Use PithHelmet to Block Internet Ads
Matt Cone May 22, 2007
Ever wonder how to block advertising on websites? If you’re a Safari user, all you need is PithHelmet, a practically essential plug-in for Safari. PithHelmet is free to download and try, but we’d encourage you to drop the $10 for a license. It is quite a powerful tool, as you’ll soon see. PithHelmet automatically blocks all ads on most any given webpage using an arsenal of pre-made rules. However, sometimes those ugly banners can slip through the cracks and into view.
Use AppleScript to Control Startup Apps
Matt Cone May 21, 2007
You probably know that your Mac can automatically open applications when you turn it on or log into a user account. The problem is that automatically opening Internet-dependent applications (such as iChat or Mail.app) can slow down your Mac if you’re not connected to the internet. To improve your Mac’s startup time, we’ll utilize a simple AppleScript to determine whether or not your Mac is connected to the Internet, and then automatically open selected applications if an Internet connection is present.
Five Mac Apps for Professional Presentations
Matt Cone May 18, 2007
At some point, you’ll probably call on your trusty Mac to help you make a presentation in front of a live audience. Whether you’re at work or school, we’ve got just the tools for you. We’ve rounded up the best presentation applications for Mac OS X - the ones that will help you look classy and organized. The best part is that they’re all free! Mouse Locator 2Point5Fish http://www.2point5fish.com/ If you’re giving a technical presentation and want to point out important mouse actions, Mouse Locator is for you.
How to Transfer LP Records to Your Mac
Matt Cone May 16, 2007
We didn’t live through the heyday of vinyl, but we do own a few LPs. The recording industry is currently trying to figure out if we have the right to “own” digital copies of our records. While they work on that, we’re going to quietly show you how to digitize old LPs and cassette tapes. Just don’t put the resulting files on a peer-to-peer network! Connect Your Turntable to Your Mac First, you need to connect your turntable to your Mac.
How to Play Windows Media Files
Matt Cone May 16, 2007
There are lots of proprietary video delivery systems out there. Apple’s QuickTime, Adobe’s Flash, and Microsoft’s Windows Media Player are among the most popular. And guess what? There’s no Windows Media Player for Mac. (We know - you’re shocked that Microsoft wouldn’t make one of their applications for Windows and Mac.) Believe it or not, this is a pretty big deal. Lots of websites embed audio and video clips that have to be opened with Windows Media Player, and there’s also a lot of Windows Media Player content you can download.
Boot Into Windows With Quicksilver
Matt Cone May 14, 2007
If you have an Intel Mac with a Boot Camp partitioned hard drive, you’re probably getting sick of restarting your Mac again and again, just so you can hit the option key to select your Windows partition. In this article, we’ll show you how to create an AppleScript and Quicksilver hotkey that will let you easily restart your Mac and boot into Windows - without the hassle of selecting your partition!
Mastering Mail.app: A Beginner's Guide
Eric Buczynski May 11, 2007
If you use Apple’s Mail application, you may be looking at the menu options and wondering what they’re good for. Most of us just use email to keep in touch with friends, family, and coworkers, right? Well, we’re going to show you what other features are available to make mailing easier and more convenient. We’ll cover the options in Mail’s preferences and show you what’s possible. We’ll assume that you already have your email account set up in Mail.
How to Capture Audio and Video
Matt Cone May 10, 2007
Digital media has come a long way in recent years. Thanks to iTunes and other content services like it, we can purchase music, television shows, and even movies online. But even though iTunes is a great application that provides a much needed service, we sometimes find ourselves wishing we could record and save other audio and video content. You know, like imbedded news videos, films made with Flash, or even a live radio interview with Steve Wozniak.
How to Specify Default AirPort Networks
Matt Cone May 9, 2007
Do you ever turn on your Mac, only to find that it connects to another wireless network - one other than your own? Do you have to manually connect to your own home or business wireless network every time you start your computer? Sometimes this can be a problem, but in a few easy steps you can fix your WiFi woes once and for all by configuring AirPort to work exactly the way you want it to.
Indispensable Tips for New Mac Users
Matt Cone May 8, 2007
You’ve just made the leap from Windows to the Macintosh. Great, but now what? Everything is going well. There’s no useless Windows key, and the controls for all the windows are on the left. It took a little while to get used to those minor differences, but in the end you realized that the differences are just that - minor. So what’s so great about Macs? Sure, the Aqua interface is pretty and has none of those pesky Windows error messages, but it’s just a computer.