Christmas Ideas

Some generals gift ideas for Macintosh Users

Are you looking for the perfect last-minute gift for your favorite computer geek? If they love Apple computers, then we've got some great ideas to help make their day extra special!

First up is an Apple Magic Keyboard. This sleek and stylish keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience with its low-profile design and optimized key travel. It also has built-in rechargeable batteries so it can be used wirelessly, making it ideal for those who like to take their work on the go.

Next, why not get them an Apple Pencil? This handy device allows users to draw or write directly onto compatible iPads or iPhones with ease and accuracy ??? perfect if your giftee loves sketching or taking notes digitally. The pencil also comes in multiple colors so you can choose one that matches his/her style perfectly!

Magnetic Power Bank for the iPhone - The magnetic wireless power bank is a small device that connects to the phone and can provide you with instant power when you are away from a reliable source of electricity. These are the most convenient way to charge your phone when you are away from a power outlet. They are available in plenty of styles you can choose from.

Create Your Own Cable Bag - This is a collection of USB cables sorted by type and put together in a nice storage bag so that they can easily find the right cable when they need it. Suggested cables are USB-A to USB-C, USB-A to USB-B, USB-A to Micro, and audio cables.

If your computer friend likes to take pictures using a DSLR camera consider buying some extra SD cards. I would recommend getting at least 128GB or greater. You can never have enough cards when you go on vacation or planned photo shoot.

Apple Gift Card - Perhaps your friend is looking to upgrade their computer in the near future to get an Apple Card so they are one step closer to that purchase. Tip: Get the card at BJs or Costco. You can get about $5 off any gift card value. That is - more bang for your dollar.

Storage Drawer Carts - Help your friend be more organized with a multiple-drawer storage cart. These can be used to separate office supplies and various cables and gear. Very useful to stay organized and be more productive. The Container Store has some good solutions.

Equirectangular projection

View and Modify 360 Photos in Affinity Photo

If you have some 360 photos and would like to use parts of the images, you can do that in Affinity Photo. You can zoom in and out and "fly around" to find the perfect place to export as a picture. In addition, you can use Affinity's powerful touch-up features to clean up your 360-degree photo.

In Affinity Photo, the tool you use to navigate a 360-degree image is called the Equirectangular projection. This tool allows you to explore an image as if it were a globe; spinning it around until you find the perfect spot for your needs. Once you've found what you're looking for, simply exporting it as a regular 2D image will give great results thanks to Affinity's excellent editing capabilities.

Five Things I Learned

The Equirectangular projection tool is only available in Affinity Photo and not Affinity Designer.

You can simply drag and drop a spherical image onto the Affinity Photo icon. Once open, go to Layers -> Live Projection -> Equirectangular projection. Now you can click and drag around the image.

To zoom in and out in Live Projection, use the "Field of View" in the menu just above the photo. When you first enable the Equirectangular projection tool the Field of View is set to 75% zoom of the image.

Live Projection menu options.

You can import the image into an Affinity Photo file, to use the Equirectangular projection tool you need to Rasterize the image. Simply right-click on the image and select Rasterize. Then the Equirectangular projection tool will be available in the Layers menu.

If you switch tools while in the "Equirectangular projection tool" mode, you can get the "Live View Pointer" back by typing the following shortcut: Command - Control - P

Quick BBEdit Notes Tip

Finally close out all those unused notes

If you use BBEdit Notebook, you may have a lot of open files. Having files open isn't bad as it doesn't up us any memory. However, I use the open file indicator to focus on notes that I am actually using.

To quickly close out of all your notes, just use this simple shortcut:

Control - Command - W

When you apply this simple command, all the notes are closed, even ones that are in Collections that you probably haven't looked at in a while.

Universal Control

Using one keyboard and mouse to control two computers

With Apple Universal Control, it is now possible to control two computers from a single keyboard and mouse, thus making computer control easier.

Using this feature is similar to using multiple monitors at the same time. To get to the other computer, simply move the mouse to the edge of the screen, and your mouse will appear on the other computer.

In a way, it's like magic. It's incredibly useful and very cool.

macOS Monterey Display System Preference panel showing the Universal Control access

How it helps me

This is an awesome way to switch between a personal computer and a work computer. My work has strict restrictions on what software I am allowed to install on the company-provided laptop. However, with Universal Control, I am able to switch between computers quickly and use the applications that I wish.

The VPN allows me to view websites outside my firewall on my work computer while I can view them on my personal computer. This allows me to view sites from different locations and from different users.

I have a work computer that is one macOS version behind my personal computer, despite the fact that my personal computer always has the latest macOS version.

It allows me to have the most up-to-date version of Snagit on my personal computer, as well as to copy screenshots over to my work computer so that I can show issues that I have discovered over there.

Full details are available on Apple Support page.

Five things I Learned

It is still necessary for you to have a keyboard for both computers in order to log in to them.

This is a very useful feature when you have a cat who likes to walk around the desk and sit anywhere on the desk at will without being asked. The Universal Control saves space on the desktop. (You can hide the other keyboard and mouse.)

When it comes to keyboard shortcuts in applications like Keyboard Maestro, it is important to know that wherever the mouse is, the keyboard controls that application as well.

There are many things you can accomplish when using two computers with just one keyboard and mouse. You will be able to get more things done without having to switch between keyboards and mice.

When I switch between computers, it's sometimes difficult to make the switch between them. I have to bounce the mouse several times to let the computer know that I want to move to the other computer.

Affinity Suite Collection Refresh

Paid Version Upgrade to the Affinity Collection

Affinity updated its graphic platform this week with Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, and Affinity Publisher. These applications have some cool features and are worth checking out if you haven't already.

In order to check out some of the changes, I downloaded each desktop application and installed them.??

One of the nice features of Affinity Photo and Designer is the ability to export using Webp. This means that I do not have to open another application to convert the image type I am exporting.??

It's important to note a few other changes that have been made to the "New" functionality. The dialog box is a bit more complex than it was in the past, which I am sure is intentional so that designers can focus on other things.??

Still Testing

I am still testing all the changes made to Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo. Next week I'll post my review of the changes and if its worth upgrading.

Snagit 2023

New Features of the Popular Screen Capture Tool

Last week TechSmith introduced the latest paid upgrade to Snagit. This upgrade includes the following features:

• Picture in Picture with Screen Draw - Users can now add pointers, steps and boxes to their view presentations. This makes it easy to point to certain features while talking about them.
• Quickly Share Content - Snagit has a new ???Share Link??? which makes it easy to share recent snapshots. Now you can touch up a screenshot and instantly share it on Slack, Email or Social Media. The Share Link is using the TechSmith screencast service. Screenshots are saved for 12 months.
• Better Collaborate - Users that have access to shared content can now leave comments on the video and images - including emojis.
• Add Effects to Favorite - You can now add your favorite Effects as favorites. This makes it easy to apply common edges, Borders, Capture Info, Shadow, and more.
• Webpage File Format Support - Users can now save images using the popular web format. (Not new in 2023 came late in the 2022 release)

Worth the Upgrade?

I don???t use much of the video capabilities, so the Picture in Picture and Collaborate functionality doesn???t have much use for me. I think if I do some training videos, in the future, it might be a very handy feature to have but in the short run, it doesn???t really add much improvement.

I was surprised that TechSmith didn???t do any changes/enhancements to any of the annotate tools. For example, it would be nice if there were more arrow style or text effects.

I think it???s worth the upgrade so TechSmith can continue to create more awesome features in future releases. If you have version 2022 and use some of the core functionality - I don???t think this is a ???must-have??? upgrade.

Take a Shot and Try It

Why not download the application and try it out. When you install it the application name is different so you won???t lose your previous paid version.

macOS Ventura

First Impressions

The latest Macintosh OS, Ventura, was installed on Monday. The installation went smoothly and fairly quickly. After the installation, my first impression was - Now What? I didn't notice any major changes to the Finder.

The first noticeable change was to the About Macintosh box. It has certainly changed a lot:

About this Computer dialog box is much smaller. The old box looks like marketing, the new box looks like it was done by engineering.

Five First Impressions

Easy Install - The installation was very easy, the only thing I had to do post-installation was to reinitiate some application permissions. I had to reinitiate the screen capture permissions on Snagit.

System Settings - The Systems Settings dialog box is nice and clean. This change reminds me of when Bare Bones change the BBEdit preferences box. The settings box has gotten so complex, that most people just search for the feature they are looking for.

Spotlight Search improvements - Searching for images has improved. Its nice to search for text within images. I would like the option to prioritize certain categories. I am likely to search for things on my computer, I don't want Safari History to be the first item on display - I would like to lower that category.

Stage Manager - I played around with one of Ventura's newest feature - Stage Manager. Stage Manager puts other open apps on the left side of the screen where it's easy to access. I can see this would be something useful when you're switching around applications - especially if you only have one display connected to the computer. This is a functionality that I'll have to get used to.

Upgraded Snagit to 2023 - On Thursday, TechSmith announced the new version of Snagit. There weren't any issues using Snagit 2022 on Ventura, but since I qualified for the upgrade I decided to upgrade to get the latest and greatest features.

macOS Ventura

Getting ready for the upgrade

Apple will be releasing macOS 13 Ventura next week. This next-generation macOS operating system contains a lot of new features. Here are three key features that I'll be looking forward to:

Enhanced Image Search in Spotlight - Find images in Photos, Messages, Notes, the Finder, and the web right from Spotlight. You can even use Live Text to search for an image based on text inside it. This feature may cause LaunchBar to issue an update.

Stage Manager - automatically organizes your apps and windows in a single view on any Mac, so you can stay focused while easily moving between tasks.

Continuity Camera - Use the iPhone as your computer webcam. Center Stage now you can stay centered in the camera frame during calls even when you move around.

New Improved Home App - The Home app has an all???new design that makes it easier to navigate, organize, view, and control all your accessories. Improvements to the underlying architecture enhance your smart home???s performance and make it more efficient and reliable.

Backup and Plan

It is this time of the year when most third-party applications are going to release a major update in order to take advantage of all the new features that macOS Ventura has to offer.

I've recently updated my TechSmith's Maintenance Agreement for another year, which cost $12.85. I think it's a great deal compared to a $34.99 upgrade to Snag-it right now.

As of today, TechSmith hasn't announced what new features that will be in

You might want to check the applications you have and upgrade any maintenance agreements that might save you money in the future.

LaunchPad

Using my computer's LaunchPad, I have set up the first page to show the most popular applications I use. This makes it easy for me to select applications that are most relevant to me.

There is only a limited number of apps displayed on the first page of LaunchPad, so I have to create a list of the "Top 35" apps that I care about the most.

This is an excellent way for me to be able to manage my apps and not have to deal with a lot of different apps, especially when it comes to free and low cost apps that I hardly ever use.

Next Week Blog

There will be a blog post next Friday about what it was like to upgrade to the macOS 13 Ventura operating system.

USB Drives Lifespan

Practical Use for Long Term Storage?

When it comes to digital storage, you can???t get much more portable than a USB thumb drive. These little guys are super useful for anyone who wants to store and transfer documents, photos, videos and other files anywhere they go. They???re also incredibly affordable. You can buy a thumb drive for as little as $5 or so. Furthermore, the vast majority of USB flash drives are built to last for at least a few years of regular use ??? if not much longer. Most manufacturers advertise the lifespan of their devices as being somewhere between 100K and 1 Million reads or writes (typically indicated as ???read/write cycles???). But what exactly do those numbers mean? Do they indicate how long your thumb drive will last under normal usage? How long do most people actually keep their flash drives before they fail? In this article, we???ll answer all those questions and more!

What Do Read/Write Cycles Actually Mean?

When a manufacturer states a particular number of read/write cycles for a USB thumb drive, they???re referring to the lifespan of the device. Here???s how things break down: The lifespan of your thumb drive will be directly tied to the number of times you read from and write to the device. So, one read/write cycle would be one time you read data from your drive, and one time you write data to the drive. Keep in mind that data is constantly being written and read from your flash drive. That includes whenever you???re transferring data, or just plugging it into your computer or other device to access the data stored on it. Each time you read or write to a USB thumb drive, you???re using up some of its lifespan.

How Long Do Thumb Drives Last?

As we???ve discussed, each USB thumb drive is guaranteed to last for a certain number of read/write cycles. But how long do flash drives actually last for each of those cycles? It???s actually quite difficult to find accurate data on the lifespan of USB thumb drives. That???s because there are so many variables that affect the lifespan of a device. There are many different types of thumb drives, with different internal components. There are also many different ways to use them, and the way you use your drive can have a dramatic effect on how quickly it fails. Also, many different factors can affect how long it takes for a flash drive???s data to degrade, like the quality of the materials used in the device (e.g., plastic vs. aluminum casing), the size of the drive, whether or not it???s used in an environment with high humidity or temperature, and more!

Why Do USB Thumb Drives Fail?

So, if each flash drive is guaranteed to last a certain number of read/write cycles, why do they fail so quickly? For the most part, thumb drives fail due to regular wear and tear. After you???ve used a drive enough times to reach its read/write cycle limit, it???s not likely to fail immediately. Instead, the device will generally start to degrade over time. Eventually, it will simply stop working. There are also a few different ways that a USB thumb drive can fail more quickly. But most of these issues can be avoided with proper care and maintenance.

How to Make Your Thumb Drive Last longer

If you want to make your flash drive last for as long as possible, there are a few things you can do. Here are some tips: First and foremost, buy a USB thumb drive with a high read/write cycle rating. Some of the best USB thumb drives come from reputable brands like SanDisk, Kingston and more. You can even find thumb drives with a lifetime warranty. If you???re using your thumb drive regularly, be sure to give it a break every now and then. If you plug and unplug your drive constantly, you can actually speed up the rate at which your drive degrades. If you???re storing data on your thumb drive for any length of time, make sure to clean it regularly. You can also store your data in more than one place ??? this is called ???duplicate??? or ???backup??? data! This can help prevent against data loss.

Bottom Line

Finally, if you???re using a USB thumb drive regularly, it???s a good idea to replace it every few years or so. If you keep using the same thumb drive for long enough, it???s almost guaranteed to break down. So, it???s better to just replace your flash drive before it fails completely! While USB thumb drives are extremely useful, they???re not indestructible. It???s important to take good care of your flash drive to make it last as long as possible. Doing so can help prevent data loss, prevent you from losing important files, and extend the life of the device!

Apple Photos and Pro Raw

RAW Photo editing made easy

You might be surprised to know that the Apple Photos app allows you to edit PRO RAW photos. No need to buy an expensive app in order to edit your PRO RAW photos. (This is useful if you just got the new iPhone 14 Pro.)

There are a lot of steps involved in editing a photo but Apple makes it so easy that you don't have to take a course to learn how to do it, while still making it look amazing.

A RAW image can be adjusted in Apple Photos in thirteen different ways.

Light

In order to control the overall light in the picture, you can use the slider to adjust it as you would the sunlight.

Color

Use this option when you want to make all the colors brighter or make the photo black and white.

Black & White

When you want to transform an image into black and white, select this option. When you want your image to look better without color, this is a unique effect.

Retouch

Using this tool, you can fix up some spots on your photo such as sun glare or dust. I recommend doing this after you've adjusted your colors.

Red-Eye

Red-eye issues can easily be fixed with this quick retouch tool. Simply select the right size brush and indicate where the red-eye is located on the image.

White Balance

You can easily fix a bad color by pointing out where the white pixels need to be in the image. That is what the White Balance tool does. You simply point the picker to where the white pixels need to be in the image and it is instantly corrected.

Curves

The Curves adjustment allows you to adjust the brightness, contrast, and the look of specific colors (red, green, blue), as well as adjust settings for the black point, mid-tones, and white point.

Levels

You can adjust the levels in a photo to lighten or darken areas and adjust the contrast in the photo. You can adjust settings for the black point, shadows, mid-tones, highlights, and white point. You can also change the look of specific colors (red, green, and blue).

Definition

It is possible to adjust the definition settings of a photo to add contours, shapes, local contrast, and definition of mid-tones. I have found this has the greatest impact on the sky colors.

Selective Color

Use the color picker to select a color in the image, once selected use the Hue, Saturation, Luminance, and Range to make that color pop out.

Noise Reduction

Use noise reduction to neutralize noise if your image was taken in low light. Sometimes this works, and sometimes other settings deal with noise reduction better.

Sharpen

Using the Sharpen tool on a photo, you can make edges crisper and more defined. This helps some areas to stand out more in a photo.

Vignette

Vignettes can darken the edges of a photo and emphasize the center of the image. You can adjust the size and darkness of vignettes to create the look you want.