This GitHub project, Appify, is a script that creates an .app file from a bash script.
This fork of the project includes how to embed a graphic during the encapsulation.
Category: Apple
Creating Icon files with Preview
In macOS, the Preview app is a little-known powerhouse. In this article, the author details how to create (app/website/etc/) icons from other graphics.
When a Mac cannot get online
Per support, there is an IPv6 issue with some networks (apparently Cisco networks are most commonly affected).
Apple has a KB article on disabling IPv6 in macOS.
macOS installer commands
High Sierra
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/HighSierra
Mojave
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Mojave
Catalina
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Catalina
Big Sur
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/BigSur
Deleting a Profile from iOS
I have seen a few “infected” iOS devices in the past couple of weeks. Yes, for real. After so many years of being nearly bulletproof to normal malware, the iPhones I’ve worked on were compromised by configuration profiles. To remove the proxy or other malicious settings, the profile has to be deleted.
This Apple KB article details how to remove an app that has installed a profile on your iOS device. Since macOS now uses configuration profiles to ease large deployments, so it’s likely this will become a common threat vector on Apple’s desktop and notebook computers.
TL;DR Instructions
- Go to Settings > General > Device Management, Profile Management, or Profile & Device Management, then tap on the app’s configuration profile.
- Tap Delete Profile. If asked, enter your device passcode, then tap Delete.
Running PowerShell on macOS
At work, I have to manage several Office 365 tenants. While many tasks can be completed via the GUI, there are times PowerShell commands are required. That is fine on a Windows 10 computer, since PowerShell is part of the operating system.
However, I prefer to use the company’s iMac. While I was working on an issue with one of our clients, I found an article from Microsoft about using homebrew to install a PowerShell module on macOS!
When I started in IT, I don’t think that would have ever happened.
Fonts and the Mac
While Apple is historically responsible for typography and fonts in computer systems, font management on the Mac can be confusing. To help with that issue, here are a few articles that have been useful:
Mac OS X: Font locations and their purposes
Combine multiple iOS screenshots into one image
For a few years, I have been using the app Tailor to combine screenshots. This 9 to 5 Mac article gives a great overview of this useful app.
Automating FTP on the Mac with High Sierra
At work, I was scripting the connection to an FTP server and downloading a website backup.
From articles at Low-End Mac and Mac OS X Hints, this seemed pretty straightforward.
However, the command-line FTP app was removed from recent versions of macOS. A conversation on Stack Exchange explained how to download and install the command-line FTP application.
Now the pieces are in place and that task is automated!
AppleTV Screensavers
Information on and previews of the Apple TV Screensavers