How to Install Java in OS X Mavericks

Because Java has been used as an attack vector in the past, Apple has made OS X reasonably aggressive in limiting Java on Macs. As a result, Mavericks does not come with Java preinstalled, and upgraded Macs will remove Java in Mavericks installation process.

If you need it back, check out how to do it.

Mavericks Changes Mail for Gmail users

Apple Mail in OS X 10.9 Mavericks treats Gmail accounts differently than any previous version of Mail did. Although some of the changes are quite clever and useful, the implementation is not without flaws. Based on the experiences of hundreds of people who have commented online, Mail’s behaviour with Gmail accounts — especially at first — leaves a lot to be desired. Read the linked article from TidBITS to see what you can (and can’t) do about it.

Mavericks and SMB (Connecting to Windows shares)

Sharing files between Macs and NAS drives and Windows PC’s has always been very easy, but Mavericks brought a slight change that has caused some problems for certain users in mixed PC and Mac environments.

Apple adjusted the default protocol for SMB (Samba, the Windows file sharing ability) from SMB1 to SMB2, and the SMB2 implementation apparently carries a bug which is incompatible with many NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices, and some versions of Windows.

If you don’t have any problems, all good, but if you do have problems connecting to Windows PC’s, NAS drives, and Linux machines, try this work around:

• From the OS X Finder, hit Command+K to summon “Go To Server” as usual
• In the “Server Address” field, enter the IP to connect to with the cifs:// prefix (instead of smb://) as follows:

Do Not Disturb Settings on iOS

Do Not Disturb is a great feature of iOS that mutes notifications and alerts for all incoming calls, messages, and apps. It’s easy to turn on and off, and can even be scheduled to go on and off at set times, such as bed time.

Selective Do Not Disturb

I like to manually turn it on when I walk into meetings or am with a customer in conversation. Then when I leave, I check to see if there have been any calls or texts and I turn it back off. This is all done easily now in iOS 7 using the Control Center. By swiping up from either the Lock Screen or from anywhere else in iOS (except when a keyboard is displayed), the Control Center is summoned. Then it’s as simple as tapping on the moon icon.

However, the other day I was in a Physiotherapy session for my shoulder (another story), I flicked Do Not Disturb on and 5 minutes into the session, the phone started ringing. “That’s strange”, I thought, “I’m sure I put Do Not Disturb on”. I checked the settings and sure enough, it was on.

So what went wrong?

It happened to be my wife calling, about what we were doing for dinner! There’s a setting that when Do Not Disturb is on, any contact listed in your favourites is allowed to get through and be heard. Obviously a useful setting when there is an emergency, which this call was not.

So this is how to change that setting.

• Open “Settings” and head to “Do Not Disturb”
• Select “Allow Calls From”
• Select No One, Favorites or Everyone, or even a select group of contacts if you have them
• Exit out of Settings

There is a setting to allow repeated calls to get through also, meaning that if my wife was to call a second time within 3 minutes, the phone would ring. That’s handy for emergencies, although my wife does tend to keep trying if I don’t answer :).

Do Not Disturb Whilst in Use

Another scenario I had recently. I woke up at about 4:30am and started reading the iPad, sending iMessages and emails. This time it was my wife next to me who did not want to be disturbed. I was happy knowing that I had Do Not Disturb on by an automatic schedule. But then I received a text and the alert sound was super loud!

What went wrong this time?

If you’re actively using an unlocked iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch while Do Not Disturb is on, the alerts, calls, and notifications will still make sounds, which may defeat the purpose of the setting for some users, and can make it appear as if the Do Not Disturb feature is not working at all. Of course this make sense in some scenarios as if you’re awake and using your phone, then you are most likely in a position to receive a call etc.

Here’s how to change that.

• Open “Settings” and head to “Do Not Disturb”
• Scroll down to the “Silence” section and choose “Always”
• Exit out of Settings

Even if the iOS device is actively in use, all phone calls, texts, and alerts will automatically be silenced.