June, 2011

Dropbox / GTD / Mac / OmniFocus / Tips — No Comments
30
Jun 11

Some OmniFocus Macros

In light of my previous post about controlling my work environment with Keyboard Maestro, I thought I would share a few more handy macros for OmniFocus.

Clean and Sync

This is a pretty simple macro. Most of the work is done by two lines of AppleScript. The macro tells OmniFocus to clean-up the front window and then perform a sync. It’s simple but handy.

OF Sync Macro

Get to the tasks

This one I use whenever I sit down at my Mac to clear some tasks out of OmniFocus. I have a OF Perspective that is for when I am at my Mac. The perspective has a hot key set for triggering it. This KM macro does a few things. It brings OmniFocus to the front and then executes the Clean and Sync macro shown above and then simulates the key combination to activate the perspective. Finally, it moves the window to take up the left half of my primary monitor.

OF Mac Macro

Todo Files

I posted previously about my Mail rule that can automatically create an OmniFocus task for an attachment and share the file with a link through Dropbox. It’s pretty handy, but at the end of the week I need to process those tasks and files. I do it often enough that I created a simple macro that just opens the finder to the folder in Dropbox. That’s it. I said it was simple.

Todo File Macro

 

Uncategorized — 2 Comments
30
Jun 11

Project Planning in OmniOutliner?

You know what would be nice? The ability to plan an entire project in OmniOutliner and automatically turn that into a new OmniFocus project. I love the ease of use in OmniOutliner. I can grab a task and slide it around to appropriately position it. It’s just more organic than OmniFocus.

I would love to simply upload an OmniOutliner OPML file and have the project just appear in OmniFocus.

Yeah, that would be nice. I sure wish someone was working on that…

Mac / Organization / Programming / Tips — No Comments
29
Jun 11

Clean-Up Macro

Most applications on the Mac allow you to hide all other applications. That’s a nice way to pretend that your workspace is clean, but it’s an illusion. I was thinking the other day that what I really want is something like a “Quit All Others” global hot key.

But, wait…

What I really want is a “Quit All Except for the Applications I Use All Of The Time” hot key.

And then there was the magic of Keyboard Maestro (KM) and AppleScript. KM is really just a conduit for triggering the AppleScript. I initially tried to build it in KM only but there is no conditional flow or testing actions available. Since it’s all AppleScript, it could easily be done with FastScripts too.

In KM simply setup a macro that is triggered by a custom key combination (shift-CMD-Q for me). The only action in the macro is to execute an AppleScript.

KM Macro Setup

The AppleScript (see end of this post) simply runs through and quits all applications that are not in the white list of the script. It also leaves the frontmost application running since I assume that’s the application that is in use. I use this macro in conjunction with a couple other tricks for a nice clean and easy to navigate environment.

tell application "System Events" to set the visible of every process to true
on GetCurrentApp()
    tell application "System Events"
        set _app to item 1 of (every process whose frontmost is true)
        return name of _app
    end tell
end GetCurrentApp
try
    tell application "Finder"
        set process_list to the name of every process whose visible is true
    end tell
    set _currentApp to GetCurrentApp()
    set white_list to {"Finder", "OmniFocus", "BusyCal", "nvAlt", "LaunchBar", "Keyboard Maestro", "iTunes", "Mail", _currentApp}
    repeat with i from 1 to (number of items in process_list)
        set this_process to item i of the process_list
        if this_process is not in white_list then
            tell application this_process
                quit
            end tell
        end if
    end repeat
on error
    tell the current application to display dialog "An error has occurred!" & return & "This script will now quit" buttons {"Quit"} default button 1 with icon 0
end try


References

1. http://codesnippets.joyent.com/posts/show/1124

2. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/495323/quit-all-applications-using-applescript

3. http://vanderbrew.com/blog/2010/02/15/get-current-application-with-applescript/

 

Mac / Review / Software / Tips — No Comments
25
Jun 11

App Obscura: Spirited Away

Spirited Away

SpiritedAway

This donation-ware application has been keeping me focused for the past year (or more). I’m not sure it will survive Lion’s shift to full screen applications, but for now it runs on all of my non-server macs. Spirited Away simply hides all inactive application windows after a user specifiable amount of time.

I don’t tend to use it as much on my primary Mac since I have a huge amount of screen real estate.1 On my MacBook, it’s really nice to have background apps simply cleaned away while I work. I like to have the clutter clear from my window while I work.

  1. I have a 27” iMac with a 30” secondary monitor. I know it’s grotesque but I love it. ↩

Hardware / Mac / Tips — No Comments
25
Jun 11

The Power of Backup [Hardware]

I’ve been using rudimentary Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) on my machines for several years. I picked up a few cheap-o UPS units at Costco and just hooked them up. They did their job, as long as I was home. You see, a cheap UPS is basically a big battery hooked up to a surge suppressor. It will protect your hardware and give you 30 minutes of extra power, but when the battery dies, it’s like ripping your computer plug out of the wall.

I recently replaced my old and cheap UPS with a Cyberpower CP1500AVRLCD UPS. It came highly rated on Amazon and wasn’t going to cost more than the iMac it would be connected to.

The Hardware

The Cyberpower unit is nice. It has a solid feel and an attractive design. Then again so did my cheap UPS unit. The big win for a more advanced unit is the direct integration with the Mac power management.

The Cyberpower ships with a USB cable that provides enhanced power management features when connected to a Mac (or PC with the provided software). OSX comes with integrated UPS management so no additional software is needed.

The Software

As shown in the screenshot, the UPS can tell the Mac when power has been lost. It can also tell the Mac how much back-up power remains. The Mac will respond appropriately and cleanly shutdown. The hard drives will spin down and applications will quit.

Screen Shot 20110625 154936

 

The Mac will even sense when power comes back on and power-up again.

Screen Shot 20110625 154917

 

Once the UPS is connected and configured, there is an additional menubar item visible that can be used to show the overall charge of the UPS. This status can be displayed as a percentage or as minutes left.

Menubar

 

What’s on the UPS

The value of a UPS is to give you a bit extra time to save your work and properly shutdown the computer. If I have a power outage, I seriously doubt that my Internet connection will still be active. That means NO DROPBOX. So I need some quick backups of my data and to put it somewhere I can get it off. I have the following items connected to my UPS unit:

  1. My 27” iMac
  2. 8 port USB-2 hub
  3. WiebeTech USB DriveDock

With this setup, I have a few options to backup my data. I can quickly pop in a small SD card (built into the iMac) to archive a small project. I can also stick in an 8GB USB thumb-drive to get a larger set of files. Depending on where I plan to work, can also connect my iPad to sync files through iTunes. Finally, I can connect a bare 2TB drive to the DriveDock so I can perform a ChronoSync backup of everything.

In all likelihood, I’ll simply grab some working files with a USB thumb drive so I can continue working on my MacBook.

OmniFocus / Tips — No Comments
25
Jun 11

OmniFocus FAQ

In case you don’t cruise the Omni Group forums like some dork with nothing better to do, I found this, um, cruising the forums. It’s a great FAQ that even Ken Case himself has contributed to.

OmniFocus FAQ

 

Automator / Productivity / Tips — 1 Comment
20
Jun 11

Updated Handbrake CLI Settings and Automated DVD Encoding

Back in January I posted about a workflow for automatic processing of DVD’s. This is really handy if you are processing a bunch of home movies from DVD to an AppleTV friendly format (or any other format). I’ve updated my settings (and corrected a typo) from that post. I like the look of strict anamorphic video better on one of my videos so it was easy to simply modify the Automator workflow. I was also having some issues with the Hazel portion of the workflow moving the DVD image before it was done encoding. I modified the new Hazel script as follows:

1. RipIt creates a dvdmedia file of the disk in a folder called “Encode”

2. Hazel monitors the “Encode” folder for files of type “dvdmedia” and color label not set to green. If it identifies a file it runs the following sequence:

Hazel Rule

 

3. The modified automator workflow now looks like this:

Automator Workflow

 

Importantly, the file is now moved by the workflow and not by Hazel. This way, the file is only moved after the workflow ends. Interestingly, this was not an issue until I upgraded to an SSD. It may be coincidental but I wouldn’t be surprised if this problem was an artifact of the incredible performance of SSD resulting in the file move taking too little time to allow Handbrake to start the second round of the 2-pass encoding.

4. Finally, Hazel Monitors the disk image archive for any “dvdmedia” file types and renamed the file to a bit more friendly format:

Automator Workflow

This is one of my favorite tweaks. It saves a ton of time that is easily relegated to a machine. The work starts with popping a DVD into my iMac and ends when the processed file is saved and the disk image archived. Pretty darn close to magical.

 

 

Internet / iOS / iPad / Web — 2 Comments
19
Jun 11

Killing Print

If you want to see an industry willingly and eagerly destroy it’s self

New York Post website now blocking Safari access on Apple’s iPad

Try it from an iPad and see for yourself.

That’s not the only publication that I’ve stumbled on. Macworld has been doing this ever since their iOS app was released. There’s a difference between embracing a new technology and tying it around your ankles and jumping in a lake.

 

Edit: Sorry for the terrible grammar and spelling. I’ve updated the post with accurate english.

Blog / Design — No Comments
18
Jun 11

Site Themes

I’ve been using the MidMo theme on this site for awhile. I like it because it is easy on my old eyes and very simple. There are some quirks that bother me so I am considering a new theme. There’s a lot to choose from. I’m also considering some commercial options.

Apps / iOS / News / Web — No Comments
17
Jun 11

Apple Asked for HTML5

Safari

The Financial Times recently introduced their new HTML5 web-app as an alternative to releasing a native app for iOS. Now the Zuckernaut is purportedly building an HTML5 web app for Facebook. There’s been a bit of FUD floating around that this is somehow a stick in the eye to Apple.

This is exactly what Apple has always wanted. Steve said 4 years ago that there are two development platforms for iOS. There is CocoaTouch for native apps and HTML5 for webapps.

Additionally, Apple clearly stated that they are taking 30% of subscriptions when a service is leveraging the Apple appstore for obtaining subscribers and managing data. That seems fair to me. Financial Times is now completely outside of Apple’s environment, does not use Apple resources and does not rely on Apple’s advertising. Kudos to them, but this is what Apple has been wanting.

Apple wants a better web.

Hardware / iPad / Review — No Comments
17
Jun 11

The Speck iPad 2 SmartShell [Review]

I’m always interested in Macworld’s iPad accessory reviews. I don’t always agree with their take, but they do a wonderful job rounding up what’s available. Their recent update on iPad 2 cases was no exception.

I was intrigued by the Speck SmartShell and decided to drop the $35 to try it myself. I was not disappointed.

The Good

  1. It works with the Smart Cover. There is a cutout that fits the Smart Cover hinge. I didn’t want a whole new case, just something to protect what the Smart Cover does not.
  2. It’s very thin and light. It only adds a bit to the otherwise sleek iPad 2.
  3. It has cutouts for everything, including the diminutive speaker and camera.
  4. Rubberized coating. One of the reasons I use vinyl decal is add a bit more “stick” to the iPad body. A nude iPad 2 is very slippery and can easily slide off of a lap or seat. The rubberized surface of the SmartShell increases the coefficient of friction slightly which makes it easier to hold on to.
  5. MAGNETS!!!! There is a magnetic strip on the back of the shell. That means the Smart Cover will fold back and stay in place. In fact, it works better than without the shell.

The Bad

  1. The price. $35 is a bit steep for half of a case. I expected shells to be cheaper. Then again, it does have MAGNETS!
  2. The cutouts now make the volume and mute switch more recessed and harder to use. This is good and bad. I was forever accidentally adjust the volume when hold it in landscape, but the Smart Shell has solved that problem. Now, it’s a bit difficult to adjust the volume on purpose.

Speck SmartShell

Cocoa / iOS / Programming — No Comments
17
Jun 11

3 Reasons To Develop For iOS [Link]

Marco Arment summarises the primary reasons to develop for a platform:

  1. Developers themselves use and love the platform’s products.
  2. The platform has a large installed base.
  3. Developers can make decent money on the platform.

I think I only care about #1, but then again I have a day job.

iOS / iPad / Web — No Comments
16
Jun 11

Podcast With Dan Bricklin

Remember when I mentioned Dan Bricklin? Well, here’s your chance to learn more. There’s a great episode of the Triangulation podcast with Dan. He talks all about his iPad app NoteTaker HD, which I thought was very good, if not the most intuitive app. It’s worth a listen.

Mac / Review / Software — No Comments
16
Jun 11

Obscure Apps: KeyCue

KeyCue Icon

 

 

 

KeyCue (20 euros; ~$28) is one of those Mac applications that seems unnecessary until you really need it. I don’t recall how I heard about it but I sure am glad I did.

KeyCue is a system-wide application that displays all of the keyboard shortcuts and commands that are relevant for your context. That means it shows shortcuts for the finder when you’re in finder but shortcuts for Aperture when that application is active. You trigger KeyCue with a user definable keyboard command (my is a double CMD tap). You can either invoke a command by keyboard shortcut or by mouse click.

Now you may not be a keyboard shortcut kind of user. But that’s the beauty of KeyCue. It shows every available menu action in one on screen view. If you’re having a hard time remembering exactly where a menu item is buried, then KeyCue is a must have application. It’s a little pricey, but a nice little gem when you need it.

KeyCue Window

iOS / iPad — 1 Comment
15
Jun 11

The Future FIle System Has Arrived

iThoughts HD for the iPad was just updated with some minor bug fixes and one big feature (from my perspective). iThoughts now allows a mind map to be sent instantly to another app that supports OPML Guess what new iPad app also supports OPML? Yes, OmniOutliner.

iThoughts Export.jpg

 

I can now shuttle easily from a mind map to an outline without ever knowing anything about where or how the file is stored. The apps know.

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