House of Cards — Series 2: Episodes 4 and 5

You know, I have to confess to being in a funny mood, today.

I’ve spent some time on the phone to BT, this morning, complaining about my broadband usage, has left something of a taste in my mouth.

Basically?   Basically, my broadband usage seem suspiciously high for the past couple of months: and as part of trying to deal with it?

My internet service provider has help me change passwords on my router, today: to see if that helps stop any potential hijackers.

On top of THAT … ?

Time Machine, my back up programme … ?   Told me it couldn’t fit anymore back ups on to the internal drive I use as my back up drive.

Leading me to about it on Apple’s support communities.

Hopefully … ?

Someone will be able to make a suggestion or two.

At any rate … ?   Having the day off, I felt I deserved a treat of some description.

Even if it is a couple of episodes of a TV show.

And, yes, since you ask.

Yes: it WAS two episodes of the second series of House of Cards … 

~≈É≈~

In The Mouth Of Madness: That’s An Experience … !

In The Mouth Of Madness

5th January, 2015.

Hmmm … 

That’s … frustrating … 

I’ve been watching a movie, tonight: and patient letting my computer back up to an internal hard drive.

Which — for some reason — is now, suddenly full!

Oh, at least, not backing up, as Time Machine suddenly need more space than it used to, under Snow Leopard.

Money being what it is … ?

I can’t actually afford the £60 to buy a new internal drive of the size my machines telling me it needs.

It’s FRUSTRATING!

Especially when you consider I HAD the money … 

And had to spend it on the extra drive — and the associated carrier — in the first place … !

Effectively, if you’ve got £60 you can spare … ?   I’d LOVE to hear from you … !

That’s if moving my iPhoto library doesn’t work*!

~≈Â≈~

Updates to OS X

Hmmm …

OK, GRANTED, I’ve not been able to afford the Lion update to OS X.

Which is a bit of a two edged sword.

On the one hand … ?

On the ONE hand, rabid Macboi that I am, I’d love to be able to say I’ve bought Mac OS X 10•7, burnt it to disc — or what-have-you — and then safely installed it.

On the OTHER hand … ?

I’m also very aware that — with only 1Gb of RAM — my ageing Mac Mini, Bruce, would definitely have issues, considering that Lion requires 2 to function comfortably.

And 3 to 4 Gb to really yomp.

On the other hand … ?

On the other hand, Apple has managed to introduce a couple of other updates, today.

It’s managed to updat iTunes to version 10•4 and Safari to version 5•1.

These seem to mostly be cosmetic changes, from where I’m sitting.

Although one new feature in Safari — what Apple calls the Reading List — does seem to be bloody handy.

It’s a sort of temporary bookmarking feature: which will come in bloody handy!

Well played, them … !

It means I can — possibly — do some MAJOR reorganising … !

Mac OS X 10.7: The Lion’s Released, today …

Well, I think I can safely say it’s officially official.

Going by the MacWorld reports, Mac OS X 10•7 ships at some point, today.

Hmmm …

I’ve GOT to admit, I’d like to get hold of a copy, I really would.

There’s only one problem.

Bruce, bless him, my ageing Mini … ?

REALLY doesn’t have the RAM to cope … !

That’s a shame, really.

I would’ve minded a go on that … !

Apple’s In the Cloud …

Well, it’s now official … !

Apple have announced the release date for Mac OS X 10•7, along with its soon to be here iCloud service.

It’ll be in July.

AND at quite a reasonable price, by the sounds of things.

There’s a catch, though …

It look’s like Mac OS X 10•7 Lion, will only be available as a download …

Hmmm …

I’m thinking there’s pros and cons, there …

Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m sort of used to the idea of downloading complete operating systems — Ubuntu being my alternative OS of choice — burning it to disc, and installing it from an to a computer from an actual physical CD.

I’m ALSO used to the idea of doing major Ubuntu and Linux distribution upgrades — from, say, Maverick Meercat to Natty Narwhal — over a network.

Actually, that’s how the minor upgrades — 10•6•6 to 10•6•7, to give you an example — are done, under OS X.

I’m comfortable with both, I should add.

Trouble is … ?

The trouble is, I’m not sure I’m entirely comfortable with the idea of Apple’s longest lived operating system not being on disc …

For starter’s … ?

Well, my main problem, here, is simple comfort: I find it kind of reassuring to know that, should things go wrong with Bruce’s hard drive, and I need to replace it, I can install Snow Leopard from the disc, and copy all the various applications across from my external back-up drive.

Or even do a fresh install, what-have-you.

The other problem I think I’m seeing,here … ?

Is the good old-fashioned one of sheer SIZE … !

After all, my copy of Snow Leopard came on a dual-layered DVD: theoretically 8•5 gigabytes in capacity, although my copy is using 6•74 gigs.

The version of Snow Leopard that came with Bruce — 10•5•2 — was a 7•69 gigabytes on Disc 1, the main installation disc, with the optional Xcode developer tools taking up 5•11 gigs on Disc 2.

Now, granted, we’d only be downloading the parts we need, if we go for the upgrade.

Which probably reduces the size by quite a lot.

Even so, though, I’m still not ENTIRELY sure I’m completely comfortable with the idea.

I can only hope that Apple manages to reduce the size of that download.

After all …

If Canonical can get Ubuntu onto a CD sized .iso file … ?

Well … !

»»•««

Technology: The Oncoming Lion

Hmmm …

You know, it look’s like it’s official, then …

Apple have made the big announcement.

Well …

They’ve done the press release about the big announcement!

Ahem … !

The famously closed-mouth Cupertino company has issued a press release, today, to 4 that this years World Wide Developers Conference — their annual do, in California — they will “… unveil its next generation software”.

I’ve got to admit, I’m curious.

Saying that … ?

• I’m skint, and really couldn’t afford it.
• I don’t think Bruce, my ageing Mac Mini, could take the pace.
• I’m still non-too-sure about the idea of full-screen applications.

But on the other hand … ?

Some of the potential new features look really rather funky:

• Mission Control looks like an improved version of Exposé, which is usually hard to beat.
• FileVault looks like it may have been written to include some of Disk Utility’s features, if the line in the Lion blurb, correctly, that it “… provides the ability to wipe all the data from your Mac instantaneously.”
• And lastly, it looks like Lion can also be set up as a server.

Hmmm …

I’ve got to be honest, I wouldn’t mind a look at it.

Once I’ve won the lottery.

I also couldn’t help but notice that Apple are also going to be announcing their new iCloud service, as well …

That should be interesting, finding out what THAT’s about …