The switch

QuickTime 7.0.1 is now available via Software update:

QuickTime 7.0.1 provides several important bug fixes, a security enhancement, and improved compatibility with Final Cut Studio. This update is recommended for all QuickTime 7 users. For detailed information on the security enhancement, please visit this website:

http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798

Important Notice to QuickTime Pro Users
Installation of QuickTime 7 will disable the QuickTime Pro functionality in prior versions of QuickTime, such as QuickTime 5 or QuickTime 6. If you proceed with this installation, you must purchase a new QuickTime 7 Pro key to regain QuickTime Pro functionality. After installation, visit www.apple.com/quicktime to purchase a QuickTime 7 Pro key.

iTunes 4.8 already seems to have a localization for Motorola’s iTunes compatible phone.

iTunes.app -> Contents -> Resources -> English.lproj -> Localized.rsrc contains the “Eject Phone” phrase as well as later references to “Phone”.

Motorola’s iTunes compatible phone has been long awaited, with a number of delays reported. Last comments from Motorola claimed that it would be coming in “a couple of months” from May.

It appears iTunes may already provide support for the phone.

The calculator widget is really great but, let’s face it, it is incredibly ugly. Luckily, it is very easy to change the background, backlight and buttons of the widgets.

Note: this will actually work with any widget.

first of, mak a copy of the calculator.widget found in /Library/Widgets. Now, right-click on the copy a select “Show Package Contents” then go to the “Images” folder and locate calculator.png - this is the file you want. You can replace it with any other picture (must be a .png file).

Once you are done. Put your modified calculator.widget file back into the /Library/Widgets folder, close and reopen the calculator widget in your dashboard and rejoice in your new skin!

Here are a couple of ideas to start you off: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=122241

I recently got an Airport Express from the U.S. (saved myself about AU$40), mainly because of the music streaming but also as a printer server.

Installation was quite easy, although i had some problems getting it to work with my Netgear WGR624 router - everything worked fine after a second try though. I then connected the speakers and the printer. Music streaming is a piece of cake and will work right out of the box, you just need to select the AirTunes speakers in the speaker selection box in iTunes and away you go.

Getting the printer to work was - and still is - quite a bit trickier. I have a HP PSC 1200 multi-function printer which has worked fine for a year with my iBook, however i just can’t get it to work with the Express. I’ve tried everything that came to mind but it just won’t work. I won’t give up though.. it has to work somehow!

Overall, the Express is a neat base-station. It’s small, works great (except the printing) and looks good too.

Spotlight is great. I barely use the finder anymore because Spotlight is so fast (even on my iBook G3 900Mhz) that I use it to open absolutely everything - apps, documents, pictures etc. Spotlight is really good at opening files but the one most annoying thing about it is that you cannot actually DO anything to the files you find.

Let me explain. Let’s say you are looking for the preference files of the shareware program you want to delete. Press ⌘+Space and write in the name of the program, Spotlight finds all the files related to the app instantly - so far so good. It is now that the problem arises. You arrow-down to the specific file and press ⌘-⌫ to delete the file… nothing happens. You try dragging it to the trash… nothing happens.

You can’t do anything!

You can use the search field in a Finder window to do what i described above but what a drag! For me, this ruins much of Spotlight greatness and usefulness. I sincerely hope that Apple will fix this in a future OS update.

Apple’s AirPort Express features a great technology called AirTunes. AirTunes allows music to be streamed from you Mac to the speakers connected to the audio port on the Express. The only hitch is that you need to use iTunes to control the music - if you don’t like a song, you need to get up from the couch, walk over to your mac, change to song and sit back down again… too much effort!

Why doesn’t Apple make a remote control for the AirPort Express? I don’t think there is a valid explanation. To help Apple to make this great , you can pester Steve Jobs right here: sjobs@apple.com. Until then, Griffin Technology presents you with a reasonable alternative: the AirClick. The Airclick is available in two editions - one for the iPod, and the other one for your mac.

This info is directly from the Griffin Technology website.

AirClick USB is a remote for Mac and PC computers. The receiver module attaches to any available USB port and receives signal from up to 60 feet away. AirClick USB is ideal for controlling applications including iTunes, QuickTime, and even Keynote or PowerPoint.

AirClick uses RF signals that travel through walls for control anywhere in your home or outside, up to 60 feet away. The five button remote allows for play/pause, next track, previous track, and volume up and down. A hold switch on the side prevents accidentally disturbing your musical nirvana. The remote has a clip on it for convenient attachment. iPod and iPod mini packages include a convenient remote holder with velcro straps to allow attachment as an armband or to a bicycle frame or steering wheel.

The downside: the AirClick costs a hefty $40

So you like dashboard but you what some to have some of them on your desktop? Well wait no more. a little app by MesaDynamics, Amnesty will do exactly that. Currently at version 0.75b, it runs very stable and supports 3rd-party widgets although some widgets - like Sys Stat - will hog the program until near standstill.

Screenshot:

And best of all? it even runs on 10.3.9 meaning that you don’t even need tiger (or the $15 shareware konfabulator) to run widgets - albeit only on your desktop.

One of Tiger’s 200 new features is the build in Oxford dictionary/thesaurus app.

I discovered this great feature of the dictionary app just yesterday. In just about any application, hover your mouse over any word and press ⌘+Option+D and a little window will popup with the definition of the word:

you can also select the thesaurus from the popup menu at the bottom of the little window.

Note: this will only work in Tiger!