When links won't work, write a blog post!
30/07/11 20:48 Filed in: Mac Stuff
Update: VirtualBox is now downloading to my Mac, so the part about it not downloading is no longer relevant! I’ll post about it again when it’s, hopefully, all going smoothly.
There is always something that can challenge a person, and one thing I am determined to learn is how to use Ubuntu – in a virtual machine.
Yes folks, I am challenging myself on two fronts. The first is to get to grips with a free operating system in order to future proof my computing needs, the second is to make it happen by using a virtual machine.
My first foray into using a virtual machine happened because I was studying at the time, and for some reason, my course required software that was only available for Windows OS. Of course, I went ahead and bought VMware Fusion – the Mac version of VMware.
Lets just say that this attempt was a bit of an almost non-starter. After installing Windows via VMware fusion, about 60GB of my Mac's 200GB hard drive was eaten up, and I wasn't getting on with the virtual machine experience at all. In fact, it feels like it's been so long, that I can't remember the details of specific problems.
So, recently, I decided that I wanted to get back into trying Ubuntu (having also installed that on VMware Fusion), but I didn't want to fork out for an update to the virtual machine, so I searched the web and came across VirtualBox.
For the moment, the best thing I can say about VirtualBox is that it's free. Back in April, I downloaded the latest version of Ubuntu, and installed it in VirtualBox, and for a few days it all seemed great, but, for some reason, things started to go wrong, and as a newbie, I have no idea if all it needs is an update of Ubuntu, and or and update of VirtualBox, or even a change in settings.
The problem I was having is this. When a new version of an OS (operating system) comes out, you expect to get the latest appearance e.g. the swanky new menubar and other associated updates – right? Wrong! While it started off that way, it quickly turned to the old style menubar, with icons in the top right corner moving a long a bit and leaving a gap, or even some of them missing altogether.
Fast forward to today. A lightbulb went on in my head, and I thought – right, I'm going to download any available updates for Ubuntu and VirtualBox, and then see if that solves the problem. You'll need me to tell you, as you're not physically here, that I have spent the last few minutes (not sure how long), writing this piece instead of downloading VirtualBox because the link for the latest download isn't working. So neither have I downloaded the latest update of Ubuntu either, as I hope to update the copy I have from within the virtual machine.
There is always something that can challenge a person, and one thing I am determined to learn is how to use Ubuntu – in a virtual machine.
Yes folks, I am challenging myself on two fronts. The first is to get to grips with a free operating system in order to future proof my computing needs, the second is to make it happen by using a virtual machine.
My first foray into using a virtual machine happened because I was studying at the time, and for some reason, my course required software that was only available for Windows OS. Of course, I went ahead and bought VMware Fusion – the Mac version of VMware.
Lets just say that this attempt was a bit of an almost non-starter. After installing Windows via VMware fusion, about 60GB of my Mac's 200GB hard drive was eaten up, and I wasn't getting on with the virtual machine experience at all. In fact, it feels like it's been so long, that I can't remember the details of specific problems.
So, recently, I decided that I wanted to get back into trying Ubuntu (having also installed that on VMware Fusion), but I didn't want to fork out for an update to the virtual machine, so I searched the web and came across VirtualBox.
For the moment, the best thing I can say about VirtualBox is that it's free. Back in April, I downloaded the latest version of Ubuntu, and installed it in VirtualBox, and for a few days it all seemed great, but, for some reason, things started to go wrong, and as a newbie, I have no idea if all it needs is an update of Ubuntu, and or and update of VirtualBox, or even a change in settings.
The problem I was having is this. When a new version of an OS (operating system) comes out, you expect to get the latest appearance e.g. the swanky new menubar and other associated updates – right? Wrong! While it started off that way, it quickly turned to the old style menubar, with icons in the top right corner moving a long a bit and leaving a gap, or even some of them missing altogether.
Fast forward to today. A lightbulb went on in my head, and I thought – right, I'm going to download any available updates for Ubuntu and VirtualBox, and then see if that solves the problem. You'll need me to tell you, as you're not physically here, that I have spent the last few minutes (not sure how long), writing this piece instead of downloading VirtualBox because the link for the latest download isn't working. So neither have I downloaded the latest update of Ubuntu either, as I hope to update the copy I have from within the virtual machine.
How to clear icons at the top left of the screen HTC Wildfire
29/07/11 17:35 Filed in: HTC Wildfire Stuff
When I first got this phone a few months back, I was left a little puzzled by how on earth I was supposed to clear the icons that appeared at the top left of my phone’s screen. To date, I still don’t know what it’s called, but I can tell you that to clear those icons, which appear to be notifications of email / downloading / uploading / social media messages etc, you just drag your finger from the top of the screen down - just like when you unlock the phone’s screen, except you start dragging above the active touchscreen in a downward motion, and press the button that says ‘Clear’. To get back to your home screen, or whichever screen you have open, just press the thick bar at the bottom and drag it back up.
Mostly now, the only icon that remains in the top left of the screen is for the security app I have always running, and that appears in the ‘ongoing’ section of the mystery screen with no name, which means that when I press ‘Clear’, it doesn’t get wiped with the rest of the notifications.
Mostly now, the only icon that remains in the top left of the screen is for the security app I have always running, and that appears in the ‘ongoing’ section of the mystery screen with no name, which means that when I press ‘Clear’, it doesn’t get wiped with the rest of the notifications.
Adding a contact from a text (SMS) HTC Wildfire
29/07/11 17:05 Filed in: HTC Wildfire Stuff
A friend just sent me her number (not via text). What did I immediately do? I tapped in her number and texted her - then I thought: hang on, how do I add her as a contact on my phone without having to type in her number again?
Here’s how:
Get into the message you’ve already sent, press and hold the message until a menu appears with the header ‘Message options’. The second option on the list on my HTC Wildfire is ‘Save to people’. Click that, and it asks if you want to ‘Add contact’ or ‘Save to existing contact’. As my friend was a new contact on my phone, I pressed ‘Add contact’. You can then type in the persons’ name and decide if you want to add the contact to the SIM card or the phonebook, or it might ask where you want to store your contact first.
Here’s how:
Get into the message you’ve already sent, press and hold the message until a menu appears with the header ‘Message options’. The second option on the list on my HTC Wildfire is ‘Save to people’. Click that, and it asks if you want to ‘Add contact’ or ‘Save to existing contact’. As my friend was a new contact on my phone, I pressed ‘Add contact’. You can then type in the persons’ name and decide if you want to add the contact to the SIM card or the phonebook, or it might ask where you want to store your contact first.
Link to article about batch processing files
28/07/11 14:46 Filed in: Mac Stuff | Photo Stuff
Found a need to batch process some files, so I searched the internet and found this one. Job done.
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/ss/processmultiple.htm
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/ss/processmultiple.htm
Flatten image (layers) Photoshop Elements
28/07/11 13:13 Filed in: Mac Stuff | Photo Stuff
Saving your image in some formats e.g. jpg, requires you to flatten your image before saving. You can do this two ways. With the layer window visible (go to Window > Layers if it isn’t), right click on one of the layers and scroll down to where it says ‘flatten image’
Alternatively, go to the layer menu, and select ‘flatten image’ (it’s at the bottom).
Alternatively, go to the layer menu, and select ‘flatten image’ (it’s at the bottom).