Mac

The recent Java security update has some minor implications for the average Mac user. Here's what you need to know in terms of making sure your Mac is secure, how to verify that your update worked, and how to make sure native Java apps developed for Java 6 will still work. _________________ Very briefly, what…

Following Tuesday’s report of production delays on the new iMac that have led to major shortages of the product at Apple Stores and resellers, new information late Wednesday from DigiTimes corroborates evidence that screen lamination issues at Apple supplier LG Display are to blame. The previous suggestion that screen production issues were preventing maximum levels…

Last September, we reviewed the Other World Computing (OWC) Aura Pro SSD, the first and thus far only third-party SSD for Apple’s line of Retina MacBook Pros (rMBP). At the time of the review, only the 15-inch rMBP had been released, but that was soon followed by the introduction of the 13-inch version in October.…

Apple’s 2013 Macs may sport ultra-fast Wi-Fi thanks to the inclusion of support for 802.11ac wireless networking, according to sources speaking with The Next Web Wednesday. Apple has reportedly reached a deal with Broadcom to include 802.11ac chips in future Macs, which can theoretically support connection speeds of up to 1.3 Gbps. Apple’s current line…

The launch of the newly designed 21.5-inch iMac has revealed an interesting discovery: some of these units have markings claiming assembly in the United States. While Apple has long performed final assembly in the U.S. of some of its built-to-order Mac configurations — including the iMac and Mac Pro — this is the first time…

A long history exists in the computing world of hiding “easter eggs,” cool little tidbits that are there more for the programmer's indulgence than the actual user, and OS X (indeed, most software Apple has ever produced) has its share of them. Today we find one that traces back to OS X's Unix roots (specifically…

In Part One of this two-parter on the topic of doing screen captures on your Mac with built-in software, we explored the keyboard shortcuts and options that are configured in OS X. If you haven't had the opportunity to read it, be sure to do so before proceeding. Before we start, a couple of tips…

Microsoft released a pair of critical updates for Office for Mac on Tuesday. Office 2008 12.3.5 and Office 2011 14.2.5 both address security holes in the productivity suites, while the 2011 update includes other bug fixes. Patch Notes for Office 2008 12.3.5 Update (218.4MB Download): The Office 2008 for Mac 12.3.5 update improves security. This…

Photo slideshow applications are nothing new to the Mac. Even iPhoto does a reasonable job. But professional photographers and photo enthusiasts demand much more control than the basic applications can deliver. FotoMagico 4 delivers this control and takes the humble slideshow to a level worthy of the term professional. _________________________   A Complete Overview Of…

The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display (rMBP), unveiled by Apple during its media event Tuesday, has been torn down by iFixit. While the newest Apple laptop shares much in common with its 15-inch “least repairable laptop ever” sibling, there are some interesting differences that indicate that the Cupertino company learned much from its first…

One of the more interesting things released today at Apple's event was the new “Fusion Drive” in the new iMac (and yes, it's only for the new iMac and new Mac mini models so far). Fusion Drive is Apple's take on solving the “I want the speed of an SSD but I have way more stuff than…

The Stationery Pad feature in Finder—when I mention this in passing to my students and clients, most of them give me that deer-in-the-headlights blank stare, usually followed by, “uhh, yes, Sandro… the Stationery Pad.” But they know that I know that they have no idea what the Stationery Pad feature is! Well guess what, this…

Our Macs are the place where we run iTunes, backup our iDevices, and even manage iOS apps on the iPhone/iPad pages. The apps are in there, we just can't run them.  And now we’re waiting a very long time for a new Ivy Bridge iMac. What if the delay is because Apple is working to…

Apple’s MacBook Pro with Retina Display (rMBP) is a marvel of engineering and performance, but its unusually high resolution, 2880-by–1800, and the way that Apple scales it to lower “equivalent” resolutions means that the Cupertino company had to change the way that it presents resolution options to users. Instead of an extensive list of all…

Let's say you launch an app that is not already positioned on your Dock. For example, you launch it from your Applications folder. Typically, it will plop itself onto your Dock – way over at the right end, assuming your preference is to have the Dock at the bottom of your screen. It will show…

Apple has its own reasons for doing what they do; they're certainly entitled to do so. You see, Apple is very focused on getting brand-new Mac customers and, in particular, those coming to the Mac with iOS experience, to not have to think about a “file system” where folders and files can be moved, copied,…

On the contrary, with many of the recent iMac models, as well as MacBook and MacBook Pro models (prior to the ones with sealed batteries), Apple has included friendly diagrams depicting the procedure for replacing the RAM memory modules. On most iMac Models, this little visual guide is etched onto the bottom of the pedestal…

Would you like to have the Slide to Unlock of iOS fame on your Mac? Do you have a need to lock your Mac’s display from prying eyes? Perhaps, you simply want a lovely photographic vista with information such as the time, date, and current temperature. ____________________ By incorporating Slide To Unlock, Lock Screen Plus…

It always seems like a new design starts the moment the old one goes live. If that’s true, then this design has been 7 years in the making. More specifically, though, this one started in November, 2011 – still a respectable 10 months. We put out a call for – and solicited bids from –…

Many methods were discussed during the show, but the simplest one was suggested afterwards by Peter Lewis of Stairways Software, maker of the excellent Keyboard Maestro utility. To locate Java applications, open Terminal and type the following command: find /Applications -name “*.jar” Using the find command, this query will search the system’s Application folder for…

The issue, it turns out, is not the size of the security slot in the vertical dimension (case depth). An Apple salesperson explained to me that, rather, it’s the depth of the case with respect to the size of the locking key when it’s inserted and turned 90 degrees. (That’s because of the T design…

NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim told CNET that Apple is planning for a 2560-by-1600 resolution display for the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Such a display would have fewer pixels than the current 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro, which touts a 2880-by-1800 panel, but the smaller screen area on the 13-inch model will create a similar “Retina” effect.…

When OS X Lion was rolled out, we were given several new technologies to add to our toolbox of Mac goodness. One of these, Launchpad, falls into a unique category in that people either love it, or they hate it. Perhaps “hate” is a bit extreme, but most “tech-savvy” types lambaste Launchpad as an overly…

Previously, the Living Earth HD, world clock and weather, was available only for iOS. Now, it’s been brought over to the Mac, and it’s equally spectacular. Plus, it includes desktop and screen saver functions._________________ The iOS version of this app was previously reviewed, and it was given a high rating. What’s nice about this app…