New Screen Savers in Mountain Lion

Mountain Lion users no longer have that wonderful Mosaic Screen Saver option. Instead, Apple has introduced more than a dozen new options for displaying your photos when you’re not actively using your Mac.

To set your Screen Saver:

1. From the Apple menu choose System Preferences

2. Click on the Desktop & Screen Saver icon

3. Click on the Screen Saver tab

4. In the left column, choose one of the styles. It will show a preview of what it will do

5. Next to Source, you can choose the most recently added photos or, to access a specific album or event in iPhoto, choose iPhoto Library

6. Click on the desired album or Event

There are also 43 stunning photographs of nature, the cosmos and others from National Geographic that you can choose as your Screen Saver from the source list.

BONUS TIP:

You can access these 43 additional photos in the Collections to use elsewhere.

1. From the Desktop click on the GO menu

2. Choose Go To Folder

3. Copy and paste this link:

/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.Framework/Versions/A/Resources/Default Collections/

4. Scroll through the different folders

5. If you View by Column or Coverflow you can see a preview of each image

6. If you find one you like, drag it to the Desktop so you can easily move it to another folder for safe keeping or choose it for your Desktop Picture

iPad and iPhone Tip of the Week

Numbers and Punctuation

If you press the 123 key, the keyboard layout switches to numbers and punctuation. Then you have to press ABC again to get back to the letter keyboard.

Here’s a shortcut:

Tap and HOLD the 123 key and slide to the number you need. When you release, the keyboard will automatically switch back to the letters.

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Back to Basics: Creating Folders

A reader who’s been using his Mac for years recently wrote and asked how to create a simple folder and place existing documents into it.

As with all things Mac, there are several ways to accomplish this task.

If you are using Snow Leopard or earlier versions of the Mac OS:

1. First click on the Desktop (or be in the folder where you want this new folder to go)

2. From the File menu choose New Folder or Right Click on the Desktop and choose New Folder

3. An Untitled Folder will appear with the words highlighted

4. Without clicking or moving the mouse, type a name for this new folder and press the Return key when you’re done

5. Now you can drag files and documents on top of this folder to put them in it

If you are using Lion or Mountain Lion, you could do it this way or,

1. Highlight the documents you want to put into a new folder

2. From the File menu choose New Folder With Selection or Right Click on one of the selected files and choose New Folder With Selection

3. Title the folder and press the REturn key when you’re done

iPad and iPhone Tip of the Week

Format Text in Email

Did you know that you can bold, italicize and even underline text in Mail? And you can indent paragraphs too.

1. Select the text you want to change

2. Tap the right arrow at the far right of the Cut, Copy, Paste menu

3. Tap BIU to change the format or Quote Level if you want to indent

4. Tap your desired format choice

5. Tap on the page to get out of the menu

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Setting Reminders in iCal

iCal is great for keeping track of appointments, birthdays, and other important dates. One of the features in iCal is that you can set a reminder so that you are alerted minutes or even days before the event.

To set an alert:

1. Double-click on the event

2. Choose Edit

3. Next to the word Alert click on the menu choice

4. Choose whether you want to be reminded with an onscreen message, email, etc.

5. If you’ve chosen Message, choose when and at what time

6. You can change the number of days by clicking on the number showing and typing

7. If you’ve chosen to receive an email notification, choose which email address to receive it (if you have more than one) and when

8. Be sure to click DONE for your settings to take effect

Learn more about iCal with The Virtual Classroom video lessons. Check them out at
http://www.mac2school.com/virtual-ical-lion/ for Lion and Mountain Lion
or http://www.mac2school.com/virtual-ical-snow/ for Snow Leopard.

iPad and iPhone Tip of the Week

Add a Web Page to the Home Screen

If you have a few favorite websites that you always go to on Safari, why not make them be icons on your home page for faster, easier access?

This is especially helpful if you are a Kindle reader, since the Kindle app no longer includes a button to go the the Kindle Store.

1. Open Safari
2. Go to the desired website
3. Click the “+” to Add a Bookmark but instead of choosing Add a Bookmark
4. Tap Add to Home Screen

Now that site is just a tap away.

To Add the Kindle store:

1. Go to Amazon.com
2. Search for Kindle ebooks
3. Click the “+” to Add a Bookmark
4. Instead of choosing Add a Bookmark, tap Add to Home Screen

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Claim More Desk Space: Move The Deck

The Dock is that strip on the bottom of your Desktop with all of the icons on it. It’s a handy tool for quickly opening all of your favorite programs.

Most computer screens are wider than they are tall, and the Dock takes up precious screen space. Some people solve this issue by Hiding the Dock.

If you like to see your Dock, but still want more screen space, consider moving it to the side.

Under the Apple menu, choose Dock.

Slide the mouse over and choose Position on Right or Left.

It may take a day or two to get used to the new location, but I think you’ll really appreciate the full screen space.

For more great tips about the Dock, the Desktop and more efficient ways to use the Finder, check out the ALL ABOUT THE FINDER video lessons in the Virtual Classroom.

iPad and iPhone Tip of the Week

Selecting More Than One Photo

It’s pretty simple to email one photo:

1. Tap the Photos icon on the Home screen

2. Tap the Photo

3. Tap the arrow icon in the top right corner

4. Select Email Photo

To select more than one photo at a time to email (or delete):

1. Tap the Photos icon on the Home screen

2. Tap the arrow icon in the top right corner

3. Now tap the photos you want to send and a check mark will appear on the photos

4. Tap Share in the top left corner

5. Choose Email