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Ask TUAW: iDVD, iTunes, Parallels and more

mat lu
Updated ·7 min read

This week on Ask TUAW we've got a bunch of questions about iTunes, some prospective switcher questions about virtualization and personal finance packages, and an iDVD query. As always reader suggestions are most welcome and questions for next week should just be left in the comments.

Now without further ado, let's turn to it...

Matteo asks

I have a HighDefinition video camera. I created a huge video (67 GB...) and stored it on a USB 2.0 external HD. Editing the movie is not at all a problem (in fact I am surprised about how well it works). The problem is when I "share" it to create a DVD with iDVD (I know it is a downscaling, but that's the best I can currently do). When I click "share", with iDVD, I get an error (error "0"). The disk is mine, I have all permissions. I had to copy the "mammoth project" on my MacBook. Once there, the "share" with iDVD worked a breeze... My main problem however, looking forward in the future, is HOW CAN I share iMovie HD projects with iDVD without having to transfer them on my HD? Thanks for any answer, workaround or simply sympathy... (iLife 06)

Well I think the main thing I can offer is sympathy. I did turn up this this Apple Support Document, which offers a little advice beyond ensuring permissions are correct. However, it does say that if the Documents, Music, Photos, and Movies folders in Home directory "are missing or renamed, you may not be able to send media between iLife applications."

So I suspect what's going on is that it's assuming the data is located in your home directory and if it's not it doesn't know what to do. That's presumably why it works okay on the MacBook. Here's my suggestion (though I have no way to test this): try creating an alias within your Movies folder that points to the project on the external hard drive. If that doesn't work, well, you've still got the sympathy.


Cycomachead asks

I have 2 computers with logged into the same iTMS account. Is there a simplified solution to making I can get songs from the Windows box to my MacBook? I keep having to search on the networked windows machine for.m4p and look through for new things then copy them to my Mac.

It's not entirely clear what you're asking here. I assume what you mean (since you mention the iTMS) is that you want to copy over purchased music? Maybe the easiest way to do that would be with an iPod, which can be used transfer the contents of the Purchased Music playlist between two machines while remaining synced to one.

Since this is Mac site I don't know about the Windows machine, but I'll tell how I'd deal with this on the Mac. The key thing is to sort your library by "Date Added"; you can create a Smart Playlist that shows everything added to you library in the last few days. You could then use an AppleScript like this one to move the files to a folder for transfer. You could then set up some sort of automated method for copying the files to the other machine.

This doesn't exactly answer your questions since you're on Windows, but maybe it'll give you some ideas. And in any case, you should be able to create a "Date Added" Smart Playlist in Windows as well.


John Russell asks

I have a question about iTunes Store authorization. To put it simply, I have one authorized account on a computer to which I no longer have access. Is there any way that I can deactivate that computer without actually using it? Or as a last resort, is there some method of mass de-authorization out there that will de-authorize all of my accounts? If there isn't anything of the sort, what do you recommend me doing?

Yes, Apple allows you to Deauthorize All Computersonce per year. After you deauthorize them you'll then have to re-authorize each of the computers you want to keep. You can only do this once you've reached five total, so you may have to authorize more computers to get to the five total before you can access this option. Once you have five authorized computers view your account page (click on your account name while viewing the iTunes Store), and there should be an option to "Deauthorize All." Macworld's Chris Breen describes the complete process here.


ball asks

I have been looking for a way to listen to music in my iTunes library over the internet, much like the way iTunes sharing works, but for computers not on the same network. I haven't seen anything that works like what I might have in mind, so I was wondering if there was anything out there. My general goal is to be able to sit down at any computer (with an internet connection, of course), go to the proper address, and access my home computer's iTunes through some sort of webUI. I know that I could use VNC to achieve the same end result, but that requires installing software on both ends, and provides much more (and not better) features and functionality than I'm looking for. SO, is there anything out there that can do this, or do I need to use a workaround?

There are actually several ways of doing this sort of thing. I personally haven't used either, but fellow reader Tim suggests MyTuneRSS (€15 / ~$21), though it is a Java application with the attendant disadvantages of that. Another option would be to use the SlimServer (free) as described here.


Phil asks

I just recently purchased an Airport Extreme and I had my printer connected to the USB port in the back of the Airport Extreme. I have two printers at my house that I would like to use and also a USB Hard drive. I have an external powered USB hub and my MacBook Pro doesn't recognize any of the printers anymore. Is there anyway to make this work out. Any reply is highly appreciated.

According to this Apple page. "Share both a printer and a hard drive, multiple printers, or multiple hard drives." So it should definitely work. I would try another USB hub; sometimes they're a little finicky.


ZR asks

I have a PC running Windows XP and I'm thinking of upgrading to a Mac Pro. The thing is, there's a still a lot of software I need to use on my PC and it's configured just right. Is there a way I can clone or make an image of my current disks and migrate them to a Mac Pro, then use them through Boot Camp or Parallels?

Congrats on the new Mac Pro! Fellow reader Chuck suggests VMWare Convertor. Parallels also has an equivalent tool called Parallels Transporter. Either one of these should do exactly what you want. Of course you'll also need to buy either VMWare Fusion ($39.99 pre-order / $79.99 regular) or Parallels Desktop ($79.99). I've only used Parallels myself and from what I've seen online I would probably still give it the nod, but Fusion would probably work just fine as well.

andrew asks

I'm just about to switch (after the next pay cheque or so!) and it's a fabulous resource for figuring out which programs to use to replace my old windows ones. However, there is one program which I can't seem to find an adequate replacement for; other than Word, Outlook, Firefox, etc.. - all easily replaced - I find that Microsoft Money is the program I use most, and I can't figure out a replacement for it. I would like to be able to import my rather extensive Money files, as well as find a piece of software that tracks investments and plays nice with the peculiar tax system over here in Britain! I also would prefer not to spend a fortune on it, as I'm still a student!

Welcome to the light side! According to this Microsoft Support Document you should be able to export your Money data in Quicken Interchange Format files which can be imported in a variety of Mac personal finance packages. As far as which one is best for you I'd suggest checking out the many comments on this post which is addressed to your particular UK needs. I know many folks also just give up and keep using the Windows via Parallels, Fusion, or Boot Camp.