 Tips from the Tech
Password Headache
Keychain the Pain Reliever
Whenever you check a box on the Mac that gives the option to remember in Keychain this saves the password you typed in so you won't have to type it in again. I run into this most when accessing remote servers, or joining a wireless network. If you need to look up a password that was saved into a Keychain you can look it up in Keychain Access. Keychain Access is located in the Utilities folder (from the Finder, "Go" Menu --> "Utilities" or command+shift+u). When you open it you'll be greeted with a list of Keychains to the left and the saved items in the pane to the right. if you double click on one of the items (try your wireless network for a starter) you'll be presented with a few items. To see the password check the box "Show Password" then enter your Mac's password. After you enter it you'll be shown the password. To look up something specific, start typing in the Search box to the upper right. Why would you need to know this? If Mail is having trouble connecting to your account (because of password issues) or your having trouble setting up a new device (like an iPhone) and it needs the password to your email account, Keychain Access is a great place to double check and make sure you're entering the password correctly. -- Dan Monge
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Greetings!
This Month | Find out where your Mac stores passwords in Tips from the Tech. Meet the newest contributor to the newsletter Blair Miller of AppleLearn in the new iTips 'n Apps. Finally catch up with Carol Jones in Creative Corner.
News Out of Apple | The rumors are true, Apple released an iPad mini recently. Bigger than an iPod Touch, smaller then the iPad, it fills the gap nicely between those 2 products. Only time will tell if Apple has another successful product on its hands. Apple also announced a new iPad, just 6 months after announcing the last iPad with Retina display. The newest iPad boasts speeds twice as fast as the last version, along with the new lighting connector. Rounding out the latest announcements are a new Retina display 13" MacBook Pro and a new iMac. |
iTips 'n Apps
Give Thanks for These Apps!
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and, if you're doing any cooking, you should take a look at these apps.
Epicurious (EPI) and AllRecipes (Cost: free): Both apps have thousands of recipes and are easy to navigate. Epicurious pulls recipes from Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Self and features renowned chefs and cookbooks. You can search by cuisine or holiday and create a combined recipe shopping list that you can email to yourself. For $1.99, you can sync your recipe box across multiple devices and with the Epicurious web site from your computer.
The AllRecipes Pro version ($4.99 iPad/$2.99 iPhone) gives you access to other features such as grocery lists, syncing and cuisine/occasion-based browsing. The app allows you to search by holiday and create a combined recipe shopping list. Other than the syncing, EPI offers you the same features with no additional cost.
iCookbook (Cost: $4.99): This app has the basic searching, grocery list and syncing features as the others. You also get a few how-to videos, measurement conversions and ingredient substitutions. There is a Voice Command feature which can, with some improvement, be useful if you're using your iPad while preparing food and want 'hands-free' cooking. t is intended to navigate you through the different steps and set timers with voice commands but it is still inconsistent and slow to respond. With future updates, however, this could be a great app. In addition, to get more than the 2000 in-app recipes, you can buy bundles of specialty recipes (gluten-free, slow cooker, etc.) ranging from $0.99 - $2.99.
Menu Maker (Cost: free): If all the searching stresses you out, this app gives you one-stop shopping. It offers you a set of recipes for all Thanksgiving courses and then does an outstanding job of creating a shopping list (for emailing) and schedule for all your preparations. There is also access to tips such as wine pairings, what to do with leftovers, etc.
Better Homes & Garden Celebrate (Cost: 99 cents) This offers party planning for different celebrations and holidays. There are menus for different occasions with beautiful photos and articles. All that's lacking is a tool to create your shopping list.
Watch that iPad: Without a doubt, the iPad is a valuable tool to have in the kitchen. However, one slip or spill and your device is no more valuable than a carton of expired milk. If you're prone to sloppiness or just don't want the disruption of washing and drying your hands every time you need to touch your device, a screen protector can be indispensable and economical. chefsleeve.com
And while you're cooking, you may also be waiting for family to arrive from out of town. Instead of checking various websites and apps for each airline, I use TripTracker (Cost: free).
You can set flight departure and arrival information for multiple airlines and obtain current information with just one app. It's also great if you're traveling and want to consolidate all your airline, hotel and car information in one place.
Let me know your impressions if you try any of these apps.
Blair Miller is owner of AppleLearn which provides customized solutions for Apple products - Macs, iPads and iPhones. Blair works with home users to enrich their Apple experience and make the most of their technology as well as independent business professionals interested in adopting the latest tools for increasing their productivity and marketing their business.
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Creative Corner
Believable Fonts (9/2012) - Fonts are more than the way a word looks. The font you choose can do even more than you think. National Logo Day! (3/2012) - Have a business? Starting a business? Make the right decisions on your logo now. Carol Jones is a graphic designer and marketing specialist. Her company, JonesHouse, Inc., specializes in identity branding and efficient marketing plans for all size companies and organizations. Visit her at JonesHouseInc.com
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Check your inbox Friday, December 7th for news updates, and a recap of past year articles!
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Sincerely,
Daniel Monge
MacITPros.com
dan@macitpros.com
(847) 881-Macs (6227)
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