I hate my iPhone

After the recent frustration with this bewilderingly stupid device, I came up with a list of things I hate about my iPhone:

• Requires entry of a valid credit card before using the phone
• Extension cable is not an acceptable accessory
• When downloading updates, the device cannot go into an off state or it will quit downloading them.  You have to keep messing with the phone.  This would be fine when its not plugged in to save power, but when it is?  Annoying as hell.
• On 2 occasions now has deleted all my settings, folders, and organization
• On 2 occasions, I've used the iTunes program manager to organize things and it just drops my changes and reverts to the original.
• Poor battery life is manageable by turning off Wifi but its 4 button presses before I can get to a wifi management screen.  It doesn't sound like much until you're doing it 3 times a day and wonder "why isn't this on the home screen?"
• Voice memos tool that comes with the device is unresponsive until about 10 seconds after the program actually comes up
• Device usage must be reset every month to keep track of data use.  It doesn't do this automatically.  The AT&T app you can download to handle this in the iPhone's place is not easy to use, probably because they have a financial incentive to let you go over your minutes.
• iTunes is bloated, difficult to use, and doesn't back up my device correctly.
• On a Mac, if you don't have iPhoto installed, it won't copy over your pictures.
• When using the App Store and surf through categories of programs, every time you download a program, you must start over at the beginning of that category and can't keep surfing through that section.
• I "authorized" a second computer to manage my music and now when I connect it to the first computer, it insists on deleting all the present music before I can manage my library.  Ugh!
• Much prefer my Android music player to the iPod program included on my phone.
• Can't connect my iPhone via BlueTooth to my computer and transfer files or sync the devices.
• No system for backing up iPhone programs or settings outside of the iTunes software.  If iTunes doesn't work or messes it up for some reason, you're screwed.
• If an application update causes problems, there's no way to go back to the previous version.  This isn't easy on Android, but can be done.

Anticipating the question: "Why don't you stop complaining and get another phone?" I'm working on it.

Beware iOS 4.3

Deleted:

• More than half my applications, including stuff I paid for, including settings
  
• When I was able to restore some of those apps, it dumped all the categories I'd set up
• Lost a text message I got during the process of updating

After frustrations with accessories, lack of media support, lack of openness by Apple, and continuous problems with iTunes of one kind or another, I won't be buying iAnything.

Mac: Download Youtube videos

So with a lot of Youtube videos lately getting dropped or copyright or other reasons, its necessary to download them to your computer to have access to them.  While there are many for Windows, there are none for for Mac that I could find, but there is a very simple workaround in Safari.

iPhone 4.2.1 vs. Android 2.2

Following up on my "The Future is actually going to be Linux" article, I can safely and easily say that at least in one aspect, yes:

Customization: absolutely outstanding.  Makes the iPhone look like a complete and total joke:

• Tons and tons of great widgets and the terrific Zeam interface.  Awesome.
• Ringtones of whatever you want.  If you already own the MP3, you don't have to buy anything else.
  
• Change the amount of data you want to cache in Google Maps
• Multiple different mapping programs that will cache huge data sets (Mapdroid, Locus)

More software that so far much better with tons more features:

• Multiple broad-format audio players including WinAmp, DoubleTwist, and the awesome network-audio capable 2Player
  
• Calendar: Jorte
• TodoList: Astrid
  
• Browser: Firefox
• eBook, text file reader: CoolReader
• Barcode tool: Barcode Scanner
• Navigation: My Tracks
• Remote Desktop: Remote RDP Lite
• Mail client: K-9 Mail

Other strong points in Android's favor:

• Dramatically better selection of freeware applications, including some great GPL'd software that Apple legally will not allow (Weight Chart, KeePass, AppsOrganizer, and many more)
• A torrent client, file manager, and capability to open many different file types with a variety of available programs
  
• Adobe Flash support and a great game selection via the Kongregate client
  
• Super-simple WiFi, Cell Phone, and GPS on/off switch via Elixer
• Better keyboard and "landscape" interface (that doesn't occasionally work as with the iPhone)
• Multitasking via "Perfect Task Switcher"
• SSH, SFTP, and Samba client (all tested and work great) and an FTP server (SwiFTP)
  
• Open standard encryption tool (APG)
  
• Figure out what the device is doing what with OSMonitor
• Built in voice-to-text is way more accurate on Android than the free Dragon Dictation
• Almost all Google's services seem way better on the Android, although this isn't fair to say since Google could conceivably cripple their iPhone offerings.
• Usually much higher resolution pictures and video, as well as the ability to usually just swap out a tiny SD card to double the amount of space on your device.

So far the only places that iPhone comes out on top is ease of use and generally smoother, easier to use hardware.  Battery life seems to be a bit better, but the yawning difference between these two devices very much shocks me.  Essentially, Android is an actual computer while the iPhone is just a gadget.

The press constantly seems to be talking about issues in Android's future: patent issues and the fragmentation of the Android OS.  For me, Android is so far ahead, it would take a very long time to lose its standing on the points listed above to Apple.

Apple goes the way of American car makers

Part of the reason many people prefer Toyota is the prevalence of very generic, easy to replace components that don't require taking it to the dealer.  Now Apple has decided its going to do what American car makers do with vendor-only toolsets.  Taking it one step further, Apple won't let you even buy these unique tools.

You might have blown $500 or more on an Apple device, but don't pretend you actually own it.

Apple vs. GPL

In what may be the greatest blow to my interest in anything Apple, my favorite open source program has been denied a place in the new apps store.  This shortly after the same application denied entry into the iPhone's app store.  This is a real failure for Apple, who started with an open operating system and has progressively become more and more closed and restrictive.  Given the wide variety of open-licensed software that won't be ported to the iPhone, this is unfortunate for Apple and its users.

Meanwhile, plenty of GPL'd and other open source software is available for Android, whose OS is based on openly licensed Linux software.

I hate Zimbra (for Mac)

Although the program proved very useful for a long time, after several weeks of not actively using it, I decided to uninstall it. 

This page has a nice uninstall script that didn't work.  Using my tech-jitsu I was able to delete the extra crap, but this was a non-simple process.  (For those that are curious, run script, then move /zimbra folder to /opt where it will mysteriously disappear.)  Someone who was not as technically inclined would still have this huge program still taking up space on their machine.

As a reminder to myself and a warning to the 4 people who might come across this blog entry: make sure you install to the default folder.

Mixxx DJ software

Remarkably easy and intuitive DJ software that's also open source and runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux.  If you've ever been curious about how its done or wanted to try your hand, this is a perfect way.

Big thanks to the authors and contributors of this great freeware.

Recent Mac finds

• MenuMeters - I was upset when a similar program went payware until I found a free, open, and just as good alternative.
• Keka - Finally a high compression opener and creator for Mac.  Now if they would only integrate a file manager.
  
• Miro Video Converter - Send files into formats that will work with your devices.  Simple, clean, and pretty.
• Mplayer OSX Extended - Finally broad format support like SMplayer for Windows.

Updates on stuff posted here before:

• Perian - broader format support for Mac's own Quicktime player.  Primarily use it to play Windows Media format files.
• Growl - notification system for OS X that Windows would do well to mimic.  I've probably talked about it before but oh well.
• Burn - really got to test out this program out recently and wow did it perform.  Great stuff.
• Audacity Beta - leaps and bounds above the non-beta version.  Remember auto recording based on noise detection (like if you talk?).  Its in there.

Favorite ugly Mac software: Retriever

Its not easy to use or pretty but its proven to be supremely useful.  Retriever is an open source download manager that supports web, FTP, and BitTorrent downloads and works spectacularly well for wireless connections that will occasionally have corrupted or unfinished downloads.  Also works great with secure websites that require a login.

Its unclear why Firefox doesn't have something built into it already that does this but until then, Retriever works beautifully.

Zimbra email client review (part 2)

See Part 1

This is review is my attempt to take a second look at this program.

BAD

• God awful memory cluttering (over 100 megs!).  I'm thinking it runs an entire web server to operate this single application.  Surely they could turn a few services off to cut that down a little.
• Contacts and calendar don't plug in right to my work email.
• New messages notification in task bar never goes away even after i read everything
• Indent email is a two-click process.  I indent A LOT of email so this is painful.
• Search is somewhat slow
• "Notebook" doesn't work or sync with Outlook's "notes"
• Very annoying: won't exit memory unless you say "Shutdown Service" rather than "Quit".  Just sits there taking up a TON of ram.
  

GOOD

• Best feature may be that when a time is mentioned "Yesterday, Tomorrow, Next Week" it automatically highlights this and asks if you want to make a calendar instance from it.  This is beyond cool.
• Cleaner, simpler, easier to search my messages ... will even search my entire public folders directory, which helps me track down weird/obscure company information.  (include "in:inbox" if you dont' want that to happen)
• Collects messages into a "conversation" / gmail-style box
• Skinable
• Connects many different email accounts

Verdict: Would rather use Thunderbird and just forward everything to Zimbra.

How to encrypt a file in OS X

Although there's a way to encrypt a lot of files in OS X using Disk Utility, those files can be very big.  What if you just want to save one SMALL file, for example to send through email?

Encrypt one file

1. Move the file you'd like to encrypt to your desktop (for this example, it will be FileName.doc). 
   
2. If there are spaces in the file, we recommend putting it in a folder without spaces and following the "Encrypt many files" instructions below
   
3. Open up Terminal from the /Applications/Utilities folder
4. You'll see a big white window with a little bit of text
5. Type "cd Desktop" and press the Enter key
6. Type "zip -e zipfilename.zip FileName.doc"
7. Choose a password you don't think anyone could guess and type it twice (if the information is very important see choosing a good password).
   

You're done!  To unzip the file, simply double click on it.  No matter who you send the file to, both Mac and PC (so long as they're using Windows XP or above) will recognize the file is protected and prompt for the password.

Encrypt many files

1. Put all the files you need in a single folder without spaces
   
2. Move the folder to your desktop (for this example, it will be FolderName).
3. Open up Terminal from the /Applications/Utilities folder
4. Type "cd Desktop" and press the Enter key
5. Type "zip -er zipfilename.zip FolderName"
6. Choose a password you don't think anyone could guess and type it twice (if the information is very important see choosing a good password).

Zimbra e-mail client review

Having access to Exchange server e-mail can sometimes be critical to doing your job, but if you're stuck with the sometimes painfully stupid Outlook 2003, you might go looking elsewhere.

Although the Linux-only Evolution is a great tool for this, Zimbra Desktop was an option available for Windows, Mac, and others. For a basic e-mail client that does everything you need it to do simply and easily, this is a real winner, but the program takes up enormous system resources.

The Good

• Excellent support for a wide variety of email systems both web (like gmail and hotmail) and POP/IMAP services. (Outlook can do this but not well.)
  
• Better interface, great calendar, overall much prettier.
• Good drag-and-drop support
  
• A strong "Find" tool. This is more of a knock on Outlook '03, which buries an extremely important component inside menus and "CTRL+F" is useless until you reply to the email.
  

In composing an email:

• Both HTML and plain text options
• Simple, easy attachment tools, draft, and otherwise
• Automatic email address detection

The Bad

• Doesn't seem to work with the Google Calendaring system (I had to click refresh). You can connect Outlook to Google Calendaring with a separate tool (note that this tool is probably not secured).
• Doesn't cut back on features for things that don't exist for Google's calendar (such as attachments and other Exchange-only features)
• After I added in all my addresses, takes up an enormous amount of disk space: 1.81 gigs.
• File saving tool "Breifcase"? Thought this service had been turned off.
• "Notepad" tool doesn't work with google docs. Its a mystery where it stores "notepad" files when you use non-yahoo accounts (probably locally).
• Not as customizable and no power features like Outlook 2003.
  

Calendar

• Google Calendar works great but many of the options available don't move over into google docs.
• Didn't work correctly with Exchange calendar
  

So unfortunately, Zimbra is helpful and good, but is not a replacement for Outlook 2003. If you do get stuck with Outlook, make sure you install the fantastic Xobni, which improves search, keeps track of contacts, and many other useful features.

Download Zimbra Desktop.

Great Mac finds

• Unplug headphones, pause VLC or iTunes with Breakaway. Plug them back in and continue. I absolutely love this.
• A much more indpenedant twist on iTunes, DoubleTwist allows you to connect to many different music devices, import music from Youtube, and buy music from Amazon. Didn't function with my Palm TX device, but worked beautifully with my Blackberry and an old SanDisk player. (Available for Mac and Windows)
• Clear out all the extra install and language information with Mac applications using Monolingual. I've talked about this before but it turns out this is something you want to run every few months as software updates frequently bring with them thousands of unnecessary files. Also for space saving, don't forget Disk Inventory X.
• Note: this program is out of date except for Limewire/Frostwire and other iTunes share clones. OurTunes lets you download music from any iTunes share. Just go to an internet Cafe where someone's sharing and grab some tunes! (Available for Mac and Windows)

Windows 7 wants to be Mac OS X

Although this will be old news for some of you, many aspects of Vista mirror Mac OS X.  From look and feel, included applications and functionality, all the way down to a new directory structure all made me think someone was trying pretty hard to be a Mac.  Windows 7 seemed to take it a step further and at least one Microsoft employee seems to concur. (thanks Silver)

If the devil's in the details, Apple's quite evil

Not everything works with Snow Leopard yet, but there's a plethora of small changes. Still, Mac users should obviously wait a few months for things to get ironed out on the compatibility side.

Its nice to see operating system developers focusing on what's under the hood instead of making users turn off all the seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time "features" (like in Vista and XP). To be fair, one feature I could do without on the Mac is Dashboard.

Why Apple sells iPhone ringtones

Someone pointed out that its not easy to get a ringtone on an iPhone, something that should be fairly easy and automatic like so many things with iPhone. It plays music, it has a phone -- what's the problem? Unfortunately, this is the old assumption that the iPhone is really just a computer with a phone hooked into it, but Apple isn't a computer company anymore. Now an online music retailer, ringtones are big business for Apple, accounting for millions in sales every year. They couldn't sell the iPhone and not sell ringtones in keeping with intellectual property of the artists.

Additionally, when you are an industry leader, you create money-making standards, like only playing a tiny handful of YOUR audio formats, using a hard-to-access file system, and having non-standard USB connectors. By contrast, the competition puts out players with standard connectors, plays a long list of formats, and you can search through the device just as if it were a USB drive. That's the type of thinking that makes ringtones something to be paid for.

That said, by and large I hate ringtones. I do not want to hear your rap-music-in-a-paper-cup-sounding bullshit. If you make a ringtone out of a recent top 40 song, you are a tool. A soft beep or low ringing noise is as much as I want to hear but if you just put it on vibrate, that'd be great.

Image credit

Better compression on Mac

The integrated "Compress" tool in the Finder window is wonderfully simple compression method, but far from a heavy-duty. Rarify is free software that helps you tighten your archives, named for its use of the RAR format.

Where this matters:

• When backing up 100s or 1,000s of database or text files, this can mean a space savings of 10-30% vs. regular zip files.
  
• When you're archiving something to CD or DVD and space is still a concern.
• If you want to password-protect a file you're sending.
  

Where this doesn't matter

• A few files you're emailing to a friend. A little extra space here and there isn't going to matter.
  
• Don't re-compress ZIP files nor JPG or MP3 files. These files are already compressed. PDF files will sometimes compress more, sometimes not.
  

Setup suggestions

1. When you install, the program will pop up with an annoying notice about downloading the RAR binary but the program will download the files automatically for you. If it asks, select "Install inside rarify". Then start the program and select "Rarify" from the menu.
2. In the preferences, turn the compression meter all the way to the right. This is because if you want a speedy, normal compression, you should be using OS X "compress" program instead.
3. To compress, just drag a file or files onto the purple-green-and-blue dock icon:
   

Note that most Macs cannot open RAR files by default. Recipients of your files will need a program like Unarchiver.

Crossover users: I strongly recommend the Windows 7-zip program in OS X. Its .7z format is similar in speed and compression to RAR and has tons more features.

If you accidentally delete something on a Mac

My recommendations:

1. Turn off the Mac immediately.
   
2. Ask yourself how much you want that file back. If the answer is several thousand dollars, send it to a professional data recovery service. (The only one I can recommend is OnTrack.) You will need to remove the offending drive.
3. If its not worth that much money and trouble, get some data recovery software on a bootable CD to run on the machine. I recommend the commercial Data Rescue II, which will let you recover one file under 5 megs with the unregistered version. The software requires an external data source (like a USB drive) and my experiences with the software were mixed, as were a MacWorld article on the software. However, Data Rescue II is made by the same company that makes the excellent Drive Genius software so it might just be that data recovery on Mac drives formatted with HFS is just difficult.
4. My tests with commercial recovery software StellarPhoenix also lacked good results and the software doesn't come on a bootable CD, which may make recovery more difficult.

Related: Free software that does this on Windows

Update: I found some free, cross platform, and open source software that does this: TestDisk. For recovering media files: Photorec.

Software choices

Have a program you love or looking for a better, cheaper, or simpler alternative for any operating system, often web-based?  (I love this site so much.)