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I have just installed LCC 2.12 and it doesn't work. Version 2.11 worked fairly well but was a bit buggy when switching scroll wheel settings when focus moved between apps.

I have tracked down the problem to the fact that some files are missing in the install, read on for more info and a fix.

Updated 2007-01-07: 'a' pointed out that you need to make sure the ownership of the kext is correct, so I've added another step.

Updated 2007-01-11: I've just noticed that Logitech have pulled version 2.12 from their site. You can only download version 2.11 at the moment.

Updated 2007-01-12: Version 2.12 is back on Logitech's site. Unfortunately, it is still broken.

Updated 2007-01-23: Logitech have fixed the bug. I've removed the download as it's not needed any more.

I have just installed LCC 2.12 and it doesn't work. Version 2.11 worked fairly well but was a bit buggy when switching scroll wheel settings when focus moved between apps.

I have tracked down the problem to the fact that some files are missing in the install, read on for more info and a fix.

Updated 2007-01-07: 'a' pointed out that you need to make sure the ownership of the kext is correct, so I've added another step.

Updated 2007-01-11: I've just noticed that Logitech have pulled version 2.12 from their site. You can only download version 2.11 at the moment.

Updated 2007-01-12: Version 2.12 is back on Logitech's site. Unfortunately, it is still broken.

Updated 2007-01-23: Logitech have fixed the bug. I've removed the download as it's not needed any more.

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to set up a web cam on the PC in our basement, so that James could video chat with one of his school friends who is leaving for a different school. I stopped on the way home from work on the Friday evening and bought a fairly cheap (£25) webcam from Staples.

I left my iPod Shuffle in my car all day today, connected to my car stereo and playing (although the car stereo itself was off of course). It still had enough power to provide me with music all the way home, which means it lasted at least 8 hours (it wasn’t fully charged this morning).

I’m currently listening to iTunes on my PowerBook, and it is using between 10 and 15% CPU. This obviously runs down the battery in my PowerBook.

Why can’t Apple “build” an iPod shuffle into the PowerBook? It could connect to the USB bus internally, and all it would need is a kernel driver to control it, that iTunes could use to tell it to play a particular track. It would free up the system CPU to do other stuff, and extend the life of the battery.

Here’s a useful hint. If you’re executing a command which is going to take a while, rather than minimising the terminal once you’ve started it, you can reduce the font by repeatedly pressing Cmd minus. That way you can leave the window somewhere visible on your desktop and keep glancing across to it. Your subconscious mind will usually let you know that it’s finished within a few minutes of the event, because it will pick up on the fact that the text has stopped moving.

Here’s an example Linux kernel compilation over ssh:

I think the algorithm used by the “Just For You” feature could use a little more work.

How do they get from Strauss to Bon Jovi?

TUAW reports:

The Sims 2 1.0 rev b has been released, and includes the following changes:

• Fixed problems using the in-game content browser to connect to Sims2.com.
• Improved stability related to sound.
• Added support for Japanese character input .
• Package installer now localized in Japanese and Italian.

Unfortunately, it looks like the "it is very boring" issue is yet to be addressed.

Their last comment is so true! Number of times I’ve played The Sims 2 since I last blogged about it? Zero. Total number of times I’ve played it since I bought it? One.

I wrote to Aspyr Support, saying how disappointed I was with the performance of The Sims 2 on my G4 Powerbook, and asking if I could swap it for a copy of The Sims 1. Their answer: it works fine, and no, you can’t swap it.

If I ever buy another game again, it will be for a Playstation or an XBox (which I will have to purchase at the same time because I don’t own one at the moment).

Here’s a Geektool command to show the “network distance” to a particular machine on your desktop all the time. I have the distance to my home server in the top left corner of my screen all the time.

Go to the Geektool preference pane and add a new entry. Mine is called “ping home”

Set the entry type to “Shell”

Paste the following into the Command textbox:

HOST=home
PING=`ping -q -c 1 $HOST`
if [[ $? -eq 0 ]] ; then
    TIME=`echo $PING |tail -1 | cut -d/ -f 5`
    echo -n ${TIME}ms away from $HOST
    exit 0
else
    echo -n $HOST could not be reached
    exit 2
fi

Change the value of HOST on the first line to the hostname of the server you want to ping. (Hint for writing your own scripts: use Option-Return to insert a newline).

Switch to the “Colors and font” tab and choose something nice. I use Gill Sans, in white because my desktop backgrounds are usually dark. No frame, no shadow on the window.

Switch to the “Text” tab, turn on drop shadow, select left alignment of text.

On the “Icon” tab, check “Show icon”, use the default success and failure icons, and pick the left, centered icon alignment.

Drag the window on your desktop to the top left and you’re done.

If the network is working, you’ll get something like this:

If not, you’ll get this:

Update: JAW Software is hosting a more Tiger-friendly version of Geektool. The changes will hopefully make it to the official version soon.

As previously stated, at work I use a Logitech® MX™1000 mouse. (Aside: is it just me, or do you hate it when companies litter their product names with ®™ symbols? I like to stick it to them by vocalizing them. “Yeah, I really love the Logitech ar em ex tee em one-thousand, it’s great!)

Anyway, Apple have just brought out a new mouse called the Mighty Mouse, and the other day (yeah, OK, the day it was announced…) I drove to the Birmingham Apple Store to try one out. They didn’t have any in stock, so I left empty handed. I’ll probably wait for the Bluetooth version now.

Oh, when I said I left empty handed, I did in fact leave with an iPod Shuffle Sports Case and a copy of The Sims 2.

Don’t make the same mistake I did! If you have a G4 Mac (like my 15” PowerBook), don’t by The Sims 2. It runs like a dog on the G4. You get about 3 frames per second if there are more than about 4 Sims in your house.

I bet The Sims (version 1) would run fine - I wish I’d bought that instead.

Here’s a neat idea. Take a photo of the wall behind your laptop, then set that photo as your desktop wallpaper. You end up with something like this:

Flickr photoset of similar images.