Filed under: Switchers, Ask TUAW
Ask TUAW: Recovering pictures, updating Facebook, iPhone battery life and more
Once again, it's time for another edition of Ask TUAW: the place where we try to answer all of your Mac and Apple-related questions. This week we're taking questions about recovering pictures from corrupted compact flash cards, Twitter for the iPhone, extending iPhone battery life and more.As always, we welcome your suggestions for this week and questions for next time. Please leave your contributions in the comments for this post. When asking questions, please include which Mac and which version of OS X you're running. If you don't specify, we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac.
Okay, let's get to it!
Nick F. asks:
I've got some pictures I need to recover from a corrupted Compact Flash card. What's the best, preferably free, software to do it on my Mac?
This is one of those questions that can get frustrating if you're a Mac user. On the Windows side, there are a few good (and free) pieces of software that can help you accomplish this task. For the Mac, you're choices are mostly limited to pay applications -- at least if you want good results. Fortunately, these pay applications are very good.
For my money, the piece of software that works best when you want to recover pictures from a bad CF or SD card is Klix ($29.95) from Joesoft. I've used it quite a bit with clients, and on my own bad cards, and each time it performed flawlessly, recovering every lost picture from the card. Other alternatives for the Mac include CardRaider ($19.95), PhotoRescue ($29.00) and Data Rescue II ($99.00).
I realize that $29.95 for a piece of software might seem like a lot to some people. But if the software is easy to use and works as advertised, I think it's a worthwhile investment in the long run. Besides, it would cost far more to go back and take those vacation pictures you lost on the card again when you could buy Klix and recover them from your bad card instead. Given that, a program like Klix is actually a bargain.
If you've got Windows running on your Mac (either through Boot Camp or virtualization) and you've had good luck with one of the tools from the other side of the fence, let us know in the comments.
Michael S. asks:
What I want to know is if using migration assistant to copy my user account back onto a mac I've just done a clean install on is self-defeating? As in, will all the badness I just wiped clean come back as soon as I migrate my old user account?
The short answer: maybe. The longer answer is that, in many cases, the "badness" might not have been a result of anything wrong with the particular user account. Instead, the problems with your Mac could stem from other files in the System, corrupted preferences or any number of other sources. So, restoring the user account from your backup will not necessarily bring back whatever problems you were experiencing. You can usually isolate user-specific problems from machine-wide issues by creating a fresh user account on your existing system, then using that account for a while to see if the wacky fun subsides. If it persists, chances are your individual prefs and settings are not to blame for whatever ails you.
That said, the purpose of doing a clean install, at least to me, is to try to get rid of any problems you may have been experiencing. Personally, I wouldn't completely restore a user account after a clean install to prevent any chance of problems coming back due to a problem with that user account. Instead, I would only restore the pieces that I absolutely needed for the various applications, utilities, etc. I was going to use.
For example, if I use Photoshop, I would install it again (after remembering to deactivate it prior to my clean install) and then move only the Photoshop-specific preferences, plug-ins, etc. that I needed for it. I would not restore any more than I absolutely had to and would move each file manually and put it where it belongs. This would be the same procedure for any other applications or utilities I was planing on using.
Also, in some cases, I don't even move any previous files and instead start completely from scratch. Obviously, this is a much more time-consuming way to do it. But in the end, if you're very careful, it usually yields superior results. This isn't to say that Migration Assistant is a bad idea; for most people and most Macs, it works well enough.
Jax S. asks:
What's the easiest way to update Twitter and Facebook status simultaneously from the iPhone? Alternatively, is there a service that monitors one and automatically updates the other?
For updating just your Facebook status from your iPhone, use the Facebook application for the iPhone. If you want simultaneous updates to Twitter and Facebook, however, the simplest way is to enable the official Twitter application in Facebook, which is pretty much the 'service monitoring' you describe above -- it subscribes your Facebook status to your Twitter status. Once you turn that on, Facebook will automatically be updated whenever you post regular updates to Twitter. Facebook will not be updated, however, from any @ replies or direct messages you send in Twitter -- only when you do normal updates.
It's worth mentioning that there may be circumstances when you don't want your social worlds colliding with every tweet (eg. your Mom is on Facebook, perhaps); in that case, the Twitter app on Facebook is probably too blunt for your purposes. Brett Terpstra suggests checking out ping.fm, which allows you to update scores of social, microblogging and status services with a single SMS (there's also an iPhone-optimized web UI). Ping.fm gives you more granular control among the services you use, so that the drunken tweets don't clutter up the parents' Facebook feeds. If you like ping.fm and you want an iPhone app that works with it, check out Pingle or Nambu.
In the comments, Scott notes the Selective Twitter app on Facebook, which will let you subselect from your Twitter updates; the TweetSync app gives additional granular controls. Be warned that you should pick one of these apps and use it; running multiple status sync tools will lead to pain.
For more ongoing coverage of Facebook and/or Twitter, check out our sister site Download Squad.
Heather M. asks:
My iPhone battery seems to drain completely in less than a day. Can I do anything to extend my battery life?
There are a couple of things you can check that may help you extend the battery life of your iPhone. One of the major culprits of battery drainage is Location Services. Turning it off via the switch located in Settings>General will greatly increase your battery life. However, if you need to access the Maps application or other applications that are location-aware, you will need to turn it back on.
Normally, I have it off and only turn it on when I need to use the map or update via Brightkite or Loopt. Other ways to increase battery life include turning off WiFi unless you're using it, turning off Bluetooth and turning off all "Push" services for Mail, iCal and Address Book. If you can get by with EDGE speeds for your cellular data, turning off 3G can improve battery life. Overall, WiFi network transfer uses less power than 3G, so if you're in a spot where you can use WiFi you should.
Turning brightness down, or switching to Airplane Mode when you're using your phone for iPod features only, are also helpful. Apple's tips page is a good resource for battery life questions, and there's also a reminder that your iPhone's temperature may influence battery performance. (If you've ever seen this warning screen, maybe it's time to invest in an air conditioner.)
Of course, users are different and have different needs. However, taking the time and testing by turning off these various features will allow you to maximize your battery life by determining which features you actually need and use and which you can live without.
Sean asks:
My mom is considering a switch to Mac from Windows. Any good books she can read that will help with the switch?
Fortunately, as the number of users switching from Windows to Mac has increased, so has the number of books and other support material available to those who are considering the switch or have already made the jump. Some good ones to consider include: Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition by David Pogue and Switching to the Mac for Dummies by Arnold Reinhold.
Be sure to consider some of the useful books on Leopard published by Peachpit Press. I'm particularly a fan of their book Mac OSX 10.5 Leopard: Visual Quickstart Guide. Also take a look at their Take Control ebook for switchers. If your mom is a visual learner and prefers video to books, the It's About Time To... Learn the Switch to Mac program or lynda.com's video course are worth a look.
Another great place to find information on switching from Windows to the Mac can be found at Apple's own Switch 101 site. There you can read articles about migrating your files, connecting devices and peripherals, getting started with Apple software and much more.
What I want to know is if using migration assistant to copy my user account back onto a mac I've just done a clean install on is self-defeating? As in, will all the badness I just wiped clean come back as soon as I migrate my old user account?
The short answer: maybe. The longer answer is that, in many cases, the "badness" might not have been a result of anything wrong with the particular user account. Instead, the problems with your Mac could stem from other files in the System, corrupted preferences or any number of other sources. So, restoring the user account from your backup will not necessarily bring back whatever problems you were experiencing. You can usually isolate user-specific problems from machine-wide issues by creating a fresh user account on your existing system, then using that account for a while to see if the wacky fun subsides. If it persists, chances are your individual prefs and settings are not to blame for whatever ails you.
That said, the purpose of doing a clean install, at least to me, is to try to get rid of any problems you may have been experiencing. Personally, I wouldn't completely restore a user account after a clean install to prevent any chance of problems coming back due to a problem with that user account. Instead, I would only restore the pieces that I absolutely needed for the various applications, utilities, etc. I was going to use.
For example, if I use Photoshop, I would install it again (after remembering to deactivate it prior to my clean install) and then move only the Photoshop-specific preferences, plug-ins, etc. that I needed for it. I would not restore any more than I absolutely had to and would move each file manually and put it where it belongs. This would be the same procedure for any other applications or utilities I was planing on using.
Also, in some cases, I don't even move any previous files and instead start completely from scratch. Obviously, this is a much more time-consuming way to do it. But in the end, if you're very careful, it usually yields superior results. This isn't to say that Migration Assistant is a bad idea; for most people and most Macs, it works well enough.
Jax S. asks:
What's the easiest way to update Twitter and Facebook status simultaneously from the iPhone? Alternatively, is there a service that monitors one and automatically updates the other?
For updating just your Facebook status from your iPhone, use the Facebook application for the iPhone. If you want simultaneous updates to Twitter and Facebook, however, the simplest way is to enable the official Twitter application in Facebook, which is pretty much the 'service monitoring' you describe above -- it subscribes your Facebook status to your Twitter status. Once you turn that on, Facebook will automatically be updated whenever you post regular updates to Twitter. Facebook will not be updated, however, from any @ replies or direct messages you send in Twitter -- only when you do normal updates.
It's worth mentioning that there may be circumstances when you don't want your social worlds colliding with every tweet (eg. your Mom is on Facebook, perhaps); in that case, the Twitter app on Facebook is probably too blunt for your purposes. Brett Terpstra suggests checking out ping.fm, which allows you to update scores of social, microblogging and status services with a single SMS (there's also an iPhone-optimized web UI). Ping.fm gives you more granular control among the services you use, so that the drunken tweets don't clutter up the parents' Facebook feeds. If you like ping.fm and you want an iPhone app that works with it, check out Pingle or Nambu.
In the comments, Scott notes the Selective Twitter app on Facebook, which will let you subselect from your Twitter updates; the TweetSync app gives additional granular controls. Be warned that you should pick one of these apps and use it; running multiple status sync tools will lead to pain.
For more ongoing coverage of Facebook and/or Twitter, check out our sister site Download Squad.
Heather M. asks:
My iPhone battery seems to drain completely in less than a day. Can I do anything to extend my battery life?
There are a couple of things you can check that may help you extend the battery life of your iPhone. One of the major culprits of battery drainage is Location Services. Turning it off via the switch located in Settings>General will greatly increase your battery life. However, if you need to access the Maps application or other applications that are location-aware, you will need to turn it back on. Normally, I have it off and only turn it on when I need to use the map or update via Brightkite or Loopt. Other ways to increase battery life include turning off WiFi unless you're using it, turning off Bluetooth and turning off all "Push" services for Mail, iCal and Address Book. If you can get by with EDGE speeds for your cellular data, turning off 3G can improve battery life. Overall, WiFi network transfer uses less power than 3G, so if you're in a spot where you can use WiFi you should.
Turning brightness down, or switching to Airplane Mode when you're using your phone for iPod features only, are also helpful. Apple's tips page is a good resource for battery life questions, and there's also a reminder that your iPhone's temperature may influence battery performance. (If you've ever seen this warning screen, maybe it's time to invest in an air conditioner.)
Of course, users are different and have different needs. However, taking the time and testing by turning off these various features will allow you to maximize your battery life by determining which features you actually need and use and which you can live without.
Sean asks:
My mom is considering a switch to Mac from Windows. Any good books she can read that will help with the switch?
Fortunately, as the number of users switching from Windows to Mac has increased, so has the number of books and other support material available to those who are considering the switch or have already made the jump. Some good ones to consider include: Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition by David Pogue and Switching to the Mac for Dummies by Arnold Reinhold.
Be sure to consider some of the useful books on Leopard published by Peachpit Press. I'm particularly a fan of their book Mac OSX 10.5 Leopard: Visual Quickstart Guide. Also take a look at their Take Control ebook for switchers. If your mom is a visual learner and prefers video to books, the It's About Time To... Learn the Switch to Mac program or lynda.com's video course are worth a look.
Another great place to find information on switching from Windows to the Mac can be found at Apple's own Switch 101 site. There you can read articles about migrating your files, connecting devices and peripherals, getting started with Apple software and much more.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Justin said 12:20PM on 2-25-2009
I'm really surprised you didn't mention the FREE photorecovery software named PhotoRec. http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec – works on basically every platform.
This is what I used when my sister came to me saying she pushed "format" on her camera, and then pushed it again because she thought it might "undo" what she did. Oh, girls. :)
Anyhow, it works well.
Reply
brian said 1:36PM on 2-25-2009
+1 for PhotoRec. Worked for me too a few months ago when a Canon camera ate its own card. A bit cryptic to use--requires some Terminal skills--but I prefer to try free things before jumping right into spend-money mode. It is widely-used, open-source, well-regarded software, so give it a shot.
Mike K. said 12:26PM on 2-25-2009
I own both PhotoRescue and Data Rescue II... both are good at what they do, Data Rescue II might be overkill for recovering memory cards. I bought PhotoRescue while on vacation when my memory card decided to die with almost 500 pictures on it. I was able to recover 99 percent of them... so, worth every penny.
Reply
Scott said 12:30PM on 2-25-2009
For the Facebook/Twitter thing - the Facebook app "Selective Twitter" works much better. It doesn't post every tweet to your FB status - instead it'll only post tweets that have "#fb" in them to Facebook.
Reply
buddy said 12:33PM on 2-25-2009
I have an issue.
My iMac broke down. I'm currently using a Windows XP machine. How do I transfer all my iPod Touch data (apps, music, video, photos etc) to the new machine? Syncing won't work because iTunes says that all data on the iPod will be erased. There's no way to backup apps without syncing.
I've seen a couple of commercial 3rd party apps that can transfer most data (though I'm not sure if they can transfer apps). It's insane if Apple doesn't provide a simple way for me to do this.
Thanks
Reply
Jeremy said 1:58PM on 2-25-2009
go to itunes, authorize your machine with your account you paid for your apps with, then go to file, transfer purchases from iPod (iPhone?). I'm not sure exactly what that will say b/c my phone isn't plugged in right now, but it should pull your apps from your phone into iTunes!
Hope that helps
Don said 12:35PM on 2-25-2009
For next time. When doing a complete backup of my MBP hard drive, is it important to save large files like sleepimage?
Reply
BillSaysThis said 12:41PM on 2-25-2009
Question for a future Ask: My dad wants to get Boot Camp running on his Mini but Boot Camp Assistant can't run to completion because it some programs can't be moved, so partitioning can't be finished. How do I help him fix this error?
Reply
Greg said 1:06PM on 2-25-2009
I tried two Windows programs. One, Zero Assumption Recovery, worked well. It is free (a paid app, but the photo recovery part IS free). It recovered all my Canon RAW files as Tiffs. The other, Art Plus Digital, only recovered a handful.
The best app, available for both Windows and Mac, was Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery. It recovered all as RAW files (.CR2), and was fast, but pricey at $39.
Reply
johnmc said 1:36PM on 2-25-2009
On the iPhone battery life thing, I have noticed that if I hit the sleep/wake button while my phone is in the Mail app, the battery will start draining and the phone will start heating up. This is with 1 GMail account set to fetch every 15 minutes and 1 Exchange account with push turned on. If you make sure to close Mail before the phone sleeps, you should be OK. If you happen to leave Mail open and let/make the phone sleep, just force close Mail (hold the Home button until the screen goes blank for a moment).
Reply
Steve said 1:38PM on 2-25-2009
I play music with a friend who also has a mac and Garageband, which is what we use to record. Sharing songs is simple, but more complicated seems to be sharing presets we've created. For instance, we have a specific vocal preset we use on a song with a certain amount of reverb and echo and a certain EQ and compressor setting, but I don't know how to get those settings exported to send to each other.
Any ideas?
Reply
Steve said 1:40PM on 2-25-2009
RE: Updating Twitter and Facebook from the iPhone:
There's a (free) app called Vlingo that does voice dialing, but it also lets you speak a status message and set it as your facebook and twitter status. If you don't want to speak it you can also type your status, or edit the text when it gets your spoken status a little wrong.
Reply
efc said 1:43PM on 2-25-2009
+1 for PhotoRec. While it is a Terminal based command line tool, it actually has a reasonably functional user interface. Does a great job.
Reply
Ryan Gall said 2:34PM on 2-25-2009
I had a question about the bluetooth icon in the status bar...The one that I have has the bluetooth symbol grayed out and has three black dots through it, what does that mean, and how can I change that icon to be the standard bluetooth icon?
Reply
Dave said 3:57PM on 2-25-2009
That means you have something connected to it...
conigs said 3:53PM on 2-25-2009
I thought Location Services changed in 2.2? This is how I thought it worked:
Previously, when it was set to on, it was full on, always updating. But with 2.2, on really meant enabled. Meaning it's not in use until a program or service polls it, then it returns to it's domant state. And off means no program can access it until it's turned back on.
In 2.0 & 2.1, if it was set to off, a program could still enable it when you hit okay on the popup. In 2.2, that notification changed to explicitly tell you to turn it on in Settings if you wished to use it, then still display the old "allow to use your location" popup when it's on.
I could be wrong, but I was under the impression this is what changed and one of the primary contributors to the increased battery life in 2.2.
Reply
Artric said 4:00PM on 2-25-2009
In case of severe draining on the iPhone a recent firmware update might be the reason.
After the last one, I had charged my iPhone fully.
I unplugged it, set the alarm and put it on my nightstand, 6 hours later, half empty.
Normally, the icon won't even change, even with push mail and WIFI active.
Solution was a forced shut down.... holding both the top button and the home button till the phone restarts (do not let go when the 'slide to shut off' message appears).
Reply
Eric said 6:02PM on 2-25-2009
I have a question. Im thinking about going with the Optibay to add an additional 500GB hard drive to my MacBook Pro. Currently I have a 1TB external HD for my iTunes library that has everything on it. What I want to do is just have my music on the 500GB internal HD but keep my movies and tv shows on the 1TB external. But when I add music to my library it will automatically go on the internal 500GB and when I add movies/TV shows they will go to the external. Is this any way possible?
Reply
Florian said 6:41PM on 2-25-2009
Question: On my MacBook, I have the F5 key bound to spaces. In order to use the function I have to press Fn+F5, while the expose and dashboard keys do not require me to press Fn. On my external aluminum keyboard however, I can use expose, dashboard AND F5 without pressing Fn to access any of the underlaying functions. I know I can reverse the function of the Fn key under system preferences (and effectively make my expose and dashboard keys require Fn), but how do I make my Macbook behave like the external keyboard?
Reply
ball said 6:53PM on 2-25-2009
I have a really weird Finder issue that didn't seem to show up in a Google search. In my trash there is a file that refuses to go away regardless of whether or not I empty my trash; I cannot move the file out of the trash (say, onto the desktop). The issue seems to be with Finder itself since the file does not appear in my .Trashes folder (unless I'm looking in the wrong .Trashes). The file name is all ASCII "nul"s and a period - e.g. read aloud the name is "null null null null null dot null null null". Really weird.
The link below is a screenshot of my Trash. Zoom in on the image to read the "nul"s more easily. Any ideas on how to fix this?
http://i42.tinypic.com/egs86w.jpg
Reply