As preparation for the Brighton Bloggers meetup on Thursday I wanted to put together a set of images reflecting the blogs that are represented. Last time I printed out the list and had that. I will do that again, but I thought a collage or slideshow would be fun.

I came up with some alternatives:

• screencapture - native to Mac OS. This works on the command line, but captures either the full screen, or a window. I couldn't find a way to direct it at a browser window. (I found this via osx screenshots (in png))
• Paparazzi! - I couldn't find a way to use this on the command line but then started wondering about applescript. Paparazzi is based on Webkit2png (see below) hence there are some similarities. I found Galarrhea which is an applescript that imports tags from del.icio.us, magnolia or a text file and produces full size and 200 x 200 cropped images using Paparazzi! (The 200 x 200 can be changed within the applescript). It took me a while to find out where these images had been placed but I eventually found them in /user/jane/Sites/galarrhea.
• Webkit2png - a command line python script that accepts a url as a parameter and outputs 3 png files - clipped, thumb and full. Webkit2png needs objective C to work properly used sudo port install py-pyobjc to download and install Objective C and Python 2.4

I ended up using Webkit2png and generated 278 images based on the blogs listed on BrightonBloggers

The command line I used is /opt/local/bin/python /users/jane/webkit2png-0.4.txt.sh -D /users/jane/Desktop/Bloggers/ -o -C --clipheight=250 --clipwidth==250 for each of the 278 blogs.

Now I just need to stick them together into a collage.

Labels: mac, screenshot

// posted by Jane @ 10:29 PM   

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I've just had my first experience with AppleCare. My 1 year old MacBook lost all track of its battery - the little battery icon in the status bar showing X, when I plugged the power cable in the led just showed green at all times, and when I turned the laptop upside down and pressed the monitor button on the battery I got no little green lights - others have had the same problem.

I called up AppleCare and tried a few things, installed an upgrade, turned off and on again whilst holding down a combination of keys, etc. They suggested I take it to one of the service providers in my area to let them determine if it was a battery or a connection problem. Instead I trotted off down to Solutions Inc and the guys in there kindly let me try one of their batteries and pleasingly it all worked without a problem. So, on Monday morning I called AppleCare back and told them what I'd tried. End result, a shiny new battery which arrived today and I now have a laptop which is no longer tethered to the mains :-)

Labels: mac, support

// posted by Jane @ 2:04 PM   

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Hey Jane - I think Apple just rock.

My one yr old decided she would take it upon herself to use my 80gb iPod as a bathtime playtoy (not as buoyant as a yellow duck i might add!)

Clearly buggered I called Apple to explain the problem - the sent a courier to pick up the dead iPod and within 5 working days I had a shiny new one (even with the engraving on the back!)

Now THAT'S customer service......

# posted by  Dean Harvey : 10:37 AM

 

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