Do you take digital photos and would you like to quickly create a file with thumbnail size versions of photos from a trip or family event? This file is called a contact sheet. Professional photographers commonly want to create contact sheets of all photos from a wedding or other photo shoot. Here are a couple of ways to create a contact sheet if you use a Mac. Read More from “How To Create A Digital Photo Contact Sheet”
Using Apple Mail’s Two Mail Display Layouts
Apple’s Mail application offers two layouts, that is, two different ways for you to view your email messages. This article will show you how to switch between and customize each of these layouts. Read More from “Using Apple Mail’s Two Mail Display Layouts”
AppleCare+ For Mac
In most situations, I tend to recommend that you buy Apple’s extended hardware warranty, called AppleCare. Apple enhanced AppleCare in 2017 so I think it’s an even more compelling option. Read More from “AppleCare+ For Mac”
How To Restore A Time Machine Backup To A New Mac
When you buy a new Mac you likely want to transfer all of your data and applications from your current Mac to a new Mac. Here are instructions on how to accomplish this migration using a current Time Machine backup of your current Mac. I’m going to provide instructions for two different scenarios.
If you’re just taking your new Mac out of it’s box and turning it on for the first time follow the instructions in Scenario 1 – Setup Assistant.
Alternatively, if you’ve already turned on your new Mac and created a user account then follow the instructions in Scenario 2 – Migration Assistant. Read More from “How To Restore A Time Machine Backup To A New Mac”
Using Amazon’s Prime Video App
Are you an Amazon Prime subscriber? One of the benefits is access to Amazon’s video streaming service called Prime Video. You can watch Prime Videos in a web browser on your computer or using the Prime Video app on your iOS device, such as an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. This Tech Tip will give you an introduction to using the Prime Video App on your iOS device. Read More from “Using Amazon’s Prime Video App”
How To Change Your AppleID Email Address
Is your AppleID tied to an email address that you no longer have access to or no longer use? If so, Apple offers step-by-step instructions on how to change your AppleID to use a new email address. Before we jump to the instructions, let’s start by reviewing some important background information and talk about some caveats. Read More from “How To Change Your AppleID Email Address”
DriveSavers Provides Excellent Data Recovery Services
Do you need to retrieve data from a sick or dead hard drive? If you do not have a backup of the data on this disk, then you should consider hiring a professional data recovery company like DriveSavers. DriveSavers has been an industry leader for 30 years. They have a stellar reputation and success rate. In the rare cases that I have had a client who needed professional data recovery, I always use DriveSavers. Fortunately they have been able to recover most of the needed data. The downside of professional data recovery companies is the relatively high cost. Read More from “DriveSavers Provides Excellent Data Recovery Services”
Social Engineering Scams Are The Easiest Way to Hack Into Your Mac
You are the weakest link in your computer’s security! Please keep reading this important Tech Tip. If you’re not already aware of this fact, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the easiest way for a hacker to get into your Mac is through you. Tricking you into divulging information, installing software or giving remote access to your Mac is the easiest way to break in to your Mac. Tricking you is often called social engineering. Read More from “Social Engineering Scams Are The Easiest Way to Hack Into Your Mac”
Subscribe And Listen To Podcasts Using Overcast
Here are instructions for subscribing to and listening to podcasts using the Overcast web site and Overcast app on your iPhone or iPad. If you missed it, my previous article provided an overview of podcasts. Here are step-by-step instructions on using Overcast, which is the podcatcher app that I use on both my iPhone and iPad. Read More from “Subscribe And Listen To Podcasts Using Overcast”
Podcasts Are Like On-Demand Radio
Have you heard of podcasts, but don’t really understand what they are or how to listen to them? If so, this article gives you an overview of podcasts. My next article will give you step-by-step instructions on subscribing to and listening to podcasts on your iPhone and Mac. For what it’s worth, the word Podcast is a portmanteau of iPod and broadcast created by a BBC journalist in 2004, when Apple’s iPod was having its heyday. Read More from “Podcasts Are Like On-Demand Radio”
Free Video-Based Training From Lynda.com
Would you like to access free video training courses on Mac OS, iMovie, Keynote, Photoshop, Lightroom, InDesign, WordPress, GoogleDocs and other topics? For about 20 years, Lynda.com has offered video-based training on thousands of business, software, and creative skills. Typically, a monthly subscription costs $20-$30. I recently learned that the Seattle Public Library offers access to Lynda.com video training. You can access is either a computer at one of the 27 branch locations or from your Mac, at home, as long as you have a library card. To access this from your own Mac, follow these simple instructions:
- Visit the database page on the SPL web site
- Click on Lynda.com
- When prompted to login type in your SPL library card number and associated PIN number then click the Log In button.
This is a great resource and way to add some computer skills.
[Update, June 2019: Lynda.com has been acquired by LinkedIn and is now named LinkedIn Learning]
Beware of Tech Support Phone Scams
Please watch out for tech support phone scams. There are two types of scams. The first type are scammers who call you at home and fraudulently claim to be from some group like Apple or Microsoft. The second type are groups that you mistakenly call when you’re seeking technical support. Read More from “Beware of Tech Support Phone Scams”
Beware Of Bogus Adobe Flash Updates
[Update Nov 2023: As of 2021, Adobe has ended support for the Flash Player plugin. Please uninstall it if it’s still on your Mac.]
Please be aware that some pop-up windows indicating that you need to update the Adobe Flash Player on your Mac could be bogus. Yup, that’s right. We live in a messy complex world and you cannot trust everything you read. So, how do you know which Flash Player update windows you can trust? My answer is, do not trust any of them; just go ahead and close these pop-up windows. Instead, follow these instructions to check if your Flash Player really needs to be updated. Read More from “Beware Of Bogus Adobe Flash Updates”
Fast Way To Type Emoji On Your Mac
Do you want to put emoji into your email messages, notes, Word document or any other document that you type on your Mac? If so, I recently learned of a fast way to bring up the emoji keyboard on your Mac. Press the following three keys simultaneously: Command, Control and space bar. Read More from “Fast Way To Type Emoji On Your Mac”
Use Your iPad As A Second Screen For Your Mac
Did you know that you can use your iPad as a second screen for your Mac? That’s right. You can buy DuetDisplay, currently $11, and use it to connect your iPad to your Mac so you can use it as an second display. In a sense, this is a way to control your Mac using a touch-interface, if you would like to try this. Apple indicates that they have no plans to make touch-based Macs so if you’d like to have touch-control of your Mac this is the only way I know to make it happen. Read More from “Use Your iPad As A Second Screen For Your Mac”
Share Any File In Your Dropbox Account With Non-Dropbox Users
Did you know that Dropbox lets you share any file with anybody, even if they do not have their own Dropbox account? In 2011, I wrote about how to do this using Dropbox’s Public Link feature. The Public Link feature let you share any file with anybody, but it required you to put the file inside your Dropbox Public Folder. Dropbox has been slowly phasing out the Public Folder and Public Links since they have been superseded by a newer, shared link feature, which was added a few years ago. Read More from “Share Any File In Your Dropbox Account With Non-Dropbox Users”
PhotoSweeper Removes Duplicate Photos from Photos or iPhoto
Do you have duplicate photos in your iPhoto or Photos Library? Do you dread the manual process of trying to locate and delete these duplicate photos? If so, use PhotoSweeper. PhotoSweeper will locate all duplicate photos and makes it easy for you to review them and select which ones you want to delete. In addition to identifying exact duplicate files, it also lets you find very similar photos. Using this feature you can find photos taken a few seconds apart or photos taken using Burst Mode on your iPhone. Here’s an overview of how to use PhotoSweeper. Read More from “PhotoSweeper Removes Duplicate Photos from Photos or iPhoto”
Regain Access To Your Airport or Time Capsule
Have you forgotten or misplaced your Airport or Time Capsule passwords? If so, you should consider using the Soft Reset feature that Apple builds into Airports and Time Capsules. You could also review my previous Tech Tip about retrieving your Airport password from your Keychain which could save you from having to perform a Soft Reset. I should also point out that you may have either 1 or 2 Airport passwords. One password is used to connect devices, like Macs and iPhones to the wireless network created by your Airport. This is commonly called your wireless network password. The other password is used to configure the Airport. This is commonly caused your device password, where device refers to the Airport or Time Capsule. Read More from “Regain Access To Your Airport or Time Capsule”
How To Rebuild Your Spotlight Index
Does your Mac fail to find files that you know exist when you search for them? Or, does Apple Mail or Outlook fail to find email messages when you search for them? If so, this problem could be caused by a corrupt Spotlight index. Spotlight is the name of Apple’s search capabilities built into the Mac operating system. Spotlight’s index can get damaged from time to time. Read More from “How To Rebuild Your Spotlight Index”
Display Your Mac On Your iPad
Do you need to display your Mac’s screen on your iPad? To do this, you can use a screen-sharing application. Most of these applications cost money so Splashtop is intriguing since it’s free for personal use on your local network. To access your Mac from anywhere costs $60 per year.