How to automatically open .torrent and other files in Safari.

This an upgrade of the previous post, now much simpler and works with Snow Leopard too.

  1. First, you have to modify what Safari considers as a “safe” file. Check the option Open “safe” files after downloading in Safari’s Preferences panel.
  2. Download this plist and put it in the folder <your-username>/Library/Preferences.
  3. Finally restart Safari, that’s it!

If you want to digg deeper down: follow this guide.

  1. Create the file com.apple.DownloadAssessment.plist (if it doesn’t already exist) in the folder <your-username>/Library/Preferences.
  2. Then copy & paste the xml code stated below in the file. In this example for a .torrent file.
  3. Save it, restart Safari … and voilà!

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC “-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN” “http://www.apple.com-PropertyList-1.0.dtd”>
<plist version=”1.0″>
<dict>
<key>LSRiskCategorySafe</key>
<dict>
<key>LSRiskCategoryExtensions</key>
<array>
<string>torrent</string>
</array>
</dict>
</dict>
</plist>

Added on december 26th 2009. Thanks to Pan Maselko for this notice.

The most important part of the XML above is the <string>torrent</string> part. This describes the extension (.torrent) which is considered as safe for safari. So that, you can do this for almost any type of file, for example for .psd files. And of course you can have more than one extension to be safe at the same time. This can be done like this:

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC “-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN” “http://www.apple.com-PropertyList-1.0.dtd”>
<plist version=”1.0″>
<dict>
<key>LSRiskCategorySafe</key>
<dict>
<key>LSRiskCategoryExtensions</key>
<array>
<string>torrent</string>
<string>psd</string>
<string>xyz</string>
</array>
</dict>
</dict>
</plist>

Update:

For .rar files, thanks to dsuddya

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC “-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN” “http://www.apple.com-PropertyList-1.0.dtd”>
<plist version=”1.0″>
<dict>
<key>LSRiskCategorySafe</key>
<dict>
<key>LSRiskCategoryContentTypes</key>
<array>
<string>public.archive</string>
</array>
<key>LSRiskCategoryExtensions</key>
<array>
<string>rar</string>
</array>
</dict>
</dict>
</plist>

Ripping Real Media, Windows Media and Quicktime streams (.rm, .ra, .ram, .wmv, .mov) with OS X.

So here’s the guide for ripping streams with Mac OS X:

  1. Download and install Macports (open source)
  2. Fire up a Mac OS X terminal window
  3. Type: sudo port selfupdate and give your password so that you are up to date
  4. Then type: sudo port install mplayer and wait some minutes… (Mplayer is open source too)
  5. Then you can rip your favorite stream with the following command:
    mplayer -dumpstream “<url>” -dumpfile <file>

If it does not work, try with the playlist option:
mplayer -playlist “<url>” -dumpstream -dumpfile <file>

An example command:
mplayer -dumpstream “http://xydom.com/ram/v/heroes.rm” -dumpfile heroes.rm

Remarks:
i) If you can choose between a rtsp:// and pnm:// stream, take the rtsp stream.
ii) Don’t forget the “” which embraces the url.

For additional information you can check Gentoo’s wiki on Mplayer.

Working Mac OS X Driver for Samsung Laserprinter ML-1750

I’ve finally found a working driver for my old Samsung ML-1750 Laserprinter. It is based on CUPS. It is in beta state but works like a charm! It has been working perfectly since many years!
You can download it right here from my website: Samsung SPL2 Installer

Or as an alternative you can use the HPIJS driver.