ClamXav
October 14, 2008Sorry for the long lapse since the last entry.
Surely you have heard about computer viruses and all the damage they do to unprotected computers. Macs are not usually susceptible to viruses as they are aimed at Windows machines. But if you feel the need for some protection look at ClamXav. (How do you pronounce it? I don't know - I don't try.)
From the website:
ClamXav is a free virus checker for Mac OS X. It uses the tried, tested and very popular ClamAV open source antivirus engine as a back end.
Back in the days before OS X, the number of viruses which attacked Macintosh users totalled somewhere between about 60 and 80. Today, the number of viruses actively attacking OS X users is...NONE! However, this doesn't mean we should get complacent about checking incoming email attachments or web downloads, for two reasons. Firstly, there's no guarantee that we Mac users will continue to enjoy the status quo, but more importantly, the majority of the computing world use machines running MS Windows, for which an enormous quantity of viruses exist, so we must be vigilant in checking the files we pass on to our friends and colleagues etc. For example, if you're a wise person and you've turned MS Office's macro support off then you're not going to notice that virus which is hiding inside this month's edition of Extreme Ironing.doc which your friend sent you. If you then forward that document to a less wise person who has not turned off the macro support, then you have most likely just sent him a shiny new Pandora's Box with a sign saying "Open this end"!
Flippancy aside, I'm sure you get the idea: check the file before opening and/or sending it on to someone else. This gives you the opportunity to avoid the file altogether or at least copy and paste any vital information into a new document and send that instead.
I have used ClamXav a few times to check my system for viruses, and it has yet to detect one. The underlying structure of OS X makes it extremely resistant to the kind of attacks subjected on Windows computers. Isn't it nice not to have to spend $40 to $80 every year to protect your computer?
ClamXav is freeware from Mark Allan's Software.
Caffeine
October 6, 2008
It is annoying to be reading a long document and suddenly have your screensaver appear, or to have the screen dim, due to the Energy Saver settings in System Preferences. You can easily change the settings, but you might forget to change them back. Or maybe you are just timid about playing with the System Preferences. Caffeine can help. Caffeine is a tiny program that puts an icon in the right side of your menu bar. Click it to prevent your Mac from automatically going to sleep, dimming the screen or starting screen savers. Click it again to go back. Hold down the Command key while clicking to show the menu.
The left image indicates Caffeine is off; right shows Caffeine is on. When Caffeine is on, your computer will not go to sleep, the screen saver will not activate and the screen will not dim.
If you want to have Caffeine keep your computer awake for a specific length of time, Command click the icon (that's the Apple key next to the space bar) and a menu will appear. Select Activate For > and select a time. Select Quit to stop Caffeine.
Caffeine is freeware - created by Lighthead Software
The Tape Recorder In Your Mac
October 4, 2008Well, not really a tape recorder - that would be ancient technology. The audio recorder in your Mac is purely digital. Have you used it before? Did you even know it was there? It is called GarageBand. If you are an old folk, like me, you probably think that GarageBand is strictly for kids. Boy, would you be wrong. GarageBand is an extremely versatile audio recording application that is easy to use, even for old folks. Try it:
Double click the GarageBand icon to open the application. A panel will appear; select New Project. Another panel will appear allowing you to select options. You can ignore all of them - just click Create.
The GarageBand user interface will open. Let's just make a simple voice recording, so close the Grand Piano by clicking the red button in the left corner.
Next, delete the Grand Piano track by selecting Track>Delete Track.
Now, add a new track - select Track>New Basic Track.
While you are at it, turn off the metronome by selecting Control>Metronome (if checked, it is On).
You are ready to record. At the bottom of the window is a red button - click it to start recording.
Your Mac has a built-in microphone - just start talking and anything you say will get recorded. To stop the recording click the large arrow in the center of the player controls. To rewind to the begining, click the single arrow on the left. To play the recording click the large arrow in the center. Your recording will be shown as a purple highlighted track with a pair of wiggly lines.
If you are happy with your recording, you can send it to iTunes and save it as an audio file that can be played in audio players. Click Share>Send Song to iTunes. It will take a minute for the conversion.
Once converted, iTunes will open and play your recording. Now if you wish, you can easily drag and drop the recording from iTunes into Mail and send it to your friends and family.
Here are links to various sources for tutorials for all of the applications in the iLife suite.
See the Archive for previous entries.
Got a question about your Mac? I don't know everything, but I'll help if I can.
Look for a link to this website in the navigation menu of Coquina Daily.
There may not be something new here everyday, but I am going to try to have something new at least three times per week. As always, you are welcome to make submissions.