New (iMac) Apple keyboard - don't hurry to replace it

I've been a fan of "clicky" keyboards since my first computer, an IBM PS/2 from a long time ago in a galaxy far away. When Matias sold the first "Tactile Pro" keyboard ( http://matias.ca/tactilepro/index.php ), I quickly purchased one for my old iMac; I still use it to this day and love it. So Matias rolled out Version 2.0 ( http://matias.ca/tactilepro2/index.php ) - in colors matching the new iMac, no less - I ordered one the same day I ordered my new iMac.
After using the included new Apple keyboard for a week, I finally received my new Tactile Pro. And I must say, I'm disappointed.
The not-so-obvious problem is the advertised USB 2.0 "hub" which isn't really a hub at all. Matias cheated: the keyboard has two USB cables, the second of which just relocates an existing port from the iMac to the keyboard. Worse, this one (one?!?) port is on the right-side of the keyboard and facing right, where it is typically blocked by mouse placement and thus unusable. What a waste of scarce USB ports.
The above would be less of a problem if the second cable were removable, which it is not, leaving its connector dangling uncleanly off the back of the computer. And that cable is one of two ways in which version 2.0 of this keyboard falls short of version 1.0. The cable is too stiff, too short, and too inconveniently placed. Out of the left side only? Not redirectable like on 1.0 or most any other keyboard? And coming out of the keyboard sideways, instead of forwards? Ugh.
But the greatest shortfall of the new Tactile Pro versus its predecessor is the quality of its keys. Matias has clearly cut some corners on the key-switches: they are much softer and thus provide less tactile feedback. Even worse, the keycaps are rather loosely attached to the switches.
I'm not asking for a refund, as this keyboard is marginally better in its tactile feedback and styling than Apple's new aluminum keyboard. However, the Apple keyboard costs $100 less, uses a more convenient cable (cable_, singular, not cables, plural), and provides 2 USB 2.0 ports, one out each side. I was also planning to replace the Tactile Pro 1.0 on my old iMac with the 2.0 - not any more.
(Alternatively, try to find the original Tactile Pro on close-out or places like eBay.)
That's my opinion & experience - YMMV.

Probably not - but that certainly does not involve iPhoto for the Mac - you need to look at Crashplan support for you options
And iCloud is not a place to store photos so that is certainly not a possibility
If you restore your masters folder out of the iPhoto library you will have all of your original photos to do with what you please
LN

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New (wired) Apple Keyboard

I have a iMac G5 with system 10.4.10. I just bought the new (flat) Apple keyboard and installed the latest software for the keyboard, after having keyboard shortcut problems.
Now even after installing all the latest and greatest software, I can't use my left-side command key for the command-paste function in any application; even though I can command-paste with my right-side command key. I can do other command-key functions with the left command key though (such as command-C for copying).
Also, the desktop icons - that should only be the result of pressing the new keyboard's F3 key - randomly activate without my pressing the F3 key.
Any troubleshooting ideas? I really LOVE this keyboard and want to keep it...I just wish it would function as reliably as my (working) one that came with my computer.

There has been a lot of discussion about the function keys, this comes from MacFixIt:
+Apple Aluminum keyboards (#4): More on function keys not working, potential fix+
+We continue to report on an issue with Apple's new aluminum keyboards where the F3 and F4 keys, which should trigger Dashboard and Expose, do not normally trigger these functions unless the function (fn) key is held down while they are pressed. If you navigate to the keyboard pane of System Preferences and check the "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys," the Dashboard and Expose functions are triggered by the F3 and F4 keys, but the rest of the special function keys no longer work (brightness toggling, etc.).+
+Some users are apparently being told by Apple that the function keys do not work on any machines other than the Mid-2007 iMacs, with which the keyboards ship (they are also available for separate purchase). One reader writes:+
+"I also encountered the new function keys not working. I contacted Apple support and I was informed that they only work with the new iMacs. "+
+Meanwhile, we have received word of a potential fix for the non-functioning keys that involves use of one of our favorite troubleshooting tools, Pacfisit.+
+MacFixIt reader Joe Mullins writes: "I fixed the dashboard and expose keys on my keyboard. The problem is apparently that Dock.app isn't getting updated properly. I fixed it using my original install disks, 10.4.10 combo updater, keyboard update and Pacifist."+
+Joe's process is as follows:+
+1. Insert Install disk for 10.4.x and open /System/Installation/Packages/Essentials.pkg/ with pacifist.+
+2. Within Pacifist, navigate to /System/Library/Core Services. Click on Dock.app and click install. When it's uncompressed, it will ask if you would like to update or replace. Click replace.+
+3. When that's finished, open the 10.4.10 combo update package with pacifist and navigate to the dock.app again. Click install, and this time when it asks, make sure to click update.. not replace.+
+4. When that's finished, open the keyboard software 1.1 mpackage, click the arrow to reveal the contents of AppleKeyboardSoftware_Cmn.pkg, navigate to dock.app one more time, click install and then update once again. Not replace.+
+5. Once this procedure is finished, you can force quit dock.app and the keys should work.+
You should probably reapply the update after doing the above.
Please post back with results,

I've got a new IMAC, but i don't have all my music or movie purchase on it. I just recently updated iTunes. How do I get my purchases back?

Ive got a new iMac and now that i updated iTunes I do not have all my music and movie purchases. How can I get it all back?. I used to have it before update

It doesn't magically transfer itself, you have to do it. Purchase may present themselves for re-downloading but things such as CD are only on the old machine or on the CD.
Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the option (alt) key (shift on Windows) so you get a prompt to select a library, then guide it to the 'iTunes Library.itl' file in the moved iTunes folder. If you put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there. (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)
Downloading (using iOS or computer) past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519 - enabled with iTunes 10.3 and newer; not all media formats are available in all countries (see: iTunes in the Cloud, iTunes Match, and iTunes Radio availability by country - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5085); apps, books (not audiobooks), music, t.v. shows, and movies (some - not all studios have permitted this). Downloading previously purchased movies and TV shows requires iTunes 10.6 or later. Discontinued items not available. For items not included in the iCloud list (e.g., ringtones, audiobooks), or locations or computer systems where iCloud is not (yet?) available, you only get one download per fee paid. Apple recommends, "... back up your iTunes library. " (http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519).
Additional tip at https://discussions.apple.com/message/24176756#24176756
Select the iTunes Store on the left side of iTunes if you have the sidebar displayed, or with the button at the top right.
Click on Purchased on the right side under Quick Links.
You can re-download your available previous purchases.

New iMac and iMovie don't recognize Panasonic camcorder

I've had a Panasonic PV GS400 for a few years. I've flawlessly imported video into my old G4 tower. I recently purchased a new iMac. Because the Firewire cable that I had was for FW400, I had to buy a 4 pin to 9 pin Firewire 800 cable to connect the camcorder to the computer. But it is not recognizing the camcorder. I tested the firewire port on the Mac with other peripherals and it is working properly. And I'm still able to connect the camcorder to the G4 tower no problem, so the camcorder is working properly. I then figured it was a bad cable, so I bought a new one. Same deal. I even tried connecting the camcorder with the new cable to my MacBook Pro FW800 port. No go. But when I tried it on the MBP Firewire 400 port it worked fine.
So my question is this, is anyone aware of an issue like this where a relatively new (2006) camcorder can't be recognized by FW800?
I was finally able to import video onto the iMac by 1) connecting an external FW400 hard drive to the Mac's FW800 port with a 6 to 9 pin connector then 2) connecting the camcorder to the FW400 port on the external drive. It works, but is hardly elegant.
Thanks for any thoughts on this.

Hi
+I was finally able to import video onto the iMac by 1) connecting an external FW400 hard drive to the Mac's FW800 port with a 6 to 9 pin connector then 2) connecting the camcorder to the FW400 port on the external drive. It works, but is hardly elegant.+
That's the way I connected too.
I like to have the HD on the speediest connector to get a smooth playback.
Else read.
Cable
• Sure that You use the FireWire - USB will not work for miniDV tape Cameras
FireWire - Sure not using the accompany USB-Cable but bought a 4-pin to 6-pin FW one ?
• Test another FW-Cable very often the problem maker.
Camera
• Test Your Camera on another Mac so that DV-in still works OK
• Toogle in iMovie pref. Play-back via Camera (on<->off some times)
• Some Cameras has a Menu where You must select DV-out to get it to work
Does Your Camera work on another Mac ?
Sorry to say it is to easy to turn the 6-pin end of the FW-cable 180 deg wrong.
This is lethal to the A/D-chip in the Camera = needs an expensive repair.
(Hard to find out - else than import/export to another Mac ceased to work
everything else is OK eg recording and playback to TV)
Connections
• Daisy Chaining most often doesn’t work (some unique cases - it’s the only way that work (some Canon Cameras ?))
Try to avoid connecting Camera <--> external HD <--> Mac but import directly to the Mac then move
the Movie project to dedicated external hard disk.
Mac
• Free space on internal (start-up) hard disk ? Please specify the amount of free space.
(Other hard disks don't count)
I go for a minmum of 25Gb free space for 4x3 SD Video - and my guess is 5 times more for 16x9 HD ones
after material is imported and edited.
SoftWare
• Delete iMovie pref file may help sometimes. I rather start a new account, log into this and have a re-try.
• Any strange Plug-ins into QuickTime as Perian etc ? Remove and try again.
• FileVault is off ? (hopefully)
Using WHAT versions ? .
• Mac OS - X.5.4 ?
• QuickTime version ? (This is the heart in both iMovie and FinalCut)
• iMovie 8 (7.1.?) ?
• iMovie HD 6 (6.0.4/3) ?
Other ways to import Your miniDV tape.
• Use another Camera. There where tape play-back stations from SONY
but they costed about 2-4 times a normal miniDV Camera.
• If Your Camera works on another Mac. Make an iMovie movie project here and move it
over to Your Mac via an external hard disk.
(HAS TO BE Mac OS Exchange formatted - USB/DOS/FAT32/Mac OS Exchange WILL NOT DO)
(Should be a FireWire one - USB/USB2 performs badly)
*from LKN 1935.*
Hi Bengt W, I tried it all, but nothing worked. Your answer has been helpfull insofar as all the different trials led to the conclusion that there was something wrong with my iMovie software. I therefore threw everything away and reinstalled iMovie from the HD. After that the exportation of DV videos (there has not been any problem with HDV videos) to my Sony camcorders worked properly as it did before. Thank you. LKN 1935
*from Karsten.*
in addition to Bengt's excellent '9 yards of advice' ..
camera set to 'Play' , not rec/computer/etc.?
camera not on battery, but power-line?
did your Mac 'recognize' this camera before...?
a technical check.
connect camera, on, playback, fw-connected...
click on the Blue Apple, upper left of your screen ..
choose 'About../More..
under Firewire.. what do you read..?
More
• FileVault - Secure that it’s turned off
• Network storage - DOESN’T WORK
• Where did You store/capture/import Your project ?
External USB hard disk = Bad Choise / FireWire = Good
If so it has to be Mac OS Extended formatted
----> UNIX/DOS/FAT32/Mac OS Exchange is NOT Working for VIDEO !
Yours Bengt W

New wirted apple keyboard

hello,
i bought the new apple keybaord (the alu slim and wired keyboard).
the problem ist, the fn-key doesn't work. the fn key givs no keycode (tested with xev) and FN+F1-F12 key wors not.
i don't know why. i have also the big alu apple keyboard, with the fn-key on the delete-key. and their the fn key works, why not on the slim?
has somebody an idea?
lg
papierschiff

If yours is like mine (I have a wireless Apple keyboard) then you'll probably have the same Fn keys behaviour. Apple has set the keys to perform like multimedia keys by default (!).
So your actual F1-F12 output will only be generated by using Fn+Fx keys . It takes some to get used to (I think it can be convenient, unless you use lots of key combinations with regular Fx keys).
If you want the regular behaviour, you need to load the driver with a special parameter:
options hid_apple fnmode=2
Put that in /etc/modprobe.conf, reload the driver, and it should work fine.

New silver apple keyboard: how to desactivate some shorcuts

I need to desactivate the new F9 F10 shorcuts that come with the new apple keyboard to use these shorcuts with final cut pro. But they are not listed in the preferences/shorcut list...
How could I desactivate these new shorcuts?

Both Tiger and Leopard have a checkbox in the keyboard area of the System Preferences "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys"
This disables all the special functions assigned to these keys on the new keyboards, and allows you to program them normally from the keyboard function panel. I don't know of any way to disable only F9 and F10.

New Slimline Apple Keyboard - what does the software do?

I loaded the 1.2 update (about 35 mb) "New Slim Keyboard" software, but I don't really see any difference (after rebooting etc.) in the Mouse & Keyboard preferences vs. before I loaded the software -- And the function keys F17, F18 and F19 are new-- how to use them etc. etc.--
Is the software actually adding some features or just enabling TIGER to recognize it?
And I'm using LEOPARD on another computer to get the bugs out before moving LEOPARD to my MAIN MAC (MacBook)-- and it seems to recognize the slim keyboard just fine without that update (unless it is included in 10.5.1??)
Any comments appreciated.
Steve Saturday 29 December 2007

Sorry, wrong one.
<http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/07/27/new.imac.keyboard/&startNumber=10>
This is the right site.
Ray

How can I find my serial number for Adobe Acrobat 11. I got a new iMac and I don't want to use the new version at £18.00 per month. I don't need it. Thank you

I used to use CS5 and I want to use the Acrobat version on my new iMac.
How can I find my serial number for Adobe Acrobat 11. I don't want to use the new version at £18.00 per month. I don't need it. Thank you

Hi Anthony Aduhene
Please refer : Find your serial number quickly

New iMac - Apple Remote Still Attaches?

With these new aluminium iMacs, can you still attach the Apple Remote to the side of them magnetically? In all of the Apple press images, the attached Apple Remote is mysteriously absent. Have they phased that idea out?

They do have a magnet but no one is telling you about it. On the new imacs it is on the right side of the glass where the black band is. Mine is incredibly weak and the thing keeps sliding down the screen (what about scrathes!) and falling on the table. Plus it just looks crappy. hold your remote up and you'll find a "kind of" magnetic area. I have no idea why anyone would want a white remote in the middle of their shiny glass screen.
The old idea was better. I'm going to buy a little velcro sticker and keep the remote on the lower right side. Better than on the glass or lost.

Can't Safe Boot or Single User Boot with the new (wired) Apple Keyboard

I have found that my shiny new Apple keyboard does not recognize the shift key or command-s when booting, making it impossible to boot into either safe mode or single user mode.

I'm having the same issues here.
Read on Macfixit about incompatibilities with the Core Duo machines (I'm running a 1.66ghz Core Duo MacMini, 10.4.10) and can't startup using safe mode or single-user. Not sure if this has been addressed yet?

Opening internal disk drive on emac with new (non apple) keyboard

OKAY, I had to get a new keyboard, I can't stand the little apple keyboards!!! they are so laborious for your fingers! i got a great logitech wireless keyboard and the only thing im missing is the disk drive open button on the apple keyboard. of course, you can open the drive through itunes, but is there not a way to open the drive up without opening itunes?? does anyone else feel the same way about apple keyboards?? THANKS!

Hilary, welcome to Apple Discussions.
Your CD/DVD drive is called a disc drive. Your hard drive is called a disk drive.
You can open the disc drive on Restart/Startup while holding down the mouse button.
Another method.
Enabling an *Eject Menu* - you can enable another means of ejecting discs by opening the folder System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras and double-clicking the file "Eject.menu". An eject icon will appear in the menubar that can be used to close and open selected optical drives.
 Cheers, Tom

New iMac wireless keyboard and magic mouse dropping connections

Hi looks like I am just another one who's got problems with Apple's wireless keyboard (KB) and magic mouse (MM).
I bought my iMac 21.5 at the beginning of last Dec. For the first few days, I noticed that the connection between MM and iMac dropped perhaps once a day when I was editing some HD footage in iMove 09. I am rather new to Mac so initially I thought iMove was dominating CPU power hence the temporary drop.
But in the next few days, I found my MM dropped connection a bit more frequently like 3-4 times a day, during word processing, browsing in Safari or even when I am doing nothing. Plus I also noticed that the KB began to have the same problem as well. Well, in all cases the communications resumed almost instantly or shortly after I clicked MM or a button on the KB. It's only the on-screen notices are very annoying....
The situation got worse in the final week of 2010, the connection (both MM and KB) dropped more frequently and sometimes communication didn't resume instantly, instead the Bluetooth Setup Assistant pops up searching for available devices....and then finally connected. Annoyed by this I took the MM to the retailer and swapped for a brand new one (from a boxed iMac), came home and hey! problem solved! but just for a MERE few hours.
On the last day of 2010, after a couple "rounds" of drop-and-reconnect I was hit by the "Bluetooth Not Available" problem after a connection failure. Left it for some moments and no sign of recovery at all! Luckily and ironically I plug in my wired USB Microsoft mouse so that I can still navigate, went to System Preference and found the Bluetooth icon disappeared as if no Bluetooth hardware was ever installed at all! OK, turned off the iMac from the menu, waited and restarted. No joy and scary enough, I can't even get into the system coz I got log-in enabled but without a working KB to enter my password. Without a choice I dug out my netbook PC, arrived in this forum and found I wasn't the only one. Followed instructions here, did a SMC reset, PRAM reset, etc then magically everything is back! Once back in, I deleted the plist, deleted devices, restarted, re-favourite MM and KB, etc. The next day, I use the installation disc to perform a hardware check, but no problem found!
But always a but, the problem still persists, so a call to Apple technical support who suggested literally the same thing I've done above and asked me to monitor the problem in case it needs repair. Honestly, I am not keen to do that as the nearest Apple centre is far from me and always busy. Not sure if anyone here can shed some lights on my problem. I needa ensure all channels are exhausted before I bring the thing back to Apple for an inspection as a last resort...
Many thanks guys

Hi, I post this because this is very similar to what is happening with my new 27in Imac.
Townsville March 05 2011 bought all singing and all dancing 27inch IMac with wireless KB and MM at new reseller grand opening. Straight forward out of the box. First night a kernal panic message and screen shut down and unable to start. Phonecall to apple care got it restarted with the apleoption+pr keys. Fine for a while, then repeated screen freezes watching eye TV.
Persevered, with similar repeated screen freezes. Reset memory for eye TV. Seemed to fix that problem, but during this time also noticed MM and KB were disappearing and not responding, only to come back by frustratingly turning them on and off, waving them near the imac and even turning the imac off and on manually, to have them come back for a while and even dragging out a cable mouse to navigate. Cut a long story short, I hoped it would sort itself. 20 days later while watching eye tv I noticed the mm and kb drop off. Cable mouse found the BT issue you guys have discussed. System Preferences showed no BT at all. Rang apple care. Went through the same drill and identified a hardware problem with BT which should be replaced, and after discussion about the other issues, suggested a replacement would be within range but to talk to the store, cause it was so new, took it back to store where my story was confirmed in a confirmation of the customers story check.....for a while.....
then all reappeared as if nothing was wrong, fortunately it was witnessed by the store, so off it went to Brisbane for the 4 day turnaround. Wednesday the tech rang BT MM and KB all working fine. Further explained all the above, so he has stress tested it and I am informed it is has displayed none of the bad behaviour and is working well and on its way home, hopefully by monday. So will keep you posted. No new mac offered, no replacement BT module offered.
PS I have only ever owned macs, still love them, and scripting this on my mac book, which incidentally, has never missed a beat.

How do I transfer photos and related tags from Photoshop Elements 5 to a new iMac Apple desktop computer

Is it possible to move all my photos , Tags and folders in Photoshop Elements 5 from my Vista machine to my new Apple iMac desktop?

You will need to upgrade PSE in windows to at least PSE 9, then do a full backup using the organizer's backup command to a removable drive, then restore to the mac. The mac organizer can only understand windows catalogs from PSE 9 or later.
You can download a trial version here to get the catalog updated:
Download Photoshop Elements products | 12, 11, 10

New Slim Apple Keyboard Software loaded-but where do I access this?

OK I loaded the 1.2 update (about 35 mb) "New Slim Keyboard" software, but not that I've rebooted, how do I actually access the features of that software? -- And function keys F17, F18 and F19 are new-- how to use them etc. etc.-- what is this software I installed actually doing that one cannot do in "Keyboard Shortcuts" in the Keyboard & Mouse Preference panel??
Thanks for any comments here.
Steve Sunday 16 December 2007

Thanks for your reply! However, I don't see any change in the "Keyboard & Mouse" preference panel after having installed the "Slim Keyboard" update. I don't see any additional "options" that refer to the keyboard's additional Function keys etc. (Perhaps I need "Leopard" to use some of these?)
Also, with this new keyboard, hitting the fn key then F4 brings up the WIDGETS, but F12 still does this-- I'm not sure of the advantage of having 2 key commands to do the same thing...
Also: In System 7 (and maybe 8 and 9 too), F3 was copy and F4 was paste-- those were great-- can I get those back with this keyboard (instead of cmd-C and cmd-V)??
Thanks for any additional comments here and if there is an instruction manual for the new keyboard / software-- j
Regards,
Steve
Monday 17 December 2007

New with Apple TV , Don't see picture ...

I have :
iMac MID 2011 ML 10.8.2
New iPad wifi+ 4G
iPhone 4
Apple TV 3 GN
Pioneer Plasma HD
After connecting the new Apple TV with HDMI cable and configure wireles network, I can see my iPhoto pic' shearing my iMac.
Also I can see other web sources .
I want to use my iPad's car racing game but I can only hear the sound in my TV and NOT VIDEO/PICTURE and without any link to my iPad ...
How can I see my iPad on the big TV via Apple TV ?
( And play a game )
Thanks

Solve the issu ...
Ineeded to move the background apps on my iPad to press the AIRPLAY Link ...

New (iMac) Apple keyboard - don't hurry to replace it

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