Take Control News

For a comprehensive look at all that's changed in the backup world recently, turn to the third edition of our best-selling Take Control of Mac OS X Backups, in which backup guru Joe Kissell helps readers go beyond the false security of turning on Time Machine or copying a few files to CD. You'll find an at-a-glance comparison of different backup strategies (low-cost, easy, safest), along with extra advice for backing up digital photos and massive video projects. You'll also learn the pros and cons of each type of backup media, including hard disk, Time Capsule, Internet backup services, optical discs, and more; discover how to pick the best backup software for your needs; and find time-tested recommendations for setting up, testing, and maintaining backups, complete with essential instructions for restoring after a crash. Covers Tiger and Leopard. 186 pages. $15.

During the writing, Joe faced the Herculean task of listing all known Mac backup programs, along with notes about their features. The category of Mac backup applications has exploded of late: what had been a long appendix became impossible to keep updated long enough to produce an ebook and call it "up-to-date." We have solved that problem by posting the information for free on our Web site, creating what has to be the largest compilation of Mac backup applications - currently 91 different programs. Because the information is in HTML on the Web, rather than in PDF, Joe should stand a chance at keeping it reasonably updated. We also posted about 20 book pages of instructions for working with the current version of Retrospect, still one of the most feature-rich backup programs available but slated for replacement later this year.

Buy Take Control of Mac OS X Backups

We've just released a new version of "Take Control of Easy Backups in Leopard", by Joe Kissell. In contrast to the comprehensive 186-page "Take Control of Mac OS X Backups", this focused 96-page ebook looks at how to best make a complete Leopard backup system - including archives, an all-important bootable duplicate, and an offsite backup - from which you can restore your data after an accident or disaster. Joe helps you identify the backup hardware that best matches your needs and budget (including a look at Time Capsule - Apple's new backup appliance), and he provides instructions for using Time Machine as well as alternatives for eight cases where Time Machine won't provide the backups you need. Joe walks you through every step of the way, from setting up your backup drive or Time Capsule to explaining how to recover your precious data in case of a deleted or corrupted file, a dead drive, or a stolen laptop. 96 pages. $10.

(This is a free update to those who own version 1.0. To get your update, open your PDF and on the upper right of the first page click Check for Updates.)

Buy Take Control of Easy Backups in Leopard

We just began carrying the new Macworld Mac Basics Superguide, Leopard Edition." This colorful 90-page title from the experts at Macworld (many of whom also write for Take Control) is packed with all the juicy details you need to make Leopard work the way you want, whether you're catching up on your favorite Web sites or trying to find that lemonade recipe your Aunt Betty sent you as an email attachment last week. Although power-user-wannabes who don't yet know much about Leopard will find a lot to like in this ebook, this ebook is really meant for regular people who like their Macs and want to use them well, but who are still ramping up on the basics or have limited time to learn new features. The ebook covers using Finder windows and the Dock, configuring your Mac, printing, searching, troubleshooting, and more. You'll find getting-started tips on using Safari, Mail, Address Book, iChat, Dashboard, and Preview, and you'll learn how to install and update software. It also includes a write-up of 24 useful third-party utilities that can enhance your Macintosh experience. (Those who own the Tiger edition should watch their email for a $5-off upgrade offer; if you don't receive the message or asked not to be contacted, drop us a note at tc-commentstidbits.com.)

Buy Macworld Mac Basics Superguide, Leopard Edition

In Take Control of Screen Sharing in Leopard, by Glenn Fleishman, you'll learn about using screen sharing to control the mouse and keyboard of one computer while you sit at another computer across the room or on the other side of the world. It's great for providing remote tech support, for configuring and managing remote servers, or for collaborating with colleagues. Screen-sharing applications have been available for the Mac for many years, but Leopard makes screen sharing accessible to normal Mac users. Apple has piled on the options, enabling screen sharing via iChat, Bonjour, directly by entering an IP address or hostname, and Back to My Mac. All these choices bring complexity, and this 88-page book helps you figure out which type of screen sharing to use when, how to share screens with people who are not running Leopard and even with Windows users, and how to get the most out of Leopard's hidden Screen Sharing application. You'll also find troubleshooting information and assistance with configuring routers for screen sharing.

This book is also available in a discounted bundle with Take Control of Back to My Mac, also by Glenn, which goes beyond the coverage of Back to My Mac in Take Control of Screen Sharing in Leopard to provide details about how Back to My Mac works behind the scenes, what to do if you can't get Back to My Mac working, and handling security related to Back to My Mac. Save $5 with the bundle option in the left margin of the Web page for either book.

Buy Take Control of Screen Sharing in Leopard
Buy Take Control of Back to My Mac

With the whizzy Back to My Mac file- and screen-sharing service that Apple released with Leopard, .Mac users could theoretically use their .Mac accounts to start file sharing and even screen sharing from one of their Macs to another, making it possible to grab a forgotten document or even use your work machine from home or while on the road. It sounds great, but some folks have required extensive assistance to get their routers working right, or have questions about security, or want to know about accessing hidden features, like copy and paste, in the hidden Screen Sharing application. To that end, we've released Take Control of Back to My Mac, by networking expert Glenn Fleishman. (And, in case you were wondering, Apple has confirmed that Back to My Mac will not be affected functionally by .Mac's transition to MobileMe in early July; we plan to update this book for the cosmetic changes, but not before our summer vacation!)

This book is also available in a bundle with Take Control of Screen Sharing in Leopard, also by Glenn, which looks at the broad array of screen sharing options in Leopard, including Back to My Mac, but also covering connections via iChat, Bonjour, IP address or hostname, and third-party possibilities. Look for a bundle option in the left margin of the Web page for either book, to save $5 with the bundle.

If you own the second edition of "Take Control of .Mac," you can purchase this title for $5 off; to access the discount, open the PDF of the second edition and then on the cover, click Check for Updates. Scroll down a little on the resulting Check for Updates Web page.

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Buy Take Control of Screen Sharing in Leopard

We've just released the second edition of Take Control of .Mac, by Joe Kissell. When you think of Apple's .Mac service, what probably comes to mind is having a mac.com email address or storing files on your iDisk. However, beyond those common uses, .Mac offers many other powerful features - Groups lets you set up mailing lists and members-only Web sites; .Mac Sync helps you coordinate bookmarks, calendars, contacts, keychains, and more among your Macs; Mail lets you read your mac.com account's email in a Web browser; and HomePage lets you make a simple Web site. .Mac also integrates with the whizzy new photo/movie Web Galleries in iLife '08 and Aperture 2, facilitates iCal-based calendar sharing, and serves as a default host for Web sites you make with iWeb. In the 193-page second edition of Take Control of .Mac, Joe explains all of .Mac's features, walking you through both getting started and going beyond the common features to get your money's worth from your $99-per-year .Mac subscription. This second edition has been completely revised to take into account .Mac-related changes due to Leopard and iLife '08. Start taking control of .Mac today!

Buy Take Control of .Mac, Second Edition

We're pleased to announce the release of a pair of ebooks about GarageBand '08. These books are based on previous editions but have been completely updated to cover all the latest GarageBand features - Visual EQ, Magic GarageBand, tempo automation, the arrange track, and more. Each costs $10 or you can purchase them together for only $17.50. Whether you're just getting started with GarageBand or are an old pro looking to get the most out of the program, these titles have the help you need.

In Take Control of Making Music with GarageBand '08, Seattle musician Jeff Tolbert's step-by-step instructions guide beginning and intermediate users through using GarageBand's built-in loops to create three songs, explaining not only how to use GarageBand's editing and mixing features but also how to be playful and creative while composing tunes that please the ear. In this 110-page title, you'll learn how to plan a song, get the most out of Magic GarageBand, edit loops using both graphical and notation view, create exciting mixes, and export your masterpieces as songs or iPhone ringtones. The book also covers how to change track volume, tempo, and panning dynamically, and how to work with GarageBand's effects. Linked-in audio lets you listen to examples while you read about them. Bonus! The book includes seven suggestions for solving performance problems and a five-page glossary of music-related terms.

Want to record your own music? In Take Control of Recording with GarageBand '08, Jeff shares his GarageBand know-how and years of recording experience to help you get the most out of your existing gear or purchase new equipment that fits your budget and style. You'll find real-world recording studio techniques, learn tips for using a microphone, and discover how to apply effects like a pro. Clear steps and practical advice help you plan a recording session, record multiple tracks at once, and fix mistakes easily. Two example songs demonstrate many of the techniques discussed, and you can follow along with audio examples as you read.

Owners of a previous edition of either GarageBand title who purchased before August 1, 2007, can click the Check for Updates button on the first page of the ebook's PDF to access a special 50%-off upgrade discount. Everyone who purchased on or after that date should already have received a download link for a free update; contact us at tc-commentstidbits.com if our email didn't arrive.

Buy Take Control of Making Music with GarageBand '08
Buy Take Control of Recording with GarageBand '08

Looking to get more out of the latest version of Apple Mail, the one that ships with Leopard? Help is now at hand in the form of Joe Kissell's 95-page book, Take Control of Apple Mail in Leopard." This title is chock full of handy tips, carefully considered procedures, and troubleshooting assistance. Along with coverage of 14 new features in Leopard's version of Mail, Joe delves into the nitty-gritty of account setup; helps you get organized so you can read your most important messages first; and thoroughly covers the ins and outs of addressing, composing, and sending email. Plus, he examines making Time Machine backups of your email, Address Book integration, RSS feeds, Notes and To-Do items, archiving messages, and how to proceed if you run into a problem with not being able to send or receive email, or some other annoying bug-a-boo.

Joe has also updated Take Control of Spam with Apple Mail for Leopard, and it goes far beyond the three pages of basic spam-zapping advice offered in Take Control of Apple Mail in Leopard." Weighing in at 71 pages, Take Control of Spam with Apple Mail gives you background information so you understand more of what's going on with spam, detailed advice for configuring Mail to maximize its effectiveness at eliminating spam, and carefully researched coverage of utilities that can improve Mail's spam-slaying capabilities. Take Control of Spam with Apple Mail comes with a coupon for $5 off SpamSieve (normally $30), Joe's top pick for a third-party spam-fighting utility.

Each title costs $10 singly, but you can save $5 by purchasing them together in a bundle. Look for a bundle option at the left side of either book's Web page.

Owners of "Take Control of Apple Mail in Tiger" who purchased before 01-Oct-07 can click the Check for Updates button on the first page of the ebook's PDF to access a special upgrade discount. Everyone who purchased on or after that date should already have received a download link for a free update. Contact us at tc-commentstidbits.com if our email didn't arrive. Owners of "Take Control of Email in Apple Mail" (the Panther edition) can click the Check for Updates button on the first page of the ebook's PDF to access a special upgrade discount.

If you already own Take Control of Spam with Apple Mail, you can upgrade for free. Open your existing PDF and on page 1, click Check for Updates, and download the new version from the Web page that loads.

Buy Take Control of Apple Mail in Leopard
Buy Take Control of Spam with Apple Mail

We're pleased to announce version 1.1 of troubleshooting guru Ted Landau's Take Control of Your iPhone, which is updated for the iPhone 1.1.4 software and chock full of the latest advice for getting the most out of your iPhone, including information about syncing, how EDGE and Wi-Fi interoperate, the latest features in Maps, configuring Mail, hacking your iPhone, creating (or buying) ringtones, dealing with your battery, and much more. The ebook also has a strong problem-solving focus, so if your iPhone is behaving badly, you'll likely find a solution. (Existing owners of the ebook can upgrade for free by opening the PDF and - at the top right of page 1 - clicking Check for Updates.)

The ebook normally costs $15, but you can get it for $7.50 if you act quickly, because we're having a 50%-off sale on all ebooks through April 29th. Look for the iPhone ebook on the Lifestyle tab in our online catalog. When you click through from this post, the necessary coupon code will be applied automatically in the first screen of the cart. (Note that you can select multiple ebooks from the different tabs in the catalog's tabbed interface before clicking the Buy Selected Ebooks button to add them to your cart.)

The most useful pieces of advice about using your Mac are often short, focused tips that solve a particular problem or make a specific program work just the way you want. That's what you'll find in the Macworld Mac OS X Hints Superguide, Leopard Edition, the latest ebook from our friends at Macworld. Written by the undisputed king of tips, Rob Griffiths, the ebook presents a cornucopia of over 200 tips to help you get the most out of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Culled from Rob's MacOSXHints.com site, and with contributions from other Macworld experts, the book's advice covers a wide range of topics and experience levels, from basic tips any Mac user can easily implement to power user tweaks that go way beyond the basics, employing Terminal, Automator, and AppleScript to maximize your Mac's mileage. The 70-page ebook is now available for $12.95 from the Take Control Books Web site, and a print version is also available for $19.95.

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.

Buy Macworld Mac OS X Hints Superguide, Leopard Edition