The Editor's Year-End Summary for 2014

Everyone has year-end business to clear up. In some cases, business will post year-end entries to the accounting systems. Inventories will be taken.

In other cases, people will get over year-end colds & flu brought in from work, school, or the mall. Student still snuffing will work on terms papers. 

 

In my cases, I’ll post accounting entries tomorrow for payroll. I avoided the malls and got my flu shot at work, so I haven’t come down with any diseases. I don’t have any papers to write for a class. I do have to write my year-end round-up for the MacValley Blog.

This is my personal view. If you would like to respond to it, my e-mail address is at the top of the page. 500 words in plain text, RTF, Word, Pages, or OpenOffice format. Pictures submitted separately from article, please. 

 

The Single Biggest Event relating to  Apple in 2014

The iWatch marks the biggest event for Apple in 2014. Portable health monitoring is the next big frontier for Apple to tackle. Of course, it’s expensive to begin with. So were the iPod and iPhone at their inceptions. 

 

Will other companies want to imitate Apple? Of course. I expect a flood of Android imitations. 

 

The Second Biggest Event relating to Apple in 2014

The introduction of the low-end iMac and the low-end Mac Mini mark the first time Apple has attempted to compete in terms of price in some time for the desktop computer market.  

 

The Third Biggest Event relating to Apple in 2014

The high-end iMac with the 5K display puts Apple ahead of its Windows competitors, such as Dell and Lenovo. If you want to do high resolution photography or CAD, this is your option. 

 

Now for a few quickly selections from the Editor

1. LibreOffice 4.x 

This app doesn’t have the sexiest user interface, but it does solve the problem of “HELP! I’ve got old files that I need to read and save in a modern format!” In particular, it solves the problem of what to do with old ClarisWorks/AppleWorks word processing and spreadsheet files. 

If you’ve got old WordPerfect files, this is the program that can open them. Lotus 1-2-3? This is it. Database files in .dbf format? This is it. About the only old format it doesn’t open is Wordstar 3.3

This is a perfectly good word-processing/spreadsheet/presentation/database office suite. For a $5 or $10 donation, it doesn’t get much better than this. 

 

2. Synergy 1.6.2

 This software project has gone from a freebie that no one could figure out how to set up, to a $10 program that works very well. If you need to knit together disparate systems, from OS X 10.6 on up with Fedora Linux and Windows 8 so that they only use one keyboard and pointing device on your physical desktop, this is your answer. 

Between Windows and OS X, you can even drag files from one screen to another. You share a clipboard between Windows, OS X, and Linux so you can copy and paste text and pictures between platforms. 

You don’t  have to fiddle with the terminal, not even in Linux. 

 

In Conclusion

Apple is in a very strong position financially and possibly could become the first company valued at a trillion dollars. The whole world waits to see what the Apple Watch will bring. Rumors persist that Apple will bring out a 12” iPad Pro “next year”. So we’ll see what happens. 

 

Tom Briant

Editor, MacValley Blog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Correspondent Arnold Woodworth's Year-End Wrap-up

2014: The year Apple got me to dump Android

Android is a great mobile platform, I've been using it since the very first phone appeared a few years ago.

If that's the case, then why drop it? For me the answer is simple. The evolution of iOS has been just as significant and it fits my wants and needs better than Android now.

On Android the distinction between smartphone and tablet use has always been clear.

The iPhone 6 Plus and iPad Air I own work the same in the ways that matter, and I can use the same apps on both.

This is so significant it can't be overstated

On Android I often had to stop and think about which device I was using and thus which app to use for a given task. Then I had to figure out the app interface for either the Android phone or tablet. The two devices were never running the same version of the OS, and often the OEM had customized the operation in a different way on the phone and tablet. Far too often this caused the UI to be different, even on the same app.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/2014-the-year-apple-got-me-to-dump-android/



What Impressed Me Most About The iPhone 6 Plus Is Something Nobody Really Talks About

The speakers on the iPhone 6 Plus are incredibly loud, clear, and vibrant.

with the iPhone 6 Plus, you don't get that shallow, tinny sound I've experienced with other phones.

http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-6-plus-sound-quality-review-2014-12



10 things Apple won't say

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-apple-wont-say-2014-09-09



The $3 Million iPhone: How Technology Has Raised Our Standard Of Living

We've heard a lot about income inequality and the end of the middle class in the last couple of years.

There's no questioning the math. You can pick from almost any chart you like, but I'll take one that Business Insider has used many times: wages as a percentage of GDP.

a lot of us are carrying, in our pocket, a computer that would have been unspeakably costly in 1991.

http://www.businessinsider.com/technology-the-great-equalizer-2014-12



Here's Why You Should Never Let Your Kids Play With Your Smartphone

http://www.businessinsider.com/parents-giving-children-smartphones-2014-12



BlackBerry Is Working With Boeing On A Phone That Self-destructs

The Boeing Black device encrypts calls and is aimed at government agencies and others that need to keep communications and data secure.

http://www.businessinsider.com/r-blackberry-works-with-boeing-on-phone-that-self-destructs-2014-12



Google unveils 'fully functional' driverless car

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/google-unveils-fully-functional-driverless-car-2014-12-22



How Social Media Is Changing Our Brains And Reshaping Our Relationships

Daniel Siegel says:

The right hemisphere of the brain is used more for nonverbal communications (gestures, expressions, etc.) during face-to-face contact.

The left hemisphere of the brain is used more for verbal communications, including text and "social media".

"There's nothing inherently wrong with social media.  But if it is replacing time for face-to-face, then that could be a big problem."

http://www.businessinsider.com/social-media-impact-brain-relationships-siegel-2014-12



The US Navy Tweeted An Intense Holiday Card

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-navy-tweeted-an-intense-holiday-card-2014-12



The Webcam Hacking Epidemic

Remote Access Tools (RAT) are software that allow a third party to spy on a computer user from afar, whether rifling through messages and browsing activity, photographing the computer screen, or in many cases hijacking the webcam and taking photographs of whomever is on the other side.

There's a real threat of being watched and recorded where you live, and without your knowledge or consent.

At web sites like HackForums.net, individuals, often men, trade and sell access to strangers' computers, often women, gained via RAT.

The National Security Agency, too, is involved. The agency has budgeted tens of millions of dollars for an aggressive effort to scale its hacking operations and "own the net," a proposition that, as The Intercept reported, envisions indiscriminately infecting millions with malware that has the capability for remote video surveillance by webcam.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/12/the-webcam-hacking-epidemic/383998/



Why Hacker Gang 'Lizard Squad' Took Down Xbox Live And PlayStation Network

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-hacker-gang-lizard-squad-took-down-xbox-live-and-playstation-network-2014-12



‘Lizard Squad,’ The Hacker Gang That Shut Down PlayStation Network And Xbox Live For 2 Straight Days, Is Now Reportedly Attacking Tor

http://www.businessinsider.com/report-lizard-squad-attacking-tor-2014-12



Anonymous To 'Lizard Squad': Stop Attacking Tor

http://www.businessinsider.com/anonymous-to-lizard-squad-stop-attacking-tor-2014-12



Hacker Gang 'Lizard Squad' Says It Has Stopped Attacking PlayStation Network And Xbox Live — And Will Never Do It Again

http://www.businessinsider.com/lizard-squad-has-stopped-attacking-playstation-network-and-xbox-live-2014-12



A Hacker Group Has Shared 13,000 Passwords To Sites Like Amazon, Walmart

http://www.businessinsider.com/hackers-released-13000-passwords-2014-12



Forget the Sony Hack, This Could Be the Biggest Cyber Attack of 2015

http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2014/12/forget-sony-hack-could-be-he-biggest-cyber-attack-2015/101727/



Sony to show 'The Interview' in theaters 

plans to show once-canceled movie in limited release

The cancellation provoked considerable backlash among actors, directors and screenwriters.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sony-to-show-the-interview-in-theaters-2014-12-23



Sony's 'The Interview' grosses $1 million in ticket sales from 331 theaters on Christmas Day.

"The Interview" was originally intended as a broad, wide-release Hollywood comedy set for more than 3,000 screens. But the studio on Dec. 17 scuttled those plans after hackers threatened violence against movie theaters and most exhibitors declined to screen the film.

Some theaters across the country hosted sold-out showings as many moviegoers trekked to the cinemas out of a sense of patriotism and support for free speech after the movie's rocky ride to its release date, while some went mostly for the comedy.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-box-office-interview-christmas-20141226-story.html



How A Cisco Exec Vanquished An Internet Troll And Saved 25 People

Web sites authored by anonymous trolls who make libelous accusations against innocent people are very hard to get shut down.

Surya Panditi managed to get 24 such sites shut down.

But the article doesn't say how.

http://www.businessinsider.com/a-cisco-exec-vanquished-internet-troll-2014-12

Set Up and Get to Know Your New Mac

Set Up and Get to Know Your New Mac: ""

(Via.)

Set Up and Get to Know Your New Mac

The link below will take you to LifeHacker’s guides to setting up your Mac and adding new stuff to it. 

 

Happy Holidays, from Halloween through Lunar New Year, y’all.

 

Tom Briant

Editor, MacValley Blog

 

 

 

Set Up and Get to Know Your New Mac: ""

(Via.)

I need the administrative password for this Mac I bought on eBay! What do I do now?

Good Morning! I hope you enjoy this bright, if windy, Christmas morning here in Los Angeles. I don’t know if you received a shiny new Mac still in the shrink wrap this morning, or whether you received a used Mac purchased on eBay that has some of the previous user’s stickers on the lid. 

 

This is my guide to a situation you may encounter the first week of ownership.

 

So you got a used Mac. It came with lots of neat software already installed, but the previous owner didn’t tell you what the administrative password is. If the machine runs 10.6, 10.5, or 10.4; I’ll bet they didn’t include the install DVDs, either.

 

You’ll need the administrative password to install software such as printer drivers and run utility software.

 

So what do you do? Fortunately, this situation has occurred before and people have documented the steps necessary to remedy it. 

 

You have two choices. The hard one allows you to change the password set up by the original user. It takes a bit more UNIX voodoo than the second method. If you want to use it, go here to MacYourself. 

 

The second method still takes some UNIX voodoo, but the command lines are shorter.

 

Here’s the recipe for method #2:

 

Make sure you’re in a calm frame of mind. You’re working at the root level of your Mac and you can trash the whole thing if you feel upset.

 

Turn  off the Mac by pressing the Power button.

 

Count to 10.

 

Read this before proceeding: You’re going to restart your Mac by pressing the Power button. 

 

As soon as you hear the “bong” of the start-up chime, hold down the Command and S keys simultaneously. Your screen will turn black and a lot of white text will scroll down the screen. This is normal. You’re in Single User mode.

 

At the prompt, you will want to type in the command so that you can modify files. In 10.6, Apple is kind enough to give it to you as a on-screen hint.

 

The command is /sbin/mount -uw /

 

Note the space between “mount” and “-uw” Note the space between  -uw and the final trailing slash!

 

Press the Enter key. You should return to the prompt.

 

Now here’s the secret sauce. You want to trick your Mac into setting up a new administrative account where you can change the administrative passwords of the other accounts.

 

Type this command rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone 

 

Now press Enter.

 

If it didn’t work, note this: The rm is the command followed by the things you want to modify. In this case, you’re deleting the file that tells your Mac on bootup that you’ve gone through the initial setup. Your Mac will go through the initial setup all over again.

 

Now you won’t erase the files on your computer, but the Keychain login for the old account will be destroyed. 

 

Now did you include the “.” before AppleSetupDone? Did you type AppleSetupDone in exactly that way, using capital letters where required? UNIX is picky about capitalization! Did you put a space between “rm” and “/var/db/.AppleSetupDone” ?

 

When you’ve run that command, now type reboot and your Mac will restart to begin the setup process. 

 

Go through the setup process and set up a new administrative account by default. Write down the password to this account!

 

Now for the graphical portion.

Now that you’ve got access to  your Mac through the new administrative account,  you want to change the password on the previous user’s account.

 

Go to System Preferences. You want the Users or  Accounts preference relating to administrative matters. 

 

 

 

 

Now in Accounts, you go to your new Account. You will notice that it’s the only one not dimmed. To work on the other accounts,  you need to click on the little lock icon in the lower left-hand corner and enter your password for this account (You did write it down, didn’t you?)

 

 

 

Now that you’ve entered your user password, you can access the other accounts. 

 

 

So click on the account whose password you want to change. You will see the following screen:

 

 

 

 

Click on the “Reset Password” button to change the password. You will see the following screen:

 

 

Now notice the box with the key icon in it immediately to the right of “New Password” That is Apple’s Password Assistant, which can offer you tips on a secure password

 

 

 

You will now need to log out of this session as the new user and log back in as the old user with the new password you assigned. 

You can keep the new administrative account or get rid of it. It’s your choice.

 

Conclusion

None of what I’ve written above is original. These techniques have been on the Web for some time. I would like to thank Ant & Franky P. of Macyourself.com. I would like to thank those at StackExchange.com who gave me the tip on tricking your Mac into setting up a new administrative account from scratch. 

I did test the tips out myself on my 2006 CoreDuo 10.6 MacBook. They worked perfectly.

Tom Briant

Editor, MacValley Blog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Correspondent Arnold Woodworth's Weekly Web Roundup

10 Secret Features Hidden In Your Mac

http://www.businessinsider.com/secret-mac-features-tips-and-tricks-2014-12



11 Tiny Design Features That Show Apple's Insane Attention To Detail

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/best-apple-design-details-that-show-apples-insane-attention-to-detail-2014-12#a-smart-fan-that-listens-1



20 iPad Apps That Will Make Your Android Friends Jealous

http://www.businessinsider.com/best-ipad-apps-not-on-android-2014-12



A note from analysts at Morgan Stanley estimates Apple could sell up to 70 million iPhones this quarter. 
If the average selling price of the iPhone is $605, then that would be $42.3 billion in revenue. 

http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-sales-are-going-nuclear-2014-12



Apple Pay may be easy to use, but security is its biggest strength.

Unlike using a credit or debit card, Apple Pay doesn't show merchants your payment information when you buy something.

Instead, it uses a digital account number called a "token" to tell the merchant you're good for the purchase.

45% of Americans said they had received a letter from a retailer or cardholder saying their payment information had been leaked.

That's staggeringly high.

http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-pay-prevents-leaked-payment-info-from-retailers-2014-12



Here's What People Don't Get About Apple Pay: It's Not Just Changing Payments

Apple already has a way for merchants to push these offers: Passbook. 

"The marketing is done through Passbook," said Philbin. "Apple Pay is just the payment functionality."

http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-pay-will-change-marketing-not-just-payments-2014-12



If Apple Were A Worker Cooperative, Each Employee Would Earn At Least $403K

http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2014/12/18/if-apple-was-a-worker-cooperative-each-employee-would-earn-at-least-403k/



Apple found not guilty in iPod antitrust lawsuit

Apple was found not guilty in an iPod antitrust case that was brought against it almost a decade ago. The decision comes after a week-long trial that accused the Cupertino company of forcefully locking in consumers into iTunes software and preventing them from using other services thanks to the now-defunct FairPlay DRM.

http://www.engadget.com/2014/12/16/apple-found-not-guilty-in-ipod-antitrust-lawsuit/



Here's How Much You Have To Buy To Make Amazon Prime Worth It

http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-is-it-worth-it-2014-12



This person wrote:
"I disagree with some in the Cloud Industry who say calling the storage devices you carry with you and your home storage a personal Cloud is wrong. But they don't want to call it outsourced storage. It's semantics. Key is it's sitting somewhere else out of your control. There are too many people out there who want to put another conquest notch on their hacking skills by tapping into big companies. There are things you can do every day to protect your stuff from evil doers even if you use their Cloud. Be a little paranoid combined with a big dose of common sense/diligence."

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Eliminate_User_and_Security_Breaches,_Hacks_Will_Be_Solved



Sony Pictures Entertainment said it would cancel the Christmas Day release of "The Interview," the subject of recent hack attacks and violent threats against the company and theater owners

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sony-says-it-will-pull-the-interview-from-theaters-2014-12-17



FBI says 90% Of Cyber Security Systems Out There Would ***NOT*** Have Been Able To Block The Sony Hackers

http://www.businessinsider.com/fbi-90-of-cyber-security-systems-out-there-would-not-have-been-able-to-block-the-sony-hackers-2014-12



How The Hackers Broke Into Sony And Why It Could Happen To Any Company

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-the-hackers-broke-into-sony-2014-12



5 ways the Sony hack will change how America does business

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/5-ways-the-sony-hack-attack-will-change-cybersecurity-2014-12-19



Here's How Cyber-Warfare Started And Where It's Going

In 2007 a computer worm called Stuxnet was detected for the first time by virus-scanning software

At least three more versions followed, seeking to wreak havoc upon Iran's uranium-enrichment facility

Despite the opportunity, the world has yet to see a sequel to Stuxnet.

A cyberwarrior needs only a computer and an internet connection to wreak havoc.

http://www.businessinsider.com/future-of-cyber-warfare-2014-12

How to be your family's tech-support hero during the holidays | PCWorld

How to be your family's tech-support hero during the holidays | PCWorld: ""

(Via.)

 

If you’re going out to see relatives and they’re tech-challenged, read this article and see this video. Gordon’s portrayal of the stereotypical drunk uncle is priceless, too.

 

Tom Briant

The Computer Uncle and Editor, MacValley Blog