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We’re happy to welcome Sean to the Mac Aid team. He brings with him many years of experience with computers and a strong passion for Mac’s specifically.
Keep an eye out for Sean in the future.
A collection of recommended apps: Alfred; an app launcher, web searcher and shortcut extraordinaire, Optimal Layout, a power window layout manager, and xType; a flexible text expander.
Read more here.
Apple late last week presented the new iPad to the world at their always well anticipated keynote presentation. Apple also announced Mountain Lion the week earlier, though we’re not likely to see it for quite some time.
Read more here.
We thought we might try something different this month so read on below to hear our productivity application recommendations.
Alfred app launcher.
Alfred, a free keyboard-driven productivity application from the App Store, allows you to launch apps and search your computer and the web with great speed.
Through the use of a quick shortcut, Alfred is able to:
I’m a prolific Spotlight user and much like Spotlight, Alfreds default shortcut is “Option + Spacebar” which brings up a search query on the desktop. My most used example is searching ‘maps (suburb)’ which then opens a browser or tab in an already open browser and takes me straight to the search results within Google Maps. Very quick and useful.
Alfred is currently at version 1.1 and requires Mac OS X 10.6 or later and is available either through the App Store or the AlfredApp website.
Optimal Layout.
Optimal Layout is a powerful window manager available from the App Store. It allows you to access the best tools to manage your window applications, and ultimately, helps make you more productive.
Optimal Layout’s keyboard commands allow you to:
Optimal Layout is highly customisable to the way you want to work, and with regular updates and enhancements, Optimal Layout is designed for people who like to keep their hands on the keyboard.
In order to see how it works, you can watch the screencast at:
xType 4.
Save keystrokes and time with xType.
If you ever find yourself typing out the same, repetitive text out then the Application aType 4 may be for you.
xType is a text expander which means with the use of a predefined text abbreviation you can produce website links, addresses, email signatures or what ever text you define. For example I’m using the abbreviation “sig” to produce my Email signature, images and all.
Actually typing ‘sig’ in this article produced my email signature until I made the shortcut exclusive to the Mail application, an easy enough change in the applications settings page
It is very customisable, very straight forward and you wont find yourself getting lost in something that should help you save time in the end.
It’s free and definitely worth checking out.
Check it out here or in the App Store.
Apple late last week presented the new iPad to the world at their always well anticipated keynote presentation. Apple also announced Mountain Lion the week earlier, though we’re not likely to see it for quite some time.
Read more here.
Jonathan Ives, the British polytechnic graduate who became the design genius behind Apple was elevated to Knight Commander of the same Order (KBE) in the 2012 New Year Honours for services to design and enterprise.
Ives has worked with Apple since 1992, initially commissioned as a consultant but then gained his current position as senior vice president of design in 1997 after Steve Jobs return to Apple’s helm.
Mr Jobs described Mr Ives as his “spiritual partner” in the recent biography of the Apple co-founder written by Walter Isaacson.
The knighthood is the second time Mr Ive has been recognised in the honours list. In 2005 he was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).
Learn how iPhoto gives you the ability to create your own hard or softcover book, letter press cards and calendar.
We’re about to launch a free data backup assessment for our business customers so keep an eye out for it in your mailbox. Simply put, if you’re interested, we can assess your back up strategy and advise on any changes or solutions that are suitable.
iPhoto is well integrated into the Mac ecosystem allowing you to do many things such as email, share on Facebook and Twitter etc very easily.
It also offers a way to present your photos not commonly found in software applications: iPhoto gives you the ability to create your own hard or softcover book, letter press cards and calendar. You can easily change the arrangement of photos, input your own text or titles and there are a respectable amount of choices for the print size of books or cards. This is perfect for preserving moments such as ones travels, family moments or even documents – it doesn’t have to be ‘photos’ per-say.
-Without getting into a step by step tutorial on the matter of creating a book or card- we’ll point you in the right direction first however.
Due to the number of options available we’re not going to get in a full blown step by step tutorial on the matters of book, card or calendar creation but we do have some pointers.
Perhaps the first thing you want to do in creating your book is either select a few as a start and/or make an Album of the appropriate photos- this means you’re part way done already and you won’t have the potential issue I’ll address next.
If you do not have a selection or create an album, iPhoto will query you asking to add all or none of your photos. Adding all could take a while and it definitely will make it harder to sort through down the line.
But once you are ready to go, simply click the + button down the bottom left of the screen, select Book or your respective choice in the pop up box, name it, choose the appropriate size and design, click create and you’re away.
You can find more information about the products at the following link or by simply ‘having a play’ with iPhoto.
http://www.apple.com/au/ilife/print-products.html
We’re about to launch a free data backup assessment for our business customers so keep an eye out for it in your mailbox. Simply put, if you’re interested, we can assess your back up strategy and advise on any changes or solutions that are suitable.
Apple’s senior vice president of design, Jonathan Ives gets Knighthood.
Over the next few weeks you may find a letter in your mailbox detailing an offer from us; if you’re interested, we can assess your back up strategy, make sure it’s actually working and recoverable and advise on any changes, solutions or potential issues that there could be.
When you need your backup, it’s too late, so don’t wait until you have a problem to find out if it works!
Below is a sample of the letter so have a read and keep an eye out for the forth coming letter in your mailbox although if you’re interested feel free to contact us.
Click to view Backup Assessment Letter
Learn how iPhoto gives you the ability to create your own hard or softcover book, letter press cards and calendar.
Read more here.
Apple’s senior vice president of design, Jonathan Ives gets Knighthood.
Read more here.
