In today's special Spring Forward announcement, Apple debuted a new M1 iMac with a new design, a new iPad Pro with a Mini-LED screen, and the AirTag tracking device.
You can easily create password-protected encrypted documents using apps like Pages, Numbers, Keynote and Microsoft Word. Youc an also create a password-protected PDF file from just about any app. There are good reasons to sometimes need encrypted documents, but often it isn't necessary.
The Mac Photos app has some deep functionality and even regular users may not know some of these tips. Learn how to search by photo contents, convert Live Photos to long exposure pictures, export contact sheet PDFs, adjust and filter videos, create multiple libraries and much more.
If you use your Mac to create or work on documents and projects, you'll occasionally want to archive old files to free up space on your Mac's internal drive and iCloud. You can do with with a basic external drive. But you may also want to consider other types of external storage, backups and more.
Automator can be used to script some third-party apps. As an example, here's how to write a script for Pixelmator Pro that adds a border and caption to a photo you select in the Photos app.
Most Mac apps have buttons at the top of each window in a toolbar. If you don't like the arrangement of buttons in the toolbar, or what to remove or add functionality to the toolbar, you can do so by customizing it. Most native Mac apps, like Safari, Mail, the Finder and also Apple apps like Pages, Numbers and Keynote allow you to customize the toolbar. Some third-party apps also have customizable toolbars, while others use their own system.
You don't need to print out, sign, and then scan in documents. You can sign them right on your Mac. Using the Markup Tools in Mac Preview and other places, you can sign documents and fill in other text. Your signatures are saved for later use so it is even easier after the first time.
Here are some System Preference settings you may not know about or be using. Learn how to change the menu bar clock, customize your language by app, show a message on the lock screen, access hidden screen resolutions and more.
By using formulas, you can show special characters inside your Numbers tables to indicate things like increases or decreases in values, amounts and ranks. These simple techniques can make your tables easier to read and understand at a glance.
The Desktop Folder is a regular folder with the interesting special feature that files and folders inside it are also display over your Desktop. The files you see on your Desktop are the same files you can view in a Finder window when looking at the Desktop Folder.
The weakest link in your computer security is often you. You'll receive fake emails, text messages, warnings and social media invitations that are attempts to break into your computer or online accounts. Know what to look for and how to protect yourself.
The Preview pane gives you so much more than just a simple preview. You can view lots of information about a file, and even change things like the file name and tags. You can customize what is shown in the Preview Pane for each file type.
There are many ways to navigate from folder to folder in the Finder on your Mac. You can go down into folders, up to the enclosing folder, and sideways to adjacent folders. There are many ways to do each, depending on which Finder View you are currently using.
Siri can be a good tool to help you increase your productivity if you give it a chance. You can ask for information, search the web, get to files, folders and settings. You can also use it to schedule events, add reminders, send messages and emails. You can use Siri completely silently if you set it up right.
