Fix: missing "Never" option under Auto-Lock on iPhone

I have an iPhone and noticed that the screen suddenly started dimming after a few minutes and it's not supposed to. I distinctly remember turning off the auto-lock feature and now it's locking itself after 5 minutes. WTF!? I tried to set the auto-lock setting to "Never" but that option was no longer there! At first I got angry with my iPhone. Then I got Angry at Apple. Then I learned the truth about what was causing this problem and was able to get it fixed.

If you have an iPhone and this same thing has happened to you, I have good news for you. There's a fix.

First, to see if you are affected by this, try going to your iPhone's settings and just disable contacts, calendar and email for your company's activesync server account. Now look in the auto lock settings under General in your iPhone Settings. Did the "Never" option come back? If so, then you just proved that it has something to do with your corporate email server.

Fortunately for me, I'm an Exchange 2007 Administrator. If you're not, then you're going to need your Exchange administrator's help. Pass this page along to them and as long as your company doesn't require auto-locking for connected devices, they should be able to help you. This is a very quick fix and should only take an administrator a minute or two of their time.

Here's what your Exchange administrator should do:

1. On the exchange server launch the Exchange Management Console
2. Open Organization Configuration -> Client Access
3. Right click on the default activesync mailbox policy and select properties
4. Select the password tab

(Exchange 2007)

The default properties window should look like this:

If any of the boxes are grayed out and checked, you need to check Require password so you can uncheck them. Then you can uncheck Require password again.

After this has been done, on the iPhone, disable this activesync account (no need to delete it, just turn it off) and then turn the Auto-lock setting back to "Never." Now go back and turn your activesync account back on. Your auto-lock setting will now will stay at "Never."

Netflix vs. Blockbuster for Mac Users

I started out with Netflix, and tried Blockbuster Total Access in 2008. I quickly lost interest in that due to the relative lack of selection of Blu-Ray titles at the local Blockbuster stores. Swapping out the mailed movie at the store for a free in-store rental was very nice and convenient, but when there's nothing on the shelf that you want to see, that quickly loses its novelty. Also, I found that Blockbuster's online service made me wait longer to see new releases versus Netflix.

I switched back to Netflix when the Instant watch feature was released for Mac. I have watched dozens of movies online this way and I find that it adds more value to what I'm getting with Netflix. If I were to try to use BlockBuster's download service I am greeted by this error message: "Downloading and playing movies requires Internet Explorer 5.0 (or newer) and a PC running Windows XP or Windows Vista." I have XP running in VMware on my Mac but I don't want to have to use that every time I go online to watch a movie.

Verdict: It may be $1 more expensive per month than BlockBuster Total Access, but Netflix with Blu-ray option is more worthwhile for Mac users.

Update: It's now 6/6/10. Blockbuster has had almost a year since my last comparison to get with the program and it seems like they never will.

Google Docs Personal Finance spreadsheet template

This is my first Google docs template. I'm in the process of getting it approved as a global template. It will show you your monthly income for one income source if you are paid weekly. You put in your take home pay for a normal paycheck and then change the number for what day of the week you are paid. For me it's Wednesday so I have 3 in there. Also this is not my actual paycheck amount. I plan on updating it so it will work for people paid bi-weekly. If you are interested, please post a comment.

Fix for Catan Online World crashes with OS X Leopard

I love the game Settlers of Catan. I've grown addicted to it ever since I got into the free online version of the game available at playcatan.com. With my older mac mini I was using the game without any issues. Since Java for Mac OS X 10.5 update 2 came out, I have been having this HORRIBLE problem of the Catan Online World application crashing when sound was turned on in the games. Half the fun of this game is the sounds so I wasn't thrilled that my favorite game was no longer fun anymore.

Sadly, there doesn't seem to be any way to simply roll back the java version on a Mac. If anyone knows how to do this, point me at some instruction because I'd love to learn how. This is something that could be easily accomplished on a Windows machine thanks to the add/remove programs wizard. And, let's face it - a lot of us have been in that damn wizard more times than we care to admit because some crapware made its way onto the system somehow.

Tonight, I installed a developer preview of Java SE 6 for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 4. I can't copy the details of the download here but I can tell you that it looks like the next version of Java coming out for Mac will fix the "sound = crashing" issue.

How to fix the vbscript error "There is no file extension in..."

Have you ever seen this error on windows XPE-based thin clients?
The actual script path is "c:\script with spaces in the name.vbs"



Here's the fix.

copy this code and paste it into a blank text file. Save it as whatever.reg and then double click on it to enter the contents into the registry:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VBSFile\Shell\Open\Command]
@="C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\WScript.exe \"%1\""

Bluetooth Tethering an at&t BlackBerry 8700 to a Mac running Leopard

If you're like me and use a blackberry for work, you might be wondering if it's possible to use your blackberry's data connection as an emergency backup connection to the Internet. Yes, you can. The data transfer is slow, but it could provide you with web access in a pinch if there is no free Wi-Fi connection around.

Special thanks to Grant Goodale for his work in putting together these modem scripts in Leopard form and distributing them freely. If you find this script useful then please don't thank me, thank him. He has a paypal donation link on his page if you are feeling generous.

Here's how you set it up:

Download the modem script here

Extract the contents of the Zip file to Macintosh HD\Library\Modem Scripts

you will see other folders in there with a .ccl extension. This folder should sit right next to those other ones.

Now pair your blackberry to the Mac.

When asked if you want to share your phone's network connection make sure yes is highlighted and continue. You will be prompted for the model of your phone.

Choose Research in Motion from the list and then select your model number. This will also work for 8100 and 8800.

The phone number, User name and password fields should be filled out this way:

(Note: use the APN in the phone number field)

# APN: wap.cingular
# Username: ISP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
# Password: CINGULAR1



It can be helpful for making quick connections to your blackberry if you enable the checkbox next to "Show modem status in menu bar."

If you have a BlackBerry 8700 from a different wireless carrier, then you might try some of these other carrier-specific settings.

Epson Stylus Photo R280 printer now works with Airport Express (b/g)

I just finished setting up my Epson Stylus Photo R280 printer on the USB port of an airport express. With third party inks or even with genuine Epson Inks, the ink level monitor does not work but printing and head alignment, etc. work just fine.

for thoroughness I installed the latest Bonjour from Apple on my dell laptop running XP and installed the XP driver for my printer on that and I can print wirelessly from my dell laptop as well. Again, on the PC side the ink level monitor does not work but one can disable it by going into Printers, right-click on the printer, choose properties -> printing preferences-> Maintenance tab -> Speed & Progress -> and check "Disable EPSON Status Monitor 3"

Epson just added this driver update on 6/11/08 so it's likely that some printers that didn't work with bonjour before will work now:

Updated driver for Leopard and Epson Stylus Photo R280