Mac

Skype released an update for their OS X app today, version 7.8.388, that includes a nasty bug: it now ignores whatever audio devices you have selected in Skype > Preferences > Audio/Video. It treats every one of those 3 drop-downs there as though you have selected “Same as System.” Skype 7.8.388 now ignores audio device…

Episode #123 I’ve been teaching people how to use their Macs more effectively for as long as I can remember and I’ve written more words about becoming more proficient on a Mac than just about anyone I can think of. So I was surprised to find myself at a loss for words the other day,…

Services are a way to work across applications, so if you are in one app, and select some text, you can go to the app menu and choose “Services” to see the set of options available for that selected text. You can see what services are already installed on your system by going to System…

_______________________ Don't worry, I don't know enough yet to make this how-to very complex. I'll be showing a very simple UNIX command, and then we're done. First, you may be wondering: “What is a kernel extension?” This is code that extends the capability of the base kernel of an operating system. The kernel typically manages…

Design language is … overarching scheme or style that guides the design of a complement of products … which can describe choices for design aspects such as materials, colour schemes, shapes, patterns, textures, or layouts. Mine is Space Gray. Image credit: Apple In the case of the new MacBook from Apple, the design language is…

So here’s what you’ll do now. If you edit a picture (by applying a filter, for example, or adjusting the color), you’ll hold down the M key while you’re still in edit mode to see the original; release that key, and you can view your edited version for comparison’s sake. So here’s a picture I…

My first reaction to the new Apple MacBook was that it's too small and underpowered. But if I did get one, I'd surely get a gold one. Now that I've handled a MacBook at my local Apple Store, everything I thought before has changed. Here's what I discovered. ______________________ Everything changed when I actually handled…

iTunes update improves Photos importing on the Mac Along with better Photos support, the 12.1.2 update includes stability improvements along with refinements to the iTunes Get Info window. Photos is the new replacement app for iPhoto. Like iPhoto, and Photos on the iPhone and iPad, the Mac version manages your photo library and includes basic…

There are many reasons why iTunes can be more of a hindrance than a help. Perhaps you don’t spend much time at your computer so syncing your iOS devices to iTunes isn’t a useful way to keep your device backed up, or maybe you don’t use iTunes much so having to spend time learning everything…

Twelve South has released the BaseLift, a small Smart Cover style device that attaches to the bottom of a laptop and elevates the back of your machine to improve the typing angle. It also adds additional protection for those who put laptops, well, in their laps. As with all Twelve South products, the packaging is…

Controlling The Number of Rows and Columns in a Pages Table The latest version of Pages—5.5.2—presents what I like to call learning opportunities. At least when I'm in polite company. When I'm working at my desk and I'm fairly sure no one else can hear me, I call them other things. The task that most…

The new Apple MacBook is designed for extreme portability and low weight. Its low power Core M processor provides support for thinner designs and eliminates the need for a fan. To achieve that, it makes a concession to speed. So while the benchmarks are similar to a four year old MacBook Air, this MacBook is…

Apple's new MacBook, to be released on April 10, is compact, low in weight, and full of new features. But will that low power Core M processor have enough computing punch for most users? I want to take a first, high-level look at the Core M processor and how it compares to other Apple notebooks,…

It’s gotten easier—today, it's less complex to bend icons to your will. Whether you prefer the previous version of an icon, or you’re a big fan of something and you want to make sure it shows up all over your computer, it’s not as complex to change icons these days. First up, icons in OS…

  You Do Not Need That Performa 5200 Credit: Wikicommons Just like with mobile/handheld devices, the first move is to be certain there isn’t a machine in your current circle that needs upgrading, be it your parents or children or other people who maybe could stand a slightly newer machine. Once you do that, you…

When Fantastical was first released it brought with it a fresh take on the Mac's Calendar thanks to its easy to use drop down menu view and natural language event entry system. Where the original made a great addition to Apple's Calendar apps, Fantastical 2 is an excellent replacement and shows just how much power…

The first thing you’ll do is figure out how much space you’re currently using. An easy way to do that is to go to the Apple Menu in the upper-left of your screen and choose “About This Mac.” If you’re running Yosemite, you should see the redesigned window pictured below (the one where I’ve pointed…

NOTE: This article covers only the Mac side of printing contacts. It is known throughout the land that printing is looked upon as a dark art, and lo there are various and sundry paths one can take to achieve it. However, the half of the equation where the printer doesn't work right or won't line…

Episode #112   Last November I told you I finally found a suitable replacement for Intuit’s Quicken personal finance software, after nearly 15 years of searching. That replacement was iBank and I’m still totally happy with it. In the meantime, Intuit is up to its old tricks again. As you may recall, Intuit discontinued Quicken for…

These little symbols indicate which section of your iTunes Library you can access by clicking on them—selecting the music notes will take you to, well, your music, the movie reel goes to your movies, and so on. What’s not so apparent is that you can edit those icons to be whatever you’d like, so if…

It's my pleasure to thank Lucidchart for sponsoring TMO this week. Lucidchart is, in short, Visio for Mac users. In your browser. No separate app to download, but it sure does feel like a Mac app. Lucidchart is easy to use, very quick to get started, and has intuitive controls. Start with Lucidchart's templates and…

Episode #109   There are three kinds of people: Those who make lists; those who don’t make lists; and I wish I could remember the third kind, but I didn’t write it down on one of my lists… As you probably guessed, I’m the first kind: An inveterate list-maker who is never without a notepad,…

A Mountie from Ten One Design shown on an iPhone 5S for scale. First off, I have to spend a moment on the packaging. No thick plastic nightmare, just some clear tape around the edges. It's wonderful to get right to the goodies without having to break out the heavy machinery. Both the top and…

You can bypass that warning by pressing Command-Delete on a song instead, but still, that only removes it from the playlist, not from your library. Now of course, you could go out into your full library view and delete the item from there, but it’s handy to know that there’s a shortcut that’ll let you…