Since the Model Identifier can be viewed in the System Profiler app, it seemed there had to be an easy way to grab this from the terminal. After a quick Google search, I found the lead I needed at Wikipedia. As it turns out, there’s a command line version of System Profiler called “system_profiler” (of course). After looking over the man page, I constructed the following command, which can easily be issued via ARD to a batch of systems.

system_profiler -detailLevel mini | grep "Model Identifier:"

This will return just the single line from the System Profile…

Model Identifier: MacPro3,1

Using that same command, you can use ARD’s “Send a UNIX Command…” to pass that command to a bunch of systems at once, and you’ll end up with a result screen showing the Model Identifier for all queried systems. Easy peasy! The system_profile command seems to work as far back as 10.4.11 (8S2167), but failed on 10.4.11 (8S165), so your actual mileage may vary.

Big props go out to Google for knowing everything and getting me on the right path.

UPDATE: Reader Chad had and even better method…

Using the command: system_profiler SPHardwareDataType | grep "Model Identifier:" gets you there much faster. It’s not having to go through as much data.

Similarly, system_profiler SPHardwareDataType | grep "Serial Number (system):" is handy too if you need to check the exact computers.

Street View Sub-Contractor?, originally uploaded by chrisr.

Spotted this vehicle today on the way to Molly Stones. I’m guessing it’s for creating the pano photos for Google’s Street View, but perhaps someone else is deploying something similar. Earthmine.com has nothing beyond login and email links. The domain is registered to some dude in San Francisco at a company called SurfaceWise.

Now fanboys and haters alike ran with this golden nugget and started frothing at the mouth with the thought of running Photoshop CS3 on their sexy little iPhone. To say nothing of Quark, World of Warcraft, Final Cut Pro, etc. Apparently they have little knowledge of operating systems. To say it as simply as possible, OSes, for the most part, are very modular. OS X, being a hybrid of *nix and Apple Goodness is no different. So with the launch of the iPhone, it seems Apple has been hard at work, turning our trusty desktop OS X, into a finely tuned and optimized embedded system. Now if you’ve been around Apple for any decent amount of time, you’d know that it’s been rumored for ages that OS X would be taken in this direction. In fact, I think it was right after the first iPod came out (although that rumor appears to be lost in the motes of the internet at this particular moment).

So here we have a finely tuned piece of hardware, with a tailor-made OS X soul giving it life. You can’t just run any desktop app on there that you want, so get over it. The next point the fanboys and haters are whining about, is that the initial word is that the iPhone is going to be locked down. Meaning you won’t be able to install your own apps, widgets etc. The computer bolt-on hotrodding crowd is flipping out to say the least. If they can’t dig their hands into the guts of the device (which I’m sure the true cutting edge geeks will do anyway), their big hair – well – just goes flat.

There’s a method to Apple’s madness though, I assure you. It’s called controlling the environment, and it’s the exact reason they put an end to the whole ill-fated Mac clone market. Apple is all about trying to present the user, with the most consistent, stable and enjoyable experience ever. Oh…and also to get that piece of yumminess to market as soon as possible. Gotta keep those shareholders happy too. They can do this so precisely because they control both the hardware and the OS. Now the iPhone is no different. Particularly for a first gen, ground breaking product, 5 months before it ships. Of course they’re going to be tight right now. Big surprise!

Thankfully for everyone, evolution permeates everything we do (we’re only human), so I fully expect this to change. It will start with cool new widgets from Apple, then a widget developer kit, then the sky is the limit. Then there’s that iPod connector that 3rd party vendors have been exploiting so successful. To say nothing of what the real hacker geeks manage to do out there completely unaided rogue-style. Hats off to them.

So in the meantime, all you low ranking geek pundits with blogs and lots of spare time should just settle down, have a drink or two, admit that you love that cute little iPhone over there, even with its faults. You know you want one. Don’t cha?

P.S. I also wouldn’t be too surprised if some of those specs get tweaked before it ships as well. 16GB? UMTS (Cingular is woefully behind on their end)? iChat features? There’s a lot of room to grow, that’s for sure.

UPDATE: Job’s weighs in on the topic!