Airport Not Always Connecting to Preferred Wireless Network

I love my mac… and I love my shiny new wireless home network. But each morning, when I turn on and log into my computer, I get a little pop-up: "None of your preferred [wireless] networks are available. Please choose another network". So I find my home network in the list of available networks. I choose it, type in my snazzy password, check the box that says "remember this as a preferred network". And dive into my morning.

But then tomorrow comes, and I'm back at square one. It's nothing big — but I can't really start my day until I'm online, so it's a bit of a hassle. So yesterday I turn to my friend Google: "mac not connecting automatically to a preferred network", I type. And voila! There's a wonderful thread over at the Mac Rumors Forums: Airport Not Always Connecting to Preferred Wireless Network. I don't know who JSweeny is… but their response was a day-maker:

1. Move “System Preferences.app” back to “Applications\”.
2. Delete all instances of “Preferred Networks” in “Network Preferences”.
3. Delete all “Airport network password” instances in “Keychain Access”.
4. Restart your Mac.
5. Add/Join applicable preferred network using the Airport pulldown menu or in Network Preferences (as if for the first time). Use “Advanced” in “Network Preferences” to confirm the existence of your preferred network and the correct settings. Use “Keychain Access” to confirm the existence of the applicable “Airport network password” instance and the correct settings.
6. Restart your Mac. The OS should now find your preferred network and join it on its own.

Problem solved.

Man, I love the internet!

Geek-out: iPhone Ringtone Snafu Explained?

Seems that the work-around (and Apple's faster-than-lightning "fix") I mentioned a few days back may have an explanation that leads to a permanent solution:

I just found YET ANOTHER way to create iTunes compatible ringtones. This method is probably the LAST WORD on this topic, because I think most other methods currently circulating around the web are somewhat more dubious and intricate (hacking).

It's not verified, so proceed with caution. I'd certainly be interested in a programmer's reaction… anyone?

Tip: Make FREE Custom Ringtones for Your iPhone

Okay... just read about this, and thought there were a couple of you iPhoners out there that would appreciate learning how to use iTunes 7.4 and a little file extension magic to get free ringtones. It's over at MacRumors, and I picked-up the trick from Brad at The Big Noob.

And while we're on the subject of iPhones: if you thought the phone was worth $600, then you still have all that magic + $100 store credit + early-adopter bragging rights. If you didn't think the phone was worth $600, why on earth did you buy it? Yes, the price drop was a little steep and a little early… but you knew it was coming. Quit whining.

PS... My friend T-rex posted a new iPhone dock based on the iPod Touch (here and here). He wanted me to say that "there aren't comprehensive instructions... I assume a basic level of familiarity with the hacking tools". So you've been warned.

UPDATE: iTunes 7.4.1 kills the work-around mentioned above, but there's apparently a fix for it.

Tip: Delete Playlist Tracks from iTunes Library

I love iTunes. Love love love... but it isn't perfect.

For example, when I come across a song in a playlist that I not only don't want in the playlist but don't want at all, hitting DELETE just removes it from the playlist… But it's still in my iTunes Library.

Yuck.

Now I know the secret: COMMAND + OPTION + DELETE scrubs the track from my hard drive altogether. Nice.

Thanks Apple Blog!

AskMefi: Disabling iPhoto's Auto-launch.

The hive mind over at Ask Metafilter answers a question that has vexed me for ages...

How can I prevent iPhoto from auto-launching when I plug in a flash card?

Hazzah!

Thanks hive mind!