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Mac Tricks and Tips, Wallpapers and Applications for Mac Users
Stunning Mac Setups 3: The Minimalist Effect
It's an undeniable fact that minimalist mac setups can draw our productivity to its fullest. Some of my favorites mac setups are those with clean, big desk supported by comfortable lighting condition.
If you want to decorate your cubicle or even turn it to be your productivity workplace, these setups will give you some inspirations to start with.
Mac OS X Dock Pillows
Most fan clubs have their own mascots, accessories, uniforms, etc etc. So what do you think is the most possible special accessories for Mac fanboys?
It's the pillow! To keep you warm all the time and also to always remind you that you will never be able to turn back once you've join our Mac fanboy club - also called Mac Fanboyism.
Sorry guys, no killer tricks for today, you can only see killer pillow… :)
Mac Dictionary, Secret Words
No much things to show for now, just a bit of fun that you can get with your Mac Dictionary.
First of all, open up your Mac Dictionary, choose to display Thesaurus and type in one of these secret words:
Apple
"Varieties of apples: Ambrosia, Baldwin, Braebum, Cameo, etc."
I don't know there are so many varieties of apple. Surprisingly, there is also a variety of apple called McIntosh, which I think, from where the name Macintosh comes into use.
Democracy
"A democracy in Irag is quite unlikely for now or any time soon."
Metal
"Metals and Alloys: Aluminum, Antimony, Brass, Bronze, etc."
But now Google has use Chrome for its web-browser name. Maybe next time we can expect other company to have their browsed code-named Pewter?
Maybe you got other interesting Hidden Dictionary Words to show us? The comment box is always there for you :)
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Applications,
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Fun
Cleaning Mac G5
After I cleaned up my Mac keyboard. I'm very surprised to know the fact that so much dirt was hidden inside it. When I glazed to my Mac G5, I start to imagine how dirty it will be. Why not I open it? So I got into the fighting processes against dirts inside my Mac G5
1. Moving the G5
I'll be blamed to death by my brother, who presents me this G5, if I don't take good care of my G5. Even a single scratch on it will become my nightmare.
And frankly, my G5 is so heavy that needs my skinny muscle to contracts more than necessary.
Apple Keynote Bloopers
Found on YouTube this morning: Apple Keynote Bloopers.
I think the title and the movie itself are pretty explanatory.
Trust me it works!
Anyway, the last keystrokes on the movie being used to force quit the frozen Quake III program is Command-Option-Escape.
Fun with Terminal
Indeed, there are many easter eggs inside your Terminal, but I believe these Terminal command lines will make you smile as it's really fun to play around with. And for some, I am sure you've never seen them before.
Birth Token
cat /usr/share/misc/birthtoken | grep [month]
This Terminal command line will show you what is the birth flower and birth stone for the given birth month, instantly.
$cat /usr/share/misc/birthtoken | grep Jan January:Garnet:Carnation
Meaning of Flowers
cat /usr/share/misc/flowers | grep -i [flower-name]
Do you know that Camelia means reflected loveliness? Terminal knows it.
$cat /usr/share/misc/flowers | grep -i Clover Clover:Be mine.
The Universally Acceptable Mac
Apple has designed Mac really well that it can be universally used under any circumstances, you don't believe in me? This picture is the proof!
Well, is that mere human inside or outside the restroom?
How to Create Steve Jobs' Keynote
Apple Special Event for September 2008 has ended. Steve Jobs has done his good job on presenting the new products. Nothing is really mind-blowing here. But from his keynote slides, I can see several interesting effects. For sure, we can employ those cool effects to work for our presentation slides.
There are several keynote effects that I like from his presentation and hopefully, I've successfully clone those down to my keynote. These animations are as follows:
- Flying Numbers
- Image Transitions
- Shining Numbers
- Rainbow-Colored Nano-chromatic
- Display Full iPod Nano Collection
Let's rock!
Re-Emphasize Exposé Feature
Exposé, one of the built-in Mac gimmicks that Windows doesn't have, has been doing great job on promoting Mac to Windows users. Personally, I will invoke my Exposé whenever I saw my Windowish friends approaching me while operating my Mac. It's just "Wow!" for them, though it's as simple as bread and butter for Mac users.
Besides being used for attracting attention, we, Mac users, usually use Exposé for the sake of productivity boosting.
Your Mac Secret Recipes
Maybe this is a joke, Apple developers put up their favorite desserts' inside one of their Quartz Core Animation examples: Mac HD ▸ Developer ▸ Examples ▸ Quartz ▸ Core Animation ▸ Recipes.
Run the file Recipes.xcodeproj with Xcode and then choose Build and Go from its toolbar. Then you will be able to run The Recipes application (not quite an application yet, actually…).
Since the version is intended to be an example, it's not completed yet. Currently, only the dessert list is completed. And it's quite fun to find out that for most of the dessert, they sound unfamiliar to my ears.
Adapt Mac Shortcuts for Windows Switchers
Once you change from a geeky Windows user to a professional Mac user, first you will encounter a problem regarding to keyboard shortcuts. I've experienced it before, though some of the shortcuts are the same but most of them are different.
Here are several tips and shortcuts that I think you will feel it useful if you really want to transform your Mac shortcuts into old Windows arsenals.
Change Modifier Keys
Maybe you've noticed, in most of the shortcuts CTRL key in Windows has the same function as the Command key in Mac. Basically, by swapping the action performed by Command and Control of your Mac, you can get most of your new Mac shortcuts suitable for Windows switchers.
To change the action of modifier keys, there are only several steps need to be done:
- Click on the Apple on menubar
- Go inside System Preferences...
- Choose Keyboard & Mouse and go under Keyboard section
- Find the button labelled Modifier Keys... and hit it
- Select Control key to act as Command key and Command key to act as Control key
- Confirm by punching the OK button
- Now, you've done most part of your Mac to Windows transforming process
Change Mail Alert Sound
Two days before, I just discussed about how you can Change Flag Icon of Mail. I know if you've chance, you will try that.
And now, I'm going to introduce you how to change your Mail alert sound. If you notice, your Mail has four types of alert sound, i.e. Mail Fetch Error, Mail Sent, New Mail and No Mail. The function of these types of alert sound are self-explanatory so I am sure I don't need to explain further.
These alert sounds are stored in your Mail application package with the format AIFF. Before going further, I will give you a brief explanation of this audio format.
AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format)
According to wikipedia, AIFF is..
Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) is an audio file format standard used for storing sound data for personal computers and other electronic audio devices. The format was co-developed by Apple Computer in 1988 [1] based on Electronic Arts' Interchange File Format (IFF, widely used on Amiga systems) and is most commonly used on Apple Macintosh computer systems. AIFF is also used by Silicon Graphics Incorporated.
This audio format is non-compressed, lossless format which uses much more disk space than MP3 but helps you in streaming in multiple audio files from disk to your application. Hm.. A bit difficult to understand it, maybe this can help you, "It's fast yet expensive audio format."
You can go to Simply the Best to get the various sound effects in AIFF format.
And next, you're going to be directed to the location of these sound files.
Change Flag Icon of Mail
When browsed through your inbox with your Mail application, sometimes you need to flag certain useful email for future reference. With simple keystrokes, Shift Command L you can flag selected mails.
And now, do you want to change the icon of the flag as shown in screenshot below?
Mark As Starred
Stunning Mac Setups 2: Youngsters Edition
Last time, I've collected some Stunning Mac Setups from people around the world. Recently, I landed on a forum where some youngsters are discussing and posting their Mac setups.
Maybe some of you are curious, how fortunate youngsters out there are? Or maybe, how unlucky we adults are? I got my first Mac G5 on my nineteenth.
Here we present, 30 youngsters Mac setups!
Free Humanoid Mac Icons
Check out these cute icons. Maybe some of them don't have two legs, like humans, but at least they've got a head and two arms.
Kalijubees Mac
Stunning Mac Setups
Sometimes, we should spend our time to setup our workplace. Nice setup can be used not only for showing off to your friends but also for increasing our productivity and motivation.
After jump, you will see a lot of nice Mac setups from people around the world. Hope you can gain some inspirations on how to make another stunning Mac setup.
Fun RPG Game - KingMania, North Kingdom
Even though it's RPG game, I feel like it's more to action game (mouse clicking game).
Short Introduction
This game is about controlling buildings, performing upgrades, conquering villages and at last, killing enemies. As I've experienced, I can throw Fireball to enemy castle, I also can send Monsters against my enemies. And it's fun to see my troops (and I desperately send out my villagers) walking towards enemy's camp.
Usingmac.com publish a book
Yes, after few months of work hard, we finally done up our book. You can see this book soon in your area the nearest book store.
Play Monopoly with Mac
Fill up your boring time with this new fully animated and fun monopoly game.
I've no much to say, just experience it and maybe this screenshot below will describe what is the unique part of this game.
You can download it at www.gamehouse.com, have fun.
Set Finder Background
Oh, I just remember that we can attach background image in our Finder. As I remember, we also can do this in Windows but with more complicated way and it's hard for me to know. Here I am to share with you how to use background inside Mac OS X Finder.
Before that, maybe this image below will give you brief explanation what will you achieve after reading this article. Have fun.
I humbly said that many people have known how to set finder background. However, I feel very happy to share my knowledge.
Mac Games for Gamers
Assuming that Mac users do not play games is totally wrong. There are many cool and fun games on Mac; Gamers don't worry to use Mac.
World of Warcraft
Most famous multiplayer game now supported on Mac. Feel the wrath of magic and the glamorous effect of every action. Build power, expand glory.
Fun Game, Feel the Fish
This game called Tang Swim with the Fishies, which storytelling a fish that want to rescue its starfishes friends. Our role is to control the fish. It's a fun 2D game with cute tiny main character, a fish. In order to get rid of the enemy (that aggressively bite the fish), the fish can fire bubble, such a creative fish.
This game can be downloaded from Tang Swim with the Fishies web page.
After unzipping the compressed file, insert the downloaded disk. And follow the instructions.
