Mac | joeross.me

Mar 7, 2013 ∞

How to Export Your Last.fm Listening History on a Mac

My goal was simple: I wanted to export all of the tracks I’ve listened and stored in my Last.fm account. I don’t have any real experience working with APIs, but thanks to Jeroen Baert’s post, which I found via this StackExchange thread, I found a handy Python script that even a newb can run.

The script was originally written for use in moving your Last.fm data to Libre.fm, but it works just as well as a standalone backup.

I saved lastexport.py to my home folder (the one with your Mac username) and opened up a Terminal window. Then, I just pasted the following command into the Terminal prompt and pressed Enter:

python lastexport.py -u last.fm_user_name

Make sure you replace last.fm_user_name with your own Last.fm user name. The script will store the results in a text file called exported_tracks.txt, located in your Home folder or whatever other folder you saved the script in. The data in the text file is a little messy, but it’s all there.

If you know how to make the data prettier, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

Jan 16, 2013 ∞

Shawn Blanc explores Simplenote alternatives

The Simplenote/nvALT sync issues recently scared me away from Simplenote sync. I use Byword on the Mac and iPad, and Epistle on Android to sync notes with my Dropbox account. PlainText is also very good for this. I haven’t had any problems since going Dropbox-only.

If you’re a plaintext geek, read Mr. Blanc’s post to get a good overview of options from someone who knows the subject very well.

Jan 7, 2013 ∞

Keycard: A neat little Mac app that secures your computer by detecting the proximity of your mobile device - The Next Web

Matt Brian writing at The Next Web:

In our tests, I had mixed results. Initially, my iPhone continued to remain in range, meaning that if I was to walk around the office or different rooms in the house, my Mac remained awake and usable. However, if I went outside a range of around 10-15 meters, Keycard did its thing without an issue.

I’m not sure $6.99 is a viable price for 1.0 app whose developers are still perfecting activation range and that is suffering from “random screen locks when the device is still in range,” but it’s a neat concept. I’d find it especially useful in an Apple-focused office environment or a co-working space. Here’s a direct link to the iTunes store if you want to check it out.

Oct 23, 2012 ∞

iPad mini - Every inch an iPad.

Everyone is shitting their pants over this thing, but I’m more excited by the new MacBook Pro.

Aug 18, 2012 ∞

Boom Makes Your Mac Speakers Go Up To 11

If you’ve ever wanted your Mac to be louder (as I often did before buying this app), Boom is worth the money. Here’s a direct link to the App Store.