I have always found the little button and microphone included on my iPhone headphones a really useful and thoughtful feature. I’ve always known that while listening to music the button could be used for pausing and playing the music, and pressing the button with a call coming in would answer the phone. However, while using my iPhone’s iPod feature more than ever while on “vacation” in Israel this week, I discovered even more use from the little button.

While listening to music, pressing the little headphone button two times in rapid succession skips to the next track!

I admit that this tip is very basic and many of you probably know about it already, but it definitely boosted my “iPod productivity” significantly ever since I started using it.

I think that this feature should work on all recent iPods, but I don’t believe any other ones come with the same button or even a similar one. (Please correct me if I’m wrong about that.)

This is for those of you (like me) who tend to scratch disc media. To do this, you need a copy of Leopard, an external hard drive or old iPod (more than 6.4 GB) and Disk Utility (you have this, don’t worry).

First, insert the Leopard install DVD. Then open Disk utility. Click “Mac OS X Install DVD” from the box on the left. Then click “New Image” and let it do its thing (this could take a few hours).

In the end, you should have a file that looks like this:

Next, take your Hard Drive/iPod, and format it with Disk Utility. To do this, click on the hard drive, then go to the Erase tab and select “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” if it is not already preselected. Then all you need to do is click Erase and confirm you wish to do so

Afterwards, make sure you have your external drive highlighted and then click the Restore tab. Then for “Source” drag in “Mac OS X Install DVD.dmg” and make sure that the destination is still the external hard drive. When all this is confirmed, hit Restore.

Now you’re essentially done if all you wanted to do was back up your copy of Leopard. If you wish to install Leopard, open System Preferences -> Startup Disk, and select the drive you just restored Leopard onto. Then just restart your computer, and follow the installer’s instructions.

If you have an iPod Video with a broken hard drive or just want to upgrade to more energy efficient and more durable Flash memory, then Tarkan has just what you need. It’s a straightforward operation that shouldn’t take you more than 20 minutes. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 Compact Flash card of any size (No less than 4 GB), I highly recommend this one
• 1 iFlash Video iPod Compact flash adapter (available at Tarkan’s store)
• 1 iPod opening tool (also available at Tarkan’s store)
• 1 iPod Video (5 gen or 5.5 gen will work)

Once you have all the necessary materials, the process is actually quite simple. First, you must pry open the iPod casing with the opening tool, this is the hardest part of the whole operation. To do this, create a small gap in between the front and back panels by holding the iPod face up in the palm of your hand and pulling the front panel towards yourself. Then insert the opening tool into the gap and work your may around the iPod until all the retaining clips come undone.

Next, you need to release the battery connector ribbon cable, you can do this either by just gently pulling on the ribbon cable or by releasing the locking mechanism with a toothpick/ eyeglass repair kit. Once this is done, lay the front and back sides next to each other so as to not strain the headphone connector ribbon cable

Afterwards, flip the hard drive over to expose the connection between the motherboard and the hard drive. Use your fingernail/screwdriver to lift the black bar on the hard drive to release the hard drive.

Next, plug the CF card into the iFlash adapter. Make sure the black bar on the iFlash adapter is raised, then plug the ribbon cable (the one formerly connected to the hard drive) into the iFlash adapter. Once it is in, press the iFlash adapter firmly into the iPod so that it can’t move around. Once that is done, connect the battery connector ribbon cable back into the motherboard.

Before closing and sealing everything up, restore the iPod by plugging it into your computer and opening iTunes. Once everything is confirmed to be working, seal up the case and then you have yourself a fully functional FlashPod!

This operation won’t just fix your broken iPod, it will also make it run faster, weigh less, and extend your battery life. However, the best part is that you no longer have to deal with fragile hard drive. Flash memory is extremely tough, I’ve found memory cards covered in mud and thoroughly soaked that somehow still work after they’re dried. The only downside to this is that syncing your iPod will take more time.

[via Tarkan]

 Have you ever been doing a presentation in front of a large audience when all of a sudden, Front Row activates because some wiseguy snuck in an Apple Remote? It’s an embarrassing prank that I’m sure has happened at least once to every Macbook using teacher on the planet. You may have wondered to yourself, “Why did Apple not think of this when they designed this thing in the first place?”. Well, now here’s some good news, they did! Would you expect anything less than perfection from Apple?Pairing your computer with your remote makes it so that your computer responds only to your remote and no one else’s. To do this, just hold your remote a few inches away from the screen and. Then simultaneously hold “Menu” and “Fast Forward”. This has to be done while logged in to an administrative account.To delete the pairing, go to System Preferences -> Security then hit the Unpair button.

• My Damn Channel � You Suck at Photoshop #4
  Using paths in Photoshop
• Remote Disc: no movie playback, no HD support, and everything else you need to know - Engadget
  A few details on Remote Disc
• Personal Technology - WSJ.com
  Walt Mossberg reviews the MacBook Air
• Facebook IM Client Social.im Now Available For Mac
  Chat with your Facebook friends through Adium.
• Why Mac Security Matters: OS X Rootkit Hunter - The Apple Blog
  Good article from TAB on why Mac security is still important.
• UNIX tips: Learn 10 good UNIX usage habits
  Good tips for those getting comfortable with what’s under OS X.
• The truth about the iPhone’s sales numbers
• cre.ations.net - Blog entry: iPhone 1.1.3 WebClip hack - Speed Dial on your home screen
• KDE goes cross-platform with Windows, Mac OS X support
• Apple - Support - Discussions - After QT7.4, AE error-you do not have …
  QuickTime 7.4 breaks After Effects…don’t upgrade
• Mac Rumors: Apple 1Q 2008 Results: Record $1.58 Billion Profit
• Apple: MacBook Air Unboxed, Compared to Sony VAIO

This is our first post in a new series “Around the Net”.

There are plenty of great Apple news sites out there that cover everything going on in the Apple community. We’re not in the market to do Apple news, and we never will be. We’re a tips site first and always.

That being said, doing research for tips we often come across news stories and interesting articles that don’t warrant a full tip or entry. “Around the Net” is a section for those links.

Hopefully this gives you an overview of what’s going on in the Mac community every week. This will be the first and only explanation of this series. From now only you’ll see just links.

• Make your iPhone listen to your radio — and tell you what’s playing - The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
• Feature: The 20 Best iPhone and iPod touch Applications
• Breaking: Apple Docking Patent Works Perfectly with Ultra-Slim MacBookDock your MacBook Nano in your iMac
• VoIP For iPod Touch is Here | Gadget Lab from Wired.com
• Next iPhone software update to allow copy-paste | MacScoop
• Bleeding Edge TV 195: iPhone 1.1.3 Firmware Feature Walkthrough | Bleeding Edge TVFurther video proof from Gear LIve on the iPhone 1.1.3 firmware update
• Must-Have Mac Apps for the new Mac Switcher! ? The Blog of Chris ThomsonApplications for Mac switchers.
• Usingmac.com - Leopard Tweaking - Terminal Codes

One of our sponsors, MacMall is running an end of the year clearance sale.

Some of their Apple products are discounted up to 40%.

This is a great way to support MacTips while saving yourself some cash.

Some of the better deals include the 17" MacBook Pro and the iPod accessories .

If you were planning on purchasing some Apple gear with that Christmas money burning a hole in your pocket, support MacTips and buy through MacMall .

If you’d like to visit MacMall without supporting MacTips, use this link.

Lifehacker’s Geek to Live series recently released its Complete Guide to Mac/Windows Interoperability. The guide discusses the best ways to make a home or office running both Windows computers and Macs work well.

The following topics are discussed:

• File Sharing
• File and Application Compatibility
• File Sync and System Files: Thumbs.db and .DS_Store
• Printer and Fax Sharing
• Running Windows on your Mactel
• Remote Server Access
• Instant Messenger, Email and Outlook/Entourage
• iTunes, your iPod, and Other Incompatibilities
• Making the Switch

Technorati Tags: Apple, OS X, Windows, Lifehacker, Interoperability

Instructables now has a guide to building your own iPod Touch dock from the box it comes in. This is a great way to cheaply get a dock for an iPod Touch, so definitely check it out if you’re looking for a dock for an iPod Touch.

[Via Lifehacker]

Technorati Tags: Apple, DIY, Instructables, iPod, iPod Dock, iPod Touch, iPod Touch Dock, iTouch, iTouch Dock, Lifehacker

Ecamm Network’s iPhoneDrive is an awesome utility for the iPhone and iPod Touch that allows you to use your iPhone or iTouch to store data, and also expands your ability to manage files on either of them. It also enables transferring songs and pictures from the iPhone or iTouch back to a computer. This is a great tool that I highly recommend for any user of one of these lovely devices. There is a 7 day free trial, but the full version costs $9.95.

Technorati Tags: Apple, Ecamm Network, Hard Drive, iPhone, iPod Touch, iTouch, Transfer Files