Deleting or removing an application from a Mac can be both deceptively simple and surprisingly complex. Many applications can be deleted by simply dragging them to the Trash. However, this method will often leave small, related files tucked into various folders on the Mac. Thus, it is useful to know about some other ways to uninstall a Mac application. This article covers a couple of options. Read More from “How To Remove An App From Your Mac”
When Should You Install Major macOS or iOS Updates?
When Apple releases a major update to the Mac operating system, called macOS, or the operating system used on iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches, called iOS, clients often ask me when or if they should install these updates. Read More from “When Should You Install Major macOS or iOS Updates?”
How To Completely Erase Your iPhone or iPad
If you buy a new iPhone or iPad, you might want to sell or give away your previous one. Before you do either, you should fully erase your old iPhone or iPad. Read More from “How To Completely Erase Your iPhone or iPad”
Use Sessions To Save and Restore Web Pages in Safari
I use and highly recommend Sessions, a Safari Extension, made by David Yoo. Sessions gives you an easy way to save and restore sessions–groups of Safari windows and tabs. Sessions can auto-save the windows and tabs that you have open. Then you can use Sessions to easily restore all windows and tabs if Safari unexpectedly quits. Read More from “Use Sessions To Save and Restore Web Pages in Safari”
The Easiest Way to Rename a File
There are many ways to rename a file in Mac OS X. It seems that the easiest way is not necessarily well known, since I regularly find myself sharing the following information. Simply click on a file or folder icon in the Finder, then press the Return key. The file or folder’s name will be highlighted when you press the Return key. Simply type in a new name and then press the Return key a second time to indicate that you’re finished renaming. That’s it.
How To Dictate Emails on Your Mac
You can dictate emails and other documents if you have OS X Mountain Lion or newer installed on your Macintosh. Many people have learned that they can use Siri on an iPhone or iPad to dictate text messages, email messages and for other purposes. Fewer people seem to have noticed that Apple added some of these voice recognition capabilities to the Mac.
Control Keynote With a Wireless Remote
If you use Keynote to give slideshow presentations, you might want to consider carrying a wireless remote with you to free yourself from your Macintosh’s keyboard. Instead of using the keyboard or mouse to advance the slides, use a remote. Previously, I wrote about controlling Microsoft PowerPoint using an Apple Remote. This Tech Tip is about controlling Apple’s Keynote using either an Apple or a Logitech remote. Read More from “Control Keynote With a Wireless Remote”
How to Print From An iPhone or iPad
Would you like to be able to print from your iPhone or iPad? There are a number of ways to accomplish this. Here’s an overview of some of them. Read More from “How to Print From An iPhone or iPad”
How to Remove Previous Recipients from Your iPhone or iPad
Do you want to remove some of the email addresses that are listed when you begin typing a recipient’s name in the To: field of an email message on your iPhone or iPad?
The Mail application on iPhones and iPads automatically builds a list of recent email recipients’ email addresses. It then lists these addresses when you begin typing the recipient’s name in a new email message. Follow these instructions to remove one of these recipient’s email address. Read More from “How to Remove Previous Recipients from Your iPhone or iPad”
How to Make a Folder Appear in Two Places Using Aliases
Have you ever wanted to have a folder appear in two places at once on your Mac? If so, you should know about creating aliases. An alias is a pointer, or shortcut, to the original folder. An alias looks like the original folder, but when you double-click it, the original folder opens.
Follow these instructions to create an alias: Read More from “How to Make a Folder Appear in Two Places Using Aliases”
How To Display Scroll Bars and Slow Down Scrolling on Your Mac
Starting with OS X 10.7 (Lion) Apple changed some fundamental ways that scrolling works. Specifically, the scrollbars are hidden until one moves the cursor on top of the scrollbar area, then the scrollbars appear. Additionally, the scrollbars no longer have arrows at the ends to let you slowly scroll up and down. Here are some suggestions to help address both of these changes.
Read More from “How To Display Scroll Bars and Slow Down Scrolling on Your Mac”
Options for Wall-Mounting iMacs and Monitors
Are you interested in mounting your iMac or a monitor on an articulated arm connected to either your desk or a wall? I have been pleasantly surprised by the number of requests I’ve had about this topic over the past year. Here’s a primer on what you should know. When you start to look into mounting a computer or monitor, you quickly hear the term VESA mount. VESA mount refers to a family of standards defined by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) for mounting flat panel monitors, TVs, and other displays to stands or wall mounts. Read More from “Options for Wall-Mounting iMacs and Monitors”
Understanding Apple’s Lightning Connector for iPhones and iPads
Were you annoyed with Apple when they introduced a new connector for the iPhone 5, 4th generation iPad and iPad mini in Oct 2012? Did you wonder why they did this? Here’s some information to help you understand why Apple did this and the implications for you. Read More from “Understanding Apple’s Lightning Connector for iPhones and iPads”
Use Your Older MacBook Pro Charger on Newer Mac Laptops
Do you have an older, magnetically attached laptop power cord that you’d like to connect to your new Mac laptop which requires a thinner connector? If so, you could buy Apple’s MagSafe to MagSafe 2 Converter ($10). In 2006, Apple introduced magnetically attached laptop power cords, called the MagSafe Power Adapter, on their MacBook Pro. Since then, they’ve added this connector to all laptops and many monitors. In 2012, they introduced a thinner version of this power cord called the MagSafe 2 Power Adapter. You can continue to use these older monitors and power adapters with a new Mac laptop that requires the thinner MagSafe 2 connector by purchasing this affordable adapter.
You might also enjoy reading about using one Mac laptop’s power adapter with a different model of Mac laptop which I wrote about more recently.
Easily Gather Tech Details About Your Mac
Do you want to know the age of your Mac? Do want to gather the technical specs of your Mac so you can sell it on Craigslist? Do you want to find your Mac’s serial number so you can determine if it is still covered by its warranty? If so, you could use Micromat’s free MachineProfile. Read More from “Easily Gather Tech Details About Your Mac”
Easily Create a Contact List
Do you store your contact information in Apple’s Contacts application? If so, you can easily create a contact list by dragging contacts into Apple’s spreadsheet application, Numbers. Numbers is not as commonly used as Excel, but the more I use Numbers the more I like it. I recently discovered this incredible feature. Contacts is the new name for Apple’s Address Book, as it was known in previous versions of OS X. To create a contact list, simply select one or more contact records in Contacts and drag them into a Numbers files and a list will appear. Read More from “Easily Create a Contact List”
How to Use iCloud Tabs
Have you ever found a website while browsing the web on your iPhone only to find that the text was so small you’d rather read it on your Mac? Or, have you ever started to read a web site on your MacBook Pro, but wanted to finish reading it on your iPad while in bed? Apple has provided a simple solution with the introduction of iCloud Tabs. Read More from “How to Use iCloud Tabs”
Use Safari to Search the iTunes Store
Do you find it difficult to search the iTunes Store? Do you find it difficult to locate the song, book, or app that you seek? Do you find it difficult to compare similar applications since you can only view one product at a time? If so, there is a better way to search the iTunes Store — use Safari or any other web browser. Read More from “Use Safari to Search the iTunes Store”
Create Custom Maps using Google’s Map Engine Lite
Have you ever wanted to create your own custom map online? For example, maybe you have a list of addresses and you’d like to see them all in one picture. Now you can. In March 2013 Google released their Maps Engine Lite tool that allows you to make maps of your own address list by importing an Excel file. (Note: You can also manually add items to your map using the Google Maps search function.) Read More from “Create Custom Maps using Google’s Map Engine Lite”
How To Monitor Your Comcast Data Usage
Are you a residential customer using Comcast’s Xfinity High-Speed Internet service? If so, you can easily monitor your monthly data usage. Historically, Comcast has monitored and capped monthly data usage. As people increasingly stream videos using AppleTVs and iPads and backup the MacBook laptops to the cloud using online backup services, more users were approaching Comcast’s cap. Thus, it can be useful to periodically see how much data your household has been using.