2nd Kernel Panic, and a HDD Panic

I had the second one not long ago. This time it is for no particular reason, so my only guess is it's a software problem. I didn't quite believe it when the panic screen appeared. (I thought it was the screen saver. That one that simulates a KP for joke. I had it but was not using it at that time.) Restarted and did the Apple Hardware Test. No problem found, and it's running smoothly since. So, I still don't know what problem it is.

Next thing is more serious. I seem to be constantly reminded of the fact that I don't have a proper backup of my Mac. I tried to imagine what would happen when the hard disk fails. It would be quite bad indeed. What I want is a hard disk that I can mirror my data to, but I don't have money to buy one.

Anyway, a few days ago my Mac was making some funny noise – symptom that there is a problem with the hard disk. So I was worried. I checked the disk with Disk Utility, and it said there was some kind of problem. Then it repaired it, and I am hoping all is well now. There still exists a need for a proper backup, though.

Kernel Panic …

Yesterday I had my first kernel panic. I didn't think it would happen to me! :( I was panicked. Not really. I read the message (even the worst message on Mac OS X is better-looking than Windows' Blue Screen of Death!), and restarted the Mac, as instructed. Then all is fine again.

But actually I was solving a problem with my printer when this happened. I read the Apple discussion boards and they say OS X screwed up. I guess the recent 10.4.9 update screwed up mine. So disappointing, it's the first OS X update that screwed up anything for me. So I was fixing that, and then the kernel panic, restart and the printer works again. Didn't think I need a kernel panic to fix my printer! :(

Review of iClip 4

I have used it for quite some time now (the trial only, I have no money). Here's a review.

The first thing you see when you use it is that it's pretty. Although it's not a very Mac-like app, it's pretty with those transparency and animation effects. I think it's the best looking clipboard manager you can find. And it doesn't only record the clipboard. It lets you store bits of information in "clip sets". It's convenient to store things there and get it later quickly. But I think it's better to use journal apps like Journler to organise stuff. So I only use iClip to store URLs of articles I want to read later.

It's definitely an app worth checking out. Download it from Inventive.

Update: I thought of a new use of iClip this morning. GTDers can use it as the inbox. Just drag whatever things to iClip to collect them. Then when processing, you can go through the clip set and delete the things one by one. When you delete things, there's a nice effect that you would enjoy.

iCal Day!

Yes, today is iCal Day, the only day in the year that whether you launch iCal or not, the dock icon is still showing today's date!

How come the icon shows today's date? Because iCal was introduced today a few years ago (I don't want to check it up, but it should be fairly easy to check.)

How to show your special love to iCal? Add more events to it! Or just launch it even if you don't need it. Or check out the list on Hawk Wings on making iCal even better. (In fact it was this post that reminded me of this special day. I'm not very conscious of dates, especially during the summer holidays.)

Edit: I just found this post about iCal Day has been dugg. This blogger advises the opposite - he is keeping iCal closed. Well, I didn't know why I said I would keep iCal open. Just for fun, OK?

HoudahSpot

My review of HoudahSpot as seen on MacZOT.com

HoudahSpot is like a more advanced Spotlight. It is a search utility with those more complicated search criteria like AND, OR and NOT. I like using them on Google so I'm glad I can use them on my own Mac too. After setting criteria for file kind, date modified and size, I can filter the results by entering keywords. So this is a bit different from normal searches. Results return fairly quickly for my tests. So I'm quite fond of this app and I hope I can make good use of it. (Never search a lot on my Mac, I browse more myself. It's hard to change long time habits despite Spotlight.)

NOTE: If you're seeing this on June 16, 2006 head over to MacZOT, you might be able to get a Free copy of HoudahSpot

Search easily in Tiger, Mac OS X, with HoudahSpot

Pzizz

MacZOT.com Fans want Pzizz because 'According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep deprivation and its effect on work performance may be costing U.S. employers some $18 billion each year in lost productivity. Another study pushes this cost to over $100 billion.' - link to full article

Note: It's BlogZOT again. Can't miss any deal they've got, can I?

What a year!

Finally, the day has come! My Mac arrived at the door one year ago today. No need to say how life's been happier and easier for me ever since. I'd nearly forgotten this important day, honestly. Forgot to dress it up a bit for the anniversary, forgot to sing a song to it, forgot (nearly) to write about it. Ah, good times, it's passed so fast. Can't quite imagine it's been sitting here for a year already. Of course many things have happened in this year. Like Apple decided to use Intel chips. If I had wanted a Mac after that announcement, I probably would waited for the Intel Mac minis. Don't know if this is fortunate or not. What other things … Yeah, you can say I've become tech-savvier with this Mac. Being with the "Mac geeks" even fanboys, makes you that.

Well, it's 24th already! One day pass the birthday. Happy birthday, mate. Thanks, Apple. Wish I'd given you (my mate) a name though. But it won't be too late now, will it?