Basics4Mac

Setting iCal Alarms for After the Event

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:05:00 -0400

A follow-up reminder

iCal edit event panel
Click to see a larger image

You know that you can set various types of alarms to remind you of an upcoming event, but you can also set up alarms for after the event. Setting an alarm for after an event could be useful to help you remember to follow up on something after the event has completed.

Recognizing Certificates in Safari

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:05:00 -0400

Protecting yourself from phishing

How Safari shows evidence of certificates
Click to see a larger image

Hopefully by now, you have heard of phishing. Maybe you don't know the term but know the concept: Thieves create a look-alike website to one you trust and try to get you to give them personal information. Then they take that information you gave them and play a little game called identity theft.

Safari and other web browsers use a system called certificates to verify that the website you are connected to (your bank for example) is real the site you think it is and not some clever look-alike out to steal your info.

Teaching Proper Nouns to the Spell Checker and Autocorrect

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:05:00 -0400

The Mac knows your friends

Names in your Address Book
Click to see a larger image

I have a friend with a name that is not common in English. I noticed a while back that his name didn't get flagged by the spell checker or autocorrect in Lion.

I was pretty sure I hadn't added his name to the built-in spelling dictionary and was curious as to how OS X knew that his name didn't need correcting.

Here's how OS X knows certain proper names without you teaching it.

Using Google for a Quick Spell Check

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:05:00 -0400

Fast lookup

Did you mean...
Click to see a larger image

This isn't a Mac-only tip, but did you know that you can use Google as a quick and dirty spell check?

Facts about Flash

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:05:00 -0400

Making the best of Flash

Flash Update Notification
Click to see a larger image

Flash is a program from Adobe that runs in a web browser and mostly deals with things that move on the screen. Flash is the tool that plays many of the videos online and is responsible for all of those blinking, moving advertisements on websites that are so annoying. Many online games are written in Flash and occasionally an entire website runs using Flash.

Flash is also a pain in the caboose. It is inefficient and often hogs much of the computing power of your Mac. It is also an entry point for malware. Oh, and did I mention those horrible blinking ads?

In the past few years, Flash's dominance has decreased quite a bit and there are many ways to avoid it. However, there are still a few times that you just have to have Flash to do a certain task online.

Here are a few things you can do to best co-exist with Flash.

Using the Retouch Tool in iPhoto to Remove Blemishes

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:05:00 -0400

Smooth away those lines and wrinkles

I need all the help I can get
Click to see a larger image

The Retouch tool in iPhoto is a blending tool that is useful for removing blemishes or imperfections. Retouch is most useful for a photo that is closeup of a face. Retouch isn't just for faces, though. I did some retouching on a closeup pic of a tulip to remove a couple of imperfections.

Here are some tips on making retouch look good.

Make any iPhoto photo your Desktop Picture

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:05:00 -0400

Quickly set your Desktop Picture

Set your Desktop picture
Click to see a larger image

It is very easy to set your Desktop picture to be any photo in your iPhoto library.

Creating Screen Shots

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:05:00 -0400

Capture your screen as an image

Window screen shot
Click to see a larger image

Sometimes you might need to share what is on your screen with another person. Remote control software works for that, but a still image might do just fine. You can take pictures of your Mac screen in a couple of different ways.

Changing the Date and Time of Photos in iPhoto

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:05:00 -0400

Getting back in sync

Adjust time dialog
Click to see a larger image

All digital cameras tag their photos with the date and time the photo was taken. Cameras on mobile phones get their time code from the cellular connection so the time and date is always correct. Standalone cameras require that you set the date. Sometimes when you go back to edit your photos you find that the date and time tag on the photos is incorrect - maybe even Jan 1, 1900 if you never set the clock at all.

Fortunately, you can adjust the time and date after the fact once your photos have been imported to iPhoto.

Learning with iTunes U

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:05:00 -0400

Get smarter for free

iTunes U topics
Click to see a larger image

iTunes U is a part of the iTunes Store that features lectures and even complete courses which you can download.

iTunes U has more than 500,000 educational audio and video files from universities, K-12 schools, famous museums, public media organizations, and other cultural institutions from around the world that anyone can access for free.