Tricks Articles on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

Eliminate the blue outer glow in Exposé

by Aron Trimble (Feb 24th, 2010)

One of the more questionable changes that was introduced in 10.6 Snow Leopard was a soft, blue glow that appears around application windows when using Exposé. Previously, in 10.5 Leopard, the entire Window was highlighted blue; now, however, the Exposé window previews are able to ...

TUAW How To: Downgrading your 3.1.3 iPhone to 3.1.2

by Erica Sadun (Feb 9th, 2010)

Last week I downloaded (but did not install) the iPhone OS 3.1.3 firmware for my 3GS. I wanted to have a copy of the firmware on hand, but didn't want to upgrade right away. I checked "Do not ask me again" and clicked Download Only. I thought that was the end of the matter. Unfortunately, this ...

Found footage: Jailbreak BTstack support extended to 1st gen iPod touch

by Erica Sadun (Jan 24th, 2010)

The BTstack project that we've covered before on TUAW, offers a way for iPhone and iPod touch units to communicate with arbitrary external Bluetooth devices. To date, it's been used to connect keyboards, mice, and wiimotes with iPhone software. This system has now been extended to the first ...

Mac 101: Eject a stuck disc

by Dave Caolo (Dec 15th, 2009)

Now that the holidays are approaching, you'll probably be asked to service your relatives' computers. "You like computers, right? Will you take a look at this for me?" Prepare yourself, it's coming. Some fixes are easy, including the stuck disc. It can happen for a variety of reasons that we ...

5 Smart Playlists to help you manage your iTunes library

by Sang Tang (Oct 30th, 2009)

Smart playlists have been a feature of iTunes since version 3.0 (circa 2002), and they provide a means for you to create automatically-updated playlists that fit a certain criteria. For me, they serve as a hands-off way to stay up-to-date on my latest music and Podcasts, as well as a repository ...

iTunes makes your life better

by Dave Caolo (Apr 9th, 2009)

UsingMac has posted an exhaustive look at iTunes from the perspective of making your working life better. From basic tips like shuffling songs and shuffling movies to more advanced tips like using Terminal to set a half-star rating, it's well thought out. My favorite tip involves browser mode. Many ...

TUAW Tip: Stop Backup.app from bouncing

by Dave Caolo (Feb 19th, 2009)

TJ Luoma recently shared the solution to an annoying problem. Specifically, he wanted to keep Backup's icon from frantically jumping in the Dock like so many hepped-up toddlers in a bouncy castle. The Backup icon typically bounces in the Dock for a minute two before it even begins backing up any ...

Very useful iPhone tips

by Dave Caolo (Dec 10th, 2008)

The blog Tap Tap Tap has posted a wonderful list to 10 iPhone tips and tricks you should know, including taking a screenshot (here's our how-to on that trick), enabling caps lock and customizing the home button's function. Definitely check it out. While we're on the topic, here are a few of our own ...

Your iPhone and salty language

by Dave Caolo (Dec 7th, 2008)

Some of you may have noticed that your iPhone or iPod touch is a bit prudish. Type a salty word and you'll likely be presented with a benign and completely inappropriate alternative (see screenshot at right). The problem (if you want to call it that) isn't that one can't swear, but that ...

Mac 101: Keywords in iPhoto

by Dave Caolo (Sep 19th, 2008)

It's easy to fill your iPhoto library with pictures. However, the task of finding the ones you're after isn't. The Events feature of iPhoto '08 is helpful, and you can improve it with Keywords. Think of keywords as tags. You can assign any keyword(s) to any photo, like "Suzie," "Summer" or "Beach." ...

TUAW Tip: Create an OS X admin user without a disc

by Dave Caolo (Sep 1st, 2008)

Recently, I had to create a new admin user on an older 500mhz Power Mac G4 running OS 10.3.9. Needless to say, there was no 10.3 install discs to be found. What to do? Follow these simple (but powerful) steps. First, restart the Mac while holding down the Command and "S" keys to start in Single-User ...

Extending your iPhone's battery

by Mike Schramm (Jul 23rd, 2008)

IntoMobile has a few good tips on how to extend your iPhone's battery life, and most of them involve the most obvious thing you can do to keep your iPhone running: cut down on any and all extra functions. They actually recommend to turn off 3G, but you don't have to go that far -- just by holding ...

Mac 101: Finder window preferences

by Dave Caolo (Jul 1st, 2008)

As we know, the Finder offers four ways to display your files. Namely icon view, list view, column view, and Cover Flow. Perhaps you prefer one over the others (let's say column view), but your windows open to icon view by default. That can be annoying but here's how to fix it. First, open a new ...

Mac 101: Zoom and pan images in Quick Look

by Dave Caolo (Apr 17th, 2008)

Is your laptop not among those that can do Multi-touch? Don't feel badly, you can replicate those great features! Well, kind of. First, open an image with Quick Look. Next, hold down the Option key while performing a two-finger scroll. The image zooms in and out! Finally, let go of the Option key ...

How to create your own Toast DVD menu style

by Mike Schramm (Feb 23rd, 2008)

A while back reader Michael Coyle was nice enough to send us this write-up on how to customize Leopard's Guest account, and just recently he sent along another guide that you might not need right away, but will come in handy when you really need it. He's got an in-depth look at how to create a ...