MacMost: Archives

There are many important settings in Mail Preferences that you can use to customize your experience and improve productivity. Take this tour of the Mail Preferences and see which ones you should change.

A new feature of macOS 10.15.4 and the latest versions of Pages, Numbers and Keynote is the ability to collaborate using shared iCloud Drive folders. Once you share a folder, you can create documents in those folders and they are instantly ready for real-time collaboration with no additional steps. This can be used to work on a whole set of files with your team over the course of a project, or permanently.

You can now set a background color, gradient or image for sections in Pages documents. This is a new feature in the Section sidebar that makes it much easier to include a color fill or pattern behind your text.

The new version of Pages includes a powerful Drop Caps feature with a ton of options. You can use Drop Caps to make the first letter or word of a paragraph stand out. This also works in Keynote and Numbers.

In Mac Notes you can only export one note at a time as a PDF file. With the help of a script, you can quickly and easily export all of your notes to html files as a backup or archive. You can also save notes this way to clear out your Notes app.

If you need to place a simple stamp to a PDF file on your Mac, you can do it using the markup tools available in Preview, Mail and other apps. You can reuse these stamps by creating a blank PDF just to hold them, and then copying and pasting stamps when needed.

Not all Numbers spreadsheets need to have complex formulas and perform calculations. Some of the most useful spreadsheets simply help you keep track of members of a group or items you own. Create a simple database like this is easy and can come in handy, especially if you save it to iCloud Drive for mobile access as well.

If you ever have trouble reading text on your Mac because it is too small, there are many ways to adjust text in different places to help. You can make a universal change by adjusting your display resolution, use helper features like Accessibility Zoom, or change the display size for text in apps like the Finder, Safari, Mail and more.

Apple released new software updates to its major operating systems with new features this week. The main new feature are across all was the ability to share a folder using iCloud Drive. iPhones got new Memoji stickers and the iPad now has upgraded ability to use a trackpad or mouse as a cursor.

macOS version 15.4 includes some new features. You can now share iCloud folders with other iCloud users. There are new ScreenTime options. You can follow along with lyrics in Apple Music. Safari has new tab options. You can import Google Chrome passwords. You can also control your mouse with your head.

A new feature of iPadOS 13.4, released today, is the ability to control your iPad using a Bluetooth mouse or Trackpad. This works with almost any Bluetooth pointing device and any iPad capable of running iPadOS 13.4.

While it is difficult to be in the same location with kids right now, it is possible to use Macs to be able to read with them and do other educational activities online. You can use the Messages app on two Macs to start screen sharing and then bring up a book or other content. You can talk with them while you do this and they can follow along with your cursor and highlights.

The new iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard could finally be a legitimate laptop computer for some people. There will be a lot of people deciding between the new MacBook Air and iPad Pro. They both have similar abilities, but also some distinct differences. Here are some factors that will help you decide which one is right for you.

You can turn any standard sound file into a ringtone right on your iPhone using the free GarageBand app from Apple. You can also use some music from your library, and download audio files and music online, even from YouTube, to use as ringtones.

Apple announced several new pieces of hardware today. A new MacBook Air improves most product specs and brings the new keyboard to the Air. The new low-end price of $999 includes a 256GB drive. The Mac mini gets a minor update to also have a 256GB drive on the base model.

Apple introduced a new MacBook Air today with faster processors, more storage, a new keyboard and a lower introductory price. Two new iPad Pro models boost specs, and also introduce a new camera array. A new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro includes a trackpad and also lifts the iPad up.

You can choose whether or not to see filename extensions in the Finder on your Mac. But even if you choose to not see them, some filename will still show extensions and others will not. What makes these files different and how do you control them?

There is a lot of bad advice out there when it comes to stopping junk email. People will tell you time-consuming ways to get marginally less spam. But there is really only one method that will solve the problem of getting too much spam. And oddly, few tech advisors talk about it.

Apple has published a page of frequently asked questions about their store closures. Most notably, if you have recently purchased a product and are within the 14-day return period, that period now extends to 14 days after stores reopen.

Your Mac, iPhone or iPad can be used as a way to video chat with others while you are stuck at home away from friends, family, work or school. Technology can help with social distancing. FaceTime is great for Apple-to-Apple communication. Skype and Facebook Messenger can be used for cross-platform communication or with those who are more comfortable with those services.