Why I cancelled Backblaze

This is the feedback I sent to Backblaze shortly before I cancelled my account with them. For the additional context – the restore failure I alluded to was basically that: So, the departing ‘support’ ticket I filed with them (#167833): Maybe this’ll help your future would-be customers. The main reason is that when I tried… Read more

Do Nikon teleconverters work on the Sigma 105 macro?

In a word:  no.  And not just “they’re unsupported”, or that they have optical issues – they physically will not connect.  They are deliberately keyed to be incompatible.  Nikon teleconverters have a protrusion on their lens mount, which prevents any ‘standard’ Nikon-mount lens from attaching, unless that lens is missing a particular obstruction on the rear… Read more

Time Machine gets stuck on downloads

Evidently, when Time Machine encounters a file that’s open and being written to (e.g. a Safari download), it sits and watches the file, periodically copying the new data to the backup.  As opposed to going off and copying everything else first, and then coming back to the open file. This has the lovely effect that… Read more

Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) built-in dictation

I’ve been looking forward to trying Mac OS X 10.9’s “advanced” (i.e. not-transmitting-my-life-story-to-Apple) dictation, as a potential competitor to Dragon Dictate.  Unfortunately, it’s – against all odds – even more embarrassing than Siri.  For example: This test, of the coolest names built-in dictation.) Nope, not important. If you’re..Reasonably built night, That was true Samaritan and… Read more