Mac Mini, Oct 2012

Most Highly rumored(aka expected) iPad Mini is finally launched with size 7.9" diagonal, guess Apple got this magical number obtained by reversing size of 9.7" iPad.  Along with the iPad Mini, Apple has updated the Mac Mini, the BYODKM device (Bring Your Own Display Keyboard Mouse). Its tiny little desktop with unibody design loaded with Mac OS Mountain Lion for 599$.

I have been waiting for this device since March 2012, and by june 2012, I last hope of it being released this year and bought the Mac Mini July 2011 Refurbished Model for a deal.

As expected, only major update in the new Mac Mini is the Intel Ivy Bridge Processor which replaces Intel Sandy Bridge processor found in the previous version. 

As per various performance benchmarks, Ivy Bridge is relatively little better performance than sandy bridge (5-15%) while the major advancement in Ivy Bridge is that it is smaller and consume less power than Sandy Bridge.

Also, Apple has replaced all the four USB 2.0 port with the USB 3.0 port, the Same USB 3.0 Port will support older USB 2.0. which is nice little catch up in Mac Mini from Mac Book.

On MotherBoard, I expected the Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing) to feature in Mac Mini, but that feature has wait until next version, which can shrink the size of Mac Mini as that of Apple TV.

On a final verdict, If you own a previous version of Mac Mini, you can safely skip this version, as its a minor revision. For new users of Mac or very old versions of Mac Mini, its worths buying it.
For More Info :
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/mac_mini 

Delete Revisions in WordPress

WordPress has a built-in function to auto-store the revisions of your posts/pages, which is a life saver functionality, in the unlikely event of losing the entire blog with the single key press. But at the same time, Once the blog is well formatted and published, having these revisions, is redundant, and it unnecessarily consumes disk space. There are two approaches to reclaim the space.

1. Hard Coded Approach
   As the name implies, In this approach, Log in to WordPress install of MySQL Database and execute the following delete SQL.
   
   DELETE FROM wp_posts WHERE post_type = "revision";
   
   This approach is a simple approach, however, the tags, categories and other options associated with the posts are not deleted by this approach and they are continue to remains in the WordPress database.
   
   Having deleted the revisions, to prevent WordPress from creating new revision, Add the following line at the end of the wp-config.php file on the WordPress root directory (of course with in <?php .. ?> tag)
   
   define('WP_POST_REVISIONS', false);


2. Plugin Approach
   There are many plugins available at the wordpress plugin repository, to delete the revision in the wordpress. Among them, Following are three simple plugins which you can choose and install it your WordPress. They are as follows
   
   1. Better Delete Revisions
   2. Delete Revision
   3. Revision Control

How to block a Facebook App?

Facebook has been playing a key role in modern world communication by connecting friends/people from different walks of life, by means of  status updates, photos, videos and Games. I have been using facebook for almost half a decade, I personally prefer facebook as information provider than as social gaming.

Over the time, I came across few Facebook Apps, I expected it to be as responsive as Facebook. But they are very slow, Under Powered, Bloated and doesn't Gel so nicely with facebook. There are tons of tons of FB Apps with the only objective as stalking, through Friends without much of their awareness.

So, Here is how to block a Facebook App?

1. Go to Facebook ->> Privacy Settings,
   
   
2. On "Privacy Settings" page, towards the end of the page, cliek "Manage Blocking"
3. On the new "Manage Blocking" Page, Scroll down to the section "Block Apps" and Type the name of the App and press Enter.As a First Step,  Just Go ahead and Block the following FB Apps.

• Social RSS
• Texas HoldEm Poker
• CityVille
• Birthdays
• Farmville
• Fortune Cookie    -  Who cares if there's no Cookie?... :)

Reference:  http://www.facebook.com/help/202866049749634/

Good Bye! Multiply!

Web 2.0 bubble finally getting into a stage where the several site are getting converged into one, while the leader stands high, many other social  sites bidding farewell.
Few days back, I received a mail from Multiply.Com, regarding it's new strategy to shift from social platform to eCommerce, to focus and better serve the customers. Gr8! Finally learnt a Lesson!

What does it do for me?
After Dec 1, 2012, (http://smartpandian.multiply.com/) will cease to exists. No Worries! My Multiply Site had nothing, but a scribble post on my old deleted sites and a Photo  Album. It brings back the old memories, over the past five years.
To honor the web presence of the scribbling for these many days, My multiply blog and photo album are available now in my wordpress site,
can be accessed from here.
http://smartpandian.com/2005/12/12/salute-to-brilliant-minds/

iPhone 4S

Having been as a Nokia Fan Boy for almost a decade, am now. Finally, all into the apple world with iPhone 4S.

iPhone 4S is not my first apple device as it sounds. it's my 4th apple device.

With first one being iPad, and then, Apple TV and then Apple Wireless Express Router. And then, finally iPhone 4s.

Having already loaded with 20+ apps in the phone, and here it is, "My First Blog" with iPhone's WordPress app.

Keep cool and Stay tuned to read many more exciting mokkais in future.

Yes... Yes... Yes... Yes... 4S

— Arun Pandian (@smartpandian) November 27, 2011

UPDATE :

1. Uninstalled WordPress Plugin BlackBird Pie, as WordPress 3.4.1 itself shows the twitter status in a cool way.
2. Oct 15 2012 . Modified the Blog to tweet in Blogger.