Daily Archives: May 14, 2012
How to Sync your iPhoto Library with Dropbox and Google Drive
With iOS 5, Apple launched the ubiquitous Photo Stream and made photo sharing and syncing a cinch between Macs and iOS devices. However, the 1,000 photo limit may not be enough for your photography needs. Fortunately, iPhoto has included to option to share with external cloud services like Dropbox or Google Drive. Read on to find out how.
Difficulty: Easy
What You’ll Need:
Dropbox or Google Drive
Existing iPhoto library
1. Copy Your Library
To synchronize your iPhoto library between your Mac with either service, you’ll need to locate the file for the existing iPhoto library in your Pictures folder. Copy the iPhoto Library file and then paste it inside the Dropbox or Google Drive folder in your user’s folder. Make sure that you don’t actually move the file–we’re copying it so that we’ll have an original backup in case something goes wrong.
Afterward, you’ll have to wait as all of your files copy over. This could take awhile, so go, make yourself a cup of tea. You could probably run a few errands, too.
Next, you’ll want to paste in the copied iPhoto library file to your Dropbox or Google Drive folder located inside of your user’s folder in the Finder. You can do this by pressing Command + V while inside the Dropbox or Google Drive folder. For larger iPhoto libraries, this copy process may take a few minutes.
2. Open the Library in iPhoto
After the syncing ordeal, open the file in iPhoto by holding down the Option key as you launch the app. Choose the other library that’s not the default to make it so. Now, the iPhoto Library stored inside your Dropbox or Google Drive folders will be the default, and any changes you make will automatically sync into the cloud with each save.
If you decide you want to drop either Dropbox or Google Drive, you can always switch back to your old iPhoto library by reversing the process.
Cory Bohon is a freelance technology writer, indie Mac and iOS developer, and amateur photographer. Follow this article’s author, Cory Bohon on Twitter.
Want a chance to win 1 of 4 new iPads?
iMore has teamed up with the amazing folks at Scout to give away FOUR new iPads (with 16GB WiFi) featuring Retina Display, iSight camera, more! You can enter for your chance to win over one our iMore Facebook Page, and you can get more chances to win by sharing with your friends.
The contest starts now and ends May 21, 2012 at 11:59pm PDT so don’t waste any time — Enter now!
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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Rumor: New 15-Inch MacBook Pro Features USB 3.0, Retina Display, Thin Design
Most of the recent rumors about a new MacBook Pro have been focused on it being as thin as a MacBook Air — but that may be wishful thinking, according to trusted sources who are spilling the beans on the forthcoming 15-inch model.
9to5Mac has donned its tin hat again and filed an extensive report on what may be coming with this year’s 15-inch MacBook Pro. Those of you hoping for an ultra-thin design like the MacBook Air may be disappointed, but let’s face it: That was probably a pipe dream anyway.
According to “trusted sources in Apple’s supply chain,” the report claims that the notebook will indeed thin down, but not as significantly as many rumors have been predicting. 9to5Mac describes a prototype of the 15-inch MacBook Pro as “a thinner, yet more robust, version of the late-2008 design,” which doesn’t sound so bad to us.
Of course, there’s still no lifeline for the space-gobbling optical disc drive, which still appears to be on the chopping block. The prototype in question does echo the MacBook Air in another way, which finds the power button moving onto the rest of the MacBook Pro keyboard, replacing the disc eject key.
Another not so surprising revelation is that Retina Display will reportedly make its way to the MacBook Pro. Builds of both OS X Lion and OS X Mountain Lion are already known to contain UI elements which can be rendered in higher resolution — which iOS apps like AirDisplay have already taken advantage of when using the new iPad as a second monitor.
“Unlike Mac display settings of today, these Retina Display settings will not be marked with numbers/resolution sizes, but with descriptions such as big, small, or optimal, according to these software-based findings,” the report claims. “The long-awaited ‘resolution independence’ is upon us.”
Finally, the report indicates that USB 3.0 may finally make its way to the MacBook Pro — a curious addition at such a late stage of the game, particular now that Apple has made it clear that Thunderbolt is the future.
“While third-party USB 3 cards and Hackintoshes have run ‘Super-Speed’ USB 3 and have shown up in the System Profiler previously, sources familiar with Apple’s software strings in 10.7.4 and 10.8 betas also have provided evidence for USB 3 Macs coming soon,” the report concludes. “One source identified two new strings pointing to USB 3 Macs: One mentions 5Gbps USB transfers (which is the speed of USB 3), and there are actually two explicit mentions of ‘USB 3.0.’ These references didn’t exist before.”
While this would be a welcome move on Apple’s part considering that most USB hard drives shipped today now include USB 3.0 (which is backward compatible with existing USB 2.0), the technology still trails Thunderbolt data speeds by nearly half, so Cupertino definitely won’t be positioning USB 3.0 as a replacement for Thunderbolt.
As always, take these rumors with a grain of salt, but given that OS X Mountain Lion is coming soon, we should see a new MacBook Pro to take full advantage of it around the same time.
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
Marware SportShell Convertible for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 only $24.95 [Daily deal]
![Marware SportShell Convertible for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 only $24.95 [Daily deal]](http://iphone4issues.com/wp-content/plugins/RSSPoster_PRO/cache/5d97a_7216.jpg)
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This versatile, elegant, and cross-functional design offers: a hard shell case, an armband case, a belt case, and a tabletop viewing case–all at a single price, in a single product. By utilizing a system with a quick-release/quick-attach armband design, Marware is able to offer a solution for any carrying style you prefer–pocket, belt, purse, or armband.
It all starts with a rigid, polycarbonate shell that offers scratch and impact protection. Also included is a comfortable, reflective armband that keeps your iPhone 4S, ATT iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 safely away from perspiration and provides an easy quick-release solution for when you want to detach your iPhone 4S, ATT iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 from the armband in a hurry. The secure, rotating clip on the back of the case attaches quickly and easily to the included armband, or to a belt, purse, bag, or strap. This same clip also locks into “viewing” position so your iPhone 4S, ATT iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 can stand horizontally or vertically for viewing on a flat surface. Or, use the case with the flat black back piece that doesn’t have a clip. All of this without major sacrifices to form factor, functionality, or aesthetics. You no longer need to purchase multiple cases for your iPhone 4S, ATT iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4–the SportShell Convertible offers a total solution at a reasonable price.
Features:
- 4 cases in 1–armband case, shell case, clip case, and viewing case
- Quick release/attach armband design is easy, fast, and keeps perspiration away from iPhone
- Securely clip iPhone to waistband, belt, purse, bag, strap, or armband
- Clip locks in place to become a stand (horizontal or vertical)
- Includes: Hard shell case, black back piece, clear back piece with clip, armband
Get the Marware SportShell Convertible for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 now!
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Editor’s desk: On rumors and podcasts
With both mother’s day and a birthday in the family this weekend, I didn’t have time to compile my usual weekly column. But there a few things I’d like to comment on and draw your attention to. So let’s dive right in.
Podcasts
We’ve changed up the format of iPhone iPad Live so that we’re talking about less, but talking about it more in-depth. We’d gotten a bunch of feedback about this over the last few months, with many viewers and listeners saying there was just too much news and not enough analysis, too many app mentions and not enough opinion or discussion of how we use them, too many accessories and not enough comparisons. Well, we listened. Now we have one, more in-depth spotlight topic each week and a couple discussion points. We’re still tweaking things, so please keep the feedback coming. (Due to popular demand, we’re going to start featuring it on the show — so if you haven’t left a comment on last week’s episode yet, get to it!)
Speaking of podcasts, the feedback on ZEN and TECH lately has been off the charts (special thanks to the blogging community who’ve told us how much they like it). The world we live in is more stressful than ever, and Georgia is by far the best in the business at helping people center their inner geek and deal with their connected lives. If you haven’t watched or listened lately, do yourself a favor and watch or listen now. It can literally change your life for the better.
Last but not least, we had Loren Brichter on Iterate this week. He created Tweetie which became the original Twitter for iPhone, and is still Twitter for iPad and Twitter for Mac. He also invented pull-to-refresh. Yeah. Genius. Give him a listen.
Rumors
iMore is really careful about rumors because we really value your attention. We’re not a rumor site — we’re an enthusiast site. 9 out of 10 times we’ll just link to rumors posted on rumor sites. A few times a year, however, we’re fortunate to get some really good information about upcoming Apple products, and we’re able to check into it and determine it’s really good information. Like the iPhone 4S and the new iPad. It’s never all the details, so sometimes we misunderstand pieces (i.e. we heard quad-core for the new iPad, and it turned out to be specifically quad-core graphics, not CPU), but overall the info we’ve gotten has been rock solid.
- 7-inch iPad on track for October 2012 release, $200 to $250 price: Apple doesn’t want to leave any room for Amazon in the lower-end tablet space.
- iPhone 5 to be another Google killer — but with a twist: A new Apple-powered Maps app in iOS 6 might just be the tip of the iceberg.
- iPhone 5 design still not finalized, still no big screen, still no metal back, still on track for October release: Despite some recent rumors to the contrary, we’ve heard Apple hasn’t settled on a widescreen display or metal back yet.
Features
Some great stuff this week:
- Jailbreak concepts Apple should implement in iOS 6 by Ally Kazmucha. Last year Apple took Notification Center, Wi-Fi sync, and more from jailbreak. What should they take this year?
- Is there a future for jailbreak? by Ally Kazmucha. On the flip side, if Apple keeps Sherlocking jailbreak, is there a future left for it?
- Weekly Photo Contest: Black and White! by Leanna Lofte. She’s been showing you how to build your iPhone photography skills, and here’s your chance to wins some prizes.
- iOS 6: The opposite of widgets by yours truly. Rather than having widgets that take information from apps and splay it on the Home screen, we want that info inside other apps.
- SkyDrive vs. Dropbox vs. Google Drive: best cloud storage option for iPhone and iPad users by Ally Kazmucha. Whether you’re new to cloud storage or simply want to check out other options, here’s your breakdown.
And the stylus showdown begins:
- SGP Kuel H12 stylus for iPad review by Georgia. Your best bet for long-form note-taking.
- Adonit Jot Pro stylus for iPad review by Georgia. What you want if you’re a technical artist.
- Wacom Bamboo Stylus review by Georgia. An okay stylus but not as good or as cheap as the pro-level competition.
Keep an eye out for a pro-stylus battle royal on iMore TV this week!
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
Rumored iPhone 5 parts show new layout, micro dock
Another supposed part leak from Apple’s next generation iPhone 5 has shown up online. The component is listed as a headphone jack/earpiece/Wi-fi antenna. The iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 parts are grouped a bit differently — but that’s not what I find interesting. If this is indeed a part from the next generation iPhone, I don’t think what it’s listed as is what we’re actually looking at. I think it’s possible we’re looking at Apple’s new micro dock connector, the one iMore first reported on back in February.
As you can see, the part leak above shows more of a resemblance to a dock connector and loud speaker assembly. The upper portion also looks like it contains a cellular antenna as opposed to a Wi-Fi antenna.
While it is correct that the headphone jack, volume buttons, and mute switch are grouped together on one component in the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, I don’t believe that’s what this component is at all. The picture above is a photo of an iPhone 4S with an iPhone 4 dock connector below it. As you can see, the part leak shares a pretty strong resemblance to the dock connector and loud speaker of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. What I think we are actually looking at is a dock connector/loud speaker/cellular antenna assembly. Currently the dock connector and loud speaker are on the same assembly but the cellular antenna is its own component that is fastened to the speaker housing with adhesive and a set of screws.
The cellular antenna in the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S is affixed to the speaker assembly. Part leak photos may show the cellular antenna attached to the dock connector and loud speaker flex cable instead.
People also tend to confuse the Wi-Fi antenna (which is actually located in the top portion of the iPhone 4 and 4S) with the cellular antenna located in the bottom portion along with the housing. Above you can see a photo of an iPhone 4 cellular antenna. If you refer back to the supposed iPhone 5 part leak photo, you can see the resemblance to a cellular antenna, which actually would make a bit more sense considering these parts are all grouped in similar areas already. The fasteners are very similar though so I wouldn’t rule out it being a Wi-Fi antenna just yet.
What intrigues me the most about this image is that the dock connector (which is what I believe it is along the bottom) does indeed look quite a bit smaller than the current version. This lines up with the new iMore broke back in February — that Apple would be ditching the traditional 30-pin dock connector and going with a smaller micro dock connector in the next generation iPhone.
While this could be a component for the iPhone 5, it’s also too early to assume that this is the final assembly Apple will go with as we’ve heard reports that the design has not been finalized just yet.
We’ll just have to wait and see.
Source: PirateXMac via MacRumors
Jailbreak, Mod, and DIY editor at iMore, Founder of PXLFIX, Potter pundit, the ninja in your iOS.
