11/02/2009
Auto Upload Dreamweaver Files
Do you use Adobe Dreamweaver to create and design websites? Is Dreamweaver no longer automatically uploading all dependent files when you save a page? We use Adobe Dreamweaver to create methodshop.com and this always seems to trip us up everyone couple years or so.Chances are you probably were messing around with your Dreamweaver Preferences or accidentally checked the "Don't Ask Me Again" check during the "putting" process.
PROBLEM: Dreamweaver fails to prompt for including dependent files when putting
SOLUTION: This is an easy fix. If you want to be prompted to upload dependent files, then you'll need to turn on the "Prompt on Put/Check In" preference. Just follow the directions below:
Requirements:
- Dreamweaver 3 or higher (Mac/PC)
1. Choose Edit > Preferences.
2. Select the Site category.
3. Under Dependent Files, check Prompt on Put/Check In.
methodshop
10/08/2009
Assign Drive Letter i to Your iPod
Microsoft Windows assigns drive letters to disk volumes to help tell them apart. For example, the default letter assigned to your computer’s hard drive is probably ‘c.’ Each time you dock the iPod to a PC, Windows will assign the iPod the next available drive letter, such as ‘f’ or ‘g.’ But isn’t the letter ‘i’ the most appropriate drive letter assignment for the iPod?
Here’s a simple tutorial on how to assign the drive letter ‘i’ to an iPod connected to a PC using Microsoft Windows.
Tutorial: Assign Your iPod to Microsoft Windows Drive Letter ‘i’
methodshop
9/23/2009
How to Remove Duplicates From Your iTunes Library
As your iTunes Library grows, you will probably lose track of exactly what media you have already imported. Eventually you will end up with duplicate songs and videos. For example, you might accidentally import a CD twice or add files from Limewire or BitTorrent. Or maybe a friend with a big Terabyte hard drive loaded you up with a lot of music recently.Here are a few tips and techniques on how to get rid of duplicate songs in your iTunes Library as well as some precautions you should take before deleting duplicate tracks.
Tutorial: How to Remove Duplicates From Your iTunes Library
methodshop
7/29/2009
Twitter Client for the C64 [video]
Get ready for some 1980's computing to meet Web 2.0. A guy named Johan Van den Brande has made a Twitter client for Commodore 64 (C64).The C64 was first introduced by Commodore in August 1982. It was a revolutionary computer and boosted the best graphics and sound capabilities of its time. The C64 had 64KB of RAM, a 985Khz processor and could display screen resolutions as high as 320×256. Compared to computers today, the processing power in your bedroom alarm clock could dance circles around the C64.
You don't see too many Commodore computers these days. After 25 years, most people have either thrown them away or they are buried in an attic or garage. So if you want to try using Breadbox, your best bet will probably be to install a C64 emulator on your Mac or PC. We have a methodshop.com tutorial that will walk you through the installation of a C64 emulator if you are interested.
In the video below, Johan Van den Brande shows off his Breadbox software and loads a screen from Twitter. Skip to 2:45 if you don't want to see the camera setup and the application loading from diskette.
If you're curious, Johan posted a more technical description on his website.
"It's a Commodore 128D running in C64 mode. All Commodore 128 and 128D systems could either run in C128, CP/M or C64 mode, so it's like having 3 computers in one. This isn't emulation as the C128 has the same core hardware as a C64. Whether you're running in 128 or 64 mode is just a matter of how fast the 8502 CPU is running, which ROM is active, and whether you have 128K or 64K of RAM available."
After watching the video you may be scratching your head wondering why someone would even bother making a C64 Twitter client. It's all just nerdy thrills ladies.
If you're still not sure what all this Twitter talk is all about, then this article might help: How to Explain Twitter to Your Grandma.
methodshop
Labels: games, social networking, tech news, tutorial
6/18/2009
How to Tweet Video Clips on Twitter Using BubbleTweet
Can't fully express yourself with Twitter's 140-character limit? It can be tough. And sometimes plain text just isn't enough. Luckily services like TwitPic and Ping.fm allow us to embed picture links in our tweets. But what about video? There are actually a few services helping bring video to Twitter and BubbleTweet is one of the best.A "BubbleTweet" is a short video clip that plays in a"bubble video player" that floats on top of your Twitter page. That's right. When one of your Twitter followers clicks on your BubbleTweet URL, the video clip plays on top of your Twitter page. Then, when the video is done playing, the player "pops" and goes away. It's simple, easy to use and just plain fun.
Besides a Twitter account, all you need to start BubbleTweeting is an existing video clip or a webcam. Ready to make your first BubbleTweet? The tutorial link below will walk you through the process step-by-step.
Tutorial: How to tweet video clips on Twitter using BubbleTweet
methodshop
Labels: internet, social networking, tutorial, video
6/02/2009
Dealing with iTunes Duplicates
As your iTunes Library grows, you will probably lose track of exactly what music you have already imported and end up with duplicate songs. You might accidentally import a CD twice or add files from BitTorrent. Or maybe a friend with a big Terabyte hard drive "loaded you up" with a lot of music recently.Here are a few tips and techniques on how to get rid of duplicate songs in your iTunes Library as well as some precautions you should take before deleting duplicate tracks.
Tutorial: Managing Duplicate Songs in Your iTunes Library
methodshop
5/27/2009
Tutorial: Making Celebrity Miis for the Nintendo Wii
The Nintendo Wii is a great console. It's family friendly, fun and allows you to customize your characters, called Miis, used in many of the games.The "Mii" is a brilliant concept. Instead of being some generic character in a game, you can be yourself. You can also make a celebrity look alike Mii. That way the next time you are playing Baseball on Wii Sports, you might end up with a celebrity Mii on your team like Oprah, Borat (pictured below), Charlie Brown (pictured on right) or even Dwight Schrute from the American TV show The Office.
This tutorial will guide you through making a Mii and sharing it on the Internet as well as give you plenty of celebrity Mii ideas.
Tutorial: How to Make and Share Celebrity Miis for the Nintendo Wii
methodshop
5/18/2009
How to Fix an Inverted Macintosh Monitor
Is the monitor on your Macintosh computer inverted? Are you seeing black where it should be white? Does everything look negative? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you accidentally enabled a Macintosh feature for people with impaired vision.
We've heard of people doing all sorts of crazy things to fix this problem like swapping video cards, buying new LCD monitors, attempting a monitor calibration or even replacing RAM. But there's a much simpler way to fix this inverted screen problem. Chances are, all you need to do is change a few settings in your Mac OS X System Preferences panel. There are some extreme cases where a little more fiddling is required, but we have solutions for those as well.
So don't worry. Your video card isn't broken. Now let's fix your inverted monitor problem.
Tutorial: How to Fix an Inverted Macintosh Monitor
methodshop
5/05/2009
How to Download YouTube Videos
Want to download a video from YouTube? There are a ton of reasons why you'd want to save the file locally on your computer. Maybe you need to embed the video in a PowerPoint presentation, watch it on your iPod or even edit it in a video project. There's only one problem: YouTube doesn't allow you download their videos. Why? They want you to come to their site and be exposed to the adverting.Even though YouTube doesn't make it easy, you can still download their videos if you know a few tricks. Here's a step-by-step MethodShop.com tutorial on how to download video files off YouTube.com and convert them for an iPod or iPhone.
TUTORIAL: How to Copy Files Off YouTube and Convert them for your iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV.
This trick will work on Mac or PC using Firefox or Internet Explorer.
methodshop
4/20/2009
iPod or iPhone Reset
Is your iPod or iPhone frozen? This can happen for a number of reasons and does not necessarily indicate a serious problem. Sometimes they just need a reset much like the way your computer needs a restart once in a while.Restarting an iPod or iPhone is a simple procedure that will not erase any of your music, data files, or customized preferences.
Tutorial: How to Reset a Frozen iPhone or iPod
Sometimes the iPhone just gets confused. For example, the iPhone may be powered on but it won't respond to any button, switch, or touchscreen input. Try pressing and holding the Home button on the front of the iPhone for 6 seconds until the active program closes.
If this technique does not resolve the issue or the iPhone is in a different state such as showing a persistent Apple logo on the display, then you should reset the iPhone.
methodshop
3/19/2009
BlackBerry iPhone Theme
Are you stuck with a BlackBerry at work but really want an iPhone? There's no magic trick to physically convert your BlackBerry into an iPhone, but you can install the free "bPhone for BlackBerry" theme and make your BlackBerry feel like an iPhone.
The theme will reskin your Blackberry icons with iPhone icons and even replaces the hourglass with the OS X spinning beach ball.
You can install the bPhone theme here if you are reading this on your phone right now or check out the author's website here.Here's a step-by-step bPhone install tutorial:
- open this link on your phone
- Select your BlackBerry phone model (ie. the curve is the 8300).
- Select the "Icon" theme
- Enter in your BlackBerry email address
- A download link will be emailed to your phone
- Download the bPhone theme on your phone
- Go to Prefs on your phone
- Select the bPhone theme
- Enable the bPhone theme
But before you install the theme, please make sure your BlackBerry meets the following requirements:
- 8700 series: BlackBerry OS 4.2.1 or later. WARNING: You MUST have OS 4.2.1 or later or you may render your BlackBerry 8700 unusable! Go to Options > About to check your OS version.
- Pearl (all versions): BlackBerry OS 4.2.1 or later
- Curve (all versions) and 8830: BlackBerry OS 4.2.2 or later
- 8800: BlackBerry OS 4.2.1 or later
methodshop
3/16/2009
How to Fix Boxee Black Screen Error on Apple TV
Is your Apple TV freezing when you launch Boxee? Do you see a quick flash of the Apple logo and then just a blank "black screen"?You aren't alone. If you were one of the early Boxee beta/alpha testers, you might have some files leftover from an old install. Don't even bother reinstalling Boxee or trying a factory restore on your Apple TV. These won't solve your Boxee problems. You need to remove the old user data files using a SSH client.
In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps to remove these old files and return your Boxee software to normal functionality on your Apple TV.
methodshop
3/10/2009
Hulu Blocks Boxee... Again
The streaming video site Hulu and the streaming-video-on-your-TV service Boxee spent all of last weekend fighting. Again. In late February, Hulu asked Boxee to remove the special Hulu browser from the Boxee software. Boxee complied with Hulu's request, but Boxee users were very upset.Then last weekend, Boxee figured out a way around the Hulu issue. Boxee was able to reintegrate Hulu videos back into Boxee's software by creating a video RSS reader. Basically Boxee was just browsing Hulu's public RSS feeds which any web browser or RSS reader can do. This solution wasn't as flashy as the special Hulu application that Boxee had made, but it was a good work around until a formal deal could be worked out with Hulu.
Over the weekend, news quickly spread on Twitter that Boxee had reintegrated Hulu back into the Boxee software. Boxee users rejoiced but their celebration was short lived. Even though Boxee was only importing Hulu's public video RSS feeds, Hulu promptly blocked the Boxee RSS browser and displayed the following message: "This video is not currently available at this site, but you can view this and other Hulu videos at Hulu.com."
In response, Boxee released a statement on the company's blog:
"To our users: if you choose to use Boxee as your media browser to view legal and publicly available content on the Internet, we will do everything we can to ensure that you can access it, no matter what the source... while some of the best things in life are free, sometimes you have to work hard to get them."
Why is Hulu is putting so much effort into blocking Boxee? The only difference between Boxee and your web browser is that Boxee's browser is on your TV screen, rather than your computer screen.
However, there is a silver lining to this story for Boxee users. The new video RSS reader functionality that Boxee developed to reintegrate Hulu can be used to access other public RSS feeds. The next version of Boxee will most likely include the new RSS reader and a feature called "App Box" that will help simplify the addition of new in-house and third party applications.
Boxee hopes to have a new release ready before their New York City Boxee meetup on March 24.
Not sure what all this Boxee talk is all about? Boxee is a free open source cross-platform media center and entertainment hub that can play movies, TV shows, music and photos, as well as streaming content from websites like
Tutorial: How to Install Boxee on Your Apple TV
All you need to install Boxee on your Apple TV is a USB stick. If you own an Apple TV, then you need Boxee. Install Boxee and set your Apple TV free.
methodshop
3/05/2009
How to Convert Audio File Formats in iTunes
iTunes is much more than a digital music jukebox. It's capable of handling many different tasks involving digital media and your iPod. Some of iTunes' most popular features include buying music online, burning CDs, and syncing files with your iPod or iPhone. But one of the lesser known functions hidden within iTunes is the ability to convert audio files.Why would you need to convert an audio file? Converting audio file types can be useful in many different situations. Here are a few examples:
- You have an AAC file in iTunes that's not compatible with your Zune that can play MP3 and not AAC files.
- A WAV file needs to be emailed to a client for approval but it's too big. You need to convert the file to an AAC so it's small enough to easily send via email.
- You are making a music video and want to use a song you purchased from the iTunes Store as the soundtrack. However, the editing program won't import the song because of Apple's protective DRM (Digital Rights Management).
Tutorial: Converting Audio File Formats in iTunes
methodshop
2/27/2009
Apple TV 2.3.1 Update Breaks @Boxee
This week Apple released a very minor firmware update for the Apple TV. The 2.3.1 update only adds a "Network Test" option to help users troubleshoot Internet connections. That's it. Seriously, it's hardly worth the trouble. But the update does do something we weren't expecting... it disables and deletes the Boxee software.Boxee is a free open source cross-platform media center application that enables your Apple TV to play streaming content from websites like
So if you've already hacked your Apple TV and installed the Boxee software, you should probably skip this 2.3.1 update and wait for a new version of the Apple TV firmware that actually adds some new features.
Unfortunately this has been a rough few weeks for Boxee. First they had to remove the ability to watch Hulu videos from their software because Hulu's content partners were complaining. And now Apple is releasing minor software updates that disable Boxee.
If you love Boxee, then you'll want to disable automatic Apple TV updates. Here's how:
- After you've hacked your Apple TV and installed Boxee, select "Settings" from the Launcher menu (Launcher > Settings).
- You should now see a screen with two options that say "Use Universal Mode" and "ATV OS Update enabled." Set "ATV OS Update Enabled" to "No."
- That's it. For now on, minor Apple TV firmware updates will no longer ruin your Boxee fun.
Tutorial: How to Install Boxee on Your Apple TV
All you need to hack your Apple TV so it can use Boxee is a USB stick. If you own an Apple TV, then you need Boxee. Install Boxee and set your Apple TV free.
methodshop
2/25/2009
Twitter Autofollowing Tutorial
Autofollowing people on Twitter just got a whole lot easier.Last month we wrote a detailed tutorial on methodshop.com that walked you through how to setup up your Twitter account to autofollow anyone who follows you using a service called TweetLater. Part of the process involved making an autoforward rule in Gmail. But after getting an inbox full of undelivered mail this past weekend, we figured we should sign in to TweetLater.com and see what was up.
It turns out that Twitter recently updated their API and TweetLater no longer requires you to forward emails to them using Gmail. Here's a blog post from TweetLater with more details about the update:
Thanks to a positive addition to the Twitter API, TweetLater was able implement a completely different way of identifying new followers.
We now get that information directly from the Twitter API, and we do not need your forwarded Twitter new follower notification emails anymore.
Please remove/delete/inactivate the forwarding rule that forwards emails to twitterfollow@tweetlater.com.
You can do this right now because we have already migrated the new follower processing for your Twitter account over to the new and far more efficient method.
At this point in time we'll be processing your new followers once a day, but we may do it more often in the future.
Even though we process your followers once a day, we automatically spread out your welcome message throughout the day. Your new followers won't all get their welcome messages at the same time. In other words, if you publish public welcome tweets, your timeline will not be littered with a bunch of welcome messages all at once. And, if you send DMs, you will see the DMs drip-feed into your Sent DM folder throughout the day.
If you have new follower vetting turned on in TweetLater, then know that it will still work as before. The only change is that your new followers are added to that list once a day now, as opposed to through-out the day. (If you haven't checked out the new follower vetting feature yet, please do so now. It is really cool.)
There's a lot of good news in this announcement. If you've struggled in the past to get your automation working, it will now "just work" (provided that we still have your valid Twitter username and password on file).
If you previously used this methodshop.com tutorial to setup your Twitter account to autofollow your followers, then you'll need to disable the Gmail auto forward rule. We've also updated the tutorial with some new instructions.
methodshop
Labels: internet, social networking, tutorial
2/17/2009
Expose the Exposé Blob
Like using Exposé but hate hot corners and function keys? Why not unleash the hidden Exposé Blob built into Mac OS X? You can even make your blob look like Eric Cartman or Meatwad from ATHF.
When Apple introduced Exposé in OS X 10.3 Panther, many people felt it was the best new feature in the entire operating system. In case you have no idea what Expose is, basically it's a component in the Macintosh operating system that allows you to instantly access any open window or document with a single keystroke. Dragging your mouse into a hot corner or pressing a function key instantly tiles and scales all of your open windows and documents so you can see everything you are working on in a single glance.Yes, it is a great feature, but activating Exposé is sometimes kind of awkward. Personally I tend to accidentally hit the wrong function key and usually turn on my screen saver several times with a mistaken hot corner before activating finally activating Expose.
The programmers at Apple probably felt the same way. Hidden deep within the Mac OS is a secret, yet fully functional, graphical interface for Exposé. Most people like to call it a "blob." The Blob is really just a shaded blue sphere. The Blob is moveable, clickable and a nice addition or mascot for your Macintosh OS X Desktop. You can even customize the Blob to be any image you want. For example, I've customized my Blob to be Eric Cartman from Comedy Centrals' South Park.
methodshop
2/12/2009
Restart a Frozen iPhone or iPod
Is your iPod or iPhone frozen? This can happen for a number of reasons and does not necessarily indicate a serious problem. Sometimes they just need a restart much like the way your computer needs a reset once in a while.Restarting an iPod or iPhone is a simple procedure that will not erase any of your music, data files, or customized preferences.
Tutorial: How to Restart a Frozen iPod or iPhone
Sometimes the iPhone just gets confused. For example, the iPhone may be powered on but it won't respond to any button, switch, or touchscreen input. Try pressing and holding the Home button on the front of the iPhone for 6 seconds until the active program closes.
If this technique does not resolve the issue or the iPhone is in a different state such as showing a persistent Apple logo on the display, then you should reset the iPhone.
methodshop
2/10/2009
How to Install Google's Gmail Notifier on the Mac OS X
Are you a Gmail user? Want to integrate Gmail into your operating system and save yourself a trip to Gmail.com every time you want to check your email?This tutorial will teach you how to install Google's Gmail Notifier on the Mac OS X and add icons to your menu bar, dock and even auto launch the Google Notifier application when turning on your computer.
Tutorial: How to Install Gmail Notifier on Mac OS X
methodshop
2/05/2009
Troubleshooting an Apple TV
Is your Apple TV frozen or unresponsive? Is the battery in your Apple Remote control dead? Is the hard drive completely fried? This tutorial will walk you through a variety of common problems and help you figure out what's wrong with your Apple TV.
methodshop
1/27/2009
How to Anonymize Your Web Browser
Privacy is a constant issue in today's technology enabled society, but there is plenty you can do to protect yourself starting with your web browser.One of the most useful and at the same time, most dangerous things about web browsers is the amount of data they store. Did you forget your password for that photo sharing site? Can't remember which travel company you bought your plane tickets with? Don't worry... your web browser remembers. Web browsers are constantly collecting information about you. They can do everything from store passwords to let you search your browsing history.
However, this stored data may be useful for you, but anyone who snoops around on your computer can use your web browser data to discover your habits, history, passwords, account names and preferences. This information can then be used by ex-spouses, advertisers of even hackers to take advantage of you.
Tutorial: How to Anonymize Your Web Browser
methodshop
1/26/2009
How to Change the Language on Your iPod
Oops! Did you accidentally change you iPod's language to Chinese, Japanese or Icelandic? Want to switch it back to English or another language you understand? Here's how:- Press the Menu button like 20 times. You want to be sure you are on the Main Menu screen.
- Scroll all the way down to the last menu option - but don't select it.
- Scroll up one menu item. This should be the Settings option.
- Press the Center (Select) button.
- You are now in the Settings menu.
- Scroll down to the last menu option. It should say "Reset All Settings" in English - but don't select it.
- Scroll up to the third menu item from the bottom. This should be the Language option.
- Press the Center button to select Language.
- Select your preferred language from the list.
For more tutorials and help articles, checkout the methodsop.com iPod/iPhone Help Section.
methodshop
1/21/2009
Reset Your Play Count in iTunes
What's your favorite song? You may find this surprising, but iTunes can probably answer that question for you. Each time a song is played in iTunes, the Play Count of that particular song increases by one.But what if a song you loathe and only play as a gag for friends happens to creep into your ‘Most Listened To' playlist?
The following tutorial explains how to reset the Play Count of one or more songs in your iTunes library. Most savvy iTunes won't need a tutorial this in-depth, but everyone is a newbie once.
Tutorial: Resetting the Play Count in iTunes
1/20/2009
How to Auto Follow People on Twitter - Tutorial
During the 2008 U.S. Presidential campaign, Barack Obama became a Twitter phenomenon. After signing up for a Twitter account on March 5, 2007, his campaign slowly grew his Twitter following until in August 2008 Obama became the #1 person using the service. Obama not only had thousands of more followers than his opponent John McCain, but more followers than anyone else using Twitter.If you follow Obama on Twitter, you probably know 2 things: 1) he doesn't tweet that much, and 2) moments after you follow Obama on Twitter, he follows you. How did the the Obama campaign do this? Do they have a dedicated staff person managing his Twitter account or is it automated?
Honestly I don't know the answer, but there is a way to auto follow your followers on Twitter. This auto follow Twitter trick can be can be pretty useful if you find yourself managing a Twitter account for a public figure or celebrity.
Tutorial: How to Auto Follow People on Twitter
In order for this auto follow trick to work, you need to send your new follower Twitter emails through a Gmail filter that automatically forwards the message to an awesome service called TweetLater.com. Don't worry, it sounds more complicated than it really is.
methodshop
12/29/2008
Hack Your Apple TV with Boxee
Buying iTunes season passes to a handful of shows like South Park, The Daily Show, Angel, Fringe, Battlestar Galactica, Friends and SNL will set you back hundreds of dollars. That's a hard wad of cash to swallow especially since you can watch all these shows for free streaming video websites like Hulu, WB and Comedy Central. The only problem is who wants to spend hours hunched over a computer for hours? It makes my back hurt just thinking about it. Wouldn't you rather sit on your couch and watch a full length movie on your big-ass HDTV?
Luckily for us, where Apple falls flat on its face with the Apple TV, Boxee comes to the rescue. Boxee is a free open source cross-platform media center and entertainment hub that can play movies, TV shows, music and photos, as well as streaming content from websites like Hulu, Netflix, CBS, Comedy Central, Last.fm, and flickr. Hell, the damn thing can even download free public torrents (Refer Madness anyone?!).Tutorial: How to Install Boxee on Your Apple TV
All you need to hack your Apple TV so it can use Boxee is a USB stick. If you own an Apple TV, then you need Boxee. Install Boxee and set your Apple TV free.
12/26/2008
How NOT to Ship a HDTV [pics]
Did you get a HD flatscreen TV for Christmas? Need to return it? Please do the exact OPPOSITE of what you see here. The person who packed up and shipped this HDTV must have been a professional... idiot. They might as well have shipped this HDTV using bricks and bowling balls for padding. For future reference, here's a photo tutorial on how NOT to ship a Plasma or LCD HDTV.
12/17/2008
How to Make a Looping DVD
Making a looping DVD is a common request for any multimedia designer. Looping DVD's can be found in stores, theme parks, building lobbies, clubs and even in boardrooms for corporate presentations.Some applications like Roxio Toast will make a quick and dirty DVD loop for you, but they lack features and video compressor quality. If you are just making a DVD loop for your grandmother's retirement party, use Roxio Toast to make your loop. But if you are making a DVD loop for a real client without cataracts and glaucoma, then use DVD Studio Pro. It's the difference between amateur hour and primetime.
Tutorial: How to Make a Looping DVD Using DVD Studio Pro
methodshop
Labels: tutorial
12/15/2008
How to Remove Duplicates From Your iTunes Library
As your iTunes Library grows, you will probably lose track of exactly what media you have already imported. Eventually you will end up with duplicate songs and videos in your iTunes Library. For example, you might accidentally import a CD twice or add files from Limewire or BitTorrent. Or maybe a friend with a big Terabyte hard drive loaded you up with a lot of music recently.Here are a few tips and techniques on how to get rid of duplicate media in your iTunes Library as well as some precautions you should take before deleting duplicate tracks.
Tutorial: How to Remove Duplicates From Your iTunes Library
methodshop
11/25/2008
HandBrake 0.9.3 Now Converts Any Digital Video Format, Not Just DVDs
This past weekend, the amazing open-source DVD ripping program HandBrake was updated to version 0.9.3 and a lot of Handbrake users are now both excited and disappointed. Why? The Handbrake team has both added and taken away features.
The most exciting new Handbrake feature is called Universal Input. HandBrake is no longer limited to converting DVDs. Handbrake will now accept practically any type of video source and convert it to whatever video format you desire including Xbox, Apple TV, PS3, iPod and iPhone. This is great news considering VisualHub, one of the most loved video conversion applications in recent memory, shutdown a few months ago.
Some of the other improvements in Handbrake 0.9.3 include a Linux GUI enhancement, better audio controls, and increased video encoding quality.
So what has everyone so upset at the Handbrake team? For some reason they decided to remove the DVD decryption feature. That's right, Handbrake 0.9.3 will no longer natively rip DVDs. Weird right? I wonder if they were getting some pressure from the movie industry. But don't give up on Handbrake just yet. You can still use Handbrake 0.9.3 to rip DVDs, you just need to install VLC on your machine first.
Until you have time to install VLC, you might want to keep a copy of Handbrake 0.9.2 around for ripping DVDs and use the new Handbrake 0.9.3 for converting videos.
Please check out our methodshop.com Handbrake tutorial for download links and step-by-step directions.
methodshop
The most exciting new Handbrake feature is called Universal Input. HandBrake is no longer limited to converting DVDs. Handbrake will now accept practically any type of video source and convert it to whatever video format you desire including Xbox, Apple TV, PS3, iPod and iPhone. This is great news considering VisualHub, one of the most loved video conversion applications in recent memory, shutdown a few months ago.
Some of the other improvements in Handbrake 0.9.3 include a Linux GUI enhancement, better audio controls, and increased video encoding quality.
So what has everyone so upset at the Handbrake team? For some reason they decided to remove the DVD decryption feature. That's right, Handbrake 0.9.3 will no longer natively rip DVDs. Weird right? I wonder if they were getting some pressure from the movie industry. But don't give up on Handbrake just yet. You can still use Handbrake 0.9.3 to rip DVDs, you just need to install VLC on your machine first.
"We're not about to stop you from choosing to decrypt DVDs. If you're on a Mac, and you have VLC 0.9.x installed, you won't even notice the internal capability's gone. If you're on Linux, all you have to do is install a library." ~ Handbrake News page; Nov 23, 2008
Until you have time to install VLC, you might want to keep a copy of Handbrake 0.9.2 around for ripping DVDs and use the new Handbrake 0.9.3 for converting videos.
Please check out our methodshop.com Handbrake tutorial for download links and step-by-step directions.
Tutorial: How to Rip DVD's for Your iPod, Apple TV or iPhone
methodshop
11/08/2008
Fixing a Frozen iPod Touch or iPhone
The most common problem iPod and iPhone users will experience is an occasional freeze or lockup.Occasionally an iPod or iPhone may freeze or fail to respond to your commands. This can happen for a number of reasons and does not necessarily indicate a serious problem. Sometimes they just need a restart much like the way your computer needs a reset once in a while.
Restarting an iPod or iPhone is a simple procedure that will not erase any of your music, data files, or customized preferences.
This MethodShop.com tutorial will show you how to restart a frozen iPod Shuffle, iPhone, iPod Touch, and even older iPods from 1G to 4G.
Tutorial: How to restart or reboot your iPod/iPhone
methodshop
10/22/2008
How to Rip DVDs For Your iPod, iPhone and Apple TV
Do you have a ton of DVD's? Want to watch them on your iPod, iPhone or Apple TV? Here's a tutorial that explains how to use an awesome DVD ripping program called Handbrake.Handbrake will rip any standard video DVD into an iTunes compatible MPEG-4 video file.
Tutorial: How to Rip DVDs into MPEG4
methodshop
9/23/2008
How to fix iTunes 8 BSOD error on Microsoft Vista
Many Microsoft Vista users were paid an unfortunate visit by the dreaded "blue screen of death" when attempting to sync an iPod or iPhone using Apple's new iTunes 8.0.Apple assures Microsoft Vista users that they have fixed the problem with a subsequent release. Vista users who downloaded the initial version of iTunes 8, need to uninstall iTunes, then re-download the updated iTunes installer and reinstall iTunes 8. Got it? Don't worry, step-by-step instructions are below.
It's up to you on who should get the blame on this one. Did Apple write sloppy code for iTunes 8.0 and not properly test it? Or is Windows Vista just a lemon with a Microsoft logo on it? Regardless on who you choose to blame, you will still need to fix the bad version of iTunes 8.0 for Microsoft Vista. Here's how...
How to Uninstall and Reinstall iTunes 8 (Vista)
- Disconnect your iPhone or iPod from Windows Vista. Pull the plug damn it!
- Uninstall iTunes and Apple Mobile Device Support
- For Classic View
- Choose Start > Control Panel > Programs and Features.
- First select Apple Mobile Device Support, click Uninstall.
- Select iTunes, click Uninstall.
- For Control Panel Home View
- Choose Start > Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a Program.
- First select Apple Mobile Device Support, click Uninstall.
- Select iTunes and click Uninstall.
- For Classic View
- Restart the computer.
- Re-download and install the updated iTunes 8 installer from apple.com/itunes/download.
And for the love of God... Do NOT use the iTunes8Setup or iTunes864Setup file you previously downloaded. If you do, go back to step #1 and repeatably bash your brain deeper into your skull using the nearest iPod/iPhone.
methodshop
8/18/2008
My iPod Won't Mount or Update
When you can't get your iPod to mount or show up on your computer there are a few things you can do to trouble shoot this problem. Please follow these suggestions in order.Free iPod Support: How to get your iPod connected with your computer
methodshop
7/28/2008
iPhone Battery Conservation Tips
Paying attention to just a few commonsense pointers will pay off with a longer battery lifespan and battery life for your iPhone.Here are some tips to help you conserve your iPhone 3G battery life and make sure you always have a phone with some juice:
- Condition your battery when it's new. The first week you have your new iPhone, it is a very good idea to fully discharge and charge your battery. This both lengthens the life of your battery and helps ensure your battery knows when it's full or empty. For proper maintenance of a lithium-based battery, it’s important to keep the electrons in it moving occasionally. Be sure to go through at least one charge cycle per month (charging the battery to 100% and then completely running it down).
- Moderate the temperature. The most important thing you can do for your battery is to keep your iPhone out of the sun, hot car (including the glove box) or next to the BBQ grill. Heat will degrade your battery’s performance a lot.
- Lock your iPhone. It may seem obvious, but you should lock your iPhone when you aren’t using it. You will be able to receive calls and text messages while it is locked, but nothing happens if you touch the screen. To lock iPhone, press the Sleep/Wake button. You can also set the Auto-Lock interval so your iPhone will turn off more quickly after a period of inactivity. To set Auto-Lock, go to Settings > General > Auto-Lock and set the interval to a short time, such as 1 minute.
Update your software. Always make sure your iPhone has the latest software from Apple. New software will probably include new ways to optimize battery performance. Make sure you have iTunes 7.7 or later. Then connect your iPhone to your computer, select iPhone in the Source List. In the Summary panel, click “Check for Updates” to see if there’s a new version of the iPhone software available. Click Update to install the latest version.- Make charging your iPhone part of your daily routine. Get extra charge cables. Keep one next to your bed, in your car, by your desk at work, in your backpack, at your girl/boyfrinds house, etc. A really good time to charge is at night while you are sleeping or in the car on the drive to and from work.
Conserve your usage. Resist the urge to mess around on your iPhone when you don't need to. For example, do you really need to check your email while standing in the elevator at work? Just say "hi" to the person(s) in the elevator and kill the idle time with a conversation. You'll be back at your desk in a couple minutes anyway and you can check your email there. Or do you really need the GPS to walk down the hall to the vending machine? Limit the tasks you perform on your iPhone 3G and save your battery for important phone calls and watching movies on the subway.- Turn-off WiFi and Bluetooth. When you really need to save some juice, then turn-off WiFi and Bluetooth. When these services are on, your iPhone is actively scanning for signals from wireless access points or Bluetooth devices. We'll go into more details about these settings below in #8. Both of these can be switched off via the Settings option and will save you a major amount of juice. Speaking of settings....
- Optimize your settings. Depending on how they are configured, a few features may decrease your iPhone battery life. For example, the frequency with which you retrieve email and the number of email accounts you auto-check can both affect battery life. The tips below apply to an iPhone running iPhone 2.0 software or later and may help extend your battery life.
- Minimize use of location services: Applications that actively use location services such as Maps may reduce battery life. To disable location services, go to Settings > General > Location Services or use location services only when needed.
- Fetch new data less frequently: Applications such as Mail can be set to fetch data wirelessly at specific intervals. The more frequently email or other data is fetched, the quicker your battery may drain. To fetch new data manually, from the Home screen choose Settings > Fetch New Data and tap Manually. To increase the fetch interval, go to Settings > Fetch New Data and tap Hourly. Note that this is a global setting and applies to all applications that do not support push services.
- Turn off push mail: If you have a push mail account such as Yahoo!, MobileMe or Microsoft Exchange, turn off push mail when you don’t need it. Go to Settings > Fetch New Data and set Push to Off. Messages sent to your push email accounts will now be received on your phone based on the global Fetch setting rather than as they arrive.
- Auto-check fewer email accounts: You can save power by checking fewer email accounts. This can be accomplished by turning off an email account or by deleting it. To turn off an account, go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars, choose an email account, and set Account to Off. To remove an account, go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars, choose an email account, and tap Delete Account.
- Minimize use of third-party applications: Excessive use of applications such as games that prevent the screen from dimming or shutting off or applications that use location services can reduce battery life.
- Turn off Wi-Fi: Like we said above, if you rarely use Wi-Fi, you can turn it off to save power. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and set Wi-Fi to Off. Note that if you frequently use your iPhone to browse the web, battery life may be improved by using Wi-Fi instead of cellular data networks.
- Turn off Bluetooth: Again, if you rarely use a Bluetooth headset or car kit, you can turn off Bluetooth to save power. Go to Settings > General > Bluetooth and set Bluetooth to Off.
- Use Airplane Mode in low- or no-coverage areas: Because your iPhone always tries to maintain a connection with the cellular network, it may use more power in low- or no-coverage areas. Turning on Airplane Mode can increase battery life in these situations; however, you will be unable to make or receive calls. To turn on Airplane Mode, go to Settings and set Airplane Mode to On.
- Adjust brightness: Dimming the screen is another way to extend battery life. Go to Settings > Brightness and drag the slider to the left to lower the default screen brightness. In addition, turning on Auto-Brightness allows the screen to adjust its brightness based on current lighting conditions. Go to Settings > Brightness and set Auto-Brightness to On.
- Turn off EQ: Applying an equalizer setting to song playback on your iPhone can decrease battery life. To turn EQ off, go to Settings > iPod > EQ and tap Off. Note that if you’ve added EQ to songs directly in iTunes, you’ll need to set EQ on iPhone to Flat in order to have the same effect as Off because iPhone keeps your iTunes settings intact. Go to Settings > iPod > EQ and tap Flat. If you want to learn more about the EQ settings, then read this article: Demystifing Apple's Equalizer Settings
- Turn off 3G: Using 3G cellular networks loads data faster, but may also decrease battery life, especially in areas with limited 3G coverage. To disable 3G, from the Home screen choose Settings > General > Network and set Enable 3G to Off. You will still be able to make and receive calls and access cellular data networks via EDGE or GPRS where available.
MethodShop.com also has an article with tips on how to conserve MacBook, iBook and iPod battery life.
Tutorial: How To Maximize Battery Life on Your Laptops, iPhones and iPods
methodshop
5/29/2008
Converting Audio File Formats in iTunes
iTunes is much more than a digital music jukebox. It's capable of handling many different tasks involving digital media. Some of iTunes' most popular features include buying music and vidoes online, burning CDs, and syncing files with your iPod or iPhone.But one of the lesser known functions hidden within iTunes is the ability to convert audio files.
Why would you need to convert an audio file? Converting audio file types can be useful in many different situations. Here are a few examples:
- You have an AAC file in iTunes that's not compatible with your Zune that can play MP3 and not AAC files.
- A WAV file needs to be emailed to a client for approval but it's too big. You need to convert the file to an AAC so it's small enough to easily send via email.
- You are making a music video and want to use a song you got online as the soundtrack. However, the editing program won't import the song because it doesn't support MP3 or AAC.
- You need to remove the DRM (Digital Rights Management) from an AAC song you purchased from the iTunes Store (see step #7).
Many programs that convert audio files into different formats are pretty complicated and usually cost money. But not iTunes. iTunes is simple, fast and best of all... free.
Tutorial: Converting Audio File Formats in iTunes
methodshop
5/19/2008
How to Make and Share Celebrity Miis for the Nintendo Wii
The Nintendo Wii is a great console. It's family friendly, fun and allows you to customize your characters, called Miis, used in many of the games.The "Mii" is a brilliant concept. Instead of being some generic character in a game, you can be yourself. You can also make a celebrity look alike Mii. That way the next time you are playing Baseball on Wii Sports, you might end up with a celebrity Mii on your team like Oprah, Borat (pictured below), Charlie Brown (pictured on right) or even Dwight Schrute from the American TV show The Office.
This tutorial will guide you through making a Mii and sharing it on the Internet as well as give you plenty of celebrity Mii ideas.
Tutorial: How to Make and Share Celebrity Miis for the Nintendo Wii
methodshop
5/15/2008
Use Your iPhone to Slim Down Your Wallet
Tied of carrying around all those specialty credit cards and membership cards in your wallet? Why not use your iPhone to help slim things down?A blogger named Albert Alberts, scanned all his membership cards to his computer, synced them to his iPhone and made a new photo album called "WalletCards."
Membership numbers, bar codes, security codes, expiration dates, etc... are now right at his fingertips anytime he needs them. And the scanned bar code images can even be scanned directly off the iPhone's screen at the register!
There is a downside to this however. The scanned cards on his iPhone obviously can't be swiped in a credit card machine. So this technique won't work every type of card, but it can at least help slim down your wallet a little bit.
methodshop
4/07/2008
MacBook Battery Check
The rechargeable batteries in MacBooks, iBooks, PowerBooks and iPods are categorized as "lithium-ion." Lilon batteries, as they're often called, provide reliable power for everything from cell phones to laptops, supplying significantly more power than nickel-based cells. Basically, Lilons are not your father's Duracell.The following tips will extend the life of any Lilon battery whether it's playing games, answering e-mails on your laptop or watching a movie on your iPod or iPhone.
Tutorial: Maximizing iPod and MacBook Battery Life
This tutorial even shows you how to use the Terminal in OS X to check your current battery capacity and help you figure out when you need a new battery for your laptop.
methodshop
Labels: tutorial
4/02/2008
PC Inside Aquarium
As computers get faster, they get hotter. Hardware manufactures do their best to cool things down like adding heatsyncs and small fans to internal components, likes high-end video cards and processor upgrades. But eventually heat will become an issue and you'll have to try reducing heat by adding internal fans or some liquid cooled parts...Or you could just submerge your entire computer inside an aquarium tank filled with mineral oil.
I'm not kidding. You seriously have to see this video to believe it. The guys at Puget Custom Computers actually assemble a computer inside an aquarium and then fill it with mineral oil. Not only does the PC look stylish, but heat no longer becomes an issue because the entire computer is liquid cooled! They call it Mineral Oil Submersion Cooling.
There's a surprise at the end of the video. I won't spoil it. You'll just have to watch it and see.
If you want to copy this video off of YouTube and watch it on your iPhone or Apple TV then check out this tutorial: How to Copy Files Off YouTube.
methodshop
3/31/2008
20 Free Fixes for Common iPod and iPhone Problems
Is your iPod acting funny? Has a virus or hard drive crash wiped out your entire music collection on your computer? Need some free iPod tech support and repair help?Here are 20 free fixes and trouble shooting tutorials for common iPod and iPhone problems.
You broke your iPod. Now fix it!
- How to Copy Music Off Your iPod
- How to Use the iPod Diagnostic Mode
- "Do Not Disconnect" Mesage Won't Go Away
- How to Erase Your iPod and Fix Most Problems
- iPod Icons: What is Your iPod Saying
- iPod LCD Screen Problems
- Skipping Music on Your iPod
- Restart a Frozen iPod
- How to Rename Your iPod
- My iPod's Battery Won't Charge
- My Music Disappeared
- How to Delete Duplicate Songs in Your iTunes Library
- Importing Tips for iTunes
- How to Join or Merge Tracks in iTunes
- How to Convert Audio Files in iTunes
- Put Your iPod Into Disk Mode
- iPod Won't Mount or Update
- Using Multiple iPods on One Computer
- I Dropped My iPod in the Toilet (or any other boy of water)
- How to Assign Your iPod to Microsoft Drive Letter "i"
Good luck! If you didn't find what you were looking for, there are more iPod Support articles available. And if all else fails, then try an Overnight iPod Repair Service.
methodshop
3/21/2008
How to Restart a Frozen iPhone or iPod
Occasionally an iPod or iPhone may freeze or fail to respond to your commands. This can happen for a number of reasons and does not necessarily indicate a serious problem. Sometimes they just need a restart much like the way your computer needs a reset once in a while.Restarting an iPod or iPhone is a simple procedure that will not erase any of your music, data files, or customized preferences.
Tutorial: How to Restart a Frozen iPod or iPhone
Sometimes the iPhone just gets confused. For example, the iPhone may be on but it won't respond to any button, switch, or touchscreen input. Try pressing and holding the Home button on the front of the iPhone for 6 seconds until the active program closes.
If this technique does not resolve the issue or the iPhone is in a different state such as showing a persistent Apple logo on the display, then you should reset the iPhone.
methodshop
2/25/2008
How to Add Icons to Your OS X Menu Bar
A Menu Extra in the Mac OS X, is a small icon that appears on the right side of the Menu Bar. For example, check out the image of the Eject icon to the right of this text that's circled in red.Mac OS X Menu Bar Extras often...
- provide a quick and easy way to access common features (chat, sync)
- display information (time, email)
- control system functions (volume, eject a DVD/CD)
Here's a tutorial and video demonstration that shows you how to add/delete and rearrange OS X Menu Bar Extras.
Tutorial: How to Add Icons to Your OS X Menu Bar
methodshop
2/11/2008
Rare Pirate Bay Interview
The Pirate Bay (TPB) is an Internet site that bills itself as "the world's largest BitTorrent tracker" and also serves as a search index for torrent files. People can just search for any movie, application or song torrent and use a BitTorrent client to quickly download the file for free to their computer.The man behind the project, Gottfrid Svartholm ("anakata"), is now facing copyright charges. Gottfrid is rather shy and tends to stay out of the spotlight. However his fight with the Swedish authorities has given him no choice.
Here's a rare TV interview with Gottfrid I found on YouTube.
methodshop
2/05/2008
How to Reset a Frozen iPhone or iPod
Occasionally an iPod or iPhone may freeze or fail to respond to your commands. This can happen for a number of reasons and does not necessarily indicate a serious problem. Sometimes they just need a restart much like the way your computer needs a reset once in a while.Tutorial: How to reset a Frozen iPod or iPhone
Restarting an iPod/iPhone is a simple procedure that will not erase any of your music, data files, or customized preferences.
methodshop
1/15/2008
Hacked Fire Alarm Clock
Ever sleep-in because your alarm clock wasn’t loud enough? With this hacked Fire Alarm, that is guaranteed never to happen again.
This hack takes a standard cheap alarm clock, some interface components and a fire alarm bell to get the job done right. Normally these small alarm clocks use a piezo buzzer to attempt to wake you up. The alarm signal is hijacked from the clock circuit board and used as an input to the interface board.
Contine Reading>>>
This hack takes a standard cheap alarm clock, some interface components and a fire alarm bell to get the job done right. Normally these small alarm clocks use a piezo buzzer to attempt to wake you up. The alarm signal is hijacked from the clock circuit board and used as an input to the interface board.
Contine Reading>>>
Labels: tutorial
12/27/2007
Reset Your Mac OS X User Password
Oops! Did you forget your OS X user account password? Make sure the CAPS LOCK key isn't on. 9 out of 10 times that's usually the problem.But sometimes you might pick a password and then forget accidentally it. Don't worry. It happens. Just follow the directions below to reset your Mac OS X user account password.
Tutorial: How to Reset Your Mac OS X User Password
11/21/2007
Deleting Forward
If you are new to the Mac OS and just purchased a laptop, then you might have noticed the lack of a "Delete Forward" button. Sure, you can hit the delete key on your MacBook or MacBook Pro and delete characters behind the cursor, but did you know that you can use that same delete key to delete characters in front of the cursor?
To Delete Forward, just press the "Function" key + "Delete."
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop
To Delete Forward, just press the "Function" key + "Delete."
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop
11/19/2007
Hacking YouTube Videos
UPDATE: YouTube has reworked their site again in response to this article. They absolutely hate us. If you get an error when trying to download a YouTube video, please try some of the plug-ins and scripts listed in step #3.YouTube.com is a great resource. Not many sites allows users to freely upload, view, and share video clips like YouTube does. YouTube even lets users easily post videos on their blogs and personal web sites. But because anyone can upload a video clip on YouTube, copyright violations are rampant.
In an effort to prevent the widespread distribution of illegal copied video files, YouTube encodes its video files in the Adobe Flash format, which prevents viewers from downloading files and making digital copies.
Here's a step-by-step tutorial on how to rip video files off YouTube.com and convert them for Apple TV, iPod Video, iTunes and iPhone. This trick will work on Mac or PC using Firefox or Internet Explorer.
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop
10/01/2007
BlackBerry iPhone Theme
Got iPhone envy? I do. My company is Blackberry only and won't support the iPhone. So I installed the free "bPhone for BlackBerry" theme.
It reskins all your Blackberry icons with iPhone icons and even replaces the hourglass with the OS X spinning beach ball.
You can install the bPhone theme here if you are reading this on your phone right now or check out the author's website here.
Here's an install step-by-step:
methodshop
It reskins all your Blackberry icons with iPhone icons and even replaces the hourglass with the OS X spinning beach ball.
You can install the bPhone theme here if you are reading this on your phone right now or check out the author's website here.
Here's an install step-by-step:
- open this link on your phone
- Select your BlackBerry phone model (ie. the curve is the 8300).
- Select the "Icon" theme
- Enter in your BlackBerry email address
- A download link will be emailed to your phone
- Download the bPhone theme on your phone
- Go to Prefs on your phone
- Select the bPhone theme
- Enable the bPhone theme
methodshop
8/27/2007
Download YouTube Videos for Your iPhone and iPod
UPDATE: YouTube has reworked their site in response to this article. If you get an error when trying to download a YouTube video, please try some of the plug-ins and scripts listed in step #3.YouTube.com is a great resource. Not many sites allows users to freely upload, view, and share video clips like YouTube does. YouTube even lets users easily post videos on their blogs and personal web sites. But because anyone can upload a video clip on YouTube, copyright violations are rampant.
In an effort to prevent the widespread distribution of illegal copied video files, YouTube encodes its video files in the Macromedia Flash format, which prevents viewers from downloading files and making digital copies.
Here's a step-by-step MethodShop.com tutorial on how to rip video files off YouTube and convert them for an iPod Video, Apple TV, iTunes or iPhone. This trick will work on Mac or PC using Firefox, Safari or Internet Explorer.
Tutorial: How to Download YouTube Videos for Your iPhone and iPod
methodshop
8/13/2007
Run iTunes from a USB Drive
Wish you could free your iTunes Library from your computer and take it with you in your pocket? GetUSB.info put together an excellent tutorial on how to run a mobile iTunes Library from a USB stick or hard drive. This method will run the entire iTunes application from the storage device, making it easy to manage iTunes libraries for a mobile user. I believe this is how iTunes should have be developed. Having a library specific for each computer is a frustrating way to enjoy your music if you use multiple computers everyday (ie. work, home, laptop, etc.).What pushed Greg from GetUSB.info over the edge, was his wife wanting to purchase music from iTunes at work and then sync up iTunes with her computer at home. Typically this is done by purchasing the music and downloading directly to the iPod. But his wife is a CPA and travels from location to location for audits and doesn't even use the same computer all the time. The solution was to run iTunes from a USB flash drive so she could just manage a single Library.
Read full tutorial: Run iTunes from a USB DriveOf course this method also works for larger storage hard drives - basically anything that appears as a Mass Storage Device on your PC system. If you are looking for a long term strategy for managing your iTunes music, I strongly recommend doing this process to an external hard drive that is, at least, 120GBs.
BeSocial: methodshop | getusb.info | digg it
5/15/2007
How NOT to Ship a HDTV [pics]
The person who packed up and shipped this TV must have been a professional... idiot. They might as well have shipped this poor HDTV using bowling balls or rocks as padding.
For future reference, here's a photo tutorial on how NOT to ship a Plasma or LCD HDTV.
More Photos: How NOT to Ship a HDTV
methodshop
For future reference, here's a photo tutorial on how NOT to ship a Plasma or LCD HDTV.
More Photos: How NOT to Ship a HDTV
methodshop
4/12/2007
Remove Red Eye In Adobe Photoshop
Red eye. What a pain in the ass. I have so many great photos in my iPhoto Library which have been ruined because of red eye. Sometimes I use the red eye tools iPhoto or Adobe Photoshop to fix problematic images, but unfortunately they don't always do a good job.
Luckily red eye is very easy to fix manually in Adobe Photoshop (US, UK). You just need to know how. Here's a tutorial on how to remove red eye using Adobe Photoshop 7.0 or higher.
Tutorial: Remove Red Eye In Adobe Photoshop
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop
Labels: tutorial
3/08/2007
iPod Alarm Clock Tutorial
The iPod’s Alarm Clock is nestled among other features like Calendar and Notes under the iPod’s Extras menu. While you may already be familiar with many of the iPod Extras (especially Games), the Alarm Clock is largely an under appreciated feature.Whether you prefer to be woken by the scream of a rock star or the French horn in a classical symphony, the iPod’s Alarm Clock can help you open your eyes every morning with style!
Tutorial: Waking Up to the iPod Alarm Clock
methodshop.com
3/05/2007
Perfect iTunes EQ Settings
We've all seen the EQ setting in iTunes, but not many of us know exactly how to use it to its full potential. In this article, Rich Tozzoli, Senior Editor of Surround Professional Magazine breaks each EQ slider down and helps you get the most out of your music.
Tutorial: Demystifing the EQ sliders in iTunes
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop
Tutorial: Demystifing the EQ sliders in iTunes
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop
2/15/2007
Add Videos to Your PSP
Can't get enough of your favorite TV show or movie? Why not take it with you on your Sony PSP? The Internet is full of PSP encoded video files ready to be downloaded onto your Sony Memory Stick. But you have to know where and how to name the files in order for the PSP to read them properly.Here's a short tutorial that expalins how to add videos to your Sony PSP.
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop
2/04/2007
iPod Diagnostic Mode
Even though you are probably not aware of it, virtually everything you own, which uses electricity, has a diagnostic mode. Everything from your cellphone to your dishwasher can tell you what is wrong with it, or at least give you a clue, if you know the secret combination of buttons to push. The iPod is no different.If you suspect there is something wrong with your iPod, you can switch it to diagnostic mode to determine what the problem may be. The iPod's built-in diagnostic mode is a quick and easy way to determine if you have a "bad" iPod.
Tutorial: iPod Diagnostic Mode
methodshop
1/31/2007
Copy Music from iPod to iTunes
Imagine that you have a HUGE media library and all of it is kept on your trusty PC or Mac. Now imagine that one day, your computer's hard drive crashes, and that your music library is now gone. All of the music imported off of CD's which you might have lost by now, all of the music downloaded off of free-music web sites, and most importantly, all that money spent on the iTunes Store has just vanished!You then remember that all your music is still on your iPod, safe and intact. You plug it in, you mount it to the OS, and then you realize that iTunes only allows the downloading of music from iTunes to iPod, not iPod to iTunes. (This is to prevent the stealing of music, says Apple). Do you really want to spend hours re-importing music, and repurchasing music from the iTMS? We didn't think so.
Tutorial: Here's a detailed tutorial on how to copy music off your iPod and back onto your computer.
methodshop
1/17/2007
Maximizing iPod and MacBook Battery Life
The rechargeable batteries in MacBooks, iBooks, PowerBooks and iPods are categorized as "lithium-ion." Lilon batteries, as they're often called, provide reliable power for everything from cell phones to laptops, supplying significantly more power than nickel-based cells. Basically, Lilons are not your father's Duracell.The following tips will extend the life of any Lilon battery whether it's playing games, answering e-mails on your laptop or watching a movie on your iPod or iPhone.
Tutorial: Maximizing iPod and MacBook Battery Life
The tutorial above even shows you how to use the Terminal in OS X to check your current battery capacity and help you figure out when you need a new battery for your laptop.
methodshop
Labels: tutorial
1/16/2007
Make a Starship Enterprise out of a Floppy Disk
Do you have any old floppy disks lying around? Why let them just sit there collecting dust when they can boldly go where no floppy disk has gone before?Tutorial: How to Make a Starship Enterprise Out of a Floppy Disk
digg story | methodshop
12/30/2006
Handbrake for Windows
Do you have a ton of DVDs? Want to watch them on your iPod/iPhone/Apple TV? For years, the best DVD ripping program, Handbrake, was only available for Mac. But the unthinkable has happened. Handbrake was ported for Windows. You can download a PC version of Handbrake now.If you are unfamiliar with Handbrake, it's a GPL'd multiplatform, multithreaded DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter.
This methodshop.com page has Handbrake download links and a complete tutorial on how to use Handbrake.
Features:
- Can encode directly from DVDs (even encrypted ones) or from VIDEO_TS folders
- Supports AC3, LPCM and MPEG audio tracks
- Outputs MP4, AVI or OGM files
- Outputs AAC, MP3 or Vorbis audio
- Supports 2-pass encoding
- Supports encoding of two audio tracks
- Includes a bitrate calculator
- Supports picture deinterlacing, cropping and scaling
methodshop
8/03/2006
Convert Audio Files in iTunes
iTunes is much more than a digital music jukebox. It's capable of handling many different tasks involving digital media and your iPod. Some of iTunes' most popular features include buying music online, burning CDs, and syncing files with your iPod or iPhone. But one of the lesser known functions hidden within iTunes is the ability to convert audio files.Why would you need to convert an audio file? Converting audio file types can be useful in many different situations. Here are a few examples:
- You have an AAC file in iTunes that's not compatible with your Zune that can play MP3 and not AAC files.
- A WAV file needs to be emailed to a client for approval but it's too big. You need to convert the file to an AAC so it's small enough to easily send via email.
- You are making a music video and want to use a song you purchased from the iTunes Store as the soundtrack. However, the editing program won't import the song because of Apple's protective DRM (Digital Rights Management).
Many programs that convert audio files into different formats are pretty complicated and usually cost money. But not iTunes. iTunes is simple, fast and best of all... free.
Tutorial: Converting Audio File Formats in iTunes
methodshop
7/27/2006
Assign Drive Letter i to Your iPod
Microsoft Windows assigns drive letters to disk volumes to help tell them apart. For example, the default letter assigned to your computer’s hard drive is probably ‘c.’ Each time you dock the iPod to a PC, Windows will assign the iPod the next available drive letter, such as ‘f’ or ‘g.’ But isn’t the letter ‘i’ the most appropriate drive letter assignment for the iPod?
Here’s a simple tutorial on how to assign the drive letter ‘i’ to an iPod connected to a PC using Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000.
Tutorial: Assign Your iPod to Microsoft Windows Drive Letter ‘i’
methodshop
Here’s a simple tutorial on how to assign the drive letter ‘i’ to an iPod connected to a PC using Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000.
Tutorial: Assign Your iPod to Microsoft Windows Drive Letter ‘i’
methodshop
7/18/2006
Mac Mini RAM Upgrade Tutorial
Want to upgrade the RAM in your Mac Mini? You can definitely save a few bucks by buying a stripped down Mac Mini and upgrading the RAM yourself. But before you can install that extra RAM, you'll need to take a walk down to your local hardware store and grab a couple putty knifes. Thanks to the Mac Mini, the putty knife is now becoming part of the standard set of essential computer hardware tools.Traditionally, Apple computers have easily come apart with a few screws and levers. In fact, some Apple machines, like the PowerMac G5, almost come apart entirely without tools. However, brute force, patience and a putty knife are required to crack open the Mac Mini.
Many people speculate that Apple made opening the Mac Mini difficult on purpose. Apple would prefer that you let an authorized Apple service provider handle all hardware upgrades and part replacements with their consumer level products.
So grab a putty knife and don't be alarmed if your Mac Mini starts to snap, crackle and pop like a bowl of Rice Crispies. This is the sound of the plastic clips and metal rim coming loose.Tutorial: Mac Mini RAM Upgrade Tutorial
methodshop.com
7/05/2006
iPod DO NOT DISCONNECT Won't Go Away
Are you trying to eject your iPod from your computer but the "Do Not Disconnect" screen won't go away? Sometimes that flashing red icon can be pretty annoying - especially when you are in a hurry. However, the iPod's disconnect screen does serve a good purpose. It lets you know when it is safe to unplug your iPod from your computer's USB or FireWire port. Incorrectly disconnecting an iPod while it is in use can damage data on the iPod and/or the computer's hard disk.But what should you do if the "Do Not Disconnect" message remains on your iPod even after you properly ejected it? Don't worry, this is a common problem with a fairly easy solution.
Tutorial: "Do Not Disconnect" Won't Go Away
methodshop
5/30/2006
Copy Videos off YouTube
UPDATE: YouTube has reworked their site in response to this article. They absolutely hate us. If you get an error when trying to download a YouTube video, please try some of the plug-ins and scripts listed in step #3.YouTube.com is a great resource. Not many sites allows users to freely upload, view, and share video clips like YouTube does. YouTube even lets users easily post videos on their blogs and personal web sites. But because anyone can upload a video clip on YouTube, copyright violations are rampant.
In an effort to prevent the widespread distribution of illegal copied video files, YouTube encodes its video files in the Adobe Flash format, which prevents viewers from downloading files and making digital copies.
Here's a step-by-step MethodShop.com tutorial on how to rip video files off YouTube.com and convert them for an iPod Video. This trick will work on Mac or PC using Firefox or Internet Explorer.
methodshop
12/26/2005
Rip DVDs for Your iPod Video
Do you have a ton of DVD's? Want to watch them on your iPod, iPhone or Apple TV? Here's a tutorial that explains how to use an awesome program called Handbrake to rip DVD's into iTunes compatible MPEG-4 video files.Tutorial: How to Rip DVDs into MPEG4
methodshop
11/04/2005
Resetting the Play Count in iTunes
What's your favorite song? You may find this surprising, but iTunes may be able to answer that question for you. Each time a song is played in iTunes, the Play Count of that particular song increases by one.But what if a song you loathe and only play as a gag for friends happens to creep into your ‘Most Listened To' playlist?
The following tutorial explains how to reset the Play Count of one or more songs in your iTunes library. Most savvy iTunes won't need a tutorial this in-depth, but everyone is a newbie once.
Tutorial: Resetting the Play Count in iTunes
10/17/2005
PSP Firmware 2.5 Released
Most Sony PSP owners just upgraded their firmware to 2.0 about a couple months ago, but Sony has released a 2.5 upgrade already.According to Sony, here's what's new:
- Videos with DRM can be played
- Streaming Video Support
- Clock Set via Internet
- Location Free Wi-Fi TV Player has been added
- Unicode support in the Browser with automatic Encoding Detection
- Save your text size settings in the Browser
- Save your Browser input history (URLs)
- NTP (Network Time Protocol) support
- WPA and PSK have been added to network setting
- Korean input keyboard method
You can download the PSP Firmware System Update 2.5 here.
If you are not sure what version of firmware is currently installed on your Sony PSP, please read our firmware tutorial.
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop.com
3/25/2005
BitTorrent Tutorial
Napster sucks, KaZaA is chock-full of viruses and spyware, and iTunes lacks the selection you need.... What should you do? Say hello to BitTorrent!
In case you are totally unfamiliar with BitTorrent, let's just say that it's a peer-to-peer file sharing program unlike any other. Napster worked by downloading full files from other users, but BitTorrent (BT) takes file sharing to the next level by breaking a file into small pieces for sharing. This way, when you are downloading a file, you're also uploading pieces of it to other users. So the more popular a torrent file is, the faster it downloads!
Any file can become a torrent file. You can find all types of torrents from games, programs, music, DVD's, movies and even TV shows. Just think, the next time you miss Janet Jackson whipping out her boob at the Super Bowl or Ashlee Simpson lip-syncing on SNL, you don't have to worry. Chances are someone recorded it and you can just download the torrent file later online. BitTorrent has transformed the internet into a giant TiVo!
Sound like fun? Let's get started...
Tutorial: How to Use BitTorrent and Download Movies, TV Shows and Software for Free
methodshop
In case you are totally unfamiliar with BitTorrent, let's just say that it's a peer-to-peer file sharing program unlike any other. Napster worked by downloading full files from other users, but BitTorrent (BT) takes file sharing to the next level by breaking a file into small pieces for sharing. This way, when you are downloading a file, you're also uploading pieces of it to other users. So the more popular a torrent file is, the faster it downloads!Any file can become a torrent file. You can find all types of torrents from games, programs, music, DVD's, movies and even TV shows. Just think, the next time you miss Janet Jackson whipping out her boob at the Super Bowl or Ashlee Simpson lip-syncing on SNL, you don't have to worry. Chances are someone recorded it and you can just download the torrent file later online. BitTorrent has transformed the internet into a giant TiVo!
Sound like fun? Let's get started...
Tutorial: How to Use BitTorrent and Download Movies, TV Shows and Software for Free
methodshop
1/04/2005
How to Rip DVDs for Your iPod on Mac OS X
Now that portable video players are starting to make a dent in electronics sales, the demand for content is getting stronger. One obvious choice for video content is your DVD collection. But how do you rip a DVD into a video file? A program called Handbrake.HandBrake is a GPL'd multi-platform, multithreaded DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter. HandBrake was originally available on the BeOS, but now has been ported over to MacOS X and to GNU/Linux.
Tutorial: How to Rip DVDs into MPEG4
Features:
- Can encode directly from DVDs (even encrypted ones) or from VIDEO_TS folders
- Supports AC3, LPCM and MPEG audio tracks
- Outputs MP4, AVI or OGM files
- Outputs AAC, MP3 or Vorbis audio
- Supports 2-pass encoding
- Supports encoding of two audio tracks
- Includes a bitrate calculator
- Supports picture deinterlacing, cropping and scaling
methodshop
8/03/2004
Rip Mix Learn
Need a reason to convince your friends or family to buy you an iPod? Then tell them it's for educational purposes. That's right, the iPod isn't just for holding your massive John Tesh box set collection anymore. Apple has started providing free educational content in the iTunes Music Store.You can download everything from the 9-11 Commission Hearings and Political Convention Speeches to Apple's Quarterly Stock reports. The best part is, it's all free! Maybe someday Apple will expand this material and provide content like famous speeches by Martin Luther King and J.F.K. Get ready to Rip, Mix and Learn.
Tutorial: Here's a listing and directions on how to download free educational content on iTunes.
methodshop
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Has a virus or hard
drive crash wiped out your entire music collection on your computer? No
problem. Here's how to copy music off your iPod or iPhone and back onto your computer.
Bugs tend to freak us out. Mosquitoes, spiders, wasps, centipedes... you name it. If it crawls, bites or buzzes anywhere near our faces, then we squirm, swat and run. But what's worse than a little bug crawling on or biting you? How about a really, really big one? Here are some of the biggest bugs on Earth. Enjoy!. 
Need
something to watch on your iPod or iPhone? Here's a tutorial that
explains how to use a program called Handbrake to rip DVD's
into iPod compatible MPEG-4 video files.
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