Sync Mac with BlackBerry?

Longer than usual post:

I’ve just spent an irritating 48 hours trying to figure out how to sync my Calendar and Contacts/Address Book data between my Mac and my BlackBerry. When I was on the Miami University BES server, I used Entourage to do this. But Cincinnati Bell’s advice was to use PocketMac to sync my Apple iCal and Address Book data to the BB.

I found PocketMac to be of no use on my current Mac, an older iBook G3 running 10.4.11. I installed and Uninstalled it several times, following BlackBerry’s advice to the letter, but I never got it to open right. And it seems to have corrupted my .Mac settings to boot. Judging from a Google search, I'm not alone in this frustration.

Why would Apple and RIM push such a piece of junk forward? I suppose Apple has no interest in helping a competitor to its iPhone. But why wouldn’t RIM do better helping out a non-negligible base of Mac-loving BlackBerry users?

I finally found the solution, thanks to one frustrated poster on BB’s message board: scrap the Apple programs and use Google Calendar and Contacts. Just:

• save the data from both iCal and Address Book
• set up the corresponding Google Calendar and Google Contacts
• upload your data
• add Google Sync to your BlackBerry
• do initial syncs (takes a while)
  

I ran into one problem with Google Contacts. I'd forgotten that I had previously set it up long ago. It added my new uploads, most of which were duplicates of existing names. I could see their existence via the record count but they didn't appear on screen. Google Sync worked fine for my Calendar but Contacts crashed. I signed out, Quit Firefox and opened Safari. Safari showed the duplicates, so I selected and Deleted them all. Problem solved.

Another irritant: PocketMac is “free” on the PocketMac site -- but they charge a fee for downloads! It’s truly free on the RIM/Blackberry site, though. PocketMac does have a semi-cool Mac-like theme for a couple of bucks extra if you download (above).

I may forget about iCal and Address Book. I could Export the Google data and import it back to the Apple apps, but that may be more trouble than it's worth.

I have cross-posted this on Cleve Callison's blog.

7/7/09 Help Desk delayed

Help Desk users,

In our last "Live" show of 6/30/09, I said a new Help Desk podcast would be posted on 7/7/09 discussing social media. Unfortunately, leaving Miami, vacation and other delays have held that up. I hope to add it soon. That's likely to be the last one for a while.

--Cleve Callison

Messages from 6/30/09

Today marks (possibly) the final show for the Help Desk, at least as recorded in Oxford. For the time being at least new podcast/UStream.tv feeds will be on hiatus. June 30, 2009 was the last day for the staff of Miami University's former WMUB-FM.

We aren't certain if we can continue with the show/podcast. Keep checking this space.

In addition to the long-term site of the podcast at Miami, here's a link to an alternate site.

Thank you for your support of the Help Desk!

--Cleve Callison
--John Hingsbergen
--Guy Moore
--Wayne Stone

NEWS:

Apple's silence on Steve Jobs' health may have broken federal securities rules
--http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-apple-jobs25-2009jun25,0,3034262.story?track=rss

Future iPhones will adopt Mini USB Port in 2010
--http://www.hardmac.com/news/2009/06/29/apple-will-adopt-mini-usb-port-for-2010-iphone-models

Apple Running Short on iPhones
--http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/06/28/apple-runs-short-of-iphones/?source=yahoo_quote

From: Lisa Haneberg
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:44:14 -0400
To: "WMUB 88.5 FM"
Subject: RE: Question for 7 July 2009 Show With Guest Lisa Haneberg

Sure:

I agree with Mark – this is not a good idea for employers. We need to do the best we can to evaluate candidates, but asking for personal information to get into hidden pages of a social networking site is not appropriate. We need to make sure that we are treating candidates fairly and this practice would put those who are hip (with it, technologically) at a disadvantage – not a message I think we want to send.

I have never heard of an employer making such a request.

I suppose there might be some top secret government jobs that require a complete and thorough background check for reasons of national security, but I assume these agencies will have separate and distinct job requirements and employment processes.

I think it will die a quick death.

Lisa

------ Forwarded Message
Subject: Question for 7 July 2009 Show With Guest Lisa Haneberg

Thanks for the opportunity to put forth a question to Ms. Haneberg.

On or about 23 June I read an article posted on CNET.com (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10268282-38.html) regarding how the city of Bozeman, MT will ask potential employees for their user name and password for social networking sites such as facebook, Myspace, YouTube, etc.

Their reasoning is that they wish to perform as thorough as possible a background check on a prospective employee. For my own part, I find this to be a completely outrageous idea and potentially a violation of the First Amendment.

First question: how do you personally feel about such matters? And second, do you think this endeavor will meet with too much resistance and die a quick death or is this the future of employment and social networking?

Thank you for the opportunity to ask.

Mark, Englewood, Ohio

+++++++++++++++++++++

Comments from listeners to the 6/30/09 show:

Yes, yes, yes! Keep me on the mailing list. I want to know not if, but WHEN you find a new manner by which to provide the Help Desk. I'm trying to be optimistic here....

~Mark, Englewood

++++++++++++++++++++++++

First of all, thanks for all the support and entertainment you guys have given me in the past. I wish you luck wherever you land.

Robert, Hebron, KY

++++++++++++++++++++++++

I don't have a question this morning but would like to thank all of you for invaluable advice over the years; I can't list all your accomplishments, but most importantly thanks to your suggestions I'm virus-free for about ten years now. Best of luck to all of you and hope to hear you somewhere soon.

Carolyn

++++++++++++++++++++++++

As luck would have it I was on vacation in California and only saw this email late on Monday night when I arrived home here in Niagara Falls. If you were to call me I would just mumble my thanks for your efforts and for the information you have shared with me both on the show and on your blog. There's no way I can repay you all for taking the time and trouble to help with the puzzling world of computers - even though to me as a Microsoft Windows slave I am sometimes curious about this thing called a "Mac" that you mention on the program. I'm sure it isn't a "Big Mac" since you mentioned that some of the new ones have a metal case.....

Best wishes to all of you. Hopefully the show will pave the way for a really interesting and rewarding job for those who can use one - if you need a reference from a listener I'll surely be happy to give one!

Carl
Manchester House Bed and Breakfast
653 Main Street
Niagara Falls, NY 14301 USA
Web: http://www.manchesterhouse.com
email: mailto: manchesterhouse(at)verizon.net
Telephone: (716) 285-5717

Milestone show on 6/30/09

June 29, 2009

Dear Help Desk listeners,

The podcast/Ustream.tv of Help Desk for June 30th, 2009 will be a milestone of sorts. It will be the last one recorded at WMUB in Oxford. I’d like to ask you to help commemorate the event.

At this point we don’t know when the podcast will continue on a weekly basis. Part of it is geography — Guy, Wayne, John and I all live in different communities and we won’t all be in Oxford anymore — and part of it is our continuing search, not just for a recording home, but possibly for a broadcast home. There’s also the fact that John and I will be looking for jobs, and one or both of us may be moving out of the area soon.

To find out more about WMUB, visit Cleve Callison's blog and click on the WMUB link in the right hand column.

For all these reasons, it seems the best course is to take a hiatus from new productions of the Help Desk at this time. We’re very grateful to you for listening to the radio show, and now the podcast.

Let’s make this one memorable. We have been limiting the podcasts to 30 minutes, but if we get more calls on 6/30 we may go longer. We encourage you to plan to join us for your thoughts about the show even if you don’t have a specific question.

The catch is that we have to call you. Please send us a phone number where you can be reached around 9 am ET on Tuesday June 30th, and we may very well call you.

Email questions to:

helpradio(at)wmub.org

Thank you for your support of the Help Desk!


--Cleve Callison
--John Hingsbergen
--Guy Moore
--Wayne Stone

URLs from 6/23/09

Listen for today’s show as a podcast and on UStream.tv

NEWS:

Steve Jobs
--http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124546193182433491.html

Bug fix for new Mac Book Pro that limited SATA data transfer to 1.5gb
transfer
--http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/firmware_hardware/macbookproefif
irmwareupdate.html

Apple apologizes for AT&T problems with $30 credit to store for folks that
could not get activated
--http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/21/apple-stuck-apologizing-for-att-yet-aga
in-with-a-30-itunes-credit/

Google Phone
--http://www.google.com/mobile/android/#utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us
-bk&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=google%20android
--http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10269459-94.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0

China Requires Website filtering software on new computers
--http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&arti
cleId=9134082

QUESTIONS:

Slow startup in Windows XP
--Remove items in MSConfig:
--http://www.ehow.com/how_4831800_disable-startup-items-using-msconfig.html
--Remove items in Startup folder:
--http://www.ralphthegeek.com/startup-in-start-menu.htm

URLs from 6/16/09

Listen for today’s show as a podcast and on UStream.tv
Today’s UStream.tv archive is http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1665942

NEWS:

Macbooks becomes Macbook Pro
--http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/macbook_renamed_13-inch_macbook_pro_g
ains_firewire_800/

Twitter downtime gets delayed for Iranian election news
--http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10265213-2.html

iPhone 3G S
--http://www.9to5mac.com/iphone-3gs-out-of-stock

QUESTIONS:

FireFox Loading Extremely slow the first time
--http://kb.mozillazine.org/Increasing_startup_speed
--http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_mode
--http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=1299475
--http://www.tweakguides.com/Firefox_1.html

Can you see all email accounts at one place?
--POP Yahoo Mail
--http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090521104753AAhaGHf
--Forwarding Yahoo Mail
--http://email.about.com/cs/yahoomailtips/qt/et111901.htm
--Listener Rich recommends the Palm Pre and its Synergy email app
--Listener Lee says: go to Gmail > Settings > Accounts and set up other addresses & services

URLs from 6/9/09

Listen for today’s show as a podcast and on UStream.tv
Today’s UStream.tv archive is http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1630096

NEWS:

Sprint breaks its sales record with Palm Pre
--http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10260208-94.html

UPDATE: Here’s one Help Desk listener’s reaction to the new Pre.

--Pre vs. iPhone:
--http://gizmodo.com/5126870/in-a-nutshell-palm-pre-vs-iphone-vs-g1
--http://i.gizmodo.com/5282976/reality-check-iphone-vs-palm-pre-launch

Apple WWDC Keynote
--http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/0906paowdnv/event/index.html?internal=ijalrmacu


QUESTIONS:

Deleting a user in Vista
--http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistaappearance/thread/5beaaaab-9be7-47da-baf6-7dc6fd24464c
--http://vistasupport.mvps.org/delete_a_user_account.htm

Installing Unix/Linux on Asus Netbook
--http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/Asus_Eee_PC_1000HE
--http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_to_install_ubuntu_linux_on_asus_netbook_win
xp.html
UPDATE: see the reaction from the author of this question, Dan

Google Chrome Freezing with lots of tabs open
--http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Chrome/thread?tid=641e4c3c37cc9084&hl=en
--http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Chrome/thread?tid=1eca21966c066d77&hl=en
--http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Chrome/thread?tid=36a937b632abadfb&hl=en

UPDATE: see the reaction from the author of this question, Mark

Imaging a lab of dual boot Macintoshes
--http://www.deploystudio.com/Home.html

Response: Asus netbook

[In reference to the podcast of 6/9/09]:

Good show today, but why is it only 30 minutes instead of the 60 minute show it was when it was on the air.

Thanks for using my question about creating a dual boot system on my Asus netbook. One thing that wasn't clear, and maybe you can clear this up with an e-mail response is couldn't the Linux OS be obtained online? The guys seemed to be focused on the problems with getting software onto the netbook with the absence of a CD/DVD drive. I assumed I could download the OS from a web site and then install it from there. Maybe not. And, on the issue of not having a CD/DVD drive, as you know jump drives now are really big for a reasonable amount of money. Additionally, my netbook also has an SD port for an SD card, and those are available in large capacities. So I don't think the lack of a CD drive is an issue because of these options.

--Dan, Hagerstown IN

Reaction to answer about Chrome

[Listener Mark called in on the show for 6/9/09]

This Google Chrome issue is a pain and has pushed me back to using Firefox all the time. Not that this is a big issue; I love Firefox, but Chrome is quicker and I like the way it will open multiple tabs every time I start the app.

Just want you to know....I've very much enjoyed listening to your show on WUMB since I first discovered it in early 2007. I have called in a number of times over the past years and always enjoyed getting help (when you had it) and listening to other folks problems and the advice given.

I certainly wish the show could have gone on, but with the demise of WUMB (at least in its former guise) I don't know what it all means for you and the show. Regardless, I sincerely hope you find a solution that allows you to continue the show if you find it both meaningful and useful. In the interim, thanks for finding solutions (such as podcasts and live streaming) that help keep the show running!

--Mark, Englewood OH

One listener's reaction to the Palm Pre

[Help Desk listener Rich of Liberty Township, OH purchased a much-talked-about Palm Pre last weekend. Here’s his first impression:]

So far so good ... but a bit of a learning curve on the Palm Pre; I'm not the best person to ask about initial impressions since I don't do 'change.' well ... an age thing perhaps? After many years of Palm OS devices, making a PDA/smartphone change is going to be challenging. (BTW, heard Palm may have sold 150,000 Pre's this weekend and media believed they could have sold twice as many if they had the inventory? Rumors were than outlets like Best Buy only had a few units per store and wouldn't release inventory numbers to customers ahead of time ... ouch!)

On the plus side, one could not asks for a more elegant smartphone. It has a near perfect (although smallish) screen comparable to the iPhone. The bluetooth pairing is a vast improvement over the Treo/Centro models, in my opinon. The WiFi as been the biggest surprise for me since I didn't really think it was that big of a deal, but it works seamlessly in switching from cell 3G network to broadband. The new Web OS, backbone of the phone, uses the Internet to pass data to and from apps and to synchronize using this wireless connectivity. Fast broadband connections are best, EVDO 3G better and slow cell connections the worse (mine did a first day 70+MB systems update in a few minutes -- glad to have WiFi).

GPS has been another surprise and works great with Google Maps or Sprint Navigation software -- both included. The Palm Pre even fit into my Treo windshield holder for traveling and reads very well in the bright sunlight on about 40% brightness. (see link - but don't laugh at the packing skin still protecting my screen).

Perhaps the major reason I opted for the Pre over the iPhone was the slideout physical keyboard since I couldn't type very well on the iPhone or my daughter's iTouch. Nevertheless, the keyboard is small and they made a few key changes from the Treo/Centro models ... again learning curve. I miss the 4-way navigation for mistakes (must use the touchscreen) and would have enjoyed a roller ball option like the Blackberries, but no room.

And although I teased about the iPhones need for additional apps and the crazy stuff at the app store... I found after downloading a few for the Pre (and that's about what are available currently) that I'll be eating crow. The downloadable Pandora music apps is fantastic as is the Accuweather app which uses the GPS locator. Having the ability to 'flick' through the hour by hour forecast is really neat as are the radar images. Its also apparent that every news organization will be looking at the NYTimes app which feeds their content in an easy to read way -- it works well and loads into a single "flick-able card." I didn't see a Slingplayer apps just yet to run my home TV, but Sprint TV did a great job of streaming programming ... no uStream for MUB livecasts either, but they say it is in the works with Adobe and a Flash player. YouTube mobile encoded videos run well though. I haven't tried syncing my iTunes yet, but it is suppose to work well.

The biggest improvement and lead over the iPhone as I see it is in in running multiple applications ... something we do all the time on our computers. Traditional Palm OS would run one at a time (as does the iPhone), but with the "card" method I was able to run 9 apps cards before running out of memory. It was great to have my Pre mounted in my car running the GPS and talking on the bluetooth headset at the same time; a huge improvement over the Palm OS. Now if I could only find a way to rig a Touchstone-like 'induction charger' on my windshield mount I'd be ready to hit the road. (Touchstone is a magnetic mount that sticks the Pre on a desk puck that charges the phone without wires. The only 'port' not covered on my Pre is the 3.5mm headset jack which reduces pocket lint in the mini USB slot)

Negatives:

• Running multiple apps shortens battery life, but a spare can be carried and put in for long trips.
• No SD cards ... stuck with 8GB internal memory
• Design crazy graphical apps waste screen space with fancy icon requiring more scrolling than I would like, but they look nice.
• Camera takes good photos for cellphone, but no zoom and flash is worthless
• No video or audio recording currently. Palm OS had both.
• Super sharp screen is great but pushes aging eyes to the limits by cramming a lot on a page ... thankfully the pinch-zoom and rotating of the page to landscape view works well.
• :-)

Enough to give you something to talk about!

[Thanks, Rich!]

Special program June 9th, 2009

Dear Help Desk listener,

Since early March, the weekly Help Desk podcast has originated from the WMUB studios on the Miami campus. But that will end on June 30th, which is the last day at Miami for Cleve Callison and John Hingsbergen. We are actively investigating ways to keep the program going. Tomorrow (June 9, 2009) we hope to make a special recording that will not only be a regular podcast but will be a pilot of what could be the next step in the show.

You can help us out by sending us a question and letting us call you to put your voice on the show.

If you have a question about computers and are available to be on the phone around 9 am on Tuesday, June 9th, please send an email to: helpradio(at)wmub.org and send the following information:

--Your question:


--Your computer operating system (i.e., Vista, XP, Mac OS X, etc.):


--A landline number where we can call you around 9 am Tuesday:



We can’t guarantee a callback — it depends on the number of entries we receive.

Please help us out, and see the right-hand column for information about live streaming and archiving on Ustream.tv.

Thank you!

----------------------------------
The Help Desk crew

URLs from 6/2/09

Listen for today’s show as a podcast and on UStream.tv
Today’s UStream.tv archive is http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1595505

NEWS:

QuickTime 7.6.2 & iTunes 8.2
--http://www.9to5mac.com/quicktime-itunes-updated
--http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222
--http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3520

MSI laptop using the CULV-Consumer Ultra Low Voltage core 2 processors from Intel
--http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/hardware/laptops/soa/MSI-X-Slim-X340/0,2000065761,339295549,00.htm
--http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10254094-64.html

Mac OS X 10.5.7
--http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3397

Apple World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) June 8-12 in San Francisco
--WWDC 2009 Keynote Address on June 8th 10am Pacific, 1PM EST
--http://www.i4u.com/article24761.html
--WWDC Stream:
--http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/06/10/watch-or-download-steve-jobs-wwdc-2
008-keynote-webcast-streaming-video/

QUESTIONS:

Fixing Mac external hard drive (won’t mount after power surge/dip)
--http://www.binarybiz.com/vlab/mac.html
--http://www.prosofteng.com/products/data_rescue.php
--http://www.micromat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=
83

Printing from web sometimes flaky in XP, from PDF OK
--Update the printer driver; update Adobe Reader or Acrobat to the latest version.
--http://www.wmich.edu/vista/students/printPDF.html
--Print PDF as Image
--http://www.budget.gov.hk/2009/eng/pdf/e_PrintasImage.pdf
--http://www.pdfforlawyers.com/2003/09/question_on_pri.html

Does my daughter need a special adapter for her netbook when she is in London this summer?
--Generally, no. Check the labeling on the unit or on the power supply. If it says 50-60 cycles, 120-240 volts she will not need a converter. She will need a physical adapter since European plugs are different from American. These are widely available from discount and electronic stores.
--http://goeurope.about.com/cs/electricity/l/bl_electricity.htm
--http://www.slowtrav.com/europe/internet.htm#computer

Thank you for the Help Desk

Thanks for keeping the Help Desk active, I cannot tell you the number of ways that I have benefited from this tremendous resource. Whenever I have a pesky computer problem, whether at home or on the road, there is NO BETTER SOURCE, than the Help Desk show blog for a solution. I do hope the powers to be at Miami University will permit and allow this resource to continue without interruption. All of you guys are certainly the kings of the computer world in my opinion. Thanks again.

--listener, Preble County, OH

URLs from 5/26/09

Listen for today's show as a podcast and on UStream.tv
UPDATE: today's show is http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1562876

NEWS:

Lenovo gets real with new lineup
--http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10247911-1.html

Drive-By "Gumblar" Download Poisons Google Search Results
--http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/05/19/1215253
--http://blog.unmaskparasites.com/2009/05/07/gumblar-cn-exploit-12-facts-about
-this-injected-script/
--http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2009/05/gumblar-exploit-hijacking-websi
tes-and-picking-up-steam.ars

Safari Beta 4 Security questions
--http://www.thrica.com/archives/352

Iphone 3.0
--http://www.engadget.com/hub/iphone-os-30

QUESTIONS:

WMUB.org live stream on a Mac
--As of 3/1/09, Miami University no longer programs WMUB or operates the web site http://wmub.org. It's now operated by Cincinnati Public Radio. Mike had reported he was unable to get the stream to air on his Mac. We experienced the same problem. CPR will need to solve it, and we have contacted them.

Audio quality of podcasts
--Joe reported problems when burning our podcasts to CDs. It's true that we keep the specs on these low so that the files aren't large; with the ubiquity of broadband connections, perhaps it's time to revisit that. We don't have an answer as to why Joe's Toast 7 software on his Mac treats these files as .aif; they should be .mp3. We recommended to Joe that he use iTunes to handle the podcasts, and burn from that.

How to change your icon in OS X
--Joe also asked why his SENT folder in Apple Mail shows a picture of him as a gingerbread man. Joe needs to update his listing in his Address Book. The gingerbread man is one of the defaults, but you can sub a picture in any of several graphic formats.
--http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2493

URLs from 5/19/09

Note: the podcast of today's show was a little late getting on the air; we did not get a recording as we normally do and had to take other measures to recover the audio. You can listen to the Archive recording on UStream.tv -- search for "mub help desk".

NEWS:

Palm PRE to launch in June:
--http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10244423-1.html

Virtual climb of Mt. Everest:
--http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=00BOo9XoItxROPePqKqiqhskZpoy7Z8LF

QUESTIONS:

HP printing in landscape mode takes a very long time:
--We didn't find a definitive answer for this. Suggested she check HP for new drivers for her model (an all-in-one, C5280). Lee suggested that "The reason for slow in landscape may be that it is converting the text to graphics in that mode." Other suggestions: convert to PDF, then print from that (but this may take longer); print a master copy and take to a print shop.

Can't listen to the "new" WMUB online (Mike):
--Cincinnati Public Radio (WVXU), which has operated WMUB since March 1, does not use mp3 streaming as we used to do. At the WVXU.org site, you can download the Mac version of Windows Media Player (version 9.0).

Ants infesting a UPS:
--No guarantees on this, but an old friend of Cleve's suggested using crumbled-up tansy around what you want to protect. Let us know the results!

Can we check our bank account securely using Wi-Fi in a campground?
--Yes. Just make sure:

• Don't visit a site by clicking a link in an email
• Type, all by yourself, the URL you need
• Double-check the spelling
• Use a secure password
  

Can get a wireless card for an old Compaq Presario 7594?
--We think so, but if you're trying to save money you might want to check out the new lower-priced netbooks. The Compaq would probably run slow with a wireless.

Poll results: Computer buying 5/18/09

This week's question was "Are you planning to buy a computer in the next 12 months? (multiple answers OK)"

• Desktop PC (8, 40%)
• Desktop Mac (3, 15%)
• Laptop PC (3, 15%)
  
• Laptop Mac (3, 15%)
• Notebook PC (1, 5%)
• Not planning to buy (5, 25%)
  

Note: the category "Notebook PC" really should have read "Netbook PC." But once poll answers start coming in, it's impossible to change the questions. As of today there are no Netbook Macs on the market.

Thank you! We'll discuss on the show for 5/19/09.

URLs from 5/12/09

In addition to the podcast of today's show, we were able to get a UStream.tv recording going today. Go to UStream and search for "help desk".

NEWS:

NVIDEA Law Suite Apple, Dell & HP
--http://www.macworld.com/article/140545/2009/05/nvidiasuit.html?lsrc=rss_main

Ibook G4 Graphics chip problem
--http://macintoshhowto.com/hardware/how-do-i-get-my-broken-g4-ibook-fixed.html

MIT Engineers create Cone of Silence
--http://dvice.com/archives/2009/05/mit-engineers-f.php

Chip decline eases; AMD gains on Intel
--http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10238205-64.html

TODAY'S QUESTIONS:

Should I build my own computer? (Rich)
--Jim Keen and Wayne Stone have done this. You can get the exact model you want but it's time-consuming and takes some expertise. SW Ohio users can check MicroCenter. Another good source is this weekend's Dayton Hamvention.

URLs from 5/5/09

Today's show was broadcast live on UStream.tv, but for some reason the archive does not seem to be available. Even though it was audio-only, we think this should be possible. If you have an idea about what to do, send us an email to

• helpradio(AT)wmub.org

News and views:

Blogging: Blogger vs. WordPress
--Comments from HelpDesk listener Rich

Waldo Spotted on Google street view
--http://macenstein.com/default/archives/3989

Rumors of Apple Netbook
--http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/can_apple_release_a_netbook_without_cannibalizing_its_laptop_sales/

Questions:

Low sound volume even though it is turned up (Thomas)
--http://sillydog.org/forum/sdt_10345.php
--http://forums.techguy.org/multimedia/595813-speaker-volume-really-low.html

Alphabetizing folders and Applications in Start folder (Liz)
--Liz asked why applications always followed folders, rather than a mixed alpha short. We had said last week that we didn't think the order could be changed. Bob from Madeira wrote:

--Re the question last week about the Windows Start menu, with its folders and files in random order -- The Start menu is a special case of a folder. If you right-click on the Start button, then select Explore, you can manage the Start menu with Windows Explorer, the same as any other hierarchy of folders. You should be able to re-sort the folders and files as you wish. (List view is probably more useful than the Icon views for this purpose).

The sort order of the Start menu is, I believe, affected by any global changes you make to the sort order in Explorer. So if, like me, you have Explorer set to show all folders first before individual files, then then the folders should show up in the Start menu before individual item shortcuts.

This is made more complicated by the fact that there is a separate list of Start Menu items for All Users, and a separate one for each individual user. The items in the All Users list appear first, then the items for the currently-logged-in user are appended. So there will usually be two sections in the Start menu. You can administer the start menu items for All Users by clicking the Start button, then select Explore All Users.

There may be ways to reconfigure the Start menu, either through Registry hacks or through the TweakUI power toy, which is a free download from Microsoft.

Thanks for the podcast, and for the MUBsters update. Good luck to you all!

More on blogging: Blogger vs. WordPress

On today’s show, listener Rich offered the following Top Ten Tips about blogging:

Although I'm far from an expert in blogging, I've learned a few things over the past 4 years of keeping a personal blog and contributing to several others. I've been thinking about offering up a Top Ten list of advice that has worked for me.

1. Platform: To basic types - online blogging service or private server install. This is where Wordpress shines in my opinion since you can start using Wordpress.com free and move it to a private server install -- keeping the look and feel very similar. There are thousands of premade/designed themes available or you can create/modify your own with minimal programing skills. Plug-ins extend the power of Wordpress and make it the prefer platform for most growing blogs. Content Management Systems (CMS) like Joomla and Drupal are probably better for multiple user and business use, as most of them include full website development along with the blogging components. (all mentioned above are open source and free -- unless you use the extended services available through Wordpress.com)
2. Use a theme with a masthead and fixed items that don't take up all that much screen real estate (particularly vertical pixels). With wide screens and netbooks becoming popular, scrolling down every visit -- especially past ads -- is frustrating for readers. Blogs are a dime a dozen so you want to keep readers not send them to other services. (personally speaking I think that may have been one of the reasons Facebook is moving past MySpace in Social Networking)
   
3. Include reduced sized graphics and photo thumbnails so pages don't contain huge image files that need to be downloaded every time the url is accessed, then use the "click on feature" for a larger view. (plug in for Wordpress is called Lightbox 2)
   
4. Extend the power of the web by hyperlinking where you can. Think of it as if you were footnoting a paper. Another great plug-in that might help with this on Wordpress is Cross-linker.
   
5. Keep posts short, but post often IF you audience is the normal web surfer. Be sure to set up an RSS feed and read up on Google syndication -- have your pages crawled by search engines so content is publicized.
   
6. Most blogs are topical, so work to promote you blog by referencing it when you visit other sites that discuss the same subjects -- linking to particular posts is better than linking to just you home page.
   
7. Consider using Twitter or other social networking sites to connect with people interested so they know when you post new information.
   
8. Credit other people (bloggers, authors, etc) and link to them ... many will do the same for you.
   
9. Consider moderate use of Google Adsense or the like as money can be earned to support your site.
   
10. Moderate comments and use a spam comment blocker like Akismet. Comment spam can be a bigger problem that even email spam.

Poll results: Blogging 5/3/09

Not too many took part in our recent blog poll. The question was "For bloggers: which of these do you use? You may choose more than one answer."

• Blogger (1, 16%)
• WordPress (5, 83%)
• Other software (0, 0%)
• I host the blog (1, 16%)
• I use a hosting service (0, 0%).

Thank you! We'll discuss on the show for 5/5/09.