Apple Details iTunes Match

I wasn’t alone in my complaints about Apple not explaining iTunes Match very well. Indeed, it led Katie and I to produce an entire podcast episode about it. It appears Apple got the message. The iTunes Match page now includes a FAQ and videos to help new subscribers along. However, if you have any questions about iTunes Match, I still recommend listening to MPU 66

Tracking Santa on the iPad

Just in case the children in your life aren’t already jacked up enough, try this $1 app on for size. If you don’t want to spend money, NORAD Santa tracker is good too.

Little Drummer Boy

I’ve never really liked The Little Drummer Boy. So tonight I was starting to feel festive and decided I’d tackle making my own arrangement of Drummer Boy with my MIDI keyboard and iPad Garage Band. The result is either pretty good or a big stinking pile of new agey blah. I’m not sure which but go ahead and download it. Merry Christmas.

MacSparky’s Little Drummer Boy

I also did a really nice version of Vince Guaraldi’s Christmas Time is Here with my daughter where I’m actually playing the piano (as opposed to sequencing and plinking out a melody) but I’m pretty sure if I posted that the RIAA black helicopters would circle my house.

Wainy Days and Zen Desks

When not writing and directing motion pictures, David Wain likes to geek out as evidenced by his home screen and appearance on one of my favorite Mac Power Users episodes. David also makes a really funny web series called Wainy Days, “an ongoing web series chronicling David Wain’s (lightly fictionalized) attempts to meet women in New York City.” I think I enjoy Wainy Days so much because I was (sadly) even more awkward with women than David’s character. Anyway, David writes, produces, and edits this entire series from his MacBook Pro. Below is a picture of Wainy Days Studios.

Pretty zen, eh?

There seems to be a lot of talk about cluttered and clean workspaces spurred on by this week’s Back to Work episode. I think a lot of people miss the point. It isn’t about whether your desk is full of clutter or clean enough to perform surgery on. The real question is what are you producing on that desk. David Wain is making something pretty awesome with his.

Piezo Gets Even Better

I love the polish that comes with every Rogue Amoeba app. When they released their first Mac App Store app, Piezo, I was immediately in. Version 1.1 is out now and records both sides of Skype calls. I’m going to try this with our next MPU episode. If you’re looking for a good recording utility, you can’t go wrong for ten bucks.

Save Your Christmas with SCOTutor

Don McAllister of Screencasts Online is one of my favorite people in the Mac community. In addition to being a swell guy, Don is also a really good teacher. If you are going to be near someone with a new Mac or iPad this Christmas, first point them to Don’s new screencast apps. He has them in both the iOS App Store and the Mac App Store. They are tailor made for new iPad and new Mac owners. Think about it. For just a few dollars, your beloved can learn about their new technology from Don and his Liverpool accent while you enjoy another cocktail and take a nap. It’s a win-win.

Here are the links:

• Mac Tutor (on iPad) (on Mac)
• Lion Tutor (on iPad) (on Mac)
• iPad Tutor (on iPad) (on Mac)

The PostDesk Holiday List

PostDesk has its annual list of web geeks and their holiday lists, including yours truly.

Journaling with Day One

I’ve been toying with the idea of a journal. When writing iPad at Work, I discovered this really great app, Day One, that takes all the work out of creating an electronic journal. It works on the Mac, iPad, and iPhone and uses Dropbox to keep everything in sync. It has reminders and good security. There is no excuse not to make an entry anywhere with this ecosystem.

So now that the technology is out of the way, I had to figure out why I felt this need to keep a journal. I don’t have any self delusions that a daily entry about the events of my life would be of any interest to anyone. When I am gone, historians aren’t going to need a contemporaneous record of my life. So striking vanity off the list, I can only think of two reasons why I might want to keep a journal:

1. Therapy for myself. It seems a good way to collect and deal with my thoughts about whatever is happening in my life. This is particularly true if I create the entries before ending my day.
2. Nostalgia. It may be interesting in a few years to go back and see where my head was in 2011.

As a result of all this navel gazing and my infatuation with Day One, I’ve decided to commit to journaling 2012. Even if it is just one sentence, I’m going to make an entry every day.

MacSparky.com is sponsored by Bee Docs Timeline 3D. Make a timeline presentation with your Mac.

iPad at Work, Second printing

I recently received notice from the publisher that iPad at Work is getting a second printing. Thanks everyone who bought the book. I am quite proud of it. Also, if you know anyone getting a new iPad this holiday season, please point them toward the book. You can get it in the iBookstore, Amazon, and most major brick and mortar booksellers. I was in Barnes and Noble today and saw it on the shelf.

MPU 67: Web Security

Mac Power Users Episode 67, Web Security, is available for download. We invited George Starcher to join us with advice about staying secure on the Internet. This is a very detailed show in classic MPU fashion. There is a nice summary towards the end though, around the 85:50 mark. Get the episode over at 5by5. Also, don’t forget to subscribe in iTunes.

You should really listen to the show but here are a few good points to remember:

1. At home, use OpenDNS.
2. At home, secure your network with WPA2, not WPA or WEP.
3. Public WiFi = Shields up.
4. Public WiFi = No transactions that involve money.
5. Get rid of Flash.
6. Don’t run as Admin.
7. Use a separate browser for your banking transactions.
8. Use 3G instead of Public WiFi if at all possible.
9. Use 1Password.