Filed under: Features, Troubleshooting, Ask TUAW
Ask TUAW: Online backup, Bluetooth with iPod touch and OS 3.0, converting DVDs for iPhone, and more
In this round of Ask TUAW we've got questions about connecting a MacBook to a plasma TV, using a Bluetooth headset with an iPod touch, backing up online, ripping DVDs to watch on an iPhone and more.As always, your suggestions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions!
FunFred asks
What are the best options for a remote-backup of my laptop? I am a college student and don't want to risk a back hard drive being stolen or broken.
Well I suppose it's obligatory to point out that Apple's MobileMe includes online backup with iDisk. However, given how poorly it works I personally wouldn't depend on it. I've actually had very good luck with Dropbox which offers 2GB of storage for free including excellent automatic syncing of a Dropbox folder on your Mac (more storage is available for a fee). While I haven't used them myself, others have recommended the Carbonite service for $54.95 per year or MozyHome at $4.95 per month, both with supposedly unlimited automatic backup.
brando asks
I just recently bought a 2G iPod touch, and now have iPhone OS 3.0 running on it. My question is as follows: With the new "wireless headphone" capabilities via Bluetooth, would I also be able to use a Bluetooth headset with my iPod touch for things such as VOIP?
From what I can tell from reports online, the OS 3.0 upgrade only offers audio output and the iPod touch does not recognize microphone input. Therefore, it seems that you still cannot use an iPod touch for VOIP applications with a Bluetooth headset.
Lucky asks
I want to remap my Caps-Lock key to the Backspace since I never actually use Caps. I found the solution with PCKeyboardHack, but the issue is that the green LED remains on. My question is, how do I turn it off forever without having to take apart my keyboard?
Check out this post from Amit Singh at Google. He offers a little program there for controlling the keyboard LEDs from the Command Line. You'll have to compile the application yourself, but it should do what you want (though I haven't been able to test it myself).
Bryan asks
I'm new to the 3g iphone world. I have had the 1st gen iphone since january of 2008, and never got a 3g. I pre-ordered a 3gs and got it on launch day! It's been amazing, but I do have a question... I live in an area that lacks 3g still, but 30 minutes in all directions are towns that I frequent and support 3g. Am I better off leaving 3g switched off when I am at home, and then switching on when I get into a 3g zone? I didn't know if leaving it switched on meant that it was constantly searching for a 3g signal, and thus draining the battery more than normal, as it is with wifi.
I think you'd do best switching 3G off at home and starting it back up manually when appropriate. Apple has a page on iPhone battery life which says explicitly that having 3G turned on "may also decrease battery life, especially in areas with limited 3G coverage." I suspect you're probably right that the reason for this is what you suggest above.
bleaus asks
I'll be doing some flying in the near future, and I'd like to watch one of my movies on my iPhone. Is there a free program out there that anyone recommends for converting my DVD to iPhone compatible formats? I have a PowerBook G4 running 10.4.11
With the PowerPC Mac running Tiger your best best is probably the older version 0.9.1 of Handbrake. The newer versions are Leopard only. You may have to play with the settings a bit to get exactly what you want, but it does come with an iPhone preset that should give you decent results.
ralph asks
I'm trying to play video from my MacBook (13") to a Fujitsu plasma TV, which I'm connecting using mini-DVI to RGB. I'm able to get the output, which is in 4:3 aspect ratio, to fill the entire screen using the "wide" button on the TV, but it looks stretched. I would like to find an resolution (std or custom) that can correct for this. Also, is there a way to center the output? The left most 2" are being cut off, and on the right side there are 2" of black screen.
I'm not entirely sure what you're doing here. Apple does not offer a mini-DVI to component adapter (because the MacBook isn't capable of doing that directly), so I assume what you're referring to is the mini-DVI to composite adapter. If so, you're simply not going to be able to get a 16:9 HD resolution into your TV that way.
There are several options, however, depending on what inputs your TV has. If it has HDMI, then you can easily get a DVI to HDMI cable (like this one), which you can use along with the mini-DVI to DVI adapter from Apple. If the TV has a VGA input then you just need the mini-DVI to VGA adapter (plus a VGA cable). However, if it only has component inputs and you really want it to fill your 16:9 display without stretching I think you'll need the mini-DVI to VGA adapter and a VGA to component converter. These VGA to component convertors (such as this one) are not simply adapters, but active electronic devices. As such they can get a little pricey.
With all of that said, there is a software application SwitchResX (€14) which allows you to set custom resolutions on your Mac, but I think you're problem is more likely on the hardware, rather than software, side.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
MIchael Carnell said 9:15AM on 6-24-2009
Just wanted to point out that for online backup I use and recommend Mozy. 2 gigs free and has an excellent Mac client. I actually also use DropBox and love it - especially for sharing files with others.
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EMoShunz said 9:29AM on 6-24-2009
i too use mozy, switched from amazon/jungledisk for technical app reasons. unlimited is great, but my first month i went over my 60gb data cap with my provider (extra $30). but after that it's incramental, so no issues.
i haven't had to restore yet, so i can't speak to that... but even if it's a bit of a chore, it's worth it for the easy automation, and $6 a month unlimited fee.
Cronick said 4:25PM on 6-24-2009
Another vote for Mozy.
By the way, Dropbox is NOT a great way to back up your stuff. It's a great way to sync across devices but one wrong move and you're toast.
I back up the Dropbox folder on my Mini with Mozy. Because that Dropbox folder is a copy of the Dropbox folder on my MacBook, it is a daily incremental backup of my MacBook.
Ben said 9:36AM on 6-24-2009
In my experience, Backblaze is significantly better than either Carbonite or Mozy.
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Rob D said 10:12AM on 6-24-2009
I use Backblaze also and it works well. They'll send you up to a 500GB hard drive with your data on it if you need it for a fee, but you can download your files for free.
I use Dropbox and it works very well too. It's easy to sync files between multiple PCs and Macs. It's recommended by the people at 1Password to keep it in sync.
Haven't used the rest so I can't compare.
JohnQ said 9:18AM on 6-24-2009
I'm a MobileMe user myself, but my University recently switched everyone over to Outlook Live which gives everyone access to Microsoft's free Live Mesh service. Live Mesh has a dedicated Mac client which behaves very much like Dropbox but it has 5GB instead of 2. I recommend giving it a try with your free hotmail or live account.
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Mike said 9:43AM on 6-24-2009
With iPhone 3.0 out and a new API for apps to interface with third-party accessories via the Dock Connector, are there any dev teams out there working on an app (and appropriate hardware) to allow one to connect a digital camera and transfer pictures into Photos (so that we can then email them or upload them to MobileMe, etc.)?
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robb said 6:02PM on 6-24-2009
I expect there have to be. I'm an iPhone developer, so far software only but I have a couple of projects in mind that might make use of the new hardware access. I'm also a photographer so I'd love to have exactly what you describe.
If someone doesn't do it soon, maybe I will. Since I'm just one guy with a real job it will likely be more of a do it yourself project though. If someone does build it, I'll be doing my best to be first in line to write a RAW converter / touch up software for the iPhone.
I'd also suggest that it's almost certain you'll see a card reader attachment for the iPhone as opposed to a USB interface.
laurion said 10:03AM on 6-24-2009
I'm absolutely loving BackBlaze. $5/mo for unlimited backup, and their client feels much more native than Mozy or Carbonite.
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Frank said 10:02AM on 6-24-2009
The suggestion to use a VGA Connector for his plasma TV is just ridiculous. He should use the mini-DVI to DVI adapter from Apple, and then DVI-to-HDMI cable from monoprice. Any other solution will produce much worse video quality.
Get a mini-optical to optical cable from monoprice while you're at it, and use that to send digital audio from the MacBook to your home theater receiver.
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Mike said 10:15AM on 6-24-2009
If it is a white MacBook, it doesn't have optical audio out.
Brian said 11:20AM on 6-24-2009
You could also go directly from Mini-DVI to HDMI, then just use an HDMI cable...
http://www.hdtvsupply.com/mini-dvi-to-hdmi.html
Bloobie said 2:01PM on 6-24-2009
The white MacBook does have optical out and in, just like every other Mac.
Cronick said 4:34PM on 6-24-2009
Unless you are going through a receiver, you will probably need to combine the DVI video with the Toslink audio and onto HDMI with this:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011405&p_id=5369&seq=1&format=2
si said 10:15AM on 6-24-2009
TV set up can be a nightmare, you'll have to use SwitchResX to get it working nicely.
I found that duplicating one of the current settings (the one that you think should work in the first pace) and then fiddling around with it. A good start point to to manually change the resolution to what fits and then start hacking around with the door steps etc (ie the offset left, right, top and bottom).
It a real pain, i've done it twice now, but can say the results are worth while.
A quick tip also, many people find that they get a "black screen" when playing with SwitchResX that even restart wont get round. A good fix I found was to use a second mac, remote login and then you'll be able to get back in to SwitchResX
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ralph said 9:31PM on 6-28-2009
Thanks a lot for your (and everyone's) replies. I incorrectly described what I'm using - its actually Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter. I have ordered the Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter - already own a DVI to HDMI - and will see if that does any better.
I've also DL'd SwitchResX, but other than resolution, dont have any idea which settings to change (Front Porch, Sync Width, Back Porch, etc.) to try to get rid of the border I'm getting at right and on bottom. Any direction you could provide here would really help. Thanks a lot.
si said 12:43PM on 6-29-2009
Hopefully this will work this time, replying to my own comment ralph as I can't work out how to reply to you directly
I've set up the following (some of the steps may be a bit vague as its been a while since ive done this, but it is roughly right)
1. DW and install
2. Open up the pref pane
3. Go to active tab and click on the one that best matches what you want (just go by the resolution)
4. Click on the details button on the windows that pops up and make a note of the settings in there
5. Close that pane and the other one that popped up after step 3
6. Now go to the custom tab in the switchResX and create a new setting with the settings you noted down.
7. Now you need to click ok, and then apply to save these new settings.
8. I think you now need to resart your mac, and it will log in with the custom settings added to the system preferences > display pane. you'll need to go into the normal display pane and select your custom setting.
9. If it looks right, then great. if not then go back to SwitchResX, fudge about with the settings of your custom setting and then try again.
Hopefully this helps, this isn't a slur on SwitchResX but it's not the simplist software to use so I feel your pain.
I'm sure there are better ways to use it than how I do but this is what I found works for me.
If I've missed a step then apologies, like I say it's been a long time since I've done this.
tchetelat said 10:32AM on 6-24-2009
Another vote for Backblaze. Really happy with both the interface, the price, and the (rarely needed) support.
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Chas said 10:29AM on 6-24-2009
Always enjoy these articles guys. With regard to the battery being drained while on EDGE with 3G enabled, doesn't it make sense that the battery life will only suffer when connected to 3G vs searching for 3G? I have a friend of mine who also just got the 3GS (no space, right?), and she had the same question. I told her that because the phone was not connected to 3G that the battery would drain at the same rate whether 3G was enabled or not. Does this seem right?
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Rafe H. said 10:40AM on 6-24-2009
I don't think this is correct. My Motorola RAZR drains its battery in about 1 hour, idling in my pocket, when I visit my parents in rural Vermont. The cell signal is very weak, usually nonexistent, and I imagine my phone is increasing the transmission power on its antenna to communicate effectively with the distant tower.