Finder crashes and cannot be relaunched (El Capitan, 2010 Macbook Air)

Okay, I figure you have two options.

OPTION 1 - Delete Finder preferences

Let's delete Finder preferences first and see if that solves your problem. Since you can't launch the Finder, you will have to do this using the Terminal. Follow these instructions:

Open Terminal (it's in the Applications > Utilities folder).
Delete the primary Finder preferences file by typing this at the Terminal prompt exactly as I've typed it: rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
Press Return
Since you're running El Capitan you will also need to delete the preferences for the Finder Sidebar by typing this at the Terminal prompt exactly as I've typed it: rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.sidebarlists.plist
Press Return
Log out, then in again.
Empty the Trash.

Hopefully this solves the problem. If not, proceed to Option 2.

OPTION 2 - Replace the Finder app

Manually go to your Time Machine backup drive.
Select a backup date you know was after you updated to El Capitan 10.11.6 and before you started having problems.
Within your backup drive, navigate to the Finder app. This should be located at: Backups.backupdb > 'your computer' > 'backup date' > Macintosh HD > System > Library > CoreServices > Finder (Note: Your HD may be a different name to Macintosh HD).
Double-check that the version of Finder is actually 10.11.4 (that's the version for El Capitan 10.11.6).
Select and Copy the Finder app.
Now, navigate to the CoreServices folder on your main HD. This should be located at: Macintosh HD > System > Library > CoreServices (Note: Your HD may be a different name to Macintosh HD).
Paste the Finder app into this location.

Hopefully this solves the problem. If not, you could try Option 1 again now that you've replaced the Finder.

Let us know how you go.

[EDIT]

Option 3 - Test Startup/Login items

Okay, I'm adding this option based on the fact that the Finder seems to operate normally when your computer starts in Safe Mode.

This tells me it's likely to be something that's getting loaded during normal startup (e.g. a Startup/Login item, a font you've installed) that's causing the problem.

So I would now startup normally and go to System Preferences > Users & Groups. Take a note of your Login Items and then remove all of them and restart your computer (Finder should still crash) so that it starts again without those login items loading. Test this and see if the problem persists.

If the problem does persist, I'd then remove any fonts you've installed yourself.

Let me know how you go.


The audio ducking controls in iMovie 10 are in the adjustments bar under the sound tab. In the sound tab, there's a slider labeled "Lower volume of other clips" and this slider ranges from around 20% ducking to 100%.

More about this in this tutorial video I made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EChiImCZbno


Why does my 2.5 TB HDD appear as a 2.2 TB HDD and a 300 GB HDD? How do I merge them?

Open Disk Utility (in Application/Utilities). Locate your harddrive on the left. Not one of the partitions, but the whole harddrive. Then click Partition in the tabs on the right (see screenshot). Then click on the the dropdown menu (where Current stands in the screenshot), and select 1 partition (see screenshot 2). Click apply, and wait. Then you have 1 volume.

Note, your data will go lost. Save it somewhere else. Then you can safely put it back, after it has become 1 volume.


Search for page number with PDF Expert and Applescript

PDF Exper and keystroke "42" doesn't work for me.

However, using Skim and key code works:

do shell script "open -a Skim agile.pdf"
delay 0.1

tell application "System Events"
  tell application process "Skim"
    tell application "System Events" to tell process "Skim" to click menu item "Go to Page…" of menu "Go" of menu bar 1
    delay 0.1
    key code {21, 19, 36}
  end tell
end tell


Can't delete a greyed out app on iPhone 4S

I think my experience will help somebody out there who has the similar problems. I finally managed to delete it by Settings -> General -> Storage & iCloud Usage -> Storage -> Manage Storage -> Click on the application, in my case it is Google Translate. Then press the "Delete App" written in red, there you go. I write it because I have tried many different ways none of them helped me. Thanks.


Visual bug in Dock after macOS Mojave installation

I have this exact problem while connected on an external monitor using a Macbook Pro 2017. The problem is the window animation, I experience this problem using the Scale Effect animation but it disappears as soon as I am using the Genie Effect. That's an acceptable workaround, still I wonder how this is not fixed on Apple's side.


How does iPhone's facetime work even when the phone function is off?

Initially Apple used the phone number as the FaceTime "account" and non-user-visible SMS validation as the "password" to avoid forcing end users to enter/remember/forget yet another set of credentials.

The SMS validation happens behind the scenes - but SMS does have to be active on the phone at the time of first verifying (and potentially when re-verifying?) your FaceTime account on Apple's servers. If you switch off FaceTime in the Phone settings, wait a few seconds and turn it back on - you can see this checking process. The status message will change to say "Waiting for activation..." until Apple's servers verify your account. Once it says "Your phone number will be shared with people you call with FaceTime." the account is verified.

You can now use AppleID for credentials for devices that do not have SMS and an easily accessed/understood phone number. SMS is needed one time at activation to ensure Apple's push notification goes to the correct device - there shouldn't be a problem dropping SMS later once the device is registered.

This data lets the address book facilitate dialing and location over WiFi. Apple runs servers that let each device check in and request to initiate a call if the receiver is online anywhere. There is no technical reason why FaceTime cannot use cellular data for the call (bits are bits) but in practice the carriers would probably have to charge more for supporting everyone video chatting on networks that are currently straining to contain the data already flowing over them.

On devices that allow an email address - if someone calls you - all the devices currently on ring but only one picks up. For example, it's possible to receive incoming FaceTime calls ringing on a Mac, an iPod touch and an iPad - and any one can pick up the "call".


Is the lock screen PIN secure enough when sending in for repair?

Is the phone's lock screen PIN secure enough to be in the repair shop for a few days?

I'd say no. There are forensic-type applications can that extract your phone data without requiring the screen to be unlocked. It's fairly easy to backup and then wipe your phone, and later restore it from that backup. Might as well do it and rest comfortably knowing none of your personal data is in the hands of someone else.

Besides, you may not get your exact phone back. They may be able to swap it for a new phone or a refurbished phone if they're an Apple Authorized repair depot. In that case your data may be left on your old phone and sent off to a depot for reconditioning.

Who would want that uncertainty?

Backing Up Your Phone

Before you wipe your phone to send it in make sure you have a backup!

If you're using iCloud back up your phone go to Settings -> iCloud -> Storage & Backup and click the Back Up Now button to do a backup.

If you're using iTunes to backup your phone connect to iTunes and do a backup.

Wiping Your Phone

DOUBLE CHECK YOU'VE MADE A RECENT BACKUP!!!

To wipe the phone go to: Settings -> General -> Reset and click the Erase All Content and Settings button. This will set you back to factory defaults.

Send it in for repair.

Restoring Your Phone

When you get it back it should behave as if it's a new, never used, iPhone. In this case, after you pick your language, you'll be asked if you want to set it up as a new phone, restore it from an iCloud backup or restore it from an iTunes backup.

Select Restore from iCloud Backup and follow the prompts if you used iCloud to back up your phone.

Otherwise select Restore from iTunes Backup and follow the prompts.


Can I re-purchase an app with a different apple ID?

Simply delete the app from your machine. The store prevents two copies of the same app from being installed as a general case

You should then be able to re-buy it as it would be a fresh download - signed for the account you prefer rather than a re-download of the app signed for the old Apple ID.


App Store says app is "INSTALLING" but nothing happens

Maybe this thread on Apple Support Communities is what you're looking for.

It sounds like it is, indeed, a cache problem. From the thread above, it'd seem you'd need to find the cache in the /private directory. I'll include specific instructions, inspired by the thread:

Open Terminal (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app)
Type in this command: sudo find /private/var -iname "com.apple.appstore" and press Enter
For each of of the found directories run rm -r <dir path>/* (For the brave: sudo find /private/var -iname "com.apple.appstore" | xargs sudo rm -r)


iPod Shuffle (4G) dead, not charging, not detected by PC

here's how I solved the 5-second-light-no-charge issue.
You will need some patience though.

Plug your 4th Gen Shuffle into a high-power USB port (preferable the stock wall charger). Wait until the red light goes on and than off. Unplug. Repeat continuously until the light doesn't go off, which means the Shuffle starts charging. It took me about 15 minutes, however it may take longer depending on how low the battery charge is.

Here's a little technical background behind this process. When the device is not being used for a while, especially if it is not charged, the battery voltage falls below a certain threshold becoming insufficient to start the microprocessor any more. However, the processor is necessary to start the charging process, and the device gets into the deadlock. Basically, when you plug it in, it's being charged for only 5 seconds while the red light is on. When you constantly plug it in and out you manually charge the battery in 5-second increments until it's voltage is high enough  to start the processor.

I advise to unplug the USB from the charger, not the charger from the socket.


In a nutshell: No, you can't.

Apple uses proprietary protocols for iCloud access (both data and backup) so you can't just switch backends by redirecting some DNS entries. And as far as I know, nobody has reverse engineered the protocols yet (at least not the full set required to implement an alternative server-side solution).


iTunes 12.5.1.21 interface with iPod Classic (2009) software 2.0.4 Star vs Heart Rating

In your preferred playlist chose to display it as a list (song view) and right click on one of the top columns (artist, album, year, etc.) and select 'rating' from the menu.

It may be only visible if you scroll the list view to the right. You can reorder the columns by holding and dragging with the mouse.

Does this work for you?


I have deleted all photos from my iPhone 4s but phone usage and iTunes still show 16gb of photos

The best way to attack this is to make a good backup (perhaps two - one to iTunes and another iCloud) and then restore the device.

When you activate the phone, don't sign in to iCloud at all (or the app store) - just set it up as a new device. From there you can look at storage and then slowly add your Apple Accounts.

When you sign in to iCloud - look at the storage and see if it's downloading photos from the iCloud Drive, the Messages archives, the photo stream, etc...

My suspicion is you have iCloud and the "photos" are from the data that comes down from the server - even without having any photos in the photo app / camera roll.

Once you have a good feel for what item is causing the "photos" to arrive, you can then erase the phone and set it up from your backup if desired. You can also just reinstall the things you want on the device that was "set up as new" if that's easier than restoring a backup and deleting things you don't want.


Time Machine Changed My External Hard Drive's to MBR and now I can't access it!

Thank you for your reply. That said, I did get it fixed. I opened the seemingly faulty drive with MacDrive in Winblows on my bootcamp partition. All the sudden, we were good! The drive opened and could be read and written to. Not sure how that happened but it’s fixed and honestly, that’s all I care about! ;)


How can I make songs I delete in iTunes also delete songs of synced devices?

You have to understand that iTunes is the 'master' in all this, the mobile devices merely 'slaves'.
Anything you do in iTunes will be reflected in the mobiles when manually synced.

The question you linked is for 'what to do when this sync misbehaves?' & is not the same as your situation.

Your issue really stems from your iTunes library not being complete, removing the simplest option from your choices. Google 'iTunes iPhone copy' for a slew of apps that will transfer songs from the mobile to iTunes, then you can go back to doing it the recommended way - by syncing with iTunes.


What is the ppi of the MacBook Pro retina 13" when at a resolution of 1680x1050?

Does 148.96 PPI seem correct?

PPI Calculator


How to add smbutil as a lookup mechanism for hostnames

I like the mdns service discovery tool: dns-sd

So to check for SMB shares:

dns-sd -B _smb._tcp

You can then parse the instance names to get other details to look up like IP address and then check other services on that host with a tool like nmap


Apple App Store: Create app page for upcoming app

Notify is a feature created by Apple which appears to be solely for their Nintendo app launch partnership at this current time. It's not available for general developer program members yet and it is unclear if/when it will be available in iTunes Connect.

  The feature is currently only for Super Mario Run as far as we can tell. Whether it will apply across the entire app store is yet to be determined. It's also unlike the "Pre-order" button from the music and film sections of the iTunes store, since it doesn't give you the option to purchase the content ahead of time.

Source: http://www.cnet.com/news/new-itunes-notifications-will-tell-you-when-mario-is-live/


You can change the preferred network simply by dragging it to the top of the list.

Lion: System Preferences -> Network -> Wi-Fi  -> Advanced

Older OS: System Preferences -> Network -> Airport  -> Advanced


Why is Skype using over 1 GB of iCloud backup data?

Because you are saving all conversations including attachments


In iTunes 12.7, the ringtones functionality has changed. You can still copy custom ringtones to your iOS devices using this guide from OSXDaily, or this Apple Support article.

If you still need access to the features in previous versions of iTunes, Apple made iTunes 12.6.3 available for cases like this: Deploy apps in a business environment with iTunes

Check out this Apple Support document for more information on the iTunes 12.7 update: Changes in the new iTunes


Why when I save a photo it displays a different date then the actual date I saved it

The date and time in question doesn't usually refer to the last time it was edited or saved. Typically, it'll refer to the date and time the photo or screenshot was originally saved (i.e. originally taken).

Obviously I can't comment on the photo in your question, but my guess is that the time of 3:29pm and date of 23 March 2005 is what's in the metadata of the photo, and that it was originally taken by a digital camera of some sort at that time (obviously not with your iPhone).

Any photo taken with an iPhone (or any digital camera) will actually also store a whole heap of metadata. In addition to the date and time it was taken, it can capture the colour mode, size in pixels, depth, and so much more. When you then edit that photo with your iPhone (or digital camera) it'll also capture the date and time it was modified.

However, in the Photos app of your iPhone the metadata it'll display is the date and time the you took the photo (or the data and time it was originally taken by whichever digital camera it was).

Editing the photo doesn't change the metadata being displayed, not even if you opt to use the Copy or Duplicate options.


Is there a way to kill an unresponsive applescript launched by an application without killing the application?

It looks like the AppleScript is run within Quicksilver’s process (depending on how you run it). If that’s the case, you’d need to relaunch Quicksilver. If it’s not completely frozen, you can do this quickly with ⌃⌘Q.

It might also be possible to set some kind of timeout in the script to prevent it from hanging indefinitely.


Why do I have two 'Macintosh HD - Data' partitions?

The volume disk1s1 mounted as /Volumes/Macintosh HD - Data as no utility.
You can suppress by the terminal command:
diskutil ap deletevolume disk1s1


There can be multiple things happening here. If you have the spinny wheel, iTunes is obviously hanging/not responding. You can fully quit it by using Option + Command + Escape, selecting iTunes, and pressing Force Quit. If that doesn't work, you can open Activity Monitor (You can press Command + Space and then type Activity Monitor), find and select iTunes, and press the Stop symbol with an X in the center, and that should be the end of that. If none of this works, you can restart.


Can not visit some sites because of too many ads! Is there any virus in my Mac?

Try BitDefender's freeware tools -

Adware Removal Tool for Mac
Virus scanner for Mac
Mechanic

The Adware remover you get directly from the link, the others you can get through Apple's App Store.

I would highly recommend keeping the Virus scanner on your machine afterwards & running it periodically.
Macs are not immune to viruses, they're just rare.
The freeware version does not actively scan in the background, you need the paid version for that.

BitDefender is highly rated on official antivirus test sites such as http://www.av-test.org/en/


I would say you are over thinking the watch app.

Watch apps on Watch OS 2 and iOS 9 are extensions. They are the antithesis of a functioning app and simply a little detail or a little tidbit.

Furthermore, Apple approves apps that do absolutely nothing without a paid account. Netflix, Casper Focus, Splunk, all the newsstand subscriptions where you need to pay for content before reading an issue.

Now - Apple's review guidelines let them have great latitude to deny apps for no reason at all - let alone 2.12 "not very useful" which itself is highly subjective.

What you are concerned about also concerns many other app developers and it sure would be nice if there were a way to pay for "Pre-Approval of Innovative Features" so you could invest maybe 5k of effort to prototype and then pay for a review by Apple before investing the actual amount of development work in your app. See this story for the details of how pre-approval and the developers surveyed are in similar situation wondering what might pass review:

https://www.macstories.net/stories/developers-apples-app-review-needs-big-improvements/


Is there a way to suppress valid files beginning with dot (.) in a tar archive giving false errors and files?

A more refined search brought up:

http://xahlee.info/UnixResource_dir/macosx.html
https://norman.walsh.name/2008/02/22/tar

using export COPYFILE_DISABLE=true before extracting the archive prevents the dotfile processing:

$ rm -r test_dir
$ export COPYFILE_DISABLE=true
$ tar xzf test_dir.tar.gz
$ ll test_dir
total 8
drwxr-xr-x  3 xxxx  xxxx    96B Jul 31 16:47 .
drwxr-xr-x  4 xxxx  xxxx   128B Jul 31 16:47 ..
-rw-r--r--  1 xxxx  xxxx     6B Jul 31 16:22 ._SUCCESS.crc


How to reorder the inbox list in the Mail app

Delete the accounts and re-enter them in the order you want them to appear.


iOS 12.2 unknown words can be dragged around, but why?

When you click on the word like that it is selected.  You can drag the word around at that point.  If you select some text and drag it around you'll find that it does the same thing.  You'll have to select some bigger text so you can click the middle of it and not change the selection.


Trouble identifying "Tombstone exists for queued item; deleting." in ipad logs

See: Tombstone (data store).

In brief, a tombstone is a token in a distributed data storage system that gets put in place when a record is deleted. It's needed for synchronizing different stores on the distributed system. For example, if record 'A' is deleted on one store, when the system tries to sync it may see another copy of record 'A' on a different store, and it won't know that the record was deleted from the first. It might unwittingly sync record 'A' back to the first store, effectively undeleting it. The tombstone tells the system that record 'A' was deleted on the first store, so that the system can sync that deletion to the other stores appropriately.


iCloud email adding extra character to each line

Answering my own question....

I went into iCloud and saw that sometime recently it had added a \r (translating a return??) to each line of my auto reply.

Deleted that and all is well.


Screwed up administrative name on sudo when trying to change usernames

Reboot into Single User mode
Run /sbin/fsck -fy
Run /sbin/mount -uw /
Run vi /etc/sudoers (assuming you know vi, otherwise use nano)
In the "User privilege specification" part replace %awesomechris with %admin (the % is important)
Save and reboot

PS: The % identicates a user group, so creating a new user didn't help (even if you would have named it awesomechris instead of username)

PPS: Once everything is fixed, remove Admin rights from users who don't need it (make sure at least one is left). Then log in with an admin user, run sudo WHATEVER-IS-NEEDED-TO-REMOVE-YOUR-SOFTWARE and enter the password of the same admin user to confirm).


Outlook 2016 and Mac OS incompatibility - multiple episodes of loss of search functionality

Outlook searching relies on spotlight indexing.  I would start with ensuring that Sys Prefs - Spotlight - Privacy is empty.  You can rebuild the index with the below steps.  As a sidebar perhaps this is part of the reason why it's randomly losing results: https://eclecticlight.co/2019/08/02/spotlight-search-can-skip-files/

Open Terminal and run:

sudo mdutil -i off /
sudo mdutil -i on /
sudo mdutil -E


Used boot camp for windows - cannot select partition at boot up

I believe once you install Boot Camp, the computer will boot into Windows by default unless you change it. Presumably, you're holding down the option key immediately on startup, it should be pressed as you hear the startup chime?

Apart from holding down the option key at startup, if you find you can only boot into Windows, this Apple support page tells you how you can change the default startup volume from Control Panel.

  This startup volume selection is temporary.  To set the default startup volume for your Mac after your computer is running, open System Preferences and choose Startup Disk from the View menu (in Mac OS X) or open the Boot Camp control panel (in Windows).

Also, do any of the other Startup key combinations work, e.g. Safe Boot or Single User Mode?


Select the folder you wish to copy.
Press command + C. This will copy the folder to clipboard.
At the destination, press command + V. This will copy the folder to your current folder. If a folder with the same name exists, you will be give options to Stop, Merge or Replace.

Quirk: This doesn’t work if you try to move (by dragging), not copy, a folder from one place to another. However, if you still wish to use dragging and dropping, drag with the option key pressed. This will copy, instead of move, a file/folder from one place to another.

This is what you will see if you copy a folder named “Temp” to a folder named “untitled folder” which already contains a folder named “Temp”.


Will Time Machine backup an iTunes library that's stored on a network share?

No, Time Machine does not backup network drives.

You would need to setup a system to copy/sync the network drive contents to your own computer in order to have it backed up by Time Machine. This means that you would need space on your own computer to actually store the whole contents of the network drive. You can use the program "SyncTwoFolders" to achieve this.

The most common method though of backinging up Synology NAS drives is simply to use the backup solutions available for the Synology NAS itself. Depending on the model, you'll often have Synology HyperBackup available, and you'll be able to backup to local externally attached hard drives, to S3 in the cloud, or a number of other backup destinations.


Macbook Air 6,2 High Sierra not detecting bootable USB stick

If you have succesfully made a bootable linux USB stck before with your method, try a different USB stick or image. It sounds like you have done this before, which suggests perhaps that the image is not right in some way.

A GUID partition table and FAT format are correct.

Other things to try:

1. Try Etcher: It's simple and free. You can find a tutorial from Ubuntu regarding making a bootable Ubuntu drive with it, but all it really says is "use Etcher."

2. Try Mac Linux USB Loader. It costs ~ $5, and while it only supports certain OSes, Ubuntu is one, so Debian probably works.

3. Try dd - note it is /dev/diskx not /dev/diskxs3 (partition 3 or other on disk x). Another tutorial also has you convert the image; I haven't used that method but it seems to work for people:

dd if=/path/to/image of=/dev/diskx bs=512k && sync

I like to know what dd's progress is, so I use pv, which you can get using Homebrew or Macports:

dd if=/path/to/image | pv | dd of=/dev/diskx bs=512k && sync

You'll probably have to put sudo before each dd command.

I hope that helps - you'll definitely get something to work eventually, whether it's the image, method, or USB stick.


iTunes: Moving iTunes Files (Self Managed)

Leave the iTunes folder where it is, or symlink it from there. It's relatively small compared to the actual music data, but iTunes really wants to find it in the default location.

The simplest way to do this would actually be to change the library location then let iTunes organise it for you… however, if you don't do that you will have to change one file, then Import it. iTunes will not simply find your changed file & say to itself, 'hmm, I see, they're all here now.'

Your premise is almost correct, however, you don't export the XML, you change the existing one.

If you've already moved the main ~/Music/iTunes folder structure put it back (or Symlink it) & check all is still OK in iTunes.
Quit iTunes.
Copy the iTunes Library.xml & .itl files to the desktop for safety.
Delete the ITL still in the iTunes folder. iTunes will rebuild this itself at the last step.
Open the XML in BBEdit or similar.
Change the paths, as you were doing - you already noticed that these are, rather irritatingly, absolute paths not relative.
Now - this is the important bit that none of the 'moving my iTunes Library' guides tell you. They mostly tell you to Import this new XML from the Import menu - I've done it, it can take 12 hours & you lose some data.
Save your modified XML file back into the iTunes Music folder.
We now need to make a new broken ITL file.
Open Terminal & enter this touch ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes\ Library.itl That will create an empty ITL file, broken enough for this.
Launch iTunes. It will now notice something is 'wrong' & start rebuilding the ITL file, using your newly-modified XML file. The message is 'Importing ‘iTunes Music Library.xml’  This will take some time, but more like 15 minutes than 8 hours.

You may find some album artwork missing - it never seems to be a truly perfect solution, but your play counts, playlists etc should all survive intact.


According to this support article from Apple, you have to delete it from your iTunes library and then it will prompt you to delete it from iCloud/iTunes Match as well. I don't know yet if there's a way to delete it from iCloud while keeping it in your iTunes library.

It does appear, if you follow these instructions, that it does automatically disappear from any iOS device set up with the same iTunes Match account.


Welcome to Apple Stack Exchange!

If you use Disk Utility from the recovery partition, any other partition affected by the actions you take will not be visible after a reboot.
Assuming you're in the recovery partition, no logs will be produced by the recovery partition because it is a read only partition (supposedly). The reason being, is that the recovery partition is meant to be stable and non-corruptible.

Hope this helps. Tmanok


If you have any interest in running shell script the following will work. Just set the "Display_Sleep_Time" and "System_Sleep_Time" as you want them to be along with the "App" you are choosing to prevent sleep on. By launching the script anytime you run your app your all sleep times will be turned to 0 preventing both your display and system from sleeping.

TESTED ON

10.5.x
10.6.x
10.7.4

NOTE: WARNING THIS SCRIPT DOES CONTAIN AN INTERNAL LOOP. You may prefer to utilize the following script inside a Daemon rather than use the internal loop the script provides. However, the same concept applies.

#!/bin/bash

watch="true"

App="Safari"
System_Sleep_Time="30"
Display_Sleep_Time="10"

System_Sleep=$(pmset -g | grep " sleep" | awk '{print $2}')
Display_Sleep=$(pmset -g | grep " displaysleep" | awk '{print $2}')

while [[ ${watch} == "true" ]]; do

    watch_App=$(ps -A | grep "${App}.app" | grep -v grep | sed "s/.*${App}.*/${App}/")

    if [[ ${watch_App} == ${App} ]]; then

        if [[ ${System_Sleep} != "0" ]]; then
            pmset -a sleep 0
            System_Sleep=$(pmset -g | grep " sleep" | awk '{print $2}')
        fi

        if [[ ${Display_Sleep} != "0" ]]; then
            pmset -a displaysleep 0
            Display_Sleep=$(pmset -g | grep " displaysleep" | awk '{print $2}')
        fi

    elif [[ ${watch_App} != ${App} ]]; then

        if [[ ${System_Sleep} == "0" ]]; then
            pmset -a sleep ${System_Sleep_Time} > /dev/null 2>&1
            System_Sleep=$(pmset -g | grep " sleep" | awk '{print $2}')
        fi

        if [[ ${Display_Sleep} == "0" ]]; then
            pmset -a displaysleep ${Display_Sleep_Time} > /dev/null 2>&1
            Display_Sleep=$(pmset -g | grep " displaysleep" | awk '{print $2}')
        fi

    else

        /usr/bin/logger -i An error has occured with preventsleep.sh

    fi

done


Which model has better CPU-performance: iMac MMQA2HN/A or Mac mini MRTR2HN/A?

The iMac in your screenshot comes with the Intel i5-7360U CPU. The Mac Mini comes with the i3-8100B CPU.

If you look at the PassMark benchmark, the i5-7360U CPU benchmarks at 5823 passmarks multi-threaded and 2047 single-threaded. If you look at the Geekbench benchmark, the i5-7360 CPU benchmarks approx. 9075 multi-threaded and 4375 single-threaded.

In comparison the i3-8100B CPU benchmarks at 8431 passmarks multi-threaded and 2172 passmarked single-threaded. For Geekbench the numbers are approx. 14.000 multi-threaded and 4700 single-threaded.

There could be an obscure corner case, but I would expect the Mac Mini to have the best CPU performance in almost any case. According to the benchmarks, you would expect it to be approx. 40-50% faster, when running a multi-threaded workload (i.e. running more than one app at the same time, or running an app that is multi-threaded in itself). Note that this number may vary wildly depending on what exactly you're doing with it. As the i3-8100B is a newer generation and has a higher frequency memory bus, I would expect there to be almost no corner cases, if any at all.


How can I disable my Caps Lock key on macOS Sierra, without it resetting after a reboot?

It could be a problem with file permissions. Try this command in the Terminal (a built-in system tool):

chmod -RN ~/Library/

It resets permissions for your user Library folder. When the command is done executing, reboot. Change the setting and then reboot again, and see if the setting persists.

If it didn't work, then try this command:

chmod -RN /Library/

Yes, there is a difference: it resets permissions for the system’s Library folder.

Then reboot and change the setting as mentioned before, and see if it persists now.


Can you get a line-in port on a MBA via an external device?

The Griffin iMic is a great device for sound input and output via USB.


If you don't want to try one more time to reset the password, you might need to contact Apple's support to have them reset your account.

It's entirely possible that the account is either locked or someone else is trying to reset the password (or far more likely another device you have stored the old password keeps repeatedly trying to enter that old password and is causing the account to get locked.)

You can try logging into https://appleid.apple.com from a web browser and see if you really have the correct password. Once you're certain the account isn't locked, you can then sign out of all your OS X and iOS devices to ensure that the old password is cleared and not stored incorrectly.

If your account is locked due to too many incorrect attempts - you will need to contact Apple to get things sorted.


How to hide App Store updates in El Capitan? Right click won't work

I believe you simply need to change where you are clicking. See the screenshot below. Hide Update only showed up when right-clicking (or Control-clicking) in the green area, not the red areas.


The directory that SIP (About System Integrity Protection) covers are

  /System
  /usr
  /bin
  /sbin
  Apps that are pre-installed with OS X

  /dev contains all the drivers required for mouse , keyboard etc

No.  These are device nodes or special files that access the hardware directly.

Device drivers are usually located in the System Library as kexts (Kernel Extensions).  See this answer for more further details.

  can someone manually delete the folder with sudo?

Yes, you can delete this folder however, it should be restored upon reboot because these nodes are dynamically generated as hardware is detected.  Under Linux and BSD, the command makedev will regenerate your devices.  mknod will do the same for macOS.

From the man page (man mknod)

  The mknod command creates device special files.

So, can malware delete or affect these files?  Possibly, but it would be counterproductive because it would need root access to begin with and whatever changes would be temporary at best.


Maximize iPhone battery lifespan by keeping it plugged into power whenever possible

Yes - keep your iPhone XS and newer plugged in unless you put it in long term storage. Then 50% charge and power it off.
There is no reason to not fully charge and keep attached the latest iPhone and iPad devices that run iOS 11.3 since there are now charge management enhancements to avoid voltage pressure and lack of discharge that can cause issue on older devices and operating systems.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208710

iOS includes a charge management feature to maintain battery health when iPad or iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, or iPhone XR is connected to power for prolonged periods of time, such as when used in a kiosk or a point of sales system, or stored in a charge cart.

Your XS is better off to leave plugged in since that reduces charge cycles. Unless you aren't going to use if for a couple months, then discharge or charge to 50% and shut it off:

https://www.apple.com/batteries/maximizing-performance/

Older devices and older operating systems do require you to balance the need to have it charged with the need to delay eventual failure. Every single lithium battery will eventually swell and/or disconnect itself electrically if it doesn't fail some other manner prematurely.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208387 - information on chemical aging of batteries

iPad being using in wall mount battery swollen


How can I add contacts from one iPhone/iPad to another iPhone that has a different iTunes account?

Exporting your contacts from an iPhone is very easy: all data about the contact, from name, phone number, picture, email, URL, etc, can be exported as an inclusive vCard bundle from iCloud (or without for example with this app) and sent to someone else by email or text message. (While we’ll focus on sending contacts between iPhones, these vCards are also usable by other iOS devices, Macs, Windows, Windows Phone, Android, and even Blackberry phones, because the exported VCF format is pretty much universally accepted across all platforms as an address book standard.)

You’ll probably want to backup and sync the new iPhone beforehand just in case something goes haywire importing the vCard, however unlikely that is.

log into te iCloud accound from your old iPhone and select all your contacts on the settings button (bottom left). It says Export vCard. Click this and you can Export all your contact information as a vCard .vcf file
create an email with the vCard attachment and send it to yourself (or rather, the email on the other iPhone)
On the other phone you can import the vCard: Open the email containing the contacts on the iPhone and tap on the vCard.vcf file attachment

Tap on “Add All # Contacts” to import the address book to the iPhone

Notice the add option tells you how many contacts are stored within the vCard, making it easy to determine if all intended contact information is included. You can also manually select individual contacts from the list if you only wish to import one or two, but for the purpose here we’ll transfer them all over.


How do I get rid of "phantom user" after migration?

It may seem like a bit of overkill, but I'd erase the new Mac, reinstall it's OS from scratch, then re-import the user again, properly, without interruption.


The article that you've referenced seems to mention that the fix for the CHAP authentication in newer systems is to modify the file at /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.RemoteAccessServers.plist by changing the value of "AuthenticatorProtocol" from "MSCHAPv2" to "PAP":

AuthenticatorProtocol = (PAP);

If you still have issues, posting the contents of /var/log/ppp/vpnd.log may also be helpful.

I do not recommend using the dscl command that you're referencing above to configure your user record. The 'pwpolicy' command could be better suited for that task.


How do I get F6 on a Mac to click into the address bar on Chrome?

The following works for me under macOS 10.13.5 and Google Chrome 68.0.3440.106.

Under System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts I added Google Chrome's Open Location… menu command, as shown in the image below. Note the ellipsis at the end has to be there!

On an Apple wireless keyboard with default System Preferences > Keyboard settings, I can press F6 when in Google Chrome and it does the same as the default ⌘L does.

On a MacBook Pro with default System Preferences > Keyboard settings, I have to  press FnF6 when in Google Chrome and it does the same as the default ⌘L does.

On a MacBook Pro while changing the default System Preferences > Keyboard settings, i.e when checking [√] Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys, I can press F6 when in Google Chrome and it does the same as the default ⌘L does.


How do I make the Console app reappear after deleting Everything? OS X Yosemite

I moved my newly created All\ Messages.aslquery to /Applications/Utilities/Console.app/Contents/Resources/ASLQueries, closed and reopened console, and bam the GUI comes up. Thank you Buscar with providing me with the necessary file location to solve this problem.


Numbers has stopped showing up in Launchpad

Just type your application name in Launchpad's search box found near the top of every Launchpad screen. The icon for the desired App should be displayed on a new screen by itself - click and drag it to the desired location in Launchpad.

A commandline call may help as well - but be warned that it'll rebuild the Launchpad from scratch and will remove  any customizations you've added:

 rm ~/Library/Application\ Support/Dock/*.db; killall Dock


is it safe to remove language files to save space in osx?

Just to provide an actual answer to this, even if it is speculative...

Like some of the commenters, I've also tried this in the past, with varying results. I don't remember specifically which apps were affected, but it was sufficient that I needed to reinstall some.

I'd say on balance it's simply not worth the risk/effort, balanced against the amount of space they take up on your drive.

I will also add that a lot of those clean-up apps like to invent 'problems' that they can 'solve' for you, in order to justify their existence.


Toggle between applications via four finger gesture?

The best way to do this is with one of the more obscure settings in BetterTouchTool
It works like this:
 A three fingered right swipe brings up the application switcher. Lift one finger to covert it into a two finger swipe and slide to whichever application you want.

It becomes an incredible natural and fluid gesture The beauty of the gesture is that it works anywhere on the screen and you don't have to position the mouse over the icons.

In BTT assign the three finger swipe right to the application switcher.
In BTT Action Settings -> Stuff(App Switcher) -> Use special application switcher

This answers the problem that bisko and senseful had above and avoids the last click or the necessity to be over the icon.

Single best gesture in my 'gesture vocabulary' and I have gestures for everything!


Does Apple Watch identify "me" while using Apple Pay on Cellular without iPhone nearby? Is it safe to use Apple Pay on Watch like on iPhone?

The Apple Watch requires the user to have set a passcode in order to use Apple Pay with the watch.
When you put the watch on, it will request a passcode. You can use Apple Pay only after you have entered the passcode. The Watch by default continuously monitors that it is still on your wrist - if you take it off, it locks itself again and requests the passcode.
You can disable Wrist Detection, but that will disable Apple Pay on the 1st Gen Watch, and on newer watches you'll be prompted for your passcode when you attempt to use Apple Pay.
You can also use the "Unlock with iPhone" feature so that you unlock the Watch with your iPhone (i.e. by entering a passcode on the iPhone or using TouchID/FaceID).


This is not a perfect answer to all your questions but it might help you whatsoever.

Are they right?

From what I can tell, this actually looks like a hardware problem. However, without opening the MacBook it is very unlikely to find the actual cause. You should still try the different startup modes. D for hardware diagnose, opt cmd p r for NVRAM/PRAM reset.

Is there a fix?

This really depends on what's broken. It could be a defective GPU, but it could also just be a broken connector cable.

iMacs from that decade are known to have GPU overheating issues (my Dad experienced this as well).

To analyze this further you would have to take the computer apart and/or take it into a repair shop. If you think you can detect hardware problems yourself, I suggest following this iFixit guide and open the MacBook yourself. For example, a broken cable could be detected by basically anyone, motherboard repairs are obviously for Pros, but in general possible.

The last two questions are so close, I am going to answer them as one:

Worth it to repair/get a new one?

This very much depends on how much the repair would cost and how happy your wife is with this machine.
But as a general advice I would actually look into buying a new MacBook, since 8 years for laptop is not a bad age, especially for a low-speced MacBook Air 11". Even the cheapest new MacBook Air from this fall will feel lightyears faster and actually seems to be a pretty good package as early reviews indicate. However, if you want to get one of those shiny new M1 powered Macs, keep in mind that these are the first ARM processor Macs, so you might run into software compatibility issues, so always check that first!

More info about these new Macs: MBP, MBA or MacMini?; Another Review, A WIRED Review, why you might not want to buys these new Macs


Try this:

Open Contacts.app
Press the Groups button in the top left corner.

Select Show All Contacts.


iPhone doesn't show location in certain apps

Very strange, by any chance do you have restrictions on under general settings? - would have left this as a comment but the arbitrary restriction due to "reputation"  means I have to leave it as an answer or not try to help at all. Well designed.


Are there replacements for the reg commad on Mac OS X 10.9

As far as I can tell reg is only available in Lion (/usr/bin/reg and /usr/share/man/man1/reg.1). I haven't been able to find it in any other system version in the 10.6 - 10.11 range.

Executing it in 10.10 works but I think some hardware data is missing. E.g my CPUs weren't recognized and I can't list any PCI device. Depending on the hardware your mileage will vary.


Is there any advantage to different file systems on microSD?

Is there any advantage to formatting them in any other format?

There is no advantage of one over the other in terms of speed, reliability, or (as you put it) "safety."
As far as speed goes, the fastest SD card isn't even close to USB 2.0 speeds so your USB port won't make any difference.
As to format, it's more for convenience; ExFAT allows the highest degree of transfer-ability between platforms.  JHFS+ gives you the best compatibility with macOS as NTFS will do the same with Windows.  It's all a personal preference.
Recover-ability (of data) has more to do with whether or not the card can be physically read or not.  Data loss on SD cards is either due to the card failing or the device glitching causing data corruption.  If the card can be read, your chances of data recovery are good.  If the card failed, no software or file format would overcome a physical failure.

Specifically looking at safety as I've lost files on another microSD that is using exFAT.

You need to look at a different technology.  SD cards are notorious for failing, thus the dual slots in DSLR cameras (or the very regimented backup workflow).
SD cards have their place and work wonders when used as designed.  However, if you're using this to augment storage in someway, you need to look at a different solution like an external USB 3 SSD drive or a Thunderbolt drive/array


How can I preserve the battery cycles on my MacBook Air?

Don't stress about it so much.

A Battery cycle refers to, more or less, one mostly full discharge and recharge. Typically, your battery should be rated for somewhere in the neighborhood of 1000 cycles. Eventually, the battery just won't hold a charge for as long as it did when it was new, but that's why batteries are easily and affordably replaceable. It's a consumable part. If it dies prematurely (which is the only thing you should really need to pay attention to cycles for), then it's covered under your warranty. The 'Battery Cycles' indicator is mainly there so that you can diagnose this. If, in a years time, your laptop's battery only lasts half as long as it did when it was new, but you've only used say, 400 cycles, well, that's not performing up to spec, and it should be covered under your warranty. If you've used 1500 cycles (doing that in a year would be some pretty heavy and impressive use though, I've gotta say), well, that's to be expected. You used your battery a lot, and it wore out.

Use your laptop as normal. Battery cycles are not a scarce and precious resource to be hoarded. 12 cycles in about a week and a half sounds pretty normal for a new laptop being used heavily to me. That's about, what? 6 hours/day unconnected to a power source? If you're using it on the go, that's a perfectly reasonable amount of consumption.


HTTP 404 Error: Not found. This means the URL referenced something that no longer exists at that location. The problem isn't with curl, the problem is with the homebrew recipe for ctags -- it's out of date.

You can see this for yourself by pointing a browser to the patch URL that the homebrew recipe is trying to the URL that curl is trying to download from: https://raw.github.com/gist/4010022/8d0697dc87a40e65011e2192439609c17578c5be/ctags.patch

You get a 404 Not Found error from GitHub.

Try updating your recipes, it's likely the ctags recipe is out of date:

brew update

If that doesn't resolve the problem, report it as an issue for the ctags recipe here: https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew/issues


Problem with alert setting on Iphone since 9.0.1 update

I was able to duplicate this issue on iOS 9.0.2, and these steps worked for me:

Tap "Second Alert"
Set it to "None" (at the top)
Tap "Second Alert" again
Set it to the desired time.


You can do this with regex in Shortcuts.

Here with text:

and here with integers:

The code is the same, it’s only the first "Text" action which differ.
More about regex in Shortcuts in this reddit post.

Edit: do not confuse, in the two first "Find Text" in the two screenshots, the | in (\n|$) is the vertical bar character, not a uppercase "i" or a lower case "L".

Edit 2: As asked in the comments by the OP and in the edited question, here is a different version with less constraint in the input (remark: in the first Replace Text action, in the field Replace With, you should read "$1",␣, ie a space should be after the comma, but the screenshot cannot display it, and in the 3rd Replace Text, in the field Find Text, you should read (.+),␣):


This seems quite counter-intuitive, but...

In TextEdit, select File > Open…
Press the iCloud button at top left.

Then:

drag the icon you want to delete to the Trash in the Dock
or control/right click the file icon you want to delete and choose the Move to Trash option (pictured below)
or press cmd-backspace (the backspace key is labelled with a left-facing arrow)


Synology Mac OS X startup mounting folders via NFS

Have you checked your User Preferences to be sure these items are not checked in the "Mount at login" box?

If they are, it's a simple matter of deleting them from the list once you have authenticated to unlock the settings.


Is there a rhyming dictionary I can run on the OSX command line?

I put together a Homebrew tap for Rhyme. Please see:

https://github.com/shaunplee/homebrew-rhyme


I would recommend using the Send to Kindle program from Amazon for synchronization.
It has options to send to other devices (like your macs.)


Change security question without calling apple

appleid.apple.com has all the tools you need to manage your Apple ID, including changing security questions.

Go there and log on. You will be presented with a screen that has a your Apple ID info on it. Select "Change Questions..."

You will then be prompted with the answers to your current questions. Enter them. You should now be able to change your questions.


Increasing my available storage on my iPhone

Syncing your iOS device to iTunes will not necessarily remove music from it.
You can delete it directly from the device going to Settings > General > Usage > Manage Storage (under Storage)> Music, slide the first item "All Songs" to the left and press "Delete".


Clearing local storage in safari on iPad

When no database exists, the Database Menu isn't shown ;)

Try log in your google account or other webapp that uses localStorage to see it...

Or create a HTML file with a script tag containing (on same domain obviously) :

localStorage.clear();


Software to balance sound levels and quality for iPhone

The "Sound Check" feature will ensure all your songs play back at approximately the same volume. In iOS 5, tap Settings -> Music -> then switch Sound Check to ON.


This is certainly possible with AppleScript. Here are some resources and snippets to help you craft your ideal script.

The final AppleScript combines the content of any selected e-mails and prepares an outgoing e-mail ready for sending. You can embed this AppleScript within an Automator workflow, or save it as an application for double-clicking.

Getting the Contents of Selected Messages

From Automating Spamcop:

set raw to {}
tell application "Mail"
    set msgs to selection
    if length of msgs is not 0 then
        repeat with msg in msgs
            set messageSource to source of msg
            set raw to raw & messageSource
            set background color of msg to gray
        end repeat
    end if
end tell

Sending E-mail with AppleScript

From Send Email using Applescript:

set recipientName to "WhiteHat"
set recipientAddress to "someemail@here.com"
set theSubject to "Type your subject here!"
set theContent to "Type your message content here!"

tell application "Mail"

        ##Create the message
        set theMessage to make new outgoing message with properties {subject:theSubject, content:theContent, visible:true}

        ##Set a recipient
        tell theMessage
                make new to recipient with properties {name:recipientName, address:recipientAddress}

                ##Send the Message
                send

        end tell
end tell

Combine, Create, and Send

Combining the two snippets above gives the following AppleScript:

set recipientName to "The Boss"
set recipientAddress to "boss@example.com"
set theSubject to "Type your subject here!"

set theCombinedContent to ""
tell application "Mail"
    set msgs to selection
    if length of msgs is not 0 then
        repeat with msg in msgs
            set theCombinedContent to theCombinedContent & (content of msg)
            -- set background color of msg to gray
        end repeat

        set theMessage to make new outgoing message with properties {subject:theSubject, content:theCombinedContent, visible:true}

        tell theMessage
            make new to recipient with properties {name:recipientName, address:recipientAddress}

            -- Uncomment line below to automatically send
            -- send

        end tell

    end if

end tell


How do I get the trackpad (force touch) to recognise a click right after a scroll?

In Preferences/Accessibility/Trackpad there are additional (pre force touch) trackpad options such as 3 finger drag. I don't use CAD so cannot say if the exact scenario can be addressed, but it is worth a look.


Yes, this is possible. Make sure that you've completed a backup through Time Machine, and that the backup is working and accessible, then erase and install OS X.

Once OS X is installed, you can use Migration Assistant to restore your data, or set up as a new Mac and use Time Machine to restore individual files/folders.


Thunderbolt dock statation power charging

The second type simply does not charge the MBP.

It is not possible to charge the laptop (MBP) through the Thunderbolt port.


You will not be prompted to update today since the 9.0 release will be lower than the 9.1 beta you are running. You could downgrade, but that's really dependent upon what your specific needs are going forward.

Downgrading from iOS 9.1 Beta to iOS 9 Stable and Keeping Picture Data


Issue with SD card format - won't unmount

I had a reluctant SD Card that reported "Resource Busy" whenever I tried to dd an image onto it even after unmounting it. My fix was to use the "Force" option for the diskutil unmount command:

diskutil unmountDisk force /dev/disk<# of the drive you want to unmount>


Correct wrong email address used to set up iCloud account

First before doing ANYTHING, make sure to turn off find my iPhone.

Then go to https://appleid.apple.com/ and change your appleid.

Then there will be a number of places you need to log out on your phone and log back in with the correct ID. iCloud, iMessage, Facetime, game center, app store/iTunes to name most.

Then turn FindMyIphone back on.


Is it possible to switch to a specific keyboard layout via `defaults`, *.plist or similar?

~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.HIToolbox.*.plist has an AppleSelectedInputSources key, but modifying it directly doesn't seem to actually change the layout.

Most of the solutions posted at MacScripter just use UI scripting as well.

There's a small Objective-C utility called changeInput though that should change the layout almost instantly.


Which Thunderbolt dock should I buy for MacBook Pro13 late 2011, running High Sierra 10.13.6

Starting off, it’s important to know that any Thunderbolt dock that you get will be obsolete by about five years (at the time of this writing).

You need a Thunderbolt 1 or Thunderbolt 2 dock.  They will support your requirements of plugging in your peripheral devices; hard drives, keyboards, mice, etc.  You may need an adapter for your MIDI interface, but it will be no different than needing the same adapter to connect directly to your Mac.

Thunderbolt is backward compatible meaning that it will connect to older Thunderbolt devices.  However, going from a new Thunderbolt 3 port to older Thunderbolt 1 or 2 port, will require an adapter due to the differences in needing an active (powered) cable versus a passive cable.

Do I recommend you going this route?  No!

This is a nearly decade old Mac with all obsolete tech and by your own admission, the ports are becoming “unstable”, likely from being  worn and the connections getting loose.  You’re throwing good money at something that will simply only get worse - you’d be buying already discontinued and obsolete tech (if you can actually source it).  Your better bet is to get a more modern Mac with reliable ports and support for new(er) operating systems.


How can I get the Parallels Desktop Application Icons in Launchpad?

To add an application to Launchpad, you can simply drag it to Launchpad in the Dock.

But be careful — currently there's no way to remove something from Launchpad that you've added.

(And if you have items in a folder in Launchpad, you can easily drag them out and organize them as you wish.)


I noticed the same odd behavior, checked permissions, and sure enough, both the "World" and "System" had explicit permissions set to read AND write my .bash_history file, but I (the owner) had no permissions to that file at all!

I just forced "World" to "No Access" and gave myself and system r/w access and voila, everything is working the way it should.


How do I make windows save their position on screen after re-attaching a display?

Any chance of you upgrading to 10.6? If so, you could use Stay from Cordless Dog.


Safari - is there a way to set a preferred screen size?

I use the following bookmark, which you can create as many as needed, to resize my safari window to a specific size:

javascript:self.moveTo(0,0);self.resizeTo(1250,screen.availHeight);

This moves the window to the far left, top and then makes the width 1250 pixels and makes the hight fill to the available (limited by the dock hight, if not hidden).

To use, bookmark any page and then edit the address with the code above.

Every now and again, an update to safari will break this, and then it'll work again after a subsequent update.


Get Color Sidebar Icons Back in Mac OS finder Window

Use mySIMBL* instead, SIMBL has been non-functional since apple implemented System Integrity Protection. Once you've set up mySIMBL install the package at:

Sources >>> Wolf's tweaks >>> colorfulSidebar9.

Then restart Finder and you should have colored sidebar icons again.

* I am the developer of mySIMBL and colorfulSidebar9


Here are a few notes which might help you. They wouldn't fit all in a comment, so I took the liberty to write half an answer.
Design

Anyone have any idea what may have gone wrong, so much so that
absolutely nothing happened after a good half hour of 'being busy'?

I've had a similar experience almost 10 years ago. From your description, it doesn't seem that Time Machine has changed much since:

Time Machine uses incremental backups in order to save disk space. Files are described by how they have changed over time. In order to restore a file at a given timestamp, diffs are applied on top of each other, starting at the original state of the file.
Time Machine uses hard links for folders, which are not supported by other macOS programs or by Linux.
Time Machine doesn't seem to check the integrity of the backups until they are needed. If any diff, any file or folder gets corrupted, Time Machine does not seem to notice.
During a migration or a recovery, the whole process stops after the first error. One corrupted file seems to be enough to cancel the recovery.
If the recovery process fails, no file gets copied at all, not even the files which have been processed before the first error.

All the above points, together, make for a brittle design. If anything goes wrong, your backup becomes useless, and cannot be read, as is, by any other standard software.
"There's no step 3" doesn't help much when step 1 & 2 fail miserably.
Solution?
Your data, or at least a part of it, is probably still readable somewhere on your Time Machine drive.
I wrote a script in order to get my data back, but cannot find this script anymore. I remember it used ruby, cp -avX, ditto and chmod in order to parse the data and restore as much as possible.
There are more recent solutions, though. It seems that they use Linux and either bash or python. More info here. One of the scripts, copy_from_time_machine.py seems promising.
Good luck!


How to remove MRT (Malware Removal Tool)?

Removing Apple's Malware Removal Tool is not a good idea, so it's better to figure out why it's running high.
Also, 100% is a per-core figure, so on quad-core i7, you can use up to 800% CPU. Various OS processes, like Spotlight, will use similar levels of CPU for short periods.
MRT may use significant CPU for a short time while it does its job: downloading malware lists from Apple, and then checking/removing anything on that list.
If you have got a 'runaway' MRT process, then that might indicate that it is trying (but not succeeding) to remove some malware. You could try using MalwareBytes to check and remove anything on your disk, as suggested on the other thread.
At worst,  I would just recommend restarting, rather than disabling SIP and killing MRT, both of which severely reduce the security of your Mac -- particularly if malware is already on board.


Limechat hotkey for switching between servers?

You can use the keyboard shortcut Command+Control+1...0 to switch between servers while using Limechat.

Example: Use Command+Control+5 to switch to server 5.

Source: Limechat's homepage.


You can move the Documents folder to the external drive and create a symbolic link to Documents folder present on the external drive in your Home directory.

Follow the steps mentioned below:

Move the contents of the internal Documents directory to external Documents directory.
Rename the internal Documents directory. (You'll need to do it via Terminal by executing mv ~/Documents ~/Documents-old as Finder won't allow renaming.)
Open Terminal and create a symbolic link to the external Documents directory in your Home directory.

ln -s /Volumes/<EXTERNAL_DRIVE>/Documents ~/Documents

Now verify that the iCloud sync is working all-right. The old internal Documents directory (which was renamed in step 2) can be safely deleted.


Is it possible to use FileVault 2 on a non-primary boot partition? (Dual-boot setup)

Yes, this should work fine. I actually have essentially this config on one of my computers , the only odd thing is that my default boot (unencrypted) is OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion), and the alternate (encrypted) partition is OS X 10.9 (Mavericks). I'm not really using it in this mode (it's a test computer that just happened to wind up with this combo), but the only unusual thing I've noticed is that when you boot from the unencrypted partition, every time you log in it asks you to unlock the encrypted partition so it can be mounted. You can either enter the password of one of the FileVault-enabled accounts from the encrypted partition, or click Cancel and go about your business.

I do not have a firmware password set on this test computer, but I wouldn't expect setting one to cause any problem. To boot from the encrypted partition, you'd have to start the computer with the Option key held down, enter the firmware password, select the alternate partition, then enter one of the FileVault-enabled account passwords. After that, it should behave normally.


Prevent Terminal from overwriting preferences on exit

I'd look into what can be done with applescript using the scripting dictionary.

script editor > file > open scripting dictionary

I do not know the details of what you are doing but here are some coloring options.


Automating numbers, Exporting the file as an excel document

I've written a script to export to CSV originally. I've included a commented out line in that script you can switch to, to export to Excel instead:

See the gist here: https://gist.github.com/idStar/61994506d69595da3d30

Additionally, the entire script is reproduced below:

#! /usr/bin/osascript

(*
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Script: SpreadsheetExportToCSV

 Command-line tool to convert a spreadsheet document to CSV
 This AppleScript is tested with and compatible with Apple iWork Numbers 3.6,
 current as at October 23, 2015.

 Parameters:
 1. Full Path to the input file, including file extension
 2. Full Path to the output file, including file extension

 Example command-line invocation:

    osascript SpreadsheetExportToCSV.scpt "/Users/me/Documents/MySpreadsheet.xlsx" "/Users/me/Documents/Converted/OutputFile.csv"

 The spreadsheet to use as an input file can be an Excel file or a Numbers file.

 Sohail Ahmed
 Blog: http://sohail.io
 Twitter: @idStar

 Creation Date: October 23, 2015

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*)

global _inputFilePathAlias
global _outputFilePath
global _requestedOptions

(*
 run

 This is our entry point, our main function, where this script
 begins execution. We call out to helper functions, to modularize
 the design.
*)
on run argv
    -- Ensure our CSV files are encoding with UTF8:
    ensureUTF8Encoding()

    -- Parse and determine input/output paths:
    retrieveCommandLineArguments(argv)

    -- Perform the actual activation, file open, export and cleanup:
    processSpreadsheet()

end run

---------------------- SUPPORTING FUNCTIONS --------------------------

(*
 retrieveCommandLineArguments

 Handles parsing the command line arguments passed to us.
 We return a list, where the first element is the input file
 path as an alias. The second element is the output path,
 as text (as it may not yet exist).
*)
on retrieveCommandLineArguments(command_line_arguments)
    set _inputFilePathAlias to POSIX file (item 1 of command_line_arguments) as alias
    set _outputFilePath to (POSIX file (item 2 of command_line_arguments)) as text

    log "input file path is: " & _inputFilePathAlias
    log "output file path is: " & _outputFilePath

end retrieveCommandLineArguments

(*
 processSpreadsheet

 This function is the workhorse of this script. We open Numbers,
 have it load the source spreadsheet, and invoke the export command
 to ultimately write the output CSV to the specified path.
*)
on processSpreadsheet()
    tell application "Numbers"
        activate

        -- Before we open the file asked of us, close out every document
        -- that might have opened along with the application having activated:
        close every window saving no

        -- Retrieve information about the source file:
        set fileInfo to (info for (_inputFilePathAlias))
        set fileName to name of (fileInfo)
        set fileExtension to name extension of (fileInfo)
        log "Opening source document " & fileName & "..."

        tell (open _inputFilePathAlias)
            -- In this scope, we are now implicitly dealing with the document just opened
            -- as the current target, which means we access it through the "it" keyword,
            -- as per: https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/AppleScript/Conceptual/AppleScriptLangGuide/conceptual/ASLR_fundamentals.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40000983-CH218-SW4

            set activeDocument to it

            -- Note: We could have also gotten to the active document by walking the chain from the top,
            -- i.e. right from the Application object:
            --set activeDocument to document 1 of application "Numbers"

            say "Starting Export."
            with timeout of 600 seconds
                export activeDocument as CSV to file _outputFilePath
                -- Use this instead if you want to export to Excel:
                -- export activeDocument as Microsoft Excel to file _outputFilePath
            end timeout
            say "Completed Export."

            -- Since we closed out other windows that might have been open before
            -- opening the file we sought, we really should only have one document
            -- window open.
            close activeDocument
        end tell

        quit

    end tell
end processSpreadsheet

(*
 ensureUTF8Encoding

 Microsoft Excel on the Mac is not good with exporting special
 characters as is Apple Numbers. Part of this is in the ability for
 Numbers to correctly process UTF8 formatting when exporting.

 Setup default export encoding for CSV files to UTF8, so without
 specifying anything further for AppleScript, the right format will
 be applied automatically. Since we cannot specify the CSV export
 encoding via AppleScript, we will set it via the Defaults Database
 with a shell command.

 Here are the codes that apply: 4=UTF8, 12=windows latin, 30=MacRoman
 As such, we'll specify 4 for UTF8.

 This technique courtesy of: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4018778?tstart=0
*)
on ensureUTF8Encoding()
    do shell script "/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.iWork.Numbers CSVExportEncoding -int 4"
end ensureUTF8Encoding


Access permissions for command file created with bash

chmod 700 watch.command Now try double clicking the file.


How to extract InstallESD.dmg from my iMac Recovery Partition?

The recommended way to create a recovery partition on an external disk is now to use Apple's Recovery Disk Assistant. It was released after that Mac OS X Hints article and Lion DiskAssistant.

If your Mac has firmware support for internet recovery mode (like Macs released after 2010-2011), you won't probably need any external recovery partition. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4718:

  If you happen to encounter a situation in which you cannot start from the Recovery System, such as your hard drive stopped responding or you installed a new hard drive without OS X installed, new Mac models introduced after public availability of OS X Lion or OS X Mountain Lion automatically use the OS X Internet Recovery feature if the Recovery System (Command-R method above) doesn't work. OS X Internet Recovery lets you start your Mac directly from Apple's servers.


Upgrading jailbroken iOS 5.1.1 iPhone to (regular) iOS 7.1

Are you attempting to update OTA on the device? Don't do this — the error message is helping you by preventing you from updating your jailbroken device like this. Instead, restore the device using iTunes to the latest iOS, then restore from backup if you wish.


Airplay: stream video and audio components to different Airplay target devices

It just isn't feasible at this time. Video and audio need to stay perfectly in sync for your brain to not notice, and splitting up the streams of data to two different destinations creates a time lag that, at this time, is impossible to sync up.  The reason why it works at all going to one device is that the destination spools up both streams and starts them both at the same time.


MacBook Pro equipped with 16 GB RAM, never uses more than 8 GB

There is no problem. Your computer is working as intended.

A computer does not “run faster” by using more memory. Memory is only used (allocated) when programs ask for memory. If they don’t ask for it, it’s not used. This is the preferred behavior as it makes your computer run faster and use less power without sacrificing anything really.

There’s no “8 GB limit” in Mojave, nor in your MacBook Pro hardware.

If you want to simulate  program that is asking for lots of memory, then open the Terminal and run this command:

perl -E 'my $x = "abcd1234" x 500000000; sleep(30);'

It should allocate lots of memory and hold it for 30 seconds, and then give it back.

You should be able to see it in Activity Monitor allocating ~8 GB of RAM. If you want to allocate more/less, then change the number "500000000" accordingly.


I'm currently making the transition from Lightroom over to Aperture. You are right in that Aperture is more like Lightroom than Photoshop. Its primary use is as a digital library for managing your photos, and videos. Much like iPhoto.

Lightroom and Aperture both have good editing functionality and both have the ability to use plugins for expanding the editing functions.

Both applications also allow non-destructive editing. Meaning you can always go back to the original image no matter what changes you do to the image within the application.

Aperture, like Lightroom, is designed with the photographer in mind. Digital assest management, photo editing, and exporting abilities for printing etc...

It's best to use either (or both) of these alongside Photoshop. I use Photoshop when it comes down to the heavy editing, or when I"m trying to do something more creative with the image outside the abilities of the other two applications.

I'm still learning Aperture so I cannot comment too much on its strengths and weaknesses vs Lightroom. Here is a post by Scott Bourne as to why he uses Aperture over Lightoom.

Hope some of what is here helps.


Enable ear detection to pause music when using AirPods Pro on a MacBook Pro

Yes, this is possible. Once the AirPods are connected, go to Bluetooth Preferences. There should be an options button next to the device. There will be a checkbox with the option to enable Automatic Ear detection.


Change all photo durations at once in iMovie 10.1.1

Click EDIT
Select In Movie
Photos

Then go to "i" top right and select time.  Seems to be min limit of 0.1sec

Do the same for transitions to remove.


How to disable to login screen shortcut (Cmd+Alt+L)

Not sure what you're trying to do, but Safari uses CMD+Alt+L for the downloads window.

Also, I used to use LockMyScreen (which doesn't work in Snow Leopard anymore), and it's shortcut is showing in my Mac as CMD+Alt+L.

I went to System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts, then looked in Application Shortcuts.


Shortcut Virus: What's the effect on a Mac?

A shortcut to itself is not an issue. One on the flash drive will not cause issues when connected to macOS or even when interacted with.

As an example, you'll find a ‘recursive’ link already in macOS: /Volumes/Macintosh HD → /.


Warranty from Apple doesn't cover accidental damage.

If you have insurance from the carrier or AppleCare plus, they will pay some or all the costs to repair it.

Put the pieces in a ziplock bag and call Apple or visit a retail store to get a quote for replacement in writing so you can provide that to the carrier and/or insurance company. Depending on how badly you need a replacement, you might pay for Apple's repair and check coverage later.

Best of luck and have a look at cases like life proof and otter box that might help in bad situations if you decide not to insure the replacement.


Configure Software Update to use a SOCKS5 proxy

Unlike Firefox, most OS X apps don't have their own proxy settings but instead respect the system-wide configuration in the Network preference pane. This is particularly true of the bundled apps like Software Update and Safari.

To do that, just open the Network pane in System Preferences, select the connection you want to configure on the left (e.g. Wi-Fi), then click Advanced... on the lower-right:

Now, click the Proxies tab. Check the "SOCKS Proxy" checkbox, and then enter the address, port, and authentication info for your proxy.

Finally, click OK to exit the Advanced modal, then click Apply.

These screenshots are from 10.8 (Mountain Lion), but it's almost the same on older versions of OS X. Which reminds me, what version of Mac OS X are you using? A Google search turned up a couple posts about Software Update not working with authenticated proxies in 10.4 and/or 10.6.


How to install a driver for the HP Deskjet 5550 on macOS 10.14?

You can use the Gutenprint drivers:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/gimp-print/files/

Click the "Download Latest Version" button.

Once you have downloaded the disk image and installed the drivers, make sure the printer is connected and powered up, then re-add your printer in System Preferences > Printer & Scanners.  It should automatically select the Gutenprint driver.  Otherwise, manually select it.

Click "Add" and you are ready to print.


From Synergy Configuration File Format

screenSaverSync = {true|false}

If set to false then synergy won't synchronize screen savers.

Client screen savers will start according to their individual configurations.

The server screen saver won't start if there is input, even if that input is directed toward a client screen.


What is another source for Dashboard widgets?

The widget download page was a curated approach to enabling a single place to locate and install widgets from.  Developers would submit a Widget and associated details and host the file for downloads.

The lack of updates is down to 1 of 2 things:  1) Apple stopped accepting additions and ammendments to the listings, 2) Developers stopped submitting updates.

Both are probably true, and certainly a lot of developers stopped writing widgets in order to write iOS apps and such like instead, at least according to the anecdotal information I am aware of.

However, the listings as they stand are useful for identifying good widgets, just because no updates are listed doesn't mean none are available.  I searched for Time Machine Buddy which is a useful widget I use.  It's still listed, but at an older version on the Apple site.  However the link to the developer is included which allows me to check and download an updated version direct from the developer.

Unlike iOS apps, widgets can be hosted and downloaded from anywhere, they didn;t have to go onto the Apple site alone.  So you can use the directory to find interesting things, and then hit the developers direct to find updated version.

If a download link is dead, or the developer is no more, you can still find the download site useful to get the name of a widget, and then use tools like osx.iusethis.com to search for alternatives.


How to stop 'locate' from using databases for unmounted volumes?

locate is not equivalent to Spotlight.

Having said that, lets look at the meat of your question:

You can try to force an update of the locate db using sudo /usr/libexec/locate.updatedb which will rebuild the locates database.

I would check the manpage for locate for additional options regarding other volumes as I believe there is a flag to stay on the current filesystem from locate but it escapes me at the moment. Locate Man Page for 10.9

Having looked at it the best thing I can come up with is to use a regular expression that won't visit another filesystem or to create seperate databases for each.

Another option is to use the find command which can be told to stay on the current filesystem -x on BSD, -xdev in linux.


Apple Silicon M1 Mac connecting 30" Apple Cinema Display

I purchased a new USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter.
This adapter works fine connected to an M1 Mac, Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter, and 30" Apple Cinema Display.

https://www.amazon.com/DisplayPort-Biming-Thunderbolt-Displayport-ChromeBook/dp/B086G9YH41

I was previously using the same type of connector, but a few years older and from a different brand:

https://www.amazon.ca/DisplayPort-Hamkot-Thunderbolt-Aluminum-ChromeBook/dp/B071ZKLKB1

But that adapter does not work on my M1 Mac. It does work with Intel USB-C Macs.
I would be interested to know why the original adapter does not work. Do M1 Macs require some additional spec?


"Encrypt backups" disabled for Time Machine on Mavericks; due to partition?

According to this page: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11102

  If the Encrypt checkbox is available, you can select it to keep your
  backup disk secure. If the Encrypt checkbox is dimmed, your backup
  disk doesn’t support encryption.

  Encryption is available only for Time Capsules and for partitions or
  disks attached directly to your computer and partitioned with the GPT
  partition scheme. If encryption is not available for your disk, put
  the mouse pointer on the dimmed checkbox, and after a moment an
  explanation appears. If a disk needs to be reformatted or
  repartitioned to support encryption, Time Machine prompts you to do
  so.

So check and see what the mouse has to say about why it is dimmed out the encryption option. It could well be that you need to reformat the drive


How to create a bootable USB for Mac OS X Server 3.0.2?

Server.app is just a set of scripts and apps that run on top of the base OS X. So just follow the guides for 10.9 USB media.

So, I just carry a second USB drive with server.app and other downloads and use the first drive to install the OS, the second to outfit that image after it it running.


Applescript to update MP3 Spotlight tag from iTunes tag

I don't know if one exists specifically for that case, but as a general rule of thumb, if it can be done, it will be on Doug's Applescripts


Is decreasing speaker volume of my iMac a Hardware Problem

I recommend you make sure it’s not a perception issue and that the sound you’re using to test the volume is always the same.

Perhaps making a short “video” with another device of both moments (when it’s high and when it’s not), might help you make sure that this is not a crazy thing on your part. If the camera is left in the same place and the conditions are more or less the same, you should be able to clearly hear both videos and see a volume difference.

If you are sure that the volume tends to “go down” and is not a software issue, then take the machine to Apple as soon as possible, because I’ve never heard of decreasing speaker volumes. :)


Is it possible to disable the interlocutor's video in BlueJeans for iOS?

You can swipe up, which will activate the "low bandwidth" mode:

Swipe down to go back to the normal mode.


MacOS doesn't fit external screen and I don't know how to stretch it

Short answer, you can't
If you have a look at the specs on the monitor It's a 4K monitor 3840 x 2160.
Then have a peek at the specs on your computer. I usually use EveryMac.com.
And under Second display support on the second link above it says:

*This model supports a simultaneous maximum resolution up to 2560x1600 on two external displays via Thunderbolt. Alternately, it can support
a single display up to 2560x1600 via Thunderbolt and a single display
up to 1920x1200 via HDMI. Although it can theoretically power all
three external displays, as confirmed by a helpful reader, it runs too
hot with three displays connected.

To me that says your Mac does not support the highest resolution of that monitor, so you are going to get a resolution that is lower and of poorer quality.
You need to get a monitor that supports 2560 x 1600 native resolution for optimal display output.


Finder unable to move files. Makes copies only

If it's not a permission issue you can also try to reset Finder's preferences by deleting ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

Restart your Mac to verify if the problem was resolved.


Old reminders are gone from macOS 10.14.6

According to Apple:

To use the new Reminders features in iOS 13—smart lists, a new quick toolbar, and more—you need to upgrade the reminders in your iCloud account.
Upgraded reminders aren't compatible with earlier versions of iOS and macOS. If you upgrade your reminders on your iPhone with iOS 13, your iPad and Mac using the same iCloud account can’t access your reminders until iPadOS and macOS 10.15 Catalina are available.

You will need to wait until you upgrade your Mac to Catalina before Reminders start to sync to your Mac again.


Why `echo -n` doesn't work in this script on mac terminal?

Echo is both a binary program (/bin/echo) as well as builtin command in some shells such as bash and sh.  As man echo states,

 Some shells may provide a builtin echo command which is similar or iden-
 tical to this utility.  Most notably, the builtin echo in sh(1) does not
 accept the -n option.  Consult the builtin(1) manual page.

In order to fix this, you can change your script to use bash by setting the first line to

#!/bin/bash

Or change your invocation of echo to

/bin/echo -n "$b "


The Time Machine drive should be equal to or larger than the drive that it backs up. TM images the drive completely, then saves incremental changes. Time Machine saves the hourly backups for the past 24 hours, daily backups for the past month, and weekly backups for everything older than a month.

If your internal is 500GB with 100GB free (using 400GB), and your TM is 500GB, then you will get a full image, and then some amount of history (filling up the remaining 100GB of the TM disk). The history length depends on your use habits.

Change a few small files occasionally? Lots of history.
Change lots of big files a lot? Then the 100GB free will save a few hours or days.

If you have a bigger TM, you will have a longer history to browse.

I personally have a mostly full internal, an equal sized TM, and change files quite often, and find that I usually have a few months of history. Plenty of time to restore a file I accidentally delete.


This sounds like you may have the settings on for Mouse Buttons, which allow the arrow keys to navigate the mouse. I believe this is under Accessibility or maybe Keyboard or Mouse/Trackpad, depending on the MacOS version.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204434#mousekeys


Internet Sharing: restricted set of WiFi channels

Don't select a channel manually, let auto-select handle it for you.

  Unfortunately, all these channels are overcrowded by my neighbors (3 to 5 on each of these channels) and can't be used.

You're absolutely correct - at this moment.  This changes continually as traffic increases/decreases.

How can I use my Mac to determine the optimal WiFi channel to use with my wireless router?

As people light up hot spots, turn on AirPlay, AirDrop, screen casting, etc. it all "lives" in the same 2.4 and 5GHz bandwidths.  Letting your Mac or WAP automatically detect and switch channels for you will ensure you get the cleanest channel at the time.

  Which program build this small list of channels?

That was created dynamically.  Those are the channels that have the "best" signals at that moment.

Now, if bandwidth congestion and more than likely noise are causing connectivity issues, it's much better to get multiple WAPs (Wireless Access Points) with the transmit power reduced than to get one, crank up the power and shoehorn it into a particular channel.  Think of it like trying to setup  speakers for a party in a noisy environment.  It's better to have several speakers dialed to maybe a 4 or a 5 than to just have one speaker cranked up to 11 and then the knob subsequently broken off.

Additionally, getting a newer, modern WAP (you don't need a full blown router) will give you much better performance because you'll have the option of placing it higher up (like on a shelf or bookcase) where devices will have better line of sight to the antennae as opposed to the MacBook on a desk.


How to access Time Machine without the access password?

You will want to use AirPort Utility to log in to the base station and reset the disk sharing password.

If you can't remember that password, the button on the back of the unit can reset that password to the default value of "private".


Sending All Traffic Over VPN Tunnel (IKEv2) in OS X 10.11.5

I met the same problem, but I found the checkbox exists in the "Apple Configurator2" VPN section.

By installing the profile with enabling that option, all my traffic seems to pass under VPN.


What is the impact of changing open files limit?

There is no impact. You're simply changing the max number of open file descriptors a process can have. Without it, any software that needs to have more than 256 open file descriptors simply can not be used.

Almost any software that acts as a server is going to require this; a file descriptor is also required for sockets.

See: https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/36841/why-is-number-of-open-files-limited-in-linux for more info on why the default is so low.

OSX went even further using 256 as the default. While I understand the OS is a desktop OS and perhaps they were thinking this somehow would protect users from themselves, it's a little ridiculous IMHO.


Just learned that the Library files are hidden in the most recent versions of OSX.  To see them, open Finder, then click simultaneously on the Go tab and the Option key.  As long as they are held down, a new item (Library) will appear.  Go down to it and you will find your file.  Or you can open Finder, select the Go tab, then the Go to Folder item, and insert ~/Library.  Not exactly user intuitive.  Unfortunately, Apple is becoming more like Microsoft in terms of usability.


Is there any way to prevent an pop-up on any third-party apps on macOS (11.0.1)?

What you're calling "pop-up" are Notifications. They can be controlled for all apps that offer them in the Notifications Preference Pane of System Preferences.


Keyboard and Mouse start behaving oddly. I've had to restart my Mac to fix this

The symptoms you are describing point to a stuck key which is plaguing the new 2016 through 2018 MacBooks and MacBook Pros with the new keyboard.  My guess is that one of the Shift keys may be (becoming) stuck.

Text in all caps
Text being selected as you move your mouse
New Tab/Windows opening when you click a link

Try using an external keyboard - this will confirm if the problem is the built in keyboard or not.  If the problem goes away, the keyboard needs to be replaced.

Update (from comments below):  Since you're using an external keyboard, it's entirely possible that that keyboard is having issues.  Try using KeyCodes (free app) to see what keys are being pressed.  If a key is stuck, it will show up in this event viewer.


Does a M.2 2280 SSD fit in a MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)?

The Samsung 950pro has the same connector and the same chipset.  In fact, both the 950pro and the Samsung manufactured Apple SSD of this type share the same exact PCB and chips.  Initially the 950pro was manufactured as an OEM drive especially for Apple.

However the 950pro retail version has minor hardware differences and a complete different firmware.

While they indeed fit physically, they are NOT compatible.  There are currently no aftermarket drives for this range.  If someone would release a compatible drive in the future, the OWC Envoy range would be my best bet.


Who makes non-white iPhone earbuds similar in function and design to Apple's default earbuds?

I've bought a couple of Belkin Headphones Adapter with Remotes, one because a few of them tore, and two because I bought one for myself and my girlfriend for use in our own cars'.

It's a very simple gadget. Push the middle for play/pause/skip/previous, and it has volume up/down controls on the extremities. Note that you have to plug the adapter into the phone, it cannot be the other way around.

These have worked in an iPhone, iPad, and iPod, and they're chiefly designed for the buttonless iPod shuffle, but work with everything else.

If you don't need the mic, you could get by with this, and any pair of headphones you want.


Can I be on bluetooth tethering + wifi, and select which traffic goes through each?

You need to use what is known as "policy-based routing". I.e. you route the network packets not based on the IP address of the destination, but on different criteria.

On macOS this is done using pf (see the man pages for pf.conf and pfctl).

In your case you need to create a policy rule that specifies that packets with destination port 22 will be routed over the tethering interface.


Photos app on macOS doesn't sync with iCloud when Photos app on iPhone uploaded correctly

I've enabled on my iPhone on Photos the option "Upload to My Photo Stream" and I restarted macOS.
Syncing on macOS Photos come back.
Probably by mistake I switched it off.
More info how it works: https://macpaw.com/how-to/my-photo-stream-icloud


Which mail daemon does OS X 10.8.4 run by default?

It is using postfix. At a high-level, when you execute the mail command, the following is happening:

Invoking mail drops your message as a file in the postfix maildrop directory, i.e.,  /var/spool/postfix/maildrop. This happens because mail calls sendmail which calls postdrop which puts the file in the maildrop.
The postfix main daemon, master is configured to startup when the maildrop has files in it. This is specified in the /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.postfix.master.plist file.
The master daemon starts other needed postfix processes such as pickup, qmgr and smtp to deliver the mail.
All these process including the master daemon die after being idle for period of time.

The postqueue -p command needs the showq daemon which will be started  only when master is running. When that's not the case, you see that error. The showq daemon can be configured to always be running so that you can use the postqueue -p command. If you want to just see the mail queue, you can do this:

$ sudo postfix start && postqueue -p && sudo postfix stop

But note that if you start it this way, you must shut it down too. Otherwise the postfix master daemon will be resident and won't be on-demand anymore.

If you want to know which processes start after you issue mail, you can use the execsnoop command to see which process are starting up:

$ sudo execsnoop -v
STRTIME                UID    PID   PPID ARGS
2016 Apr 20 23:57:52   501   2358   1154 mail
2016 Apr 20 23:57:52   501   2359   2357 date
2016 Apr 20 23:57:52   501   2360      1 sendmail
2016 Apr 20 23:57:52   501   2367   2360 postdrop
2016 Apr 20 23:57:52     0   2369   2343 cleanup
2016 Apr 20 23:58:23     0   2384      1 master
2016 Apr 20 23:58:23     0   2385   2384 pickup
2016 Apr 20 23:58:23     0   2386   2384 qmgr
2016 Apr 20 23:58:24     0   2387   2384 bounce
2016 Apr 20 23:58:24     0   2388   2384 trivial-rewrite
2016 Apr 20 23:58:24     0   2389   2384 local
2016 Apr 20 23:58:24     0   2390   2384 smtp


Connect Macbook Pro Late 2016 with monitor DELL UP2516D

You'll need a dongle to go from USB-C to either: HDMI, DP/mDP. At this time they're on discount from Apple since they're new, so you'll want to buy the dongle now.

Here's a full list of Apple's UCB-C dongle choices, it's a good page to review: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204360

And here is a multi-port display adapter from Apple, which provides HDMI+USB-A+USB-C, so it may be a best bet for some folks: http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av-multiport-adapter


How can I move my data to the new harddrive?

CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper. Both are amazing programs, and will do a bit-for-bit copy to your new HD. CCC is free, while SuperDuper costs about $30. There are very few differences between the two, so I'd go with CarbonCopyCloner for being free.


Is it possible to get a summary of tomorrow in the Notification Centre with iOS 10?

The "Tomorrow" built-in widget has been removed from iOS 10.

You could use the calendar app Fantastical. It contains a widget which can display a calendar view of the current month, with a list of events for each day, and you can tap around on the calendar to change the day being viewed without ever leaving the widget. It would require an additional tap versus the Tomorrow view, and it's not a summary so much as an actual list, but it's a decent alternative for your use case (and a great app in general, in my opinion).


Why am I able to open Wireshark and capture packets in macOS without root privileges?

The reason is that the Wireshark installer installs a LaunchDaemon (i.e. something that runs with superuser privileges on boot) for setting special permissions to capture network packets. More specifically you can look at the file /Library/LaunchDaemon/org.wireshark.ChmodBPF.plist to see what it does and when it is run.

As creating these LaunchDaemons require superuser privileges in itself, the Wireshark installer requires you to be a superuser (i.e. you have to enter an administrator user password to install the software).

If you look at the actual script run by the LaunchDaemon in /Library/Application Support/Wireshark/ChmodBPF/ChmodBPF, you'll see that it creates 256 devices entries /dev/bpf0 to /dev/bpf255 and sets to that everyone in the access_bpf group can read and write to these device files.

The access_bpf groups is actually also created by Wireshark installer. This also requires superuser privileges. If you open System Preferences and then Users & Groups, you'll be able to fold out the "Groups" part of the tree and see "access_bpf" listed there. You can then add/remove users from that group to give or remove permission to capture network packets within Wireshark.


Upgrade dual booted MacBook Pro to Lion from Snow Leopard/Ubuntu

I used to dual boot fedora and snow leopard on a macbook pro and upgraded it to Lion no problems. You should just be able to upgrade as normal without altering your ubuntu partition, although as per Vlads answer it's always best to take a full backup first (not that I'm always very good at following that advice myself).


Air + Lion : plug in USB, keyboard/pad stop working

Interesting situation, I'd try booting to Safe Mode (you can follow the relevant instructions here)

It sounds like there's an issue with your kernel extension caches, which booting to Safe Mode will clear, along with generating new kernel extension caches.

Let us know how you go!