Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Checkerboard DVD's and AirPlay

Checkerboard Pattern when playing DVD's with Apple's DVD Player


Users who try playing DVD's on their classroom projectors using the AppleTV can sometimes see a checkerboard pattern.  This can be very frustrating.  Good thing there is a fix that works 99% of the time to get around this issue.

The trouble seems to come from Apple's default DVD application called DVD Player when it tries running through the Apple TV.  Using another program to play the DVD's gets around this issue.

VLC's interface
VLC
To fix this, we need to download a different application from playing the DVD's.  This new application is called VLC.  Teachers and students can install VLC from the Self Service application under the Utility category or download from the link above.  Once you start VLC with the DVD inserted, go to the File menu and select Open Disk.  That should take care of your issue, and the DVD should play properly.   For more information about this problem and the proposed fix, visit Dave Taylor's story on his blog at http://www.askdavetaylor.com/use_airplay_to_watch_dvds_on_my_appletv/

Monday, October 28, 2013

Problems Installing Apps on OSX


http://msdtechdept.blogspot.com/

Some students are reporting trouble trying to install certain applications.  Due to the settings required by the MLTI Project Office, applications not downloaded directly from the Apple store or digitally signed by Apple themselves are prohibited from installation by a feature called Gatekeeper.

This entry will show you how to get around most of these issues.

 If you are receiving one of the three messages you see on the left, you may want to try this trick.  Find the installer package.  It looks like a cardboard box with a yellow item inside it.  Hold the Control key down while clicking on the package, then select "Open."

This should allow you to install the package normally while bypassing the Gatekeeper functions.


Thursday, October 24, 2013

Apple MLTI: Deployment Update 9 
OS X Mavericks & Recovery Partition
Yesterday Apple made a series of significant announcements. One of the most significant is the release of OS X Mavericks. Mavericks is available today, and for the first time ever this update to OS X is free. The Apple MLTI Project Office is working to complete testing of the upgrade and will provide additional information soon. In the interim, the immediate recommendation is to notupgrade. If you were to upgrade to Mavericks, the custom MLTI recovery partition will be replaced with a standard Mavericks recovery partition without the custom MLTI software. We will be providing additional information on this and any other updates soon.

MacBook Air Updates
We are currently tracking an issue with the MacBook Air where the device will sleep during usage. If you receive reports of machines suddenly going to sleep please update to 10.8.5. If the issue persists on 10.8.5 please call the MLTI help desk as we are looking to gather additional logging information. We are aware of an issue with MacBook Airs running 10.8.5 with third party applications accessing the FaceTime HD camer
a. A software update has been released to address this.

MLTI Repair Depot
The MLTI Repair Depot is open and dispatches can now be created for MacBook Air 11”, MacBook Air 13", iPad Retina, and iPad mini units. Schools can access DepotWorks through the link in the Asset Manager or by going directly to http://www.belldepots.com. Your school’s user name and password are the same as they are for the current Asset Manager.

MLTI Technical Users Group Meetings
Please join us for a conversation focused on technical solutions for managing MLTI. Each month we will be hosting 2 meetings in different regions of Maine. Pre-registration for these meetings is not required.

The meeting starts with a short presentation to kick off the conversation, but ANY topics related to MLTI are welcome. We will cover topics for both Primary (iOS) and Alternate (OS X) solutions. Bring your questions and cool solutions to share with others supporting this unique program.

Each meeting will run from 9AM to 11AM.

One of these machines is working hard.
Nov 13, 2013
Ellsworth Elementary-Middle School
20 Forest Ave
Ellsworth, ME 04605

Dec 4, 2013
Presque Isle High School
Room 409A
16 Griffin Street
Presque Isle, ME 04769

Dec 11, 2013
Piscataquis Community Secondary School
9 Campus Drive
Guilford, ME 04443

Battery and Cleaning Information
This generation of MLTI devices provides significant advances in battery technology. To maximize a battery’s life and longevity please follow the following best practices for both iPadsand MacBook AirsCleaning instructions have recently been updated to help keep your devices looking new.

Sincerely,
Maine Apple Project Team
Apple Resources
Your contacts
AppleCare MLTI Help Desk: 800-919-2775 pin#4MLTI
Apple MLTI Project Office: 207-688-4501
DOE MLTI Project Office: 207-624-6746
DOE Project Office email: MLTI.project@maine.gov