Finding and Removing PowerPC Apps in OS X Lion

If you have upgraded to Mac OS X Lion you now know that your PowerPC applications no longer function.  I had several older unused applications that were PowerPC and really needed to be removed.  An easy way to find out which applications you have on your Mac that are PowerPC is to look at the System Information or System Report.  (Apple>About this Mac>More Info>System Report)

Once opened select Applications from the Software section on the left to list your installed applications.  From here you can sort by kind to find PowerPC applications installed and it even lists their path.  Removal is as simple as dragging to the trash can.

PowerPC Applications

 

Below is an image showing how the PowerPC application icons appear in OS X Lion.

PowerPC Application Icon

 

Signature Issue When Replying in Outlook for Mac 2011

I noticed when replying to emails that were sent in plain text vs. HTML that my default signature would include the name of the signature above the actual configured signature in the reply.  In my case, “Adam” was the name of the signature I created for my GMAIL signature.  In the images below you see my signature and Adam above it.

Go to Outlook>Preferences>Composing and uncheck “When replying or forwarding, use the format of the original message.” which seemed to resolve the issue.

Hidden User Library in OS X Lion

Since the OS X Lion update, the user Library is hidden.  I always forget this until I am looking for my iPhone backups which are stored in the hidden user library.  To unhide them perform the following.

Step By Step Written Instructions:

1. Open Finder

2. Press and Hold Option Key.

3. On the Menu Bar click Go.

4. Choose Library

Watch the Video Here:

 

 

FYI:

iPhone backups are stored in the user library (hidden) here:  ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup

Send A File Right To Evernote From Within Finder

Wish you could control click on a file or document directly from within Finder and send it straight into Evernote?  I believe the Windows version can but not the Mac.  So that is why I searched and found an applescript written by Stephen Millard on his blog Thought Asylum.  Much thanks to Stephen who provided the applescript itself and written instructions on how to use Mac’s built-in Automator application to create the workflow.  It was super easy and works great.  Watch the following video I created outlining the step by step procedure.

Link to Evernote’s other Applescripts:
http://www.evernote.com/about/developer/mac.php

Electric PTO Won’t Engage On My Riding Mower cont’d…

Well, after fixing the charging system situation on my riding mower I got halfway through cutting the grass when the PTO just started cutting in and out.  At first I thought it was the charging system again or perhaps the battery getting weak again so I stopped cutting grass and threw the battery on the charger.  The next afternoon I went out to cut the rest of the grass and noticed that the PTO was cutting in and out again after about 5 minutes.  I pulled the mower into the garage where I checked for voltage to the leads heading down to the PTO.  Battery voltage was present (13.6V) with the tractor running and the PTO switch turned on but the PTO was not engaging and spinning the blades.  🙁    If I let the tractor sit overnight the PTO would engage when turned on, which leads me to believe that it would operate just long enough until it got hot enough to quit.    Time for a new PTO clutch!

Replacement PTO Clutch

After searching the owners manual for the replacement part number and searching online with Amazon and eBay, I finally found a replacement electric PTO ranging anywhere from $200 to $350.  It was not exactly the kind of money I wanted to spend on this old tractor considering a new one with similar features would run around $1000 to $1200.  When searching for ways to rebuild or even adjust the PTO in some tractor forum, I came across a reference to Pete’s Small Engine which had a replacement PTO for $150 and with reasonable shipping.  I am happy to say that the tractor finally seems to be fixed and I was able to cut the entire lawn without one incidence of the PTO cutting out.  I hope that I am able to get at least one more season out of this old riding mower.