MacMost: Video Podcast

It's holiday shopping time again. Here are some good ideas for what you can get Apple fans in your life. Submit your own ideas to https://macmost.com/apple-gift-guide-2009.html

If you use MobileMe, then you have an iDisk. It is a virtual hard drive on the Internet that you can use to store files and share them with others. Learn the basics of using your iDisk.

You can create tasks in Automator and then have iCal run them at a specific time in the future, or even as a recurring event. This example shows you how to have thumbnails of new photos automatically sent to an email address every week.

Learn how to use Disk Utility to erase and format an external drive. You can also create drives with multiple partitions.

If you have more than one Mac on your home network, you can share files between them by simply turning on file sharing and browsing to another Mac in the Finder. You can also add additional users and set up shared folders.

Learn how to create artistic photo slideshows in iPhoto that can then be exported as video files. You can then email these video files, create a DVD or upload to a video sharing site.

Learn how to use the iPhone's Maps app to search for stores, get directions, plot your current location and more. The iPhone Maps app has been a part of the iPhone since the beginning, but it keeps getting better. Find out what it can do and how easy it is to use.

Learn how to speed up your video clips and use slow motion in iMovie 09. You can also reverse the direction of a clip.

Learn the basics of using the Mac trashcan to delete files. Windows users will find it is slightly different than the Windows recycle bin. This is an excerpt from the book the MacMost.com Guide to Switching to the Mac https://macmost.com/book

Learn how to spot whether an Apple rumor is valid. Many Apple rumors have no source and don't fit with the company's past. Find out what to look for so you can decide for yourself which rumors make the most sense.

Find out how you can use the Web to translate pieces of text or whole Web pages. Learn how to use the two main translation services: Babel Fish and Google Translate.

Learn how to make a simple music loop using GarageBand in this excerpt from the MacMost.com Guide to Switching to the Mac by Gary Rosenzweig. You can use simple loops in photo slideshows, videos and other projects.

Learn how to rename a batch of files using Automator in Snow Leopard. You can quickly and easily create a workflow that will allow you to select a group of files or a folder and rename the files replacing or adding text, adding numbers or the time or changing the file extension.

Many users never change the iTunes Import Settings, but it is important that you check them out and make sure that iTunes is importing your CDs using a format that you like. The default AAC may not provide the versatility that you need.

Learn the basics about searching for files with Spotlight.

Take a look at the new Magic Mouse from Apple. This wireless mouse features a touch-sensitive trackpad-like surface for scrolling and gestures.

In addition to being a general upgrade to the iMac line, the new iMacs have 12 new and interesting features that you should know about.

You can use GarageBand to edit your video's audio. You can filter the audio, add music, adjust the volume and re-arrange the sound.

Gary Rosenzweig looks at three ways to save and view Web pages outside of Safari, from his new book the MacMost.com Guide to Switching to the Mac.

Gary Rosenzweig takes a look at the section on printing and sharing pictures from his new book the MacMost.com Guide to Switching to the Mac.