Funky yes? I think so, it’s my new iPad Mini (a.k.a my modded iPod Touch).

Obviously I’d love an iPad, and there’s no doubt I’ll end up with one eventually, however during a Sunday with not much on apart from tea and ginger biscuits I thought it would be fun to move things in the right direction and have some fun with my solid old Touch on the way. The results are really quite impressive.

So, here’s how I did it (For info – my iTouch is running the latest firmware – 3.1.3)…

• 1st you need to jailbreak your iPhone or iPod, there are many utilities for doing so however I used “Spirit” which was quick and painless with no restore or reboot required.
  
• Next, on your device, open the Cydia app (installed by Spirit) and search for & install WinterBoard.
• Search for and install the “SimpleiPadTheme”
  
• Install the “MakeitMine” app (For the carrier tag, set to “iPad Mini”).
  
• Install the “Shrink” app (to reduce icon sizes).
  
• Install “ProSwitcher” app (for multi-tasking).
• Through the regular app store install “NYTimes” (Free) + “Classics” (£1.79) to complete that “iPad” look and feel (Classics is GREAT.!!).
  

To configure things you’ll find both WinterBoard & Shrink under “settings”, select the iPadTheme under WinterBoard and set icon sizes to 66% in Shrink, follow all on-screen advisories, re-start when asked and you should end up with an iPad Mini (Touch) like mine.

“iPad Mini” is a tag I made up just for fun and although the changes may indeed be merely cosmetic it really does feel like a totally new device now, it looks great and the smaller icons give a real feeling of extra space, it does feel bigger..! ProSwitcher takes some getting used to but once you get the idea it feels like a natural progression for a mini-OS and it’s nice to flick about with.

In all seriousness the device has taken to it’s new clothes so well I think Apple could do a lot worse to elevate the iPod Touch & iPhone “officially” to iPad Mini status, it feels like it was meant to be. I’m loving it and have lost all cravings for the real thing (for now).

TooMuchGreen are not only staunch advocates of everything Linux and open source, we also firmly believe in superior solutions from our other favourite computer company – Apple. The above table illustrates one such shining example.

The Apple OSX operating system is far superior to Microsoft Windows in many ways (security, stability etc) and as this comparison chart clearly highlights, the perception that Apple products are expensive is simply not true, in fact quite the opposite. Aside from licencing costs the TCO drop resulting from reduced admin overhead* further adds to the equation, also bear in mind that here we are comparing the Mini Server to the lowest spec PC available, PC based server class hardware is substantially more expensive.

It is also worth noting that the Mac Mini is presently the worlds most energy efficient computer, again, more cost savings.

Integration is of course a concern for every IT manager however this is less than a problem, OSX Leopard Server actually makes it easier to manage your existing network infrastructure, such is the polished and intuitive nature of an Apple software solutions.

*Apple OSX is inherently stable and immune to all PC viruses, without exception.

Let’s stop mulling it over, for the technically aware there can be no doubt the future of computing is cloud based (both locally and out across the www), it’s going to happen (it is happening). But what does this new virtual world present to us in terms of the good old desktop operating system?

Well, cloud access needs a browser, a browser needs a software platform to run on and a software platform requires a host device. Voice and gesture recognition technology is presently a touch under the horizon for general use so we’ll still need keyboard & mouse functionality, as such it’s a fair bet to expect a substantial increase in laptop style/tablet & personal device (iPhone) use in response to what will be corresponding growth in mobile infrastructure connectivity.
The personal computer will become less “personal” with the mindset for mainstream data ownership shifting away from the concept of local storage and becoming akin to the way vinyl (and soon CD/DVD media) is regarded today, i.e nice to own & “collectable” but at the same time unnecessary and cumbersome in comparison to what will in effect be instant delivery of most any content we can think of, anywhere. It’s true we humans do like to have our “stuff” but lifestyle technology (or should I say Apple) will most certainly re-dictate (re-train?) our behavioural traits.
Spotify is already a real world emerging example of this, why bother paying for GB’s of hard disk storage when you can stream pre-configured playlists to all and any of your your devices for free (albeit with an ad thrown in here and there) with no danger of media corruption? It’s only present infrastructure shortfall restricting increased adoption, but that will change, forces are at work (and have been for some time).

iTunes will expand to become an all encompassing on-line portal where Apple will happily manage all our personal media collections and deliver them back to us through “terminal” devices (be they laptops, dumb screens or variations of the imminent Apple Tablet). Google (of course) will also expand it’s virtual empire to take care of our business enterprise (check out Apps, it’s a killer), and Microsoft? Microsoft are obviously developing their own cloud cover strategy (Azure) but if I had to choose I’d predict a sway toward Google, why? I just think there’s more perceived trust for the big G, and although I do say “perceived” trust it’s also said with a certain degree of irony – “Many a true word” etc, for example – content filtering for word processing files? Your data should be YOUR data (and there begins the case for local cloud systems, more on that another time).

Anyway, browsers. Browsers indeed, and operating systems. A browser is a browser is a browser (more or less) and with Mozillas ubiquitous Firefox available for free across all platforms the question of cost arises. Why pay for an expensive operating system and the high end hardware it needs to function when all you’re running on it is Firefox? Answer – You don’t have to, and that’s where Linux slots in superbly.

Not only is the Linux platform free of charge it’s also incredibly stable and incredibly secure, two things you REALLY want when exposing your personal data to the world (wide web). We did mention Google before and here once again they come into view with their like vision of future cloud access – the “Chrome OS“.

Google vision is going to happen, Google (along with Apples iPhone) are going to take over the world and Chrome OS will be Google’s cloud entry portal, and guess what, Chrome OS is built on Linux. It’s no surprise really, Google know a good thing when they see it.

If you would like to find out more about cloud content storage & delivery through a Linux platform TooMuchGreen can help, we are specialists in this area and offer the full spectrum of Linux based advice and solutions tailored to your business and budget. Feel free to send us a message via the contact page, we would be more than happy to come and visit you to assess your needs.

Cost saving and stability from the cloud, that’s the name of the game for 2010, are you playing?

I’m a huge fan of the Mac Mini and think it has been one of Apples most under developed and under rated units, in fact I’m on my 3rd one at the moment now the MacBook Air has been eBayed. Needs as must however and although it’s the somewhat older 1.42ghz G4 model it’s no real detriment to me as (compared to the video hungry masses) all my own daily apps are probably as low end as you can get these days (“Terminal” isn’t that resource intensive). Obviously I would relish the prospect of owning an 8 core Mac Pro but I honestly have no need for one.

The new Mac Mini “Server” is a most welcome addition to the range and although not yet in the realms of what would be classed as real server technology it’s certainly heading in the right direction with it’s two hard disks, redundancy is the name of the game when it comes to servers and multiple drive RAID configurations are a must.

With a mere two disk offering your options or still somewhat limited and in this instance you’d be advised to opt for RAID 1 (mirrored disks), yes you lose half of the available storage space by doing so but the other option for a two disk setup, RAID 0, merely stripes data across both drives. Although RAID 0 does provide a performance increase two disk stripe sets offer no inherent redundancy, if one disk fails it’s game over for all your data (unless you’ve backed it up of course).

Ideally I’d have liked Apple to have added an extra ethernet port for network redundancy, adapter teaming options and as provision for limited LTSP, after all if they’re tagging this model as a server then what need is there for a bank of four USB ports? You only need one to rebuild the system (there’s no DVD drive in this model).

Technical shortfalls aside it’s the form factor and power efficiency of the Mini which are the winners here. During 2007 I ran a clients property management website from an OSX 10.4 Server enabled G4 Mini sat in the airing cupboard of my current lodgings at that time in Harrogate, the web link was provided via DynDNS across an 8mb Orange home internet connection and everything ran quite literally problem free for six months until we migrated it to some “real” hosting. Page delivery times were more than acceptable and apart from the notably generic web address provided by the free DynDNS service there was no other indication of it’s rather interesting location.

A few years ago there was talk of the Mini drifting into end of line but with increasingly realised adoption for it’s amazing versatility and new forays into Mini Server world it’s nice to see it now standing even taller in the line up.

Good things come in small packages.

Apple were slated by a few people post the September 9th event for not releasing anything innovative enough. All considered I feel this was a touch harsh but I do realise demand of the gadget hungry innovators from the world of media tech doesn’t get any easier to satisfy so I suppose it was only to be expected.

I personally think Apple have produced quite a pleasing array of products recently. Snow Leopard is a superb remodel of OSX (my MacBook Air loves it), the iPod Nano Video is a great little addition which will most certainly now expand it’s niche and the improvements in iTunes 9 for presenting the way we enjoy digital music are most alluring. The double picture disk LP with gate-fold sleeve will never return but perhaps the digital door has indeed opened for an increasingly improved user experience inviting further enhancement come the release of the mystical Apple Tablet?

Ah yes, the Tablet. Too Much Green have previously blogged about this mythical wonder, highlighting perception and faith for the still unknown element yet to enhance its unrealised dynamic as the next must have device. Steve Jobs won’t disappoint. I recently watched the superb independent film “Welcome to Macintosh” in which various Apple products were mentioned which quite literally changed the world and the way we view computing, we’re talking about the iMac, the iPod, the iPhone, iTunes, Quicktime and the OSX operating system. Each would be a major achievement however for them all to eminate from a single source in such a comparatively short time frame? This is no accident. Critics of the Apple tablet are still viewing it as either an overgrown iPhone or a mini touch screen laptop which is obviously somewhat amusing, they aren’t envisioned enough to look past Facebook into other areas of potential and by writing the tablet off before it’s even released are merely highlighting their own boxed in ignorance. Take a lead, “Think Different“.

Myself and Lesley were sat in Cafe Tous les Jours the other day playing with the recipe spinner on my iPod Touch, the food element got me thinking about the tablet and I realised how useful a larger wipe clean device might be in the kitchen. Recipe programs are already available for “regular” computers but let’s be honest, cake mix and keyboards aren’t a good combination, a sealed wipe clean device could be given the once over with a damp cloth, cake mix gone and no harm done. If it was latched onto Wi-fi you could download new recipes on demand (or just view them on websites), you could pass on links, modify ingredients, share and re-distribute, view and follow videos of food prep methods all whilst listening to your iTunes and Tweeting your friends an E.TA for when the meal you’re cooking them will be ready. A software cooking application would have no problems converting weights and measures, it would provide an on screen timer and could even IM your iPhone with a reminder to take the cake out of the oven should you get too engrossed in the afternoon movie.

The header shot on this post shows potential for such an application (click the image for more details). It was pulled from a strain of development which seems didn’t reach completion as I can find no progressed information past 2007, perhaps it was merely two years ahead of it’s time? I would most certainly urge those responsible to get back on the case as the term “Cook Book” could have a whole new meaning by this time next year.

I’m no Steve Jobs (obviously) and the “CookBook” idea isn’t perhaps the most visionary scenario for Apples latest design innovation, however it does highlight a world of computing outside the box of business and media, an area Apple have already seamlessly re-invented. What’s next?

Obviously I was keen to upgrade to Snow Leopard this week (who wouldn’t be for €28.99) and was there in the queue at Gravis on Saturday morning. After a rather satisfying chocolate croissant in their cafe we went back in the apartment and an hour later it was up and running on the MacBook Air (Rev A 1.6ghz), OK, let’s see what we have…..

The first thing I noticed was instantly snappier performance, yes, MUCH snappier. It was true then, a genuine 64 bit operating system does indeed zip along nicely on matching 64 bit hardware (not that I doubted it wouldn’t, obviously), and what about that extra 6GB of disk space we’ve been promised? 6GB? Never mind that, I seem to have got an extra 9GB….how DOES it do that? Bonus.

OK, what about existing apps (I did an upgrade), is everything working? Seems I’d lost  “Coolbook” functionality, which to be honest is no real biggie now I’ve left the heated tropics of Costa Rica, especially as Snow Leopard apparently facilitates a cooler CPU anyway. Apart from Coolbook everything seemed quite happy and it was only the day after when I discovered MAMP functionality had taken a dive (I had the pukka stack installed) but again this was no real problem, I know I could get it going again but I’ve no real need now I’ve moved all server development onto the superb little Dell Mini 9 (These days I really do wonder how I ever managed without two laptops), the Air has been a real workhorse over the past year what with running VMWare instances and the like so it probably deserves a rest anyway.

Obviously the computing masses are making comparisons to Windows 7 with some giving Snow Leopard a real slagging for “apparently” being no more than a service pack for 10.5. I haven’t seen Windows 7 so can’t comment nor am I interested in doing so, I’m a Mac and Linux guy so why would I want to, however I do think the “service pack” tag is somewhat misguided. Snow Leopard both is and isn’t a new product, 10.5 is a fantastic operating system which delivers superbly across both PPC  & Intel Macs, 10.6 is an improved version designed to fully utilise the Intel 64 bit architecture, calm down people.

Cosmetic tweaks and touches are included here and there of course and although I haven’t discovered them all (the manual was in German) the ones I have noticed have made sense (like visible airport signal strength for available networks), the “big” change though has to be inclusion of O.O.T.B connectivity for MS Exchange, yes indeed, no more Entourage required (*cheer*). As the world runs on MS Exchange this is a most wise inclusion and brings Mac desktop email inline with the now ubiquitous iPhone.

Snow Leopard was never meant to be a huge cosmetic change from 10.5, it was designed to deliver a tailored performance hit  for newer machines and on that score (for me) it’s a total success, so much so I honestly feel like I’ve got a new laptop which isn’t a bad result for a €29 DVD and an hour of my time.

*UPDATE* – My battery life seems to have increased by 30 minutes, impressive.

Email – the enabler of the electronic age? Our very own technological spokesperson, Apple fan-boy extraordinaire, Ubuntu advocate and undisputed King of Twitter, the man Stephen Fry, nailed it with his recent blog-post “Office Slavery” in which he laments the loss of the office secretary and highlights the resultant time sapping vacuum we drop into each day trawling through our digitised messages, as ever he’s right on the button and I’m not going to further drag out the scourge of lost hours spent replying, forwarding and CC-ing, we’re all more than aware how much our lives are ruled by the keyboard and the inbox. No, in this post I just wanted to drop behind the scenes of actual content for a moment to highlight a few of the technical hurdles mainstream users may not be aware of, you may think with email being the prevalent and integrated norm it is there might be some degree of stability around the majority of services offered to us, however you’d be surprised.

Let’s start with the two types of home based email, POP and IMAP, both allow you to read, send and forward etc, but it’s what they do with the actual messages which leads to potential “fun”, basically an email account configured to use POP invariably downloads everything from your ISP’s server onto your computers hard disk, IMAP mail leaves it up there.

Both POP and IMAP have good and bad points. With POP, as the full mail folder is stored on your own computer it’s easier to back everything up to a USB device and equally as easy to replace all folders should you need to restore your account at anytime (for example if you’ve had to rebuild your PC), however POP only facilitates archive mail views from a single machine whereas IMAP, due to all data being held online, offers concurrently synchronised operation and viewing from any number of machines (or handhelds such as iPhones & iPod Touch’s). Although incredibly useful for dynamic users all IMAP data is lost should your hosting company take a dive without adequate backups in place, yes, even if you’ve configured the account for “offline” viewing (IMAP offline viewing only applies to the current “live” connection, re-connection to an empty account will only display what’s online, not what “was” online, contrary to what you may think there’s no local archive once the connection is made back to the server).

Now, I’m sure you have confidence in your hosting company, they wouldn’t lose your email account? No? Believe me it can happen, I previously hosted with http://www.maiahost.com who lost all my data for the whole of May, email, blog posts the lot, and all without so much as an apology, obviously this was somewhat stressful but I suppose it’s a risk you take with cheap hosting and I quickly moved on (luckily I was mid-projects and it wasn’t a major show stopper, others might not have been so fortunate).

Post “maia” I re-located to UK2, one of the largest hosting companies in the the UK. UK2 offered a reasonable package deal with proffered multiple daily backups which after previously jittery hosting unprofessionalism seemed quite alluring, however, after signing up I was rather disturbed to discover that although the web hosting aspect was fine they didn’t offer a secure email option for IMAP. Secure email should (In my earnest opinion) be an absolute given for an IMAP connection, it utilises something called “SSL” (secure socket layer) which unlike POP provides a locked and secure end to end “tunnel” between you and the server, thus preventing your messages and content from being hi-jacked “en-route”, I like that, I like that a lot.

Where am I now then? Well, I had a stable website but un-secure email, still not good enough, so, seeing as Snow Leopard was coming out I decided to blow the dust off my redundant .Mac (dot Mac) account to see what I could do with it.
Apple revamped dot Mac a while back into something new & whizzy called “MobileMe” and I had a hit and miss relationship with it for a few months last year which resulted in me setting it to one side. A year on though with increasingly favourable press I was pushed to think it might be a nice geek-applemac-fanboy touch to start using my legacy “mac.com” email address again (seeing as how you can’t obtain them anymore). Everything was good (of course) and I’d actually forgotten how seamless, quick and easy configuring Mac email from a Mac was, it felt so nice after being away I did actually wonder what the problem had been before (as it goes I actually can’t even remember), as in life this can happen when you re-acquaint yourself with an old friend.

The interim non-Mac accounts had obviously done a bit of work for me over past year and I needed to keep them active. Dot Mac offers a nice way of achieving just this whilst negating any concerns regarding the potential flakiness of dodgy hosting hardware, you simply configure your Mac account to pull down external POP mail into a sub folder, it’s really cool and offers a nice option for duplicating all external messages by leaving them in-situ on the source, the folder replicates down to your Mac mail client, get’s checked accordingly and everything ends up under one roof, safe and sound on the Apple servers.

The advantages of going “back to Mac” have been immediately apparent, aside from silky smooth integration I use the slick webmail interface to get through Comcast’s fussy mail servers and re-contact my mate Andy in Florida (Comcast seem to block most of the mail from Europe – wf?), the iPod Touch loves dot Mac and I’ve even dumped my Google Cal and gone back to iCal & associated sync ups, yes, everything is back in it’s place and happy with SSL connectivity as standard and the statutory 20GB of available iDisk / Webspace sat waiting for me to fill it up, I can even host websites up there using the interim domain names I purchased which seems like something worth looking into.

Back to Mac then, I may even renew my subscription when it comes round