Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Software : Mac Tips: How to use Terminal to add the power chime to your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro

Software : Mac Tips: How to use Terminal to add the power chime to your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro

Mac Tips: How to use Terminal to add the power chime to your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro

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Mac Tips: How to use Terminal to add the power chime to your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro

You know the sound your iPhone makes when you plug it in to charge? Well, the new 12-inch MacBooks (yes, those really thin ones) make the same sound when you connect and disconnect the power. And guess what? With a little trick, you can have this same sound on your current MacBook Pro or MacBook Air as well, allowing you to know for sure that your charging cable is indeed properly connected to your laptop.

To begin, ensure that you have the latest version of Yosemite (10.10.3 or higher) installed on your MacBook Pro or Air, and then open the Terminal (located in /Applications/Utilities). Unplug your MacBook if it's plugged in.

Next, copy and paste the following line into the Terminal, then press the return key (you must type this command all on one line without any returns regardless of how it looks wrapped):

defaults write com.apple.PowerChime ChimeOnAllHardware -bool true; open /System/Library/CoreServices/PowerChime.app &

Power Chime

Voila! When you connect the power you will hear the chime sound. If you get tired of this sound, simply use this command in the Terminal to deactivate it:

defaults write com.apple.PowerChime ChimeOnAllHardware -bool false; killall PowerChime

WWDC 2015: 'Move to iOS' app makes jumping ship from Android even easier

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WWDC 2015: 'Move to iOS' app makes jumping ship from Android even easier

iOS 9 was revealed at Apple's WWDC 2015 keynote today, but one interesting feature in the upcoming mobile operating system was not mentioned: the company's new Move to iOS app.

Apple's goal with Move to iOS, detailed on its iOS 9 preview page, is to make the migration from Android to iOS devices a bit less painful. As a survivor of this pilgrimage myself, I can attest that this is no easy process. Since the two tech giants are in direct competition, moving between them can feel a bit like pulling teeth.

To make the move from Android to iPhone, you simply download the Move to iOS app on both devices and the app will transfer all your important data. From your contacts, camera photos, messages, bookmarks, calendars, books, DRM-free songs and more.

Additionally, any apps you had on your Android are suggested in the App Store. And finally, all of your paid apps are saved to your iTunes Wish List.

Apple may have delivered a strong blow to Android by making it easier to switch from your Android to an iOS device, but oddly chose not to publicize it. This feature will come bundled with iOS 9, set for a free release in the Fall, and open to public beta testing in July.

WWDC 2015: Apple's new Maps features are a victory for small businesses

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WWDC 2015: Apple's new Maps features are a victory for small businesses

At Apple's annual developer conference, the Cupertino, California-based company said it would roll out public transit information to its Maps application for more than 10 cities worldwide, and 300 cities in China. Most consumers will likely shrug off the improvement, given that Google Maps already makes this feature available for 18,000 cities. However, for small business owners, this represents an incredible step forward for Apple and its Maps app.

Apple has been widely criticized for the inaccurate information and shoddy design of its Maps app, especially compared to Google's industry-standard Maps app. Apple CEO Tim Cook was forced to make a public apology in 2013 for the disastrous Maps app that came with iOS 6.

But despite this perceived inferiority to Google Maps, Apple still has a healthy user base. Apple says there are more than five billion requests coming to Maps each week. Forty-two million of Maps users are based in the US, compared with Google's 65 million US users. For small and local businesses, this group of 42 million users represents an incredible opportunity that can't be ignored.

What's new with Apple Maps

At its developer conference, Apple announced it would add an icon in the Maps app that indicates whether or not businesses that appear within search results provide support for Apple Pay. Although this is a simple feature that ultimately serves Apple better than it does the consumer or business, the chance to acquire new business from Apple Pay users could be beneficial to some organizations, especially smaller retailers, restaurants and bars.

Additionally, Apple said it would enable users to search the Maps app by storefront type (i.e. Food, Drink, etc.). Today, users can search by entering the type of storefront they want and then by scrolling through a list of locations. However, Apple doesn't hand-select types of venues and then offer them to consumers. This feature should help to improve serendipitous interactions with local businesses for consumers who don't have a specific type of food or item in mind prior to making a search.

Google's "Explore Nearby" feature is strikingly similar to the new Apple Maps icon search tool, so Apple isn't inventing anything here, but this new feature, which will be available to those 42 million users I mentioned earlier should help to place new butts into local business seats.

Additional good news

Rumors indicate Apple Maps will be soon be available on Android, which should dramatically improve the number of users who are accessing your business on the Apple app. With more than one billion Android users globally, Apple Maps' US user base should balloon way past the 42 million mark.

A couple weeks ago, a rumor also emerged that suggested Apple-operated camera-equipped automobiles are capturing 3D street view imagery and storefront stills to help Apple improve its mapping data, and reduce reliance on third parties, such as Google.

Like Google's My Business feature, which enables businesses to improve search traffic, keep information updated, provide up-to-date links, generate traffic directions, and add customer photos and reviews to a dedicated Maps link, Apple recently updated its Maps Connect tool to include more major cities and listings for even smaller organizations. Launched in 2014, Map Connect allows small businesses to log-in to a private site where they can edit things like Business Name, Phone Number, Address, Location, and many of the other attributes you're likely to find on a Google Maps listings.

So what does this all mean?

Truth be told: Apple is still far behind Google in terms of functionality and usability. However, if you're a small business with a dedicated marketing team focused on search and web-based listings, you can't allow Apple's Maps stumbles to turn you away from the application. Apple doesn't seem to be giving up the Map game yet, and you can't afford to give up on Apple Maps. It's a vital tool that, although inferior to Google's application, you should be constantly updating and optimizing.
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