Copyright © 2013 Knight Sac Media. All rights reserved.http://www.siliconinvestor.com/subject.aspx?subjectid=58052PURPOSE We all know Apple products are much easier to use than their competitors products. Still, with desktop computers, notebook computers, iPods, iPads, iPhones, apps, iTunes, Apple TV and various flavors of Mac OS X and other software, most mortals can get stuck. This thread is intended as a p...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/images/Logo380x132.pnghttp://www.siliconinvestor.com/subject.aspx?subjectid=5805238013210J.F. SebastianGetting started with Messages If you thought the only way you could use your Mac to communicate with other people was to send email messages, I’m about to brighten your day. For years the Mac OS has supported instant messaging, a form of texting similar to sending and receiving messages with a mobile phone.http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=289006185/17/2013 2:04:49 PMJ.F. SebastianFive overlooked OS X system tweaks If you like to find new ways to tweak OS X, you sometimes need to look in unexpected places. For example, the Accessibility pane of System Preferences, which houses a number of features to help users who have limited seeing, hearing, and mobility, contains some nifty features that al...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=289005985/17/2013 1:57:14 PMJ.F. SebastianFive Dictionary tricks I can't live without You’ve probably ditched your paper dictionary, but do you know how to use OS X’s built-in one? Whether you need to know what a word means or just how to spell it, the days of leafing through hefty paper dictionaries are gone. But few Mac users really know how to make the mo...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=289005875/17/2013 1:54:06 PMStock PuppyThere is bound to be some sort of macro recording program for the PC. Even if it isn't as powerful as Automator, it might take the edge off the repetitive task. I remember the beleaguered OS 8 days when I had some repetitive stuff to do and AppleScript was just not powerful enough and of course I couldn't use UNIX...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288889825/11/2013 4:11:27 PMSr KSilverlight says it updates automatically, but I was watching a video and clicked the Silverlight icon, and it took me to a page to tell me there's a newer version. When I started to download it, I saw that it "updates automatically", so I aborted the installation. Same thing with Flash and Microsoft Office. They are ...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288885305/11/2013 11:24:31 AMJ.F. SebastianThat's correct, AppleScripts (and Automator that I mentioned) are only for OS X. We both mistakenly figured you were using a Mac. You may just have to do it one at a time manually if you're on a PC. Sorry. :-(http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288881895/11/2013 3:38:49 AMElroyI was going to download and try the script, but I see this: AppleScripts cannot run on the Windows operating system. == Does that mean it won't work on a PC running Windows 7?http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288881775/11/2013 3:22:54 AMyofal you could probably use Automator to record a script to do it for you Or download someone else's script… dougscripts.com http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288866555/10/2013 10:56:03 AMJ.F. SebastianIs there some way to change the default viewing option so that it applies to all lists, or do I need to go through my playlists one by one and change their viewing preference? As far as I know you have to change them one by one. I've never seen a global setting for that. That said, you could probably use Automator ...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288859275/9/2013 11:06:58 PMElroyIn iTunes I've modified my view preference for the music libarary so that some items are not shown (rating) and other items which are not in the default setting are shown (track number, file kind, etc.). However, all of my playlists still display the default options. Is there some way to change the default viewing opt...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288858685/9/2013 10:29:07 PMJ.F. SebastianFive overlooked abilities of the Finder's Path Bar When you’re working in a deeply nested folder (a folder within a folder within…), the Finder provides several options for moving back up through the hierarchy. But only one option provides both at-a-glance info and powerful shortcuts for working with files: the Path B...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288826915/8/2013 2:33:17 PMJ.F. Sebastianhttp://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288826845/8/2013 2:30:59 PMElroyI want to delete all the downloaded apps from my iTunes library and then load all the apps from my iPads into the empty iTunes library. Why do you want to do that? Most of my apps are games that I've downloaded for the kids. We've deleted some of the games off the iPads, but they are still in the iTunes library, and...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288771335/6/2013 2:00:58 AMJ.F. SebastianI want to delete all the downloaded apps from my iTunes library and then load all the apps from my iPads into the empty iTunes library. Why do you want to do that? I know that if you download an app to the iPad from the iTunes Store directly (without going through iTunes), it will sync that app with iTunes. However...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288765865/5/2013 5:31:35 PMElroyI want to delete all the downloaded apps from my iTunes library and then load all the apps from my iPads into the empty iTunes library. Is there any technique necessary for doing this? If I delete all the apps from the iTunes library, and then sync an iPad, what will iTunes do - delete the apps from the iPad (since i...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288757425/5/2013 3:48:17 AMtcdThat's insane! :) iMovie. I did learn that Final Cut Pro/plug-in Compressor also does this conversion and I hope that I don't need a science degree... I will try iMovie first. The problem being that PAL has a different frame rate than NTSC which can cause a phenomenon called judder. May not be able to remove the ad...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288703635/2/2013 9:20:53 AMRoad WalkerAha! Thanks. Wonder how my wife managed to set that last night after I went to bed???http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288685765/1/2013 11:29:58 AMyofalexcept there is a small lock symbol with a circular arrow around it next to the battery indicatorI believe that the orientation lock symbol - so the screen doesn't re-orient when you turn the tablet 90º. An update to iOS now allows you to change the function of the slider switch on the side of the tablet - either to ...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288685465/1/2013 11:18:14 AMyofalHow do I set it to show that information about playlists? One of the slightly annoying things about the iTunes 11 update was that it turned off many views by default. So, to see your track counts… Select "View", then "Show Status Bar" (And "Show Side Bar" too if you haven't already.) cheershttp://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288685265/1/2013 11:13:30 AMJ.F. SebastianI don't know what the optimum software is, but OS X's built in iMovie can do it. At least Google tells me it can: ehow.com http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288683085/1/2013 10:03:17 AMRoad WalkerOpened the iPad this morning and it was frozen... With a "downloading" box in the middle of the screen. Rebooted and everything works fine, except there is a small lock symbol with a circular arrow around it next to the battery indicator, as if it is securely downloading something. Never saw this before???http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288679875/1/2013 4:18:00 AMtcdJ.F. : Trying to find a optimum software for converting PAL to NTSC. I see that MOVAVI is one such for Apple OS. Any suggestions.... TDhttp://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288675654/30/2013 8:07:33 PMElroyI've installed iTunes 11.02.26. There used to be a way to select a playlist, and it would show on the bottom bar the number of songs in the playlist. Now I can't see any information at the bottom of iTunes. How do I set it to show that information about playlists?http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288660794/30/2013 9:27:52 AMElroyHello, I would like to remove all of my iPad apps from my iTunes library, and then reload to the library only the apps that are on my three iPads. When I select all the apps in iTunes and click delete I get the message that this will delete all the apps (good) and also delete these apps from any iPad or iPhone when i...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288658654/30/2013 6:23:06 AMJ.F. SebastianHere's how you would add a subscription for an iPhone (I assume the method for other iDevices would be similar): 1. On the iPhone navigate to Settings -> Mail, Contacts, Calendars -> Add Account -> Other -> Add Subscribed Calendar 2. Enter the full URL to the Server field. It may be easier to email yourself the the ic...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288619884/27/2013 11:51:36 AMRoad Walkerhttp://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288619404/27/2013 11:25:17 AMJ.F. SebastianHow to import calendars in OS X By default Calendar doesn’t come equipped with a holiday calendar, but it’s easy to add one through calendar subscriptions. The manual way to do this is to cruise the Internet until you locate the kind of calendar you seek, copy the URL for that calendar, choose File > New Calendar Subs...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288618244/27/2013 9:59:34 AMJ.F. SebastianHow to track a lost computer with Find My Mac If your computer is stolen or otherwise liberated from your possession, don’t despair: If you’ve remembered to enable Find My Mac, you can track it, remotely lock it, and even send messages to your Mac’s screen.http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288618124/27/2013 9:50:24 AMJ.F. SebastianMacworld How-To article: Type special characters in OS X Your Mac’s keyboard makes it easy to type any of the standard characters—the ones used most frequently in everyday typing. But OS X lets you use hundreds of special characters that don’t appear on your keyboard’s keys. This week’s video explains three ways to a...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288618044/27/2013 9:45:04 AMSr KI'm reading a PDF and want to rotate a series of pages 90 degrees. Is there an easy way to do this from Adobe® Reader? Thanks. EDIT I got it. 2-finger tap on the + sign, and select Show All Rotate View Tools.http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288551184/23/2013 10:42:32 PMJ.F. SebastianApple released several updates today for Java, Safari, iPhoto, Aperture, and printer drivers for Epson, Canon and HP printers. You can run Software Update from the Apple Menu to get them. Of note to those using Safari: Safari 6.0.4 and 5.1.9 Safari 6.0.4 and 5.1.9 allow you to enable the Java web plug-in on a websi...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288394984/16/2013 7:13:30 PMElroyOK, at the top of the screen on the right there is a down arrow. It will open a downloads window where items can be paused or cancelled. To cancel, select the item and slap delete key. I've done this, and for most downloads it works. The download is cancelled and does not reappear. But for this one app, it doesn't wo...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288205124/7/2013 3:34:56 AMRoad WalkerSo you better be good for goodness sake.. Ugh. If I had to stand up to every time I took one step towards temptation and turned around, then I couldn't stand up...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288200284/6/2013 4:21:45 PMStock PuppyRight right - it'll appear on any device that your account is logged into iTunes, so it wouldnt be a local plist, eh? So if one day you "accidently" click on downloading "Jello Wrestling Amazon Lonely Blondes from Mars" and then thought better of it and cancel, it'll be there mocking you until judgement day where the ...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288198864/6/2013 2:45:28 PMHerbVichttp://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288198374/6/2013 2:06:05 PMStock PuppyHowever it will still be listed as an available download. Don't know if there is a way to clear that. Probably at that point there's a plist file somewhere that can be edited to get rid of it.http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288196584/6/2013 12:07:22 PMHerbVicWhen the download starts, click the "X" at the end of the progress bar at the top of the screen. That will cancel the download. Oops, no it doesn't. It only pauses it. OK, at the top of the screen on the right there is a down arrow. It will open a downloads window where items can be paused or cancelled. To cancel, s...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288195814/6/2013 11:15:16 AMElroyQuestion on downloading apps using iTunes. A few months ago I started downloading this game that was 1.2GB in size, then I thought about it and decided I don't want to download it. So I right clicked on the downloading file and selected delete. The file deleted, but since then it often reappears in the downloading l...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288192924/6/2013 3:52:21 AMRoad WalkerOr they could have just told you that all Aperture image files are stored in the Aperture Library package file in your user directory under Pictures. Except that's not where they were. The iPhoto/Aperture Library had already been moved to the external drive. The Pictures file on the Mac drive was empty. These were in...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288153024/4/2013 9:33:33 AMyofal The FAR more experienced (than me) folks on this threadOr they could have just told you that all Aperture image files are stored in the Aperture Library package file in your user directory under Pictures. To each is his own...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288152584/4/2013 9:14:01 AMRoad WalkerWho said you had to buy a third party app? The FAR more experienced (than me) folks on this thread... reiterated and rec'ed by several. These are not dumb folks yofal, they are probably in the top knowledge quintile for Apple users. Honest, a Windows PC would have been much easier in this situation. http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288143874/3/2013 5:39:47 PMyofal Having to buy 3rd party software to do a normal thing on your computer is stupid, not simple. Who said you had to buy a third party app? All this info is available for free from Apple's, how to access it, what key commands to use, if you care to access the manuals. documentation.apple.com http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288143104/3/2013 4:44:45 PMRoad WalkerThose that are more technically inclined will know enough to get around the rather simple way in which they are hidden. Simple? Simple is you have to go through a few menus. Having to buy 3rd party software to do a normal thing on your computer is stupid, not simple. http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288142444/3/2013 4:17:14 PMyofal what are they thinking?I think it sound in light of the fact that most users can hardly navigate a word processor. It's not as simple as just keeping a pile of photos in a folder…moving or deleting files in that structure could give them real problems - and then there would be more whining. Those that are more tec...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288137774/3/2013 1:15:26 PMRoad WalkerI had already moved the Aperture/iPhoto libraries to the external drive... the problem was the hidden dups on the Mac HD. Well over 2000 at 20mb each... builds up (and that's after only 3 months with the new, high res camera). I was going to delete them instead of move them... but just figured I've got a lot of space o...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288103904/1/2013 5:14:20 PMRoad WalkerI DID need DaisyDisk to even find the files. Crazy of Apple to hide these files, what are they thinking? Thanks again. http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288103814/1/2013 5:04:52 PMyofal Hope you don't have any problems after moving things manually. This article outlines the procedure for moving files to external drives… mosaicarchive.com http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288102344/1/2013 3:41:40 PMHerbVicSounds great! I gather you didn't need DaisyDisk to accomplish your task. So, what was it, and how did you manage it?http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288101674/1/2013 3:11:04 PMRoad WalkerSuccess! Moved the offending files from the Mac HD to the ext drive. Thanks! Not sure why Apple hides stuff, surprisingly this would have been simpler with a windows machine. http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288100774/1/2013 2:35:55 PMJ.F. SebastianHerbVic is right. DaisyDisk is the go-to app for checking your hard drive for the things that take up space. I've heard nothing but good things about it. You can also use a program called Find Any File to look for files with attributes that you set. You can look for files with a number of parameters, including file s...http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=288077233/30/2013 4:33:55 PM