Is your Dashboard cluttered with tons of widgets that you don't want to see any longer? You can easily hide widgets from your Dashboard by holding down the option key while mousing over top of your widget and clicking the "x" button that shows up.
Clicking the "x" button does not, however, delete the widget -- it will only hide it. To delete a widget, click the "+" button in the bottom left corner (or hit the command and + key combo) then select the "Manage Widgets..." button. From this widget manager, you will be able to click the red minus button beside the widget to completely remove it from your Mac. The deleted widget will show up in the OS X trash can.
Like we didn't see this one coming: Apple is suing Psystar for copyright infringement. Psystar is the interesting little startup Mac-clone maker who allowed Mac OS X to run on their systems without the consent of Apple. In its license agreement, you are not allowed to run Mac OS X on any non-Apple hardware.
Apple filed the complaint in a federal district court in California saying that Psystar violated its shrink-wrap license and trademarks. Apple is also alleging copyright infringement. In recent months, Psystar had begun cloning Mac OS X servers, which definitely made us feel a little uneasy about this small company.
Apple has released a new "MobileMe" update that allows your OS X system to "see" and interact with the new MobileMe service. As many may know, the change over from .Mac to MobileMe happened last night into the wee hours of the morning. This software adds the new MobileMe system preference pane and adds MobileMe support for Mail.app. We have uploaded a gallery of images for your viewing pleasure showing the subtle changes in System Preferences.
"The Mac OS X Update For MobileMe is recommended for users running Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.4 and includes general system fixes that enhance your Mac for MobileMe," Apple says.
You can download this update by opening Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update).
This is another entry in our continuing Mac 101 series, aimed at new Mac users. These tips are old hat for veteran Mac users, but will save some people a lot of grief.
I know several people who have switched from Windows to the Mac over the past year. While they're happy with their decision, they all tell me the same thing: "I don't know where to find anything."
Typically, the topic arises when they're looking for the "control panel" to change a system setting. Since Apple's System Preference panel looks different that the Windows Control Panel, it isn't immediately helpful.
Until they ask it what they're looking for.
There's a small search box in the upper right-hand corner of the System Preferences window. Typing a keyword or two into that field reveals just where that function lives with a "spotlight" effect. For example, if I want to adjust my alert volume, typing "volume" highlights the Sound panel.
This method also provides helpful text. For example, typing "email" produces this list
Email faxes
Email and chat restrictions (parental controls)
Limiting email and instant messages
Sending permission emails
Each is accompanied by a link in the preference pane. The search results aren't flawless, of course, but they're better than staring at a field of unfamiliar icons, and have brightened the Mac experience for many a switcher.
The Mac OS X 10.5.4 update might have made you restart your Mac, but it also added "RAW image support for several cameras." While Apple didn't tell us what these cameras were in Software Update, they did later update the RAW support page for Mac OS X Leopard.
According to the page, Apple's update added the ability to use the RAW format on these cameras:
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi / Kiss Digital x2 / EOS 450D
Epson R-D1 / R-D1s
Leaf AFi 7
Leaf AFi 6
Leaf AFi 5
Pentax K200D
Pentax K20D
Those of you waiting for your SLR camera to be supported under Leopard might have received a surprise in your Mac OS X update.
If you've been looking to snag Parallels Desktop version 3.0, but don't want to pay the $79.99 associated with Parallels then a summer MacHeist bundle is just the thing. MacHeist is currently offering Parallels Desktop + Mac Pilot for only $49 (US).
Returning MacHeist customers receive a $10 discount, making the bundle only $39. That's a steal! In addition, the first 1000 customers to purchase the bundle will recieve a free "mystery application" (one that's an Apple award winner) which will be detailed on Friday.
Update: The rumor on the street is hinting at the "mystery application" to be either Coda or Lineform.
AppleInsider claims to have information on the next point update of Mac OS X Leopard (version 10.5.4). According to AppleInsider, the build number of 10.5.4 is 9E17. They also reported that the beta of 10.5.4 has "no known issues" in its latest build, and that beta testers were asked to focus on AirPort, networking with Windows, Spaces and other frequently used (and often problematic) aspects of OS X.
As we reported a while back, OS X 10.5.4 should incorporate support for Apple's new MobileMe web service.
A German site, Apfeltalk.de has posted screenshots of the forthcoming version of Mac OS X, 10.6 (a.k.a "Snow Leopard"). Most of the screenshots show off the Safari 4 developer preview that will include the "Save as Web Application" option in the File menu.
The website also shows off the next version of Address Book.app that will bring Microsoft Exchange support to the Mac platform. We do however have to speculate about the System Preferences.app screenshot that shows two Time Machine icons with one labled "Dock" and another labeled "Time Machine" -- this seems out of place and unlike Apple.
You can see all of the screenshots (before Apple's legal team gets a hold of them) on the Apfeltalk.de site.
I spent three days in a class last week learning about Leopard. It probably sounds a little strange that a guy who works day in and day out on "nothin' but Macs" would be taking a class to learn more about the Mac operating system, but I did it for a reason - I am an Apple Certified Technical Coordinator (ACTC) and I need to keep my certification current. Within a few weeks, I'll be taking a certification exam to prove that my brain absorbed some of the course content and my years of Mac experience really have turned me into a Mac guru.
Not many people know about the certifications available to Apple professionals. Certification has a number of benefits to independent consultants and wage slaves alike, including recognition of professional competency, credibility with clients and employers, and the ability to publicize your certifications on Apple's website. For those of us who are Apple Consultant Network members, we can have clients referred to us by the Apple Stores.
Over the next few weeks, I'll post several articles about the different types of certifications available to you, how to become certified, and why you might want to consider getting certified. Read more after the break.
We speculated before the WWDC Keynote that Mac OS X 10.6 might be Intel-only. Now it looks like (to many a PPC Mac user's chagrin) that rumor might actually be true. MacNN got a copy of the system requirements for Snow Leopard. One of the main changes: "An Intel processor" required.
Some of the other system requirements include:
An internal, external, or shared DVD drive
At least 512 MB of RAM (more is recommended for development)
A built-in display or display connected to an Apple-supplied video card supported by your computer
At least 9GB of disk space available, or 12GB of disk space if you install the developer tools
Keep in mind that these system requirements refer to the Developer Preview handed out at WWDC. Snow Leopard isn't scheduled to ship for a year, and things can change. That being said, it might be time for you PowerPC Mac owners to start saving for a new Mac.
Some of the first pictures of "Snow Leopard," Apple's next version of Mac OS X have started leaking off of developer's Macs. Orchard Spy has some of the very first screenshots, though nothing too exciting is shown.
Just as we suspected, Snow Leopard doesn't show any new features in the Applications or Utilities folders; nor does it show any changes in System Preferences. The only change that may lead to speculation is a new "32-bit" phrase in the System Preferences Title Bar.
TUAW broke the Snow Leopard story and boy were we right. Apple has just posted the details on the next version of Mac OS X -- Snow Leopard. Snow Leopard will not bring any major new features to the Mac platform, instead, Apple will be focusing on the quality of the OS.
According to the details, Snow Leopard will be optimized for multi-core processors, be able to take advantage of even more RAM (up to 16TB, theoretically), and include out-of-box support for Microsoft Exchange 2007. A new technology in the OS, named "Grand Central" will allow developers to better take advantage of Macs with more than one processing core.
In addition, Safari will be revved with Snow Leopard. Safari will utilize a new JavaScript engine ( SquirrelFish, no doubt) to make it even faster.
Apple did not supply any details about price, but expects the OS to be shipping in "1 year."
Recently, Apple posted a new online seminar (linked from enterprise Apple Store pages) entitled "Best Practices for Integrating Mac OS X into Active Directory." This seminar will show registered participants how to deploy machines running OS X into existing Active Directory setups.
Apple lists several things that are shown in the online seminar, some of which include:
Integrating an Active Directory environment into Mac OS X
Using the Active Directory plug-in in Mac OS X
Configuring home directories (includes how to do this with mobile users)
You can watch this free online seminar by going to Apple's seminar website and registering. You will then be able to stream the video using QuickTime Player, or download an iPod-compatible file.
Most of us know that we should perform regular maintenance on our Macs, usually simple things such as doing backups and shaking pizza crumbs out of the keyboard. But did you know that there are a number of UNIX System Tasks that are available for keeping your Mac running at peak performance?
A lot of Mac users don't want to pull up Terminal and type arcane text into the command line, so MacDentro has a GUI front end that you can use to run those commands and keep your Mac cruisin'. IceClean, now at version 3.0.6 has menus for OS X Maintenance, Cleanup, Security and Network, and Utilities, all of which are packed with menu choices or keyboard shortcut equivalents that make mundane maintenance chores simple to perform.
There are other apps available -- Maintenance and MacJanitor come to mind -- that perform similar tasks, but neither of those programs comes close to the depth of capability of IceClean.
The price is right, too - it's free, although you might want to send the MacDentro folks a donation if you find yourself using IceClean regularly. Download IceClean here.
Tip of the hat to our very own Victor Agreda for this find!
There's action on the Leopard update front. We've been told by reliable sources that the next point release of Mac OS X Leopard (version 10.5.4) will be released on June 12th. This update will include the usual bug fixes as well as support for the to-be-announced Mobile Me service.
In addition, we have reason to believe that this update will also include support for a new piece of Apple hardware. What is this mysterious computer? We have no idea, but we're hoping all will be revealed during WWDC.
Is your Dashboard cluttered with tons of widgets that you don't want to see any longer? You can easily hide widgets from your Dashboard by holding down the option key while mousing over top of your widget and clicking the "x" button that shows up. 
Apple has released a new "MobileMe" update that allows your OS X system to "see" and interact with the new 
This is another entry in our continuing 
The 
If you've been looking to snag 
AppleInsider 
I spent three days in a class last week learning about Leopard. It probably sounds a little strange that a guy who works day in and day out on "nothin' but Macs" would be taking a class to learn more about the Mac operating system, but I did it for a reason - I am an 
We 
Some of the first pictures of "Snow Leopard," Apple's next version of Mac OS X have started leaking off of developer's Macs. 
Recently, Apple posted a 
Most of us know that we should perform regular maintenance on our Macs, usually simple things such as doing backups and shaking pizza crumbs out of the keyboard. But did you know that there are a number of UNIX System Tasks that are available for keeping your Mac running at peak performance?
