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by Macworld

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Rob covers a lot of territory, with tips relating to new Leopard features like Screen Sharing and Spaces, others that cover existing features like screen savers and keyboard shortcuts, and hardware-related tips for printing and working with discs. He also helps you get the most out of standard Apple applications, including Mail (find and remove large attachments from your mail store), iCal (learn how to add and work with URLs easily in events), Safari (want to invoke bookmarks with voice commands?), and iTunes (check out the AppleScript to update podcasts manually), as well as iChat, Preview, and Dashboard.

If you've wondered about using Unix commands in Terminal to customize your Mac beyond what the graphical interface offers, or if you've wanted to get more comfortable with Terminal, the book provides a nice foundation. It covers the basics of using Terminal and has a generous collection of tips sprinkled throughout that will get you typing (or pasting) simple command strings in order to tweak your Mac in useful and interesting ways. It also has info for those who are already comfortable with Terminal, covering new commands in Leopard, searching from the command line, and more.

We encourage you to download the free 14-page sample to see what it looks like, since it is rather different from our Take Control design. If you plan to print, print a few test pages from the sample first in case you wish to consider Macworld's $19.95 print version, which has higher-resolution images than are feasible in an ebook.

Foreword

Back in the fall of 2000, I was making the transition from Mac OS 9 to OS X and finding the new operating system both complex and a bit unintuitive. In particular, I kept getting tripped up by features that weren't documented on Apple's Web site or covered in OS X's help files. Being somewhat geeky by nature, I decided to create a Web site where I could keep track of all the little tips, tricks, and hidden features I was discovering in OS X. That way, I could easily access the tips from any machine I happened to be using. And because I knew I wasn't the only one out there exploring the inner workings of Apple's new operating system, I built the site so others could post their own OS X tips and insights.

I had no grand aspirations for the Web site; I merely hoped it would serve as a useful resource for OS X tidbits. Over the last eight years, however, that little site—MacOSXHints.com, in case you haven't guessed by now—has grown into a collection of more than 10,000 OS X tips, covering every major release from the initial public beta through 10.5. (Along the way, the site also changed the direction of my career; Macworld purchased it and hired me in 2006.) The site still focuses on demystifying OS X's hidden features and sharing useful knowledge that you won't find in any help files. And with thousands of contributors from across the globe, it offers a constantly growing collection of OS X knowledge—all freely searchable.

But the site's not perfect. Many of the tips assume a high degree of familiarity with OS X and fairly deep technical knowledge—especially tips involving Terminal. And searching through more than 10,000 hints to find the one you really want can be complicated, to say the least. That's where this book comes into play. We've scoured not just MacOSXHints.com, but also Macworld.com, to find the most useful tips and tricks for OS X 10.5 users. We've also rewritten them all in a clear, straightforward fashion, complete with screenshots, to make them as easy to use as possible.

The tips in this book cover almost every corner of Leopard, from customizing the Finder to unlocking hidden System Preferences to speeding up Safari. Whether you're a power user looking to bend OS X to your will, or a relative newcomer hoping to get more from your OS, these tips will give you the inside scoop you're craving. And we encourage you to share the wealth—post your own discoveries and tips at www.macosxhints.com.

—Rob Griffiths, Editor, MacOSXHints.com
March 2008

Table of Contents

Master Your System

Preferences

Customized System Preferences are the key to a happy Mac-user experience. These handpicked system tweaks, covering everything from parental controls to secret screen savers, are the perfect place to start.

Productivity

Want to work faster, leaner, and smarter? Of course you do. Master these productivity hints and streamline how you capture screens, find menu items, and uninstall any program.

Connections

Set up and troubleshoot your network and peripheral connections with these can't-miss hints. We break down the steps for adding functions to Apple's screen-sharing tool, and teach you the best way to switch between wireless networks.

Printing

Don't just print—print smarter with these clever hints. They'll show you what's new in Leopard and uncover hidden tricks, like how to quickly cancel big print jobs.

Discs

Do more with your discs, including burning bootable copies, setting disc actions, and even freeing those pesky stuck discs.

Text

Want to add more character to your text? Start by learning the best tricks for working with fonts and adding symbols. We also run down the best methods for cleaning up your spelling checks.

Navigate Leopard

Finder

The Finder does so much more in Leopard than just find things. Now you can take Leopard navigation to the next level by learning the lesser-known tricks the Finder has up its sleeve, like using hidden canned searches.

Spotlight

Apple has taken Spotlight to the next level in Leopard, where it now casts a wider, smarter net. Use these indispensable searching secrets and never loose a file again.

Quick Look

Making its OS X debut, the supersleek Quick Look has more power than its simple interface lets on. Take some time to explore its many functions.

Spaces and Expos

Don't let a plethora of open windows confuse and overwhelm you—bring order to a cluttered desktop or an elaborate multi-screen setup with Expos and Leopard's new Spaces.

The Dock and Stacks

Having trouble figuring out how to best take advantage of the Dock and its new sidekick, Stacks? Try out these twists on OS X's organizational mainstay, like creating a stack for your Trash.

Unleash OS X's Programs

Mail

Mail probably gets more of your attention than all other programs combined. So don't just send and receive; organize, personalize, and synchronize with these hints. We've also got tips for keeping your Address Book in order and for combining multiple e-mail messages to print together.

iCal

Try adding these tips to your iCal arsenal. They'll show you how to link e-mail messages to events, merge calendars, and view your schedule in Cover Flow mode.

Safari

Browsing is too passive a word to describe what a skilled surfer can do in Safari—especially once he or she gets a hold of these excellent Safari hints.

iTunes

Is it time to crank up your iTunes skills? Start by taking advantage of the program's less obvious features for mastering playlists, podcasts, and Cover Flow. And because iTunes isn't the only program that works with videos, we also have three tips for improving QuickTime playback.

iChat

Even non-chatterboxes can appreciate the multitalented iChat. It doesn't just talk, it also sends data, and it works on mobile devices, so it goes where you go. And for other fun ways to use your built-in camera, take advantage of our Photo Booth tricks.

Preview

If you're only using Preview to look at pictures, you've just scratched the surface. We've collected the best hints to show you what this little tool is really capable of doing.

Dashboard

Do you sometimes forget about Dashboard? After reading about all these shortcuts and new features, you'll never go a day without using it again.

Take Command of Terminal

Learn the Terminal Basics

Terminal can seem intimidating until you understand how it works. This section will give you an introduction to using the command line, including a crash course on the anatomy of a command, as well as steps for copying files and combining different commands.

What's New in Leopard

Like most other Mac programs, Terminal is greatly improved in Leopard. We highlight the best new features Terminal has to offer. For instance, it has two new utilities for working with system and network preferences, and it provides more information about kernel extensions.

Do More with Terminal

Like almost everything in OS X, Terminal has its share of tricks and secrets. Discover goodies like navigating with tabs, opening folders, and playing an old-school, choose your-own-adventure game in Terminal.

Superpowered Searching

You already know that Spotlight is a great search tool. But when you need to add extra strength to your searches, try these methods in Terminal. We'll walk you through running a live search, including hidden files, and using metadata.

Command-Line Lifesavers

Dabbling in Terminal shouldn't be taken lightly. It only takes one typo to irrevocably mess up your system. This section explains what commands require extra care, as well as what measures you can take to minimize the risk.

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