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Mac tip: How to change the default programs for your files

Mac tip: How to change the default programs for your files

by ben patterson | Apr 4, 2013 | desktops, how-tos, laptops

Annoyed that the Mac’s Preview app, and not Adobe Reader, always gets to open your PDF files, or that Safari has dibs on your HTML documents rather than your favorite text editor? Well, one way to open your documents with the programs you want is to right-click...
Mac tip: Share files between nearby Macs with AirDrop

Mac tip: Share files between nearby Macs with AirDrop

by ben patterson | Mar 20, 2013 | desktops, how-tos, laptops, networking

Got a file on one Mac that you’d like to send to another Mac just a few feet away? Sure, you could always use a USB stick, but if the Macs in question are a) relatively new and b) connected to the same local network, there’s a much easier way. A built-in...
Mac tip: Why can’t I open PDF files in Safari? (reader mail)

Mac tip: Why can’t I open PDF files in Safari? (reader mail)

by ben patterson | Mar 11, 2013 | desktops, how-tos, laptops

Jill writes: Whenever I try to open a PDF in Safari, I just get a blank screen. Isn’t Safari supposed to be able to open PDFs by itself? I could’ve sworn it used to. Hi Jill! Yes, Safari can and should be able to open PDF files directly in the browser...
Mac tip: Create a new desktop in Mission Control (video)

Mac tip: Create a new desktop in Mission Control (video)

by ben patterson | Mar 1, 2013 | desktops, how-tos, laptops, video tip

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYXu8dW8XeA&w=600] If you haven’t tried Mission Control—the handy Mac feature that gives you a bird’s-eye view of all your open windows and virtual desktops—it’s high time you gave it a whirl. Now, Mission...
Mac/Windows tip: Turn any printable document or web page into a PDF (reader mail)

Mac/Windows tip: Turn any printable document or web page into a PDF (reader mail)

by ben patterson | Feb 7, 2013 | desktops, how-tos, laptops

Christine writes: I feel technologically challenged. I have a Word Document. How do I convert it to a PDF file? I downloaded Adobe Reader. Every time I click “Convert,” Adobe wants to be paid. I thought you can do this without paying. Hi Christine! So,...
Mac/Windows tip: Send PDFs and other documents to your Kindle

Mac/Windows tip: Send PDFs and other documents to your Kindle

by ben patterson | Jan 31, 2013 | apps, desktops, e-readers, how-tos, laptops

Got a PDF or Word file on your desktop that you’d rather read on your Kindle? Thanks to a handy utility from Amazon, you can send text documents from your PC or Mac directly to any Kindle e-reader or app, in just a few clicks. Available for both Mac and Windows...
Mac/Windows tip: Cram a bunch of files into a single “zip” archive

Mac/Windows tip: Cram a bunch of files into a single “zip” archive

by ben patterson | Jan 4, 2013 | apps, desktops, laptops

Got a bunch of little files that you want to send to a friend? Well, you could always drag them all into an email and send them as attachments, but talk about messy. A cleaner, tidier alternative is to take all those little (or not-so-little) files and compress them...
Mac tip: Give your Mac’s clock the power of speech

Mac tip: Give your Mac’s clock the power of speech

by ben patterson | Dec 17, 2012 | desktops, how-tos, laptops

Need a gentle, spoken reminder that yet another hour has ticked away? I know I do, particularly whenever I find myself sitting at my keyboard, staring blankly into space. Here’s a handy way to stay focused. You can set your Mac’s built-in clock to read the...
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