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msmtp, a free tool to send email from Terminal
I fully expected that my article on mailsend would lead to several "Why don't you use use XYZ instead?" replies, and it did. Suggestions included Ruby, Python, iPhone push notifications, and configuring postfix/sendmail. But one suggestion was to use msmtp, and that turned out to be the golden nugget. What makes msmtp so great, especially compared to mailsend, is that it completely eliminates the need to store your Gmail password in a plain text file on your computer. msmtp uses the Mac OS X Keychain instead. The other big advantage is that mailsend required several command line arguments every time, which makes it very likely that someone (i.e. "me") is going to screw it up. Once msmtp is configured, I can use the venerable "/usr/bin/Mail" to send email from the command line, and /usr/bin/Mail is nearly idiot proof. (Note I said "nearly" -- this is not a challenge!) In short: msmtp was what I was looking for when I found mailsend. Although configuring msmtp took about 30 minutes, it was well worth it, and now that you have these handy instructions, it should take you even less time than it took me. (You can also get mstmp from Rudix or MacPorts but I still like building my own whenever possible. You might not share my neuroses, however.) Read on for a complete walk-through.
iPhone icons in felt keychain form
Unfortunately these guys are already sold out (though maybe there'll be more soon), but I'm still posting them here just to gaze on their awesomeness -- Etsy user Rabbitrampage put together these six iPhone icon keychains (well, five iPhone and one Finder) out of felt, thread, and fiber fill. I think they look great, though it would be nice to have even more custom icons available. I guess if you want a special icon keychain made of your own app (ahem), you'll have to make it yourself. This same Etsy user also enjoys wrapping your iPhone in felt recreations of old retro items like Game Boys and even a VHS tape. I've already got a case on my iPhone, but if I didn't have one yet, I'd definitely pick up one of these. [via iPhone Savior]
ZOMM uses Bluetooth to tether you to your phone, your phone to you
Missing cellphones are a fact of life for forgetful folks, and while the 'ol "call yourself and hunt the feeble ringtone" technique works most of the time, some need a little bit more. There are plenty of software solutions out there, but ZOMM could be the perfect hardware option for any handset that supports Bluetooth. It's a keyring that tethers wirelessly to your celly like a headset, starting to buzz, blink, and chime whenever you leave the phone -- or the ZOMM -- behind. It will also alert you to incoming calls and even let you take them, acting like a disconnected speakerphone. Appropriately, the poker chip-sized device will be on display at CES this week, where there will surely be no shortage of misplaced handsets of all shapes and sizes kicking around.
EU-exclusive Frostmourne mug and keychain set now on Blizzard store
You lucky European ducks may just have finally gotten that one thing you can hold over the heads of those Americans with their superiority complexes. The official online Blizzard store is now offering, exclusively for Europe, a set of Frostmourne-themed merchandise. Enclosed in a special box, the set contains one Frostmourne hilt keychain and one insulated metal mug with Frostmourne's runic engravings on one side. Steely-eyed readers may notice that the keychain is the same one as, or at least identical to, the one that came in your BlizzCon '09 goody bag. Of course, this one is "made of rhodium, a rare metal offering even higher quality than silver." The mug, on the other hand, is a never-before-seen piece of merch. The set is, of course, limited edition, so if you want to make this the perfect gift for the burgeoning death knight in your family, you'd best act quickly. Then again, I don't think they like warmth very much. Maybe an insulated mug isn't the best gift idea. I'm thinking -- hear me out -- macaroni necktie.
Navin miniHomer keychain GPS will lead you to your car, won't help find your keys
Still have a bit more room on that keychain ring next to your DAP, photo frame, Atari controller and, um, keys? Then you might want to keep an eye out for Navin's new miniHomer GPS compass, which won't give you actual turn-by-turn directions, but will at least point you towards up to five different locations of your choosing (including your car's spot in the parking lot). To ensure the device keeps on ticking during particularly arduous trips away from your car, the miniHomer is also waterproof to IPX7 standards, and it promises a "low power consumption," although Navin doesn't seem to be making any firm promises about battery life just yet (it's recharged via USB). It also isn't saying anything about a price, but it looks like this one should be out sometime in November.[Via SlashGear]
Mel Martin's Friday with Snow Leopard: few glitches, much joy
It was pretty quiet at the ole' Apple Store here in Tucson. I got there just at ten, and while there were stanchions to organize the crowd, they weren't needed and just sat off to the side looking lonely. There were plenty of people in the store, and about half were buying Snow Leopard. Supplies were plentiful, but I was there early.Installing on both a MacBook Pro and a Mac Pro were two different stories. On the laptop, things were ducky. Everything worked, mail accounts were there, bookmarks, the usual.On my desktop it was not so pretty. I kept getting messages that I needed to add a password for my MobileMe account, which I dutifully did. Problem was it kept asking. Then I saw some messages about the keychain. Whoops. Not a good message to see. Well, the short version is that somehow my keychain was hosed. I tried to repair, but that didn't stop the problems. I finally threw away my keychain data and started again, re-entering my email passwords and a few other things. All is back to normal. I also saw a strange message about my iDisk, but I followed the directions and threw a rather large file away. It appeared to be a copy of my idisk for local use.Other things pretty much work. My Sonos audio system is fine, Photoshop CS3 seems OK, and while it didn't get a heavy duty run through, it opens images, applies filters, runs actions, and saves properly. Shut down is almost instantaneous, and I noticed I'd saved 14GB after the upgrade.I'm seeing lots of little niceties. When I take a screen shot, it has a name that includes the date and time instead of 'picture 1'. All in all, not too painful, but not completely trouble free. With keychain passwords gone I may wind up doing some extra typing for awhile on web sites where I have an account, but that's not too horrible. Snow Leopard is clearly faster, trimmer, and a bit more fun to use. A good use of $30.00 and just a little bit more time than I planned in getting over a couple of glitches.
Ask TUAW: Syncing notes, iLife '09, iTunes downloads, keychains and more
Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly Mac troubleshooting Q&A column. This week we've got questions about syncing notes, iLife '09, iTunes downloads, the importance of keychains and more. As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions.Scott asksWhen I sync my iphone (3.0.1) with my Mac (10.5.8) and have "sync notes" checked in iTunes, I cannot find my notes synced anywhere in Mail.app - including under "Notes"...what am I missing?To sync 'Notes' first make sure you have your iPhone connected to your Mac with iTunes open. Then, be sure to have "sync notes" checked in iTunes. Also, be sure to check "Sync Notes" in the MobleMe Sync options in System Preferences. Then, sync your iPhone as normal. After that, check in Apple's Mail program under "Reminders" to see if the notes appear. You need to click on the little triangle to show the contents of Reminders. If they don't appear, close Mail and open it again. Also, restart your iPhone completely before trying another sync. Also, keep in mind Notes sync works only via USB and not over the air. If you are not seeing notes appear, be sure you sync your iPhone via USB with your Mac or they won't appear at all. If the notes still don't appear in Apple Mail, it might be time to give a call to Apple tech support because at that point the problem may be something larger than the scope of what this column can answer.Evan asksI bought a new MacBook Pro last month, which came installed with Leopard and iLife '09. My purchase was within Apple's "Up-to-Date" program timeline, so I was able to order a copy of Snow Leopard for $9.95. I know Snow Leopard doesn't come with iLife '09 but considering my new computer already comes with iLife '09, I'm not going to have to re-buy iLife, am I?
Ask TUAW: More migration, expanding Apple's Dictionary, syncing iPhone notes, and more
Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly Mac troubleshooting Q&A column! This time we've got more questions on migrating user data when upgrading to Snow Leopard, expanding Apple's built-in Dictionary application, accessing iPhone notes without Mail.app, and more.As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions.
Cowon teases keychain-esque iAudio E2 DAP
Typically, it's iriver who does the teasing, but you won't catch us griping about Cowon pulling a similar trick with its elusive new iAudio E2. The image above is all we have to go on for the moment, which shows a digital audio player that's capable of doubling as both a USB storage device (maybe) and a keyring (definitely). Make of those funky icons what you will, but as we learned with Lost, you're probably just wasting your time reading betwixt the lines.[Via DAP Review]
Cellphone jammer crammed into key fob, ends texting / talking while driving
Face it, kids. You missed the best time to be a teenager by around five or so years. As it stands now, technology is cutting into that adolescent fun, with device like Ford's MyKey and this one here ensuring that you're actually safe behind the wheel. In all seriousness, the terribly named Key2SafeDriving is a fine concept (at least in the parent's eye), as it fuses a cellphone jammer (of sorts) into a key fob in order to put the kibosh on freeway conversations. Essentially, the signal blocking kicks into action anytime the "key" portion is flicked out, connecting to a handset via Bluetooth or RFID and forcing it into "driving mode." No actual jamming, per se, is going on; it's more like a manual override of the ringer. Anyone who phones / texts you while you're safely driving will receive an automated response informing them of such, though we are told that handsfree devices can be utilized. Researchers at the University of Utah are hoping to see it on the market within six months via a private company "at a cost of less than $50 per key plus a yet-undetermined monthly service fee."[Via Gadgets-Weblog]
Bandai's Peri Peri keychain lets you rip open shipping envelopes continually
Look, you don't have to explain to us how weird this thing is. Trust us, we fully understand. But as gadget editors, we have a certain love for receiving surprise packages and ripping 'em open as quickly as possible to discover what goodies reside within. Bandai's so-very-Japanese Peri Peri keychain is apt to appeal to the unboxers among us, as it recreates the unmistakable feeling of tearing open a rushed FedEx envelope. If there's a downside, it's that there's no new wares to be found after each opening, but on the other hand, at least there's no big dent on your credit card each time you "open" something new. Expect this gem to hit your keyring for just under $10 next month. Bonus video hosted up after the break.[Via BoingBoing]
1Password 2.9 and the Agile Keychain
We may have mentioned it one or two (dozen) times, but 1Password is a great solution for securely managing passwords, credit cards and notes on a Mac (and recently the iPhone). If you're a 1Password fan, be sure to check out the 2.9 release from last weekend; it has a pretty huge new feature. For quite a while now there have been grumblings about the OS X Keychain being a bit of a beast, especially when handling large amounts of data. Rather than waiting out Apple for new improvements to the Keychain system, the stalwart coders at Agile Web Solutions decided to write their own. If you dig into the Keychain section of the preferences in 1Password 2.9, you'll find an option to "Switch to Agile Keychain Format." What's the difference? First, it allows easy file-based synchronization, making possible non-MobileMe solutions for syncing up multiple Macs. Further, it maintains speedy access even when it contains gigs of data, as well as supporting much higher levels of encryption. Sounds good to me. If you're ready to switch your keychain format, head over to the developer's blog for detailed instructions, and read up on the various options for automatic sync between Macs. 1Password 2.9 is a free upgrade for existing users, and new users can grab a free trial. A single license runs $39.95USD with a family pack available for $59.95USD. For the full changelog for this release, check the version history page.
Mac 101: Retrieve your Keychain passwords
Have you forgotten a password to a website, email account, or other password? If you use Mac OS X's Keychain, chances are that your password can be easily retrieved. First off, open Keychain Access.app (located in /Applications/Utilities/). Once there, scroll through the list of keys until you find the one that you're looking for. Double click on it and check the box that says, "Show Password." Once you authenticate with your user credentials, your forgotten password will be displayed in the text box. Want more tips and tricks like this? Visit TUAW's Mac 101 section.
Horde scarf and a Carrot-on-a-Stick keychain
It's just starting to get a little chilly here in Chicago, so the timing on this Horde Scarf is just perfect for me -- it looks really comfy, and wrapped around your neck, it's just Warcraft enough to get noticed by people in the know, but is still classy enough that it looks like a cool design if you don't happen to recognize the Horde symbol. I like the look of black and red (would go great with my black overcoat), but amlowi, the seller over on Etsy, will do it up in any colors you like.And speaking of doing things by request, this Carrot-on-a-Stick keychain is awesome, and the artist who makes it (she paints in acrylic and then coats it in enamel) will make it out of any icon you like. Carrot-on-a-Stick seems perfect for a set of car keys, but it's not going to be in the game forever, so if you want to put a class or faction logo on there, she says she can do any icon in the game.Always astounding to see what these industrious WoW crafters are up to. If you've seen a cool DIY WoW-related item, let us know.
World of WarCrafts: Character charms
Every Thursday, Shelbi Roach of The Bronze Kettle guides you in creating WoW-inspired crafts using real world mats with World of WarCrafts.Until now, this charming technique has been a well-kept secret, passed down through the ages to only the most devoted crafters and dark magicians. Use the knowledge contained herein to fabricate your very own WoW Trinkets. Here is what you will need: Shrinky Dink paper Ink-Jet Color Printer Image Editing Software Scissors (tiny manicure scissors work best for me) Clear Acrylic Spray Jump Ring Jewelry Pliers Brown Paper Bag Foil Click on the images below to view a gallery of step-by-step instructions. %Gallery-30631%
Made in Azeroth: Arts and crafts inspired by WoW
How can we amuse ourselves while we wait for Wrath of the Lich King to come out? One word: geekcrafts. Sure, you could go to Jinx or CafePress and buy some stickers or T-shirts, but then again there's all that waiting, what with the shipping and everything. Plus, although somebody made it, they didn't make it. By which I mean, it wasn't crafted. So, you know, it's like a BoE item instead of an engineers-only item. Am I making any sense yet? No? Hm. Okay. Let me try again. Idle hands are the devil's workshop, so pick up some art supplies and start learning a new hobby. By way of inspiration, take a look at some of these cool things other people have crafted from their love of WoW.
Chrono Trigger goodies, just in time to appeal to your sense of nostalgia
With the recent announcement of Chrono Trigger DS, the DS Fanboy staff have been salivating for weeks now. In fact, we've all tied buckets around our necks, to save our precious t-shirts from being drenched. Life is all about adapting.If you find yourself in the same crazed state of mind as us, desperate to get your hands on the final product, know some cool Chrono Trigger collectibles just went up on eBay. They're a set of keychain figurines and some Prism cards. The keychains are especially nice, but cost about twice the going rate on a SNES Chrono Trigger cart.Source - KeychainsSource - Prism cards[Via Gamesniped]
1Password 2.6.5 released
Agile Web Solutions has updated their 1Password product with support for 4 new browsers and better support for the newly released Firefox 3. 1Password now works on the following web-browsing applications: Safari 4 (Developer Preview), DEVONagent 2.3.1, latest OmniWeb, and Flock 2 beta.In addition to updated browser support, 1Password also boasts a higher level of stability while running in Camino on PPC Macs. You can see the full list of updates (all 21 of them) by visiting the Agile Web Solutions' website. In addition, you can download the update by going to 1Password > Check for Updates in the 1Password application.
Space Invaders Encased
If there's one thing we love, it's DS games. Obviously.If there are several things we love, Space Invaders swag is somewhere on a list of those things, especially with Space Invaders Extreme so close, feeding our Invader mania. These keychains feature pink, blue, and yellow Invaders embedded in acrylic cubes like prehistoric flies in amber. Each order comes with three of them for $8.50.It's up to you whether the awesomeness of the Invaders is worth cramming a big plastic cube into your pocket. That's a personal decision. Alternately, you could get a bunch of them and stack them in the classic Space Invaders configuration. Inside the clear cubes, they'd look vaguely like they were suspended in midair!
Special keychains for Japanese God of War event
Need every bit of God of War merchandise ever? Well, this one's going to be hard to get. That is, unless you live in Japan. A special event in Akihabara later this month (June 20th) will promote the still-unreleased God of War: Chains of Olympus, and those in attendance will be able to get this special keychain. In addition, artist YOU THE ROCK will make an appearance. Although the God of War franchise is incredibly successful in America and Europe, it hasn't managed to break through in Japan. God of War II managed to sell about 40k units total on PS2. While PSP is quite the hot system in Japan right now, it's unclear how the Japanese populace will respond to this incredible, but American-developed, game. [Via PSPHyper]
