JT's Blog

The path for your iPhone / iPad backups on OSX Monterey (and presumably others) is:
~Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup

You won’t be able cd into that path using terminal because (I believe) the directory is protected.  Even with SUDO I hit a wall.  Instead, use finder. (I know, right?)  Open finder, then Go -> Go To Folder -> then paste that link.  Your device backups will be burried in apple’s classic gibberish UUID folders and filenames.

Mess with your data and backups at your own risk!!

Jan 6, 2025 UPDATE.

Original Post – June 15, 2022:

Clear is a “To-Do” list management app by RealMacSoftware.  Based on what I found searching around on the net (here), it looks like they sold the app to some other developer and then support was non-existent for a variety of reasons, COVID being one of them.  I don’t know the details, nor do I care.  But I sure would love an app update that would resolve a problem I’ve encountered more than once:  a device randomly stops syncing.

After some research and a fair amount of hacking at it (as a once-upon-a-time UNIX admin), I think I figured out how to fix it.

Let me be perfectly clear, I realize that I’m probably pushing the App more than the average user, by having my lists sync between two phones, a tablet, a laptop and a desktop.  Still, it can be particularly frustrating when one device randomly stops syncing, because somehow that’s the device I end up needing more than any other.

Continue reading…

I just upgraded my MacBook Air with a 1TB SSD from OWC. I cloned the OS drive with SuperDuper, and then pulled out the old drive and installed the new cloned drive.

When I booted up the machine, it hung for an unusually long delay.  After that, it worked.  It just took an unusually long time for the boot to get going.

Here’s the issue: you need to tell OSX to use this new drive as the boot drive.  Here’s the deal: it’s looking for the old drive, and when that times out, it falls back onto whatever is left, which is the new drive you just installed.

Here’s the fix: go to Settings -> Startup Disk -> Unlock (enter your password) -> Click on your boot drive -> Lock again.

Done.

It’s worth noting that this issue has nothing to do with SuperDuper, it’s all about OSX knowing what disk to use when it boots up.  SuperDuper comes up in every search because everyone uses it – it’s such an excellent tool for cloning or backing up your drive.

The next time you boot, you’ll see it goes much faster.  You might also have problems like permissions need to be “fixed.” This can happen if you’ve been running the same O/S and installing, uninstalling software for a few years.  To do this, go to Applications -> Utilities -> Disk Utility -> Select the O/S or boot drive -> First Aid -> Run

Good luck!

Email Addresses for cell phones

Alltel: 123-456-7890@message.alltel.com
AT&T: 123-456-7890@txt.att.net  or  123-456-7890@mms.att.net
Boost Mobile: 123-456-7890@myboostmobile.com
Nextel: 123-456-7890@messaging.nextel.com
Sprint PCS: 123-456-7890@messaging.sprintpcs.com
T-Mobile: 123-456-7890@tmomail.net
US Cellular: 123-456-7890@email.uscc.net  or  123-456-7890@mms.uscc.net
Verizon: 123-456-7890@vtext.com  or  123-456-7890@vzwpix.com (mms)
Virgin Mobile USA: 123-456-7890@mms.uscc.netvmobl.com

This is an open letter to corporate web sites.

Who thought an obnoxious offer “to chat” was a good idea?

Please STOP annoying me with your unwieldy, annoying, pop-up blocker circumventing offers to “chat”.  If I wanted to chat with you, I would find a “contact” link on your web site and speak with someone in an off-shored call center.  Why do you think it would somehow be more attractive to instant-message this person?  It’s merely a form of less effective, less efficient and more annoying customer service.  Whoever thought up of this IS AN IDIOT.  And everyone else who thinks it’s a good idea to jump on this bandwagon is suffering from EXTREME STUPIDITY and incompetence in leadership.

OK, I’m done.  You may now continue with your regularly scheduled programming.