My Mind Leaks » Mac

Mailplane – A better gmail client for mac

Maheshwaran Subramaniya — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:58:57 +0000

I came across this Mailplane application for Mac recently and I started liking it as soon as I used it in 5 minutes. Probably will buy one copy for me. Mailplane provides a GUI interface for Gmail. Consider this as Microsoft Outlook for Gmail, but without modifying any thing that gmail provides. Right from the Look & Feel, the settings, the options of the web Gmail can be availed via Mailplane. The main feature is you can manage multiple Gmail ids at one place and switch between them by a single click.

Features in Mailplane:

Looking at the extra features in Mailplane, it allows you to send any file to this mail application using the “Right Click > Send to Mail Plane”

Mailplane apart from managing multiple Gmail ids, it has extra features like dropping any file in to the MailPlane, which would just create a new Conversation in Gmail and attach the file instantly.

iPhoto integaration is also breeze with Mailplane via the built in plugin, which would instantly attach the photo to your mail.Go to iPhoto, Select the photos that you need to send then “Share > Email“, which would open the Mailplane and load all your selected photo into the Mailplane app.

Also you can send document to MailPlane by printing it to the Mailplane app.

Even Mac can get viruses too – iWork 2009

Maheshwaran Subramaniya — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:15:36 +0000

Mac is Immune to Virus. This is globally acclaimed status until the iWork’ 09 worm infused into the Mac. So this tell you none of the OS in the world is immune to virus analogous to no human is immune to any virus. But the difference is, until we are healthy and cautious no external objects affects our body. Same thing for OSes too. Mac doesnt accept any executables to run without users notice, unlike PC. Though a nice writeup from ‘the How-to-Geek’ Even Mac’s can get viruses, ‘the How-to-Geek‘ mostly writes on the PC tips, tweaks and tricks, so there is no wonder that he writes about the Mac when Mac fails ( no offense here ).

The trojan is installed as a “Start up” service in in /System/Library/StartupItems/iWorkServices, a location reserved normally for Apple startup items.

Screenshot: A clean iWork installation will not have the 'iWorkServices' in the startup folder

Though the fix for this trojan has not been around, it’s true that the trojan turns the infected Macs into Zombies. But still Mac is much better than PC in stopping the viruses. It’s true that Mac cant claim that it is not affected with virus, but still it holds a proud position of having lesser viruses compared to the PC’s large virus base.

So, Mac users though you download the pirated software, make sure that you run through the anti-virus softwares.That keeps your mac health and of course you too

Mac OS X How To: Enable root user account aka superuser account

Maheshwaran Subramaniya — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:01:02 +0000

By default, the “root” account aka “superuser” account is disabled in Apple Mac. This is because, for a normal user, such a full access control account is not necessary. But still, to fix something or for development purpose a root access is necessary.

“sudo” command can used to enable “root” user and execute any command via “root” account.

$ sudo
usage: sudo -K | -L | -V | -h | -k | -l | -v
usage: sudo [-HPSb] [-p prompt] [-u username|#uid]
{ -e file [...] | -i | -s | }

Here is how you enable the “root” account. You should need an Admin previledged account.

Command + spacebar -> typein “Terminal” or Macintosh HD -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal.
Execute the following Command “sudo passwd root”

$ sudo passwd root
Password:
Changing password for root.
New password:
Retype new password:
$

Once the command prompt is shown, you can now login using the “root” in the terminal or while your mac boots up ( if you have manual login ).

How to Enable USB in Leopard

Maheshwaran Subramaniya — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:18:51 +0000

Do you have a question ‘My USB Flash drive is not detected in Leopard’? You face problems after you install or upgraded to new Leopard? Here is a solution for all your problems.

None of the OS is great if it doesn’t support USB & Internet. Even Leopard doesn’t get a compromise. Most of the people installed Leopard or upgraded to Leopard will face a problem where the USB drives will not be detected. I was tired of searching with Google and finally found a fix for the USB drivers to be detected.You need to install the latest drivers for USB in the leopard machine. Get it from the Apple Developer Connection – USB Debug Kits. You need to get registered in order to download it from the Apple Developer Connection.

Follow this easy step.

Just download this zip file from drop.io – iousbfamily308.4.0
Unzip zip it
Install the package IOUSBFamily-308.4.0-log.pkg.
Follow the onscreen instruction and finish the installation.
Reboot the machine.
Plug in the USB stick and you will find it tracked. Here is my USB stick got detected

Install the package – IOUSBFamily-308.4.0-log.pkg

Follow the installation steps.

My 4GB Trascedent USB drive mounted!

Will soon write on how to enable the Ethernet card and to handle the problems you face while you run your Leopad ( Hackintosh ).

Do you have any technical question? Drop me a mail or comment!!