Leopard help: Total Leopard Macworld Superguide

Macworld Total Leopard Superguide

Become more productive in Leopard with the detailed advice from the experts at Macworld!

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This ebook looks a bit different from the Take Control series, but it has all the features you expect from our ebooks. It was written by our friends at Macworld (some of whom also write for Take Control).

Learning how to make the most of Leopard's new features is easy with this visually appealing book, written by a select group of Mac experts assembled by Macworld. Inside, you'll find a compendium of savvy information about how to use what's new in Leopard, whether you want to navigate the the Finder faster, search Spotlight more effectively, automate your applications with Automator, share screens with others, or tweak core applications like Safari, iChat, Mail, and iCal. The ebook also offers problem-solving advice, and a section on third-party add-ons to extend Leopard's capabilities even further.

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Foreword

When it comes time to release a new version of Mac OS X, Apple realizes that most users don't buy upgrades just because they're available. That's why Apple touts the fact that Leopard includes more than 300 new features—and offers a Web site outlining each one.

Will any one user take advantage of every one of the 300-plus features on Apple's list? Not likely. But that's not really the point. For Leopard to be worth its $129 cover price, you need only find the small subset of those 300 features that appeals to you. For example, most users won't care that you can now view the OS in Russian and Polish—but speakers of Russian and Polish sure will. And almost nobody would buy Leopard just for AutoFS, a new technology that prevents the Finder from spinning its wheels when it loses contact with a remote file serverâ€”but those in the know will certainly include it on a list of reasons to upgrade. In the case of Leopard, much of Apple's marketing power has focused on one feature: Time Machine. And really, I can't argue. Time Machine manages to make backing up your data slightly less boring, and I mean that as a huge compliment. In fact, Time Machine's file-rollback system has already begun to change the way I interact with my files. Within three days of using Time Machine, I discovered that I was tossing items in the Trash more often, confident that if I really needed one of them, I could retrieve it from my backup.

Another game-changing feature of Leopard is Quick Look, which lets you peer into files to see their contents directly from the Finder. It's one of those simple features that will make most Mac users more productive—that is, as soon as we unlearn that reflexive double-click and replace it with a quick tap of the spacebar.

And in my mind, one of the most impressive features of Leopard is one that Apple really isn't touting—mostly because it's kind of embarrassing. The marquee feature of Tiger, 36 long months ago, was Spotlight, the technology that let you find anything on your Mac just by typing a few words in a search box. But that first version of Spotlight was inflexible and slow. Apple has massively upgraded Spotlight in Leopardâ€”and for the better. It's more flexible and a lot faster. Spotlight might have ended up being a bit of a disappointment in Tiger, but it has really come into its own in Leopard.

But the list doesn't stop there. In addition to these big-name features, Apple has also included updates to Mail, iCal, iChat, and numerous other built-in programs that many Mac users rely on every day. If you haven't found a favorite feature or set of features in Leopard yet, keep thumbing through the pages of Total Leopard. I'm confident that you'll find new features that will impress you. And our large collection of Mac OS X tips and tricks will make you a happier, more efficient Mac user.

—Jason Snell, Editorial Director, Macworld
San Francisco, January 2008

Installing Leopard

Upgrade the Smart Way: When it comes to installing a new operating system, the easiest method isn't always the best. By unlocking Leopard's hidden installation options, you can avoid potential problems and save valuable disk space.
Upgrade Fixes: Don't let the excitement of upgrading be dampened by dastardly bugs. Here's how to deal with some of the problems you might encounter after installing OS X 10.5, including missing accounts, a persistent Migration Assistant, and more.

Inside Leopard

Getting Started with Mac OS X's New Features: Apple's new operating system boasts more than 300 new features. Too bad it doesn't also come with an operating manual. Whether it's Time Machine's simplified backup tools, iChat's screen-sharing features, Automator's advanced workflow features, Preview's image-editing powers, or Dictionary's broadened horizons, this 24-page guide will take you through Leopard's best additions to show you what's new, what's changed, and how to get up to speed.

Find Files Fast with Spotlight

Spotlight 101: Apple has revamped OS X's integrated search tool to make it faster and more reliable. Learn how to start a basic search and how to customize Spotlight's preferences to exclude specific files or to change how your results are displayed.
Creating Good Queries: Having trouble narrowing down your results to a manageable number? Try adding Boolean operators or keywords.
Advanced Searches: For complex searches that involve multiple conditions or broad ranges, you'll typically get better results by switching to the Finder's search tools. We'll show you how to set up a search in the Finder and how to save searches so you can use them again and again.

Work the Web

Better Browsing: Think you know all there is to navigating the Web? Safari 3 shakes things up with new features that make it easier to manage multiple windows and tabs, work with text boxes and passwords, and more.
Managing Bookmarks and RSS Feeds: Do more with your bookmarks and RSS feeds by syncing and personalizing them.
Working with Downloads: Downloading files and images has gotten easier in Leopard, making tasks like organizing your receipts and choosing a new desktop image a snap.
Search Smarter: Optimize your search efforts. These essential tips will show you how to sort through the vast amount of information on the Web and find exactly what you're looking for online in minutes, not hours.

Automate Repetitive Tasks

Learning the Basics: Thanks to Automator, you don't have to be a programmer to make your Mac obey your commands. We'll show you how to create automated workflows with just a few clicks of your mouse.
Using Variables and Loops: The new version of Automator includes powerful new features that let you create complex workflows that dynamically update or loop back on themselves. Follow along as we put them into action.
Troubleshooting Your Workflows: When something goes wrong with a workflow, these tips will help you track down the culprit and put things right.

Access Your Mac from Afar

Sharing Files and Folders: If you work closely with others or move between multiple Macs, you may occasionally find yourself in need of a file that lives on another computer. Thanks to Leopard's improved file-sharing options, accessing remote computers is now easier than ever.
Sharing Your Screen with Others: Want to control an entire computer from afar—for example, to troubleshoot problems or change settings? If you have a .Mac account, you can take advantage of the new Back To My Mac feature to control remote Macs over the network or the Internet as though you were sitting right in front of them. We'll show you how to get set up and what to do if you're not a .Mac member.

Troubleshooting Your Mac

Recovering from Common Mac OS X Maladies: Don't panic. Every computer runs into trouble from time to time. With a little know-how you can usually set things right. We'll show you exactly what to do when your computer freezes, crashes, or exhibits other bad behavior.
Backing Up with Time Machine: All the troubleshooting know-how in the world can't recover lost data. Protect yourself with Time Machine, Apple's new backup program.
Securing Your Connections: Part of keeping your Mac trouble-free means banning hackers and malicious programs. Learn how to set up Leopard's new Firewall tools to help keep your Mac safe.

Must-Have Leopard Tools

System Tweaks: Wish your Mac could do even more? It can. These third-party tools can help you give Leopard a little tune-up and add features Apple left out. What's more, they won't break the bank.
Surfer's Helpers: These great low-cost utilities are just waiting to memorize your Web site passwords, simplify your searches, and protect your data.
Productivity Boosters: Computer clutter got you down? Streamline your life with these smart programs.
Smarter Media: It's easy to get more out of your media. Start with these tools that convert your movies to different formats and let you navigate iTunes with ease.

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Book Info

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About the Authors

Book Reviews

Author Interviews

Foreword

Table of Contents