How to extract tar.xz files on CentOS

I’ve recently come across a tarsal files that used xz compression (namely the Python source code). This means that my usual way of extracting a tarsal via the command line using the following command did not work: tar -zxvf Python* gzip: stdin: not in gzip format tar: Child returned status 1 tar: Error is not … Read more

How to fix problems with Logitech Unifying Receivers

screen-shot-2016-11-04-at-17-12-10I’ve recently bought a new Logitech K360 keyboard for my HP Z600 workstation. I also had a Logitech M325 mouse, both of which came with Unifying USB receivers. I could plug both receivers in, and both devices would work great.

However, I heard good things about these little receivers and wanted to free up a USB port, and thought I’d connect both devices to the same receiver. Apparently you can connect up to 6 devices to one receiver and store any spare ones inside the mouse or keyboard. Being an all-efficient belt-and-braces kinda guy, I tried my luck.

Turns out it was relatively easy to pair both devices to the same receiver, thanks to a small piece of software that can be found here, along with instructions on how to use it:

It all worked fine on my Windows 10 machine, until I wanted to use the mouse (not the keyboard) with my Mac. I know, it’s exotic, and perhaps I should have just bought another mouse. But there’s only so much space on my desk, and I really don’t need more clutter in front of me for just an occasional switch.

I regretted pairing both devices to the same receiver and wished I hadn’t done that, for this very eventuality. So now I had to figure out how to UN-pair both devices again and put them back to how things used to be (before I started messing with them).

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How to kill a Mac App via the Command Line

Sometimes it’s’ necessary for us to force-close an app on our Mac if it’s no longer responding to our commands. Usually we’d do that by pressing CMD+OPT+ESCAPE, which brings up a handy window from which we can choose a troublesome app. But sometimes, this keyboard combination won’t work – for example, if we’re dealing with … Read more

How to make Notes App sync properly on iOS

Have you ever wondered why some notes seemingly sync just fine between your iOS devices, but others do not? Wether a note is not fully updated, or you find a duplicate entry in the list, it can be an exercise in frustration. But fret not, it doesn’t have to be! This is not a bug in … Read more

How to sync past events in the Apple Calendar App on iOS

Have you ever been shocked to find out that a new iOS device does not show your old calendar entries, even though future events sync fine across your other devices? We’ve all been there! Turns out there’s a default setting in the Calendar App that only synchronises the last 1 month of entries. As if your life … Read more