Tag Archives: Technology

Two-step Verification for Apple ID

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Recently Apple began offering a new security option with two-step verification using a phone or registered Apple mobile device. Two-step verification means when making purchases or changing user information, a code is sent to the registered device to be used in addition to the normal password. This method improves security by adding a layer of protection. This is a welcome option those using an Apple ID for iTunes purchases or iCloud and have one or more mobile devices.

An Apple ID provides access to information and potentially dangerous abilities including remotely wiping out the contents of a device as one reporter learned after a hacker used social engineering to gain access to his account (Mashable.) If someone gains access to your Apple account, that person can make purchases and remote lock your devices. An intruder using social engineering and some detective work can potentially gain access to everything through your login or by calling Apple support for a password reset. Two-step verification helps protect against social engineering by replacing pass phrases along with an authentication code.

Using two-step verification with an Apple ID requires at least one device supporting SMS or the Find my iPhone app for iPhone or iPad using iCloud. This is the device that will receive a four-digit code after entering the normal password when purchasing or changing account information. As a backup if the device is lost, there is an authentication key. Learn more at support.apple.com.

Keep the authentication code in a very safe place away from your devices such as in a safe or locked cabinet. If your registered device is lost, remove it from the list of registered devices as soon as possible.

 

Skyrim Distance Drawing

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One annoying feature of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim by Bethesda Softworks is the scenery popping into place—which is to say the high resolution textures replacing the low resolution textures—worst of all the appearance of frozen waterfalls. Sometimes it seems one has to get awfully close to the waterfall before the gorgeous animated water appears. The fish leap up the ugly block of water without a care. Setting distance sliders to maximum doesn’t help the waterfalls. If the artists had created nicer looking low-resolution waterfalls, this might not be as much a bother.

I’m not the only one concerned. Players found a solution within weeks of Skyrim’s release. Read the details on this post, “uGridsToLoad Skyrim.ini Comparisons and Explanation,” at Bethesda Softworks Forums. The short answer is to set three keys in the skyrim.ini file under [General]:

uExterior Cell Buffer=64

uGridsToLoad=7

iPreloadSizeLimit=51380224

 

According to the forum thread, uGridsToLoad may be 5 (default,) 7, 9, or 11 and the other two must change to match the formula:

uExterior Cell Buffer=(x+1)^2

uGridsToLoad=x

iPreloadSizeLimit=(x*1024)^2

Two trade-offs include a performance hit for higher values of x and unsafe to load games saved at higher x-values than playing due to saved file corruption. So, experiment and keep x before playing or continuing a real game.

I’m playing Skyrim at “High Details” with some distance bars pushed up slightly at 2056×1440 resolution, and ended up choosing x=7. At a single bump the landscape popping distance is far enough not to bother me nearly as much, and my playing experience doesn’t take a hit. Here are some comparison pictures, zoomed-in (cropped image) of the falls outside Whiterun:

Skyrim Whiterun falls zoomed-in, x=5

 

Skyrim Whiterun falls, zoomed-in, x=7

Notice the frozen waterfalls in the top screenshot and the lack of land detail compared to the second screenshot. Below is the full view.

Skyrim outside of Whiterun (click for full)

Another comparison overlooking Ivarstead, cropped images:

Skyrim Ivarstead, x=5

Skyrim Ivarstead, x=7

Why didn’t Bethesda Softworks increase the uGrids value in the higher details presets? My guess is stability. The game had some texture loading issues in the early versions, and apparently they could not find a workable solution if the player decides to lower their detail preset without corrupting the saved-game file. Maybe a future patch will fix things.

MacHack Test

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I like OS X for development including Windows development which is my primary job. OS X provides access to Unix tools, building and testing using virtual machines, and an efficient interface for multi-monitor and multi-desktop work. Of course, a Mac is necessary for building iOS applications. Doing all my work on a single machine taking up little desk space seemed very attractive, and that’s what I did in 2009 with the purchase of an iMac.

One problem cropped up: I started avoiding LightWave 3D (CPU intensive 3D modeling and animation software) due to heat. Although the aluminum body on the iMac dissipates heat well, it’s not good enough for CPU intensive tasks running more than a few hours. Placing a fan on the desk moving air behind my iMac helped, but wasn’t desirable. With my iMac getting on in age, I decided to look for another solution.

The only breathable desktop Apple offers is the Mac Pro, but the current selection of machines are based on three-year old technology at overinflated prices. (Apple doesn’t normally reduce prices over time.) Intel was late delivering new Sandy Bridge Xeon processors, but once they did Apple didn’t update the Mac Pro line. Rumor claims, an update may come next year. I don’t need more than 32 Gb of RAM, so I’d be happy with something between a Mac Mini and Mac Pro that supports desktop graphics cards. This xMac doesn’t exist. Might it come next year? If Apple plans on redesigning the Mac Pro, this might be a good time to adjust their desktop selections.

I decided to give building a “hackintosh” a try to see how a mini-Mac Pro might work out. Following the guides on tonymacx86.com (remember to purchase a copy of OS X from the Mac App Store and get it onto a USB drive,) I selected parts targeting OS X Mountain Lion:

  • Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H motherboard (BIOS tips at tonymacx86.com)
  • Ivy Bridge i7-3770 CPU
  • Asus nVidia GTX570 graphics card
  • 16 GB Corsair Vengeance RAM
  • Cooler Master HAF 912 case with 120mm fan
  • Arctic Freezer 13 CPU cooler
  • 1 TB Western Digital hard drive (for Windows)
  • 500 GB Western Digital hard drive (for OS X)

120mm quiet fan

Internal working

Quiet is good. I replaced the stock CPU heat sink with the Arctic Freezer, and the case fan with a larger 120mm fan. The Asus GTX570 consuming three slots remains quiet under heavy load.

I installed Windows 8 Preview on the new drive for reference and make sure all my hardware is functioning. After running a stress test, I installed OS X following the guides. Some say hackintosh installation has become much easier in recent years, but it’s still not something I would recommend to those without PC building experience.

The process of installing the software isn’t push-button easy, but made simpler by choosing known compatible parts. I had to pull my graphics card out for the first phase, relying on the HD4000 in the CPU (which worked perfect.) After first OS X boot with the basic Multibeast files, I put the graphics card back in and everything was happy after that. Note the Multibeast instructions carefully (try this one at macbreaker.) Checking the wrong box may mean restarting the entire installation. Add one thing at a time and reboot after each to make sure OS X starts and the added hardware driver works before going on to the next. My biggest problem turned out to be the audio, which still doesn’t work.

I ran some benchmarks to make sure everything is working properly. The Cinemark test surprised me at 44.5 FPS as I wasn’t expecting full 3D OpenGL acceleration with the GTX570, but scored lower than in Windows 8 at 56.7 FPS. The following charts include the 2009 iMac with i5 for reference.

“LW Sum” represents the sum of three single-frame renderings in LightWave 3D 10.1. According to Geekbench (Primate Labs,) the new machine is nearly twice as fast as the iMac scoring better in Windows 8. In LightWave, tests show near dead even between OS X and Windows 8 at more than twice the speed as the old 2009 iMac.

Except for the audio problem, the HackMac seems to be in working order. I’m uncertain if I want to depend on HackMac for regular work as I hate to be interrupted when I’m deep in the creative process. At this point I’m considering keeping my iMac for iOS development, Photoshop, and VM testing. I’ll use the new machine for LightWave 3D in Windows 8.  Besides, I’ve always felt two computers are better for heavy multi-tasking than one monster computer. (Raytracing 3D images can take many hours.)

using the iMac as a monitor to save desk space

Using the iMac as a monitor has one curious issue: the iMac puts out a bit of extra heat while in Target Display Mode and the fans don’t seem to want to speed up. To compensate, I use smcFanControl to bump the minimum fan speed a little (+300 RPM.)

 

 

iOS 5 Keyboard Undock

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The iOS 5 update allows for undocking or splitting the on-screen keyboard making the iPad easier for using while holding in two hands or to see more content. To undock, hold down on the keyboard hide button (lower-right corner) and select from the dialogue to undock or split. Hold-and-slide the same button to move around the screen.

The screen shots show my app, Dee Count, with the keyboard moved away from the bottom. If you return to using your bar-code scanner and eject later to type in text, your on-screen keyboard will return to where you last positioned it. To dock, hold down the keyboard button and select the dock dialogue.

Count Inventory with Dee Count

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Dee Count is now available for the iPad. Find it at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dee-count/id454072809?mt=8 or learn more in software/deecount

Count, track, and verify your counts by comparing to a second count or an existing inventory list. Use a bar code scanner for quick entry. I recommend breaking your inventory into small sections for quick comparisons and help locate a product by where it was scanned.

Current Work In Progress: iPad App

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Screen capture of DCount on iPad

My latest weekend work is an iPad app for inventory counting and tracking titled, DCount. The primary goal of DCount is to count inventory for comparison with a database.

Scanfob barcode scanner

Secondarily, the application helps locate items using search which might come in handy if a product isn’t on the correct shelf. I designed the interface for speedy entry using an attached bar code scanner such as the wireless Scanfob.

Currently, DCount is going through rigorous testing. One test includes thousands of products organized by room and shelf or rack. Pictures help identify similar named locations, and the iPad makes it easy to attach a picture.

Soon, I will work on the iPhone version for the universal application and finalize the product. Art and layout is a work in progress and the screen captures may not represent final release.

DCount partial screen capture

WordPress 3.0

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I have been giving WordPress 3.0 a try. Meanwhile, I’ve also taken the opportunity to update my site layout. I’m using the new default theme by Twenty Ten. The only changes I’ve made to this theme are coloring and a removing the text title in the header. What I like about Twenty Ten is the clean look. The footer widgets are nice, too.

WordPress 3.0 makes some basics easier on beginners. Bloggers no longer need to dig into the styles or edit php files to adjust header images or create menus.

Header and Background Images

Change the header image using a menu where several examples are available or upload an image of the correct dimensions (default uses 940 x 198 pixels.) The interface also allows uploading an image for the background set to repeat or single as I have done with the purple clouds and moon. I also took the opportunity to adjust my background image to fill an entire screen on the new iMacs for those crazy enough to widen their browser to the full 2560 pixels.

Some themes use thumbnail images and Twenty Ten uses “featured” images. The featured image must be the same size as the header (940 x 198 default) set on the post page. I made a couple featured header images on my Dunston Monster posts and my BIO page.

Navigation Menus

One of the best new features is the default menu which the administrator may customize including drop-down menus based on page parenting. It’s pretty easy to add a menu item for a category as I have done for “Featured” and “Stories.” I will add a “Books” menu later once my books are ready. Changing the order of menu items works like on widgets. Menus may also work in widgets on the sidebar. Some themes support more than one customized menu.

Content Management System (CMS)

Besides pages and posts, custom content types may be added. This will make it easier to use WordPress for an entire website which may not even include a blog. Custom types may be videos with reviews or widgets to sell.

Read about all the new features on Version 3.0

Designers: Are You Paying Attention?

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Is the iPad magical? That depends on your definition of magic. Revolutionary? Maybe, maybe not. In under two months, over two million units have sold beating expectations. Why? The iPad is not for Apple “fanboys” or “techies.” The iPad is what computers should strive to be, a device that brings the user closer to their data.

User Case: Non-Techie

I showed a book lover an iPad. At first she almost seemed skeptical. She doesn’t get along with computers. Gizmos never impress her. Copying a file between drives is an advanced concept. After a few minutes, she warmed up to the device—a little. A couple weeks later she put the iPad through a full test.

After a few days, she had purchased books and installed a couple apps. Then she went on a trip. She had no trouble connecting to wi-fi networks at airports or homes of relatives. Not only did she read several books, but she took notes, imported photos, added pictures to her contacts, e-mail, and more! On her return, she showed me a funny YouTube video and had no trouble bringing it back up—a process she’s not as familiar with on other computers. Just a couple taps and we were watching it.

After just two weeks, this person—a technology hater—uses the iPad extensively. She now uses Mail on iPad instead of accessing her e-mail on the desktop computer. Why? Mail for iPad is so much easier. She wants more applications on the iPad, ones that helps her get work done.

Some Questions for Software Engineers and Designers

  • Why does MS Windows make it so difficult to connect to a wireless network?
  • Why are so many applications cluttered with buttons, menus, bells-and-whistles, many of which never get used?
  • Why are users more concerned about file systems and CPU stats than using their data?
  • Why do so many basic applications consume so much memory and run slow?
  • Why do computers still use the same design; file systems, windows concept, a mouse since the 1960s?
  • Why is your OS or application hard to use?

Software engineers and designers: Are you paying attention?

Evolution

We are at a major transition point in computer evolution. Users want to get closer to their data and work more efficiently. Let’s move away from the large applications that try to do everything and come up short, and move to applications that do a few things very well. And let’s get things done on computers that are easier to use. The iPad sales show that consumers are ready for the transition. The iPad may not be the future, but it marks the a step in the evolution of the computer.

Is the iPad magical? You bet your butt it is.

Hear the origins of the iPad from Steve Jobs on this D8 video.