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Mac 101: Use the tab key in more dialog boxes

March 8th, 2010 at 05:30pm Under Hot Apple News

Filed under: Mac 101

TUAW reader Cody Rogers wrote in to say: “I’m fairly new to my iMac and Macbook Pro running Snow Leopard. One of my biggest annoyances from switching over from PC to Mac is when a dialogue box comes up and says ‘cancel’ or ‘okay’ I can’t find the keyboard shortcut to go from cancel to okay. In Windows, I could just hit ‘tab’ to go to the other option. Is this possible on a Mac? I’ve been doing some searching on it and can’t find anything!”

I happened to have found the same thing when doing a clean reinstall of Snow Leopard over the weekend. The good news is that there is a way to do it, but it is not turned on by default and it does require a bit of hunting around. I didn’t remember where it was either.

1. Launch System Preferences, either by choosing it from the “Apple” menu or by going to your /Applications/ folder.
2. In System Preferences, select the “Keyboard” preference pane (middle of the 2nd row)
3. Then click “Keyboard Shortcuts” at the top of that window (see image above)
4. At the bottom of that panel there is an option to use Tab to move between either “Text boxes and lists only” (default) or “All controls”.

Select the radio control next to “All controls” and you will now be able to use the tab to go between “Save” and “Cancel” or any other dialog boxes which appear.

Also note that for most dialog boxes, the Enter/Return key will select “OK” and command+period (or the Escape key) will cancel.

If you’d like to learn more about using keyboard shortcuts with Mac OS X, Apple has a really useful page which will come in handy, especially for those switching from Windows.

TUAWMac 101: Use the tab key in more dialog boxes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By TJ Luoma Continue Reading Mac 101: Use the tab key in more dialog boxesAdd comment

Found Footage: Say hello to ePad

March 6th, 2010 at 05:00pm Under Hot Apple News

Filed under: Humor, Multimedia, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, iPad

Apple is definitely one of the world’s most admired companies, but their lofty ambitions, high visibility, and easy-to-identify style also makes them ripe for parody, as in this very funny video by the UK’s E4. They’re boasting about a madeup device called the ePad, which will wow you with its revolutionary and magical keyboard, screen, and standard attached computer and television. Like they say, if you want to see one of their shows, you can just literally reach out and touch … well, we won’t ruin the surprise.

But it is funny. And it shows that while yes, the iPad is a cool device, anything you talk about in a “revolutionary” and “magical” way can seem like it’s exactly that — even if it is just another heavy piece of junk.

TUAWFound Footage: Say hello to ePad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By Mike Schramm Continue Reading Found Footage: Say hello to ePadAdd comment

Mac 101: Navigating OS X with your keyboard

February 26th, 2010 at 05:00pm Under Hot Apple News

Filed under: OS, Leopard, Mac 101, Snow Leopard

Let’s face it: unless you’re just casually surfing the Internet or playing a game, chances are pretty good that your hands are on the keyboard most of the time when you’re at the computer. Sure, the mouse is only a few inches away, but wouldn’t it just be easier if you didn’t have to keep going back and forth from the mouse to the keyboard?

Enter the world of keyboard shortcuts. A keyboard shortcut is exactly what the name implies: a way of using the keys on your keyboard to quickly perform tasks that typically would require multiple steps using a mouse. Before we dive in to the magic keystrokes, let’s take a quick look at how shortcuts work on the Mac.

Most keyboards have a number of special keys in the bottom corners that look and work differently from the other keys. These keys are called ‘modifier keys’, because they change (or modify) the behavior of any keys that are pressed while the modifier key is held down. A good example of this is the shift key, which causes letters to appear in uppercase as they are typed. Although the shift key is commonly found on everything from typewriters to telephones, the other keys that are available depend on the keyboard you have and what kind of computer it is plugged in to. But just like the shift key, you use them by holding down the modifier key, pressing another key, then letting go of both keys.

On a Mac, the most commonly used modifier key is the Command key, which is just to the left of the space bar, and can be identified by a clover-like icon on the key. The most commonly used shortcuts in OS X make use of the Command key. For example, in most applications, pressing Command-S will save the document you have open, while Command-O will show the open dialog so you can open another document. Less common tasks make use of the other modifier keys, such as the Option and Control keys, and some even use more than one at a time (such as Command-Shift-S to show the Save As dialog instead of just saving the document).

If you’re switching from using a PC, and you’re familiar with keyboard shortcuts in Windows, you will find that many of the common shortcuts are similar, but it might take some time to train your muscle memory to find the Command key as it is in roughly the same spot as the Alt key on most PC keyboards.

One last thing that’s important to know about keystrokes is exactly where they will work, or their ’scope’. There are a handful of shortcuts built in to OS X that have a global scope, meaning they will work pretty much anywhere, at any time, from any application. Here are some of my favorites:

Global OS X Keyboard Shortcuts

• Command+Tab – This is handy for switching between applications. Hold down Command and press the Tab key repeatedly to cycle through all of the running applications. You can also use the ` key (while still holding down the Command key) to go through the list of applications in reverse.
• Command+Space Bar – This will pop open the Spotlight search box so you can do a quick search. This can also double as a quick way to open applications without a mouse — just type in an application, and hit enter when it shows up in the Spotlight search results.
• Command+H – Hide the current application. I use this to get rid of my e-mail window when I’m finished with it. You can get back to it by using Command+Tab as mentioned above, or clicking the icon in the dock.
• Command+Option+H – Hide all other applications (but the current one). This is really useful if you have a lot of windows open and want to focus on just one of them, or if you just want to reduce screen clutter.
• F8 through F12 – These keys toggle Spaces, Expose`, and Dashboard. On newer Macs, you might need to hold down the fn key as well.

Common Application Shortcuts

Besides the global shortcuts, there are several shortcuts that are standard across most applications, allowing you to quickly perform common tasks without having to guess what the keystroke might be:

• Command+X, Command+C, & Command-V – Cut, copy and paste. I know, they aren’t easy to remember by the letters, but somewhere along the line that became the standard.
• Command-N – Open a new file, or sometimes a new window, depending on the application.
• Command-O – Show the open file dialog
• Command-S – Save the current document
• Command-W – Close the current window or tab
• Command-Q – Quit the current application

These are just the tip of the iceberg — there are dozens of shortcuts covering everything from inverting your screen colors for high-contrast visibility to shutting down your Mac after a long day’s work. If you’re a power user who wants to do more with your keyboard, stay tuned — we’ll be covering more advanced keystrokes in the near future.

TUAWMac 101: Navigating OS X with your keyboard originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By Michael Jones Continue Reading Mac 101: Navigating OS X with your keyboardAdd comment

Mystery key on iPad keyboard = Dashboard?

February 23rd, 2010 at 07:00pm Under Hot Apple News

Filed under: Accessories, Rumors, iPad

One of the accessories that will be available for the iPad at its launch is a dock with a full-sized keyboard. On the top row of the keyboard, where the Escape, F1 – F12, and Eject keys are on a standard Mac keyboard, are 14 keys geared toward the iPad’s interface. In place of Escape there’s a dedicated Home key, then a Search key, keys for increasing and decreasing screen brightness, a key to activate the photo portrait screensaver-like function, a key to invoke the iPad’s on-screen keyboard, a blank key, three keys for controlling media playback, and — hey, wait a minute. A blank key?

MacRumors forum member macduke noticed this completely blank and apparently functionless key, and 9to5Mac picked up on his speculation concerning the mystery. 9to5Mac noted that it’s “…silly, even for Apple” to have a key on the keyboard that does nothing and goes nowhere, and they theorize it could have something to do with a Dashboard-like interface on the iPad. Notably, Apple-built applications like Stocks, Weather, Voice Memos, Clock, and Calculator were all absent from the iPads people played around with following its unveiling, which has led to a lot of speculation that such simple, small apps could be bundled into a Dashboard layer on the iPad. If that’s so, this mystery key could easily have a Dashboard icon on it when it finally does ship.

It’s worth mentioning that the F5 and F6 keys on Apple’s aluminum keyboards also currently have no dedicated functions — those keys are used on the MacBook line to increase and decrease key backlighting — but the iPad keyboard dock is also missing a function key, making it unlikely that the top row of keys will be usable for anything other than the functions indicated by their on-key icons. Although it’s conceivable Apple left this key blank in order to allow users to define their own shortcut for the key, it seems far more likely that Apple is working on some special functionality for that key which it wasn’t ready to show off in January. Given the absence of several of Apple’s own apps from the iPad, Dashboard seems like a very good fit.

[Via 9to5Mac]

TUAWMystery key on iPad keyboard = Dashboard? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By Chris Rawson Continue Reading Mystery key on iPad keyboard = Dashboard?Add comment

Macworld 2010: Hands-on with the 4iThumbs keyboard for iPhone

February 14th, 2010 at 03:00am Under Hot Apple News+ Iphone

Filed under: Macworld, iPhone, iPod touch

I stopped by the 4iThumbs booth to check out their product that would purportedly increase my (admittedly dismal) typing speed on the iPhone/iPod touch. It consists of a plastic overlay that puts small ridges between the letters of the standard iPhone keyboard, available in both portrait and landscape formats. The product comes with some tabs that you affix to the top and bottom of the device, and you can then slip the plastic overlay on and off. You can touch through the overlay and use the phone as usual while it’s attached, although the bumps aren’t terribly comfortable for swiping. There’s a matching set of tabs for the back of the device which can hold the overlay when it’s not in use.

I tested it out, and it works. I never texted much on any device other than the iPhone, so I can’t make a direct comparison of typing speeds between an iPhone and, say, a Blackberry. I do type a lot on my iPhone, though, and I can readily say that my typing speed and accuracy increased dramatically while using the 4iThumbs overlay.

4iThumbs is $19.95US online for 1 set, which includes portrait and landscape versions and the tabs to attach them to your iPhone/iPod touch. At Macworld, you can pick up 2 for $15US, but you’ll have to get there quick to take advantage of the show pricing.

TUAWMacworld 2010: Hands-on with the 4iThumbs keyboard for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ludicrous speed: 56 WPM on the iPhone

February 10th, 2010 at 12:00am Under Hot Apple News+ Iphone

Filed under: Humor, Odds and ends, iPhone

I can type fairly quickly on my iPhone, at least in landscape mode — I average about 30 – 35 words per minute compared to around 77 WPM on a standard keyboard — but the guy in the video above has gone to plaid with his typing speed. Using an app called iTextSpeed [US$0.99, iTunes Link], this anonymous texting speed demon reaches an incredible 56 words per minute on his iPhone in portrait mode. I have no idea how he does it, particularly in portrait mode; I make an average of one mistake every other word unless I’m in landscape, but the guy in the video, whose thumbs look even bigger than mine, only screws up one word during the entire timed sequence.

A few people grouse about the iPhone’s lack of a physical keyboard, but the cyborg-thumbed guy in this video proves that for some of us, it’s not an issue whatsoever.

[Via Macenstein]

TUAWLudicrous speed: 56 WPM on the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By Chris Rawson Continue Reading Ludicrous speed: 56 WPM on the iPhoneAdd comment

Five things to bring back from the iPad

January 29th, 2010 at 11:30pm Under Hot Apple News+ Iphone

Filed under: Hardware, Software, Apple, iPhone

MobileCrunch has an interesting post up about five things the iPad has and does that Apple would do well to bring back to those of us using the iPhone. I think we’ll see more of these as we go along (especially as, you know, some of us actually get to touch and use the device), but this list is a good start.

Bluetooth keyboard support is something that only jailbreakers could do on the iPhone, but it shows up day one on the iPad. The iPad, according to those checking out the SDK code, will also be able to share files with the desktop, and different apps on the iPad will even be able to identify themselves as owners for certain filetypes, which is another cool trick that Apple should teach the old iPhone dog. And of course, that processor — we can probably expect to see a smaller version of it in a future variation of the iPhone sooner or later, since Apple is always fighting to get battery life and speed to the max.

Of course, the iPad and the iPhone are two different devices, and Apple will want to keep some things separate — as we’ve heard already, there are certain interface guidelines for the iPad that the iPhone will never use. But especially if we see the expected update to the iPhone later this year, it’s a good guess that we’ll also see some of the iPad’s more reusable features find their way to the “iPad mini.”

TUAWFive things to bring back from the iPad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad Accessories Detailed: Keyboard Dock, Case & More

January 27th, 2010 at 11:10pm Under Hot Apple News

During today’s unveiling of Apple’s long-awaited tablet, now officially known as the iPad, Steve Jobs also briefly detailed a couple of accessories that will be making their way to market to go with the new 9.7-inch device, one of which is a keyboard dock, with another being a protective case.

The keyboard dock not only acts [...]

By Chris Brandrick Continue Reading iPad Accessories Detailed: Keyboard Dock, Case & MoreAdd comment

Apple announces keyboard dock for iPad

January 27th, 2010 at 09:26pm Under Hot Apple News

Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, One More Thing

Apple announced a few accessories for the iPad today, including an iPad Keyboard Dock. This will be welcome news for those of us who just can’t get on board with an on-screen keyboard. When in the keyboard dock, the iPad sits upright, giving a more traditional laptop feel to the device. No word yet on pricing.

Other accessories include a dock to turn the iPad into a digital picture frame, and a case that serves as a stand.

Image courtesy Engadget

TUAWApple announces keyboard dock for iPad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple wins two new patents including tablet proximity detector

January 27th, 2010 at 04:00am Under Hot Apple News

Filed under: Hardware, Software, Odds and ends, Apple

Expectations and excitement are at a fever pitch for the hoped-for tablet announcement, but that hasn’t stopped Apple’s lawyers from earning their keep. Just in the past few days, they’ve nailed down two more patents, one of which has to do with tablet-style technology. That’s a “proximity detector,” which is supposed to track when an object is near but not touching a tablet’s screen. Unfortunately, the legalese is a little shadowy, so I’m not quite sure what a setup would be used for, but it appears that they’re talking about controlling something on screen when you move your fingers close to it — i.e., a keyboard that pops up when you are about to put your hands on the tablet itself. I’m sure there are other uses for that as well, though, and of course just because Apple is pursuing a patent doesn’t mean we’ll see that technology in the announcement.

The other patent has to do with video conferencing, and automatically determining bandwidth available in a connection and then making adjustments based on the range of that bandwidth. That simply sounds like a more reliable way of adjusting video quality in an application like iChat, and again, just because Apple has applied for a patent doesn’t mean we’ll see it running in the next version or at all. But even so soon before a big announcement like this one, we’re still seeing Apple go after some of their more original ideas.

TUAWApple wins two new patents including tablet proximity detector originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By Mike Schramm Continue Reading Apple wins two new patents including tablet proximity detectorAdd comment