The link below gives a brief description of the new/updated accessibility features in Leopard.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html#universalaccess
Some of the highlighted features include:
Plug-and-Play Refreshable Braille Display Support
Braille Output During OS Installation
The Braille Panel
Customizable Braille Display Input Keys
NumPad Commander
Portable VoiceOver Preferences
The website: http://maclearning.org did a webcast recently on Leopard and Accessibility. Usually PowerPoint slides of webcasts are published within a week or two of the webcast. I will post the link to the slides when its published.
Posted: November 5, 2007 7:31 am | 0 comments
Tags: Accessibility, Mac Leopard OS, Mac OS X
Mac OS X 10.5: iChat System Requirements
In Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, iChat lets you audio conference with up to nine additional people and video conference with up to three additional people.
Here are the system requirements you need to initiate or participate in audio and video chats and conferences in iChat.
Click on the link below to see the System Requirements:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306687
Posted: November 5, 2007 2:10 pm | 0 comments
Tags: iChat, Mac, Mac Leopard OS, Mac OS X
After upgrading to Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard), Backup 3.1.1 may behave erratically.
Solution:
Update to Backup 3.1.2 or later. Backup 3.1.2 is recommended for all .Mac members, and is required for .Mac members using Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.
From Apple Knowledgebase article:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306483
Posted: November 5, 2007 2:38 pm | 0 comments
Tags: .Mac, Backup, Mac Leopard OS, Mac OS X
iCal, Mac OS X 10.5: Empty "Home" and "Work" calendars may appear after installing Leopard
Issue or symptom
If you don't immediately migrate your iCal data in Migration Assistant after installing Leopard, and you open and close Mail or the Calendar widget before opening iCal (even if you use Migration Assistant after opening Mail or the Calendar widget), empty "Home" and "Work" calendars may appear.
Click link below for more information:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306537
Posted: November 5, 2007 2:56 pm | 0 comments
Tags: Calendars, iCal, Mac Leopard OS, Mac OS X
Click on the link below to check out Apple's knowledge base on installation options for Mac OS X Leopard.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306517
Posted: November 5, 2007 3:00 pm | 0 comments
Tags: Installation, Mac Help, Mac Leopard OS, Mac OS X
Click the link below to go to Apple Knowledgebase article # 25392
for troubleshooting information and steps to follow to help diagnose Mac computer problems.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25392
Posted: November 5, 2007 3:08 pm | 0 comments
Tags: Mac Leopard OS, Mac OS X, Mac Troubleshooting
From Apple knowledgebase article # 306881
Issue or symptom
You may not be able to delete an America Online (AOL) account-based message in Mail.
Products affected
Mail
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
AOL email account
Solution
In Mail, from the Mail menu choose Preferences.
Click the Accounts icon.
Select your AOL account on the left side if you have more than one account in the list.
Click the Mailbox Behaviors pane.
In the Trash section, deselect (uncheck) "Store deleted messages on the server".
According to Apple this document will be updated as more information becomes available.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306881
Posted: November 5, 2007 3:25 pm | 0 comments
Tags: AOL, Apple Mail, Mac Leopard OS, Mac Mail, Mac OS X
Click the link below to go to a knowledgebase article from Apple on
how (and why) to choose a good password.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106521
Posted: November 5, 2007 3:47 pm | 0 comments
Tags: Mac OS X, Password
Apple has released a new update to 10.4 (Tiger).
Link for PPC Combo updater:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/macosx10411co...
Link for Intel Combo Updater: http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/macosx10411up...
Please note that this update upgrades the Safari browser to version 3.0.4. Simmons eLearning has not yet certified this browser for use. I have successfully tested the new version of Safari with the following Simmons online resources:
AARC, WebMail, eLearning (browser check fails but eLearning is useable), Kronos, Simmons IKON Webprint, Online Directories.
I have encountered no issues on Simmons Standard software with the new update. But here is a link to a Macfixit website detailing some issues noted:
http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20071115082559285
Posted: November 16, 2007 3:11 pm | 0 comments
Tags: 10.4.11, Mac, Mac OS X, Mac Tiger OS, Macintosh
Mac OS X 10.5.1 Update was released last night. I am in the process of testing the update on a Simmons standard image. So far I have noticed no changes for the better or worse.
Here is the link to the update:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/macosx1051upd...
Click here to see the specific details included in this update:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306907
Here are a couple of the significant updates/fixes
AirPort
Allows password-protected accounts on AirPort Disks to show up on in the Finder's Shared Sidebar.
Resolves an issue with saved passwords for wireless networks.
Disk utilities
Restores the functionality of the progress bar during permission repairs in Disk Utility.
Addresses an issue that could produce an alert when creating disk images using Disk Utility or Terminal.
Improves disk partitioning when multiple RAID sets are created on the same disk.
iCal
iCal alarms are now more reliably delivered via email.
Resolves an issue when in ... more »
Posted: November 16, 2007 3:32 pm | 1 comment
Tags: 10.5.1, Mac, Mac Leopard OS, Mac OS X
Have you changed any settings in the Parental Controls System Preference?
If your Widgets have disappeared, check this link below:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307022
Posted: November 19, 2007 8:48 am | 1 comment
Tags: Mac Leopard OS, Mac OS X, Mac Troubleshooting, Widgets
Is your hard drive filling up with iMovie '08 video clips? iMovie '08 Library Compressor can help.
"One useful feature of iMovie '08 is that, like iPhoto, it keeps a library of all your DV clips handy and available, regardless of which project you’re currently editing, so you have to import each clip only once to make it available to any project. The downside of this approach is that your iMovie Events folder, which contains all your imported DV footage, can quickly grow to ginormous proportions—DV files are big."
Click the link below for more information:
http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/macgems/2007/11/imovielibrarycompressor/...
Posted: November 19, 2007 8:58 am | 0 comments
Tags: Hard drive, iMovie, Mac OS X, video clips
Sometimes Apple changes things for the better and sometimes they take a good thing and change it.
Change is good, change is necessary, but if it isn't broken then don't fix it.
One of my biggest pet peeves with Apples new OS is the dock changes and Stacks.
I like my dock on the left hand side of the screen. But when I put it there the system acts all flakey
and pinwheels and delays. It also loses the sleek new transparency and look. The fix is to put the dock back on the bottom of the screen.
More importantly, I could right click on a folder in the dock and get a hierarchical popup of the contents.
Really, cool, really nice, makes migrating through a lot of nested folders easier and quicker. Leopard's introduction of Stacks wrecked that functionality.
Don't get me wrong, Stacks is a good thing, but I don't understand why Apple had to get rid of something useful and good for something new. Instead of just having the option to "Fan" or "Grid" why not have a 3rd option, "hierarc ... more »
Posted: December 3, 2007 9:24 am | 0 comments
Tags: Mac Leopard OS, Mac OS X, Stacks
CreativeTechs publishes weekly TechTips via email. I have found some of there "TechTips" to be very useful.
Especially for Adobe applications.
Click below to see the latest TechTip, "Don't crop use Photoshops Trim feature"
http://www.creativetechs.com/iq/dont_crop_use_photoshops_trim_feature.ht...
Click lik below for more information or to sign up for weekly emails.
http://creativetechs.com/tips/
Posted: December 3, 2007 12:15 pm | 0 comments
Tags: Adobe, Mac OS X, Mac Troubleshooting, Macintosh, Tech Tips
There are some interesting Mac tips in this December MacWorld article .
Before you try the "Dock and the Keyboard" tip, you will need go to System Preferences --> Keyboard & Mouse --> Keyboard. Check the box next to:
"Use all F1,F2, etc. keys as standard function keys
When this option is selected, press the fn key to use the
special features printed on each key."
Posted: December 17, 2007 7:55 am | 0 comments
Tags: 10.5, Mac Leopard OS, Mac OS X, Mac Tips
Mac OS X 10.5: Time Machine backups are not visible
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306928
Issue or symptom
In the Mac OS X 10.5 Time Machine "time travel" window, past backups may not appear if your computer name includes certain characters.
Products affected
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Time Machine
Solution
Check your computer name in Sharing preferences. Make sure the computer name only includes ASCII characters from following set and is not blank (no matter which Mac OS X language version you are using):
0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Posted: February 13, 2008 7:48 am | 0 comments
Tags: Mac Help, Mac OS X, Mac Troubleshooting, Time Machine
Mac OS X 10.5: Time Machine backups are not visible
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306928
Upgrading to a new Mac?
If you are upgrading from one Leopard-based Mac to a new Leopard-based Mac, and you wish to use Time Machine backups from the previous Mac, make sure the computer name of the new Mac (in Sharing preferences) is the same as your previous Mac's computer name was when its Time Machine backups were made. Afterwards, if the previous Mac is still on your network, give it a different computer name.
Posted: February 13, 2008 7:50 am | 0 comments
Tags: Mac Help, Mac Leopard OS, Mac OS X, Mac Troubleshooting, Time Machine
MacFixIt has reported issues the iTunes 7.6.1
I have tested this update at home at here at Simmons on the General Access computers.
I have not run into any issues with sound, volume, playing music, videos or podcasts.
According to a recent MacFixIt posting:
"Users are experiencing a variety of significant issues after the update to iTunes 7.6.1 including inability to playback music and other media, repeated freezes and unexpected quits, lower or non-existent volume, stuttering playback, Apple TV issues and more."
Suggested fixes and downgrade to iTunes 7.5 instructions are included on the following web page:
http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=2008022510015322
Posted: February 26, 2008 9:12 am | 0 comments
Tags: iTunes, Mac OS X
Performance tip: Keep the Desktop clutter-free
From MacFixIt website:
Mac OS X's Desktop is the de facto location for downloaded files, and for many users, in-progress works that will either be organized later or deleted altogether. The desktop can also be gluttonous, however, becoming a catch-all for files that linger indefinitely.
Unfortunately -- aside from the effect of disarray it creates -- keeping dozens or hundreds of files on the Desktop can significantly degrade performance. Not necessarily because the system is sluggish with regard to rendering the icons on the desktop and storing them in memory persistently (which may be true in some cases), but more likely because keeping an excessive number of items on the Desktop can cause the windowserver process to generate reams of logfiles, which obviously draws resources away from other system tasks.
As such, keeping as few items as possible on the Desktop prove a surprisingly effective performance boon. Even creating a single fold ... more »
Posted: February 26, 2008 9:46 am | 0 comments
Tags: Mac OS X, Mac Troubleshooting
If you use Math Type, read the link below before upgrading to Microsoft Office 2008
Math Type:
http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathtype%5Fmac/office2008.htm
Excerpt from the link:
"Microsoft has omitted VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) support from Office 2008, claiming that it would cost too much to port this to the Intel Mac platform. Lack of VBA support is going to cause problems for many users, especially those that use Excel macros, MathType, and many other products that contain features implemented as VBA macros. MathType's toolbar and menu inside Word are no longer possible. Features such as equation numbering, formatting, etc. will not be available."
Initially I though that you could run both Office 2004 and Office 2008 at the same time, apparently not:
From a MacFixIt forum:
".. When you install Office 2008, you are given the option not to uninstall Office 2004, presumably so you can revert to Office 2004 if something important doesn't work right. Well, at least in my cas ... more »
Posted: February 26, 2008 11:20 am | 0 comments
Tags: Mac Leopard OS, Mac OS X, Microsoft Office 2008, MS Office
An A-Z Index of the Apple OS X command line
alias Create an alias
alloc List used and free memory
awk Find and Replace text within file(s)
basename Convert a full pathname to just a folder path
bash Bourne-Again SHell (Linux)
bless Set volume bootability and startup disk options.
break Exit from a loop
cal Display a calendar
case Conditionally perform a command
cat Display the contents of a file
cd Change Directory
chflags Change a file or folder's flags.
chgrp Change group ownership
chmod Change access permissions
chown Change file owner and group
chroot Run a command with a different root directory
cksum Print CRC checksum and byte counts
clear Clear terminal screen
cmp Compare two files
comm Compare two sorted files line by line
complete Edit a command completion [word/pattern/list]
continue Resume the next iteration of a loop
cp Copy one or more files to another location
cron Daemo ... more »
Posted: February 28, 2008 1:57 pm | 0 comments
Tags: Mac OS X
