Mac 101: the lozenge button

Kira, that doesn't happen with every .dmg file. Some upon up and just have the Application itself and a read me file in there. The ones that do rock, because it's much easier to slide it over an inch or two, but unfortunately not all of 'em do.

umm cant you just drag the icon into the icon of the apps folder that comes up in that screen? it's not just there to tell you that you need to put it into the apps folder - it's there acting as the apps folder litterally just drag the left icon over the arrow and onto the apps icon... there's no need to open a new screen or do anything else!

I'd forgotten about the lozenge button. It isn't useful to me most of the time, but this would be one of those times I could use it.

In the example given, though, there's a better solution (although it's up to the developer) - put an alias to Applications in the DMG.

I guess I'm one of the "duh" crowd. I've been a Mac user for a year now. Bought my first used PowerMac last spring, and liked it so much that I replaced my laptop with a MacBook Pro in the fall. As soon as Apple releases a suitable and affordable model, I'll be replacing my one remaining Microsoft Windows home computer with a Mac, too.

At home I spend more time on a Mac than on Windows nowadays, but I had never figured out what the lozenge was for. I figured it must have some purpose, but I guessed I just never happened to click on it in windows that had toolbars. Anyhow, I, for one, appreciate this type of Mac 101 article. It does help us recent switchers, Kevin (commenter #2). So please keep it up, TUAW people. Thanks.

Nice tip, thanks!

There I am, using Macs all the time—but wasn't using this button at all.

Hey! That is pretty cool. Thanks for sharing that tip. Honestly, I don't think I've ever really paid attention to that button. Now, I know about it and what it does.

That is a great tip, thanks! I like the DMGs that have a shortcut to your Applications Folder already set up, so you can just drag the icon within the DMG, but this is a great option.

Loved some of the previous smug asshole "EVERYONE KNEW THAT, DUMMY" comments-nice to know that some Mac users are trying to uphold the generally held opinion that Mac users are..well, smug assholes :p.

Kevin, I haven't stuck my apps folder in the dock. In fact, I havent stuck ANYTHING in my dock, because I think the dock is slow and not worth the screen space. I even permanently hid my dock, and it hasn't slowed me down a bit. This is a great tip and I use it all the time to quickly install apps.

Also, if you use quicksilver, you can simply activate it, type apps, then drag the icon from the mounted dmg's window to the quicksilver box where apps is, and it'll copy it there.

Hit CMD-N and drag and drop.

Wow, took a whole article to discuss that single point?!!!!

I'm a new guy, so I appreciate this tip. I've gotten into the habit of dragging the .app icon to the HD icon on the desktop and doing the spring-loaded bit to get to Applications.