iSetup

A project by Brod Wilkinson.

[isetup-blog]

iOS 7 Parallax Review

It sucks, it's in beta and it sucks.

Currently the iOS 7 Background Parallax feature is useless, hopefully there is more work that needs to be done but right now it lags before it starts working giving a very static and 'mocked up' effect. It's like Apple had the idea days before Beta Release and just chucked it in there..

Technically speaking it should work quite a bit different from what it does, since the display is not 3D and has no physical depth you can tilt the device and take screenshots which reveal the Parallax is just sliding the blown up background around.. see below..

As you can see the Parallax is not real, which it never could be on the current hardware and Apple does say its just an effect. But, there are much better ways to create a Parallax effect. For example, you can actual set the background back in graphical space - this would require much bigger backgrounds but provide a surreal experience much like what they show on the iOS7 Ads.

Overall it really does suck since it could be such a nice touch.

[isetup-blog]

iOS7 Music App Review

Since installing iOS7 I've rigorously tested the Music App, I listen to music a lot and I do this via the iTunes Match service.. Since iOS7 is currently in Beta stage I wasn't sure if it would work very well if at all.. Thankfully it works perfectly and even quicker than before!

So, below is the main Artists tab for the Music App - the differences are generally slightly different UI positioning as you can see.

So its neat, I was hoping for an option to change UI colors since pink is a bit odd but sadly that's not available yet or possibly ever.

The next screenshot shows an Artist tab where an artist has been selected.. It's got a similar scroll to the normal Artist tab where the album scrolls with the screen until the next album is in display.

Also you can see iTunes match is in operation here with my songs being located in iCloud not locally.

Next up is the Now Playing screen, its basically just been chopped up a bit with the track scan located below the album art. No biggie.

So yeah, its cool but the older way was also cool..

Turning the screen landscape is where all major differences take place with the Cover Flow being completely removed and replaced with a Tile display of all your Albums. (Cover Flow was always to pretty to be usable.)

Another neat trick here is turning the titles on a 45˚ angle to fit more text in.

Below is the display when an album is tapped form the previous landscape screen. It's not a whole lot different from the previous design and it still make no real sense on how you're supposed to get back to the Tile view.

So thats it, my breakdown of iOS7's Music App. Pretty neat overall, I like a change to keep things fresh and in comparison to the rest of the phone it fits quite well.

[isetup-blog]

Change iCloud Account iOS7?

Question

Mum asks Son, I just tried to change my iCloud account on my iPhone running iOS7 but it bugs out and won't display the keyboard because a previous alert is hiding it.. what can I do?

Answer

This is just a bug, iOS7 is still in Beta and has a few still running around.. Although, to change your iCloud Account click Delete Account form the iCloud Settings and then once it prompts you to enter your Password to confirm (Where the bug occurs) Hold the home button to activate Siri, don't talk though or it will cause another bug - instead just type in your password while the keyboard is available.

[isetup-blog]

iTunes Store & Homesharing.. Worth It?

Question

Mum asked Son, I know you can torrent TV Shows and Movies but I only do that because it's a hassle to go and buy them and it's free. The problem is sometimes I need to convert them to MP4 to watch them via iTunes and other times they are poor quality.. Is it worth buying them on iTunes instead?

Answer

Yes, it is totally worth buying movies in iTunes Store. Although everyone loves a hard copy, everyone also loves ease of use.

Buying a Blu-ray dvd might seem great, you've got the hard copy, you can legally rip it to your computer in Blu-ray quality.. whats not to like?

Well although that sounds great, it's not totally simple, firstly you need to buy the DVD, then you need to rip it - something that Mac OS X cannot natively do. Then you need to make import to iTunes and then you can finally watch it via iTunes on Apple TV through HomeSharing.

The major disadvantage with this is that it will not allow you to watch it when your computer is not on with iTunes open and also on other Wifi networks. So you can't leave your computer at home and watch your content on the go..

On the other hand, you could purchase via iTunes Store. For starters, you can almost immediately start streaming the show in 1080p quality - which rocks. Secondly, you can watch the show with just an Apple TV, internet connection and iTunes Account. You don't need anything else to start watching. Also you can do this from anywhere in the world, and on literally current Apple Device which supports video playback apart from the iPod Classic or any computer that supports iTunes 10.3 or later. Plus it doesn't even need to be your device, you could goto a friends > go on their Mac > Login to your Apple Account and watch any of your purchases.

Another great thing is quality, you get the choice of SD, 720p and 1080p for most purchases - current ones at least. This allows for a good range of bandwidth speeds all stream with within minutes of purchasing. Also, unlike torrents there's never going to be a password, ad, random subtitles or other issues.

The only real downside is the fact you won't get a hard copy which really does suck.. although now more than ever are online collections becoming something to have, Bandcamp originally kicked things off with this when you could see the music someone had actually paid for, giving them a status similar to having a wall of DVD's, CD's or Vinyl.

[isetup-blog]

Network TV on Apple TV3?

Question

Dad asks Son, can I watch Network TV on the Apple TV 3?

Answer

No, it's not possible to watch Network TV through the Apple TV3 without extensive hardware and software hacks which are well beyond my skill level. It could possibly be done if the Apple TV3 was jailbroken, which its not and it would still require a lot of work.

But it's still kinda possible even without a jailbreak.

The way you could do it is this..

The Apple TV3 Trailers App is just a browser reading an XML file hosted on Apples Servers, you could change the location which the Trailer App reads to read your own XML file with Network TV streams in it. This isn't great since the Network needs to actually have streams available and the streams need to be in MP4 format or a format in which the Apple TV3 can display. So there's a lot going against this but it is possible.

Another thing you could do, if the stream was available but just not in the right format is capture the stream and transcode it into a useable format. This would require a lot of work and without dedicated computers would not be as simple as clicking a button.

But to do it you could do this..

Lets say theres a stream out there in a format the Apple TV3 can't display. What you'll need to setup a web server on your computer. Then capture the stream on that computer and transcode it to MP4, after that you'll need to create a tricky xml file to display the transcoded stream you've created and finally you'll need to redirect Apple TV3 from where the original XML file is located to your own custom XML file on your webserver. That would be done by configuring your DNS although it would also send every other device wanting to connect to the domain towards your own webserver which may or may not be a problem.

I'm not going to do this as it would require a lot of work for what is really a few clicks on the remote to change the TV's source from Apple TV3 (HDMI) to the Digital TV. Plus it would be much easier to just chuck out the Apple TV3 and mod a Mac Mini to work as an Apple TV3 and a Network TV receiver.

[isetup-blog]

A Raspberry Pi as an Apple TV?

Question

Mum asks Son, what's a Raspberry Pi and why is it better than an Apple TV? You said Apple TV's are awesome??

Answer

Son tells Mum..

Apple TV's are still awesome, if they can be Jailbroken.. if not their a bit useless for us Australians. Since we have an Apple TV 3 which currently can't be Jailbroken it's pretty well just an AirPlay receiver in a fancy and expensive box.

Also, Raspberry Pi is one of the latest and greatest things to arrive in 2013 - I put it in the same category of awesome things like 3D Printers, Arduino and xbmc. Technically, a Raspberry Pi is just a computer but really it's so much more due to it's size, speed, expandability and power usage.

With the Raspberry Pi, I can create an AirPlay receiver which is basically all our Apple TV is - plus I can add a whole lot more functions at the same time and I can do this completely opensource. Due to the limitless modifications I could do to the Raspberry Pi I can also hide it very well and run it off another devices Power.

For example, I could take the speakers in my room which are standard RCA speakers and place the Raspberry Pi in the bass, connect it to the speakers power source and audio inputs (internally) and set it up as an AirPlay Receiver! This is totally awesome since it can all be done for about AUD$40 and in only half an hour. Plus! I can always add and remove functions or even reuse the Raspberry Pi for something completely different. It's as if I was the developer to all my own devices!

So Mum, that's why a Raspberry Pi is even more awesome than an Apple TV (especially Apple TV 3).

[isetup-blog]

iSetup Jailbroken!

I’ve decide to start another part of this project which utilises the ability of Jailbroken devices and services compared to stock Apple devices and services.

It will include Solutions with the use of things like

Jailbroken iPhones / iPads

Tweaks to OS X and Apple Programs

Raspberry Pi

and anything else that is relevant.

These Solutions will be much more Advanced then any of the current Solutions.

It will cover subjects and Problems like

How to build an AirPlay Video / Audio Receiver

How to make an iOS device an Airplay Receiver

Although, it will not cover things that can be achieved by a non Jailbroken device or a service that does not require tweaking.

I'm excited for what the future holds in the Families iSetup Jailbroken and not Jailbroken

[isetup-blog]

What is Home Sharing?

Question

Mum asks Son, what is Home Sharing and why aren't we using it?

Answer

Son tells Mum Home Sharing enables you to stream or transfer music, movies, TV shows, apps, and more among up to five authorized computers in your household. To do so, you will need to Turn on Home Sharing on each computer using the same Apple ID. This sounds great but there are 2 main reasons why we aren't using Home Sharing. Reason 1 If the Family was to setup Home Sharing on the Apple TV the controls are limited by the Apple Remote or the Remote App on an iOS Device. While this sounds good the Apple Remote is very basic, good for some things but not the overall use. On the same lines, the Remote App for iOS Devices is even less functional than the Apple Remote as it features a very awkward drag to move d-pad where at least the Apple Remote had physical buttons. Reason 2 Everyone in the Family has different media on their iCloud accounts, generally they do not use each others media and if they do there's probably a better solution then Home Sharing available. This being said, the question is - Who's account would be used for the Home Sharing? since there is no main account which holds everyones content it would only be useful to the person who's account is being used. Hopefully Apple has recognized this issue and plans on fixing it in the near future.

[isetup-blog]

Apple TV HDMI to RCA

Problem

Mum has a 42” TV that doesn’t have any HDMI inputs but claims to support HD Playback. Son is not 100% sure but thinks it probably doesn’t support HD playback as its nearly a Decade old.

Although, son doesn’t know to much about HD TV’s and Playback.

Solution

Son see’s there are 3 options.

Get a new TV that supports HDMI

Try some cables / adapters

Try a ‘converter’

Son does not want to buy a new TV because he’s already just bought a whole bunch of Mac’s and iPads and its only the family TV.

Son looks on ebay for a converter from HDMI to RCA he sees a whole bunch for about AUD$30 and another whole bunch for about AUD$100-200 . Son does not believe the AUD$30 converters do anything more than adapt the cables and fit them in a cute box.

Son also sees that some of the AUD$30 are powered by USB. This is not cool, things this small powered by USB with HDMI power running into them are totally dumb.

Son looks at some cables w/ adapters, on eBay and for AUD$2.00 he can get a Cable that claims to take HDMI output (Apple TV) and display it on RCA input (Old TV). Son is skeptical about this but since its so cheap he can't really justify not trying it.

Son is still in the process of receiving the Cables for this solution. This will be updated when more information is available.

[isetup-blog]

Using Time Capsule to hold iTunes Media

Problem

Mum wants her TV Shows accessible via iTunes but Son and Daughter don’t want it in theres and Dad’s Macbook Air only has 128GB of storage.

Dad also wants to keep his Music locally on his Macbook Air for when he’s not at home.

Son would also like to access these TV Shows and even store his own somewhere else. Also Son does not want to fork out any money on a big SSD for Dads Macbook Air.

Solution

Son gets Dad’s Macbook Air and goes into

iTunes > Prefences > Advanced

and un-ticks

Copy files to iTunes Media Folder when adding to library

This means when something is imported it will not be copied to the default location

Users/Dad/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media

Although this location could be changed to the Time Capsule, Dad still wants his music saved to the computer. It would be nice if you could choose separate locations for different kinds media but you can’t. Damn.

With this method, everyone in the Family can also un-tick

Users/Dad/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media

and copy their files to the Time Capsule to free up space on their macs.

Related Problems

AirPlay Macbook Air iTunes to Apple TV via iPad

Mum wants to play her TV Shows on the Apple TV via her iPad but their stored in the Time Capsule and only viewable on Dad's Macbook Air's iTunes.

[isetup-blog]

Optical Audio to RCA

Problem

Son wants to add some pretty cheap speakers to the lounge room where the Apple TV is so the family can enjoy better quality sounds for all their Network TV shows and Apple TV media.

Son doesn't want to really spend more than AUD$100 for the whole system, so some thrifty thinking and planning will come in handy.

Solution

Son decides to get some Logitech Z560’s for AUD$90. They have an RCA input and some 3.5mm Inputs. Son is not sure exactly what the 3.5mm inputs do so Son decides to buy it with the idea of only using the RCA inputs.

Son plans to buy an Optical Audio to RCA converter, this will connect directly into the Apple TV via it's Optical Audio output and then into the Logitech Z560's RCA input. Son knows this is not the perfect solution as the Old TV itself will not play through the speakers. Son has some spare RCA Y splitters which he can use to get RCA from both Apple TV and Old TV.

Son is still in the process of receiving the Cables and Logitech Speakers for this solution. This will be updated when more information is available.

[isetup-blog]

.Pst Outlook to .vcf Contacts

Problem

Dad wants his Outlook contacts off his Windows computer onto his Macbook Air into his Contacts App.

Son has already taken the hard drive out of the Windows computer because it was quicker to copy files directly to the mac rather then from the Windows computer to another hard drive and again to Dad's Macbook Air so Son doesn't really want to put it back in. Lazy..

Solution

Son looks online for a free solution and also tries to read the .pst file himself. Son realizes its not a very friendly file to work with and couldn't find a completely free solution.

Son found the software PST Bridge (free) in the Mac App Store and downloads it.

Son then Opens the App and clicks Open PST, he selects Dad's PST.

The contacts content has been remove from this image for privacy.

Please note, to continue to the next step you will need to make an In-App-Purchase for the Exporter Module for PST Bridge, otherwise you will only be able to export the first 10 contacts of pieces of information.

Son clicks Export Wizard and selects Address Book Contacts and then clicks Continue.

Son selects Dad's PST file and clicks Continue

Son then chooses the Location to export the Contacts and clicks Export

The Contacts have now been successfully exported to individual vcf formats. This is a format which the Mac Contacts App can understand.

Now Son opens the folder where the contacts have been exported and Selects them all

Son then opens the Mac Contacts App

Son goes back to the Folder with all of the contacts selected and drags 'n drops them onto the Mac Contacts App

Son clicks Add and now all of Dad's contacts have successfully been imported to his Mac and iCloud account. Yay.

Although, Son is upset because there is probably an OpenSource solution to the problem. Lame. He recommends other people should look for an alternative solution that is free, because there probably is one.

[isetup-blog]

MS Money on a Mac

Problem

Dad wants to continue doing his Tax on his Macbook Air using a simple program like the one he used on his Windows Computer which was MS Money which is a program from 1996. ..Shit.

Son looks up alternative softwares for Dads Macbook Air but finds nothing that is comparable to what Dad is used to.

Son tosses up writing a native Mac App for his Dad or try some seamless / bottle software. Either way, one of these is going to be the solution as Son does not want to involve Bootcamp or a Virtual Machine for what is literally a 21mb program.

Solution

Son tries the Bottle software called Crossover by Codeweavers. This lets him create what appears to Dad to be a fully running Windows program on Dad's Macbook Air and is seamless without a visible Virtual Machine.

It's really a fair bit more then that and Son is still tossing up whether he should just make a Wine Skin or write up an App. But that will be saved for a later date as Son is moderately busy and this solution works pretty well.

Hey guys, I realize there is a fair bit of demand for a MS Money alternative on mac. If you would like to support this please comment your interest below. I have the technical ability to create this App and would release it for free in the Mac App Store (so it's legit), all I need to know is how much demand is out there.

I am now in the process of creating AM Money short for Apple Macintosh Money compared to MS Money short for Microsoft Money.

Updates will be posted here. The App will be Beta released prior to being added to the Mac App Store which will happen a few months after a stable heavily featured version is available.

Update 1

Sandy

Since I don't personally use this Application it's taken me a little bit of time to just figure out what it actually does. I'll say it now so people don't get their hopes up, this App will not have every feature, for example; "On-Line" .. obviously this is outdated, sure similar more current alternatives like B-Pay, PayMate etc could be added but I'm not even going to consider it this early in development.

Also I will keep the layout fairly similar, the only major change will be the way you add a new entry. The Table view will be as close to exactly the same as possible, I plan on even keeping the bright aqua blue as a little quirk.

The image below features a Sandy GUI, only for Alpha testing while all the operations are figured out. Once Beta testing arrives it will look much smarter.

Update 2

After copyright claims from Microsoft I am no longer able to publish this App. I have created it though and it works with all the functionality that was needed, so to anyone wanting to create the App themselves it can be done although it requires a decent amount of Xcode knowledge. I basically wrote it in Perl though.

Sorry for the bad news.

[isetup-blog]

AirPlay Macbook Air iTunes to Apple TV via iPad

Problem

Mum wants to watch her TV Shows on the Apple TV. Mums TV Shows are all stored on the Time Capsule and playable on the iTunes running on Dads Macbook Air which is usually left in the office. Hmm..

Mum also doesn't want to have to go into the office and muck around on Dads Macbook Air every time she wants to watch a Show. Hmm.. Lazy..

Son knows that Mums iPad is only 16GB and that isn't suitable in this situation to store her shows as it would involve too much syncing so the Shows will have to stay on the Time Capsule playable via Dads Macbook Air's iTunes.

Solution

Mum downloads the Remote App on her iPad from the App Store

Mum opens Remote and taps "Add an iTunes Library"

Mum then goes onto Dad's Macbook Air and opens iTunes and then clicks "Remote" in the top right corner and types in the 4 digit code she received on her iPad

Mum has now successfully connected Remote on her iPad to Dad's Macbook Air's iTunes

Now Mum can control Dad's Macbook Air's iTunes to play her TV Shows over AirPlay to the Apple TV

Related Problems

Home Sharing With Apple TV

[isetup-blog]

Multiple Photostreams on a single Mac

Problem

Mum wants to have her Photostream in iPhoto on Dads Macbook Air but you can only setup 1 iCloud account per Mac User and dads already setup his iCloud on the Macbook Air and we don't want to setup another User just for Mum. Damn.

Solution

Currently there is no solution. F#&%ing Apple..

[isetup-blog]

Mum's Mail on Dad's Macbook Air

Problem

Mum wants to have her emails on Dad's Macbook Air because sometimes it's just easier to view them there instead of on her other devices. Hmm..

Solution

Mum gets onto Dads Macbook Air and navigates to:

System Prefernces

Mail, Contacts & Calendars

(clicks the + at the bottom left)

Mum types in her iCloud Account Details

Mum ticks what she wants to sync

Mum's now got her emails, contacts sync'd to Dads Macbook Air. Yay.