My logic is that shit will mess up and encrypted data just makes it more likely that when shit gets messed up it is way MOAR messed up when the data is encrypted.

That is a good point.  Any risk of shit getting messed up when in turning off firevault?

Just make sure you have an up to date time machine backup.  It will take hours to turn off firevault, and yah, it's possible, but unlikely, that something could go wrong.

I don't have much on the computer right now, OS X plus Chrome. So if I'm going to unencrypt, now is the time to do it.

Edited December 15, 201411 yr by shellylh

Your call then.

I encrypt, because HIPAA says I have to.

Does anyone know anything about macosforge.org?  Who maintains it?  Is it safe from malware/crapware?  

 

The reason I ask is because of all the malware and crapware bundled with other software appearing on sourceforge (which I won't use anymore).  I am hoping (guessing) that macosforge.org is completely separate from sourceforge and just has a similar name.  

 

(I would like to download xquartz from it.)

 

Edit:  Oh wait, I think I remember something about Apple hosting it which answers my question.  

Edited December 16, 201411 yr by shellylh

I use X-Quartz and it works fine. No malware/bloatware problems.

Does XQuartz work okay with Yosemite? That has been one of my hesitations to upgrade...

sourceforge is tricky.  There's a lot of good safe code there, but they basically accept all comers, so not all their projects are clean.

I don't know about XQuartz and Yosemite but I can let you know if I I try it. I will mostly just be using X11/xterm and Inkscape though.

Jim: I have XQuartz on my other computers, that I downloaded a while ago. I just wanted to confirm that macosforge doesn't allow malicious activity on its site like sourceforge (and other download sites). It's probably fine.

As for sourceforge, it seems they sometimes bundle honest software with adware/bloatware using their installer (perhaps this is for Windows only though). They also allow malicious ads.

Edited December 16, 201411 yr by shellylh

it is definitely fine.

I am a big macports / homebrew user, perhaps you should investigate that Shelly.

At some point, I used MacPorts to install Xournal but that was years ago.  I wonder if I still have it on my machine in the office.  I haven't used homebrew.  I shall investigate both. 

given that apple recommends macosforge for xquartz, I'd think that remains the best option.

given that apple recommends macosforge for xquartz, I'd think that remains the best option.

Also recommended for using R on OS X.

so I had a funny thing happen to me and my mac mini. I am a Tidal subscriber and used Chrome to stream before I realized they had a dedicated app. Suddenly I could not open pages on Safari or make connection with the iTunes store. Apparently, after a week of frustration, the cocks at google change your settings and it has the effect of fucking over safari and iTunes. 

 

I am sure there is some logical reason why google/chrome do this but what a PITA. 

So, in the good old days, if I wanted to quickly change audio sources on my Mac I could just alt-click on the speaker icon in the top menu bar and get a handy little dropdown listing them all. Scroll, select, done. Now I get one shitty option -- "Sound Preferences" -- which I still have to click to select. This (eventually) opens a separate window in which I get to make the selection, after which I have to close the fucking window. How is this an improvement in any way?

I still get a list of all output and input devices in 10.10, however they only show up if they are connected.

Sounds like you switched to Windows -- you didn't accidentally switch to Windows, did you?

So, in the good old days, if I wanted to quickly change audio sources on my Mac I could just alt-click on the speaker icon in the top menu bar and get a handy little dropdown listing them all. Scroll, select, done. Now I get one shitty option -- "Sound Preferences" -- which I still have to click to select. This (eventually) opens a separate window in which I get to make the selection, after which I have to close the fucking window. How is this an improvement in any way?

 

Option-Click on the sound icon

Not for me. Maybe there's a setting in preferences?

Works fine for me too.

 

For lack of anything else to suggest:  perhaps try going to Sound Preferences, uncheck "Show volume in menu bar" (speaker icon disappears), and then checking it again (speaker icon reappears).  Then try alt-clicking the icon again.  Probably won't help, but (probably) can't hurt...

Edited January 7, 201511 yr by episiarch

So there's talk of a new smaller MBA with USB-C in the works... http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/6/7505187/apple-macbook-2015-usb-type-c-reversible

 

**BRENT**

^ I really hope USB-C will succeed, if only for the reversible connector.

 

On a completely unrelated note, attemtped to install Hackintosh (on a separate drive) for shits and giggles, then promptly gave up.  Too much effort.