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Apple TV Hack

by patrick

atv-bootloader I’ve written several post here on how to hack your Apple TV to allow FTP access and open up a wide range of useful and fun apps. Back then, the process was more complicated and involved several steps. But things have changed.

There is now a very easy way to hack your Apple TV and not only allow FTP access, but also give you the ability to watch TV from Hulu. This is quite cool.

The first thing you do is download atvusb-creator from this site: http://code.google.com/p/atvusb-creator/ The instructions on this page are simple and easy. This software will create all the necessary installation files onto a 1GB or larger USB flash drive.

The Power of WordPress

by patrick

The Power of WordPress

I’m weeks away from finishing my first eBook!

I haven’t yet decided on the title. They (the expert eBook marketing folks) tell me that much thought should go into the title. There are two important reasons for that:

1. You want the title to be alluring and catchy to increase sales.
2. You want the title to accurately communicate what the reader can expect to find inside.

I’ve put several months of work in creating this eBook. I think most small business folks who want to create and maintain their own websites in an easy way will find this eBook quite valuable.

It’s loaded with screenshots and graphics, because many folks are very visual in their learning mode. Once I’ve got this finished, I will begin working on a companion video series that will work nicely with the eBook.

Stay tuned… we’re close!

Coda, The Developer’s Tool

by patrick

Every once in a while, someone comes up with a tool that makes you wonder what you ever did before using it. For me, Coda is that tool.

If you work on websites, you should take a close look at Coda. Coda has these tools built in: text editor, file transfer, source control system, terminal (SSH), website preview, and resource library for HTML, CSS, Javascript, and PHP.

The interface is clean and doesn’t get in the way of doing work. In Edit mode, the code is color-coded for easy identification.

edit

There’s a very cool CSS editor built in that allows you to quickly add and change your style sheets with a very nicely designed visual editor.

css

When you need to preview your work, there’s no need to fire up a browser. Coda provides a built-in preview tab.

preview

If you need to SSH into your server, Coda provides that too.

ssh

And if you’ve forgotten that bit of PHP or CSS or Javascript, Coda provides a built-in reference library. You can even add more of your own.

bookshelf

Working with Coda on site development is like a dream within a dream!

There is also a good collection of third party plugins that extend Coda’s functionality. Check out their site at: http://www.panic.com/coda/

MacWorld 2009, A Somber Crowd

by patrick

I expected a change in mood for this year’s MacWorld, and that is what I found.

First came the news that this would be a Steve-less MacWorld. Then, Apple announced that this would be their last year at the event. This double sucker punch to Mac fans couldn’t help but change the normally happy and excited event to a somber and dour chore.

Well, ok, it wasn’t quite that bad, but the crowds were way down this year. The MacWorld Expo folks tried to minimize the poor turnout by cleverly pushing in the dividing curtains on either side of both halls to make it seem fuller. Many vendors were saying that booth sales were sharply down.

I’m hoping that these changes are merely signs of an Apple evolution. Perhaps now, with so many Apple Stores around the country, Apple no longer needs the exposure and display area that MacWorld once provided. Maybe Apple no longer needs the MacWorld events to showcase new product announcements. And just maybe, Apple will be announcing their new products more frquently.

I’m still waiting for the new, more powerful Mac Mini, a new AppleTV, and the Kindle-killing large iPod-like device for reading electronic books.

As for MacWorld 2010, if enough vendors sign on to showcase their cool products, I’ll be there.

Mac Sage

Apple TV Hack

The Power of WordPress

Coda, The Developer’s Tool

MacWorld 2009, A Somber Crowd

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Mac Sage

Apple TV Hack

Don’t Be A Twit: Tweet Well With These Tools

The Power of WordPress

Coda, The Developer’s Tool

MacWorld 2009, A Somber Crowd

Topics

Recent Posts

Noteworthy Sites