Creating .zip archive files on our Macs is a handy way to enhance our file organization. Additionally, it's practically required when sharing or distributing one or more files. This article talks about a utility found on every Mac that let's you manage various aspects of file archive creation.

Along with Mountain Lion 10.8.2 for the new iMac, MacBook Pro and Mac mini, Apple released Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 4.01 for Aperture 3 and iPhoto '11 on Wednesday. The update added support for several cameras from Canon, Nikon, Panasonic and Sony.

In recent versions of OS X, we've had to get accustomed to the resume feature, which reopens existing windows when we relaunch certain programs. You can turn this off completely, of course, but how do you insist just once that a program discard any windows it has when you launch it? Well, here's how! We're so excited, we're using exclamation points!

In this tip, Melissa Holt will go over a bunch of ways to force-quit stubborn, locked-up applications, including one special keyboard shortcut that'll allow you to force-quit your frontmost program. Almost instantly. Without having to confirm the action. Scary, right? But it's a useful kind of scary.

Apple released Java updates for Mountain Lion, Lion and Snow Leopard on Thursday that addressed security issues and also push users to Oracle's own Java plug-in for the Mac.

Through the mists of time comes an ancient feature from the days when our little Mac friend was still a toddler. The feature is still with us, and it's called the Stationery Pad. In this how-to, Sandro Cuccia shows us where it came from, how to use it, and better yet, why you might find it useful today.

If you want to export your contacts into a CSV file, you don't need any third-party software. Got Apple's Numbers program? Then you're ready to go. Melissa Holt's going to tell you how to create spreadsheets with groups of contacts, how to add only the fields you need, and how to be a general all-around groovy person. She's still working on that last part, though.

Do you store your frequently used files in your Dock? Then you should know that you can email those documents right from their shortcuts, without having to find the original file or (horror of horrors) use Mail's Attach button. We're all about efficiency here at TMO.

Did you know that you can safely store your most confidential notes, private diary entries, secret love letters, and more by using an encrypted storage feature built into OS X? Perhaps you are not in a position to—or just don't want to—purchase more full-featured third-party apps to secure notes and other data. If so, allow Sandro Cuccia to show you how you can create and store secure notes on the cheap - via a utility living on your Mac.

There's a loophole that allows apps sold in the Mac App Store to bypass Apple's sandboxing restrictions. And so far, Apple has not done much to prevent it. Ted Landau explains...