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Removing Leopard download quarantine

May 09, 2008 (mid-afternoon)

MacOSX Leopard tags files downloaded from the web with a special metadata bit.  This bit is later referenced to warn about running downloaded apps and scripts. Even archived files maintain this tag through the compression/decompress process.

I needed to update the firmware on my Canon PowerShot SD1000 camera and couldn’t get the camera to recognize the file.  Turns out the com.apple.quarantine xattribute was set.  To fix:

xattr -d com.apple.quarantine *.FIR

xattr does not have a man entry.  Use:

xattr -h

I found most of my information on this helpful post.

Original article content:

(2) comments | posted in: Mac Tips Troubleshooting Unix

Open Apple Remote Desktop selection in SSH

May 07, 2008 (terribly early in the morning)

John C. Welch posted a handy AppleScript which grabs selected addresses from Apple Remote Desktop and opens SSH sessions in the terminal for each one.  Hard to believe this isn’t built into ARD.  I’d previously used a hard coded AppleScript to open up these sessions.  Having them opened from the live scan list is very handy!

I took out the hard coded username in the SSH string and added an activate command to the terminal to bring the windows to the front.

set theSSHList to {}
tell application “Remote Desktop”
set theComputers to the selection
repeat with x in theComputers
set the end of theSSHList to Internet address of x
end repeat
end tell

tell application “Terminal”
activate
repeat with x in theSSHList
do script “ssh “ & (contents of x)
end repeat
end tell

Original article content:

comment on this | posted in: Mac News Tips Unix

Examining & editing Time Machine backups

May 01, 2008 (late evening)

A modified version of the GrandPerspective disk sizing utility has surfaced which understands the file structure of Time Machine backups.

With this tool, you can scan Time Machine backups and immediately discern how much space it is really using.  Also, you can look for large files taking up unnecessary space.

To actually recover space, enter Time Machine and delete the unnecessary backups of your large files using the gear menubar item’s: “Delete Backup” and “Delete All Backups Of” commands.

via Tidbits

Original article content:

comment on this | posted in: Mac News Tips

Expand those print dialog boxes

May 01, 2008 (early evening)

Here’s how to expand all those pesky minimized print dialog boxes in Leopard:

defaults write /Library/Preferences/.GlobalPreferences PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint -bool TRUE

ah, that’s better.

Original article content:

comment on this | posted in: Mac Tips Unix

Finally: iTunes to sell movies same day as DVD release

May 01, 2008 (terribly early in the morning)

At long last, iTunes will begin to sell movies same day as the physical DVD release.  With Fox, Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, Sony Pictures, Lionsgate and New Line on board, Apple is clearly aiming for rival Walmart after having recently surpassed them in music sales.

Previously, Apple’s releases have been available 30-45 days later than DVD releases- presumably to avoid sales cannibalization. 

Original article content:

comment on this | posted in: iPhone iPod Music News
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