Multizone | All our technotes
If we've published it, you can find it here.
VMware’s decision to make VMware Workstation and VMWare Fusion free for all users has opened up new possibilities for developers, IT professionals, and businesses. This move simplifies virtualisation, allowing users to run and manage virtual machines (VMs) on Windows and Linux without additional costs. One of the biggest advantages is the ease of moving virtual machines between different platforms, particularly from macOS (using VMware Fusion) to a Windows or Linux PC running VMware Workstation.
TL:DR – Moving virtual machines in VMware virtual machine format is easier than ever between Intel based Mac computers, Windows PC's and Linux desktops.
- Details
Read more: Moving VMware Mac Fusion to PC Workstation is easy
My Mac mini (2018) is still supported, say Apple. But I seem to have reached a crossroads with it. You see, it won't update to macOS Sequioia 15.3.2 no matter what I try, and I have tried quite hard - As Apple continues to enhance its software offerings, compatibility issues seem to be increasing. I wonder if its a sign that it is time to depart the Intel Mac owners club for good and lose my last liferaft to x86 virtualisation on macOS? Thats quite a big call for me to make as I have a few virtual machines that I do really still need. But I have one faithful old Xserve 3,1 which could be able to run them still. So this isn't really a howto post more a lament for Intel macOS and perhaps the start of a long goodbye to it. This post investigates the specifics of these installation failures and outlines potential troubleshooting steps.
TL:DR The macOS Sequoia 15.3.2 update, while introducing crucial security patches, is not installing smoothly for this Mac Mini 2018 Intel user. Comprehensive troubleshooting steps which normally alleviate common issues don't seem to be working for me so far. In the end I had to completely erase it and revert to macOS Sonoma. So, I'm done with this Mac Mini and its off to Computer Exchange...
- Details
Read more: Intel based Mac Mini (2018) Sequoia 15.3.2 update failed
direnv lets you load and unload environment variables depending on the current directory. This is incredibly helpful for per-project isolated development environments or in DevOps for loading secrets for deployment of software builds reliably.
TL:DR – This is a shell extension, for Unix-like operating systems with a supported shell such as bash, zsh, and is easy to install and widely supported. Highly recommended.
- Details
The Time Machine feature on macOS Sequoia plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of your data. This article offers insights into effective usage of Time Machine, and explores its frustrations.
TL:DR – The benefits of using Time Machine include its capability for incremental backups and version control. While new updates have introduced bugs leading to backup failures, users can take specific steps to troubleshoot these issues or explore alternative solutions available to maintain their data integrity.
- Details
Installing Node.js on Ubuntu can be a convoluted process, particularly when it comes to managing multiple versions. Node Version Manager (NVM) provides a solution that allows developers to deal with versioning effectively. This guide offers a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough on installing Node.js via NVM on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, ensuring that you maintain the latest Long Term Support (LTS) version of this essential runtime environment vital for backend services and real-time applications.
Node.js is an open-source JavaScript runtime that executes JavaScript code outside a web browser, predominantly used for building scalable network applications. However, various projects might require different versions. NVM addresses this issue seamlessly, allowing developers to switch between Node.js versions as required. Understanding the newer commands and installation steps is imperative in ensuring compatibility and maintaining best practices in development environments. Those looking to dive deeper into NVM can refer to its GitHub repository.
TL:DR – The installation of Node.js on Ubuntu via NVM includes prerequisites, step-by-step installation guidance, how to manage various Node.js versions effectively, and additional insights into best practices for development environments. Using NVM is highly recommended for developers who regularly update or switch node versions to maintain optimised functionality across projects. The version of Node installed by Ubuntu's package manager is woefully outdated so don't assume that will be ok.
- Details
Read more: Why You Should Install Node.js LTS on Ubuntu via NVM
The Apple Notes app was once just a simple notepad, but has transformed into a robust tool for productivity and organisation. While many users know the basic functions, there are advanced power features that significantly enhance your note-taking productivity This article outlines essential tips, tricks, and hacks tailored for power users, ensuring you can utilise Apple Notes to its fullest potential. For those seeking an official Apple exploration of its capabilities, you may want to explore this resource on the official Apple Support page.
TL:DR – The Apple Notes app offers a wealth of features that can transform how you take notes, organise tasks, and collaborate with others. These advanced functionalities, from Quick Notes to enhanced document scanning can streamline your workflow, making it easier to manage ideas, tasks, and projects effectively.
- Details
Read more: Power User Cheatsheet with tips and hacks for Apple Notes
As Apple continues to refine its Macbook range, the introduction of the M4 MacBook models has sparked an inevitable flurry of questions regarding which option stands out best for individual needs. The M4 MacBook Air and its Pro counterpart represent a considerable evolution in design, performance, and functionality. This article examines their characteristics, including design, display quality, processing power, battery life, audio experience, and pricing to help you arrive at an informed decision on which model to purchase according to your priorities.
TL:DR – The M4 MacBook Air is lightweight and portable, ideal for casual users or students, while the M4 MacBook Pro provides advanced features, capabilities and ports for professional users and those who require additional graphics performance. To ascertain which model aligns with your needs, consider factors such as your own usage scenarios, portability, and budget. Buying now, you should expect thes laptop to last 5-6 years while fully supported and a few years longer if you look after them!
- Details
- Unbeatable MacBook Air Bargains in the UK
- The Ten Best Obscure Mobile Apps You Never Knew You Needed
- Older Pixel Devices Get a Performance Boost
- Our Journey to 2.5K Clicks in 28 days from Google Search
- Branching out: creating a new Git repository simply
- Effortless Reminders & Calendars on macOS/iOS/iPadOS
- Is Website Commenting Beneficial for SEO?
- The Impact of Restricting Phone Encryption in the UK
- Using Presenter Overlay on macOS Effectively
- Pitfalls When Creating a macOS External Startup Disk
- Essential macOS commands you ought to know
- Why the Enshittification of Notepad on Windows Matters to You