Apple’s Safari, used in iPhone, by a large margin. The new mobile version of IE used in Mango OS is an improved one and offers excellent web browsing experience.
Application wise, both iOS and Android offer a variety of options. Mango OS, when compared with Android and iOS, was definitely found wanting in this sphere.
As far as navigation features are concerned, Android ICS knocks out the competition. Google Maps is far more function on Android. Microsoft might respond with Bing and Windows 8, but as of now it is no contest.
A Complicated Verdict
Overall, Android ICS comes across a winner in most categories. However, will Android ICS ever entice Apple loyalists? It does not provide enough incentive at the moment, as is evident by the 35 million iPhones sold in the first quarter. Maybe there will be a change in the second, but we are not holding our breath.
To learn more about mobile business solutions, visit the IT Support page of our website.
Give Us a Call 617-731-6319 and Ask a Professional IT Support Technician Any Questions You May Have!
Sincerely, Terminal We Serve All of Greater Boston and Cambridge, MA
Posted on Thu, Oct 20, 2011
Apple is known for its forward thinking, cutting-edge and revolutionary inventions. From the Apple IIe to the iPad, Apple has always been at the forefront of computing and communicating. However, it has set the bar so high that even Apple finds itself hard to beat. A good example is the recent release of the iPhone 4S – a truly remarkable product using the latest and greatest technology available. But to its loyal fans, people who are always expecting a revolution instead of an evolution, some might have found the launch of an upgraded/evolved iPhone 4 instead of a revamped and brand new iPhone 5, to be less than remarkable. However, the 4S does present 3 very impressive upgrades, which should inspire die-hard Apple users to seriously consider purchasing the iPhone 4S.
Software
Not surprisingly, the 4S is much faster and powerful. It features the same dual-core A5 chip that's found in the iPad 2 and it makes opening apps, loading the web browser, scrolling through screens and countless other operations super smooth. Apple states that the 4S is twice as powerful as its predecessor and has 7 times the graphical prowess.
Siri
One remarkable difference between the iPhone 4 and the 4S is the addition of your very own “personal assistant” named Siri. When it works, it is an amazing feat of technology. You can simply tell Siri to contact a friend and tell her you’re running late. Tell Siri, “I’m feeling like Indian food,” and she will tell you where the nearest place serving Sag Paneer is located. However, the caveat is “when it works.” When Siri cannot understand a particular command, area or specific person, she will tell you humorously, if not annoyingly after a while, that she can’t process the info. Undoubtedly this will be fixed at some point, but it would be wonderful if it worked flawlessly now. See this article for another take on Siri.
iCloud
Another cool aspect of the iPhone 4S is that it has basically made MobileMe a stock feature. All Apple products from now on will have access to iCloud. This means that it no longer matters which device you use, you can access any piece of information you’re looking for, whether it’s an mp3, a photo, app or document. It’s truly remarkable, until you stumble upon some of its unwieldy aspects. The most frustrating of these is the fact that MobileMe has already created a user ID that iCloud doesn’t recognize. Furthermore, if you have an email address through Yahoo or Gmail, it won’t recognize them because they don’t have a me.com address. All new technology comes with learning curves, but the fact that we think Apple should be above these frustrations makes them all the more, well, frustrating.
Ultimately, the iPhone 4S was predestined to be a huge seller worldwide – but are its upgrades worth the wait? The solution mostly is determined by the type of user you are. If you need to have the most cutting-edge product available, with improved hardware, camera, voice controls and iCloud, it may be something to consider. If the iPhone or other mobile phone you’re using gets you where you want to go, its good to know that the iPhone 4S is more of an evolution than revolution – but its pretty cool none-the-less.
Terminal IT Support
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Sincerely, Terminal We Serve All of Greater Boston and Cambridge, MA
Posted on Fri, Dec 17, 2010
For this week's blog, I am looking at iPhone applications that I cannot do without.
Having just moved to MA from Texas in the last couple of months, the first one that comes to mind is Google maps! It may not be as fancy as some of the other turn-by-turn GPS apps, but for a free app, it does a great job of showing me where I need to go in and around Boston.
The second app would have to be YouTube. When researching a problem on the go, the amount of issues people have made YouTube videos for is amazing - and they come in handy in a pinch.
I use the banking apps, the Weather Channel apps, and my Fios app all the time too. It is remarkable how smart phones have changed the way we access data on the go. With cell phone reception and ten minutes, you can usually find the answer to most common issues you have and keep yourself informed and up to date on changes in the industry.
Kristen Hewes - Hardware Technician
Give Us a Call 617-731-6319 and Ask a Professional IT Support Technician Any Questions You May Have!
Sincerely, Terminal We Serve All of Greater Boston and Cambridge, MA
Posted on Tue, Dec 14, 2010
So with last month’s release of iPhone and iPad’s iOS 4.2.1 firmware and software came some new features. Here is a list of the new and much needed changes.
Apple Air Play: Now you have the ability to play movies, games, and music and stream pictures from your iPad directly to your apple TV with just a push of a button.
Air Print: This was a big one for me. Available on the iPhone as well as the iPad, air print allows you to print wirelessly to any device on a network.
Multi-tasking: You will now be able to multi task applications in iOS 4.2.1 easily with just a push of the home button. Feel free to let an application run in the background and finish up with it later - maybe after answering a very important email that you just received. Apple sure did make us wait for this, but now that it’s here, all the waiting was well worth it!
Folders: Now on the iPhone and iPad you will find you can group application together in folders by simply pressing down on an application until it starts to shake, then just move the application over another application that you want to group and it will make a folder to house both applications.
Enterprise support: iOS 4.2.1 comes with a lot of new security features for enterprise level software such as Microsoft Exchange. Apple hopes this will help with the usage of corporate offices’ making the jump to their devices or making the devices that are already in the workplace easier to work with. In my case, iPads as well as iPhones work very well with my office environment. I can maintain my Microsoft Exchange email account, calendar, and tasks as well as Microsoft Dynamics CRM with no issue.
If you have not tried an iPhone or iPad for yourself recently because of not being able to print or not having its support in your office with older security settings, you owe it to yourself to revisit the idea. iOS 4.2.1 has answered a lot of wishes for iPhone and iPad users and you may be missing out.
Dennis Foote – Systems Engineer
Give Us a Call 617-731-6319 and Ask a Professional IT Support Technician Any Questions You May Have!
Sincerely, Terminal We Serve All of Greater Boston and Cambridge, MA