Back in November, we took a look at what it takes to encrypt email on the Mac using Apple Mail. If you are the user of an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, and checking your email on that iOS device while sometimes sending encrypted email from your Mac, you will find that you have a problem. The certificate used to encrypt outgoing mail and decrypt incoming mail is stored on the Mac and is not installed on the iOS device by default. Oddly, Apple engineers have not seen fit to make the certificate files part of the information that is synchronized between the computer and the mobile device. But, not to worry. With the release of iOS5, email encryption is now supported. You just have to know the tricks necessary to get the certificate installed and the iOS configured to use the certificate. As it stands now, iOS encrypted email support is technically functional. Its just not smoothly implemented or what I would describe as "up to typical Apple standards."
We start by assuming that you have already implemented encrypted email on your desktop/laptop Mac OS computer. If you have not, check out this post for the details explaining everything you need to know. The steps detailed below assume that you have the email encryption certificate installed and working on OS X as you will need to export some of that information in order to install it into the iOS based device.
With the release of OS X 10.7, Apple engineers brought a serious update to Apple Mail. When this happened I was finally able to cast Microsoft Outlook (formerly Microsoft Encourage) aside. Encourage was functional but slow. But when it was deprecated in favor of Outlook things went sideways. Microsoft went for a complete rewrite of the codebase and in doing so introduced significant issues into the product, many of which they have yet to fully resolve. So when Apple Mail turned out to be a truly impressive update, I made the switch and have not regretted the change.
One of my larger issues with Encourage and Outlook was their support for encrypted email. It worked, in the technical sense, but it never worked well… at least in my opinion. Conversely, Apple Mail just works. No qualification necessary, no messing around. It just works. The only tricky part is the initial configuration. Here we will configure Apple Mail (version 5.1 that is part of OS X 10.7.1) to send encrypted messages...
This is an issue that will likely only affect a small number of users. But since it was an problem for me, it worth a post to explain the fix.
One of the great new features of iOS 5 is the ability to sync with iTunes over Wi-Fi and eliminate the need to plug the iOS device directly into the computer in order to backup and update software, content and playlists. To enable this feature, first plug the device into the computer via USB. When it appears in the Devices list on the left side of the main iTunes window simply click once in your devices icon. Then select Summary from the top of the main window on the right.
Scrolling to the bottom of the main window, there is a section labeled Options. Be sure to select the box labeled Sync this Device over Wi-Fi. Until that box is checked, the iOS device will not sync over Wi-Fi. If the box was already checked by default, you’re set. But if you had to check it yourself, be sure to click the Sync button in the lower right hand corner of the window. This insures that the settings take effect.
When Apple released Mac OS X 10.7.2 yesterday, a wide set of new features were made public. Many of these included support for the long awaited iCloud. But in the process, Apple managed to break iChat’s support for AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) logins in some cases. So, if you launch iChat and some of your buddies are missing, or you see a small message in the buddy list showing AIM is disconnected, you are one of the effected.
Fortunately there is an easy fix. From in iChat, select Preferences from the iChat menu. Then click on the Accounts button at the top of the window. Click once on your AIM account in the list on the left and then click on the Server Settings tab at the right. Odds are your Server field is currently listed as api.oscar.aol.com. Apparently this server address no longer works if the Use SSL check box has been selected...
One of the exciting features unique to Mac OS X 10.7 Lion is the new and improved FileVault. Greatly enhanced over the implementation found in Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6), the new version allows users to fully encrypt the system’s boot drive as well as entirely encrypt additional data drives such as USB or FireWire externals, or even USB thumb drives. This is welcome news to mobile users. Now MacBook users can travel with additional safety and security.
Once FileVault is activated, the system must reboot. The OS will begin encrypting the boot drive in the background allowing the user to keep productive as the encryption procedure can take some time. Once the boot drive has encryption activated, it is no longer possible to boot the computer without first entering login information. Let me go over that again so I can clarify. Normally the system boots up and then prompts the user to enter login credentials prior to gaining access to their data. But once FileVault has been activated, a username and password must be entered before the machine will even begin the boot process...
I visited my local Apple retail store over the weekend and left with the crushing urge to spread the word about solid state hard drives (SSD from here on). I went into the store to have the guys at the Genius Bar take a look at the battery on my MacBook Pro. The battery had developed a bulge and was actually causing the back panel on my laptop to bend and twist. The good news is that they guys at the Genius Bar took one look at the issue and promptly swapped out my battery with a brand new one at no charge. I call that truly great customer service since my MacBook Pro was no longer under warranty.
But I digress. While I was talking with two technicians at the Genius Bar, I mentioned that I had installed an SSD as my boot drive. This really got their attention. One of them politely asked if I would mind firing up the laptop so he could have a look. Like many of us, he had read blurbs online indicating that an SSD could breath new life into an aging laptop. Both gentlemen noted that they had each been considering the SSD option for their older MacBooks. Obviously they both had the chance to play with the SSD powered MacBook Air’s, but they understood there was a big difference between the latest hardware and what they were running at home.
I fired up my MacBook Pro and spun the screen around so they could watch it boot. One of the tech’s eyebrows went up dramatically and I knew the desktop had just arrived on screen. He had to explain to the other tech that it was a cold boot, and not just a machine waking up from sleep. This drew some more attention and a female Genius tech came over to see what was going on. So we ran through another boot, just to get everyone on the same page. The machine booted in seconds. The 3 techs were very impressed. So, after asking permission, the tech went about opening a series of apps such as Safari, the Office 2011 apps, and the latest Adobe Creative Suite. Again, they were all visibly taken back by the responsiveness of the system when launching some of the more gangly professional apps. So we moved on to launch Parallels and see Windows 7 Pro boot in less time than any of them had thought possible.
I recently read a post on Ars Technica explaining the technical side of Near Field Communications, or NFC for short. Like most folks, I have heard that it can be used for payment processing. A couple of credit cards have the technology built in to allow the carrier to simply pass their card over the payment terminal in order to initiate payment. More common, at least in the US, is SpeedPass at the gas pump. Just swipe your key fob over the logo at the gas pump and you can fill-up with the transaction auto billed to your credit card. But deep in the guts of the Ars Technica post, I was really impressed with other possible uses of the technology.
Near Field Communication, as the name implies, allows 2 devices to communicate when they are in close proximity. The range can be configured via the devices and ranges from a fraction of an inch to nearly a foot. Please check out the Ars Technica story for the technical specifics and great detail on the history of the technology as well as its various iterative forms.
This is one of those iPhone apps that fills a need most people didn’t know they had. Its implementation is as close to perfect as I could imagine, and it brings functionality that all smart phones should ship with out of the box. What it does, its does simply, it does cleanly, and it does very well. And best of all— it does it for free.
The question to start an app review with is normally simple: What does the app do? In this case, I think it’s easier to give an example of where and when Glympse can be used. This makes the app a lot easier to explain.
So consider this situation… You are running late for a meeting and you want to give the other meeting attendees a heads up about where you are and how long it will take for you to get to the meeting. It’s a fair amount on information to convey especially if you are already on the run and already running late. You could call and explain to the party on the other end. But that could be awkward and end up being a longer conversation than you can deal with. You could text, but that’s hard to do in a moving vehicle (whether you are driving or not (don’t text while driving!)). And one text message could easily turn into a back and fourth volley that you don’t have time for.
Project Motorsport started out as a fun way to spend an afternoon. We set out to shoot some motorcycle video and have a good time. Once when we brought the video back and began to edit, we realized we had the making of a music video.
Check out the video and see for yourself. And, if your interested in further information on the project, we give you that too!
The Freedom to Switch:
In 2003 Apple Computer released a marketing campaign with the intention of showing Wintel users how easy it would be to "switch" platforms.
One of the Mac's main selling points, ironically enough, was Digital Video Editing. Apple wanted the world to see how easy it was to edit video on the Mac platform. And, in overwhelming response, Mac users set out to show the world just how easy it really was.
The campaign was effective for Apple, but also spawned a unexpected parody campaign in the Mac underworld. Users from all of the world whipped out their camcorders and set to work making spoofs in the same cinematic style as the acclaimed commercial line.
With this, Maclive.net rose to the challenge and shot our own spoof. We think it proves that a Mac can be a powerful tool in the wrong hands. It also shows how far a couple of Mac fans will go for a laugh. We hope you enjoy our contribution, aptly named The Freedom to Switch.
Back in November, we took a look at what it takes to encrypt email on the Mac using Apple Mail. If you are the user of an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, and checking your email on that iOS device while sometimes sending encrypted email from your Mac, you will find that you have a problem. The certificate used to encrypt outgoing mail and decrypt incoming mail is stored on the Mac and is not installed on the iOS device by default. Oddly, Apple engineers have not seen fit to make the certificate files part of the information that is synchronized between the computer and the mobile device. But, not to worry. With the release of iOS5, email encryption is now supported. You just have to know the tricks necessary to get the certificate installed and the iOS configured to use the certificate. As it stands now, iOS encrypted email support is technically functional. Its just not smoothly implemented or what I would describe as "up to typical Apple standards."
This is an issue that will likely only affect a small number of users. But since it was an problem for me, it worth a post to explain the fix.
One of the exciting features unique to Mac OS X 10.7 Lion is the new and improved FileVault. Greatly enhanced over the implementation found in Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6), the new version allows users to fully encrypt the system’s boot drive as well as entirely encrypt additional data drives such as USB or FireWire externals, or even USB thumb drives. This is welcome news to mobile users. Now MacBook users can travel with additional safety and security.
I visited my local Apple retail store over the weekend and left with the crushing urge to spread the word about solid state hard drives (SSD from here on). I went into the store to have the guys at the Genius Bar take a look at the battery on my MacBook Pro. The battery had developed a bulge and was actually causing the back panel on my laptop to bend and twist. The good news is that they guys at the Genius Bar took one look at the issue and promptly swapped out my battery with a brand new one at no charge. I call that truly great customer service since my MacBook Pro was no longer under warranty.
I recently read a post on Ars Technica explaining the technical side of Near Field Communications, or NFC for short. Like most folks, I have heard that it can be used for payment processing. A couple of credit cards have the technology built in to allow the carrier to simply pass their card over the payment terminal in order to initiate payment. More common, at least in the US, is SpeedPass at the gas pump. Just swipe your key fob over the logo at the gas pump and you can fill-up with the transaction auto billed to your credit card. But deep in the guts of the Ars Technica post, I was really impressed with other possible uses of the technology.
This is one of those iPhone apps that fills a need most people didn’t know they had. Its implementation is as close to perfect as I could imagine, and it brings functionality that all smart phones should ship with out of the box. What it does, its does simply, it does cleanly, and it does very well. And best of all— it does it for free.
