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Podcast - Mac Geek Gab #45: Keyboard Shortcuts, .Mac Transfers, TiVo, and DVRs Discussed

by , 10:00 PM EST, March 26th, 2006

Show notes for TMO To Go: Mac Geek Gab For March 26th, 2006

Direct Links: MP3 Version or AAC Enhanced Version (courtesy of Michael, aka Computernap!).

Recorded on the MacBook Pro from a hotel room in Austin, Texas, Dave and John go through some additional listener feedback covering keyboard shortcuts, alternate methods to transfer files to .Mac, and a follow-up on sending e-mail while traveling. Plus a great rant about DVRs!


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Note: Shownotes are in progress.

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(even an audio comment, if you please!), post in the comments below, Skype your message to "macgeekgab", or call and leave a voice-mail at 206-666-GEEK!

Theme Music: "The Answer", written by Jeff Steblea and Brian Ayles, as performed by Go Figure.

Find more editions at the TMO To Go: Mac Geek Gab index.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:davidcann Posts: 1 Joined: 05 Dec 2005
Subject: Keyboard navigation on the mac

I strongly disagree with you both on the keyboard access on OS X. The "Full keyboard access" option for "All controls" in the Keyboard & Mouse System Preferences is indispensable. I think this will solve your caller's problem.
-d

Close Name:ozguru Posts: 3 Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Subject: iChat with Tabs

http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/26/chax-1-4-ichat-now-has-tabs/

That should make Dave happy!

Close Name:Dave -   TMO Staff Posts: 227 Joined: 11 Jun 2001
Subject:

Quote
davidcann wrote:
I strongly disagree with you both on the keyboard access on OS X. The "Full keyboard access" option for "All controls" in the Keyboard & Mouse System Preferences is indispensable. I think this will solve your caller's problem.
-d


Hey, thanks, David! You're right: that's a great option... thanks for joining the conversation!

Close Name:Dave -   TMO Staff Posts: 227 Joined: 11 Jun 2001
Subject:

Quote
ozguru wrote:
http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/26/chax-1-4-ichat-now-has-tabs/

That should make Dave happy!


Oh yeah... I mentioned the beta version last week on show #44. I'm hooked already!

Close Name:cwerdna Posts: 4 Joined: 28 Mar 2006
Subject: keyboard shortcuts

Besides, the full keyboard access option mentioned above, the user can also use Ctrl-Tab in some "tabbed" dialogs like those in MS Office's Preferences. Also, to get the the menu bar, one can hit Ctrl-F2 and then use the arrow keys to navigate.

Some other useful shortcuts for those used to windows include using Cmd-down arrow to open files in Finder and dialogs [equivalent of Enter in Windows] and Cmd-` to switch between windows of an app (similiar to the Window menu in MDI Windows apps).

Close Name:cwerdna Posts: 4 Joined: 28 Mar 2006
Subject: still falls short and DVRs

BTW, I disagree partly with davidcann, although turning on full keyboard access, using Cmd + 1st letter of controls, and Ctrl-F2 + arrows helps, it's still far short of Windows in terms of keyboard accessibility.

On most Windows apps, you can hit Alt + underlined letter to get to all the menus and controls within a dialog. I use Alt, followed by F followed by O to get to File Open. Alt T O to get to Tools Options. It's a bug in a Windows app to have duplicate accelerators (so Alt F P is usually File Print and Alt F V is usually File Print Preview).

On the Mac w/Ctrl + F2, the behavior is pretty goofy and requires more keystrokes. If I start Terminal, and hit Ctrl + F2, I have to hit F and down arrow and if I hit S a bunch of times, it goes to Save then to Use Settings As Defaults and skips a bunch that start with S. On a Windows apps, each item would be given a unique assignment visible via underlined letter. For some bizarre reason, the underlines are off by default on WinXP (can be turned on) vs. versions prior to XP ALWAYS had them on.

Oh yeah, to the gabber that had the lousy Comcast DVR, it would be very helpful to state the maker for the box and software it's running along w/the geographic area. There are MANY different boxes floating around w/different software. It's a pet peeve of mine when people refer to boxes generally as cable co DVRs or [insert name of cable co] DVR. Hell, Comcast deploys the Motorola DCT-6412 w/at least MSTV and iGuide if not others. Adelphia had at least 3 Motorolas running iGuide, 1 Motorola running Moxi and some Scientific Atlanta box running SARA.

See for more details http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=3897829&&#post3897829

Close Name:Dave -   TMO Staff Posts: 227 Joined: 11 Jun 2001
Subject:

Quote
cwerdna wrote:
Oh yeah, to the gabber that had the lousy Comcast DVR, it would be very helpful to state the maker for the box and software it's running along w/the geographic area. There are MANY different boxes floating around w/different software.


Good question: it's the Motorola DCT-3412!

Close Name:cwerdna Posts: 4 Joined: 28 Mar 2006
Subject: what software?

Quote
Dave wrote:

Good question: it's the Motorola DCT-3412!

What software is it running? It looks like it could be running at least iGuide or Passport (http://www.pioneerdigital.com/passportecho/passportecho.asp) or possibly something else.

As I said, there are a lot of random boxes floating around out there and in some cases totally different software running on a given model. See http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=293649.

It's analogous to processors. Someone saying they have an Intel based machine says nothing about the CPU or OS it's running.

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