Howto

How to Enable Google Chrome Extensions on Mac

Written by Josh Long

Google's Chrome Web browser has been increasing in popularity in the past year, with some reports claiming it now has roughly the same market share as Safari (a little over 4 percent).  One feature that's noticeably absent from the Mac version is support for extensions, which Google says is coming "soon."

Thankfully, the software hacking community has found several fixes for this problem. Read on for more details.

How to Change the Login Screen Background Image

Written by Kylene Long

My first experience modding my Mac was simple and fun, but that's because I have a Mac genius husband to guide me along. If you are interested in personalizing your login screen, here is how it is done...

Build your own cloud storage, for under $8000.

Written by Chris Tangora

So what do you do if you run a cloud storage company and are running out of storage.  You could call up Dell and pay over $800 per terabyte for their storage systems, or Sun and pay nearly $1000 per TB.  Or, you could do the smart thing and build your own storage solution, like backblaze did.  For a little under $8000 backblaze constructed their own 67 TB 4U cloud storage device.  That equates to about $115 per Terabyte, on a scalable solution.  Their estimate is one GB for 3/10 of a penny every three years.  There's only one thing that could make it cooler, and they're doing it.

Geek your Desktop with GeekTool

Written by Chris Tangora

Your Desktop, it's your domain.  Everyone has a specific style.  From the completely messy to the minimalist.  Some people like to have their icons arranged, some are thrown around like a rat's nest.  Whatever your style, you may like an application called GeekTool.  It's been around for a while now, and is now at version 2.1.2.  So if you don't have the latest version, grab it here.  If you don't have it all, go grab it also.

GeekTool is a preference pane that allows you to have files, pictures, URL's, or shell scripts running on the desktop.  It takes a little bit of setup, but the end result is worth it.  Especially if you have some help setting it up.  GeekTool isn't perfect, sometimes it takes a while to get the window to show up, and figuring out what you have up and where could be a tough choice for the OCD' out there like me.  But in the end it's a nice little tool to have for making your desktop your own.

Read on for the download and some helpful starter scripts for your new desktop.

Add a welcome message to your Mac

Written by Chris Tangora

Modding the Mac OS to suit your needs is common around these parts, but there is one area that often times overlooked.  The Login Window.  The usual way to modify something like this is to edit the .nib file that is called when logging in, but that is a separate story.  If you know how to edit the NIB file it is located in /System/Library/CoreServices/SecurityAgentPlugins/loginwindow.bundle/Contents/Resources/English.lproj.  However, if you've never worked on a NIB before, there is an easier way after the jump.

My secret addiction ... icons.

Written by Chris Tangora

Okay, I have something to admit.  I'm addicted to icons.  That's right.  I have folders upon folders of icons, organized, labeled and bookmarked.  It's my favorite "mod".  What brings this up now is that I found a secret little treasure chest of icons, the hyperion set.  The set is from icondesigner.net.  The nice thing about this is that it offers a full set of icons.  Read on to find out more.

Turn off your monitor without going to sleep, and other cool short-cuts

Written by Chris Tangora

Setting your Mac to go to sleep when the mouse goes in a corner is great, unless you do it by accident.  Then it's just annoying.  So here's a hidden shortcut for you to try instead.  If you are getting up from your Mac you can hit Control-Shift-Eject and put all of your monitors to sleep, while leaving your Mac running still.  Read on to find out how to get better volume control and how to use a hidden clipboard.

3rd generation Mac Mini disassembly

Written by Chris Tangora

iFixit follows their disassembly of the new 20" iMac with a disassembly of the new 3rd generation Mac Mini.  They have a nice progression of the Mac Mini from generation to generation.  Here's the highlights of Apple's latest Mac Mini.

• Two Wireless Antanea
• FireWire 800
• 5 USB ports
• Dual Monitor Support with Mini-DVI & Mini-Display Ports

Pictures and links after the jump

Mac Drivers for Windows Graphics Cards

Written by Chris Tangora

One of the banes of using a PowerPC Mac in the old days was the limited availability of graphics cards for the Mac.  You could count the number of decent cards available for the PPC on your fingers and still have a hand free to drink your coffee.  It was out of this frustration that the Mac Elite Forum was made.  The Mac Elite Forum was the spot to get the ROMs to flash a PC only video card to get it to work with your Mac, and to get general questions answered on the procedure. But all good things pass, and so did the Forum.  The Mac Elite Forum is down for an "unknown duration".

But we can't end the story on a note like that.  So here's the silver lining, the Mac Elite Wiki.  All of the ROM's are there to flash a number of ATI and NVIDIA cards to work on PowerPC machines.  There are Flashing Guides and ROM Editing tutorials, and "how to's" for making Intel Drivers work on PPC Tiger Macs.  They even have a list of PC cards that will work without any trouble.

If you mod PowerPC's, then this is a great site to throw into your modding bookmark folder.

The Mac Elite Wiki, themacelite.wikidot.com

Software Mod: Customizing Word 2008

Written by Big-O

Ever thought your install of Microsoft Word 2008 was a bit sterile? In this video tutorial, Big-O, one of the hosts of the Macmod:LIVE podcast, teaches you how to modify your copy of Word 2008 to have a more…personal…touch.

Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!