MacMost: Archives

Learn to use GarageBand for iPad to build a song. You can use pre-made Apple Loops in combination with tracks that you record using GarageBand's instruments. You can mix and combine them, and add song sections. Then you can export in a variety of ways to use the music in your projects or share with friends.

You can view the rows in your spreadsheet by category using values in specific rows. This is often better than sorting the entire spreadsheet. You can nest categories and turn them on and off easily. You can also use formats and colors to make categories easier to view.

T-Mobile will begin carrying the iPhone on April 12, with purchasing options that are very different from the other three major carriers. Instead of subsidizing the cost of the iPhone through regular monthly service payments over and beyond the life of a 2-year contract, T-Mobile will separate the cost of the iPhone from its service. Instead it will charge a monthly installment for the phone. While this will make little difference during the first two years, it will mean that beyond that time the monthly cost will go down.
T-Mobile is also offering unlimited 3G data, with limits only placed on faster 4G data. At this time, T-Mobile only has 4G systems in place in some cities. So for many, this amounts to an unlimited data plan, but with a slower connection. In addition, the T-Mobile version of the iPhone will include wideband audio, a feature also available with some European carriers that gives better voice quality on calls.
Apple updated the Podcasts iOS app this week with a new feature called My Stations. This lets you create lists of podcasts that will automatically update as new episodes are published. It could quickly become the preferred way to organize and listen to podcasts.

“My new scale shows my weight on my iPad. But it seems to think I’m 1.44 pounds heavier than I really am.”

Apple IDs can now be made more secure by using the two-step verification process. This involves changing your Apple ID account and added secure devices, like your phone, to the process. In order to make changes to your account, like a new password, you would then need to verify your identity by using your device in conjunction with your password. This makes it much harder for someone to gain access to your account.

Have a look at using a real guitar with GarageBand for iPad. You can filter your guitar to make it sound like you are using a wide variety of amplifiers, pedals and settings. Also look at how you can record vocals. You can also use a microphone to record samples to play on the keyboard.

The secondary click is also known as a right click or control click. It is commonly used to access context menus and special software functions. You can determine how you create a secondary click by looking at the TrackPad and Mouse sections of System Preferences. But you can always use the Control key to change a primary click into a secondary one.

Apple released OS X 10.8.3 this week with many bug fixes. In addition, there is now support for Windows 8 running under Boot Camp and using your Mac’s camera to read iTunes gift cards in the Mac App Store. The update also includes Safari 6.0.3 with performance improvements and bug fixes. A complete list of information can be found at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5612.
You can get the update if you are using Mountain Lion by choosing Software Update from the Apple menu at the top left.
Apple also upgraded GarageBand for iOS with support for the third-party app Audiobus that allows you to filter live audio through multiple apps.

“I just bought an iTouch and an iMac mini. What’s the first thing I should learn about them?”
“The correct names.”

For most users the best way to manage photos on an iPhone is to download your Camera Roll photos on to your Mac in iPhoto, treating your Camera Roll like a normal digital camera. Then create albums in iPhoto and sync those back to your iPhone to have a selection of photos to carry with you.

Learn how to use the Keyboards and Smart Keyboard instruments in GarageBand for iPad. You can choose from dozens of different keyboard instruments, each with its own set of features and controls. You can use scales and chords to easily make usable sequences of notes for your songs.

You can use your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad to take time-lapse photography easily with the help of an app. You need to think about which device to use, and how to set it up. Then you have many choices to make in the app settings. You can get the app here: http://macmost.com/a-536495161.

It was another quiet news week, with only very minor updates to Apple’s iOS office apps and Apple Maps.
A new iMac option appeared in the Apple Store this week with a full set of VESA mount iMacs. These models have hardware on the back to let them connect to special wall mounts or desk stands, rather than the normal iMac stand hardware. Four such mounts are available through the online Apple Store when you purchase an iMac, while others can be purchased elsewhere. VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) mounts refers to an industry standard. Computer and screen companies can make their devices VESA mount compatible so they will work with any third-party mount that uses the same standard. Apple had offeredVESA mount versions in previous generations of iMacs.
Rumors this week focused on the financial side of Apple, with some buzz around the idea that Apple may increase its shareholder dividend or enlarge its stock buyback efforts.

“Can I get an avocado slice on my burger? The green will add some nice color for the picture I’ll post to Facebook.”

You have two primary options to backup your iOS device. You can backup to your computer, or backup using iCloud. Most people will want to backup to their computer. But frequent travelers and those without a computer will want to use the iCloud method. You can also backup to both.

Learn how to use the smart bass and smart guitar instruments in GarageBand for iPad. You can play a variety of basses and guitars using single touches on virtual strings, or by using chord mode or autoplay mode. You can then record your playing into tracks to mix with other instruments.

The Finder's Column View may be the most versatile and useful. It allows you to see the current folder, and ones above it. It also gives you a preview of the file selected. You can quickly move between folders with arrow keys and it is easy to move files from one folder to another.

Apple news this week was dominated by stronger rumors of a new wristwatch product. Rumor blogs have been reporting that the device will come out later this year. While some believe this will be simply an iPhone accessory, extending the iPhone’s functionality as a Bluetooth device, other reports paint a picture of a completely independent iOS device to stand next to the iPhone and iPad. It is important to remember that these are just rumors, and more often than not such rumors do not pan out.
Other rumors this week focused on release timeframes for new iPads, making conservative predictions of new models coming either this spring or in the fall. Also, there are rumors of an iPhone 5S coming out in the fall, a safe bet considering Apple has produced a new model every year.

“I’ve got a completely original idea for a game app.”
“Tell me about it.”
“It’s basically Angry Birds meets Fruit Ninja meets Dragonvale.”

Often people think about syncing data between devices in the wrong way. iCloud allows you not so much to sync data, as to access a common source of data. Viewing your contacts on your Mac or iPhone is similar to viewing a web page in that the data is on a server, and the app you are using is just accessing it.