MacMost: Video Podcast

Apple uses cat names to represent versions of OS X. It is important to know both the cat name and the version number of OS X that you are using. Sometimes you will hear or read the cat name, and sometimes the version number. So knowing which ones match which is important.

Learn how to use the keyboard to move between fields, menus and checkboxes in forms on web pages. Knowing these shortcuts can save you a lot of time if you need to fill out forms often.

You can use a graphics program like Pixelmator to add some semi-transparent text to your photos before uploading them. Adjusting the color and opacity of the text will make sure the text doesn't interfere with the photo's content, unless you want it to.

Learn about the Undo and Redo functions for Macs and iOS. The Undo function is available in almost every app and situation on the Mac, and many on iOS too. However, what the Undo function does depends on the type of app and the last action you took. Many apps allow you to undo multiple steps and redo them as well.

Learn how to tell which apps are using the most space on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. You can use the Settings app to list all of your apps by the amount of storage space they are using. You can delete apps, clear their storage areas and sometimes manage the files they keep. With other apps you will need to use the app itself to manage its files.

The Recent Places list appears in save dialog boxes across all of your applications. You can use it to quickly save documents to the same folder, even if you are using a variety of apps for the same project.

Google Drive spreadsheets is a good alternative to using desktop apps like Excel and Numbers. It is a fairly sophisticated number crunching program that has all of the major features seen in those others. All you need is to use your web browser and a free Google account.

Scroll Bars in Lion and Mountain Lion will appear and disappear depending on your actions. You can set them to always be present, or to change based on your input device. With two fingers on your trackpad, you can scroll easily. You can also use the arrow keys on your keyboard to scroll.

Learn about some of the actions in Automator that control the Calendar and Mail app. Build a workflow that will search your events, summarize them as text, and convert that text to an audio file. Then Mail can send it as an email message.

Learn how to properly eject an external hard drive or USB flash drive. You can also remount an ejected drive without needing to unplug the drive and plug it back in using Disk Utility.

Today's Google Maps app provides the basic functionality of the old Google Maps app. But you have to add this free app yourself as it no longer comes pre-installed on iOS. You can use both Apple Maps and Google Maps on your device, and it is worth having it as an alternative.

Many of the posts you may see in your Facebook news feed are scams or pieces of misinformation. Learn to be skeptical when you read information passed on from others. Verify information before passing it on yourself. Often, posts are simply ploys to gain popularity on Facebook.

Learn how to put your videos on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. You would typically use iTunes to transfer the videos from your Mac or PC to your device. But sometimes you have to go through a conversion process first as iOS can only play back certain types of video.

Safari 6 has some great tools for developers, including the Safari Snippet Editor. This tool allows you to write HTML code and see the results instantly. You can include tags as well as styles and scripts. It could be useful for those learning HTML or JavaScript, and for those starting a new HTML project.

If you are posting to Apple's discussion forums, or are simply asking for service or help, it is important to be able to convey critical information about your Mac. Learn how to find the correct name for your Mac, the amount of memory and storage space you have available, and the version of OS X you are using. Also, if you are discussing an app, it is important to mention the version of the app you are using.

You don't always need to print an entire document. Sometimes only a portion of a single page is all that is needed. By using OS X's ability to print to a PDF that opens in Preview, and some quick keyboard shortcuts, you can select and print only a small portion of a page, therefore saving paper and ink. This tip works for web pages, documents, or anything that can be printed.

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.

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.