Ways to Increase Traffic to Blog

The final assignment for my masters class is to implement two suggestions that my fellow students have tried to increase blog traffic. The two that I chose to implement were:
1) Added blog address to e-mail signature: I chose this because I send a lot of e-mails to a variety of people. So maybe one day when the days tasks are lacking others will click, view, and share.
2) E-mailed potential followers-I e-mailed the group of teachers that I work with heavily with the iLearn initiative so they may check it out frequently and also when a user asks how to do something I have tried to post the instructions here and send them the link to the blog.

This project of creating a blog has gotten me more interested in what the Internet is for, sharing information. In the past I have been one that normally searched for information but not added anything. As an educator I feel like the purpose that I created my blog turned into me teaching other professionals how to complete certain tasks and make them aware of things that may help them complete a job more efficiently. I hope to continue this blog and use the one my co-worker created for our district to increase my professional knowledge.

Deleting Backup Files From iTunes

Some of you that sync a lot of iPods may have several unneeded backup files on your Mac. There are two ways to delete these files:
______________________________________________________________________
Using iTunes: Deleting one at a time:

1)Open iTunes
a) Preferences>Devices>Device Backups>Select the Backups and click Delete Backup

______________________________________________________________________
Deleting all at once:
1) Open Finder>Under Places select your username (home directory)>Library>Application Support>MobileSync>Backup
2) Once inside the folder>Press command + a key on keyboard (this will select all)> Press Delete
a) To keep a file inside the folder
With all the other files highlighted>Press the command key, click the file you want to keep to deselect it>Press the delete key

THIS JUST IN: Smartboard Sound Issues

Those wanting to use your Smartboard with your MacBook, you may have to make a few sound and display adjustments.

Display:
If you want the projector to display the same thing on your MacBook screen:
1) System Preferences
a)Displays>Arrangement>Check Mirror Displays

If you want the projector to be used as a "different" screen than your MacBook:
1) This is the default setting when you plug an external display into the MacBook
2) Just drag the window you want to show on the Smartboard to the right of the screen on the MacBook.
a) You will see the window "moving" to the SmartBoard screen at this point.

Sound:
By default the sound will only play from the MacBook to change this follow these steps:
1) Connect the USB cable from the SmartBoard to the MacBook
2) System Preferences>Sound>Click the Output Tab>Select External USB Device>Adjust the output settings
3) Keep this option selected because once the SmartBoard is disconnected it will toggle back to the MacBook and vice-versa.

Tooble: Link to another Great Blog Resource

I ran across this blog from another local district. This looks like a great resources for you all that are trying to figure out ways to download video for your classrooms.

Xcode Results/VPP Update

I tried using Xcode to restore two iPods and both times Xcode gave an error and shutdown. I decided to make sure that my MacBook Pro had all the latest updates and it updated for a full day and never finished. So I had to hold down the power button in order to begin calculating the amount of money RCPS would need in order to be compliant under the VPP. The first estimate on ONE account is around $36,000, we have 14 accounts. Will keep everyone posted with a final total. I will also post additional information once I go through a successful Xcode iOS restore.

Update: 4/3/11: The account that I did my first calculations with for the before and after VPP actually purchased an app that was over 100.00 and several that were 30.00. From the lists that I have received from the teachers these apps are not being installed on all iPods so the initial shock of $36,000 doesn't seem to be the norm across the board. From the few that I have received from the teachers it is around $100-$150 per case of 20 iPods, which is still a lot of money but nothing like the initial post.

UPDATE: 11/9/11: XCODE is a great tool for updating. You have to run it on a machine that has Lion and run 4.2. It does save so much time. Will be posting something in a few days about the process.

Meeting of area iPod/iPad enthusiasts, Apple, Inc., and VDOE

A somewhat productive meeting. Micah was very helpful as he shared with us how to update the iOS on the iPods without having to use iTunes. To do so you can use xCode a free download that can be found here. You can register to become a developer and pay $99 a year, or just sign up, confirm your email address and after the confirmation scroll to bottom right of the verification screen and download xcode 3 for free or you can buy xcode 4 from the App store for 4.99. We were told this is a temporary solution and only a temporary solution. From what I have seen from Apple, don't get comfortable with it!

Please be advised, YOU WILL have to sync the content back to the iPod. As this virtually does a wipe of all settings and content. It formats the iPod and installs the new iOS.

The interface seems to be a mix between how the devices are viewed in iTunes with an iPhone configuration workflow. I haven't went through the steps yet but this is what I gathered from our brief introduction.
1) Run xCode
2) Click Organizer on top
3) Plug the cart in
4) select the iPod to restore
5) Click restore (name of button could be wrong, will update after I get to work)
6) Go to the next iPod/iPad click restore, while the other one is doing its thing.
7) Repeat steps until all are restored

This still may seem a lot but if you are like me this is going to save a tremendous amount of "babysitting", as you can click through 40 in a matter of 10 minutes, where as before it would take hours using iTunes because you have to wait for the first iPod/iPad to come back up before moving on to the next.

If you are ITRTs at RCPS reading this I will be training you on how to do this. Don't worry!

Thanks Apple, Inc. for sharing this invaluable tool so that we can get back to what we do best, and producing our product, educated students! :-)

Wireless Certificates and Mac OS 10.6.6

So after pushing out Microsoft Office for Mac to all the MacBooks in our district, which was made easier through Apple Remote Desktop, I walked into a pool of "applesauce" last Thursday. We have been trucking along for a year with our wireless 802.1x configuration and bam, none of the MacBooks will connect. After a few hours of troubleshooting and being told by my co-worker that the PCs are working so it must be something with the Macs he finally realizes that the certificate could have expired. Which didn't affect the PCs because they ignore the certificate.

I had to then again make arrangements for all teachers and ITRT's to plug in the MacBooks to Ethernet so that I could remote in, delete the wireless profile, re-create it so that it would get the new certificate.

If anyone has any tips on how to do this without re-creating the profile please let me know. Apple, Inc doesn't want to give answers because of course we aren't using a Mac OSX server for authentication. Either way it shouldn't matter because it is a configuration setting on the Mac itself, it has nothing to do with the cert server.

Placed our first order through the App Volume Purchase Program

WOW just made my first purchases through the VPP, I knew our money was going to go fast, but not this fast. I bought I total of 5 apps for 74 iPods for a grand total of $331.88. Only one of the apps purchased didn't offer a discount and stayed at the $1.99 cost.

So, this doesn't go without any technical issues either. The browser timed out and a clicked buy and it kicked me out and made me login again. I logged in again and purchased the app that I needed and yep you guessed it, I have now purchased double the amount that I needed. I quickly e-mailed Apple, Inc. at the VPP for education e-mail address and I am waiting a response. Why in the world do they not have a cancel button or anyway to make changes to your account? If it is in process the user should have the ability to click cancel.

I will be surprised to get their response back on this one. My fingers are crossed that it will be positive.

UPDATE: 4/1/11--After going through our Technical Sales Lead the money was added back to our account. But there is no documentation or indication of this other than the money that we have left increased. There is a column that show credits the only thing listed is where we redeemed our vouchers. The apps spreadsheets still show in the list.

Support Blogging

Found this website that will help with my previous post on how to properly use these Web 2.0 tools for students.

Apple Remote Desktop

Woot! Woot! is all I can say. I knew that this was a powerful tool, but I am ecstatic today. I was able to push out printer configs, testnav update and alias, and office for mac, all while sitting at my desk to over 50 MacBooks! My day is good!