Friday, December 31, 2021

Recent Questions - Ask Different

Recent Questions - Ask Different

Control bluetooth with buttons

Posted: 31 Dec 2021 02:19 AM PST

Phone is iPhone SE 1st gen. I want to be able to control bluetooth on/off via some of the buttons, like vol up/down. For example press vol up, enable bluetooth and auto-connect to some Car bluetooth player.

Then ideally automatically turn off bluetooth when Car bluetooth player not in range any more. If not possible, be able to turn off manually bluetooth using the same button.

Not able to slide anything on the touch bar in macbook pro?

Posted: 31 Dec 2021 02:06 AM PST

I am not able to slide/scroll through the touch bar in MacBook pro. When trying to slide while adjusting brightness or sound then It shows a control like in the image below on the screen. what to do?

enter image description here

MacOS 12 — How to set a default DNS server for all user accounts

Posted: 31 Dec 2021 12:15 AM PST

The primary account I use on my Mac is an admin account, when I go online it connects to a DNS server from a 3rd party provider. I'd like this to be applied to any other account (present or future) on the computer.

Currently the other account is the guest account (it gets rest every time you log out of it). When opening the guest account I'd like it to automatically use the same DNS server as the admin. Is there a way for me configure this from the admin account?

Using system preferences, the only agency you have over the guest account is limiting its access to adult content, so I'm hoping this can be done using a terminal command.

I don't need this action to be reversible or easy to undo. Ideally this would work for any other accounts that are added to the computer.

Thanks

Connecting Time Machine to a server: "Your password on the server X needs to be changed."

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 08:19 PM PST

I am trying to reconnect Time Machine to a backup server. It was used for Time Machine in the past.

After entering my credentials, I get the following error:

Your password on the server "server" needs to be changed.

You must change your password in order to access the server.

I am not sure what to make of it. I have reset the user password several times, tried shorter passwords, fewer special characters, etc. I keep getting this error.

I get the same error when trying to connect to the server from Finder. Some questions suggest the error might be permission-related, but this user has read-write access and I have not changed its permissions.

I looked at similar questions (about "MacOS Server") and I have deleted all Time Machine entries from Keychain already.

When I enter invalid credentials, the login dialog shakes, so I know the credentials are valid.

Siri Shortcut action to choose location?

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 08:06 PM PST

I have a node red workflow that processes location based reminders that depends on a key phrase in the notes of a reminder, so I decided to make a Siri Shortcut to create geofence-based reminders so that it will automatically enter the phrase in the notes of the reminder it creates.

There are 3 shortcomings of the reminder creation action in Siri Shortcuts that I thought I would ask about here:

  1. The select list for setting the reminder trigger (when you select "ask each time") includes all possible triggers, and I see no way to limit the list the user is prompted to select from, to only the options "when I arrive" and "when I leave". My node red flow only works with those selections, so I don't want the user to be able to select "at time" or "when messaging" etc.

I tried to limit the selections by using "choose from list" and using the chosen item as the trigger, which it allows you to do, but when you run it, it doesn't prompt to select a location or a radius when you do that. In fact, it throws an error.

I also tried putting 2 reminder creation actions in a conditional where I create a reminder. I pre-select "when I arrive/leave" in the if/else reminder creation actions respectively, but there's no "ask each time" option for the location field. And if you leave that empty, you also get an error.

  1. So I was resigned to just show an alert to tell the user to only select either the arrive or leave option when prompted for the trigger, but I don't like the way it prompts the user for the geofence radius. You simply have to enter a distance in feet instead of zoom a map or drag the radius like when you do it in the reminders app. Is there a way to make it use a map instead of ask for a number?

  2. Finally, I thought, ok, well, what if I just show the full reminder when it's done so that the user can tweak the radius and add things like a URL or an image if they want... but I see no way to bring up the full reminder after it's created... is there no way to open the created reminder in the reminders app automatically?

Macbook Pro M1pro display process launching log when system restart

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 06:20 PM PST

enter image description here

I just killed process launchd carelessly with Process Viewer Application. As soon screen is black and restart.So when I restart my macbook ,it likes the image which displayed all process launching log.How do I make it invisible plz.. THANKS!!!

Different photo counts across devices

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 04:44 PM PST

On Safari, icloud.com

enter image description here

In Photo app, MacOS

enter image description here

On my iPad,

enter image description here

and on my iPhone

enter image description here

No two devices show the same numbers. How can I make them sync?

iCalendar how to block time for multiple calendars

Posted: 31 Dec 2021 01:13 AM PST

I have multiple Gmail accounts and when I have a meeting in the calendar let's say as an example A, I would like to create a busy event in all the other calendars.

Any idea if this is possible using iCalendar or maybe another app?

"Not Enough iCloud Storage" when trying to upload pictures to iCloud

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 07:12 PM PST

I have 45 gb left in iCloud storage, however.

Any possible solutions to this?

Use Karabiner to play a sound (BEL character?) instead of vk_none

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 03:15 PM PST

I'm trying to create a complex modification with Karabiner to play a sound on keypress.

I expected there might be an easy way to map to the BEL character, but apparently not? (Something similar to vk_none such as vk_bel)

I saw somewhere I can probably use shell_command which seems rather heavyweight/unnecessary. But unfortunately I haven't been able to get anything to work with that approach. Seems like this should be built-in functionality made available with a virtual key.

For example shell_command: "tput bel" (which works on the command line but not as a mapping)

Background: Searching for a solution to save my left pinky finger, I found this blog which already had a brilliant solution for my problem: shift-key-training-wheels. (the whole blog entry is worth a read)

After learning that Karabiner is the modern-day replacement of KeyRemap4MacBook, I joyfully found someone had already contributed mappings to block_one_handed_combos.

However instead of mapping every combination to vk_none, I need it to play a sound for reinforcement because I find myself just continuing to keep on typing and not notice that characters are missing.

Does TestFlight delete app data after you close the app on your phone?

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 07:13 PM PST

I have a small app that accepts user signups (name, email, phone, etc.), and I have logic to store a user ID on their device, after the signup process stores their data in Firebase. The ID allows the user to bypass the sign up process if they close the app and reopen it.

In Expo Go, the logic works as intended; a new user is transitioned from the splash screen to the signup screen if they've never signed up before. And if they've signed up before, the app will check for the stored user ID, and they're sent to a different screen.

In TestFlight, the user is always sent to the signup screen even if they've already signed up. This is my first time using TestFlight, so I'm wondering if TestFlight deletes that kind of stored data once a user closes the app. I've tried a couple different ways of writing the code, and I've been trying to find any official information on TestFlight around this scenario, but I haven't had any luck.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Best port to connect Macbook Pro's USB C port to external monitor

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 03:30 PM PST

What's the preferred external monitor port to connect a Macbook Pro with USB C ports only (a 2019 Macbook 16) if the monitor doesn't have USB C ports?

I read that USB C natively carries data in DisplayPort format so I'm wondering if that is the preferred port and whether using HDMI might involve some extra strain (and heat) on the Macbook. If yes, I would use a USB C to DisplayPort cable.

Bizarre partition map error - macOS using old partition map despite Windows recognizing new partition map

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 10:59 PM PST

I decided to re-partition my 1TB external drive (HDD) and for some reason, my macOS is showing the old partition map with functioning partitions (i.e. I can access old files in those partitions).

Here is what the HDD looked like before: 1st partition: 750GB - exFAT 2nd partition: 250GB - exFAT

I could see these partitions on both Windows and Mac machines. And then I did the following to repartition the HDD on a Windows machine using the Disk Management tool:

  1. I backed up and then deleted the 750GB volume
  2. I then created a new 500GB simple volume from the available unallocated space (750GB). I then transferred files to this volume. This left 250GB of unallocated space.
  3. I then deleted the 250GB 2nd partition. When I did this, it combined this 250GB unallocated space with the 250GB unallocated space created in step 2.
  4. I then created a new simple volume with 500GB of unallocated space.

So in the end, I took 2 partitioned spaces (750GB, 250GB) and repartitioned them to create two equal partitioned spaces (500GB) each.

Windows recognized this new partition map perfectly and could see the new files that I had transferred to one of the 500GB volumes (step 2).

When I plugged this HDD into my macOS (Catalina 10.15.7), it bizarrely recognized the old partitions (750GB, 250GB) and even let me access files from the 250GB partition that I had deleted in the process. I quickly plugged it into my Windows machine and it showed the new partitions.

Why is my Mac showing the old partitions and how is it still allowing me access to the files I deleted? Is the partition map corrupt or is my Mac reading it incorrectly somehow? How do I fix this?

I need to transfer files from my Mac onto one of the new partitions that I created but since my Mac isn't showing me these new partitions (just the old ones), I don't know what to do.

How can I prevent the lights from being overly bright when taking a video at night with an iPhone?

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 09:10 PM PST

I recorded a video with my iPhone 12 mini with iOS 15 and I see that the lights at night are overly bright:

How can I fix it?

mv command stopped by pressing control + c on Mac Terminal. I couldn't find the files on either destination or source [closed]

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 12:09 PM PST

I interrupted the mv command on mac terminal. I was trying to cut and paste what is inside ~/Documents into my external Hard disk. But then I accidentally stopped it. The command was running for some time before I decided to stop it. Now I don't see my documents folder when I do ls in the home directory. But I do see the documents with the file size when I click on the apple logo and then click on storage. Then I created the Documents folder inside the $HOME path but it doesn't have anything inside. How can I make the newly created documents folder point to the old documents folder?

Mail server settings always gets an error

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 10:02 PM PST

I wanted to add an iCloud address in gmail. I've entered everything correctly, hoping to show SMTP setting. But instead, it shows incorrect username and password, even also got stuck in the loading screen. I've entered the app specific password, correct imap server, correct user name based on Mail server settings for iCloud email clients. enter image description here enter image description here

Why does clicking Chrome on iPhone open a new tab?

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 04:04 PM PST

I got a new iPhone XS a couple weeks ago. Chrome is my default browser. Now, when I click Chrome, it almost always opens a new tab (Google home), whereas it used to always open to the tab that I had previously loaded.

How can I revert to the previous behavior?

I can't figure out how to fix this. Any help?

Macbook Air suddenly will not power on without charger and shuts down without

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 07:06 PM PST

I have a Macbook Air model A1466 (mid 2013 model). I replaced the battery early 2020. It worked as normal again until now. It suddenly switched of randomly and after doing this for a day or 2 it will not start unless on the charger. Even worse, when it enters standby mode, when the lid is closed or when the charger is disconnected it will immediately shut down hard. When the charger is reconnected I need to press the power button to do a cold boot.

First guess was the battery. But when i run system_profiler SPPowerDataType it gives me this:

Battery Information:          Model Information:            Manufacturer: SMP            Device Name: BQ20Z451            Pack Lot Code: 0            PCB Lot Code: 0            Firmware Version: 2            Hardware Revision: 00aa            Cell Revision: 1        Charge Information:            Fully Charged: No            Charging: No            Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 7094            State of Charge (%): 95        Health Information:            Cycle Count: 124            Condition: Normal

To me this seems that the battery is ok.

Same when I run a demo version of the app Watts:

Watts output

I also tried to do a reset of the SMC but that did not change anything.

What can be the issue?

Apple's iOS 14 Translate app on macOS?

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 11:06 PM PST

In iOS 14, Apple added a Translate app. You're also supposed to be able to run iOS apps on macOS now, but I don't see it in the App Store from my Mac.

Anyone know if it's possible to run it on macOS (version 11, Big Sur).

enter image description here

External hard disk(HHD) showing irregular capacities and partitions

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 09:02 PM PST

I tried to partition my external hard disk on Mac using disk utility.

First I have Erased newly added 2TB HHD with "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" with "GUID Partition ".

After that I have created three partition

PC - Exfat - 500 GB    Time Machine - APFS (Encrypted) -- 500GB    MAC - APFS -- 1TB

I was trying to use "Time Machine" partition as backup but it was failing and giving error so I have erased HDD again with "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" with "GUID Partition Map" but It got messed up.

enter image description here

enter image description here

Though I just have 2TB capacity it showing up to 3.5TB in total and irregular partitions ?

I have tried Erase few more time completely but given partitions are not going away.

How to restore to its original state no partition with "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" having GUID Partitions Map ?

How to Remove a Sound Output Device Created by an Application

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 09:39 PM PST

On my mid 2012 MBP running macOS 10.15.1 (Catalina) I had an application create a sound output device. I deleted the application in finder by moving it to the trash. I know this method doesn't uninstall any dependencies or extra things the application might have installed which is why I'm having this issue. I went into the Audio MIDI Setup, but the (-) symbol is greyed out for the output, which is named AudioJingle. How would I go about uninstalling this output device?

Add shared Google Calendar to iCloud Calendar

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 08:05 PM PST

Somebody shared a public Google Calendar with me. I would like to add this calendar to my iCloud account, but I can't find the way to get the iCal address of this Google Calendar.

I looked at the following solution, but the option to display a public iCal is no longer there...

How to add a Google calendar shared with me, to my iCloud calendars

Create a symbolic link to desktop and documents folder in iCloud Drive

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 02:01 PM PST

Is it possible to use iCloud drive like Dropbox? What I want to do is create a symbolic link to Desktop, Documents and perhaps my Downloads folder in iCloud Drive, similar to how I'd do it in Dropbox. I don't want to use the 'Desktop and Documents' setting in iCloud. It does some weird stuff with my Desktop and Documents folder locally.

How to deep link to Notes app?

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 12:27 PM PST

With other apps, like twitter, for example, you could simply use twitter://xxxxx to link to it, but how do you do the same with the Notes app?

Thanks

Where is a list of "Boot flags" available for Parallels Desktop for Mac?

Posted: 31 Dec 2021 12:06 AM PST

In the need to disable/remove the not configured ata5, ata6, ata7 and ata8 devices, I was looking for a list of available Boot flags for Parallels Desktop for Mac.

So far I found this list:

devices.apic.disable=0 # workaround to run Solaris installation, after installation a pic can be enabled  devices.net.track_link_status=0 # for network link connect/disconnect issues  devices.net.force_adapter_type=rtl # force realtek network adapter  devices.usb.ehc=0 # disable EHCI interface (USB 2.)  devices.usb.enable_mouse=0 # disable virtual mouse  devices.usb.keyboard=0 # disable virtual keyboard  devices.video.pci_device_id=0x5005 # workaround for issue with black screen in Windows 8 with guest tools installed  kernel.waet.enable=0 # disable Windows ACPI Emulated Device Table  video.dx_cmp=0 # workaround for crash if you attempt to go into character customization  video.dx_profile=6 # force Windows 7 Aero compatibility at the cost of possible 3D problems  vm.app_mode=32 # set your virtual machine process to run in 32-bit mode  vm.compat_level=2 # workaround for Blue screen of Death STOP 0x7B or System Repair screen  vm.mem_anonymous=0 # workaround for crash with host server 4.0 and guest mac os x server 10.6.5 < 10H574

Is there a more complete list of (all) "Boot flags" available for "Parallels Desktop for Mac"?

Can I get iPhone charge status from my Mac?

Posted: 30 Dec 2021 03:53 PM PST

I have my iPhone plugged into my Mac via USB. Is there anyway to check on the charge status? I know iTunes does give you a small battery indicator, but I am looking for something a bit more detailed, like % charge.

I thought it is something nice to have and I am a bit lazy to reach for my iPhone to check every time I charge my phone.

Using the ALT key in Windows with Parallels

Posted: 31 Dec 2021 01:52 AM PST

I need Windows for my development environment on my Mac. I use Alt-U and Alt-S a lot in this software. I can't do this on my Mac. Is there a way to send the Alt key presses to the virtual machine?

Alt-U shows the Accessibility Utility Manager. Pressing Alt-S just types an "s". At work on Windows XP, neither of these behaviors happen.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)