Helpful Hints & Hacks for getting the most from your Mac
Just when you think you know all there is to know about using the features of your Mac OS, a new operating system is released with more options and enhancements. Never fear, the CranstonIT gurus are here to shine the light on a few tips and tricks that may have flown in under your radar. The list below is just the tip of the iceberg. We can help you become the master of your Mac and all of your Apple devices. Not ready to jump up to expert level? No problem, we’ll get you set up and take care of the hard stuff, too. Contact us at 888-813-5558 or send an email to support@cranstonIT.com to learn more.
Add Your John Hancock to Documents (Hurry! Do this before cursive writing becomes extinct.)
In OS X 10.7, Preview gained the ability to add your signature to documents. To get started, go to the Signatures tab in Preview's preferences and then click the +. Now, sign your name in black ink on a small piece of white paper and hold it up to your Mac's webcam. Line it up and click Accept (making sure the 'Save this signature' option is checked if you want to use it in the future). Next, open a document you want to sign, pop up the Edit Toolbar and click the signature icon (it looks like an S on a line next to a tiny x). Draw a box to add your signature on the form. You can scale and reposition it afterwards, too.
One really easy way to view someone else's screen or even control their Mac over the internet – a really handy tool if you're helping troubleshoot a relative's computer problems – is to launch Screen Sharing by searching for it with Spotlight then entering the Apple ID of the person you're trying to contact. If you or they don't know it, just have them look in the iCloud pane of System Preferences. While they're there, make sure Screen Sharing is enabled in the Sharing pane of System Preferences. They'll be asked to grant you permission to view their screen. They can also click on the screen sharing icon in the menu bar to grant you the ability to virtually and remotely control their mouse and keyboard.
Record your iPhone or iPad's screen (This could be your chance to become the next Quentin Tarantino.)
With Yosemite or later, you can now record whatever happens on the screen of your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. This is not only useful for developers to show off the apps and games they build, but can also be great for things like creating little tutorials or even just recording a bug so you can help a developer or a company fix it. To use this feature, connect your iOS device up to your Mac using its cable, then launch QuickTime Player. Choose New Movie Recording from the File menu and then, if it's not already selected for you, choose your connected iOS device as the 'camera' source from the drop-down menu next to the record button. Choose whether you want to record sound (either from a built-in or external microphone, or the audio the iOS device itself is producing) from the same menu, then click the record icon. Once you're done, you can trim the clip (⌘T) and then easily share it to YouTube or anywhere else you choose.
Throw Files from Your Mac to Your iPhone (just like an MLB pitcher, except virtually and without the cheering crowd, giant paycheck, and adoring masses)
If you are running OS X Yosemite or later and a recent iOS device (iPhone 5 or later, for example), you can easily send files from your Mac to your iOS device using AirDrop. The quickest way to do this is to right-click on the file you want to send, pick AirDrop from the Messages fly-out menu, then pick the device you want to send it to. (You'll have to have AirDrop turned on from the Control Centre of the iOS device first.) Learn more about AirDrop here (http://cranstonit.com/blog/files/AirDrop.php).