InDesign CS4 Slow
Here’s a quicky – one of our clients reported that InDesign CS4 was running very slow compared to its predecessor. Turns out, live-preflight (one its new features) was responsible. Turn it off and InDesign should return to its snappy self.
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Tags: adobe, geek, mac
Epson SX610FW Review-ish
I recently got hold of the Epson SX610FW multifunctional printer/scanner/ADF/fax (pfft, fax – who uses those anymore?).
I thought I’d share a couple of things with you. The reason being is that I set up these devices quite often (part of the trade) and it is shocking how in this day and age, there is no standardised, simple way of getting this type of device up and running. Especially on a network. I’m also sick of the junk that gets installed on my computer with each device.
This won’t be your standard printer review. I shan’t be banging on about colour saturations, gamuts and such like. Instead, I wanted to focus on the installation, non-printer related features and what it is like to live with. In turn, a kind of missing manual.
I am running this in a Mac 10.6 environment.
Installation and software
Throw away the CD (it’s full of junk and a crappy installer), download the bare essentials from Epson’s website (direct link).
You need the print driver, scanner driver and the easy print plugin.
The AbbeySoft program included on the CD is a “lite” version and hasn’t been updated since 2004 is near useless. Instead, I’ll be using Adobe Acrobat. If you don’t have Acrobat, you might want to check out your options.
Whilst that’s going on, unpack the printer and plug in the power. Follow the on-screen instructions. For the usual time/language setups.
I immediately set it to log onto my wireless network. You can also give it a name if you like. Mine’s called Ethel. The Epson. How quaint.
If you can, set it a static IP address (you’ll need access to your router). But haven’t had any issues using DHCP for the moment.
Once you have the software installed and the printer sitting happily on your network (the SX610FW has both Ethernet and wireless) you can set up your computers up.
To Print
- Go into System Preferences > Print and Fax > + (Add)
- Be patient here as the first Epson that you see here (Bonjour) isn’t the one you want… When you see Epson TCP – that’s the one to choose.
- Wait a bit whilst the correct driver gets automagically chosen and then confirm.
- That’s pretty much it – if you want, I recommend doing a test print.
To Scan
- What the manual doesn’t make very clear (if at all) is that you need to set it first by using Epson Scan Settings located in your /Applications/Utilities/ folder.
- Choose Network, wait a bit for the scanner to show up, then Add, then OK.
- Scanning is then done using Epson Scan, an archaic but functional piece of software.
Using the card-reader (wirelessly)
One of the features of this Epson is it has a card reader capable of reading XD/SD/MS and CF (As far as I’m aware, it doesn’t support SDHC). Regardless, this is an awesome feature, as it means you can share the contents of these memory cards over the network. You can enable either read-only or read-write access to whatever memory card is in the slot. You’ll find this on the printer, in Setup > Network Settings > File Sharing
It is then accessible from the Finder (no logins required).
Essentially, this makes the Epson into a rather crude file sharing server. WIN!
The ADF
One of the main reason I chose this over the competitors is the inclusion of the ADF. For the uninitiated, ADF = Automatic Document Feeder. It’s just a fancy term for a scanner that can scan multiple A4 (in this case) sheets instead of placing sheets individually on the flatbed.
This is ideal for stemming the growth of paper files. Scan in the documents, bank statements, bills and then shred. We the OCR the scan so that we can search the scans via Spotlight. Try doing that with your paper files!
Seeing as the included ABBEY SCAN is rubbish, my workflow involves mainly Adobe Acrobat doing all the heavy lifting.
From Acrobat, go to Document > Scan to PDF…
Punch in whatever settings you want and hit scan. Make sure you tick the make searchable (This will run OCR). Adobe Acrobat will then launch Epson Scan. Check your settings and then hit scan. Epson Scan will then do the scan and pass the data over to Acrobat.
Now, although the ADF on the Epson doesn’t support duplex (both sides) scanning, if you had set it in the Acrobat dialogue box earlier, you’ll be prompted at this point to manually turn the paper over and the scan process will repeat. However, once again Acrobat will do most of the leg work and automatically put the two sides of each document in sequential order.
Important note: For some reason, when I scan this way, I have to always crop the bottom 1-inch from the PDF as the bottom margin always contain a sample of the scan from the middle of the preceeding document.
I was initially worried that the ADF wasn’t picking up each page cleanly but once you understand and trust the process, it’s all good.
Well, that’s all for now. I shall certainly be posting a follow-up later on.
Filed under: geek, review | 1 Comment
Tags: epson, review
checkhostname
If by any chance you are wrestling with getting collaboration services on Mac OS X Server working, such as iCal Server or Address Book server, I would double, nay-triple check one’s DNS settings.
In Network settings, check that the DNS is the server’s IP.
In the Terminal, run:
sudo changeip -checkhostname
… and see what comes up. Chances are, it won’t match. Just follow the on-screen instructions to make it so.
9 times out of 10, this will resolve whatever issues you may have with iCal / AddressBook.
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Locked out of Mac OS X Server
It’s blog update time! Updates have been a little scarce lately, been super busy with getting trophies on PS3 
Anyway, recently encountered the following with a Mac mini server running Snow Leopard Server:
Despite being able to ARD / Screenshare the Mac mini, I was unable to get any further than the login window. Authentication credentials are obviously valid. No weird access permissions have been set. However, the weird thing was, I can connect to the server via Server Admin tools (from another Mac) and all other services were running without a hitch.
After much head scratching it turns out to be a sACL (Service Access Control List) issue.
This thread solved the mystery!
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1654864
To save you the trouble, I’ll lay it out here. I cannot take credit for this, but Randall can!
- Open Server Admin on a computer (any), and connect with the local admin to the machine.
- Select the server and authenticate.
- Select Settings, then go to Access. You’ll want to make sure that Login Window and SSH have the local admin account listed if you select the option to “Allow only these users”. For now, I would suggest making sure all services have “Allow all users and groups” selected.
- If (as in my case) it was set to Allow All in the first place, simply toggle the settings – back and forth.
- Save.
- Try logging in again… should be a good one!
Filed under: Macintosh, geek, ironic | Leave a Comment
ZoneEdit and Google Apps
When changing the MX records from within ZoneEdit to use Google Apps, the instructions Google gives are slightly wrong.
You may get the warning in ZoneEdit:
“A validation error has occurred: The mail server ‘ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM.’ is not a valid domain.“
The solution? Simply omit the trailing “.” [period]
ZoneEdit automatically treats this as a FQDN.
Follow the rest of the instructions as is.
Filed under: geek | 1 Comment
Tags: dns
Sony HBH-DS200 Look-back
I’d like to take this opportunity to quickly sum up the past 4 months of using the Sony Bluetooth headset.Since its purchase, I have used it on a daily basis and having lived with it, I have observed the following:
- Battery – still good. Can rock out for about 3-4 days before needing a charge. This is based on an average of 2 hours a day.
- Stuttering – got the hang of this. Sometimes, you need to cycle the audio output – i.e. take it off the headset and then choose the headset again. Other times, it’s a RAM issue on the iPhone.
I have an app on my iPhone which clears out the RAM. I usually do this when I find playback to be stuttery. - Playback controls – still suck. Have to get out the phone whilst cycling (not recommended for the novice Central London cyclist) to change tracks. Changing volume is a bit of a gamble too.
- Taking calls – This is also not so hot. The actual quality of the call is very good, especially when cycling in the wind, you can (and the receiver). However, it’s a strange sequence of events.
- When you are not listening to music, the call goes through to the iPhone and the headset. You can answer on either to take the call. No problems.
- When music is playing, if you answer on the iPhone, then sometimes the call comes through to the phone only. You need accept the call on the headset to reliably have the call come through. Now when the call is finished, the music does not resume. Possibly because it has to switch profiles from A2DP to normal mono. But for some reason or another, it doesn’t revert back.
- Thus, to get music back, the fastest way is to switch off the headset. Wait 3 seconds. Turn it back on… and then press play. At which point, the music resumes.
- Not so simples eh?
- One great thing that I found with this however is using it at the gym. It’s great. I can plop the phone down away from the weights and even wonder half-way across the room to get a drink etc. without the music missing a beat. On the treadmills, I just prop it next to the screen and away I run.
So all in all, despite it’s shortcomings, I still am a great fan of it. And the quality is great.
Filed under: iphone, review | 1 Comment
Tags: bluetooth
Google Wave
So I gots given a Google Wave account. Great stuff… but erm, where is everybody? Seems like anyone who’d I’d ‘wave’ with is off-line!
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Lately it seems with every iteration Mac OS X, Mail always disables GrowlMail.
Turns out, there is a simple fix!
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Tags: mac
Where’s WDS?
Apparently, in the new dual-band Airport Extreme basestations, there only seems to be 3 wireless modes:
Create a network
Participate in a network
Off
However, if you Option-Click the dropdown box, you get the additional WDS options.
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Tags: mac
Sony HBH-DS200 Review
To celebrate summer and also the release of OS 3.0 for the iPhone and its A2DP support, I decided to treat myself to a pair of stereo Bluetooth headphones. I’m on my 3rd replacement set of Apple iPhone headphones (with mic and clicker) and I don’t have high hopes on the longevity of current said pair. As it happens, Carphone Warehouse were selling these Sony HBH-DS200 ones for half price – at £24.99. At that price, I thought I give it a try considering the replacement wired equivalent would come close to that price without the novelty factor.
Form Factor
These headphones aren’t going to win any style awards, but they aren’t ugly. The the main unit is fairly large and so has to clip somewhere; being to heavy to just “hang”. I find my t-shirt collar works quite well.
The unit features a 3.5mm standard headphone jack, so you’re welcome to plug in your own headphones or use the ones supplied. There are 3 buttons; Call Answer, Play/Pause and an On/Off button. More on that later.
Other than the fact that there are portable music players smaller than this*, it’s pretty good.
* but they don’t have a microphone for Bluetooth calling!
Usability
I will be exclusively using this with a 3G iPhone on the 3.0 software. Pairing was a snap. Subsequent pairings (say, when the device has been switched off) has been fairly reliable and quick, though you do need to learn the order in which you need do things. iPhone’s Bluetooth implementation in this respect is very good.
When paired, iPhone will automagically stream music to the headset. You also get the option to choose the output device from the iPhone if that’s what you’re into. However, you lose volume controls. All volume control becomes the responsibility of the DS200. With no volume buttons, the only way is to press and hold the play/pause button. This causes the volume to cycle from quiet to loud etc. Simply let go of the button when the volume reaches the desired level.
A trifle inconvenient, but in practice, bearable. Even on a bike. In fact, I primarily use the headset when cycling around London.
When a call comes through, simply click the Call button and start talking. The headset plays its own ringtone so you won’t hear your ringtone through the headset. When finished, press it again to hang up and resume your music. (I’m not sure if it resumes automatically – I usually press the Play button)
Sound quality
An audiophile I’m not, and besides, I’ve got London as the backing track to most of the songs. The included headphones does a decent job, comfortable and it goes pretty loud. Obviously the audio is lossily compressed from the device to the headset, so don’t be expecting high-end audio. When the orchestra’s going or when the Taiko drums are banging, you do get slight compression artefacts. But generally it’s very good. I’d say on par with the quality of your typical Spotify stream.
However, and this is a big HOWEVER – for some reason or another, the iPhone A2DP implementation causes the playback of music to occassionally stutter and “miss a beat”. Some say it’s the Bluetooth stack, other’s say it’s because the iPhone isn’t powerful enough to do all the things it does on top of streaming to a wireless device but end result is you get the occassional stutter. This seems to be common on all A2DP headsets with the iPhone.
How occassionally? I’d say on average about 2-3 times a song. Now, this doesn’t always happen – I’ve gotten through several songs without any hiccups, but also encountered songs dotted with stutters. This is more of the fault of the iPhone, but still, be aware!
Using it as a hands-free headset phone-wise doesn’t exihibit this stutter. Only on music/video playback. Incidentally, there’s no ‘lag’ when viewing video stored on the device. YouTube videos however do.
Battery life
Good. Out lasts the iPhone I’ve had the thing for 3 days of frequent usage before I had to charge it.
Summary
I’m going to be fairly generous here and give it a solid 7 out of 10.
Had I paid the full £50 something for it, I might think otherwise, but at a penny under £25, it’s pretty good.
Most of the fault doesn’t actual lie with the device itself and I find that despite its shortcomings, the device is fairly easy to use and liberating.
And there’s always the hope of a software update!
Pros
Wireless! / Acts has a hands-free headset for calls / No more tangly wires in pockets / Good value / Novelty factor / Good sound quality
Cons
Yet another thing to recharge / stutters occassionally with iPhone / fairly bulky
Please checkout my thoughts 4 months on: Sony HBH-DS200 Look-back
Filed under: iphone, review | 3 Comments
Tags: a2dp, iphone, review, sony
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