How to remove duplicate icon from Launchpad

Well, it was pretty annoying to find two Skype icons in my Launchpad after I’ve upgraded to the latest version. When I click and hold on one of those icons, the icons become wiggle, but there are no delete signs on the top left corner (because Skype is not from Mac App Store).

After a few googling, I’ve found out this simple solution. Thanks to Baryon from MacRumors Forums.

• Go to Applications folder, Right click on Skype, Choose Move to Trash.
• In my case, both Skype icons are gone from Launchpad. If you still see Skype icon in your Launchpad, click on it (Choose Yes when it ask you if you want to remove it).
• Go to Trash, right click on Skype, Choose Put Back.

That’s it, only one Skype icon show up in my Launchpad now. Your mileage may vary, feel free to post it in comments.

First over-the-air update from Apple, iOS 5.0.1 available

Today is historic day for iPhone/iOS users as Apple release first ever OTA update, iOS 5.0.1. It may sound funny for Android/WebOS/Blackberry users as they’ve been used to OTA update for years.

Anyway, if you own the compatible iDevices (such as iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S or iPad or iPod touch 3rd, 4th gen), you should update it to see how’s the OTA thingy works.
I’ve already updated mine and here is the step by step screenshots.

• Firstly, go to Settings –> General –> Software Update. You should see the screen like following after you’ve pressed Download and Install button.

• After that, just sit back, relax and enjoy the show. The process will take about 10 mins depending on your internet connection speed.

• When you get the prompt like this, just click Install. Your iDevice will restart soon.

That’s it! Sorry to disappoint you, there’s no further step. Once your iPhone or iDevice has been rebooted, it is up and running with iOS 5.0.1.

Source : AllthingsD

Top 10 reasons why you should get a Mac

Well, I’ve never thought I’d write this post. In 2007, I’ve written a post about top 10 reasons why you shouldn’t get a Mac. It was well reflected the real situation back then though. How things have changed in 4 years! Today Apple has become technology giant and even outgrow Microsoft in stock values.
So here I am, writing this post, why you should consider getting a Mac over a PC.

1. Mac OS and most softwares require no tedious activation procedures

Apple really target the mass market. What do I mean by that? Well, in general, majority of people all over the globe are lazy and stupid. While Microsoft is busy how to prevent their softwares from being pirated, Apple just focuses on the quality and target the general populace. The result? It is very simple to use. When I started using OSX, I was surprised to find out that no activation is required. When I install iWorks suite, no serial or activation process, it just installs and done. Most softwares install and uninstall process on Mac OSX is as simple as drag and drop.

2. Multi-Touch and gestures

Apple innovated multi-touch and gestures. Magic trackpad and Magic mouse are really fun to use. In Lion, swiping four fingers up to bring Mission Control and three fingers swipe left and right to switch full screen apps are really intuitive.

3. Services

Apple hardware are warranted by Apple. Period. This is their brand to protect, so they took care of it whenever you’ve got issue with either hardware or software. For Windows user, the PC vendor may push the blame to Microsoft or any other software provider and vice versa. Furthermore, you can extend AppleCare by up to 3 years and it covers almost anything that goes wrong.

4. It doesn’t crash

This is not really true, but yeah majority of the time it doesn’t crash. Let me put it this way, if Windows crash once a week, Mac will crash like twice a year.

5. iLife and Time Machine

There’s iCal, Apple Mail, Address Book, iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iTunes, and iDVD. For Windows part, you’ve to download Windows Live essential and still no equivalent GarageBand and Windows Live essentials isn’t as well integrated as iLife. Any Windows backup software I’ve tried are not as user-friendly and dummy proof as Apple Time Machine. This is not entirely Microsoft fault though. Due to a lot of anti-trust lawsuits, Microsoft simply cannot bundle these apps like Apple do. I guess that’s a small price to pay for when you are a market leader.

6. Macs don’t need an anti-virus software

I agreed that there is Anti-Virus for OSX as well. But unless you are clicking everything on the internet and entering your password whenever there’s a prompt, you simply don’t need anti-virus. OSX underlying OS, Unix, is too strong in security for any bad boy.

7. Long-lasting Battery life

Battery life on Macbook, Macbook Pro and Macbook Air are all fantastic. This is as a result of integrating hardware and software so well. I sincerely say that Windows notebook don’t even come close when you compare battery life with the same size and weight as Macbooks family.

8. Price

You may probably say What!? Macs are more expensive. Yes it is true if you compare the initial cost. Then you are comparing Apple with Orange (no pun intended). The total cost of ownership of a Mac is a lot less than a PC. Apple hardwares hold their value over the years. Let’s say you spend $999 for Macbook Air today. A year later, that Macbook Air can fetch at least $400. You can count yourself lucky if your one year old PC notebooks get half of that resale value.

9. Macs run Windows, if you need to. PCs are not able to run Mac OS.

This is a bit unfair to include as advantage as this reason is mainly due to Apple not allowing their OS to run on third-party hardware to protect quality of service. But at least if you need to run OSX and Windows legally for whatever reason, you’ve got no choice but to use Mac.

10. Design

The last but not least is design. Apple products have the feel-good quality which always gives you the comfort that you are using a great product. From the iMac to the new Macbook, Apple’s design has remained flawless compared to the competition. Unibody Macbooks are really durable and amazingly beautiful! Apple had said they’ve left their competitors years behind when they introduced unibody Macbooks and it really turns out to be the case.

In conclusion, I’d encourage you to invest in Apple hardware nowadays. But remember, we can’t take technology for granted though. Steve Jobs, the mastermind of Apple’s success, has already left his CEO role at Apple and Windows 8 demos are really look stunning. So Mac vs PC war will not end in the foreseeable future.

Top 10 reasons why you shouldn’t get a Mac

Apple is giving reasons what they think is imperative for making the change from a PC to a Mac can be found on their website and their famous “I’m a PC, I’m a Mac” ads. After I’ve seen most of the Apple ads and have read their long lists of conviction, I don’t see any apparent reasons why Windows users should switch to Mac. Let’s start the list!

1. It just works.

Huh? What do you mean it just works? Many Mac ads will tell you that all people that own Mac are really satisfied with their computer and Mac never crash. This all turns out to be a pack of lies. It does crash a lot.

Normally, Windows crash because of third party faulty hardware, for Mac, it’s simply because their OS is suck. Just wonder why Apple Sweden website is running Solaris, not Mac OSX. Maybe they know their OS is not reliable.

For those who doubt whether Mac really crashes or not, watch this youtube video. It’s a proof that Mac crashes a lot.

2. You can even run Windows.

Apple just invented BootCamp and then came out and say “Come all Windows users, buy our expensive hardware; you can still use your Vista”. If you can indeed run Vista like on your normal PC, I wouldn’t complain. But you know what, all the function keys will drive you crazy.

**F5 changes the volume instead of refreshing.
**F4 lowers the volume instead of dropping a combo box.
And if all that weren’t bad enough, THERE’S NO RIGHT CLICK BUTTON!!! So besides being pretty, there is no point using the hardware for Windows.

3. Macs run Microsoft Office.

Come on! This is the funniest thing of all. I am really wondering about this. I mean Microsoft Office runs on Microsoft Windows. It just ported to Mac doesn’t mean we should switch to Mac. I just ask myself why should I switch when it’s the exactly same on the Mac?

4. Instant video chats.

Yeah! Yeah! Go and tell your grandmas. All PCs users are having great video chat, conference with Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! and so on since a long time ago.

5. Design that turns heads.

I won’t deny Mac looks stylish, neat and tidy. The problem is that their focus on design hinders them from creating practical Machines. If you have ever used the small round iMac mouse, you may have probably too suffered from aches in arm and hand.

6. No hunting for drivers.

Apple stated that USB and firewire devices will be working at Mac without having to install drivers. Well, that happens to PC since introducing Windows XP five years ago.

7. You can take it with you.

Apple website stated that most popular applications for Mac and PC use the same file formats, making it simple to exchange documents with friends and coworkers or move existing files from a PC to a Mac.

That is not true. We don’t have to be genius to know that switching to the Mac means we will be sacrificing the diversity of software available for the PC. Sure, you get the essential word-processor and web-browser. But you will get Gtalk with only chatting, who would want Gtalk if you can’t make voice chat?

8. 114,000 viruses? Not on a Mac.

Apple says their OS is based on UNIX, so it is more secure. But, in reality, the reason is that they can’t make OS from scratch like Windows, so they adopted FreeBSD and put some make-up on it.

Of course, there are many viruses for Windows, but Apple forgot to state that there are many Antivirus choices for Windows users as well. Most PCs users who’ve got antivirus never really suffer from virus problem too. Mac is not virus free (Bad boys can release viruses) and Antivirus choice is very limited if there’s any.

9. More fun with photos.

Apple is saying their so-called great invention program named iPhotos that will revolutionize the way we look at digital photos.

Maybe Mac users are new to digital photos on the computer but Windows users reached that stage of evolution ages ago.

10. Hollywood-style movies.

It seems that Apple thinks that they’ve revolutionized computing by developing mediocre software for viewing digital photos, editing video, burning CDs and DVDs and listening to music. Well they haven’t!

So don’t be fooled by Apple ads. You have nothing to gain by switching to a Mac. Apple has proved it on their website already. Who would want a mouse with just one button anyway???

Safari on Windows

I know this is gonna be old news, but I can’t control myself to complain about Safari buggyness on Windows. Safari really sucks, well at least on Windows PC(s).

I installed it on my WinXP SP2 and tried to make a blog post about it. After I logon to blogger.com and I clicked to create post, Bang! Safari close with no reason or whatsoever. I tried reinstall many times, same problem.

I am aware that safari is, in fact, only in beta. But can’t even write a blog post on blogger.com should be in alpha version.

Why iPod is always a winner?

I just wandering around digg and found this one quite interesting. This is what I am thinking for some time. Why creative can’t kill iPod? Why cheap mp3 players still behind iPod?

Nothing lasts forever, certainly some day the iPod/iTunes duo will be challenged and soundly defeated. That day isn’t today and unfortunately, if you’re Microsoft, it isn’t even this year.

There are a million iPod killers floating around. Some feature more capapcity, some feature more gizmos, and some feature lower price points. None of the iPod killers are actually doing any iPod killing because they’re too busy trying to be more iPodish than the iPod.

Source : Apple Matters

Snoopy-styled iPOD Nano

For those of you who are very crazy about iPod, there is another theme coming for iPod Nano, with famous comic character Snoopy.

If you’re into Snoopy an iPOD’s, here’s the iPOD Nano and SnoopyBox. this box contains a 2GB Nano with the little dog engraved on the back of the Nano, a pouch, a Snoopy lanyard, Snoopy stickers for the Nano and the box of course. This set will cost 240 EUR.

Got it from Akihabara News