keychain

How to manage keychain clutter in OS X

The OS X keychain is a useful and secure way to save passwords, certificates, and other authentication information for applications, Web sites, and various other services. By default these are generally loaded into either the log-in keychain or the System kechain, depending on whether the service is user-oriented or a system setting such as Wi-Fi or VPN passwords.

Though the keychain is convenient, sometimes after extensive use it can become cluttered with numerous items. Generally this clutter does not harm anything, but sometimes it can result in odd problems such as the incorrect password being used for a service even … Read more

Micro Camera: Good video at small size, price

My first camcorder was a PXL-2000, a toy camcorder from Fisher Price that recorded black-and-white video to audio cassettes. It was huge, expensive, required six AA-size batteries, and only recorded 11 minutes of video. That was 1987. Today, for $25, you can get the Micro Camera.

Shaped like a keyless entry remote for a car, the device only measures 2 inches long by 1.3 inches wide and is just 0.5 inch thick and weighs half an ounce with a microSDHC card. It can record up to an hour of 480p (720x480) video to a 4GB card, which is good 'cause the battery only lasts that long. It quickly fully recharges, though, in about 90 minutes by Mini-USB. (There are other sites that sell this or similar cameras, but this is where the one I tested came from.)

The company's site has several videos showing just what's possible with a camera so small and light.… Read more

How to use Secure Notes to store secret information

There are many times when people may have items they would like to keep secured, which can include banking account numbers, software license information, or a secret Coca-Cola recipe. One way to keep these items secure is to save them to an encrypted disk image, but another option available is to use the OS X keychain's Secure Notes feature.

If you open the Keychain Access utility, you will see a Secure Notes section for each keychain; here you can add any bit of text, and it will be securely saved to the keychain. Here are the steps to do … Read more

1Password to rule them all

Anyone who uses the Web for a while knows that login information starts to pile up quickly. With online e-mail accounts, login information for online banking, and countless forums, most users start to use the same passwords for everything. It's pretty easy to see how this is a bad security practice.

Fortunately, you can download 1Password, which remembers all your passwords so you don't have to. Simply come up with a secure master password and then train 1Password to log in to sites for you. It integrates seamlessly with Apple's Mac OS X Keychain and generates complex … Read more

Password issues? You may need to reset your keychain

Occasionally users will encounter password issues that Keychain Access cannot repair using Keychain First Aid. In these cases, users can reset their keychain. Resetting your keychain can also help if you cannot remember your original keychain password. Keep in mind that resetting your keychain archives your original passwords and starts a new keychain.… Read more

MobileMe: Syncing keychains asks for a password to a different computer

When using MobileMe to sync your important data, including keychains, online, some users find that they are prompted for a password to a different computer than the machine they are syncing. In order to sync a keychain to other computers, you must enter the password of the computer where the keychain originated. There are, however, some steps users can take if you do not know the password.… Read more

More Mail mess: Passwords not saving

There seems to be a somewhat constant battle between Mail and Keychain over the issue of saving passwords. In the Snow Leopard edition of this struggle, many users find that they are constantly faced with having to enter their password and many of the old tricks to solve this issue aren't working like they used to.… Read more

Keychain errors when starting from Mac OS X 10.6 Install disk

"The system was unable to unlock your keychain" may be an error message users could encounter when starting their Mac from the Mac OS X 10.6 Install disk after changing their keychain or user password. Options to proceed are to "Continue log in", "Create New Keychain", or to "Update Keychain Password". We take a closer look at these options so you know what to do if you encounter this issue.… Read more

Gadgettes 121: The Re-Episode

This show starts out as the Recycle, Reduce, Re-Use Episode. Shortly into the show, we realize how poorly thought out a theme that was. Wow, it's been a long break.

Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 121

Pee-powered battery (that technically runs on water or juice too) (Thanks Cianna!)

Sega robo-cat will meow, won’t catch mice

Quit smoking or be forced to wear these clothes made from cigarette butts

Breathalyzer key chain lets you see if you’re drunk while on the highway

Recycled condoms used on hair bands??? Snopes confirms this as legit! ACK!

Facebook spoils the free Whopper fun

Microchip Cufflinks… Read more

Another remote to drive others crazy

The trend of anti-gadget gadgets continues. Well, maybe anti is too strong of a prefix--it's really more about control, as is everything else in life.

The growing list speaks for itself, as seen in this sample: the "Best Net Guard," the "Covert Clicker," "TV-B-Gone," and most recently (as well as controversially), the "T-1000 Cell Phone Jammer." Now there's the "Mini Universal TV Remote Control Keychain."

While not a stated purpose, its diminutive form factor--3.7 inches x 1.6 inches and less than three-quarters of an inch … Read more