Splash of Style...Macs, Photography, Design, and other Passions

Create Simple HTML Photo Page in iPhoto

February 1, 2009 by debbie T | Computers • Digital Photography • iPhoto • Mac Software • Web Design • Web Development

I maintain a basic web site for a local non-profit, and every year, I must update their photo page of Officers. It’s always been time consuming to try to reassemble the table html codes and move all the names and titles to their appropriate spots.

I wanted to find an easier way to create a simple html table for the photo page. I looked into iWeb, but the output page looked like a portfolio, and the code was virtually impossible to edit later.

I had imported all the necessary photo files into iPhoto, and while I was checking out the Export command, I noticed there was an option to export as web page.

Read the Rest of the Article

Moving a VMware Fusion Virtual Machine

January 31, 2009 by debbie T | Mac Software • Windows on the Mac

I realized my Macbook Pro’s hard drive was just too small to keep both XP and Windows 7 VMware Fusion virtual machines, so I decided to move the Windows 7 install to an external hard drive.

I copied the virtual machine file (by default vm files are located in Documents/Virtual Machines) and double-clicked to launch VMware. It automatically started the virtual machine, and a message box appeared asking if the virtual machine was moved or copied. (See screen shot below)

virtual%20move

I chose “moved” since I didn’t want to keep the file on my MBP hard drive anymore.

I had read online that if the file has been moved to a new hard drive, it is very important that VMware Fusion keeps the original settings for the Windows activation, so it won’t mess it up later.

Next, I suspended the virtual machine, and exited from VMware Fusion. In Finder, I sent the Windows 7 file (on my hard drive) to the trash. I also had to remove the older Windows 7 install from the list of virtual machines in Fusion.

Once I double-clicked the “moved” Windows 7 virtual machine file on my external a second time, it launched, and was added to the list of virtual machines in Fusion. All seemed to be working just fine.

Now I can expand my Windows XP virtual machine and possibly install some more Windows programs, like Dreamweaver, Flash, Paint Shop Pro, games, etc.

I really love VMware Fusion!

Getting another New Battery for my MBP

January 27, 2009 by debbie T | Computers • Mac Corner

Well, I spoke too soon. I was bragging about the increase in battery capacity after I received my Macbook Pro back from Applecare after my logic board repair.

When it was sent out, the battery capacity was @ approximately 63%; when I received it back (Jan 9) it was raised to 89% capacity. hmm, very curious. I thought maybe I got a (different) new / refurb battery back by mistake. I was happy to gain the extra capacity, so I wasn’t complaining!!!

Well, by Jan 23, it was back down to 64% capacity, and down to 50% this morning. I even tried calibrating twice with no luck, it actually got worse.

So, I figured I better phone Applecare before I ran out of time. I received my current battery as a replacement in April, so I didn’t want to wait too long.

What a pleasant experience. I am getting a new battery sent to me! Yay! The Applecare rep talked to a tech specialist, and they seem to think it might have drained due to the problematic logic board which was replaced (or maybe the bad Nvidia card). I don’t care what the reason is, I will have a happy Mac with a new battery.

UPDATE Sunday, Feb 1: Got my new Macbook Pro battery on Friday. I installed it this morning, making sure to shut down my MBP first, and unplugging from the charger. After I installed the new battery, I plugged it in, then rebooted.

Once I booted into OS X, I saw that the charge was @ 59% I launched Coconut Battery to check the data. 100% capacity @ 5563 mAh.

I will not remove the power cord until it’s fully charged at 100%. I will probably calibrate it tonight or tomorrow.

Installing MS Money 2002 in Windows 7 Beta

January 20, 2009 by debbie T | Windows on the Mac

Yeah, I know I am so very behind the times when it comes to my financial software. I am still using Money 2002. But I like it, and I know with each update, Microsoft keeps adding unnecessary bloat so I stick with this older version.

I was very interested in finding out if it would still install and run on Windows 7, so I installed this morning.

Since I am using Windows 7 in VMware Fusion on my Macbook Pro, I made sure to take a "snapshot" of my virtual machine before any new installations.

I inserted the install CD, and navigated to the Money setup.exe file in the Money directory.

A Funny Warning

And I was surprised to find this warning. How funny! It’s a software product from MICROSOFT, but the publisher is unknown to them. I guess it really is old!

a-funny-warning1.png

After installation, Money 2002 appeared to be working okay. Time will tell when I actually start to work with real financial data, but so far so good.

I found an article online stating that MS Money was working just fine in Vista, so I don’t anticipate any issues with Windows 7.

Installing Windows 7 Beta in VMware Fusion

January 20, 2009 by debbie T | Mac Software • Windows on the Mac

I installed the Windows 7 Beta in VMware Fusion on my Macbook Pro. Actually, it took several tries, but it was pretty quick and easy, once I understood the process. I am still getting used to VMware, so that might have been a bit of a hinderance.

This tutorial takes you through the steps I took to install. It should be noted that I am still new to VMware, so my experience might be slightly different than others that are more experienced with the program.

First, download the Windows 7 Beta at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7.

Read the Rest of the Article

UStream Now Available for iPhone & iTouch

January 20, 2009 by debbie T | iTunes & iPhone • Mac Corner

Yay, UStream is offering an app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Cool. Hmm, I wonder if the UStream Chat will work as well. Even though it’s not my favorite thing to type on the touch keyboard, it would be cool!

Allison, this is something we are going to have to test!

Chronosync Version 4 is released

January 18, 2009 by debbie T | Mac Software

Yay, Chronosync, my favorite backup/syncing app has released version 4! And the new version now includes bootable backups! whoo-hoo!

I had previously been using Super Duper to make a bootable backup; now I can use Chronosync. Awesome!

For those that are new to Chronosync, it’s a wonderful backup app for Mac OS X. I use it to back up my home folder several times a day. It’s simple to use, and very powerful. It’s for sure, a program I can’t live without on my Mac!

It’s $40 for new users. Version 4 is a free upgrade to prior registered users!

Accidentally Deleted my Windows XP Virtual Machine in Fusion

January 18, 2009 by debbie T | Mac Software • Windows on the Mac

Yikes, while messing around with an install of the Windows 7 beta in VMware Fusion, I accidentally deleted my Windows XP virtual machine.

Luckily, I didn’t empty my trash right away, and I noticed my mistake right away. So, I dragged the trashed file back into my “Virtual Machines” folder in documents, re-started VMware, and oops, it didn’t display in the list of my virtual machines. I couldn’t “import” the file either.

I right-clicked on the file in Finder, and noticed the “open with” command. hmm, maybe I could simply open the file? So, I double-clicked the file in Finder, and yay, it started it in VMware Fusion, and it was indeed now added to the list of my Virtual Machines. phew.

So, if you accidentally delete one of your virtual machines in error, just drag it back to your Virtual Machines folder and double click the file in Finder. Easy peasy!

Disconnecting Windows in VMware Fusion

January 15, 2009 by debbie T | Internet • Mac Software • Windows on the Mac • Wireless

Since I am not running any anti-virus or anti-malware programs while using Windows XP in VMware Fusion, I don’t want Windows to connect to the Internet. It’s very easy to toggle my network connection in Fusion.

Click the little “double arrow” icon in the bottom toolbar in Fusion. Choose to Connect or Disconnect from the network. Very easy.

fusion-wifi

Windows Joy

January 15, 2009 by debbie T | Mac Software • Windows on the Mac

Well my Macbook Pro finally came home last Friday afternoon. Gawd, I missed that machine.

Anyway, I was planning on reinstalling Mac OS X and starting “from scratch” but decided I just didn’t want to fiddle with the bother of a new installation, so I restored my Super Duper bootable backup. So much easier.

So, what does all this have to do with Windows? I am getting to that. I treated myself to a copy of Vmware Fusion so I was excited to install my copy of Windows XP. It was fairly easy and fast to install Windows XP in Fusion.

wow! What a difference from Bootcamp! I love that I don’t have to keep restarting to move back and forth from Mac OS X to Windows. It actually made using Windows more enjoyable!! Can you believe it!

Since I heard SimCity was released for the iPhone/iPod, I have been dying to play my old Sim games. So I installed the old SimTower and SimCity 2000 – both worked wonderfully in Fusion. So exciting!

I decided not to run any Anti-virus or malware protection software in Windows. I don’t need to connect to the Internet very often, and when I do, it will mainly be to update Windows. What a dream it is to run Windows without any annoying anti-virus programs!

So now, guess what? As I am writing this, I am downloading the Windows 7 beta. Ha! Talk about crazy!

I am curious to see what older apps will run on it. Especially since the main reason I am running Windows is Microsoft Money (version 2002). It will be interesting.