OS X (previously Mac OS X) is marketing name for Apple's computer OS. Note the proper pronunciation is "ohh ess ten"
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Which OS X Applications do you find indispensable?
Please Search Prior To Posting!
There are many applications already listed. In all likelihood, this includes the one you are thinking of. Please check the existing answers to avoid duplicates, and ...
14
votes
4answers
6k views
How can I run/stop/relaunch an application automatically, at boot/login/some other time?
How do you make a script or app to run or stop running automatically when the system is booted, a user logs on, at a specific time, when a disk is attached, etc.?
76
votes
16answers
7k views
Is there a quick way to lock my Mac?
On Windows you can hit the keys Windows+L to lock your computer if you step away.
I don't want to have to remember if sleep currently asks for a password, if there is a time out where my screen isn't ...
21
votes
4answers
8k views
Is there any way to set a MacBook Pro to not sleep when you close the lid?
The most common use case I have for this is when I'm playing music over AirTunes, but don't want an open laptop laying around. Or when I'm syncing or downloading something.
This isn't the same as ...
206
votes
123answers
130k views
Please share your hidden OS X features or tips and tricks
Do you know any hidden or little-known nice feature of Mac OS X? It doesn't matter what it is—maybe just a short terminal command or a keyboard shortcut. Share your experiences on hidden Mac OS ...
29
votes
5answers
8k views
How do I remove duplicate “Open With” context menu items in Finder.app?
For whatever reason, the "Open With" context menu in Finder is always listing every app four times (exactly).
I've read about (and tried) rebuilding the Launch Services database to restore the ...
22
votes
7answers
2k views
How do I uninstall a program completely on a Mac?
I come from a PC background... every time I want to uninstall an application, I must use add/remove programs. On the mac, you can simply run a .app file from wherever you want, and many say that the ...
2
votes
4answers
1k views
Can I create a shortcut to open a specific application on OS X?
I want to create a shortcut to i.e. open Firefox while I am working in another application. I know I can use ⌘T when I am in Firefox to open a new tab.
I haven't found a way to create that kind of ...
272
votes
118answers
92k views
What are some tips or tricks for Terminal in Mac OS X?
One tip or trick per answer.
My favorite is
open .
Opens the folder you're currently browsing in Finder. You can also pass URLs, images, documents or else to open.
If you specify a program name ...
16
votes
4answers
5k views
How can I modify the list of Applications under 'Open With…'?
I recently went to open an audio file, and wanted to open it in an editor instead of a player. I right-clicked it, hovered over 'Open With...' and was met with a very unsightly list.
I have seen a ...
5
votes
5answers
3k views
Create global shortcut to run command line applications
What steps do I need to run a command line program via a global shortcut?
I setup Automator to create a new Run Shell Script and tried to assign a shortcut in System Preferences -> Keyboard -> ...
18
votes
6answers
3k views
How to add characters to the press and hold character picker in OS X Lion?
In OS X Lion, there is a very useful feature for people like me who need to write in multiple languages, which pops up a small menu of additional characters when you hold down a letter.
For instance, ...
106
votes
4answers
22k views
How can I disable animation when switching desktops in Lion?
I would very much like to disable the sliding animation that occurs when switching desktops via ctrl+→/← or ctrl+[number] in Lion. This was previously accomplished in previous versions ...
26
votes
8answers
1k views
Anti-Virus Software for Mac OS X
Is it worth to buy an Anti-virus software for Mac OS X?
I heard both opinions like "it's not possible to get a virus on Mac OS X" and "Mac OS X is also vulnerable against virus... "
What is true?
18
votes
6answers
2k views
How can I select buttons with just the keyboard?
Many user interface (UI) elements or dialog boxes have buttons. I would like to be able to select a button with just the keyboard, without the mouse. How can I do this?
32
votes
7answers
10k views
How to simulate slow internet connections on the mac
What's a good software solution to slow down internet connections on the mac for testing and simulations?
My primary need is when testing code in the iPhone / iOS simulator, so slowing down the ...
23
votes
11answers
9k views
How can I figure out what's slowly eating my HD space?
Every few days I get notices on my MacBook that it's running or run out of hard drive space. Curiously, restarting the computer will enable me to recover gigabytes of space (this past time, it was ...
28
votes
12answers
17k views
Why would I disable swap file in Mac OS X?
I came across a thread about installing an SSD drive in MacBook Pro.
Someone in the comments also recommended to disable the swap file but didn't say why:
sudo launchctl unload -w ...
14
votes
5answers
1k views
One mac, Two or more storage devices - how to divide things?
We're at a crossroads where most Macs now have space and connections to contain two storage devices. SSD are fast, low capacity and expensive - HDD are in comparison slow, huge and cheap.
Both iMacs ...
15
votes
4answers
12k views
Why are dot underscore ._ files created, and how can I avoid them?
I am using different operating systems on different machines on different locations. I am using a USB flash disk to keep my files (source codes etc.).
I am new to Mac OS X and now I realize there are ...
36
votes
5answers
3k views
Do Macs need to be defragmented?
I don't see any application to defragment my Mac (running OS X).
Is defragmenting not necessary for Mac OS X? If so, why not?
17
votes
12answers
7k views
How do you maximize windows?
Unlike Windows, you cannot maximize a window in Mac with a click of the button. The little green (+) button next to the red and yellow buttons at the left of the windows does some strange stuff ...
7
votes
4answers
4k views
Do you know a simple sound booster app for Mac?
Some videos on websites have the sound volume so low that even with all sound settings at maximum levels it's hard to listen.
I'm looking for an app that would allow me to boost the Mac's volume. ...
7
votes
3answers
6k views
Do MacBooks have a true “Hibernate” option?
I've recently switched from Windows to a MacBook pro. In Windows, there are the following shutdown options:
Standby - the machine goes into a "light sleep" from which it can awaken very quickly ...
7
votes
1answer
715 views
AirDrop on Unsupported Macs?
One of the Lion features I would really like to use is AirDrop. It would make transferring files so much faster than using a flash drive. Unfortunately, my Mac is a 2007 Black MacBook, and AirDrop is ...
0
votes
4answers
691 views
What techniques for disk, volume and file system management are possible with OS X, but troublesome within Disk Utility?
In the past, Disk Utility was the best starting point for the vast majority of disk-related tasks.
As technologies within (or possible with) OS X have developed – without equal development of Disk ...
12
votes
7answers
16k views
Is there a way to password protect individual apps?
Is it possible to password protect a specific Mac application?
For example, I am interested in protecting Mail because even if you cannot retrieve new emails, you still can read all the already ...
9
votes
4answers
13k views
Why is my Macbook Pro getting so slow?
On my MacBook Pro (Year 2009) it takes a long time until I'm logged in or until when a program is started. From day to dayit's getting slower.
Programs like Safari or Word or MonoDevelop take up to 2 ...
16
votes
6answers
71k views
How can I manually delete old backups to free space for Time Machine?
I use a Time Capsule for backup and now I want the drive to back up data from an extra Mac. But the drive is filled up with old backups from Mac 1. There simply is not enough space available for the ...
19
votes
2answers
5k views
Optimize macbook pro for internal SSD+HDD drives
I upgraded my MacBook Pro by replacing the SuperDrive with an SSD. I'm now using the SSD as the boot volume and have all my applications. My home folder is on the HDD.
My question is how to best ...
13
votes
4answers
5k views
What does it mean if I have lots of “Inactive” memory at the end of a work day?
After a day's of work at my MacBook Pro running Mac OS X 10.6.5, Activity Monitor shows that the majority of my computer's 8 GB of memory is "Inactive", and only a tiny sliver of the pie chart is ...
9
votes
12answers
4k views
Copying the current directory's path to the clipboard
What's a quick way of copying the path to the directory that's currently open in Finder?
Copying that path is very easy in Linux and Windows file managers - you just need to copy it from the address ...
16
votes
3answers
2k views
Is it possible to burn a DVD out of the Lion app store install?
Is it possible to burn a DVD out of the Lion app store install?
9
votes
5answers
3k views
Uncheck “Reopen windows when logging back in” by default
The shutdown/restart dialog has a check-box Reopen windows when logging back in which is checked by default. I need to change its behavior to be unchecked by default. Is this possible? If yes, how can ...
8
votes
6answers
21k views
How can I downgrade iTunes 11 to 10.7 in Mountain Lion?
Is it possible to downgrade from iTunes 11 to 10.7 using Mountain Lion?
I tried to replace it by simply installing the 10.7, but it says that i can't replace a newer version.
5
votes
5answers
5k views
Are there any features like Winamp's auto tag exist for iTunes?
It took me 3 months to ID3 Tag all of the MP3s (artist, album, released year, etc) in my iTunes library. It was annoying. I saw that Winamp solves this problem with an "Auto Tag" feature. Is there ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
What software is available (preferably free) to edit PDF files on Mac OS X?
What free software/app is there to edit pdf files on Mac OS X?
Specifically I am looking to edit an existing PDF file and re-save it in PDF format.
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Why does the version of Java verified by Oracle differ from the version shown at the command line?
Questions
Why do versions differ?
Should we trust Oracle's verification routine?
In some cases, the version verified by Oracle is different from the version shown at the command line.
Example
...
16
votes
5answers
6k views
What is wired memory?
I'm trying to figure out what is using all of the memory in my Macbook Pro running OS X Lion. I have 8 GB of memory total. When I quit all active programs except Finder and Activity Monitor, then run ...
75
votes
52answers
12k views
What un(der)-documented features have you stumbled upon in Mountain Lion?
This question serves to share and collect the enhancements which are not documented by Apple, or documented poorly.
Please justify your answer; if it is something that is well documented by Apple and ...
31
votes
31answers
7k views
What are your favorite Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts?
What are your favorite keyboard shortcuts on Mac OS X?
41
votes
8answers
13k views
Can I make a DIY Fusion Drive?
I have a Mac Mini with two drives: a 256GB SSD and a 500GB HDD. From what I've read, the new Fusion Drive does all of it's magic in software, using the Core Storage APIs.
Can I get my setup to ...
23
votes
2answers
8k views
What's the difference between Real, Virtual, Shared, and Private Memory?
The different columns in Activity Monitor are a little confusing
40
votes
7answers
20k views
I am missing the option to see the remaining battery life as time in the menubar?
In previous versions of OS X the battery indicator in the menubar included options to show the remaining battery life as percentage or time (or nothing).
In Mountain Lion, there's only an option to ...
15
votes
3answers
2k views
Remap “Home” and “End” to beginning and end of line
Most of my computing time is spent in Linux (with occasional time in Windows). On these platforms the Home and End keys universally jump to the beginning or end of the current line.
I am gradually ...
43
votes
5answers
21k views
How do I run an app in Full Screen mode on OS X Lion on my second monitor?
How do I get an app to run in Full Screen mode on OS X Lion on my second monitor? It seems to be stuck on my first monitor, and I'd like to move it.
15
votes
5answers
6k views
How do I make windows save their position on screen after re-attaching a display?
When I attach a second monitor to my MacBook, I drag many windows onto it. When I detach the monitor, all the windows move back onto my MacBook's display. How can I make it so that when I re-attach ...
11
votes
6answers
3k views
How can I expand the number of special characters I can type using my keyboard?
I am aware that when I press ⌥ or ⇧⌥ on my Mac, I can type a variety of special characters. I also know that I can insert special characters using the character palette. Is there a way to expand the ...
13
votes
6answers
5k views
Can I get windows 7 like window resizing on Mac OS X?
Windows 7 has a nice new feature for moving around windows.
The one that I am particularly interested in is:
Windows Key + Left/Right : Move the window to the left or right of the screen, or over ...
11
votes
6answers
7k views
Unsaved Files in OS X Lion
Where do unsaved files go in Lion?
I quit TextEdit without saving since I had no intention of saving, but with autosave the file still got save somewhere since when I reopen TextEdit the file I was ...
