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Sync Apple Logic Pro with Dropbox

A tutorial on how to sync Apple Logic Pro files (channel strip settings, vst presets, etc) using dropbox. We do this by creating a symbolic link… some terminal stuff involved, but ultimately not tough.

In the video I show how to do it for the desktop as well… syncing the desktop of one computer to the desktop of another using dropbox.

Symlinks aren’t hard, you can do this. I’ll show you how.

Note: the simplified version is this:

  1. Copy the folder you want to sync from where it is into where you want it in dropbox.
    e.g., ~/Library/Application Support/Logic copied to ~/Dropbox/Apps
  2. Delete the original folder.
    e.g., remove the folder in Application Support
  3. Symlink from Dropbox to the original folder location. (Instead of from original folder to Dropbox).
    e.g., ln -s /Users/chasereeves/Dropbox/Apps/Logic ~/Library/Application\ Support

Flickr: Search Photos by Camera Used

I recently wanted to find all my pictures on Flickr taken with my nice camera (as opposed to my iPhone). There’s no simple button to do it, but here’s a quick and dirty method.

1. Open your Flickr photostream in two browser tabs.

2. In one do a search of your photostream (doesn’t matter what term, just do a search). What we’re looking for here is your flickr user number thingy. This is the number in the URL between “w=” and the following “&.”

My url is http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=27809677@N04&q=fat so my flickr user number thingy is 27809677@N04.

flickr search by camera used

3. In the other open up a picture you took with the camera you want to search for. Click on the “additional info” for this picture. You’ll see the link to the camera you used in this photo. Click that.

flickr search photos by camera

flickr search photos by camera

4. Put together a simple URL using your flickr account number thingy (from the first tab) and the camera URL (from the second tab) like so:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=+&w=YOURFLICKRACCOUNTNUMBER&cm=YOURCAMERAURL

Here’s mine, for example, searching by the Canon 5D MK III:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=+&w=27809677%40N04&cm=canon/eos_5d_mark_iii/

Good luck and happy hunting.

Reeder for Chrome

It’s not affiliated with the fabulous Reeder iphone app, but it’ll do just fine. Check out this extension to skin Google Reader in chrome: Reeder for Chrome

Inconsolata font with straight quotes

Inconsolata is a great looking monospace font. My favorite for all uses. But it uses curly quotes instead of straight quotes, which is really weird for a monospace font and annoying when you’re the kind of person who tries out multiple monospace fonts (because you have SO many friends).

Nodnod made a version of the font which fixes this. I don’t know how that works, but I’m very pumped about it… and greatful {nods}.

Download at NodNod or here.

Advice on buying your next domain name

Notes from this comment for myself you may find helpful.

  • Start with www.buydomains.com… They have a MASSIVE database of domains for sale.
  • Before you pull the trigger on trying to buy the name (and, no, this isn’t legal advice) I highly recommend you take a quick visit to www.uspto.gov and do a trademark search for the name you’re thinking of.
  • You should also do a Google search with the name within quotes (exact match) to see what sorts of pages online are using that term and why.
  • Never use hyphens and avoid numbers if possible.
  • Type a possible name into your address bar (without going to it) just to see how it looks and feels. (more…)

Dirty little secret: TextExpander for self-clearing CSS

I’m neck deep in code and came up with this handy lil’ trick. Sometimes you’re working within an HTML framework you can’t change… not even to add that quick little .clearfix class.

Well, there are ways to self-clear items using some weird, long-ish, not-rememberable CSS.

So, here’s a TextExpander snippet that quickly adds this mess code for the class/ID you’re targeting:

%fill:name%:before, %fill:name%:after { content: ""; display: table; }
%fill:name%{background:transparent;width:auto;zoom: 1;}
%fill:name%:after { clear: both; }

If what I’m talking about sounds vaguely like something you may one day have another thought about, I suggest you give this a try.

If, on the other hand, you’re normal, please disregard this message.

Zagg and Logitech iPad keyboard case review

In this video I look at the following iPad keyboard cases and decide which I like best:

Keyboard changes iPad for the better

Having a keyboard has completely changed the way I use my iPad. Before it was a thing for my kid to fiddle with and also a thing with great music making potential I’d never commit time to. Now it’s a full-on computer with benefits.

The most important benefit of the keyboard is the ability to write. But it also makes internet searching and everything else better since the on-screen keyboard has always been bungly (‽).

Here’s some quick thoughts on why I think this keyboard/iPad combo will be important for me: (more…)

Chrome 1Password Auto-Login Keyboard Shortcuts

Update: Use TextExpander to trigger 1Password auto-logins

Note you can do the same stuff below in any browser using TextExpander. This is great!

In chrome you can quickly setup keyboard shortcuts to take you to your favorite sites by using the built in custom search engines.

e.g., when I type “yt” and hit enter I’m taken directly to YouTube.com. The same is true for “gm” for gmail, “gi” + space + keyword to do a quick google image search, “hm” for Hypem.com’s most popular tracks, etc.

I’m addicted to this lil’ feature, saves me loads of time and thought sauce.

Another thing I’m addicted to is 1Password–the excellent password manager etcetera–and the way it automatically logs me in when I click a bookmark within the 1Password app.

What I really needed was a way to use chrome’s keyboard shortcut stuff to take me to a site using 1Passwords automatic login voodoo. So I found a way. (more…)

List of Mac apps to transfer to new computer

I recently got into a new laptop. It’s not like the old days — now I need to be able to spin up the new ‘puter into a big boy professional workhorse as quickly as possible.

So I’ve created this list of apps and data to help me remember what I need to consider so’s I don’t miss anything important. These are roughly in order.

I’m posting it here in case you find it helpful. Also, so I’ll be able to find it next time I get a new ‘puter. (more…)

Mac grant user admin privileges

I got a new computer and while setting it up I mucked up something by changing the name of the user I had created. My main hard drive (Macintosh HD) was asking me for passwords to edit info, some apps weren’t letting me create/save data into folders, etc.

So I did some research to find out how to fix it. The internet kinda let me down on this one. I mean, I found my way through thanks to convoluted forums from 2003, but it took me a long while to get it right. So, in the spirit of leaving the internet in a better place than when I found it, I’d like to share my solution with you (and future me who has this same issue).

NB: I’m not a sys-admin type. I would be very careful about this. I’m not even all that sure about what’s going on here! (more…)

Loremify is a tool I use

“Loremify is a one-click tool to copy Lorem Ipsum. It lets you wrap in html, specify the amount of text, and copy it to your clipboard—all in one click. It runs as a Dashboard Widget in Mac OS X.”

It’s good. Just thought you should know. get it.