Posts By: Gary Rosenzweig

When you transfer a file between Mac and Windows, or upload to a cloud service, you may notice that the file size looks different. Windows and most cloud services use a different way to measure sizes like megabytes than Macs do. The file is actually the same size, just the math used to get those file size numbers is different.

Follow me down a rabbit hole as I look at how to combine Shortcuts, a Terminal command, a shell script and the crontab on your Mac to set up a text messages to be send in the future. You may not be interested in the end result here, but there's a lot to learn along the way!

What to consider when you are thinking of buying a new Mac. Should you buy when you need a new Mac, or when Apple comes out with a new model? How do you know when Apple is about to release something new?

You can use the Live Listen feature on your iPhone to use it and your AirPods as a simple hearing aid, allowing you to hear voices clearer even in the next room.

You can change the size of the pointer as well as the border and outline color. If you want more options, you can always get a third-party app, though some options are only achieved using screen recording apps.

There are two different modes in Mac Pages. It is important to know the differences between these modes and when to use Word Processing Mode or Page Layout Mode.

The Start Page in Safari is often ignored, but it can be a very useful tool. By removing some items from it and actively maintaining others, it can be your go-to screen in Safari.

You can use default text transformations on your Mac to convert text to upper or lower case, or to capitalize every word. However, it is better to use styling in Pages. You can also create your own custom text transformation with Shortcuts.

Got the new firmware update for the Studio Display. See how the camera shoots video now. Also, I talk about needing to reboot the Studio Display due to sound issues.

While the Dock seems like a strictly graphical interface, you can actually use it with just the keyboard. You can launch apps, access advanced functions, and even rearrange the items in the Dock using keyboard shortcuts.

Memoji are fun to use in Messages on your iPhone or as stickers on your Mac, but you can use them for so much more. But creating little characters that look like you, colleagues or students you can make better presentations, documents and videos.

You can use Picture-In-Picture to watch a video on your Mac while you do other things. It places the video in a small window that floats on top of other windows. You can use Picture-In-Picture on web videos, the TV app, and other places.

If you have a messy Mac Desktop and want to clean it up, there are several techniques you can use. You can do something quick and simple to tidy up, or get to work and go through those files to organize them better.

You have many options when it comes to transferring files between your Mac and iOS devices. You can keep it simple with AirDrop or iCloud Drive, or use a cable or Wi-Fi to move files, regular networking, the Finder, and more.

My experiments with a MIDI keyboard to help productivity are paying off now thanks to Keyboard Maestro. Turns out no special MIDI drivers or software are needed at KM can do all I need and more all by itself. Keyboard Maestro: <a href="http://keyboardmaestro.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://keyboardmaestro.com</a>  AKAI MPK mini: <a href="https://www.akaipro.com/mpk-mini-mkii" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.akaipro.com/mpk-mini-mkii</a> 

You can set up your iPhone so it listens for sounds like doorbells, glass breaking or a baby crying, and then alert you with a tone or a vibration.

The Desktop & Documents Folders feature of iCloud Drive lets you decide whether those two folders are stored only on your local Mac's hard drive, or as part of iCloud Drive and available across all of your Apple devices.

A hear a lot of people opting to get a small drive in their next Mac, and then using an external SSD to put all of their "stuff." The reason is to save money as Apple drives are so much more expensive than third-party externals. But I don't think people realize just how much faster these Apple drives are. Getting a fast M1 Mac and then holding it back with a slow external SSD is probably the wrong way to go. Externals are good for backups and for archiving old data, but I wouldn't use them to actually "work."

There are many ways to store and recall Web locations other than just plain browser bookmarks. Learn how to create lists and documents, add to contacts and events, even make Menu Bar and keyboard shortcuts.

When creating Shortcuts for the Mac or iOS you can use voice input easily when you trigger the Shortcut with Siri.