Mac
How to Configure Network Locations in OS X
Matt Cone March 14, 2013
Your Mac allows you to save and quickly switch between multiple network configurations, which are referred to as network locations in OS X. This is a useful feature for users who need to set network-specific proxies, DNS servers, or static IP addresses. You can also use network locations to specify settings for specific network interfaces, such as an Ethernet card, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection, and even VPN. Once you’ve created and saved different network locations, you can switch between them by using the Apple menu or System Preferences.
How to Take a Screenshot on Your Mac
Matt Cone February 25, 2013
Need a way to capture your Mac’s entire screen or only a portion of it? Take a screenshot - a picture of your Mac’s screen that includes the windows and applications that are currently visible. You can take screenshots when creating documentation, explaining system settings to friends or family members, or just capturing something on your screen that you want to share with others. This tutorial shows you how. Capturing the Entire Screen Capturing everything on your Mac’s screen is the fastest and easiest way to take a screenshot.
Using Dropbox for Version Control
Matt Cone February 8, 2013
Dropbox is a popular cloud storage service that magically moves files from one device to another, but it’s probably not the first name that comes to mind when you think of version control. However, as you’ll learn in this tutorial, Dropbox has several powerful features that allow you “undo” any changes you make to files saved in your Dropbox folder. This is an absolute necessity for those of us who use Dropbox to store critically important files that can be accidentally modified or deleted.
How to Create an iTunes Playlist
Matt Cone February 7, 2013
If you’re like me, you have thousands of songs in iTunes. It’s nice to have all of that music available at the click of a button, but different times and situations call for different types of music. For example, you might listen to Metallica and AC/DC during your lunch break and Bach and Brahms in the evening before going to sleep. That’s where playlists come in. Playlists are customized collections of songs that can be played on your computer, transferred to iOS devices, or burned to CD (see How to Burn a Music CD in iTunes).
How to Check Your Magic Trackpad's Battery Life
Matt Cone January 19, 2013
Apple’s Magic Trackpad is a great alternative to the classic mouse. But as with all wireless devices, the trackpad’s batteries will die eventually and you’ll need to replace them. That’s why it’s a good idea to check your Magic Trackpad’s battery life before you leave home or deliver a presentation. Fortunately, there’s a quick way to check your trackpad’s remaining battery life. Here’s how to do it: From the Apple menu, select System Preferences.
How to Make an OS X Recovery USB Drive
Matt Cone January 17, 2013
It’s a good idea to have a bootable emergency drive on hand, just in case disaster strikes your Mac. An emergency drive (also referred to as an OS X Recovery Disk) can help you repair the hard disk, reinstall the operating system, and restore from a Time Machine backup to get your computer back fast. With previous versions of OS X, you could have used the installation DVD to fix problems.
Enabling Firmware Password Protection on Your Mac
Matt Cone January 16, 2013
Firmware password protection can help safeguard your Mac and the data stored on it. With this feature enabled, users are prevented from booting from another startup disk or entering single-user mode — a command-line interface that can be accessed at startup. Firmware password protection is especially effective in enterprise or educational environments where administrators can secure the physical hardware but cannot be present to prevent tampering by employees or students. For example, unauthorized users can’t start the computer from a USB emergency drive when firmware password protection is enabled.
How to Disable Inline Attachments in Mail.app
Matt Cone January 9, 2013
By default, the Mail application on your Mac displays image attachments inline with the text in the email message. This can be convenient when sending or receiving the occasional message with images that need explanations, as shown below. However, people who frequently send or receive email messages with lots of images may prefer to disable inline image attachments and instead have the images represented by icons only. Unfortunately, the Mail application does not provide a method of disabling inline image attachments in the preferences, so you’ll have to use the Terminal application to change this setting.
Schedule Your Mac to Automatically Sleep
Matt Cone January 3, 2013
If you’re one of those people who forgets to turn off your Mac at night, you might be interested in a little-known OS X feature capable of automatically putting your Mac to sleep at a time of your choosing. It’s a great “set it and forget it” setting that automates a task that can save you energy and prolong the life of your Mac’s components. Here’s how to schedule your Mac to automatically sleep:
Setting Up an iOS Simulator on Your Mac
Matt Cone January 1, 2013
Web developers know it’s important to test their websites on every web browser and device possible. And with the growing popularity of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, it’s only natural that they’ll also want to test their websites on all of those devices. But short of stocking up on a bunch of Apple products, how can developers preview their websites in iOS? Actually, it’s easy. Anybody can do it by installing Apple’s iOS simulator on their Mac for free.