Laughing Means A Lot To Me

Previously I met the problem that the Apple Mail application starts automatically. I tracked the history for a few days and now I find out the reason. Here under is my analyze:

• There was no sign that the Apple Mail run in a fixed frequency.
• The chance of virus is slim too. Because virus often hides itself when doing anything bad like sending email to all contacts. And in another hand, OS X is much safer than Windows at present and no too much virus is reported so far.
• It could be triggered by some application that I had to find out.

So I check the system log in Console. I found out an error of iCal occurred at the same time that Mail run. When I look into the details, yes, it was there, iCal called a function to run Mail to send a email out. Since I have never set up an account in Mail, it pops up an notice to let me set one. The log also recorded what kind of mail iCal wanted to send. Then everything is clear: I sync the iCal to my google calendar, my google calendar has a series of email reminders to send to myself. While google has it's own mechanism to send them out, iCal uses Apple Mail.

This is just a specific problem. But the way of wisely using the Console and tracking down the history is the key to find out the reason for most problems.

You see, there is only one constant, one universal, it is the only real truth: causality. Action. Reaction. Cause and effect.

-- The Matrix Reloaded

Maybe in a few hours, gmail's interface looks different. When I logged in one second ago, my eyes told me there's something different: the Buttons.

To recall the memory to compare, I have to google the old interface out:

The buttons in new interface look more compact, beautiful. Not ugly grey buttons any more  (those in screenshot above are styled by Vista theme, but in Windows classic theme, they are like this: ).

They are also separated into 3 groups: simple button, drop down list, more action.
The change improved usability. I like it.

Tips: Note that there is a "Mark as read" button in first screenshot.
It can be enabled by a plug-in in "Setting -> Labs -> Mark as Read Button". Small function, but really handy.

After trying over and over again, I finally succeeded to set up BlackBerry bluetooth modem in Mac OS X. In fact, there are already several articles talked about this. I just made it work in China Mobile network.
This article is for those who:

• Have a BlackBerry 8100/8300
• Have a Mac OS X
• Use the China Mobile network (CMCC) in China
• Have turn the data service on.

I tested it in MacBook aluminum, OS X 10.5.6, BlackBerry 8100 (ROM version 4.3)
The basic configuration is described clearly here: How do I use my Blackberry Pearl as a bluetooth modem with a Mac?. It should work well when you use T-Mobile or Cingular.
If you are in China and using China Mobile, here are some settings you should change:

1. Open the file BlackBerry 8100 or BlackBerry 8300 in the /Library/Modem Scripts/ folder with text editor. Find out "ATDT*99***1#" and replace it with "ATDT*99#" then save the file. Or you can simply download the file I made, unzip it and put it into the folder I just mentioned.
2. In "System Preference => Network" panel, use "cmnet" as the Telephone Number, Account Name, Password.

The step 2 wasted a lot of my time. Because in windows, there's no need to set a user name and password when dialing. Before filling the two blanks in OS X, I thought failure of connecting was caused by some other reasons.

In Windows, HyperSnap could help auto scroll the window and capture the whole web page. The Mac OS X build-in software Grab can not do this. After googling, I found out this software Paparazzi! really helps.

This file with strange file name has lived in my Trash for over a month. I finally get rid of it today.

It's caused by the FAT32 partition for Windows. I booted Windows and deleted the files in the hidden directory "C:\.Trash" and similar folders. Then the problem is solved.

Update Oct 7th, 2009.

The option appears in Universal Access -> Mouse & Trackpad. I remember that I have checked here before 10.6, this must be new in Snow Leopard. Anyway, it's much easier now.

Thanks to Mary pointed this out in comment.

I moved the OS X Leopard from the old MacBook to new MacBook and I found that the setting in the Trackpad was missing. I set to "Ignore trackpad when mouse is present" before. After moving the hard disk to new MacBook and reinstall the system without erasing old data, I could not change the setting anymore.

I searched the official MacBook forum and got the solution for that:

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