iBook Newbie, Some Questions.

[The_Man]

I have yet some more questions concerning my new iBook.

1. I have a bunch of JPG's and I am trying to add them to iPhoto, but when I do, i get the message "the following files could not be imported (they may be an unrecognized file types or the files may contain invalid data." Do you know how I can add these files.

2. Also, I need help understanding the file system on OS X. For example, there is a library under "Macintosh HD" and there is also a library under the system file. There is also another library under my user name. What is the difference between these libraries. Also, there is a folder called applications under Macintosh Hd as well as a applications folder under my user name. Are these the same folders, or do they contain different information. Also, what files are kept under the folder "system" and what is kept in the folder "library"

3. I use adium, and on my contacts list where my screen name would normally be, it is my full name. Is there a way that I can just have my AIM screen name displayed in my contacts list and not my full name?

 

[jdechko]

Not sure about 1 and 2, but the answer to 3 should be 'yes'. VLC is a great piece of software, and it plays just about every multimedia file you will come across.

 

[GilGrissom]

3. I use adium, and on my contacts list where my screen name would normally be, it is my full name. Is there a way that I can just have my AIM screen name displayed in my contacts list and not my full name?

I've never used adium so cannot be sure, but have you tried clicking on your name? I know in some programs like iChat it will scroll through the different ones available, such as your proper name and screen name. Im not sure if it changes what appears on everyone elses screen. Just a hopeful helpful thought! Worth a try.

 

[mad jew]

I'll give them a whirl:

I was using my iBook, and the battery got down to 9 percent, I thought it was supposed to automatically go to sleep at 10 percent

I haven't ever seen anything about 10% so I wouldn't be worried. So long as it gives you a warning and then falls asleep on you, everything should be fine. Apple's notebook battery page is pretty comprehensive and I still couldn't find anything about 10%.

I have a bunch of JPG's and I am trying to add them to iPhoto, but when I do, i get the message "the following files could not be imported (they may be an unrecognized file types or the files may contain invalid data." Do you know how I can add these files.

That's tricky. I'm not much of an iPhoto junkie. Sorry I can't help, but I've never run into similar problems. Just out of interest, how are you adding them and from where do they come?

Will media players like VLC play video files from the internet that normally using WMP?

I find that VLC doesn't act as the greatest browser plug in when it comes to WMP. I'd recommend downloading WMP even if you never actually open it. However, VLC has much more luck with movies actually downloaded (rather than seen in the browser) for some reason. So maybe get VLC to be your default movie player but keep WMP to play streams in Safari/Firefox or whatever browser you use.

Also, I need help understanding the file system on OS X. For example, there is a library under "Macintosh HD" and there is also a library under the system file. There is also another library under my user name. What is the difference between these libraries. Also, there is a folder called applications under Macintosh Hd as well as a applications folder under my user name. Are these the same folders, or do they contain different information. Also, what files are kept under the folder "system" and what is kept in the folder "library"

I'm not sure about this third source of folders but I know that there's a distinct difference between the System's (Macintosh HD) files and the User's files. The stuff in the Macintosh HD's area is accessible to everyone whilst obviously the stuff in your specific area is only accessible to you (ideally).

I use adium, and on my contacts list where my screen name would normally be, it is my full name. Is there a way that I can just have my AIM screen name displayed in my contacts list and not my full name?

Sorry, I don't use Adium much either so I can't help there.

Hopefully this was a little bit useful and I haven't got too much wrong. Good luck with the iPhoto and Adium problems.

 

[stridey]

I have yet some more questions concerning my new iBook.

1. I have a bunch of JPG's and I am trying to add them to iPhoto, but when I do, i get the message "the following files could not be imported (they may be an unrecognized file types or the files may contain invalid data." Do you know how I can add these files.

2. Also, I need help understanding the file system on OS X. For example, there is a library under "Macintosh HD" and there is also a library under the system file. There is also another library under my user name. What is the difference between these libraries. Also, there is a folder called applications under Macintosh Hd as well as a applications folder under my user name. Are these the same folders, or do they contain different information. Also, what files are kept under the folder "system" and what is kept in the folder "library"

3. I use adium, and on my contacts list where my screen name would normally be, it is my full name. Is there a way that I can just have my AIM screen name displayed in my contacts list and not my full name?

Ok. No idea about 1. But:

2. The three libraries each have a distinct and seperate purpose. The library in your user folder holds things specifically related to you: screen savers you've installed, your preferences for apps, etc. The root libary (/Library) holds similar information, but for all users. System fonts, screen savers and preference panes that have been installed for all users, etc. The System Library holds important info for making OS X do its stuff. *do not* change anything in the System folder unless you're sure you know what you're doing. You could seriously bugger up your system. I don't know why you have a user applications folder in addition to the root applications folder. I've never seen that before.

3. There is a way, and it's in the preferences. However, it doesn't really matter, because only you are seeing your full name. Everybody you have contact with sees your screename only. In case you still want to change it, I believe you do it like this. Preferences->Accounts. Hit the edit button, and on the sheet that pops up: Personal-> Delete whatever it says in "alias"

 

[mad jew]

The three libraries each have a distinct and seperate purpose. The library in your user folder holds things specifically related to you: screen savers you've installed, your preferences for apps, etc. The root libary (/Library) holds similar information, but for all users. System fonts, screen savers and preference panes that have been installed for all users, etc. The System Library holds important info for making OS X do its stuff. *do not* change anything in the System folder unless you're sure you know what you're doing. You could seriously bugger up your system. I don't know why you have a user applications folder in addition to the root applications folder. I've never seen that before.

Listen to stridey. I've been getting the System Library confused with the Root Library, sorry.

 

[The_Man]

Thanks everybody for your replies.

I have figured out the adium thing, the option is under preferences<advanced<address book<import names from adress book.

I also understand the file system better, thanks for your replies.

But I still have the iPhoto question. the photos are stored in pictures<iPhoto library<John's Pictures<(then the pictures are divided into like 12 different folders. and inside those folders are the pictures).

"I have a bunch of JPG's and I am trying to add them to iPhoto, but when I do, i get the message "the following files could not be imported (they may be an unrecognized file types or the files may contain invalid data." Do you know how I can add these files."

 

[The_Man]

I have another question.
I am using the album art widget, and one of the options on the diet is to save the artwork to itunes. So everytime I click on the song it shows the artwork. I was just wondering where it saves the artwork. If for some reason it doesn save the artwork on my HD, how can I do this. Does anybody use this widget who can explain this to me.

I did a search on artwork and people suggested going to amazon and just dragging it over. If you do this, where does it save the artwork? I want to be able to add the artwork to my iPod and it seems like I wont be able to do this if it is not saved on the hardrive. Anybody know>

 

[stridey]

I have another question.
I am using the album art widget, and one of the options on the diet is to save the artwork to itunes. So everytime I click on the song it shows the artwork. I was just wondering where it saves the artwork. If for some reason it doesn save the artwork on my HD, how can I do this. Does anybody use this widget who can explain this to me.

It's saving the artwork to the music file. Just like the file can be given text information ID3 tags (Artist, Album, Year, etc), it can be given an image file.

 

[After G]

1. I was using my iBook, and the battery got down to 9 percent, I thought it was supposed to automatically go to sleep at 10 percent

Maybe you were thinking ten minutes. If you set the battery indicator to indicate how much time you have remaining, it should give you a warning when you have ten minutes left on the battery. At least this is what happens for me.

 

[After G]

I have a bunch of JPG's and I am trying to add them to iPhoto, but when I do, i get the message "the following files could not be imported (they may be an unrecognized file types or the files may contain invalid data. Do you know how I can add these files.

Have you tried opening them in another application besides iPhoto? Maybe if you open them in Preview, and then re-export them, they will set themselves right? Not sure, as I haven't had this problem. But it's worth a shot.

 

[iEdd]

Awwww. Three libraries??? Now I will be more confused when someone tells me to look in application support
That. Would be the mac hd library I hope.

 

[GilGrissom]

"I have a bunch of JPG's and I am trying to add them to iPhoto, but when I do, i get the message "the following files could not be imported (they may be an unrecognized file types or the files may contain invalid data." Do you know how I can add these files."

Out of curiosity, where abouts are you currently storing the photos and opening them from? Where did you get them from or get them onto your Mac? (e.g.: mem stick, CD, downloaded etc)

 

[The_Man]

Out of curiosity, where abouts are you currently storing the photos and opening them from? Where did you get them from or get them onto your Mac? (e.g.: mem stick, CD, downloaded etc)

I transferred them to my mac via ethernet connected to my Pc. The photos work in preview so i dont know what is going on.

And I though of more questions. When the artwork is saved onto the actual music file. How much bigger does the file get? Basically, if I have a cd that is normally 50MB, and then i ad artwork to each of the say 20 songs, how big will the cd become?

Also, I download VLC player and 2 things appeared on my desktop "vlc-0.8.2" and vlc-0.8.2.dmg what are these and what should I do wih them?

 

[GilGrissom]

I transferred them to my mac via ethernet connected to my Pc. The photos work in preview so i dont know what is going on.

And I though of more questions. When the artwork is saved onto the actual music file. How much bigger does the file get? Basically, if I have a cd that is normally 50MB, and then i ad artwork to each of the say 20 songs, how big will the cd become?

Also, I download VLC player and 2 things appeared on my desktop "vlc-0.8.2" and vlc-0.8.2.dmg what are these and what should I do wih them?

Where abouts are you currently storing them on your Mac?

The .dmg is like the downloaded installer file. It can get a bit confusing (especially explaining them) when you're used to normal Windows file format. It should create like a removable drive on your desktop which holds the files.
Hope that helps!

 

[The_Man]

I am keeping my pictures under Pictures<iPhoto Library< John's Pictures<various folders<jpg.s

I just moved one of the pictures out of my previous folder and moved it just under pictures, and for some reason it worked (although it did create a seperate folder under iPhoto Library entitled 2003 and made a copy of the piture, i dont really want a copy of the picture but, i guess i can just delet duplicates). I guess ill just delete all of my photos and connect my mac to my pc again, then just import them straight from my PC so that they will go in the right location. Will this work?

 

[GilGrissom]

I am keeping my pictures under Pictures<iPhoto Library< John's Pictures<various folders<jpg.s

I just moved one of the pictures out of my previous folder and moved it just under pictures, and for some reason it worked (although it did create a seperate folder under iPhoto Library entitled 2003 and made a copy of the piture, i dont really want a copy of the picture but, i guess i can just delet duplicates). I guess ill just delete all of my photos and connect my mac to my pc again, then just import them straight from my PC so that they will go in the right location. Will this work?

That is the reason for you're problems. If you manually place the files in the iPhoto folders and try and import them it will give you this error. Got me when I first faced it aswell! You need to just keep them in the normal Pictures folder inside the Documents folder or somewhere like that then import. Once all your photos are imported to stop duplicates you can then clear your Pictures folder.

I didn't particularly like the iPhoto filing system at first, but decided to let it do its thing. I can do everything I need to do from the folders in iPhoto so there was no point in me using the folders like I did in XP, I just let iPhoto handle it all.

Hope this helps.

 

[The_Man]

Where abouts are you currently storing them on your Mac?

The .dmg is like the downloaded installer file. It can get a bit confusing (especially explaining them) when you're used to normal Windows file format. It should create like a removable drive on your desktop which holds the files.
Hope that helps!

So what should I do with these files?

Also, I tried to play a .wmv file and it wouldnt let me. It said some errors but now i can't get them to come back up. When i click to play the video, it can only play the audio and yet I dont see and media player up on the screen. It just starts playing the music and there is no place for me to click pause stop are anything lilke that.

 

[The_Man]

One more thing, i just downloaded windows media player for mac and whenI did, i just got this one file that came up on the desktop called windows media.sitx. what do i do with this file and can i get windows media player to work.

Sry guys, i realize that I am just filled with millions of questions, thank you all for helping me get started.

 

[stridey]

One more thing, i just downloaded windows media player for mac and whenI did, i just got this one file that came up on the desktop called windows media.sitx. what do i do with this file and can i get windows media player to work.

Sry guys, i realize that I am just filled with millions of questions, thank you all for helping me get started.

Don't worry about the multiple questions. You seem to really want to fully understand what's going on, which is kind of refreshing (sometimes people just want a quick-fix answer from us).

Here's the deal. sitx is a compressed file, which needs Stuffit Expander. I'm not sure, but I think Apple isn't including stuffit as part of the default install anymore (which is a bit counterproductive methinks). Do a Spotlight search for it. If you've got it, great. If not, here's a link where you can download it. With stuffit installed, double click on .sitx (or .sit, or .tar, or basically any other compressed file you can think of) and Stuffit will expand it.

A brief word on the .dmgs: here's the deal. A dmg file is like a virtual volume. Double-clicking it will mount the "volume" (your browser might do this automatically), revealing it as a white drive on your desktop, containing the app. You can install most apps simply by dragging the app to your /Applications folder. After that's done, "eject" the volume (drag to trash), and trash the original dmg.

Why do we do it this way? The volume is in RAM, which makes for faster copying, and also, installers suck. I like dmgs because you can see and choose exactly what gets installed on your drive. That way I can get new software, read the readme (i know, I'm weird) and then eject the mounted dmg knowing that the only thing it left on my hard disk is the application that I copied. [/rant]

OK, I'm not sure exactly if those last two paragraphs read as English to anybody other than me, so here's the short explanation of dmgs: 1. Double click on dmg to mount (may already be done by browser). 2. Copy application from mounted volume (looks like white hard disk) to applications folder. 3. Eject volume and trash dmg.

And I though of more questions. When the artwork is saved onto the actual music file. How much bigger does the file get? Basically, if I have a cd that is normally 50MB, and then i ad artwork to each of the say 20 songs, how big will the cd become?

It all depends on how big your image files are. It's a cop-out answer, but for 20 songs the most I can imagine the images adding is around 3MB (figures based on pure imagination).

 

[The_Man]

how do i eject the volume?
nvm, i figured it out.
So do i basically just drag just the one file over and leave the other ones in the drive? And when I eject it, does it disapear completely and then i only trash the dmg?

 

[The_Man]

Earlier in this thread i asked about a whirring noise. Now that i think about it, its really not a whirring. It sounds more a like a remote control car, like the tyco ones. kinda like a scuffing. It happens when i boot it up, or wake it from sleep. is this still normal?

 

[stridey]

how do i eject the volume?
nvm, i figured it out.
So do i basically just drag just the one file over and leave the other ones in the drive? And when I eject it, does it disapear completely and then i only trash the dmg?

Usually. Sometimes the volume contains an installer file, which wants to be double clicked. But generally, yeah, just drag the one file over, unless anything else there looks interesting.

As for the scuffing noise, it's probably the optical drive spinning up (and is normal).

 

[The_Man]

Thanks stridey for answering to this thread so quickly, i just hope you'll stick around.

Of course, i have another question. is there a way i can get WMP to play directly in the browser and not pop up in a seperate window.?

just to clarify, i am going to reimport mypictures onto my mac and start over, so if i just connect to my pc, and add them directly from my PC Hard drive into iPhoto will it work? also if it does, i was wondering how i can delete albums in iPhoto, for example i had albums like 2003, 2004, etc and i wasnt able to delete it, im sure there is a way, i just dont know how.

thanks for reading.

 

[mad jew]

Okay, well I usually find that some WMVs play inside the browser whilst others do not - it seems to depend entirely on the coding of the site in question but I don't know enough about this sort of thing to be any more helpful than that, sorry.

As for reimporting your pictures, I think that'd be a great idea. To delete an album, simply right click on it and select Delete. Right click can be replaced with CONTROL-CLICK at your whim.