MacMost: Archives

Creating Linked Text Boxes in Pages
6/21/17
With the new version of Pages you can now create linked text boxes to make complex page layout documents. The linking system works differently than in older versions of Pages, using colors and numbers to denote which boxes link and in which order. You can flow text across multiple boxes, and also on multiple pages. This feature is also in the iOS version of Pages, but with a slightly different interface.
New Shapes in Pages, Numbers and Keynote
6/20/17
The new versions of Pages, Numbers and Keynote introduce hundreds of new shapes that you can use in your projects. You can change the color of the shapes, resize them and even edit their lines and break them apart. They could be useful in a variety of documents, presentations and spreadsheets. This feature is also in the iOS version of Pages, Numbers and Keynote.
What Is APFS?
6/19/17
Apple's new file system is a big part of the new macOS High Sierra and iOS 11. What is a file system and how is APFS different than the old Apple file system? What advantages will APFS bring to our Apple devices? Which devices will this affect and when? How will we upgrade our Macs, iPhones and iPads to APFS?
6/16/17

So want a new Mac, but are unsure if now is the right time to buy. Will Apple release a new model next week that makes your purchase obsolete? There are ways to check to see if it is likely that a new Mac is around the corner, and there are ways to protect yourself. But ultimately, it is always a risk as with any product on the market.

Change or Cancel Apple and App Subscriptions
6/16/17

You can subscribe to Apple services like Apple Music as well as in-app services from various third-parties. You can see all of your reoccurring subscriptions in either iTunes on your Mac or in Settings on your iPhone or iPad. From there you can change the subscriptions to other plans offered, or cancel them. In many cases you can cancel a subscription but still use it until the next renewal date.

Customize the Toolbar In the Finder and Apps
6/15/17
You can customize the toolbar in the Finder and many apps. You can add buttons, spaces and other controls. Some apps have a large selection of buttons you can add. You can also revert to the default set easily. See what is available in the Finder, Mail, Pages and other apps.
Highlighting Text In Mail Messages
6/14/17
One formatting option missing in Mac mail is the ability to highlight text by adding a background color to a text selection. This is useful when you want to point out a passage in a response and is commonly using in Windows email clients. While there is no way to do it with standard text styling in Mail, you can create a custom style by copying and pasting an example from Pages, creating a style, and then applying that style later on in other messages.
A Beginner's Guide to Mission Control
6/13/17
Mission Control in macOS Sierra allows you to create multiple desktops with different windows on each. You can easily create these desktops and move between them with keyboard shortcuts. This allows you to go between apps and workspaces easily, saving you time and effort. You can also use full-screen apps as a desktop. This is handy for MacBook users in particular as screen space is limited.
Using Google Docs to Convert Scans to Text
6/12/17
A free way to convert scanned images to text documents on your Mac is to use Google Drive and Google Docs. With any Google/Gmail account you can upload a PDF or image file to Google Drive, then request to open it in Google Docs. The result will be a OCR (optical character recognition) conversion from image to editable text. Then you can export the text back to your Mac.
6/9/17

So you are thinking of buying a new Mac and you are wondering how much memory to get. It is a tough decision to make, and really comes down to a matter of money. Lets look at factors that will help you decide if you should spend the extra money to get more RAM.

Using the Mac Thesaurus While Writing
6/9/17
For writers, a good thesaurus can be more useful than a dictionary. Fortunately, your Mac has both. You can easily access the thesaurus while writing in Pages, Mail or almost any app. You can even have it appear above the dictionary.
Using the Slow Keys Accessibility Feature
6/8/17
The Slow Keys option will cause your Mac to wait for purposeful key presses before accepting input. This can help some users who have difficulty using keyboard. The option applies to modifier keys too, so each key needs to be pressed one at a time and held. You can also use this feature to give you audible feedback when you press a key.
Accessing Mac Hardware Diagnostics Mode
6/7/17

If something is wrong with your Mac, either you or the tech repairing your Mac will need to access the special diagnostics mode. You can do this by restarting your Mac and holding the D key. The results could give you some insight into the problem. See https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202731 for details.

6/6/17

Mac Photos 3: Organize, Edit and Share Photos On Your Mac is a complete course with 40 videos and more than 3 hours of instruction that will teach you the ins-and-outs of the Mac Photos app. The app allows you to manage photo collections, both small and large. You can organize, edit and share the pictures you take with your digital camera or phone.

Using Safari Favorites
6/6/17
In Safari you have a Favorites list that is part of bookmarks but also has some special features. You can see them at the top of your browser window, on a special home page and in other places. Learn how to add, edit and delete items from Favorites.
New Macs, iMac Pro, High Sierra, iOS 11 and HomePod
6/5/17
At Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference today they announced many new products and future software including macOS High Sierra and iOS 11. In addition to new iMacs and MacBooks, Apple announced the iMac Pro and HomePod which will be available at the end of the year. Learn about the highlights of today's Apple keynote event.
6/2/17

This is a question commonly asked on forums around the web. If you have an older Mac, then you can spend a little money now to make your Mac faster and better at running the latest OS and apps. Or, you could spend more money and completely replace your old Mac with a new model.
There are several factors to consider when deciding between an upgrade or a new Mac.

Converting Images to ASCII Art With Automator
6/2/17
You can use Automator to apply Apple system (Quartz) filters to image files. This simple Automator app will convert an image to ASCII art. There are color and size options you can adjust to get the look you want. You can also try out some of the other Quartz filters for various effects.
Share Photos Between iPhones With AirDrop
6/1/17
If you take a photo of someone with your iPhone and they have an iPhone too, you can immediately share the photo with them using AirDrop. To use AirDrop, you don't need to be on the same Wi-Fi network or have set up anything in advance. The photo sent is the full resolution image. This can be easier than exchanging phones to take pictures of each other or trying to take the same photo twice.
Creating Mac Calendar Events
5/31/17
Creating new events in the Mac Calendar app is relatively simple, but there are many options. You can create a new even by clicking in the calendar, or using the Create Quick Event feature. It is easy to modify an event while creating it or later on.