Launch iTunes, then go to the advanced settings of the iTunes app (Advanced -> Turn on Home Sharing). Once active, after logging in, you should see a Home Sharing tab on the left side of the main screen of iTunes.

2. Start Adding Computers.

On the computers you want to share with, repeat the first step. Go onto one of these additional computers, activate Home Sharing in iTunes, and log in with the same Apple ID you used in step one. Choose your computers wisely, as an iTunes account can only be shared with five computers.

3. Check the Connections.

By now, all computers sharing the same Home Sharing account will also see the other connected computers there. When clicked, you can view the music they have, along with applications and multimedia.

4. Begin Transferring.

You will be able to add some of the songs found on those libraries onto your own. To do so, you have two options. If there’s one or two songs you want to add, you can simply click on each one, and drag into their respective section in the “Library” region of iTunes. If there are more, it may work better to click “Command” + each song you’d like to transfer. From there, drag the highlighted songs or multimedia to their final destination.

5. Let iTunes Take Care of the Sharing for You.

If you find that you and the computer you are sharing with repeatedly have similar tastes in music, or even if you want to automatically have any other future content sent to your Mac, you can easily activate “Automatic Transfer.” Just go to “iTunes -> Preferences -> Store”. Select which content you’d like to automatically download based on devices connected to the same account.

Home Sharing in iTunes is a great way for your content to easily get transferred to your Mac, whether it’s at home or in an office. If you have used this method before, let us know in the comments how this has allowed for a more streamlined transfer of iTunes content.

The post How to Set Up Home Sharing in iTunes appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

Creating Folder Action in Automator

1. Open Automator. Select “Folder Action”.

There are tons of things that you can get it to perform with Folder Action. Today we will show you how to automatically resize images in the folder. Once you get the hang of folder actions, you can then customize everything to fit your needs.

2. Next, select a folder that you want to attach the Folder Action to. In this example, since we are mainly dealing with images, we will use the Photos folder.

3. Select “Photos” from the Library column at the left side of the Automator window, follow by “Scale Images”.

4. Drag the “Scale Images” option to the Actions section. You will receive a prompt asking you if you’d like to keep the original file as well as the one that is resized when added. If you’d like to keep the original file as well, click “Add”. If not, click “Don’t Add”.

5. If you have selected “Add”, you should now see two actions in your Workflow. The first item is labeled “Copy Finder Items”. This is where you select the folder to store the resized images. The second item is the “Scale Images” action where you can specify the size the photos are resized to. You can do so by percentage or pixel.

6. Lastly, save this workflow. Now, whenever an image file is saved to that folder, it will be resized to the size you specified earlier.

Removing the Folder Action

If the Folder Action is not working for you, here are the steps to remove it from your setup.

1. Open the Finder and navigate to the folder where you have attached the Folder Action to. Right click and select “Folder Action Setup”.

2. In the window that show up, you can either disable “Folder Action” altogether, remove this folder from the Folder Action, or remove the Folder Action from this folder. In most cases, clicking the “-” button at the bottom of the screen will delete the folder action attached to this folder.

That’s it.

Now, it is your turn to utilize your creativity to create the Folder Action to automate your life.

The post How to Setup Folder Actions to Automatically Resize Images in Your Folder [Mac] appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

1. Grabbing PDF Text

Most PDF documents are essentially images of text. For this reason, it is difficult to accurately take text from PDFs into anything usable. However, there’s an automator workflow that can grab the PDF text and save it to a text file.

1. Open Automator. Select “Application” when asked of which document you’d like to create.

2. In the “Library” column, select “Files and Folders”. Next to the “Library” column, in the column for program options, drag “Ask for Finder Items” to the “Action” section.

3. Back to the Library column, select “PDFs”. Next to the “Library” column, in the column for program options, drag “Extract PDF Text” to the “Action” section

4. In the “Extract PDF Text” item you dragged into workflow, find the option labeled “Output”. Select “Rich Text”.

5. Under “Save Output to”, select which location you’d like to save the text to.

6. Click “Command + S” to title and save the workflow. Select “Application” for “File Format”

When you need to extract text from the PDF file, simply run this workflow (or application) and select the PDF you’d like to convert. It will then grab he text from the PDF file and save it to the location you specified previously.

2. Quitting All Running Applications

When you are on Mac, there are two situations when you just need to purge yourself of all active applications.

1. if you are an individual who likes to keep your Mac on throughout the day and evening, then having an application running regularly can be brutal to your system.
2. On the other hand, if you are working on multiple projects at a time, your system goes into overdrive when you have multiple applications open.

This workflow allows you to have one thing working at a time.

1. Open Automator. Select “Workflow” when asked of which document you’d like to create.

2. In the “Library” column, select “Utilities”. Next to the “Library” column, in the column for program options, drag “Quit All Applications” to the “Action” section

3. To exclude certain applications from quitting, click “Add” and select the application(s)

4. Click “Command + S” to save the workflow. Select “Application” for “File Format”

You can pin this workflow (application) to the dock so next time you can just click it to close all applications.

3. Create your own clipboard manager

Copying text on Mac only allows you to have one thing on your clipboard at a time. This means, if you copy a video link and want to then copy the text from another individual, the only thing you can paste is the latter. This workflow allows you to have a text file created for everything you copy to clipboard. This will act as a simple clipboard manager and allows you to easily refer back to previous clipboards later.

1. Open Automator. Select “Workflow” when asked of which document you’d like to create.

2. In the “Library” column, select “Utilities”. Next to the “Library” column, in the column for program options, drag “Get Contents of Clipboard” to the “Action” section.

3. In the “Library” column, select “Text”. Next to the “Library” column, in the column for program options, drag “New Text File” to the “Action” section.

4. Under “Options”, select “Show this action when workflow runs”. This will allow you to be prompted before such a file is created.

5. Click “Command + S” to save the workflow. Select “Application” for “File Format”.

You can get this workflow (application) to run during startup so everything you copy will be pasted to the text file.

4. From Text to Audio

Finally, staying with text, the last workflow we will preview is text to audio. This workflow allows you to take the text that you have copied to clipboard and have an audio file of the text saved automatically to your Mac. This is useful when taking class notes in school, needing an audio grocery list, or even for the visually impaired.

1. Open Automator. Select “Workflow” when asked of which document you’d like to create.

2. In the “Library” column, select “Utilities”. Next to the “Library” column, in the column for program options, drag “Get Contents of Clipboard” to the “Action” section.

3. In the “Library” column, select “Text”. Next to the “Library” column, in the column for program options, drag “Text to Audio File” to the “Action” section, under “Get Contents of Clipboard”.

4. Take a look around the options, make adjustments accordingly, including voice style and where the audio file is saved.

5. Click “Command + S” to title and save the workflow. Select “Application” for “File Format”

Whenever you run this workflow, it will create the audio file from the last clipboard item.

Conclusion

Automator has multiple benefits in the way you use your Mac. The program makes use of workflows to make for a more productive use of your Mac. While being an Automator master takes more time and workflows with greater difficulty, making Automator work for you in a noticeable way is easy and approachable for just about anyone. Let us know in the comments below how you have made use of the Automator program to help with making Mac usage more productive and time saving for you.

The post Make Your Life Easier With These 4 Useful Automator Workflows For OS X appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

1. Feedly

The appeal that I have with Feedly is the way it keeps some of the same Google Reader aspects, e.g. how the reader works and handles content consumption. Feedly is well-organized in terms of allowing you to personalize the application to fit your content consumption patterns while still making it easy to quickly jump into the “Today” tab and catch up on the hot stories of the day.

One important aspect of Feedly that I enjoy is that it is cross-platform compatible. You can find Feedly on most mobile devices and well known browsers like Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. From now until July 1st, Feedly’s use of Google Reader’s API will make for a great transition; however, with the reader having its own system created by then, chances are the amazing Feedly app will become even better.

2. The Old Reader

The Old Reader is an RSS reader that comes with a great design reminiscent of Google Reader.

The Old Reader allows you to browse the day’s content and even makes sharing the content easy and seamless.

Plus, The Old Reader’s ability to facilitate comments and have a social air to it allows you to have the day’s stories come to life. The Old Reader has Google Reader exportation features, allowing for a seamless transition. While they are promising to be mobile-ready soon, we have to cut them slack and remember that they are in beta.

3. Pulse

Pulse is an RSS reader for Android and iOS users. It makes heavy visuals to show you the news. When you find a story that interests you, simply click on the tile in Pulse and reader further in. You can also surf the news seamlessly by tapping either ends of the full screen article to go to another story. Pulse allows you to choose subjects first, presenting sources later. However, unlike The Old Reader, Pulse doesn’t have a huge social aspect. Except for sharing options, Pulse doesn’t facilitate conversation. It also doesn’t offer Google Reader importation. However, for most users, this is okay. They want a classic RSS reader with a modern flair, and Pulse offers you the content you crave with a good face to match.

4. NetVibes

NetVibes is a Google Reader alternative that ups the ante on content consumption. The website can look a little scary in the beginning; but as you explore deeper, you will find that it offers much more things than just being a RSS reader.

The basic, free version provides you with the ability to keep up with not only all of the news that you want to absorb through RSS feeds, but also the content that comes from social media. With desktop and mobile versions available as well, NetVibes gives you a deeper look and a more personal view of the content that matters to you.

5. Flipboard

Flipboard is a tried and tested RSS reader that is self-denoted as the “social magazine”. For iOS and Android users, Flipboard mixes the content that you care about from your personal life (social networks) and the greater news sources and provides you with a magazine-like application with a beautiful design to match.

It is amazing how the service is able, for free, to provide your mundane social media feed in a format that matches the important news stories of the day. Flipboard isn’t gesture-packed, meaning the learning curve is short (a good thing, allowing for more time to use, less time having to figure out). You simply flip to view multiple pages and tap to view the feed you want in detail. “Cover Stories” provides you with the top news of the day. While it is mobile only, features like a search function allow it to be a competitive contender to alternatives to Google Reader.

Conclusion

The alternatives to Google Reader we have lined up above are those that any user, from Windows to Mac, iOS to Android, would make great use of. Many of the alternatives above offer even more features than that of Google Reader. Let us know in the comments below which alternatives above tickle your fancy.

The post 5 Great Alternatives to Google Reader appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

Where is Font Book?

You can access Font Book in the Applications folder of your Mac. However, this isn’t the most functional way of accessing Font Book, especially if you want to access the application regularly. If you’d like to access Font Book another way, you can do so with “Command + T”. It’s important to ensure that you are doing this command in an application supporting Font Book or font changes (Font Panel). For example, doing a Command + T will bring up a new tab rather than Comic Sans in an app that doesn’t support font changes. To be safe, you can always go to” Format -> Font” to find font options.

The Interface of Font Book

When you load up Font Book, you are presented with the ability to choose from various fonts in the center and left side of the screen. You can also preview the fonts on the right side of the screen. At the top of the Font Book window, you can search through fonts and even paste and preview your text in Font Book. Clicking the “i” button allows you to view more information.

Clicking the “+” button below the “Collection” category allows you to make an album of fonts. Clicking the “+” below the “Font” section allows you to add your own fonts. Clicking the checkmark allows you to disable a specific font. Of course, font size options are available on the right side of the screen.

Downloading Fonts

Downloading fonts from Font Book is simple to do. First off, click the “+” sign under the Font column. This will bring up a Finder folder that will allow you to search for the font you’d like to download. It’s important when downloading fonts to have them placed in an easily accessible location. If you are interested in downloading high quality fonts, and not so sure where to start, two websites that I make use of for new fonts are Google Web Fonts and FontShop. Both offer amazing, new fonts that are high quality and unique.

Troubleshooting

Lastly, Font Book can sometimes have issues with duplicate or unsupported fonts popping up around your Mac. If this occurs when you download a new font, or you discover it when searching around Font Book, there are some official ways of fixing the problem. When a dot appears next to the font name, simply right click the font(s) to “Disable/Remove” the font, “Validate” the font if the issue is present, or click “Resolve Duplicates” when that is discovered.

Font Book offers many options in terms of what you can do with your fonts – adding new ones or adjusting the amount of fonts you have already. Let us know in the comments below if you, too, have discovered the joy of font choices and which are your favorites.

The post Font Book on Mac: A Thorough Tutorial appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

What is Keychain Access?

Keychain Access is the password manager that comes with all OS X Macs. You will most likely run into the program when entering a password on a website or in Utilities. Keychain Access stores passwords, notes, and security certifications from not only Safari, but other applications as well.

In Safari

To get to Keychain Access from Safari, click the Safari name in the menu bar, followed by “Preferences” and “Passwords”. You will see a list of the websites and services Keychain Access has saved passwords for. The upper right hand corner of the window allows you to search for a particular website you have saved the password for.

In the bottom left, you can choose to remove all passwords. Lastly, you can show passwords by clicking the checkbox at the lower center of the page.

In Utilities

You can also find Keychain Access in the Utilities of Mac. When you open Keychain Access from there, you will be able to access passwords, notes, and certificates by clicking any of those options in the upper left part of the screen. Below that, you can go a bit further and choose categories.

At the bottom of the screen, you can add more passwords by clicking the “+” button. The “i” information button reveals more info about the specific certificate or password key. Lastly, you can also copy the password with the “copy” button.

Keychain Access: Outside of Safari

Keychain Access is also useful outside of Safari. Other web browsers can also make use of it to access your passwords. You can also make notes to yourself to create a place to save other pins, such as your banking pin or even your iPhone password.

1. Click the “+” button at the bottom of the page.
2. Under “Keychain Item Name” – name the password or pin you’d like to save. For example,” iPhone Pin”.
3. Under “Account Name” – name the individual who will make use of this password or pin.
4. Finally, enter the password or pin under “Password”. Pay attention to the password strength. It lets you know if this is a good password or one that can easily be cracked.
5. Click “Add”.

For a safe note-to-self, click “File -> New Secure Note Item…” to add a safe note.

Safety and Security Tips

You may be wondering if you can access your passwords and notes so easily, what’s there to stop others from doing it as well? The key to this protection is by locking Keychain Access.

There are two ways of doing this. You can lock just the Specific Key that you currently selected from the Keychains section of Keychain Access. To do this, simply click “File -> Lock Keychain Specific Key” or “Command + L”. To lock all of Keychain Access, including certificates and notes, click “Lock All Keychains”. To have this done automatically, go to “Edit -> Change Settings for…”. This will change depending on which Keychain you are accessing. Once clicked, you can set Keychain to initiate after a set amount of inactivity.

One pitfall of Keychain Access is that visitors to your Mac can have access to your passwords even when you lock Keychain Access through the app. For example, if you have your Facebook account in Keychain Access, it will automatically fill in the password and you just have to press “Enter” to login to your Facebook account. This also means anyone accessing Facebook on your computer has access to your account.

If you feel that Keychain Access is lacking in features, there are a couple of alternatives password managers that you can try out.

Is password security a concern for you? How do you manage your Mac passwords? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post Keychain Access: Keeping Mac Passwords Safe appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

Let’s first take a look at what the Mac dock does, then go more in depth on the dock’s importance and potential.

Basics of The Mac Dock

To launch an application in the Mac dock, all you have to do is click the application in the dock with a single finger press.

• If you have an application on your desktop (or the Application folder) that you’d like to add to your dock, you can do so by clicking and dragging the application from your desktop to the dock, releasing once the app has landed.
• If you’d like to remove an application from your dock, simply click and hold it, and drag it away from the dock. You can drop anywhere; the app will simply disappear.
• If you want to rearrange the apps in the dock, you can click, hold, and drag an app to move it from its current location to another.

Digging Deeper

To go a bit deeper into an application’s dock options, you’ll have to right click (or tap with two fingers on the trackpad) on the app in the dock. This acts as the “more options” aspect of an application in docks. This is where you’ll able to access a couple of options that are more advanced than opening, while still being unique, depending on the app.

Every app in the dock comes with the options to remove it from the dock, have it set to open when you log in to your Mac, or open it up in Finder. Certain applications such as Pages comes with additional options like “Show Recents” (viewing recent documents). These additional options are different for each application.

There are a couple of small changes you can do to the dock to make it a bit more personalized. To access these changes, go to the “System Preferences -> Dock”. You can make the following changes:

• Change the Dock’s Size
• Enable Magnification (Set Size)
• Dock Position (Left, Bottom [Default], or Right)
• Change Effect when Minimizing Windows
• Other Options…

Folders vs. Apps

Before, we were focusing on applications, which usually have their own set features and options without the influence of others. However, new issues arise when we have multiple items in one area (a folder), now in your dock. Currently in my dock, I have two folders – Applications and Documents.

When you right click on folders, you are able to set viewing options within the folder, without even opening it up. For example, you are able to sort a folder or desktop by name, date added, date opened, etc. These features are available readily from the dock. You can also change the look of the folder in docks (stack or folder view).

The “View Contents As…” option allows you to set how the contents are shown once the folder is clicked on. While we’re at it, what can the trash do? You can either look through its content with “Open” or delete its content with “Empty Trash”.

Special Circumstances (dock options for certain apps)

You may be wondering what occurs with the more specific, feature-filled applications on your Mac, what options you have there. You have many! First off, it’s important to remember that many of the features and options are available in dock only when the app is active. This may seem like a disservice; however, if you’re like me and keep many apps open when you are working extra productively, this can come in handy instead of having to go directly to the app.

For example:

• when active, iCal allows you to create a New Event by right clicking.
• Messages allows you to change your current status and to even begin a new message.
• When Preferences is open, you are able to right click and go to a specific section from the dock. This can be quite useful when you’re unsure where a specific settings option can be found.

Almost every other app, including many that you’ve downloaded yourself, have these special options as well, so it’s fun to discover as you go.

How has the Mac dock helped with your productivity? Comment below to let us know!

The post The Power of the Mac Dock: A Beginner’s Guide appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

Getting Started

When getting started with Task Till Dawn, it may seem a bit boring and basic. However, once you get into some serious tasks with the application, you will notice that your automated tasks end up on the front page. Let’s dive a bit into the interface.

Thankfully, each aspect of the interface has icons and is labeled. From left to right, the “Run Task(s)” option allows you to activate one or all of the tasks you have created below. They don’t always have to be running, however, and that’s where “Stop Execution” comes into play. “New Task” and “Edit Task” allow you to create and make changes to new tasks and tasks already created. You can then remove tasks that aren’t needed with the “Remove” icon. These options will be referred to repeatedly throughout the review.

The Basics of Tasks

Let’s dig into tasks. The tasks you create will determine how well or horrible Task Till Dawn relates to your experience. Keeping this in mind, we will make reference to a sample task, minimal in difficulty, to show how Task Till Dawn can tackle it. Every morning, you may want to check your email. Let’s create a task to launch the Mail application automatically.

1. Click on “New Task”

2. Name Your Task Under “Taskname”

3. Describe it if you feel this is necessary, marking below in the checkbox if you want to activate this task once you finish setting it up or not.

4. Select the application you’d like to use in this automation.

5. After setting your execution criteria, click “Ok”

The appeal for more advanced automation is through the use of scripts. If you are familiar with scripts, the possibilities of Task Till Dawn are limitless. In addition, I used IFTTT to assist a bit in my automation and feel it would be easy and accessible to the individuals not familiar with scripts. For example, I have specific attachments from emails sent to a Dropbox folder that I refer to multiple times a day. Task Till Dawn allows for the automatic opening of that file at specific intervals of the day.

Going Further into Task Till Dawn

You may have noticed an “Extended Settings” option in Task Till Dawn. This option allows you to get a bit deeper into your Task Till Dawn automation. For example, if you start up your Mac but don’t want a specific automation to occur, you can use the option – “Delay[ing] task execution for _ second”. You can also wait for the task to finish, have it execute in the background, and many more other settings, including “Maximum executions” – disabling or deleting tasks after exceeding that specific number.

Pros and Cons

If you are looking to automate your Mac, Task Till Dawn might be the app you’re looking for. It isn’t complicated and doesn’t have a ton of hidden features. You get what you see, and even more, you get what you make out of it. There were a few issues with some AppleScript executions, preventing me from being able to focus too much on them in this review, however many other individuals have mentioned AppleScript working well after a couple of changes to how they execute it with Task Till Dawn.

Task Till Dawn can do great things for you and make things a lot easier. With some time to really think over your Task Till Dawn routine, you can really enjoy the application. Let us know in the comments below how you’ve made Task Till Dawn work for you to automate your Mac.

Task Till Dawn (Task Till Dawn is available for Windows as well)

The post Automate Your Mac With Task Till Dawn appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

However, that isn’t a problem. Up until now, you most likely didn’t need any of those programs. All of those I just named are located in the Utilities folder, the folder that can be a bit of a mystery to all beginner Mac users and even some intermediate users. Today, we will demystify the Mac Utilities folder and give a basic synopsis of each application in the Utilities folder..

What Are Utilities Anyway?

The Mac Utilities folder is the section of the Mac where you can learn about and change the nitty gritty of your Mac. While there are some well-known applications that we may make use of regularly, including QuickTime Player, AirPort Utility, or even Terminal, a couple of the applications in Utilities may be a bit foreign to you, like RAID Utility or Console.

Activity Monitor

The central station to find out which applications or programs on your Mac are running.

AirPort Utility

AirPort is Apple’s term for the workings of your WIFI, Internet connection, or Bluetooth.

AppleScript Editor

AppleScript is the Apple program that deals mostly with automating your Mac to do what you want it to do. It’s a bit more difficult than Terminal but gives you more customization options.

Audio MIDI Setup

The place where you can go a bit deeper into auto settings, from decibel levels to even controlling external speakers.

Bluetooth File Exchange

Bluetooth File Exchange is an application that has some mainstream usefulness for all Mac users. Chances are when you are wanting to transfer files through Bluetooth from your phone to your Mac, Bluetooth File Exchange pops up.

Boot Camp Assistant

If you want Windows on your Mac, Boot Camp Assistant is just about the only way to accomplish this.

ColorSync Utility

Did anyone call for iPhoto on overload? ColorSync Utility is that program you’ve been asking for. While it doesn’t store your photos like iPhoto, ColorSync does allow you to go a bit deeper and more specific with the edits that you make with certain images.

Console

Console is mainly a log of all your Mac activities. Many times it is too complicated and crowded to be understood by the average observer. However, those knowledgable will find this place a bit useful when a problem arises on the Mac and they want to narrow down solutions.

DigitalColor Meter

Calling our photography editors out there. This is a simple eyedropper tool allowing you to make a color identification for the color you see but are having a hard time identifying specifically.

Disk Utility

If you are having a bit of an issue with your external hard drive, Disk Utility can assist you in repairing it. This can include reformatting and even clearing data in a more organized and formal way.

Grab

If you’ve ever taken a screenshot on Mac, you’ve used Grab. There isn’t any real benefit of visiting the Grab application instead of using a keyboard shortcut.

Grapher

This is the place where mathematical enthusiasts can create as many equation-based graphs to their hearts content.

Keychain Access

Use Keychain Access to remember and retrieve the passwords that you make use of online. Safari Preferences + Passwords also allows you to access the same passwords.

Migration Assistant

Transfers your old files, software, user accounts, and more from your old Mac to your new Mac.

Network Utility

Everything about your Internet connection, that you can make use of once connected through AirPort Utility, can be found in Network Utility. This is where you can learn about your current performance and IP address, among other things.

QuickTime Player

The Mac equivalent of Windows Media Player. Windows can also make use of QuickTime player.

System Information

Every single thing you need to know about your Mac, from battery health to even hardware information.

Terminal

Similar to AppleScript, Terminal allows your Mac to do just about anything made possible through the use of commands.

VoiceOver Utility

Despite being called VoiceOver Utility, this application covers all accessibility features of Mac for those with a disability.

X11

X11 is a bit confusing, but if you are familiar with Unix, it is simply the GUI for Unix – most notably Linux – users.

As you’ve just learned, the Mac Utilities folder comes with a ton of helpful applications. Let us know which applications you were surprised to have found in the folder and which ones you’ll be making use of more often!

The post Mac Utilities Folder Demystified appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

We have previously shown you how to play Tetris on your Terminal. In this tutorial, we will show you how to play many other games in your Terminal.

The Games Available

The hack that we are going to make use of today presents you with popular gaming names like Tetris, Ping Pong, and even Snake. The much lesser-known games, like Doctor, are also available, however the plain design and game play probably isn’t as attractive as the other games available through this hack. Now, let’s work on finding these fun, hidden games in Terminal.

Getting Started

1. Open the Terminal: Search for the program in Spotlight or by going through your Applications folder and looking under “Utilities”.

2. Activate eMacs: Simply type in the command “emacs” and press enter. No need to make another line beforehand.

3. Hit Esc key

4. Type “x”

5. Type “Tetris” (or “5×5″, “doctor”, ‘dunner”, “gomoku”, “landmark”, “pong”, “solitaire”, or “snake”)

6. Have fun! When you want to exit out to the main Terminal screen, simply click “Control + X” then “Control + C”.

Basics of Game Play

As you can see, the design is very basic. The left side of the Tetris game is where you’ll find the actual game play area, where you’ll see the blocks. The right side is where you’ll see the number of shapes fallen, number of completed rows, and finally your score. Just as you’d expect, use the arrows to navigate and the space to fast-drop a shape instantly.

For other games, simply replace “Tetris” that we typed in step 5 with the other suggestions provided in the parentheses. Want to play Ping Pong for example, type in “pong” (without the quotations of course).

For more Mac games in Terminal, go to Finder and press “Command + Shift + G”, type “/usr/share/emacs/22.1/lisp/play” in the box under “Go to the folder”. Click “Go”

Let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed this hack for activating hidden Mac games in Terminal and which game you are finding yourself endlessly playing. Also, be sure to share this with your other Mac0using friends and family.

The post How to Activate Hidden Mac Games in Terminal appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

The First Steps

Once you have taken your Macbook Pro out from its box, you’ll have to power it on by pressing the power button section at the top right area of the keyboard. The first bootup will take a bit longer than normal, as the OS (OS X Mountain Lion) is setting itself up and gathering information about its user (and that is you). Here are a couple of things to consider during this process:

• You will be prompted to create an Apple ID. This is the identification login that will be your new name for everything dealing with Apple, including iCloud.
• You will also be asked to create a login. For safety precautions, this will be asked of you for accessing certain changes in the system preferences. Not all Macs have to be password-protected though, so doing this doesn’t mean that will occur. It’s only for accessing settings and possibly for new downloads.
• Ensure that you have an Internet connection of some form readily available before you begin the process to prevent any unexpected disappointment.

Get Your MacBook Pro In-Sync (iCloud and Time Machine)

After your new gem is fully set up, you will be asked to sign up for iCloud during the process. iCloud is the service that allows you to have a central sign-in for accessing everything from applications you downloaded to music purchased. On the Mac, applications are downloaded in the Mac App Store. You will be prompted to sign in with this iCloud address each time you make a purchase or download. Using iCloud is a great way to easily transfer your iTunes library seamlessly as well.

iCloud also goes further in that you are able to easily have all of your other Apple gadgets connected. For example, when I got my iPhone 5 a few weeks ago, I were able to sync my address book, calendar events and more that were stored in iCloud to my phone.

You will want to use Time Machine as a way of loading all of your data from your old computer from your external hard drive. Time Machine works by allowing you to set times of when you want to have your hard drive automatically transfer data. Time Machine will also automatically transfer when it notices new data that should be saved.

Is Your MacBook Pro Up-To-Date?

One easily-ignored tip is to ensure that your MacBook Pro is up-to-date when you first get it. A common misconception is that when it comes out of the box, it is already the most up-to-date and automatically ready for you to dive in. In reality, the updates, big and small, come out randomly. Unless they are OS X updates, they can sometimes go under the radar. With the possibility that a security update, for example, was released on the day you broke the plastic, it’s always wise to check and see.

To check for update, you can click the Apple symbol at the top left corner of the MacBook Pro’s screen. Then, click Software Update and it will check and see if it has the latest software available. This is important in ensuring that you are using the safest and most security-forward software around.

Feel More At Home

The things you can’t change about Mac will begin to become familiar with you as time passes. However, there are a couple of things you can do now to ensure that you feel the most acquainted with your MacBook Pro as possible. One way can be the scrolling orientation. On most Windows computers, the scrolling direction is always set and it is an afterthought for you.

The System Preferences (under the Hardware section, click “Trackpad”) will be your best friend as you make trackpad and other system changes. There are other preferences options, but we won’t spoil it for you; take a look around and enjoy the scavenger hunt for everything from adding new accounts for email and Facebook to changing your desktop background. This is a great way to get accustomed to the MacBook Pro features.

Still lost?

Until this point, I am sure you already have a good understanding of how your Macbook Pro work. If you are still confused, get our latest ebook: “The Beginner’s Guide to OS X Mountain Lion“.

Written by Charnita Fance, this ebook will cover all you need to know about OS X Mountain Lion. Here is the brief:

1. Getting Started
2. Getting Around Your Mac
3. Mastering the Keyboard and Trackpad
4. Managing your Apps
5. Notable Features in Mountain Lion
6. Get Social
7. iCloud
8. Getting the Most Out of Mountain Lion
9. Wrapping It All Up

“The Beginner’s Guide to OS X Mountain Lion” is free to download. You can get it here.

The post How to Setup A New Macbook Pro appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

Regardless whether you are finding a way to separate work from play, merging them together, or a little bit of both, we can all benefit with a little automation. We can have the Internet work for us. That’s the motto of IFTTT. Today, we will go over how it can help to with your daily syncing regimen.

What is IFTTT?

IFTTT’s purpose is to get the Internet to work for you. It will create a syncing regimen by piecing together your various social networking sites and online services and carrying out your tasks without you initiating them. From automatically having business email attachments saved into Dropbox to setting a text message alert each time precipitation is in the forecast for the next day, IFTTT makes it possible to have a free automated personal assistant.

Services Available to Help (Channels)

In IFTTT, a recipe is created in large part with the help of channels. These are the services and networks that drive IFTTT. The following are some of the popular services supported by IFTTT:

• bitly
• Blogger
• Box
• Buffer
• Craigslist
• Date & Time
• Delicious
• Dropbox
• Email
• Evernote
• Facebook
• Flickr
• Foursquare
• Gmail
• Google Calendar
• Google Drive
• Google Talk
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• SkyDrive
• SMS
• Tumblr
• Twitter
• Weather
• WordPress
• YouTube

You can view all the channels here.

Creating a Task (Recipe)

1. On the IFTTT dashboard, click “Create” at the top region of the screen.

2. You will see the IFTTT phrase (If this then that), click “This”.

3. With trigger channels presented, choose the channel (service/network) that you want to begin your recipe with. This is the channel that will cause an action to occur. For example, if you want to email a photo once it hits a Dropbox folder, Dropbox will be the trigger.

4. In step 4, you will be presented with two or three additional options that allow for you to have a more specific recipe.

5. Options from here on out are custom to the type of recipe and service you are creating and choosing.

6. You will then choose the “That” or action channel. Back to our example in step 3, Gmail would be the action channel.

7. When finished with all prompts, click “Create Action“.

Useful Recipes

Syncing: For Work

1. From Email Attachment to Dropbox: Got an email from the boss with the latest report? Have it saved in Dropbox without having to lift a finger.
2. Receipts from Email to Evernote: Bookkeeping and tax records made easy with this recipe that automatically adds receipts from your email to Evernote.

Syncing: For Social

1. Backup Your Photos: Each time you take a photo on Instagram, it is automatically saved to Dropbox. Works with Facebook and Flickr as well!
2. Convert WordPress Posts into Ever-”notes”: From WordPress to Evernote, this recipe does just that.
3. Keep Social Profile Pictures in Sync: Whenever your Facebook profile photo changes, your Twitter one changes as well.

Syncing: For Life

1. Weather Alerts Each Morning: Not everyone has a smartphone. When waiting for the local news to tell you the weather holds you back in the morning, this recipe can help out.
2. Send Family Photos To Grandma’s Email: From Dropbox folder to recipient’s inbox, automatically. You select the folder and recipient’s email.

As you have just learned, IFTTT can provide a wonderful way for you to keep your digital life in sync without even having to leave your web browser. In what ways do you think IFTTT can help your syncing regimen? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Use IFTTT to Automate Your Internet Life appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

Is This Article for Me?

We don’t want to waste your time, so let’s cut to the chase. There may be a possibility that you already have AirDrop and you may not know it. First off, you can simply go to Finder and look on the sidebar. You should spot AirDrop available there.

A much quicker way is to simply click anywhere on your desktop, which automatically activates Finder without opening a window, and click the “Go” folder in the menu bar above. From there, see if you can find AirDrop.

A third option could be to find out based on your current Mac model. Officially, AirDrop is available for the following models:

• MacBooks and MacBook Pros after 2008
• iMacs and Mac Pros after 2009
• Mac Minis and MacBook Airs after 2010

If you have upgraded to Lion and still did not find the Airdrop option in the Finder, it could be that AirDrop is not activated by default. Let’s get started with enabling AirDrop!

Enabling AirDrop

This “hack” of sorts will occur in Terminal. First off, activate Terminal by finding it in your Applications folder found in the dock, or by searching for Terminal in the Spotlight search feature.

Once opened, all you have to do is copy and paste the command below:

defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser BrowseAllInterfaces 1

However, if you did make a mistake, froze up, or did anything else, then trash the previous command by entering the following command into Terminal. (Only do so if you wish to disable what you previously entered; otherwise, disregard this and simply restart your computer to apply the changes.)

defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser BrowseAllInterfaces 0

Basics of AirDrop

You should see the AirDrop option after restarting your Mac.

There are multiple places to find AirDrop. To find AirDrop in Finder, simply click on open the Finder and look at the left pane. You should see a folder called “AirDrop” with a little package parachute as its symbol; click on it. In a couple of seconds, you should see your Mac’s profile image appear with your Mac’s name. AirDrop will soon begin to scan for other Macs in your WiFi network. If you are using an Ethernet cord, your Mac will then look for individuals who are also sharing that same network.

Ready to send? Simply click and drag a file over the individual, and then click “Send” when prompted. Chances are, you’ll need to have access to that file in Finder, despite having AirDrop open. If this is the case, simply create a new window by clicking “File” and “New Finder Window” in the menu bar. Receiving a file is much easier, and will only require you to open AirDrop, and when prompted, to either reject the file by clicking “Decline”, “Save” it and move on with what you’re doing, or “Save and Open” if you need to take a look right away.

Spotting AirDrop on Mac

As mentioned before, AirDrop isn’t just found in Finder. There are other ways to send through AirDrop. One notable way is through Preview. Open the file you would like to view in Preview. Next to the zooming options, you should see a sharing button. Click it, and select AirDrop. AirDrop can also be found in iPhoto and any other Apple applications with a share button, except for Safari. So keep an eye out for it.

How has AirDrop helped with your file sharing needs? Let us know in the comment section below.

The post How to Use AirDrop Over Ethernet and Unsupported Macs appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

AppleCare for Mac Users

Today, we will focus more on AppleCare for our Mac readers out there. However, it’s important to note that Apple also has AppleCare versions for iPhone, iPad, and AppleTV users out there. Beyond this, Apple has set up a special AppleCare+ for iPhone users who are more prone to damage due to the devices being mobile and usually more exposed to the elements.

AppleCare+ covers accidental damage done by you twice, only requiring payment of a small fee before getting a replacement. You must, however, make sure to purchase it within 30 days of purchase, and an inspection is required to prevent any cheating. As a Mac user, I have learned firsthand how useful AppleCare has been. This is shown even more when Apple gives you the receipt after a repair, where it shows what you could have paid without AppleCare.

During a previous repair of my trackpad, it would have costed me hundreds of dollars without AppleCare. Because of AppleCare, it cost me nothing. While they were at it, they were able to repair other issues – including a battery replacement as well. For Mac users, AppleCare extends the complimentary insurance for another three years; this includes both in-store and over-the-phone.

Lastly, while you are at the store, if you have been eyeing any other Mac accessories (displays or Airport for example), get them while you are there; they are covered for the three years as well.

Is it Worth the Price?

This is a question that is truly up to you. Together, we will try to help you come to a conclusion of whether it’s a necessity or just another added cost. AppleCare is expensive; however, any user would find having to pay hundreds of dollars in repairs even more expensive. It ultimately comes down to how you’ll use your Mac.

Buy AppleCare if:

• the nearest Apple Store is far from where you stay.

For serious issues, you will either mail your Mac to Apple (they’ll send you a box to pack it in) or have a technician drive down to your place to provide on-site support. Either way, you are saving plenty of time where you can spend on more productive stuff.

• you have a tendency to break stuff easily

If you are a reckless person that always knock your Mac to the table, drop it on the floor, spill the keyboard with coffee etc, buying AppleCare protection is definitely cheaper than the price you have to pay for all the repair.

• you use your Mac for work

How much does it cost you to not be able to work if your Mac is spoilt? If the amount of time you spent on your Mac is equivalent to the amount of money you earn, then spending the extra money to insure your Mac is no doubt a brainless deal.

• you are always travelling with your Mac

The good thing about AppleCare is that it is available worldwide. If you are always on the move (with your Mac), you will be assured that you can get your Mac repaired no matter where you are (since the chances of damaging your Mac is also higher when you are travelling).

Do Not Buy AppleCare if:

• you have no intention to use your Mac for more than a year

If you intend to sell your Mac away at the end of the year, it doesn’t make a good deal to dish out the money to buy AppleCare.

• you are proficient enough to repair it yourself

Not everyone of us is tech-savvy, but in case you are one and you are proficient enough to troubleshoot all sort of software/hardware issue, then you can make do without AppleCare.

What’s your opinion?

Do you feel better safe than sorry with AppleCare for Mac, or is it just a waste of money? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Your Consumer Guide to Apple Care for Mac – Is It Worth The Price? appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

What is Terminal and Where is It?

The Terminal is an app found in the Utilities section of the Mac. This application is where you are able to enter command and make changes to your system without having to install third-party apps. Through lines of commands, you are able to change everything from how iCal processes events to changes with the login window. It may be ugly, but it is definitely the fastest way to get things done.

Terminal Basics

There are a couple of things to go over before we look into using some useful commands. First off, when you open terminal, you are presented with a line of code that is pictured above, showing your login and computer name. At the end of the line is a blinking cursor. This is where you will enter the command line.

Some basic commands:

cd: stands for “change directory”. When you open the terminal, the default directory is always your Users home directory. If you want to change the directory to other directory, say “Downloads”, you just use the command:

cd Downloads

ls: listing of the files and directories in the current directory. Simply type in ls in the terminal and it will display all the files and folders in the current directory.

cp: Copy a file/directory from the source to the destination. For examples, if I want to copy the file “video.mp4″ from the current directory to the “Video” folder, I just need to use the command:

cp video.mp4 ~/Video/

mkdir: Also stands for “MaKe DIRectory”, this command allows you to create new folder.

mv: is short for “move”, which means to move a file from one place to another. It works exactly the same as “cp” except that the source file is removed after copying.

rm: This command allows you to remove (also known as “delete”) files/folders. For example:

rm video.mp4

In terms of command rules, there are a couple to remember. First off, Terminal is a text-only environment. This means that you don’t have to use a mouse at all. What if you are going to use one of the commands mentioned below and are wondering what secrets lie behind the specific command? This is done by typing man before the name of the command. Press Enter and the man(ual) of the specific command appears.

Some useful Terminal commands for Mac

Safari: Open links as second tab:

defaults write com.apple.Safari TargetedClicksCreateTabs -bool TRUE.

Put Safari into debugging mode:

defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeDebugMenu 1

Change the Dock from 3D to 2D:

defaults write com.apple.dock no-glass -boolean YES
killall Dock

Move the Dock to Left Side

defaults write com.apple.dock pinning -string start

Not liking this? You can change the start in the above command to middle to restore it to the middle.

Always in plain text in Mail:

defaults write com.apple.mail PreferPlainText -bool TRUE

Enable Half-star iTunes Ratings:

defaults write com.apple.iTunes allow-half-stars -bool TRUE

Shut down remotely:

sudo shutdown -h now

More Screenshot Options:

screencapture -x -t jpg capture.jpg
killall SystemUIServer

Change .jpg with whatever format you want screenshots saved as.

Eject an un-ejectable CD:

disktool -e disk

New Screenshot Destination:

defaults write com.apple.screencapture location "/Users/yourusername/screenshots

Enable Desktop Widgets:

defaults write com.apple.dashboard devmode YES

Change the YES to NO to disable it.

Can’t get enough? Here are more useful commands for you.

What other useful commands have we missed out?

The post More Terminal Commands to Improve Your Mac Experience appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

Greeting Cards on Mac

Creating greeting cards on Mac is quite enjoyable to do. Most cards created on Mac are pretty much begging to be personalized due to how much they rely on the photos you add into them. One program already on your Mac that does this is iPhoto. Yes, your photo organizer can also make some high quality and personalized holiday, birthday, or anniversary cards in a snap. No, they aren’t cards you just print out on your normal computer paper, you can order them right on your Mac and have them printed on card stock and sent to the recipient.

How does it work? Simply launch iPhoto as normal. From there, click on the photo you want to create a card with. To get started, simply click the “create” button at the bottom right side of the screen and click “card”. As you can see, there are other options like calendars and photo books as well. At the top, you have three options (letterpress, folded, and flat cards). You can scroll through to see which tickles your fancy.

Pricing is shown at the bottom left of the main screen. Letterpress cards are for $2.99, folded are for $1.49, and flat cards are $0.99. These prices are on-par with many big box stores. When you click to create, you are prompted to a page that allows you to add text to your card. The bottom right gives you more options and the ability to add more photos.

When finished, you just have to click “Buy Card” and pay. Whenever you have to go back (either to continue editing or to order more cards), the card will be available in the “Projects” section on the left. Free shipping is available through December 13th for it to arrive by the Christmas holiday, order by the 16th with express shipping for the card to arrive by December 24th.

Give a Card Through iOS

It’s a common fact that there are more iOS users than Mac users. Coupled with the fact that you may always be on the go, having a quality greeting card app for your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch may be essential this holiday season. The most common choice is Cards for iOS.

For those who haven’t used Cards, it is sort of reminiscent of the cards section of iPhoto that we just mentioned. They share some of the same themes and the process for creating a card on the app is quite identical. When you are done creating the card, simply checkout and the card will be shipped to the address you asked for. Shipping deadlines are the same as that for iPhoto, so be sure to order in time!

If you are looking for a cheaper option, there are plenty. SnapShot Greeting Cards is an application that allows you to send your first greeting card for free, with subsequent cards available for $1.60 each domestically. That’s pretty inexpensive. You can pay through credit card or PayPal. Another very popular option is justWink Greeting Cards. Along with postal options, this application also allows you to mail cards through email, text message, and social media. Lastly, Square is now offering gift cards. In the Square Wallet app, simply find the store you want to give for a gift card, click “Send gift card”, and send.

Holiday Cards Through “Gyft”

Previously, when mentioning Square Wallet, we went a bit into gift cards. However, there are many other applications available out there than the newly released Square gift cards that can be useful for the holidays. One popular application is Gyft. This application allows you to find a retailer, purchase the gift card within the application, and send it off through Facebook, email, or text message.

Plus, if you have your own gift cards you haven’t used, you can easily upload it to Gyft and send it off. Gyft is a wonderful alternative for individuals unable to have Passbook. While you won’t have the features like being able to hold tickets and passes, you can still do something Passbook can’t, purchase gift cards in-app and send them.

Which programs have made it easy for you to send off personalized gift cards and greeting cards? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post Send A Personalized Greeting Card This Year with These Apps [Mac, iOS] appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

iPhones Galore

At the moment, we have the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 4 still available for purchase. Each have their own benefits and drawbacks, and they all have their own respective price points.

Which iPhone should you get?

The iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 4 all have their own appealing points. The iPhone 5 is appealing because of it’s attractive price point while still not skimping on too many features. The iPhone 4S still has Siri, the device that debuted Siri actually.

The 4S ($99.99) also has the same camera quality, Facetime, and iOS 6 compatibility. Some appealing points for the iPhone 5 is the refreshed design and the increase in performance power. We then have the iPhone 4, the cheapest device here, selling in some places for free, in others for $0.99. The iPhone 4 doesn’t have Siri and is the last device on the line that will be booted come the next generation this coming fall.

So who gets what? If you are super price conscious, then obviously we can exclude the iPhone 5. The $199 minimum price range isn’t worth stretching the budget for what you are receiving in comparison to the others on the market. If you want the latest and greatest, the iPhone 5 is a choice you’ll want to look into. If your recipient is upgrading from a 4 or 3GS, then the 5 is a worthy upgrade, not so much for 4S users.

Multiple Options for iPods

If you have decided to give an iPod rather than an iPhone, then you have much more choices, and a harder decision to make.

 iPod Touch: iOS + iPod

Apple refreshed their iPod product line this year, releasing a renewed iPod Touch, redesigned iPod Nano, and minor changes to iPod Shuffles. Along with these, Apple also has the iPod Classic available for purchase. The iPod Touch pricing can be a bit confusing for some shoppers.

At the moment, the newest iPod Touch devices (5th generation), with the arm strap and all, is available in 32GB and 64GB for $299 and $399 respectively. The iPod Touch 4th generation is available in 16GB for $199 and 32GB for $249. So what’s the difference? The newest iPod Touch has Siri, 1080p video recording, along with a ton of other new capabilities. The iPod Touch 4th generation is sans Siri and has 720p video recording.

They are nearly identical in battery life and the newest one has Apple’s newest Lightning dock. So, who should get what? Truly, while we are always in the assumption that if it costs more, it should be better, in this case that isn’t true. Unless you are crazy about Siri or require a bigger storage (64GB), it is a better option to go for the 4th generation.

Classics, Nanos, and Shuffles

The iPod Classic reigns supreme for serious music lovers. If your recipient is serious about their music, this may be your best option and best value. For $249, you get 160GB and many of the other features we expect, before the iPod Touch made it to the scene. This is, of course without all the hoopla of Siri and cameras.

Finally, those who are looking for a great value may want to look into either the Shuffle or Nano. The Shuffle is perfect for the active crowd or casual music listeners. If you want to give something to accompany runners or travellers, the Shuffle is good. However, those who want the features like cameras and Siri will look at the Shuffle like a hunk of coal. Then there’s the Nano, with more memory than the $49 2GB Shuffle, the $149 Nano with 16GB has a larger screen, basic features like movies, videos, television shows, along with your music. Of course, it makes use of Apple’s new lightning connector.

 Age appropriate iPods

The older crowd and younger children will appreciate the Nano due to it’s simple navigation, heavy use of simple to understand icons, and it’s home button (aka the emergency escape button). Whenever they get confused, they can always click the home button to get to a familiar environment on their iPod. Teens these days are all clamoring for iPod Touch devices. Those looking to save money would want to look solely at the iPod Touch 4th generation. Also, teens who aren’t ready to have an iPhone would appreciate the many similar features that Apple has made available for iPod Touch users.

Is this iPad for Me?

Apple currently has the iPad Mini, iPad 2, and the iPad with Retina Display. As the name entails, the iPad with Retina Display is the only one with a Retina screen. The iPad Mini has the smallest screen – 7.9 inches. Both the iPad Mini and iPad 2 has an A5 processor, the iPad with Retina Display has the new A6X processor and a faster speed. The camera quality of both the iPad Mini and iPad with Retina are the same. Aside from the iPad 2′s lack of Siri compatibility and Lightning connector, everything else is the same.

So, who get’s what? The iPad Mini is certainly more child friendly. If you are looking to get an iPad for your pre-teen or teenager, the iPad Mini is a good option. If you are more of a web surfer, the larger screen of the iPad with Retina may be best for you. The iPad 2 and iPad Mini should be considered for those on a budget.

Share your favorites iOS devices in the discussions below.

Image credit: christmas gift box by BigStockPhoto

The post The Ultimate Apple iOS Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

Do You Need to Upgrade?

First, let’s look at why you may want to upgrade and if that’s even necessary to do.

There are many individuals out there who may have been putting off the upgrade because they thought Final Cut Pro was too difficult to use. If this was you, then you may be in luck. Apple has made the latest version of Final Cut Pro X very easy to use, some have even called it iMovie Pro due to the ease of use for previous users. – Good idea to upgrade?: Yes!

Maybe you want to use XML in post production. You may feel that a more upgraded video editing software could support this in a snap. Sorry to tell you, but that’s just not the case with Final Cut Pro X. The software doesn’t support it. While you may want to run out and get a third party add-on, the pickings are a bit slim and if you go out and spend for an add-on, you won’t be helping the situation much. – Good Idea to upgrade?: No!

Unless you are working heavily on tape cameras or still use Final Cut Pro 7, you may still find the upgrade worth it. if this is you, then let’s continue on with the transition!

Where to Begin

So, where should you start when doing the transfer? First off, you’ll need to make your way over to the App Store to purchase Final Cut Pro X. The software is currently digital only, so there’s no need for a CD drive in this transition, however you will need to fork out $299.99.

After downloading, your first thing on the to-do list will be to transfer all of your projects from iMovie to Final Cut Pro X. This process is already long enough as it is, so it’s highly recommended to go through your iMovie projects before hand and see what truly needs to be transferred and what can either stay behind or go to the trash.

Importing is very easy to do. Simply go to “Import” in the top menu bar. From there, click “iMovie Project”. You can now click which projects you want to import. Yes, you can choose which ones, however, if you followed my tip aforementioned, this process will be a lot easier because you can just click to send them all over at once. Thankfully, however, you don’t have to worry about making any other adjustments. The project imports just like how it looked in iMovie.

Importing and Exporting

Let’s dig a bit into the differences between iMovie and Final Cut Pro X regarding some basic things you have to get done in editing. First off, importing and exporting will be the most important thing you’ll have to understand with both programs.

We went a little into how to import iMovie projects. However, it’s important to remember that with Final Cut Pro, certain features (for example, those convenient movie trailers included in iMovie 11) and other iMovie centred features don’t import well into Final Cut Pro X. A good thing with Final Cut Pro X is, like iMovie, your projects automatically save. This means that saving after each use isn’t needed.

One important note that is different in Final Cut Pro is that importing and updating of projects are done all in the background. This means that you can dive right into your project while everything is being taken care of. In terms of exporting, this is similar to that found in iMovie. You have more exporting options that you will find under the “Share” menu.

Other importing notes: You cannot import iMovie HD projects. You may wonder who in the world still uses iMovie HD? Many individuals still enjoy iMovie HD, especially those who never took up learning their way around the new iMovie This may seem like no problem now, however, if you do make the transition, you’ll have to purchase the newest iMovie, export to that version, and then export to Final Cut Pro X.

Optimizing iMovie To Save Money

Maybe you found out in this article that you don’t need to upgrade to Final Cut Pro. There may even be a possibility that you can’t even upgrade to iMovie. If this is the case for you, then there are a couple of tips out there that can help you to optimize the iMovie that you left with and make it work for your needs.

First off, the problem may lie in your camera itself. If your camera isn’t working with what you are trying to get done (for example, better colour/image enhancement options or audio), you may be able to go the cheaper route by getting a new camera. For under $300, you can get an HD video recorder or digital camera.

Secondly, the iMovie performance can lie in the performance of your whole Mac in general. This may mean that a Mac cleanse should be in order. Additionally, when importing, you may want to convert the clip to a more iMovie friendly format. This can be done within iMovie (“File -> Optimize Video”). When importing, it may be wise to move file rather than copy. Copying makes another clip, while moving will not add to your hard drive’s space taken up.

The post Guide to Transitioning from iMovie to Final Cut Pro X appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

Lock it in

When you are sharing documents, there are times when you want to ensure that nothing in the document is changed. Even when you are viewing the document yourself, the same may apply. For example, to prevent an accidental change or mistake.

To receive a prompt before making a change to a document, or to prevent such from being possible with a shared document, it may be best for you to lock it up. This is very simple to do with Preview. Simply click the drop down options arrow next to the document name, and click “Lock”. To unlock, perform the same steps but this time clicking “Unlock”.

It’s a simple feature that is easily overlooked, but super helpful.

Going Back in Time

Looking more into document changes, there can be times when you make a change to a document in Preview, but find it difficult, impossible, or slightly repetitive to continue to click “Command + Z”. If this is the case for you, Preview has a sort of Expose-like feature that allows you to go back in time through your document, viewing the different versions automatically saved, to see an older version.

This is helpful in many ways. First off, it’s a perfect way to retrieve a document during an unexpected closure due to a shut down or an unresponsive application. It also allows you to show off a previous change, for example, when comparing a before and after version of a document.

A Study Companion

While reading a PDF document in Preview, you can annotate the reading by highlighting, adding text, putting in a couple of sticky notes, and even a few thought bubbles.

The annotation features are available all in one area, at the top that has a highlighter symbol. When clicked, you can choose a color (Yellow, Green, Purple, Blue, or Pink), and get going. To underline or strike through, when clicking the same section that you choose colors, you have the options for both right under the color options.

To create a sticky note, add a speech bubble, or a comment, simply click the button immediately to the left of the search box. This reveals more editing options. You can create a box, oval, line, arrow, annotate with text, add a comment or thought bubble, add a sticky note, and others.

Merge and Rearrange

If you find yourself with a document that is a bit out of order or in need of grouping, Preview allows you to do so. The program also allows you to merge more than one PDF document into one central, multi-paged one. Further more, if you have a document with too many unneeded pages, it is very simple to delete pages as well.

To merge PDFs, simply drag in the PDF into an existing opened PDF window in Preview. To delete a page in a PDF document, simply tap + delete. To reorder a PDF document in Preview, simply click and move down or up to either order you’d love it to be. Lastly, to merge pages (for better grouping), simply drag a page over a second page.

A Bit of Photoshop

Preview, by no means, is a bona fide photography editing software. However, there are some features in Preview that allow you to make minor adjustments. You can make use of tools like lasso, magic wand to touch up your images.

Another photo editing feature is the color enhance tool. Found in “Adjust Colors” under the “Tools” menu option, color enhance and adjustments allow you to make iPhoto-light photo changes to your image. This is useful if you are looking to make the same adjustments in iPhoto, but don’t have the time to wait for it to load, import, and process.

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered (signatures for Preview)

The ancient way of signing a digital document is to scan your signature, hope it’s clear enough, and then paste it into the document. Preview has a feature that makes this a bit easier and seamless. Using the iSight camera, simply take a one-time photo and save it to your Signatures queue. When you need a signature, it’ll be there.

To find your signature or add new ones, simply reveal the “more options” tab. This is revealed by clicking the button found directly to the left of the search box. Then click the signature button (the ninth option from the left) that is shown with an “S” graphic above a line.

Share a Doc

The last feature of Preview is the sharing feature. In Preview, you have the ability to share a document through email, Messages, Airdrop, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, or by exporting it to iPhoto. Sharing options are revealed by choosing the share button on the left side, next to the zoom options.

Let us know in the comment section how the Preview secrets (or lesser known features) above help you with your productivity.

The post Seven Preview Secrets You Need to Know (Mac) appeared first on Make Tech Easier.

1. Creating a List

The first line of business for most gift givers is creating the shopping list that you will go by from now until you are finished with holiday shopping. For some people, they are able to get their shopping done by Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year, while others wait until the day before the holiday to check everything off the list.

One recommended application for creating the holiday shopping list is Evernote. This application is available on iOS, Blackberry, Android, Mac, Windows, and Linux. This means that almost wherever you are, Evernote follows. This is key in allowing you to work on your list even when away from home. Plus, the collaborative features of Evernote make it easy to create group lists. This means that if you have a list for the children, you and your spouse can accomplish tasks together.

A couple of Evernote drawbacks include the pricing. While it’s free, you do have a small free storage allowance, however more storage is as low as $4.99 a month. Alternatives include: Notes app on iOS, Remember the Milk

2. Getting the Best Deals

After you have a list together, your next order of business is finding the deals that will allow you to pay for some of this stuff. There are tons of coupon websites and apps online and for mobile. Coupons.com has a special section for this season that allows you to take advantage of store deals at various retailers. The supermarket coupon site will now offer deals to places including Old Navy, Best Buy, Target, and tons of others.

On your phone, RetailMeNot‘s coupon application allows you to take the popular coupon website’s deals to go with you on iPhone. You can set locations that you want to receive deals from and get alerts when they arrive. The community on RetailMeNot also is allowed to alert users of coupons, however voting allows you to filter the true deals from the tricks. You can also save and share some for later.

Some drawbacks to Coupons.com is that some deals aren’t as drastic as others you can find on other websites, due in part to the website’s focus as a whole. Secondly, RetailMeNot does offer a majority of valid coupons, however it can be a pain having to ensure the deal is truly going to work. Your best alternative would be Passbook for iOS if you have it on your iPhone, though you’ll have to add your own coupons.

3. Finding the Gift and Purchasing

There are a load of shopping options available on iOS. However, what’s important is finding the store that comes with the best benefits for shopping there. Amazon is a popular stop for holiday shoppers, also known as one of the most popular stops for Cyber Monday shopping. The Amazon Mobile application works wonders for accomplishing things on the holiday list while away from a computer.

But, sometimes it isn’t always smart to just go with the store that you always go to. A deal may be hiding in the middle of a store that you may have never been to before. Decide is a great application for situations like this. By scanning the items bar code, you are able to see whether or not you should purchase now or wait on it. You can also see the price of the competing stores. If you want to focus more on price comparisons, RedLaser or ShopSavvy may be great alternatives that are more focused.

Decide for iOS – Buy now or wait? This application helps you decide while also giving you deals and pricing to help.

How are you using technology to make gift giving productive, fun, and easy? Let us know in the comments below!

Image credit: Gift by Big Stock Photo.

The post How to Use Tech In Gift Giving [iOS] appeared first on Make Tech Easier.