Netputing

A new version is here. This new release resolve a bug that was discovered and that prevented proper removal on printers that were no longer shared. It also changes some of the plumbing underneath to pave the way for the future.

The complete change log goes like this:

• Fix a bug that would prevent the removal of a printer from the list when it was no longer shared
• Improved installer. You can now uninstall the application through the installer application.
• Complete change on how that application automatically start at login. Now uses common Login Items approach.
• Better handling of cleanup activities if one remove the application from the System Preferences while it is active.
• Many more under the hood improvements.

It is suggested that you grab a copy and update to this version. To download simply go to the main AirPrint Activator page.

You can get support for this release in this forum thread.

AirPrint Activator v2.2b1 is finally here!

This is a complete re-write of the application (well not quite but almost). A new programmer has joined the team. His name is Charlie Woloszynski and let me tell you, he is really great! He was able to implement the functionality of the ‘aparedir’ helper application as native Objective-C code. He also helped with fixing isues with computer name resolution! This should make it for a much smoother sailing going forward.

All of those changes opened up the door for much better firewall integration. There is no need for manual user addition to the firewall application anymore.

The other major change is that the application is now a System Preferences Pane. This will make it much more evident for users that this is not an application that need to run all the time. Simply turn AirPrint ON and close the Preferences Pane.

The only down side to all of those changes is that the new code in only compatible with Intel 64bit OS X 10.6+. I wish we could keep support for 10.5 but some of the code change require ARC support… and is only available starting with OS X 10.6. I guess it is time to upgrade

To download go to the main AirPrint Activator page.

If you encounter issues with this new release please drop by this forum thread to report.

Update:

LTE is now working.  Guess what, the Flex LTE plan in Rogers library is faulty and does not have the LTE option turned ON.  The Rogers tech I talked to tonight was nice enough to edit the profile to add it to my plan and now I get all of the LTE goodness. I wonder if this was done on purpose… most non tech people would probably not know they don’t get LTE…

Download speed over LTE is now 24 mbps and upload of 27 mbps!

If you have the 5$ flex LTE plan and you only get 3G connectivity make sure to call Rogers to get it fixed!

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Last Friday I received the new iPad from Apple along with a Rogers LTE micro sim card.  I was anxious to try this new setup out as I had been reading about all the goodness of LTE.

Apple’s web site was praising how easy it was to self register for a data plan with Rogers after inserting the micro sim. Looking at the web site today they now claim “Call Rogers at 1-888-764-3771 to select a data plan and start your data service.” Did not knew that Friday.

So I put the sim card in to find the device reading “No Service”. OK, let’s try to reboot. Same thing. OK, let’s reset the OS in case it is a problem with the fact that I installed the micro-sim after using the iPad for the 1^st time. Nope. Darn! Maybe my iPad is defective!

Call Apple support, spend roughly 45 minutes with technical support to finally be told that I need to call Rogers to register the micro-sim! Wait, Apple said that I could select my plan on the device! Nope, not with the new iPad.

So I call Rogers and register the LTE micro-sim.  Finally the “No Service” goes away and 3G connectivity show up. 3G? I thought I would get LTE.  LTE is available where my house is after all. Nope, try all I can and can’t get LTE at all.

OK, I will wait to try it in the Office where I know LTE work on other tablets. Same thing here, only 3G. So I called Rogers, spent an hour on the phone with them. They tried all sort of plan combination to no avail.  I was finally told that this is normal because the Rogers network is deciding what is best for me and that 3G is what I should get.

What? I bought a new iPad because I wanted to benefit from LTE, not 3G.  I all I wanted was 3G I could have gone for the 100$ cheaper iPad 2.

So here I am, with a new iPad 3 with LTE that only gives me 3G.  Maybe I should try to get aBellor Telus micro-sim.  Any one knows if they will give LTE service unlikeRogers?

Maybe I am the only one with this problem.  Anyone else in the Gatineau/Ottawa area that get LTE service on a new iPad 3?

The bottom line is that Rogers, by no longer supporting direct data plan selection on the new iPad 3 and by not allowing my iPad 3 to connect via LTE have made what should have been an “Apple” experience a typical “Windows” nightmare experience.

I hope Apple can do something about the whole situation and force carriers to support plan selection on device… and also to properly support LTE when it should be available.

Short post about the new version of AirPrint Activator.

Version 2.1b6 is now available for download.

Changes:

1. Made it possible to use the Advanced button while AirPrintActivator is ON.

2. Changed the application default to only share local printers instead of all visible printers on the network.

3. Minor interface fixes

To download go to the main AirPrint Activator page.

As you know Apple released the 1st beta of OS X Mountain Lion yesterday.  I installed a fresh copy on a disk partition and fired up the latest copy of AirPrint Activator on it.

I am happy to report that AirPrint Activator work just as well as it did under Leopard and Snow Leopard.  Nothing appear to be broken.

The new OS X Gatekeper is also happy to run AirPrint Activator as it is signed with my Apple issued developer digital certificate.

Do not hesitate to report posible issue with OS X Mountain Lion if you run in one.

Short post about the new version of AirPrint Activator.

Version 2.1b4 is now available for download.

Changes:

1. New option to automatically restart the daemon every 10 minutes. This might come handy for users that are experiencing sporadic printers drop from the list. To activate the feature go to “Advanced Settings” and select “Activate Daemon Restart” as shown below:

2. Some other bug fix.

To download go to the main AirPrint Activator page.

On the iPhone 4S launch date just a couple of weeks ago, 9to5 broke the news that developer Steven Troughton-Smith had successfully ported the Siri user-interface and some of the underlying code from the iPhone 4S onto the iPhone 4. Now, Troughton-Smith has followed up with Chpwn to get the server fully working on an iPhone 4 and iPod touch.

The video not only shows the Siri functionality on an iPhone 4, but is in depth and shows a side-to-side comparison against its newer, faster sibling, the iPhone 4S.

Troughton-Smith tells that an iPhone 4S jailbreak was necessary in order to accomplish the task of porting the proper files for Siri’s servers to connect to an iPhone 4.

At this point it’s all about confirming this works across devices, making it reproducible (it is working on two devices today), and documenting everything. It does require files from an iPhone 4S which aren’t OKto distribute, and it also requires a validation token from the iPhone 4S that has to be pulled live from a jailbroken iPhone 4S, and it’s about a 20-step process right now.

Troughton-Smith is only interested in the technology and making it work; proving that it works and works well on the iPhone 4 and other devices.

They also got chpwn’s iPod touch up and running with Siri after proving it works on my iPhone 4. Unfortunately the microphone on the iPod is nowhere near as good as the iPhone – you will notice that the Siri level meter hardly moves when you talk to it.

Nest is a revolutionary new thermostat for your home.  This thermostat is good looking (I mean, really slick) and will learn as you make temperature adjustments.

Nest also learns through an array of sensors to help optimize the temperature adjustments of your home:

• Ambiant light sensor
• 3 x temperature sensors
• Motion detection sensor

Nest is also WiFi connected to the internet where it can get weather forecast for your region and prepare in consequence. Through the internet connection you can also remotely monitor your home temperature and make last minute adjustments.

Nest will improve over time as you use it more and more. No more programming, no more constantly changing the temperature. The Nest Learning Thermostat programs itself in a week to keep you comfortable and save energy.

Continue reading Nest, the iPod generation home thermostat

v2.1b1 (September 5 2011):

- new design to be firewall friendly. Simply add the aparedir helper application located in the helper folder to the allowed applications in the Firewall)

- fix an issue with firewall detection on non Lion systems

To run this new version simply drop the AirPrintActivator folder in the Applications folder and run it.

Grab your copy from the main AirPrintActivator 2 page.