GPS Travel Recorder on Apple OSX

A while ago I started a search for a GPS Data Logger which I can use for adding GPS coordinates to my photo's. The current status is that most of those devices are Windows only. The few that might be OSX compatible aren't sold in the Netherlands (yet). So I had to find an alternative. There is a sourceforge project called 'MTK GPS Data Logger Device Control' which facilitates certain GPS (chipset) devices to function on multiple platforms. So my best guess would be to buy one of those 'supported' GPS Data Loggers. Due to availability, I bought the Qstarz BT-1000. It's a GPS mouse with navigation and logging capabilities. First I had to make sure that the device was actually working properly, so I installed the driver and software in a Windows XP Virtual Machine. This was quite easy, and the unit seemed to work properly. Next thing was to install the opensource program to allow communication between the GPS unit and OSX Leopard. To get it to work on OSX you need to follow a installation manual. Something I'm not used to :). Needless to say that it took a bit longer than expected. First of all, you'll need the software from the sourceforge website. Second, you need SuperWaba files (free registration is required) [these files seemed to be present in the download package from sourceforge], and the USB driver. After that you need to follow the instructions in the README.txt provided in the sourceforge package. Note that the script information on the forum has been superseded by the README.txt in the downloadfile (use the provided bt747_macosX.command from the sourceforge download package instead). Eventually, you'll end up with a directory structure whick looks something like this:

Run the bt747_macosX.command file to start the application. One thing I must mention is that somewhere along the lines is the mention of using TextEdit to alter (script)files. Do NOT forget to remove the formatting on the files before saving. You might end up with scriptsfiles containing some markup stuff.... And this means that you might be getting some weird error messages.

Anyway, the interface is still very simple, but you have access to lots of features. The actual manual for the application is available on Google Docs.

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SanDisk RescuePro Software on a 'Mini' CD

I bought some accessories for my photo gear today. Among the items was a new 2GB SanDisk Extreme III CF card. This package came with a 'purse' to store cards, and a CD with recovery software. In most cases you'll only get the Windows version of a product (if there is an OSX version all together)..... But this CD also contains the OSX version of SanDisk's RescuePro. Downside is that the CD is mini CD (or what you might call it), and those won't work very well with the latest Mac's. The latest Mac's have DVD/CD players without a tray, so insert the CD, and you can ship your Mac for repairs...... And since the Windows OS can't read the Mac part of the CD, there's no way of getting the software of the CD.

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Display Full Path in Finder

One thing I hate is not knowing where I am. I had this in Windows, and I still have it OSX. By default OSX doesn't show the full path in the finder. This is annoying as hell. Especialy when you're having shares called 'Pictures', and the chances are quite big that you might have a local directory called 'Pictures'. You can't tell the difference. Using the following terminal command, you get the full path in the Finder. So no more 'Pictures', but '/Volumes/Pictures/' Terminal command: defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool YES killall Finder Simply replace the YES for NO to disable the feature. This is OSX 10.5 or higher only!!

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TrueCrypt v5.0 Coming Soon

The TrueCrypt developers have scheduled the release of v5.0 for Januari Februari 2008. This release will also have Mac OSX version. Now we're getting somewhere. Finally, true cross-platform (Windows, Linux, and OSX) encryption, and it's completely free.

TrueCrypt 5.0 Release scheduled for: January 2008

• Windows system partition encryption with pre-boot authentication
• Mac OS X version
• GUI for Linux versions of TrueCrypt
• Parallelized and pipelined read/write
• and more.

The following features are planned to be implemented in future versions:

• Support for external authentication modules (cryptographic tokens)
• 'Raw' CD/DVD volumes
• TrueCrypt API
• and more.

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Wonderbra

Do watch this video... UP CLOSE!!!

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Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a photogear wishlist. This list contained a Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8 ED lens. This lens is nearly 10 years old (introduced in 1999), so Nikon introduced a new version in November 2007. The Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S is the successor of the legendary 'Beast'. And now, good fortune is knocking on my door (e.g. I won 10 euro's in the new years eve lottery). I'll probably order this new lens this weekend :D . Together with my dad's Nikon D3 it should be a smashing combination.

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MDaemon Config Horror

I evaluated the MDaemon v9.7.2 mailserver, and I must say that it's quite complex to get it to run... my way. It's quite common to separate the program and the data. So, I tried to put the data on a different disk. This isn't done by using the GUI, but you need to edit the Mdaemon.ini file in the App directory (not every directory can be changed by the GUI). After changing the defaults, the MultiPOP feature didn't work. It seems there's another config file for remote mail stuff. This file (schedule.dat) needs to reference the same location as the Mdaemon.ini file. Why is that? Why use two config files for one program? And why use a different extension (.dat versus .ini)? Beats me. For a mailserver that pretends to be a fair, and relatively simple alternative to the over-powered and over-featured Microsoft Exchange mailserver you need a 'rocket science engineers degree' to get it to work properly.

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GPS Loggers and Macs

I've been looking for a GPS logger for a couple of months. A GPS logger can be used for attaching GPS information to your digital photos. This way, you can display your photos on publicly accessible maps in Flickr or Google Earth. More and more of those GPS loggers are surfacing on the market [Sony GPS-CS1 / GPS-CS1KA, Globalsat DG-100, Qstarz BT Q-1000, GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr, WBT-201]. But they all have one problem; None of them seem to work (natively) with an Intel Mac running Leopard (source). Some of them require open-source drivers to function. The downside of that is that an update from Apple or an updated firmware in the GPS logger might cripple the functionality. Why is it that GPS manufacturers won't create a GPS (logger) device that simply works on both platforms. It couldn't be that hard. Just create a GPS device that is also recognized as a external drive, containing the raw GPS data in the most common format (e.g. NMEA). This way even the Linux users are not left out.

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Symcaimport and Windows Mobile Devices

It seems that my little upload / download page for adding root certificate authorities Symbian phones is also a big help for those who use Windows Mobile Devices.

Very strange that there are millions of smartphones on the market, and that everyone, regardless of the phones they have, experience the same problem. Why won't Microsoft (Windows Mobile) and the Symbian people simplify the interface of adding root CA's?

Warning Labels in the US

Everything is possible, but nothing is allowed. A typical description of the United States. A country where everyone sues everyone else. This is the reason why manufacturers place the most absurd warning labels on their products. Just in case someone is lacking plain old common sense (like a lady who put her dog (or cat) in the microwave to dry the animal.....) and sues the company for millions of dollars. Check the most ridiculous warning labels here. You can even buy a book [amazon, bol.com] with the 101 most stupendous warnings.

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