macro posts

WWDC Demo: QuicKeys 4

by Victor Agreda, Jr. (RSS feed) on Jun 24th, 2009

WWDC isn't all about iPhone apps. Long before the iPhone was a twinkle in Steve's eye, WWDC was all about developing for the Macintosh. I had a chance to sit down with the guys behind QuicKeys, a venerable Mac app that will save you a lot of time on repetitive typing tasks. I got a look at the beta, but the full version is now available for $59.95 ($29.95 if you are upgrading from version 3).

For example, if you are constantly typing your email signature, QuicKeys can auto-complete the typing when you type "szm" or any other character combo you like (in a similar fashion to TextExpander). QuicKeys can also create keyboard shortcuts for darn near anything, and record actions for later use. That's really just the tip of the iceberg. QuicKeys has MIDI triggers, a powerful search tool, web actions, an online repository for shortcuts and tutorials, and the company is set to release a QuicKeys remote app for the iPhone/iPod touch (so yeah, you just can't escape that little platform).

Luckily, you can try QuicKeys yourself and get a feel for how powerful it truly is. There's a 30-day trial mode, but Startly (makers of QuicKeys) has a generous "unlimited" trial period, which extends the trial app indefinitely. I know I've often downloaded an app, installed it, then come back close to 30 days later to realize I can't dig into it within the timeout period. Give it a try and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. If you are a power user, this thing is a lifesaver. If you're a casual user, there's still benefit to typing less throughout the day.

Tags: automation, macro, power tool, PowerTool, quickeys, typing, video, wwdc, wwdc09

Filed under: Switchers, Mac 101

Mac 101: Using your Windows keyboard

by Robert Palmer (RSS feed) on Sep 11th, 2008

If you switch frequently between a Mac and a PC, chances are you have to deal with a Windows keyboard from time to time. Thankfully, this can be easy with third-party utilities, or even features already built in to Mac OS X.

For most switchers, the hardest part about learning to use a new Mac is dealing with your muscle memory. For example, if you're really used to typing Control + C to copy something, Command + C means using your thumb instead of your pinky to perform the operation.

In System Preferences, you can click Keyboard and Mouse to change how your modifier keys (that is, Control, Command, Option and Caps Lock) work. Click the Keyboard tab, and then click the Modifier Keys button at the bottom of the window. You can map the Control key to the Command key (and vice versa, if you prefer) to help ease you in to Mac key commands.

Continue reading “Mac 101: Using your Windows keyboard”

Tags: alt, caps lock, CapsLock, command, control, doublecommand, keyboard, keymap, keyremap4macbook, mac101, macro, mapping, option

Filed under: Software, Productivity

Keyboard Maestro 3 adds macro recording and remote access

by Mat Lu (RSS feed) on Apr 9th, 2008

The well-known macro application Keyboard Maestro has been updated to version 3 and adds some interesting new features. In addition to a revamped interface, the new release allows you to record macros (series of key presses, mouse clicks, etc.) and play them back via various triggers. There are also new ways to trigger the macros; besides the normal hotkeys, macros can also be triggered with AppleScripts and even remotely with Keyboard Maestro's built-in web server. If you've ever wanted to automate your Mac, it's definitely worth a look.

Keyboard Maestro 3.0 is $36 with upgrade pricing from $18 - $26 for previous users; a demo is available.

[via MacNN]

Tags: automation, keyboard maestro, KeyboardMaestro, macro

Filed under: Mods, iPhone

iPhone macro lens hack

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Feb 25th, 2008

This isn't the first time we've seen someone take macro photographs with an iPhone, but it is the most involved.

Last time, someone just held a pocket magnifying glass against the lens. This time, blogger Colin Devroe attached the lens from a dead digital camera to the back of his iPhone McGyver-style and produced some nice results.

But what about low-light situations? Colin has got that covered, too. He mounted a small, giveaway light he picked up at last year's SXSW's keynote to the iPhone and found that it functions as a nice flash.

Good job, Colin! You've demonstrated the answer to the question, "Why are you holding on to those old things?" (Answer: "Because I might need it some day").

[Via our very own Flickr pool]

Tags: camera, hack, iphone, macro, mod

Filed under: Software, Odds and ends

David Pogue on Macro programs

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on Aug 23rd, 2007

NY Times tech columnist David Pogue has done it again. I'll admit that more than once I've wondered about David after watching one of his whimsical video reports for the Times, but then he offers up a gem like the one in his latest column and I realize why he is a powerful tech columnist and I'm a lowly blogger.

Pogue takes a look at several Macro programs for both Mac and PC (a Macro program is one that allows you to assign certain actions to corresponding key strokes. Launch an app with a push of a button, have a script fire off, things of that nature). He takes Keyboard Maestro, iKey, and QuicKeys for a spin on the Mac side. They all fare well, but QuicKeys is the one the gets the highest marks, and the one that spawned the tip which has me believing in Pogue all over again. QuicKeys allows you to remap the tilde key (pictured to the right) to any button you would like. David uses it as a left hand delete button so he doesn't have to move his hand off the mouse whilst editing. Brilliant.

Tags: david pogue, DavidPogue, ikey, keyboard maestro, KeyboardMaestro, macro, new york times, NewYorkTimes, quickeys

Tip of the Day

Use Spotlight as a reference tool. Type any word in the Spotlight box and one of the top entries will be a definition. Click on it, and it will bring up the dictionary application to check the word in either the dictionary, thesaurus, Apple database, or Wikipedia.

Learn More

TUAW flickr Pool

www.flickr.com

Featured Galleries

TUAW bloggers (30 days)

#	Blogger	Posts	Cmts
1	Steven Sande	44	3
2	Dave Caolo	35	4
3	Mel Martin	31	0
4	Mike Schramm	28	0
5	Michael Rose	18	26
6	Josh Carr	18	24
7	Victor Agreda, Jr.	17	6
8	TJ Luoma	15	27
9	Joachim Bean	12	3
10	Erica Sadun	11	1
11	Ken Ray	10	2
12	Sang Tang	10	0
13	Aron Trimble	9	3
14	David Winograd	9	4
15	Chris Rawson	8	0
16	Megan Lavey	7	9
17	John Burke	6	3
18	Brett Terpstra	4	5
19	Lauren Hirsch	4	0
20	Casey Johnston	3	0

More Apple Analysis

AAPL on BloggingStocks The Apple category feed from BloggingStocks.com
AAPL Quote, News & Summary The AAPL financials page from AOL Money and Finance
iPhone analysis from BloggingStocks iPhone tag feed from BloggingStocks
Macintosh news and reviews on Download Squad The Macintosh category feed from Download Squad

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)