Send SMS Messages from your Mac using your iPhone

On August 14, 2010, in Blog, by Mike Hudson

You may be pleased to know there’s now a much better method – click here

SMS ClientIf you are a heavy user of your iPhone, and like to take advantage of your unlimited text message plan – then this app is for you.. Although I love my iPhone and quite frankly would be lost without it, sometimes it can be quite frustrating taking part in long winded text message conversations with several recipients.

Because of this, applications such as the SMS client exist.. Basically this works in a similar way to my own RAPId SMS application. In the way that an application needs to be running on the device, and one needs to be running on your Mac.
The applications use your Wi-Fi network to communicate, so this essentially gives you the ability to send text messages using your Mac’s keyboard, which makes for much easier and faster texting. If you don’t have a wireless network at your current location you should be able to create a point to point wireless lan.
There is one downside unfortunately, due to security in the iPhone SDK all messages sent must be confirmed on the device. So you will still need some interaction with the unit.
However, the simple/straightforward interface of the client/server software makes up for it. The application ties in nicely with your address book on your Mac, allowing quick and easy selection of your contacts. With a large text field for long winded text messages, and a character count for those of you who are not on unlimited plans.
To get started with the SMS client app, you will need to buy and download an app from the Apple AppStore:
Once you are up and running on your phone, grab a copy of the OS X app from the MacMedia website, now follow the instructions on screen.

Product Requirements:

  • iPhone version requires iOS 4 or later
  • Mac version requires OS X 10.6.4 or later
I have been using this app for a little over 2 days now, and have sent 50+ messages through it without any issues at all. Sure, it could do with the ability to be able to view received messages as well as send messages. However this is no doubt a restriction on the SDK.
The SMS client app has been developed by the people over at MacMediaNet who’s website pays homage to some other nifty applications such as:
If you know of any other free mac to iPhone SMS applications please let me know using the comments facility below
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View CR2 files in Windows Vista

On February 28, 2010, in Blog, by Mike Hudson

Canon 400DToday I was presented with the challenge of CR2 files.. I must admit, when I was first asked – I didn’t even know what a CR2 file was, apparently it’s a RAW file format used by some of Canon’s digital camera range. For some reason, the file format is not automatically accessible using some of the off shelf photo editing packages. Including photoshop would you believe.

My first plan of attack was to find out if my MacBook could open the files, so I tested it and sure enough they opened straight away in the OS X preview app. (I love Mac’s :-) ) I did consider transferring all of the files over to my Mac, to then use an applescript batch convert and then send them back. 
However, as these pictures where from Kat, who’s doing a university course the resolution was immense, leaving a file size to match.. So this soon became a non runner. Each file was taking upwards of 10 minutes to transfer and there was well over 300 of them!
I went on to try and hunt down an application to do the batch convert on Windows, even trying Canon’s own app – all of which failed. We then decided on a RAW file image viewer, then at least we only needed to transfer the files Kat wanted to keep. Again this turned out to be a complete failure..
As luck would have it, I stumbled across a forum post claiming Windows Photo Gallery could actually open the files. So we gave it ago, and sure enough as soon as we added the folder to the gallery away it went and generate thumbnails for each picture. It was even kind enough to offer to download the latest RAW file codec from Canon’s site!
So if you have RAW CR2 files you need to open, try Microsoft Photo Gallery before scouring the web for RAW file convertors! Or buy a MacBook of course :-)
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My first ‘Premier’ blog

On February 21, 2010, in Blog, by Mike Hudson

Premier InnWell I must admit, this is a first for me.. Blogging from the bar of a Premier Inn. Those of you who know me, will know all about the help desk system I have been developing. Well the project is rapidly approaching it’s go-live date so it’s time to deliver the training. So here I am, booked into a ‘swanky’ hotel in preparation for the delivery in the morning.

The drive down was interesting, in a loan car. Vauxhall Insignia, which was also a first… Not only the first time I had seen one in the flesh but of course the first time I have driven one. The car is smooth enough, very quiet considering it’s a coal burner! I don’t think I would buy one, but overall it seems a good motor.
I am quite lucky in the fact I have been graced with a ground floor room, which is a bonus considering the amount of kit I am hauling around with me. So here I am, sat relaxing before the ‘big day’ in the bar. The music is just at the right level to hear the chink of the glasses behind the bar, and the light patter as my fingers run across the keys of my MacBook.
Im liking the fact the place is almost deserted, if not just for the fact I am getting the special table side service from the waitresses :-)
Right.. I better get back to setting up the permissions for Monday!
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Repair a Netgear DG834PN

On February 6, 2010, in Blog, by Mike Hudson

Firmware upgrades have always been a risky business, due to the ease of ‘bricking’ your device. Basically a failure to complete the upload or upload of a firmware file can result in a near useless device which can often be unrepairable.

However, if you are lucky (as I have been) there are steps you can take in order to try and recover the original EEPROM and re upload the latest firmware version.
If you have a DG834PN which has the ‘Power’ and ‘Tick’ light flashing on and off, then following the steps below may just bring it back to life!
Follow each step carefully, ensuring you select the correct options from the list!
  1. Connect your DG834PN to a power outlet.
  2. Connect a SINGLE pc* to the DG834PN using an RJ45(Network) cable. (Unplug any other devices as a precaution)
  3. Download the Netgear Recovery Utility.
  4. Unzip the utility to a new folder.
  5. Download the latest available from the Netgear Support Site. (See the downloads tab)
  6. Unzip the firmware file, and copy it into the same folder as the utility
  7. Double click the UpgradeWizard.exe
  8. Click Next, now select the network adapter that your Netgear DG834PN is connected to, Click Next again
  9. Ensure there is only one device in the list (this should be your DG834PN) highlight it and click Next
  10. Ensure the MAC address matches the one on the bottom of your router and click Next
  11. Now, click the Update button.
The UpgradeWizard will perform several steps on your router, the first one may take some time and during this part the progress bar will not move. Wait patiently for this to complete. Once done the router should reboot it’s self and your PC will obtain a new IP address.
You should now find the router has returned to it’s previous state, and should be working as expected!
* The PC you connect needs to be a Windows XP Service Pack 2 PC or higher. If you experience issues with the recovery utility, attempt the recovery on another XP PC. (I had to try two) Should you want to do this from a Mac, you will need to boot using bootcamp first of all.
If you still experience issues with the repair, please use the Contact Me page, get in touch and we can arrange shipping the router, I will then attempt the repair for you.
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Blog on the move

On January 23, 2010, in Latest, by Mike Hudson

So… This weekend I decided I would leave the car and take an alternative form of transport to the big city. London seems to rapidly becoming like my second home, but each time I’ve been I’ve simply taken the car.

This time I decide I would leave the stress behind and booked on a swanky 49 seater. Now, I’m not a huge fan of public modes of transport. Generally as you don’t get a great deal of room, luckily for me my uncle operates an executive coach company (http://www.cab-travel.com) So I knew the standards would be high.

So here I am, iPod on MacBook out and iPhone tetthered!

I am pretty open to new methods of transport, as the 4 hour drive can be a bit stressful. Next time I plan on trying the train simply for a bit of variation!

Blog posted from my iPhone, so formatting may not be upto much! Shame BlogPress can’t seem to sort that out!

Location:Rossington,United Kingdom

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