Configurator

Configure multiple iDevices at once with Apple Configurator

Readying or updating more than one Apple device at a time can be a time-consuming and frustrating task. Apple Configurator makes the process easier and automates many tasks, allowing multiple iPads, iPhones, and iPod Touch devices to be loaded with a standard configuration with a minimum of fuss. Documents, data files, and new apps can all be pushed out to users' devices with a single configuration update.

Apple Configurator installs easily, but it does take a bit of time to learn how to use it properly. Fortunately there's a lot of information available on the Apple support site. There'… Read more

Qsel Launcher for Windows

Looking for a way to access your favorite Windows applications and files quickly? Well, Qsel from Horst Schaeffer's Software Pages just might be the app for you. The simple tool, which is both free and portable, is capable of creating an unlimited number of categories with individualized launcher window settings.

Qsel, which can also be used for documents and other file types, needs no installation. Just extract it and it's ready to go. The tool has a very simple interface that is easy to understand. All you need to do is drag and drop apps or files to … Read more

Apple Configurator offers easy iOS deployment from OS X

Apple's iPads and other iOS devices have become some of the most popular electronics out there for consumers, and schools and businesses.

While the iPad is excellent for quick access to portable tools to use in a laboratory, office, or classroom, one problem is managing all the iPads that are available and restricting features on them to work properly with your needs.

The iPad is built to be associated with one person and then customized by that person for his or her needs; however, depending on your business setup you may wish to restrict the iPad for specific purposes. … Read more

Copy preference files instead of deleting them when troubleshooting

Sometimes when troubleshooting aspects of OS X, we resort to a routine of disabling features and removing configuration files to have them recreated freshly. While this is an approach that is sure to give you fresh configuration files and ensure that settings or configuration options are not contributing to the error at hand, sometimes it is not always necessary to do.

Recently as part of one of the MacFixIt Answers columns I offered a couple of suggestions for fixing Safari bookmarks being duplicated when synced with Apple's iCloud service. One of my suggestions was to remove Safari's bookmarks … Read more

DHCP timeouts? Other network problems? Try new locations.

By default the network settings in OS X are set up to dynamically adjust to different network environments. All ports on the system are enabled, so when activated either by plugging in an Ethernet cable or turning on the Wi-Fi receiver, the system will configure an available network connection through these ports. Sometimes, however, network configurations may hang during this initial setup. This might happen when a port is enabled, or when the system refreshes the configuration after waking from sleep or booting up.

If this happens, one of the easiest approaches is to create a new network location for … Read more

Awesome audit

Computer components can sometimes be mysterious things, and getting a comprehensive look at a computer's characteristics can be a time-consuming task. WinAudit simplifies this process by creating thorough reports that outline everything about your machine: hardware, software, memory, processors, and much, much more.

The program's interface is plain and intuitive. Simply click the Audit button and wait a few minutes, and WinAudit produces a lengthy report that can be e-mailed, printed, or saved in a variety of different formats. You can customize the contents of the report before running the audit as well; simply select what you want … Read more

Startup speed up

There are few things more frustrating that an unwanted program that launches every time you start your computer, especially when the normal means of preventing this from happening--like checking for it in the Startup folder--don't work. What's worse is when numerous unneeded and invisible processes launch, slowing down both start-up and your computer's performance as a whole. AutoRuns is a simple program that lets users view--and disable--everything that runs on startup, saving both time and irritation.

The program's interface is a little cluttered, with 17 tabs that display the various programs and processes that run on … Read more

Simplify enterprise Wi-Fi connections in iOS

Enterprise Wi-Fi connections need specific device security policies, VPN configurations, Wi-Fi settings, and certificates that allow your iPhone and iPod Touch devices to work with your other enterprise systems. This is an overview of how to create a new CA Certificate using iPhone Configuration Utility so people won't have to verify that they trust your Certificates each time they connect to your Wi-Fi.

Open the iPhone Configuration Utility 3.0 ( download here). Once open, create a new profile and a CA Certificate on the Credentials tab, as shown:

In the Wi-Fi tab, use your enterprise settings to appropriately configure … Read more

Apple releases iPhone Configuration Utility 2.2

Apple iPhone Configuration Utility hits version 2.2. The new version released on Tuesday includes support for the iPad.

Apple's utility isn't designed as an end-user troubleshooting tool--it's intended to help enterprise users create configuration profiles for device deployment--but it provides three functions that can be useful for anyone troubleshooting iPhone security settings.

We wrote about these uses last fall, and we recommend that you read it.

Mac OS X's Software Update tool provides the following description of the update:

"iPhone Configuration Utility lets you easily create, maintain, encrypt, and install configuration profiles, track and … Read more