Showing posts with label mac. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mac. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

How to Mirror Your iPhone Screen on a Mac?

How to Mirror Your iPhone Screen on a Mac

It is possible to mirror your iPhone screen to a Mac using QuickTime and a Lightning to USB cable. Otherwise, you are able to mirror the screen of your iPhone to a Mac wirelessly with AirPlay. However, when you use AirPlay, both the iPhone and Mac have to be on the same W-Fi network. Built into Apple products are a few ways of sharing what you see or work on from the iPhone you use to a Mac. It is beneficial whether you are willing to stream music from Apple Music, display a photo album or app on the PC or stream Spotify from an iPhone to your Mac. Besides, you are able to play video content from iPhone apps directly. When you mirror the screen from iPhone to Mac, you are able to record whatever you do on your phone.

Why Mirror Your iPhone To Mac:

If you integrate between two devices, it lets you multitask and collaborate easily. Also, it enables you to enjoy a more immersive experience. These are some cases where mirroring iPhone to Mac is useful:

  • Presentations And Demos:

When you showcase the screen of your iPhone on a larger Mac display, it is able to enhance your presentations. Thus, it can easily highlight key features.

  • Content Creation:

No matter whether you are a vlogger, gamer, or content creator— in order to edit and share purposes, you need to mirror your iPhone screen to a Mac for capturing top-quality footage or screenshots.

  • App Development And Testing:

Developers are able to mirror their iPhone screens to the Mac for streamlined app development. It makes sure that you get optimal performance across various devices.

How To Mirror Your iPhone Screen On A Mac With QuickTime:

You should follow these steps to mirror your iPhone to a Mac with QuickTime.

  • Your first job is to use a Lightning to USB cable in order to pair your iPhone to your Mac.
  • After that, your task is to open QuickTime on your Mac.
  • Now, you need to tap on File in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  • Then, you should tap on New Movie Recording.
  • You have to tap on the down arrow adjacent to the red record button in the bottom middle.
  • After that, your job is to select the iPhone you are using from the list that contains the available devices. If it doesn't exist, you have to disconnect and reconnect your iPhone.
  • Finally, you are now able to mirror your iPhone completely.

How to Mirror Your iPhone to a Mac With AirPlay:

AirPlay is actually an Apple feature that helps to stream content wirelessly from one device to another. This feature is designed to stream from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to an AirPlay-compatible smart TV or Apple TV. Ensure that you have connected your iPhone and Mac to the same wireless network. Otherwise, AirPlay could not establish a connection between the two devices.

It is possible to airplay content directly from an application that allows for AirPlay, such as Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, or the NFL app. Otherwise, you are able to open the Control Center to AirPlay your entire iPhone screen. These are the steps you need to follow:

Step 1: If you Airplay from within an app, you first have to start playing content such as a show or movie. Next, you have to hit the AirPlay symbol in the video's upper right corner. This symbol is a rectangle with a solid triangle at the bottom. Click on the Screen Mirroring tile if you AirPlay from the Control Center.

Step 2: As soon as you have selected Screen Mirroring from the Control Center or the AirPlay symbol from within an app, you get to see a pop-up asking you to select one device. Then, you have to click on the name of your Mac.

You will notice your iPhone asking for an AirPlay Code that you can display on your Mac. Next, your job is to click on the code in the text box on your iPhone. After that, your job is to click on OK.

Now, you can see your iPhone content on the screen of your Mac computer.

In order to disable AirPlay on Your Mac, you need to do the following:

  • As soon as macOS Monterey is installed, it will automatically enable it to run as an AirPlay destination. And it is what you need in most cases. Apple is unable to make it obvious how to disable it to run as an AirPlay destination.
  • However, it is simple to turn off AirPlay on your Mac. Hence, your job is to select the Apple Menu. Then, you need to go to System Preferences to open System Preferences. Now, you have to select the Sharing preference pane.
  • Then, you can see “AirPlay Receiver” with a checkbox adjacent to this at the list's bottom to the left. Then, you have to uncheck the checkbox. Thereafter, you do not see your Mac appearing on other devices.

iPhone Mirror to Mac With Reflector:

It is a popular receiver for Mac and requires a Wi-Fi network.

These are the steps you should follow to learn how to Airplay from iPhone to Mac:

  • Ensure that you have connected your Mac and iPhone to the same wireless network.
  • Then, you need to download Reflector and launch it on your Mac.
  • Next, your task is to open up the Control Center on your iPhone. Suppose you use an iPad with iOS 12 or later or iPhone X or later. In that case, you need to swipe down the page from the screen's upper-right corner. Whether you use iPhone 8 or earlier or iOS 11 or earlier, you have to swipe up from any screen's bottom edge.
  • Then, you have to click on "AirPlay/Screen Mirroring."
  • Now, your job is to select the Mac you use from the list.
  • As soon as you see a code appearing on your Mac, your job is to enter the onscreen code on your iPhone.
  • Finally, you can see your iPhone screen on the Mac.

Are All Macs, iPhones and iPads Compatible?

Bluetooth 5.0 technology is essential in order to see the iPhone screen on the Mac. Therefore, you are able to do this when you have any of these Mac, iPhone, and iPad models:

  • MacBook Pro and MacBook Air 2018 onwards
  • From 2019 onwards
  • iMac Pro 2017
  • Mac mini 2020 onwards
  • Mac Pro 2019
  • From 7 onwards
  • iPad Pro 2nd gen onwards
  • iPad Air 3rd gen onwards
  • iPad 6th gen onwards
  • iPad mini 5th gen

Are Your Devices Continuity-Ready?

Both devices are required in order to support Apple’s Continuity feature to mirror your iPhone to your Mac. Do you use an iPhone 7 or newer? If this is the case, you will be compatible with Continuity. Whether you use a MacBook model from 2018 or later, it is expected to support Continuity. Meanwhile, Mac Pro and iMac models from 2019 forward are also compatible with Continuity.

The Bottom Line:

In this article, we have elaborated on how to mirror your iPhone screen on a Mac. It is possible to use both wireless and cable methods to mirror iPhone to Mac. Moreover, you are able to mirror an iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, or Mac screen on an AirPlay 2-compatible smart TV or an Apple TV. For further queries or confusion, do ask us via comments.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Why can you not connect your iPhone to my Mac?

The problem may be related to the PC, the USB port, or the USB cable that will help to connect this to your device.

  1. Is AirPlay the same as Screen Mirroring?

During Screen mirroring, everything on the screen of your iPhone will be displayed on the TV. If you use AirPlay, you will play media from the phone to your TV without sharing the screen on the TV.

  1. Can you mirror an iPhone to a MacBook with USB?

You are capable of using QuickTime and a Lightning to USB cable in order to mirror the iPhone screen to a Mac. Additionally, you can mirror the screen of your iPhone to a Mac wirelessly with AirPlay.

Sunday, October 29, 2023

How to Right Click on a Mac

How to Right Click on a Mac

Although there are two-button mice available to use with Macs, people still want to know how to right click on a Mac or MacBook. Do you not know how to right click on Mac? Then, don't be worried, as you are not the only one whom this question is baffling. Apple previously insisted the one-button mouse was the way to go instead of the two-button mouse that Windows users use.

However, Apple mice aren't the only reason for which Mac users want to know the answer to this question. In most cases, Mac users use laptops without mice. So, they want to understand how they can use Apple’s trackpad. Let's learn how to right click on a Mac.

What Is The Right Click Menu Option?

A right-click on Mac is known as a secondary click or Control-click, which is similar to a right-click on a Windows computer. You can control-click an item using the keyboard and mouse or trackpad for opening shortcut menus.

How To Right Click On A Mac:

Press Control To Right Click On A Mouse Or Trackpad:

You can right-click on a Mac by hitting the Ctrl (or Control) key when you press the trackpad or the mouse button.

Ensure that you are not confusing the Ctrl key with the Alt (or Option) key. The location of the Ctrl key on a Mac isn't next to the space bar. Instead, it is located at the end part of the keyboard on the right or left side.

 Use Two Fingers On A Mac Trackpad:

  • You need to use your two fingers for clicking when you have a trackpad and are willing to right click on a Mac.
  • If the process doesn't work, you have to set up this in System Preferences. The method to follow in this case is:
  • Your first task is to open the System Preferences option.
  • Then, your job is to tap on the Trackpad.
  • Now, you should choose the option ''Click with two fingers'' next to the Secondary click in Trackpad Preferences.

You will find more gestures, which you can set up there.

Tap A Corner Of The Trackpad:

Some people do not like the two-finger click option. If you are one of those, then you should set your trackpad's corner as a designated right-click button. You need to set it up under System Preferences. Then, you have to go to Trackpad and press the drop-down menu for Secondary Click. Then, you are required to select Click In Bottom Right Corner or Click In Bottom Left Corner. If you don't want to use your fingers or Control key, you have to tap on the corner of your selected trackpad. Then, you will get to see the right-click menu.

Use An External Mouse With A Right-click Button:

Mac users who need the feature usually connect a wireless mouse with the right-click button/touch zone. If you use a laptop with a trackpad and don't need an external mouse, read other methods to simulate the right-click mouse action. 

Use Control + Click:

Holding down the “control” key is the simplest process to simulate a right-click on your Mac. Then, your task is to tap on your trackpad (or Mac mouse).

Right Click With Accessibility Options:

  • If you are looking for a more accessible option, you need to open the Accessibility Options menu by hitting Option + Command + F5. After tapping on Enable Mouse Keys, your task is to use the Function + Control + I shortcut so that you can open a right-click menu of your selected program.
  • In order to add a virtual keyboard on the screen, your task is to tap on Enable Accessibility Keyboard. Thus, you will be able to tap on Control on that keyboard. Then, you can click with the mouse where you will need the right-click menu.

Right-clicking On A MacBook With Force Touch Trackpad:

Taptic feedback is used by the Force Touch trackpad to let you think that different pressure levels can be used to achieve clicks.

Along with the standard right-click functionality, a deeper click is used to open up a contextual menu with extra options.

Whether you are willing to right-click, you need to tap with two fingers. Or you can set this to tap in the bottom or right corner. In order to get the equivalent of a right-click, you need to press & hold the trackpad.

 Activate Secondary Click On A Trackpad:

It is another solution that you can follow to right click on a laptop using a trackpad. In order to activate the feature in the trackpad settings, you need to follow these below-mentioned steps:

  • Your first task is to type “System Preferences” into a spotlight search to open the “System Preferences” section. The spotlight search looks like a magnifying glass symbol in the menu bar's top right corner.
  • Then, you need to tap on the “Trackpad” icon to head toward Trackpad.
  • It will open a Trackpad settings box. In the “Point & Click” tab, you need to click on the checkbox to activate the “Secondary Click” feature.
  • You can tap anywhere on your trackpad using your two fingers to check the changes on your desktop. Then, you will see a small box containing features. Changing the settings is also possible so that you can right-click while you tap on the trackpad's bottom right or bottom left.
  • In order to set up “Secondary click” on your mouse, you can alternatively navigate to the “System Preferences” option. Then, go to the “Mouse” and “Secondary click” options respectively. Now, your task is to select the setup option you like.

Use A Two-button Mouse:

When you buy a mouse with two buttons for use with the Mac device, you will be able to use right-click as you expected. You need to hit the i button to set choices like: Choose the way you wish the pointer to follow your face or head movements, Pointer speed, Distance to edge, Camera options, etc.

Right-click Enhancer For A Mac:

When you explore Mac, you can see that a few of your favorite options in the Windows right-click context menu aren't available in the Mac right-click menu, mainly when it comes to talking about creating new Office documents like Excel, PowerPoint, or Word files with a right-click.

Hence, iBoysoft MagicMenu, a right-click menu enhancer which comes with several functionalities, can be used to extend your Mac right-click menu to get an enhanced user experience & boost your productivity.

This versatile tool allows you to add a few shortcuts to make Mac's right-click menu the way you need. These shortcuts are as follows: New File, Quick Access, Copy To, Move To, Screen Capture, Duplicate Files, etc. After knowing how you can right click on an iMac, MacBook, etc., you may want to know how to right click on an iMac from an iPhone. The next section will let you know about it.

Right Click On Your Mac From Your iPhone:

Remote Mouse can turn your iPhone into a correct input device for the Mac. If you download the application for iPhone & Mac, you will be able to type, scroll, zoom, and click from the phone. You need to move your iPhone in the air in order to move the cursor. It is also possible to voice-type into any app, change volume, customize different actions, control some Macs at once, etc.

How To Right Click On Apple Mouse:

While those who have MacBooks use Trackpad to perform right-click on Mac, iMac users use an Apple mouse (Magic Mouse) for this purpose. Generally, an Apple Mouse uses multiple similar multi-touch gestures like the MacBook trackpad.

You should know that this type of mouse isn't a two-button mouse. So, you can click the entire top part of it. When you tap on the mouse's left side, you find this registered as a left click. Similarly, you need to tap on the Magic Mouse's top-right section for a right-click. Before proceeding, Apple mice have to be connected through Bluetooth or plugged into a USB port.

If you are willing to enable the right-click option with the Magic Mouse, follow the below-mentioned steps:

  • You first need to navigate to the Apple menu on the Mac. Then, you should choose System Preferences and Mouse.
  • Next, your task is to navigate to the Point & Click pane.
  • Now, you should check the available checkbox, which can be seen next to the Secondary click option.
  • You need to select any of these options that are available in the list in the drop-down menu:
  • Click on the right side: This default option assigns the right-click function to the mouse's right side.
  • Click on the left side: It is intuitive for left-handed Mac users. This option assigns the right-click function to the mouse's left side.
  • Once you close the window, the new settings will be saved.

Right Click On Mac With A Non-apple Mouse:

When you connect a 3rd-party mouse to the Mac, it will work the same way as on the Windows PC. The MacOS can identify that the user is using a two-button mouse. After that, it will map them accordingly. In simple words, you have to hit the right mouse button to perform a right click on a Mac. In case you see that your non-Mac mouse is scrolling in the opposite direction when you are using this, then you need to change the Scroll direction settings in the Mouse window.

Force Click For More Options:

Although it is not the same thing as a right-click, you can get more functionality with the help of Apple's Force click feature from a simple click. This feature enables you to click with a single finger or three fingers for looking up text online, previewing links, viewing files in Quick Look, adding dates to Calendar, opening App Expose, etc.

If you are willing to use the feature, you will require a MacBook or MacBook Pro from 2015 or later, a MacBook Air from 2018 or later, or the Magic Trackpad 2. Then, you have to set up this in System Preferences > Trackpad. Moreover, you have to enable Look up & data detectors and Force Click and haptic feedback.

Additional Ways:

You can try these extra features as well:

  • When you double tap with two fingers, it will bring out Zoom. In order to zoom, you can pinch with two fingers.
  • You can slide two fingers to scroll.
  • Swipe your two fingers left or right to go between pages in a single browser.
  • You can use your three fingers to drag. It has to be enabled in the Accessibility features.
  • Slide your two fingers from the right edge to open the Notification Center.
  • You can tap with three fingers to look up items in the dictionary.
  • You can spread your thumb & three fingers to show the Desktop.
  • You can pinch with your thumb & three fingers to open Launchpad.

 How To Completely Customize Your Mac Gestures:

If the gestures that are provided by the Magic trackpad & Apple Mouse are not enough for you or you need custom gestures that might fit in the workflow, you can use apps like Swish.

 Swish is a controller which is simple to use and expands the possibilities of the regular trackpad. It comes with 28 new gestures by default. A few gestures are like- pinching out, go fullscreen, double-tapping, hide, etc. Window control is a crucial feature of Swish. You can use your trackpad to create different-sized pixel-perfect window grids to use all spaces automatically on the screen.

 Conclusion:

Right-clicking on Mac can open up a new level of interaction with additional contextual menus, which are not available for single clickers. For instance, it is possible to right click on a Word or Pages document and you are able to view some options for cut, paste, change the font, etc. In addition, you are able to right click on an open app's icon in the Dock and select to quit it. Based on your program's complexity, these right-click options will add an additional layer of detail.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why can you not right-click on Mac?

You should know that if you use a Mac mouse, you have to hold the “control” key down and tap on the mouse. Or you can set up “Secondary click” in the section called “System Preferences” under “Mouse”.

How do you right click on a Mac without a mouse?

In case you do not have a mouse or your mouse is out of battery, you are able to right-click with a trackpad or even with the phone. You only need to install an app, such as Remote Mouse on your phone.

How do you right-click copy and paste on Mac?

While performing right click on Mac in most apps, you will get an option to copy the content & paste this from the clipboard. Your task is only to choose to copy in one app & then paste in another. Whether you use keyboard shortcuts, you need to use Command + C for copy, whereas for paste, you should use Command + V.

Monday, February 20, 2023

Key Insights into Choosing Suitable Mac software for Businesses

Mac

Choosing the right Mac software for your business can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it'sessential to consider several key insights before deciding. For example, SCA tools can help streamline the workflow if you're looking into DevOps development. If you're part of an active DevOps team, a code repository tool can help improve collaboration.

When evaluating software for your business, consider the following factors: cost, user-friendliness, scalability, ease of use, and integrations. Additionally, look into customer support options to ensure that you'll be able to get help when needed.

How To Get Started with The Right Program for Your Needs

Choosing Mac software for your business Here are some key considerations when choosing Mac software for businesses:

  1.   Consider Your Business Needs: The first thing to consider when selecting Mac software is what type of functionality you need. Do you need a powerful word-processing program? A comprehensive spreadsheet package? A customer relationship management (CRM) solution? Once you have an idea of the type of features you're looking for, it will help narrow down your options and make the selection process much more manageable.
  2. Compatible Third-Party Software: Many software packages are only compatible with certain types of third-party applications or services. Suppose you plan on integrating various software components into your business operations. In that case,it's important to choose Mac software programs compatible with each other and the third-party systems used by your company.
  3.  Ease Of Use and Support: It's also important to choose user-friendly Mac software that offers robust technical support resources in case you experience any issues while using it. Make sure that customer service representatives are available via phone or email when needed, as this will help ensure that any problems are addressed quickly and efficiently. 
  4. Cost: Cost should also be considered when selecting Mac software for your business needs; however, remember not to sacrifice quality or features just to save money in the short term – always opt for the best long-term value instead! Quality Mac software can come at a higher price tag initially. Still, the return on investment is often worth it in the end if it helps increase efficiency and productivity in the workplace. 
  5. Security Features: Security is becoming increasingly crucial for businesses as cybercriminals become more sophisticated and malicious attacks become more frequent. When selecting Mac software, look for solutions that include secure encryption protocols and other security features such as firewalls, anti-virus protection, malware scanning, etc., which can help keep company data secure from outside threats. 
  6. Flexibility and Customization Options: Not all business needs are the same – some may require more flexibility than others – so look for Mac software programs that offer customizable configurations as well as a wide range of integration options so they can be tailored to meet specific requirements without having to purchase additional add-ons or plugins if needed later on down the line. 
  7. Research Reviews and Testimonials: Finally, research reviews and testimonials from current customers who have used said Mac software before committing to purchase. It will give you a better understanding of how well particular solutions work in real-world environments and show whether they indeed do what they promise within specific settings.

Tips For Ensuring That You Make the Most Of Your Investment

When investing in Mac software for your business, here are some tips to ensure that you get the most out of your purchase:

  1. Regularly Update Software: To keep your Mac software up-to-date and to run smoothly, check periodically for product updates and ensure that they're installed as soon as possible. This will help ensure that your system remains secure and protected from any potential security threats.
  2. Backup Critical Data: It's also important to back up all critical data stored on your system in case anything goes wrong or if a hardware or software malfunction occurs. You can set up an automated backup solution to store files securely offsite, so you don't have to worry about manually backing up data.
  3. Test Software Compatibility: Make sure to test software compatibility before investing in any new Mac software program and that it works correctly with the existing systems used by your business. This will help avoid potential issues down the line due to incompatibility problems.
  4. Verify Support Resources: Finally, check the company's support page and verify what type of customer service resources are available in case you need help troubleshooting or have any questions about using the software package. Having reliable customer service representatives on hand can ensure you get the most out of your investment and don't experience long wait times for support.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

How to Add New Fonts to Your Mac

Fonts
Install fonts for Mac OS

You can use different fonts to make a text optic, to organize it, and to make it better (or worse) readable. For example, A headline to the eye-catcher.

On Mac OS, there are various ways to install a font. Here are three, which cover all eventualities:

  1. Install by double-clicking
    A double-click on the font file in the Finder opens the "collection" program, which displays the font. Click "Install". The font file is automatically installed in the "Library" folder in your user directory of Mac. So you only have access to this font and only you can use it. If you want to share the font with other users on your computer, follow option 2 or 3. 
  2. Install with the help of the collection
    Start the "Literary Collection" program. You can report this to Spotlight; CMD + Empty button and then "Literary collection" or from the program folder by double-clicking do. The font can now be installed by drag'n'drop to the respective "collection" in the right column. Fonts in the "Computer" collection are available to all users. You can only use fonts in the "user" collection. 
  3. Install by copying
    Mac OS has various font directories. Where you install a font, who determines who has access to it and who can use it.
Copy your desired font file to one of the directories listed below.

Changes to font directories are immediately effective. Sometimes, however, it is necessary to restart the program in which the font is to be used.

Font types

Similar to the fact that the operating systems are continually developed for computers, there are of course also changes and improvements in the font formats. The most important font types you should know are listed below.

OpenType fonts

OpenType is a standard developed by Microsoft and Adobe for fonts and the most recent font format. OpenType is an extension of the TrueType format, which means that both formats are very similar. Depending on how the data is stored for the fonts, OpenType fonts are subdivided into TrueType (.ttf) or PostScript-flavored (.otf) OpenType fonts. These can be embedded in the TrueType format as square splines or in the PostScript CFF format as cubic splines.

TrueType fonts (.ttf, .ttc)

TrueType is a standard for fonts developed by Apple ("real font" or "real letter"). It was developed several years after the PostScript format and is integrated into the operating systems Windows and Mac OS. In general, TrueType fonts can be said to be worse than PostScript fonts, because the format does not theoretically allow a perfect circle.

PostScript fonts (.ps)

PostScript uses its own font formats, the glyphs of which are described with PostScript, which differs in particular from the current TrueType format.

PostScript fonts are better in comparison to TrueType fonts, more accurate, rounder and softer. If you want to know more about font-types, typography.info is recommended.

For Windows:

Microsoft Office already offers a very large selection of fonts. Maybe the right one is just not there yet. Here's how to try new fonts:

Surf a website that offers fonts for download. Locate and download a font (the location is not relevant yet). The files are usually compressed using WinRar. Open the RAR file and drag and drop the files to the desktop or folder.

Open the folder "Fonts". You can find it under "C: \ Windows \ Fonts"

Copy the unpacked font files into them by simply dragging them with the mouse and dragging them to the folder.

For fonts search, check for more options and tick the box "Fonts with accents only". If the possibility exists that you use the new font also for commercial purposes, do not forget the donation to the authors. In case of doubt, you can also check "Public Domain" or "100% free" before the Fonts search, then you are on safe ground with regard to the rights of use.

If fonts are zipped (file ending ZIP), the files can be easily unpacked by right-click. If, on the other hand, you are dealing with RAR files, you need an additional tool. 7-zip, a sleek but powerful open-source program for unpacking a wide range of formats.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Apple Gives Away Beats Headphones

Students and teaching staff can save a little while buying the company's products in Apple's edu store. Now, an order is again clearly more attractive. In the context of a new action, Apple will give some of the beats, if you choose an iPhone, iPad or a Mac. After Apple had started its back-to-school-action in the USA at the beginning of June, the discount action now comes to many european countries. As of now, when you buy certain Apple devices, such as an iMac, a MacBook, a MacBook Pro, an iPad Pro, an iPad Air 2, or an iPhone in the company's education store, there are free beats headphones available. Mac shoppers receive a Beats Solo2 wireless headphones, iPad and iPhone buyers get Powerbeats2 wireless headphones.

From now on, Apple's back-to-school action is also available in some european countries. The summer action will run until 5th September 2016. The company from Cupertino gives Beats Solo2 wireless headphones to every customer who purchases Apple's MacBook, a MacBook Air, a MacBook Pro, an iMac, a Mac Pro or a Mac mini in the Apple Education Store. If you buy an iPad Pro (both sizes), an iPad Air 2, an iPad mini 4 or an iPad mini 2, Apple Powerbeats2 provides wireless headphones. Also, when purchasing an iPhone 6, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus or an iPhone SE, there are free Powerbeats2 wireless headphones.

Apple's back-to-school action goes on for almost three months

In the current promo for students, Apple lures with beats wireless headphones and discounts on Mac and iPad. Students who are now buying a qualified Mac, iPad or iPhone for the university get discounts on the wireless headsets of beats. The Beats Solo2 Wireless headphones allow users to choose from black, blue, red, white, gold, rose gold, silver, or space gray. Also the colors yellow, blue and red from the Active Collection are available.

The Powerbeats2 Wireless Headphones are available in red, black, sport black, sport white or also from Active Collection in red, yellow and blue. Alternatively, buyers of an iPads or iPhones can also buy the Beats Solo2 Wireless headphones. However, in this case, they must pay the price difference between the headphones, 100 euros. Anyone accessing Apple's back-to-school summer action should not be confused. After the selection of the Mac, iPads or iPhones and the headphone, the price of the headphone is included in the total price.

According to Apple, this offer applies to purchases made between June 15, 2016 and September 5, 2016 by individuals from the education sector in a participating Apple Store or participating Apple Online Store. If the Mac is returned without the beats headphones from this offer, the amount to be refunded will be reduced by the full purchase price of the headphones. The other case: if the headphones are returned, the Mac must be returned to return the full price. There is only one pair of headphones for every qualified product category. This offer is valid while stocks last.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Apple Mac Computers Targeted By Ransomware and Spyware

Mac Users Cautioned – New Deviations of Malware

Users of Mac have been cautioned regarding new deviations of malware which have been developed particularly to aim at Apple computers one of which is ransomware that tends to encrypts data, demanding payments before the files can be released. The other is known to be spyware which has the tendency of watching what users do and exposés up treasured information.

Experts are of the opinion that they pose as a threat since their designers enables anyone to use them at no cost. The two programs have been revealed by the security firms Fortinet together with AlienVault that discovered a portal on the Tor `dark web’network which had represented as a shop-front for the two. Fortinet had mentioned in a blog at the site that the designers behind it had been professional software engineers with `extensive experience’ in the creation of working code.

Those intending in utilising any of the programs had been urged to get in touch and furnish all relevant details of how they would prefer the malware to be set up. The designers of malware had stated that their payments that were done by the victims of ransomware would be divided among themselves and their customers.

Less Refined Encryption

The researchers at Fortinet had got in touch with the writers of ransomware posing as if they were interested in utilising the product and immediately thereafter had been provided with a sample of the malware. The firm had informed that from the analysis, it had been revealed that it utilises a much less refined encryption than what the several variants seen aiming Windows machine.

But they informed that any files scrambled with the ransomware could be lost totally since it carried out a very poor task of managing the decryption keys essential in restoring the data. The researchers had written that even if it is far inferior to most current ransomware aiming Windows, it does not fail to encrypt the files of the victims or prevent the access to important files, hence, resulting in real damage.

The free Macspy spyware, which is provided through the same site, tends to log when keys are pressed, can take screenshots and tap into a machine’s microphone.

Malicious Code – Evade Standard Means of Security Programs

Researcher of Alien Vault, Peter Ewane had mentioned in its analysis that the malicious code in the spyware had attempted to evade several of the standard means of security programs spots and clogged such programs.

Mr Ewane had also mentioned that Mac users are required to be more vigilant when malware designers are aimed at them. As OS X tends to progress in market share, they can expect malware authors in investing bigger amounts of time in the production of malware for this platform.

The statistics collected by McAfee has recommended that there are around 450,000 malicious programs targets at Macs much lesser than the 23 million aimed at users of Windows. From Fortinet, Aamir Lakhan had informed that Mac users should ensure that their machines are kept updated with the new software patches and be cautious of messages they tend to receive through email.

He had informed EWeek that Mac ransomware is certainly getting bigger and although market share tends to be small still, hackers are aware that there is treasured data on the Mac. Apple refrained from making any comments on its developments.

Friday, April 28, 2017

See All the Mac’s Open Windows at Once

mac nyc times

See All the Mac’s Open Windows on a Single Click

In the contemporary world, where some of the most excellent developments have taken place, those are having great importance in the life of an individual and also in the society. The computer technology is one of such inventions that have changed the basic approach of our life to a great extent, as there is a bit of the computer in almost every single product or service in present days.

It is known to all; there are lots of computer manufacturing companies throughout the world and Apple is undoubtedly one of the front runners in this particular segment. The Mac operating system of Apple is the most popular one and since its inception, millions of people have tried it and find it very user-friendly. The constant upgrading of the system is considered as the key reason behind the success of the Mac system. Now there are some unique features available in this system, which are quite helpful for their users to get the best result, with extreme ease and comfort.

Issues to be noted

It is often found that a new user of Mac operating system unknowingly hit some button, which may be shown some of the most interesting and surprising results that caught the user in a baffled condition. It means, by tapping some buttons on the keyboard, some sorts of commands got generated and the unknowing incidents occurred and these can be rectified by some specific actions, made on the keyboard.

If someone is working on his system and suddenly hit some buttons and find that all kinds of open programs shrank down and get back to the normal position by hitting another button. This entire episode made the person concerned baffled and clueless of how these things are happening!!

It is a very simple thing; while anybody found that all open windows are on the top on the desktop, it means, the person hit the Mission Control feature. If in any case, the Mission Control is summoned intentionally; it can of great help in locating any particular program on the cluttered desktop. The temporarily move aside the specific program in the split view or full-screen modes or may be seen any of the alternative desktops spaces that have been created for a different task on the Mac.

Conclusion

The most important part of the Mac operating system is; The Mission Control screen can be used in several ways, depending on the hardware of the system. Some of the laptops, having a shortcut on the F3 key on the system keyboard.

While on Mac's dock; the Mission Control can be seen, which features three numbers of color squares on the black background. This same icon can be seen in the famous Launchpad, which is basically a system tool, displays the important clickable icons of entire installed applications at the center of the screen.

It can be done by pressing the all important F4 button or clicking silver rocket icon on the Mac laptop, which helps the user to get the intended and prompt result.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Free Calling VoIP Apps For Mac


There are a lot of VoIP services and software packages available that allow Mac users to make free or cheap VoIP calls. This is important to know because many Mac users are frustrated by the fact that VoIP providers have softphones which are only Windows compatible. If you want to make free or cheap calls from your Mac then you should consider some of these apps and services.

Skype
skype

Skype is possible the most popular of all VoIP services available and it offers a softphone client to more than half a billion of its users. When using Skype you can all other Skype users for free. You can also make video calls, voice calls and have a conference with this service. If you are going to call a mobile phone or landline you will pay low rates.

Skype has been improving the VoIP client for Mac, but there is something that makes it weaker than the Windows version. This is the fact that it is not free, only cheap. If you have a home business then you should look at Skype for Business as a VoIP option.

QuteCom
QuteCom

QuteCom used to be called Wengophone and is a strong, free VoIP client. This service offers what Skype does with SIP compatibility. You will be able to make video and voice calls to people who also use QuteCom as well as cheap calls to mobiles and landlines worldwide.

This service also allows you to send an SMS to mobile devices. You can configure your client to work with any SIP-compatible VoIP service which allows you to use the application as a phone.

iChat

iChat is a VoIP client that comes for free with your Mac operating system so it will already be on your machine. The application is slick and clean with a video-conference function that allows up to 4 people onto a call at once. The primary issue with this application is that you are not able to make calls to mobiles or landlines and can only speak to people who have a Mac.

FaceTime
FaceTime

If you are looking for a simple app for video calling then FaceTime is one of them. This is exclusively for Mac's and does what you want it to very well. However, this is not a free solution and sells on the Apple App Market for a dollar. It is a very high-quality app with crisp HD video and voice communication.

Google Hangouts
Google Hangouts

Many people assume that this Google product will not work on a Mac. However, you can integrate the tool into your Mac. This is a very useful tool if you have a Gmail account or use other services from Google.

LoudHush
Loudhush

If you are looking for an app that is only for Mac then LoudHush is one of them. This is a VoIP softphone that works with an Asterisk PBX which makes it a less than ideal choice for many people. However, if you do have an account with Asterisk PBX then it will come in handy and offers some very interesting features.

X-Lite
xlite

Bespoke VoIP apps for customers is something that Counter path excels at, but they also have many good pre made products. X-Lite is one of the products they have which contains their basic elements of the paid app which is rich in features. This product offers SIP calling and is ideal for anyone looking for something to use in a corporate context.

Viber
viber

Viber is primarily for smartphones as it is one of the many VoIP calling apps that you can get. However, there is also a full application for Mac and PC computers.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Top Five Features of New Macbook OS

Macbook OS

Macbook OS Making Way for New OS – Sierra


Mac’s operating system has been exterminated making way for a new OS nicknamed Sierra. The forthcoming OS would be a free update providing a complete new user experience. Though it would not be available to customers till later in the year, news.com.au has been playing around with the beta for the past few weeks. The following are the five most remarkable features of the new Macbook OS:

1. Notification Centre 

The first obvious modification of the OS is a new background and restored Notifications Centre which is totally customised with things that are utilised the most which means that one can search for things often, pinning them in the Notification Centre to reduce the need of searching them constantly.

2. Siri Integration 

After the success of Microsoft with Cortana, Siri had been introduced by Apple to the Mac and the features can be accessed on clicking the logo in the dock, the Menu Bar or by utilising a keyboard shortcut. Inspite of the entire regular features, Siri tends to have the latest competences that have been designed only for the desktop. In order to test it, Siri was asked to show all the word documents on the Macbook and she was capable of doing so,effortlessly. This provides the possibilities of multi-tasking together with the daily task with much easy.

3. Picture in Picture

This feature is said to be a game changer with Apple, with the introduction of the ability of watching a video while simultaneously performing another task on the Mac. Basically one can float a video window from Safari or iTunes over the desktop or a full screen app. Moreover the video can be re-sized giving more or less space in completing whatever tasks one could be working on. Only a handful of sites tend to support this feature presently, though it is difficult to believe that more would not come along when the OS would be made public.

4. Copy and Paste

The upcoming iOS 10 and OS Sierra would be providing improved communication between all the Apple devices. One of the advantages is that of having your Desktop and Document folder available on all the devices, where the folders would be stored and updated in iCloud Drive, automatically. But the Universal Clipboard here is said to be the real winner. The feature also tends to make it easy in sharing information between Apple products by enabling copying from one device and pasting it on to another.

Storing Optimisation 

Sierra tends to make it stress-free to make space on the computer through the use of four choices namely-

  • Store in iCloud: It tends to store all the files as well as images in the iCloud with only the recently opened items stored physically on the Mac. 
  • Storage optimise: It tends to remove all iTunes movies and TV shows one has already watched from the Mac, automatically. 
  • Erase trash automatically: It erases the files that are in the Trash for over 30 days 
  • Reduce Clutter: It tends to collect the older documents that have been stored on the Mac for the user to decide on deleting them.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Apple OS X: Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Your Mac

Mac

El Capitan – Updated form of Operating System of Apple’s Mac


El Capitan is the up-to-date form of the operating system of Apple’s Mac and the next edition would be announced very soon, though the concluding software would not be released till autumn. A multifaceted OS such as this tends to have abundant features as well as capabilities though there seems to be plenty of secrets which need to be discovered. Some worth mentioning are:

Find the Cursor


Sometimes one may not find the cursor. In this type of OS X, a mouse wiggle tends to make the cursor increase massively so as to enable in locating it. It remains big for as long as you do so and then returns to its normal size.

Swipe to delete as in iOS


If one is familiar with the handy swipe-left-to-delete motion in the Mail app of the iPhone, one will find the same on your Mac also. Utilising a trackpad, you could bring up the familiar red `Trash’ box with a two finger left swipe, while one finger is used on an Apple Magic Mouse.One could choose a natural swipe direction for the mouse and trackpad wherein swiping down tends to move the onscreen content down which seems to happen on an iPhone or iPad though is the opposite of what happens on a computer.

Suggestions in email


When one receives an email, the program tends to search the text for new statistics like event or contact details which is not recorded. A new line seems to appear towards the top of the message stating `1 Event found in this email’ and with a single click it can be added to your calendar. It will recognise a flight number also, so clicking on the arrow which tends to appear towards the right of the words makes knownthe flight information. If it states New Contact info found in this email, you can update your contacts’ details.

Mail in full screen


Full screen apps, raised on clicking the green button towards the top left area of the document of bar application, assists in focusing on one job at a time. However if one needs to work on many emails simultaneously, you would need flexibility. You could click on the yellow button in the traffic-light three, in mail, on the new message window in order to see it glide to the bottom of the screen. Thereafter you could develop more new messages which are together ready to be called back to the main screen by clicking on them. In order to work on plenty of new messages, you could click the new message button continually which will be identified by a tab at the top of the messages and you could click between them with ease.

Smarter Spotlight


To launch Spotlight, you could click the magnifying glass towards the extreme right of the menu bar. On editing the word weather, you get to see the forecast for your area. Entering the name of a sports car, a movie stars etc. to see the latest headline. You also get the updates of sports score here and could also move the Spotlight window around the screen, resizing its depth.

Safari tabs


Should there be browser windows which are used continuously, there is an easy method rather than plucking them from the top sites which Safari window tends to provide. A right click on the tab tends to turn it into a `pinned tab which sits towards the left edge of the tab bar like a small icon. It is also easy to suppress a tab which plays audio when you don’t seem to need it. Rather than having to mute the entire computer you could go to a blue speaker icon in the browser bar to mute any kind of audio pick a selected tab to silence. It is also simple to switch between tabs and click on the tab, However you can hold down the Command key and a number key to select a tab – 1 is the left-most tab, 2 the next along and so on.

The cleanest desktop so far


For long, Apple featured an application dock which tends to sit on the bottom of the screen while in the same menu there is a check box to `automatically hide and show the Dock’. It means that the dock slides in view only when the mouse heads towards it which is useful if the screen real estate seems to be limited.

Notes


This seems to be one of the best recently introduced application which seems to be developing. If one has an iCloud account, a note made on the iPhone would seem as if by magic on your iPad and Mac. Searching the notes seems to be easy and you could also save web addresses to notes together with photos and much more. You could also display element by type portraying all the URLs that have been saved together. Besides this, it is also simple in creating list, with bullet circles that tend to be satisfying when you have completed your task. The latest on the list is a padlock icon that enables you to lock individual note or the complete lot so that no one can get hold of it without your password.

Live Photos


Shooting live photos with multiple frames as well as audio saved along with the main shot seems to be the support of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus which can be viewed on a Mac by just hovering the mouse over the thumbnail pic in Photos. On clicking on the Live logo towards the bottom left of the image, when the image is full screen, it tends to come to life.

Use Makeshift Tags


There seems to be one thing which Apple has not introduced to notes, which are tags. If these tend to be a consistent part of the workflow, one would have to do with a hack. You could use hashtags in your notes and later search for them utilising the search box in Notes by using Spotlight in order to filter notes depending on hashtags.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

How to find out if your Mac is infected with Backdoor.MAC.Eleanor

Mac

Malware – Backdoor MAC Eleanor


Bitfender had recently announced that its researchers had found new malware which tends to target Macs. The malware is referred as Backdoor MAC Eleanor and has the potential of compromising your system completely. While the malware exists, attackers can steal files, execute code, and control the webcam and much more. Hackers regularly check for exploits with the slightest resistance and in several cases its users seem to be taken unaware.

It tends to come packaged inside what seems to be a legitimate file converter application known as EasyDoc Converter. But the application does not tend to work essentially.Once it is installed, it seems to run a malevolent script that installs a Tor hidden service enabling attackers to access remotely and control the infected machine.

The script tends to set up a web service giving attackers the capability of manipulating files, access a list of running processes and application, execute commands and scripts as well as send emails together with attachments. The malware also tends to utilise a tool known as `wacaw’ which enables an attacker to seize videos as well as images by utilising the built-in webcam.

Packaged in EasyDoc Converter Application


On utilising this software, Bitdefender cautions that an attacker could `lock you out of one’s laptop and threaten to blackmail in restoring your private files or transform your laptop into a botnet in order to attack other devices. Observing that the malware has only been discovered packaged in the EasyDoc Converter application the user needs to download the application, install and run it for the machine to have been affected by it.

An extra security measure by Macs known as Gatekeeper located in System Preferences under Security & Privacy could be helpful. It stops unsigned applications from unidentified developers by default, from running. If an unsigned application, outside the Mac App Store is downloaded and tried to run it, you would come across a prompt stating the application can’t be opened.

If you tend to download the application presuming that you do not have Gatekeeper disabled, a prompt would appear while attempting to run the application. In order to open the app, you will have to intentionally supersede the security settings for running the application the first time.

Malwarebytes/Sophos – Detect Backdoor MAC Eleanor


Your Mac will not be infected with the Backdoor MAC Eleanor malware, if you have not downloaded the application or did not bypass the Gatekeeper setting in order to run it. On the contrary, if you did it either, your Mac could have likely been infected. If one still has access to your Mac, there is Malwarebytes and Sophos which have already been updated in detecting Backdoor MAC Eleanor and any anti-virus software which tends to scan for malware would soon come up.

 In order to free your Mac of the malware, you could download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware application for Mac or Sophos Home and run a scan instantly, deleting any related files. To evade such situations in the future, one should ensure that Gatekeeper settings are set only to permit applications from Mac App Store and identified developers. If it is essential to install an application from an unidentified developer, ensure that it is from a trusted source.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

How to verify checksums when you download an app for your Mac

checksums

Open Source Transmission BitTorrent Infected with Malware


Some of the Mac users seemed to have received a surprise last week when they discovered that a latest version of the open source Transmission BitTorrent client had infected their computer with malware, a condition which had been avoided with suitable securities. Most of the computer savvy are aware of the vigilant about where the download software are from though few of them pause to verify that the files received are the file which they are supposed to receive.

 This could be a grave last step in the prevention of malware infection seen in Transmission. Often, developers tend to post checksums or hashes together with the download links for their projects in order to simplify this type of verification. Generally, a checksum is the outcome of a mathematical calculation that tends to run a certain file, if the file has not been changed. The checksum calculated will tend to match the checksum provided by the developer.

It has not been made known how the infected download made its way on the Transmission’s website, though those who seemed to have received it first in the processhave informed that the checksum of the bad file does not seem to match the checksum given by the Transmission team.

Checksum Validator – Easy to Use Utility – Calculating/Validating Checksum


Checksum Validator is an easy to use utility for calculating and validating checksum – SHA-1 or MDS digests, for files which one downloads or uploads. On comparing a site’s published checksum with one’s calculated checksum one can verify that the download matches with the official copy of the site, which is free from corruption or tampering, unless of course the site’s checksum is also tampered.

All that is essential to calculate checksum is in MAS OS X which is quick and easy and the quicker and easier, the more possibility of actually verifying downloads. If the checksum is verified prior to installing, they would be aware of something being inappropriate. It is worth being aware that this is not a reliable process and if a website is compromised, the attacker can easily change the checksum also.

 Users can learn to verify checksum or SHA-1 which is a software update, provided on Apple software updates for those who intend to verify the authenticity of an update and is optional. Users need to note that for updates that are delivered by Automatic software Update, SHA-1 digest verification is accomplished automatically for you.

SHA-1 Secured Checksum for Data File


In order to verify a manually downloaded software update form Apple Downloads, that seems to comprise of SHA-1 digest, the following steps need to be done:
  • Open Terminal which is located in/Applications/Utilities
  • Type the following at the Terminal prompt
  • About SHA-1
SHA-1 is a secure checksum for a data file which is based on a cryptographic average and for a given file; SHA-1 creates a 160 bit encrypted output which is known as a `message digest’. It is unlikely that a modified data set would create the same message digest. If a file seems to have changed at the time of transit, its message digest also tends to change.

Users can download manually-installable updates from Apple Downloads. Apple tend to use SHA-1 digest on definite Apple Downloads in order that users can verify with great amount of possibility that the software downloaded is the same software one intended to download. When the SHA-1 digest for the file downloaded seems to match the digest for the file displayed on Apple Downloads, one can be assured that the file is reliable. For security purpose, users can utilise the secure https download page for manual updates.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Dividing the Screen in Mac OS X


Mac
Apple Mac devices are widely popular among the users due to its incredibly secure OS X which safeguards from a wide number of malwares and an incredible set of features which makes laptop more productive. Apple has introduced a SplitView feature in Mac OS X which allows users to quickly and evenly divide the screen between two programs which aid in multitasking. Most of the users sadly don’t know how to use the SplitView feature which limits their ability to get more out of the Mac device. Here are some smart and simple steps which will help in dividing the screen in Mac OS X.

How to access the Split View Mode? 

Boot up your Mac device and select the open window of the first program you wish to use. Now in the upper left corner of the screen click and hold on the green button this will launch the program in full screen mode. If nothing happens on pressing down the green then open Mac’s System Preferences from the Apple menu or from the Dock icon. Give a click on Mission Control and ensure that you had enabled the ‘Displays have separate Spaces’ in the settings.

Get two programs in evenly divided screen

In order to shrink the window of the program simply ‘hold’ down the mouse button or trackpad. Now drag the shrunken window to the side screen you prefer and let go of the mouse button or the trackpad. In order to bring another program in the Split View mode or in the half of the display screen give a click on another window which will make it pop up. Now simply fill the other half of the screen right next to the first program you had chosen earlier.

You can easily see both the chosen program windows are filling the screen in an evenly manner. In this Split View Mode users can easily switch back and forth between the two programs simply by clicking on them.

How to get two programs in Split View when one is already in Full Screen Mode? 

In case you are already working on a program in full screen mode and wish to start the Split Screen mode then follow these steps. Go to the Split View by opening the Mission Control, give a click on Mission Control in the Dock or simply press the Mission Control Key on the keypad.

Once the Mission Control view is open, drag the window of your opened program right onto the thumbnail of the program open in full screen mode. Now you will see two programs running smoothly in an evenly divided screen on your Mac OS X.

How to move out of Split View Mode? 

In order to get out of the Split Mode simply give a click on the green button present at the upper corner of the screen and it will bring back to the standard Mac desktop mode. Users can also simply give a press on Mac’s Escape (Esc) key to get out of Split View Mode.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Apple TV Usage is Surging -- At The Expense Of Mac


Apple TV
TV Everywhere on the Rise – Surpassing Roku

According to a report from Adobe, the computer maker’s streaming media box has envisaged its share of TV Everywhere viewings is doubled at the start of this year, surpassing main rival Roku. It seems that much of the growth is people changing in their Apple TV for online video which they previously watched on their desktops or laptops. Tamara Gaffney, principal analyst for Adobe Digital Index stated that looking at the Mac access,it has dropped.

 For Apple, they are transitioning the lover of their computers into a lover of the Apple TV device. Online video is on the rise since several users tend to watch on the go from their mobile devices with more programmers putting in-demand content on the web.

This has given way in the creation of good benefits for maker of `over the top’ boxes such as Apple TV which catches up to television in order to play online video for the big screen in the living room. This quick growth may have hidden dangers for Apple which means that since demand is mounting for one of its lowest priced products at the cost of some of their expensive products, it could mean the services on streaming media boxes may grow in importance when compared to the hardware.

Traditional TV Industry’s Gateway System

Consumer video viewing and browsing behaviour from the first quarter of last year through the first quarter of 2015 had been examined by Adobe. The data had been aggregated from over 500 billion visits with more than 200 billion online video starts and 2.8 billion TV Everywhere authentications for premium video content.

TV Everywhere is considered to the traditional TV industry’s gateway system in putting shows online and the TV Everywhere authentication is when one has been asked to enter the cable or satellite service password before viewing a movie or a show. It was observed by Adobe that Apple TV signified 10% of TV Everywhere authentication during the first quarter which has increased by 5% in the final quarter of last year and surpassed Roku that had an 8% share in the last period and 1% up point.

Apple TV – Popular Holiday Present

According to Gaffney, the data indicated Apple TV to be popular holiday present and observed its share could rise once again when Adobe could examine the data collected after Apple cuts the price of the box to $69 from the $99 in March. A caution with regard to these standings is that TV Everywhere authentications are not the full image of online video viewing and does not include time spent watching free video as well as content that is delivered by subscription services such as Netflix. Other observations from Adobe are –

  • TV Everywhere viewing has quadrupled in the last year
  • Apple TV and Roku, over-the-top counter devices as well as gaming consoles like Xbox, has made the greatest impact in TV Everywhere share growth to around 24% from 6% from last year
  • Although Thursday night has been made traditional `must see TV’, evening for advertising dollars, the most popular for TV Everywhere viewing seems to be Wednesday nights
  • Popular online browsers for viewing has been increasing Google’s Android as well as Chrome and continues to grow more than Apple’s Safari, though by a mere few percentage points. Google’s overall rating is 18% and Safari up by 15% which is at the expense of Internet Explorer and Firefox.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Dedicated Apps for Creating GIF in Mac


GifGrabber
GifGrabber – An Application for Mac – GIF Animation 

We normally see gestures and blows, in videos which deserve a GIF. GifGrabber is an application for Mac which enables the user to convert a video section into a GIF animation and is another type of app without the cloud sharing service CloudApp’s GIF feature on which it is built in order to make it simple to create GIFs on whatever is found on a Mac’s screen.

It is free software which enables the user to capture animated gifs from a video source on the screen and is very easy to use where anything on the screen could be turned into an animated gifs. GifGrabber seems useful in developing an animated image of cartoon clip which may be needed to turn into a funny GIF that can be sent to friends or for demonstrations for guidance on how to do troubleshoot on OS X problem besides the several reasons one would want to create a GIF.

Utilising the app is quite simple for those who are not well versed in computers and after the installation of the same from the Mac App Store, launch the app where a green box is displayed on the screen. The size of the box can be adjusted to capture a section only or the entire screen.

Program/Interface Simple & Easy 

On clicking the `Start Capture’ button, start the recording whenever needed. Prior to that, one should click on the red record button then on the app’s icon in the menu section where one will find the setting to adjust capture quality and toggle if you want your mouse pointer captured or not.

Once the recording is started, the green box tends to disappear and whatever takes place within the defined area is then captured.GifGrabber tends to capture 30 second clips of the content and some behind the scenes work to change the same into an animated image and once done, a box pops down your menu bar providing an option to select the GIF for viewing , editing as well as eventually, sharing.

The newly captured GIF can be saved, or edited within the app. The program is simple and efficient and the interface is very easy to use enabling users to learn on how to move around quickly making the most of its function in the shortest span of time.

Simple Shrinking/Trimming

Users need to make a note that the video format does not really matter since one can convert to GIF format fragments from anything one could possibly tend to imagine. Animated GIFs enables to get your point across without using a video, visually and one can make animated GIFs from an existing video though if one needs to capture the screen GifGrabber can do the needful.

It is like a previously featured Giffing Tool though for Mac and once the program is started, a box is drawn on the screen and the recording can be done on pressing the record button. The user has the option to start and stop the capture with hotkey to avoid getting the mouse in the way. The program does some simple shrinking and trimming of the file to have a GIF which can be shared as per their choice.

Friday, January 30, 2015

How to Move iPhoto Library to External Hard Drive


iPhoto
With the latest digital cameras and advanced smartphones such as iPhone 6, users have the opportunities of getting amazing photos and moving a part or your entire photo library to an external hard drive is one effective way of providing free space on the device.

At the start, it is essential to make an up to date Time Machine Backup of the computer to an external hard drive or Time Capsule.

Users should ensure that the external hard drive which is used to perform the backup is a separate unit from the one which will move the iPhoto Library to, should any problem arise. If the use has an account with cloud storage service like Google Drive, Dropbox or iCloud Drive, one could also upload the iPhoto Library for extra redundancy to these services.

To move the library, users could open iPhoto, click File in the Menu Bar and use the option `Switch to Library’. A new window then appears listing any and all the iPhoto Libraries detected on the computer. If the location of the iPhoto Library file is unknown, one could check at the (Default) listing which can be seen at the file path with the list underneath it and this must be located in the Picture folders of the Home directory.

Guidance and Instructions

Then the user can quit iPhoto by going to Quit iPhoto in iPhoto Menu or by using the Cmd+Q and connect to the external hard drive which had be used to copy the iPhoto Library and see it appear on the desktop. A new Finder window could be opened and clicked on Pictures towards the left sidebar and drag the iPhoto Library file onto the external hard drive icon on the desktop.

Based on the size of the library as well as the connection speed of the external drive, it could take several minutes or even longer in completing the process of copying. When the process is completed, holding on to the Option key on the keyboard, open iPhoto from the Dock or the Application folder where a new window would pop up with the prompting of Creating a New Library.

On opting on the Selected Library or Other Library, the user could click on Other Library. With the browser window that appears, the user can navigate to the external hard drive and click the iPhoto Library file that is copied and could choose `Click’.

Procedure to Accommodate Space

The iPhoto then appears till the external hard drive remains connected and refers the library on the external drive instead of the computer’s drive. Users can quite iPhoto again and eject the external hard drive without the new iPhoto Library and open a new Finder window navigating to the Pictures folder in the left sidebar once again.

With a right click or Ctrl+click on the iPhoto file, one could move it to the Trash folder. In order to accommodate space on the internal hard drive, open the Trash from the Finder window or Dock; click Empty Trash on the upper right corner area. This will remove the iPhoto Library from the internal drive and then you could reconnect the external hard drive used to copy the iPhoto library and open iPhone, using it as normal

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Apple Macs with Latest Graphic and Processor Technology


Graphic card
Apple Macs are some of the most advanced computers in the market with the latest graphic and processor technology. Macs are excellent for gaming and besides Apple Store, there are a variety of collection of games on several high profile publishers who are committed to Mac gaming. When gaming on Mac one could check on all the Apple Mac models and opt for the one which is the best for playing games.

Choosing a Mac with the best graphics card is not a difficult task and it is the new Mac Pro with Dual AMD FireProD500 with 3GB GDDR5 which makes a good option. One can also upgrade the graphics cards to Dual AMD FirePro D700 with 5GB of GDDR VRAM with additional cost if interested in enhancing the game. MacBook Air, Mac mini, MacBook Pro – non Retina and Entry level iMac all use Intel HD Graphics cards rather than Intel Iris or NVIDIA. To get the right Mac for gaming also depends on other internal hardware besides the graphics card. Apple utilises two main forms of Intel chip in its computers namely the Intel i5 and Intel i7 with clock speed between 2.7 GHz and 3.4 GHz which are sold in either dual core or quad core configuration.

High End Video Card Graphics Performance

An interesting fact with regards to the game is that it does not depend on cores as raw processing power and most of the games do not take advantage on the availability of the cores but the CPU speed seems to be the important factor. Playing the new video games has a heavy demand on the computer in terms of graphics as well as processor performance and hence it is important to get a Mac with sufficient power.

Besides this, speed being the main factor across the boards, it is essential to have a fast hard drive or Flash Drive which is also known as solid state drive or SSD. Due to its visual medium, excellent display is also essential. Video games tend to have the latest in high end video card graphics performance and Apple utilises three varieties of graphic cards in its computers: Intel HD Graphic 4000/5000, Intel Iris/Iris Pro Graphics, NVDIA GeForce GT750M & GT750M, Dual AMD FirePro D300 and D500.

Intel HD Graphics 4000/5000 – Integrated Graphic Card

While the Intel HD Graphics 4000 and 5000 tend to be an integrated graphic card, NVIDIA card which is found in the higher end MacBook Pros and iMacs seems to be discreet together with the Dual AMD FirePro in the Mac Pro which means that the graphics card is independent from the main CPU. Hence it tends to act as a second card instead of drawing power from the main CPU and for playing the latest high end games one could opt for a Mac with a NVIDIA GeForce graphics card.

Once the Mac is chosen, one needs to know where to get the games and which ones to purchase which are direct from the Mac App Store and seems to have some of the best selection of various forms of options. Another option to buy games is from Steam which is an online portal developed and managed by Valve while Feral Interactive also distributes several Mac games having some of the most recent releases available.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Four Things to Know When Buying a Second-Hand Mac


Mac
Mac computers have many benefits over PC brands, not to mention the fact that there are plenty of fun things you can do with them. If you are looking for a new Mac computer, chances are you are aware that they can be very expensive. We previously did a piece on buying a Mac for Christmas.

One way to get your high-quality computer on a budget is to buy it second-hand. There are a few different ways to buy a second-hand Mac: direct from Apple, retail shops, and individuals. However, buying a used computer is can be cause for concern, especially if you aren’t sure what to look for. Keep in mind these four tips when you are shopping for you second-hand Mac.

The Exact Specs

When shopping for used computers online on Gumtree, or a refurbished machine somewhere like The Bookyard, it is very important that you pay attention to the descriptions. Vague listings aren’t necessarily a red flag, but the users that post the exact specs of the computer are much more reliable.

If you see a well-priced Mac but the description is not very enlightening, it may be worth it to email the owner and ask about the details. The most important things to know are the year it was made, the RAM memory capacity, hard drive storage, and information about the Mac’s graphics card. You can look these things up yourself if you have your hands on the actual Mac by clicking the Apple icon, clicking on “About this Mac”, and finally clicking on “More Info”. The box that pops up will lists all of these specs and more.

The Screen Condition 

Be sure to look closely at the screen of your potential purchase. Turn on the computer so that the light illuminates any potential cracks or dead pixels. If you have no way to check out the computer for yourself, ask for pictures that show the screen illuminated. If the screen is damaged, you will be able to tell just by looking at it. Replacing a screen can be very expensive, so unless you are getting a really great deal overall, you should seriously consider moving on to another Mac.

Quality of the Body

Whether you are buying a laptop or a desktop Mac, the body surrounding the screen can be indicative of the condition of the computer. Inspect every part of the metal body, looking for dents, scratches, or any other imperfections. Usually, small imperfections are not a problem unless you prefer aesthetically for your Mac to be pristine. In fact, little issues like this can often mean a deep discount. However, anything more than one or two tiny blemishes might spell out issues later and poor care of the machine in the past.

If it Can Be Charged 

Some people try to get rid of their Mac because it has lost the ability to hold a charge. Don’t fall into this trap! Always check for a good charging speed before buying. It’s possible that the issue could lie in the charger itself, which is a cheap fix. But you always want to be sure that it isn’t the actual computer itself.

By checking these things you are far more likely to end up with a good deal than a dud.