Show Desktop in Mac OSx

Yes, Windows has it by default, why not Mac? Well you can always push F11 to view the desktop, but what if you want a dock icon to do this? easy..

Open Apple Script Editor (Machintosh HD > Applications > System Utilities > Apple Script Editor)

Choose File > New

in the code window type

(* AppleScript Show Desktop *)

activate application “Finder”

do shell script “/Applications/Utilities/Expose.app/Contents/MacOS/Expose 1″

so you now have something like this:

Apple Script

Save this. File > Save As – “Show_My_Desktop”, change File Format to Application, check the Options box “Run Only”

Save

Show My Desktop Mac OSx

If that works you will not have an icon on your desktop like this:

Show My Desktop IconDrag this into the dock, then click it. All done.

If you want it to look a little better, then change the icon. To do this read my previous post Change An Icon in Mac OSx

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Change an Icon in Mac OSx

Change an Icon in Mac OSx – easy one. First you may want to surf the web for a few free icons. e.g.

http://interfacelift.com/icons-mac/

http://www.pixelgirlpresents.com/icons

http://www.iconarchive.com/

and there are millions more out there.

When you have the icon you need, In the Finder click on it and choose “Apple+I” or from the finder menu choose File > Get Info

e.g.

Sample Icon

Sample Icon

ok, now select the icon by clicking on it, that is this one:

select icon

Copy this icon, Edit > Copy or Apple +  C

Now, find the icon you which to change, view it in Finder, choose Get Info, select the icon, then choose Edit > Paste or Apple + V

Close the finder window and the old icon is replaced with your new icon.

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iTunes iPhoto slow to start

iTunes iPhoto slow to start? Time to stop sharing.

iTunes

In iTunes menu, choose Preferences, then click the sharing tab. Uncheck sharing, restart iTunes

iTunes Sharing

iTunes Sharing

iPhoto

In iPhoto menu, choose Preferences, then click the sharing tab. Uncheck share my photos, restart iPhoto

iPhoto Sharing

iPhoto Sharing

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Mac + USB Drive + Security?

usb memory key

usb memory key

I have an 8GB memory card that I keep on my keyring. If I ever lost it I don’t have to worry, why not?

1. I have the files backed up

2. The files on the memory card are encrypted.

how is this done?

Create a folder on your desktop, add the files you which to store on the USB card. Open ‘Disk Utility’ (Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility)

From the Menu, choose: FILE > New > Disk Image from Folder

New Disk Image

Navigate to the folder you created earlier, you will notice that .dmg is appended to the filename automatically.

For image format, you can keep the default ‘compressed’

Finally, the password portion. Under Encryption you can choose None, 128 or 256 Bit. Your choice.

encrypting mac files

Hit SAVE and you will now be prompted to choose a password. Choose combinations of Letters, Numbers, Symbols.

Password to Encrypt Mac Files

Click OK and wait. The x.dmg file will appear in the same folder as your original file. Copy this to your USB stick and you are totally secure.

When you want to open the file, just double click to open the DMG, you will be prompted for your password (unless you open on the same computer you created the file, in which case the password may have been stored in your Keychain)

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Remotely Check Your Voice Mail on a Blackberry

My friend forgot his Blackberry Bold today and asked – How do you Remotely Check Your Voice Mail on a Blackberry?

We both have AT&T Blackberries, so here is the solution:

1. Dial your 10-digit wireless number.
2. Press the * key when you hear your personal greeting.
3. Enter your personal passcode.
4. Follow the voice prompts.

Blackberry

Blackberry

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