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WordPress 2.3 Compatibility

This blog is now running WordPress 2.3. So far, everything seems to be running smoothly, even with the massive number of plugins I use.

My two plugins also seem to work.

There are still two hacks I still have to make to the code: one adjusts the kses properties and the other "fixes" the uploading of files, though lately I've been using an AppleScript for the latter instead.

iPhone Should Sync Wirelessly

Why in the heck can't my iPhone sync some things - contacts and calendars primary among them - wirelessly? Why must I remember to sync something to my iPhone when my normal use doesn't necessarily include docking every day?

My computer sits on a wireless network. My iPhone uses the same network. Why do I still need a cable to make the two talk to each other?

Heck, I've got two wireless protocols: Bluetooth and WiFi. The iPhone is capable of talking over both and so is my computer. What's the problem? 😛

Fragmentation

According to iDefrag, my main disk has about 0.2%/0.5% fragmentation ((Which, by the way, is 4,000+ files.)). Big whoop. My Catalog has six fragments. Again, big whoop.

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Mac OS X has had, for awhile now, "built-in defragmentation." Something like any file under 20 MB is automatically defragmented when it's touched by the system - to open, to save, etc. Great.

Still, my disks sometimes seem a bit slow. When I was a Mac Genius, we'd use (albeit on the down-low, as it wasn't exactly approved) DiskWarrior to clean up the catalog file and whatnot. It'd spiffy things up nicely.

Occasionally, defragmenting and optimizing the disk layout (i.e. to create a large contiguous block of free space, even if individual files weren't fragmented) improved disk performance, or at least felt like it did.

So that's a long-winded way of getting around to this question: is iDefrag or even DiskWarrior 4.0 worth a purchase? Does anyone (who uses a Mac) defragment or otherwise optimize their disks?

Studying and Game Consoles

From Buzz Out Loud #564:

First-year students whose roommates brought a video game player to college studied 40 minutes less each day on average, which translated in first-semester grades which were 0.241 points lower on the 4.0 grade scale.

I still swear five of us my third year on campus could have probably gone pro at Mario Kart battle mode. We had mad skillz, yo!

Current DirecTV Plan and New HD Channels

DirecTV was supposed to launch 30 new HD channels today (which I was hoping would include Golf Channel HD), simulcast on the same channels as the regular SD broadcasts.

Our entertainment needs are pretty simple: I have my old TiVo as a backup in the bedroom (hooked to a tiny 19" TV that's so old it only has one input - coaxial cable) and a DirecTV HD DVR downstairs.

Our current programming package is no longer offered, but costs $51.99. We pay $9.99 for the HD package and $5.99 for the TiVo (a second DVR). It's a "no longer offered" plan that comes to $67.97 per month.

Talk Like a Pirate Day Comes Once Again

Arrrrgh! Me mateys tell me DirecTV is supposed to launch 30+ new HD channels today, but avast, I've not yet seen the proof. Ahoy!

Making Prime Rib at Home

I'm on a mission: I'd like to discover how to make a good prime rib at home. I'll begin with a Google search, but if you've got any tips, share them in the comments.

It looks simple enough.

Registering the Kayaks

A woman from the PA Fish and Boat Commission called me Friday regarding my two applications for kayak registration. You know, the kayaks (here and here) that I bought in Florida while I was living in Florida.

She told me that because the boats were relatively new (March, 2004 being the newer of the two), I'd have to pay PA sales tax on them at their fair market value or produce a purchase order which shows that I've already paid sales tax (presumably she meant Florida sales tax).

What the heck makes PA think they're entitled to sales tax on kayaks I purchased in another state? It's already been paid. It's very easy to prove that I did indeed live in Florida when the kayaks were posted. My tax returns, for one…

Mark Cuban Now a Mac User

It's true. Now if only he would buy the Pirates…

Pictures and iPhone Desktops

Life's been pretty busy lately and I haven't had the chance to take many pictures lately. I plan to start up again soon as the leaves will soon be turning beautiful colors.

In related news, the images on the Desktops page (click the link at the top) can now be sized for your iPhone, if you wish.

dottie

I wonder how long it will be until someone's iPhone is hacked and their personal data stolen, say, at a Starbucks or something, because the user didn't change the root password but did install something like SSH.

If you've installed Installer.app and SSH, do yourself a favor: type passwd into an SSH session on your iPhone and change your root password.

Safari’s Stupid History and ‘Restore’ Functionality

Safari's 3.0 beta's "restore" functionality typically works really well. Unfortunately, history and the "restore" functionality seem far too closely tied to each other to work really well.

If I open five tabs in one window, clear my history, quit Safari, re-launch, and immediately choose "Reopen All Windows From Last Session, ((Since when is the word "From" capitalized in Mac OS X menus? In Safari, "to" and "of" aren't capitalized, yet "From" and "For" are.))" nothing happens.

In ~/Library/Safari you'll find both a "LastSession.plist" as well as a "History.plist". Unfortunately, clearing your history also clears your "LastSession.plist."

That's just wrong. I'm not certain it's a bug (but I intend to file it as such), per se, but it is wrong.

The $100 Rebate

Speaketh Steve:

Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple's website next week. Stay tuned.

I'm still "tuned." It's mid-day Thursday.

nePatriots = bigCheaters;

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Apple Update at the Y

Seen at the YMCA earlier today on one of the large flat-panel displays they've got running:

ymca_apple_update.jpg

At least half the time I'm there elements of Windows (usually an error message and/or update prompts) occupy the screen. This is the first time Apple's Windows software update has appeared. I didn't even know Apple had a Windows Software Update app.