May 23, 2013
Indexing, trash bins, folder positions – OS X keeps track of all these things, on every drive connected to your Mac, by creating files. These files are fine on a Mac – OS X uses them regularly, and hides them from the user. Plug a drive mainly used with Windows into a Mac, however, and in Windows you'll see a variety of useless files cluttering things up. Do you want to stop the madness? You can.
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May 22, 2013
Free up some space on your Mac – delete languages you will never use. Monolingual is a simple Mac app that anyone looking for more hard drive space should check out. Modern hard drives are big, but sometimes we all need just a little more space on our primary drive. Whether you've installed a solid state drive in your Mac or simply filled up your primary one, sometimes a little extra space can help a lot.
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May 20, 2013
Taking your pen to hand - or more often keyboard, in these times - is not always a simple undertaking. That's not to say writing is bothersome. No, rather the opposite. Writing is wonderful, awesome, enchanting, and a hundred other things. The problem then is that there are too many distractions. Loud noises, flashing lights....not just outside of your window, but on your computer as well.
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May 20, 2013
Despite the popularity of social networks like Twitter and Facebook, RSS readers are still arguably the best way to monitor and manage daily news items and subscriptions on both our computers and mobile devices. With the pending death of the Google Reader, we on the lookout for alternative RSS reader clients that go beyond Reader's capabilities. One of the newest readers on the block is NewsBar for Mac and iPhone. Even though I've been a longtime user of NewsRack, I was immediately impressed with the NewsBar's features.
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May 20, 2013
Compared to other standard calculators, Mac OS X users definitely can't complain. The Calculator app that ships with Macs by default is diverse and incredibly powerful. However, you simply can't build an app as general as a calculator to satisfy all possible user scenarios. For different users, different apps will always come out on top. Luckily, there's no shortage of calculator alternatives in the Mac App Store.
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May 17, 2013
You might think Apple’s relatively small laptop selection would make choosing a model easy. For some people, that’s true, but for others the tight range of options and prices makes for a difficult choice. A consumer with $1,200 could end up looking at both versions of the Air and the 13-inch Pro. I think all of the MacBooks are a good choice, but the reasons why are various. I’ll help you sort through the clutter and decide which MacBook is for you.
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May 16, 2013
Bring the best features of Windows to OS X. You did not read that incorrectly. Many Mac users won't admit it, but there are some pretty nice features in Windows – particularly Windows 7 and later. Maximizing apps in a way that isn't seemingly random, resizing your windows by dragging them to a particular side or easily hiding notification icons are just a few things Microsoft's brought to the desktop that Apple hasn't got around to (yet?)
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May 15, 2013
I've written several articles about Mac automation, including a MUO Automation Guide on how to get started with Apple's Automator and the built-in OS X features for creating smart folders, playlists, albums, and mailboxes. But next to the application called Hazel, which I also recently reviewed, the classic automation program Keyboard Maestro ($36.00) is my most used application for getting things done on my Mac. You can download it for a 30-day free trial.
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May 7, 2013
Free call and text platform Viber is coming to desktop with the release of a new client for Windows and Mac OS X. The new desktop version of Viber brings all calling and texting features to your PC or Mac, and adds some new ones such as video calling and desktop to desktop calls, which are currently still in beta. The announcement comes as part of the roll out of Viber 3.0, which includes major updates for the app's iOS, Android, and Blackberry versions as well.
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May 6, 2013
I have previously written an entire MUO guide about using Apple's smart folders and Automator program, but a classic third-party application called Hazel is one of my personal automation assistants that works in the background, requiring no keyboard shortcuts and mouse clicks on my part. Hazel is an automation program that essentially goes into action when files are added or changes are made to designated folders.
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May 6, 2013
How often have you sent an email to yourself, simply to move a picture or document between computers? Often, the only obvious alternative is clear overkill, like setting up a temporary FTP server on your jailbroken iPad. For these kind of scenarios - moving small files quickly and efficiently - Mac OS X's own AirDrop is the ideal tool for the job.
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May 1, 2013
Popular podcast iOS client on Instacast has just launched a new version for Mac. The desktop version of the app is still in open public beta, which will run until May 31st, so if you're interested, you have exactly one month to sink your teeth into the podcast client before the final release hits the market. The final release will not be free, so if you want to enjoy it without paying, now is the time.
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April 29, 2013
The iPad (or even the iPhone) is a great device to enjoy apps and video while you're on the road, or in bed. In fact, you can enjoy your media wherever you are. However, sitting a small distance from your big television set, some of this media might be wasted on the small screen of your iOS device. Instead, you could switch to your computer, or a media center hooked up to your TV. But if you want to enjoy the content from your iPhone or iPad, there's a third option.
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April 27, 2013
If you work at a home-based office like I do, you no doubt spend a significant amount of time getting things done on your Mac. While I have already written about the advantages of using a standup desk, there are also several important and general productivity apps for almost any type of workflow you engage in. These applications not only save me time but in many cases help me work more efficiently.
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April 26, 2013
Alfred is a task launcher for Mac OSX - hit a shortcut, start typing the name of a file, folder, contact, application or search term, and bam - there it is. Since version 2, the concept of workflows was introduced - essentially, user-created plugins that can extend the functionality. My mind was blown - this in an incredibly powerful app, possibly the most useful I've come across yet. To use workflows, you must have the PowerPack purchased for $25.
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