I’ll be blunt from the start – I’ve got an odd love/hate relationships for Apple Maps. It’s tightly integrated with Apple’s software offerings and it uses scalable vector graphics which means that it zooms well and uses less data relative to tile based solutions. On the other hand, I’m led… Read More
Author Archives: vansmith
The Summer Server Project – Part 3: It lives…and serves.
….it lives. After some time hacking away at the code and ultimately learning a few things about Python, I’ve got a basic workable server up and running. Here are some of the basic features: It serves basic static content (HTML, JavaScript and CSS). The bulk of this is done with… Read More
The Summer Server Project – Part Two: VM Setup
Recap and Introduction In the last article, I introduced what I plan to be a summer long project – writing a basic web server with the intention of learning more about networking. In this article, I outline what I’ve done in the last few days which, although small, gives a… Read More
The Summer Server Project – Part One: Introduction
Introduction Let me start this article with a not so profound claim: I know nothing about networking. Well, nothing might be overstating things but if I had to pick one area where I lack any semblance of detailed knowledge, all things networking would be my impulse answer. This became really… Read More
Experiencing the App Store: A Developer’s Perspective and Rant
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These Permissions Are Not The Repairs You’re Looking For – A Critical Look at Permissions in OS X
So, your Mac is acting up. Indeed, a Mac is no more impervious to Murphy’s Law than a non-Mac PC (I use PC here in the literal sense to signify personal computer). What do you do when the inevitable occurs? The first response for many to this will differ –… Read More
Mac-Forums Investigates MacKeeper
Update (July 27, 2013): Grammar/spelling errors corrected and a short section about Mac-Forums’ relationship to the product was added. Introduction One of the persistent questions around the forum has to do with a piece of software called MacKeeper. A cursory scan of the forum will paint in the minds of… Read More
Weekly Roundup: April 1 – 7
Here’s the weekly roundup of the more popular discussions around Mac-Forums for the week of April 1st. Blog Posts Clamshell Mode Performance Issues: A Myth? In this article, vansmith explores the myth that clamshell mode might hinder performance, only to discover that this likely isn’t the case. Forum Discussions Member… Read More
Clamshell Mode Performance Issues: A Myth?
Background A while back, I remember hearing a theory floating around that running a Mac in clamshell mode forced OS X to throttle the processor to save on heat. There is a tiny bit of anecdotal evidence to support such a claim (here) which ultimately suggests that something about clamshell mode… Read More
iOS and The State of Innovation
Quite a few people have been commenting on an ostensible lack of innovation on the part of Apple when it comes to iOS. Search the word “stale” in relation to iOS and you’ll find yourself with enough content for a leisurely Saturday afternoon. Is this critique warranted in light of… Read More