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Switch desktops in Desktop Manager via a physical touch Laptop Macs
First and foremost, I cannot take credit for this incredibly cool hint. I was searching Google for something completely unrelated and when the words SmackBook Pro appeared in the search results, I just couldn't resist clicking and having a look.

In summary, some very clever person has found a way to maintain muliple simultaneous desktops on their MacBook Pro (using Desktop Manager) and switch between them by ... yep, you've guessed it, gently smacking the side of the screen. More information on how to set this up, and a video of a 'SmackBook' in action, can be found at the above link.

[robg adds: This came out earlier this year, but I didn't think to run it as a hint. The above link provides detailed instructions on exactly what you need to do, as well as a set of downloadable code snippets to make it happen. I haven't tested it myself, and don't have any plans to do so...but the video is fairly interesting to watch.]
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Switch desktops in Desktop Manager via a physical touch | 10 comments | Create New Account
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Switch desktops in Desktop Manager via a physical touch
Authored by: daGrimm on Dec 14, '06 08:44:08AM
You could also simply install VirtueDesktops:
http://virtuedesktops.info/
It's got a built-in "motion sensor switching" feature and should work on both the macbook and the macbook pro. Thus there's no need to run any perl scripts or patch applications. On VirtueDesktops, it works fairly well and even supports the ambient light sensor for desktop switches.

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Yes, run VirtueDesktop directly...
Authored by: alexmathew on Dec 14, '06 10:36:50AM

VirtueDesktop has native motion sensor support....
I think the post should be changed to first include this and then send novices through the MediaBlog page - having to work through all the confusing comments which have no threading...! Please change this hint to make it a bit easier on novices.



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Switch desktops in Desktop Manager via a physical touch
Authored by: jonn8n on Dec 14, '06 11:31:49AM
To do even more with the tilt sensors (as well as ambient light sensors), take a look at Lilt.

Jon

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Switch desktops in Desktop Manager via a physical touch
Authored by: jwdunn on Dec 14, '06 03:24:41PM

A warning to everyone who sees this hint: I've heard multiple accounts of hard drives ruined by consistent use of the smackbook technique over extended periods of time. Don't use this trick regularly if you don't want to shorten the life span of your hard drive dramatically.



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Switch desktops in Desktop Manager via a physical touch
Authored by: variante9 on Dec 15, '06 03:31:50AM

Would be nice if some geek out there could create a trigger for scripts. Smacking your macbook runs the script.

I've no use for virtual desktops, but I want my comp to say "ouch!" when I smack him.



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Switch desktops in Desktop Manager via a physical touch
Authored by: ghay on Dec 15, '06 04:10:29AM

Perhaps you misunderstand this hint, the code you get is exactly what you are looking for, just ignore all the code injection in DesktopManager and have the perl script play a sound file instead.



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Switch desktops in Desktop Manager via a physical touch
Authored by: ghay on Dec 15, '06 04:19:29AM
Specifically, change this line in the perl

system "./notify SwitchTo${foo}Workspace\n";

to be a terminal command to play your sound file.

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Switch desktops in Desktop Manager via a physical touch
Authored by: qrulf on Dec 15, '06 12:06:03PM
I liked the idea about the computer complaining, when smacked, so I began looking for a simple player that could be used from the commandline. I ended up with Play Sound (free):
http://microcosmsoftware.com/playsound/

I must admit I was looking for a text-based player, but Play Sound seems like an ok solution for now. If anyone knows a better/ fast commandline player I would like to know about it :-)

The line in the smackbook perl-script should then look something like:
system "open -a '/Applications/Play Sound.app' 'path-to-your-sound' &";

~ Jørgen

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Switch desktops in Desktop Manager via a physical touch
Authored by: qrulf on Dec 16, '06 07:00:44AM

It might be noted that the AMSTracker application with an update interval of 0.01 seconds, will take up about 17% (measured in top) of my Core 2 Duo 2ghz processor... Might not be such a good idea anyway :-/

~ Jørgen



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Switch desktops in Desktop Manager via a physical touch
Authored by: jonn8n on Dec 15, '06 10:48:20AM
Um, I did, as mentioned above: Lilt.

Jon

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