Tag: software
How to edit the name of a WhatsApp contact in OSX
You can’t directly edit the details of a contact in the WhatsApp application. You need to make any changes in your ‘Contacts’ app on OSX and Whatsapp automatically syncs any changes that are made. But sometimes it takes a while to sync across. To speed it up you can change the contact details on your…
My essential Mac apps
I’ve just purchased a new 2020 13inch MacBook Pro and rather than use migration assistant to copy everything across I’ve started fresh. I have installed my apps one by one. So here’s a list of the first few ‘must have’ apps that I just installed… 1Password. I can’t live without it. It’s the first thing…
Allowing programs from unidentified developers
“This Program can’t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer” Apple are getting tighter on which software they allow you to run on your computer. This is good because it avoids you getting any malware on your computer from bad software developers. But it also means that some legitimate software won’t run. If…
Applications breaking in Catalina
Before you upgrade to OS X Catalina you may need to stop and assess the applications that will stop working. Catalina is what is called 64 bit. They are not at all compatible. Previous OSX version (e.g. Mojave) would have given you a warning about 32 bit applications that you are running. So I knew…
Viewing your OSX screen from multiple iPads
I’d like to set up some iPads so that our musicians can all follow along with what’s on the mac’s screen. This may also be useful for helping visually impaired people to see what is on a projector screen. Previously I’ve used VNC but it’s a bit complex to set up. There are various options…
How to sync an Android Phone with OS X.
I’ve been trying out the world of Android Phones recently with a Google Pixel phone. Overall I have been surprised at how simple and effortless it has been to use my Google pixel phone alongside my Macintosh OS X. I was expecting it to be a lot harder to synchronise the Google phone to my…
How to delete an application in OS X
In OS X you can install software using the App Store but there is no option there to uninstall the software. Here are two ways to delete software in OS X.
What is the ‘Other’ data hogging all the disc space on my macbook?
I have a friend who has a 120 GB MacBook Air and his hard drive was filling up. There were lots of suggestions on the Internet as to what might be causing it – Spotify cache, system files, movies, but what’s the best way to find out what is using up your hard disk space?…
Apple mail changing my ‘From:’ sender account
Over the past couple of months our family has discovered a strange little problem. Our emails have been getting mixed up! My daughters have been sending emails, but the replies have been coming to me. I have been sending emails, and they have appeared as coming from my wife. And in the worst case, some…
Help with Aussie alternative to Quicken finance software.
I have a friend who has just changed from a PC to a Mac and she has asked for an alternative to Quicken. Apparently the OS X version of Quicken does not have support for Australian customisations such as Australian banks, GST, BAS etc. The PC version of Quicken did. So do any Aussie users know…
How to make a DVD in OS X
We live in a post-DVD world now but there are still occasions where you may need to burn a DVD. My son recently played in a piano concert and he wanted to burn a DVD of the concert for his grandfather. iDVD is the best option for doing this. Here’s how to get hold of it…
Reinstall OS X with a fresh install
Apple releases a major update of OS X every year or so and for the past 10 years I have just done an automatic update, installing the new OS X on top of the old version and keeping all the existing applications and settings. When I upgraded to El Capitan I decided to do a completely fresh installation.…
Best Blogging Software on OSX
You can imagine with a blog like this one that as an author I want a way to write new posts that is both easy and fast. Macintoshhowto.com is run by a piece of software called WordPress. WordPress is a little bit clunky and so there have been several attempts to write software that will simplify…
How to undo typing on your iPhone or iPad
Did you know that if you shake your iPhone you can undo your last action to do with typing? This can be really handy.
Should I upgrade to Yosemite?
Yosemite has just been released. Like any new OSX, it has various problems with the first release, so unless you really need it, I’d wait for the first minor update to come out to fix some of the buys. If you decide to install Yosemite, here are a few things to be aware of before you upgrade.…
Enable FTP Server in Mavericks
Here’s how to get the FTP server running in OSX 10.9 Mavericks. This is advanced and not everyone will need the FTP server. The only thing I was use it for is to receive incoming scans from my Fuji/Xerox network scanner.
How to use Notational Velocity with Simplenote
My search for a good notetaking app has been a little on the obsessive side, but to me, the one thing a computer should be able to do well is take notes. I have spent 2 years on this one. I’m talking about an application where I can make a short note to myself and…
How to get cheap software – limited time
MacHeist every year or so do a collection of software as a bundle, this year it’s a beauty.
How to get the Best Free OS X software
Here’s a list of some programs that you can download for free from versiontracker.com or find via a google search to supplement the software that comes with your mac.