Getting Started with Mac OS X: First Steps

Article one: the beginning of the beginning

So you've made the decision to switch to Mac. However, there is an opinion among Microsoft Windows users that the Mac OS X operating system is difficult to learn and use. Many people believe that Mac OS X has many pitfalls and requires a huge amount of knowledge. Fortunately, this is not the case at all. My series of articles entitled “Getting Started with Mac OS X” will help you master this system and within a few days you will appreciate the simplicity and ease of use of it.

This article will focus on the latest version of the operating system from Apple at the time of writing, which is called Mac OS 10.4 "Tiger".

Part one: Interface and system management basics

Once the system starts, you will see something like this:

Let's take a closer look at each of the elements in this figure:

1. Actually, the desktop on which you, just like in other operating systems, can place your files and shortcuts (in Mac OS X the shortcut is not called shortcut, A alias).

2. Currently connected storage media. Their role can be logical removable and non-removable hard drives, CD/DVD/HD DVD/Blue Ray drives, Flash media, including flash media on various devices, such as digital cameras, players, etc. This area also displays mounted disk images (iso, dmg, etc.). You can read what disk images are in the article.

3. Menu bar of the active application. Unlike many operating systems, Mac OS X displays it at the top.

4. Dock panel. It contains icons of applications and files to which the user needs quick access, as well as icons of running applications. The strip located slightly to the left of the trash can separates application and file shortcuts.

In order to change the position and size of the dock panel on the screen, there are three ways:

a) The easiest way to the panel settings is the "Dock" remote control in the system settings ("System Preferences") There are all the settings for this panel, including size, magnification, position on the screen, the effect of minimizing windows to the dock, etc.

b) The second way is to change this setting using the Apple menu. By the way, it also contains almost all the dock settings and a quick transition to the dock control panel.

c) The third way to configure the dock is to use a vertical separator strip.

In order to place a shortcut to an application or file in the dock, you just need to drag it there. Accordingly, to remove a shortcut from the dock panel, simply drag it out of the panel and release the mouse button.

5. Spotlight menu - new search technology integrated into Mac OS X 10.4. To search for any information on your computer, simply call up the Spotlight menu and write a word about what you are looking for. For example, when I typed “MakTsentr”, in less than a second I saw all the files whose name or content contained the word “MakTsentr”.

6. Quick user change. A very convenient feature that allows you to change users without terminating the session. The current user's name appears in bold at the top. To resume (or start) another user's session, simply click on the name at the top and select the desired user from the list. The ability to quickly change users is installed in the “Users” console of the control panel. In the "Login options" section, use the "Enable fast user switching" checkbox.

7. Indicator area. This area displays miniature indicator icons. They can be swapped or removed from the panel altogether very simply: hold down the command key and drag the icon to the desired location, or drag it outside the panel, thereby removing it altogether. To restore the icon, use the appropriate remote control in the control panel.

8. Apple Menu. This menu contains a number of commands and settings:

About This Mac - allows you to get information about your computer and operating system (operating system version, processor, amount of installed RAM, boot disk). Also from this window you can get more detailed information about your computer by clicking the "More info..." button and update the software by clicking "Software update", in fact, for this there is a command in the Apple menu with the same name.

Software Update... - the item is responsible for updating the software installed on your computer. To perform it successfully, you must have an Internet connection. This will search for updated versions of programs, as well as the operating system itself. After that, to update, just mark the programs you need and click "Install".

Mac OS X Software... takes you to the Mac section of Apple.com.

System Preferences... - this item will simply open the control panel, with which you can fine-tune any system parameters.

Dock - setting up the dock panel, which is described above.

Location is a very convenient feature. Its essence is that if you work in different places and use different network settings in each of them, then for each place you can use your own settings package. Actually, such settings packages are called Locations. To create/change them, you can use the “Network” remote control of the control panel. From the Location menu you can quickly switch between created packages.

Recent Items - a menu that displays programs, documents, servers that you have recently used. Using the "Clear list" item you can clear this menu.

Force Quit... is a useful function that forces the program to terminate. This item is necessary in cases where the program freezes (which happens extremely rarely in Mac OS X) or does not respond for a long time. To do this, by calling this item in the appropriate window, simply select the name of the program that is not responding (its name may also be accompanied by the text “not responding”) and click “Force Quit”.

Sleep - puts the computer into sleep mode.

Restart... - restarts the computer.

Shut Down - shuts down the computer.

Log Out<Имя пользователя>... - end the session and go to the change user window.

9. Finder Window

Sources: MakTsentr

Many users have problems when starting to use a MacBook. New Apple devices are ready to work right out of the box, but when they first purchase, newbies don’t know how to perform this or that function and configure their device correctly.

Apple constantly updates its software, so do not forget to periodically go to “Software Update” and complete the update procedure. Your computer will work much faster and better with the latest versions of programs. Next, enable the right-click feature on your trackpad. Many are perplexed why Apple did not include this option in the standard settings package, because it greatly simplifies life. In the trackpad settings, set “Simulate secondary button”.

On Mac OS X, the menu bar only shows the time and day of the week. But you can add date and month there. Select “Date and Time” in the settings, and then “Clock”. Set “Show date”. In the same section you can set the correct time and date. Configure the Expose and Spaces functions. The first allows you to view the windows of all running programs at the same time and show a clean desktop without open tabs. Spaces allows you to split the screen into more than one workspace at the same time. In the settings, open the “Expose & Spaces” item and assign keys to invoke functional operations. Even though Mac OS X is the most secure system, setting up additional security measures will not be superfluous. Go to the “Security” section and select “Firewall”. Unlock the lock, enter the administrator password and click “Run”. This feature will tightly control and filter all network packets passing through the system. It is especially relevant in the operation of computers in enterprises.

If you store important documents and files on your computer, create a backup copy. For this purpose, the MacBook provides the Time Machine program. Just insert the disc into your computer, and the MacBook itself will tell you what to do next, offering to perform one of the functions. Even though Safari is the best browser for Mac OS X, sometimes you need to use an alternative source. Install one of the additional programs on your MacBook - Firefox, Chrome or Opera. If you like to use Safari, install a special plugin for it - Glims. It greatly simplifies working with the browser and makes it much more enjoyable.

MacBook doesn't have Windows Media Player, so you won't be able to watch WMV and WMA videos. But you can fix this problem. Immediately install the Flip4Mac WMV plugin on your computer, which will allow you to view Windows-format videos. Also install the Perian and VLC Player plugins, which will allow you to play audio and video of almost all formats. If you like to transfer files from one device to another, you will need a program that allows you to convert files from one format to another. It's called Handbrake and is very easy to use.

If you want to stay up to date with all the events, install Growl on your MacBook. This program allows you to display all notifications from other programs. If you receive a message by email, the download of a file has finished, etc., you will immediately know about it - Growl will instantly display a special message.

Mac OS X supports ZIP archives, but if you happen to download the RAR format, the StuffIt Expander utility will help you. Monolingual allows you to remove unnecessary junk and shortcuts from your MacBook.

After installing the above applications, your MacBook will be ready to use and will be able to handle most tasks. Convenient applications will facilitate easy and uninterrupted operation of the device.

Hi guys! I just remembered that a long time ago, when dragons were still flying in the sky, there was a section on my blog called “Friday Relaxation.” On Fridays, I tried to write on abstract topics so as not to burden the heads of my faithful and friendly readers. I will try to restore the tradition and on Fridays present you with information that would not overload your brain, but, on the contrary, would make it relax, smile or dream.

I would like to talk about another dream of mine, which came true back in December last year. But I still couldn’t tell you more about it. And, to be more specific, I bought myself a Macbook Air (this is a laptop with a glowing apple :)). I've really been dreaming about this for a long time.

Where did it all start?

In general, my love for Apple products awoke after (3 years ago), which was a very serious acquisition for me. Then I was just starting to get into the ropes with the Internet. For a long time I despised all these Apple fanatics; I never understood why buy these devices when similar ones with the same characteristics are 2-3 times cheaper. These “Yabloko” people constantly made me smile (I thought they were stupid), and probably also made me jealous. But, whatever one may say, these devices could impress others; because of their price, they distinguished their “owner” well. It's Apple all around now.

It took me a long time to decide whether to buy an iPhone or something else. My brother, who owned an iPhone 3G, persuaded me to take this pretentious thing of the 4th model. She had just left then. And from the first days I began to fall in love with this magnificent technique.

After the iPhone, I wanted an iPad. Moreover, I was sorry for the money for it, I kept trying to win it in competitions. On my 3rd attempt, I still read books and use the navigator.

After two Apple devices, I desperately wanted a laptop from the same company. I don't need a desktop computer; I often change my location. I wanted to have a universal device in which I would be comfortable working at home, in my office, or while traveling. As a result, I set a goal: if I can increase my company’s sales by the Nth amount (let me remind you), then I will get myself a Macbook. You won’t believe it, but in 1 week we managed to reach this level, which seemed impossible. I wanted him that much. 🙂

In general, MacBooks come in the following models: Air and Pro. Air is a lighter version, weaker relative to the firmware, but the battery lasts longer and is much better in price. Pro is for those who need strong performance for video editing, huge image sizes and more. I realized that I need Air.

And the next step was to select the SSD hard drive memory. 128 GB or 256 GB. The price difference between these models is almost 8,000 rubles. Too much, I thought, in the end I bought myself a Macbook Air 13" 128 GB. And, in order not to worry about hard drive memory, I bought myself an external 1 TB HDD hard drive for 3,000 rubles with USB 3.0 support. It also works very fast .

I quickly figured out the secret of why I'm obsessed with Apple products. It's not about the characteristics, but about its OS X operating system. It is so coherent, thoughtful and convenient. When I had a desktop computer, after 2-3 months of installing Windows, the thought arose: “Eh, I should install another 4 GB of RAM, and upgrade the processor.” So, with the advent of the MacBook, such thoughts disappeared altogether: everything works smoothly, without any delays or “blue screens of death.” I don’t even know what the characteristics of my favorite device are, because its performance really satisfies me.

Out of curiosity, I came to look at the characteristics, and I will say that they are:

• Monitor - 13 inches.
• Processor - 1.3 Ghz Intel Core i5.
• Memory - 4 GB 1600 Ghz DDR 3.
• Graphics - Intel HD 5000
• Hard drive - 128 GB SSD.
• A full description is available.

Macbook Air took a new model, which was released in mid-2013. It cost me 43,000 rubles (as of December 2013). Now many will wake up like: “Yes, for the same money you could buy 2 laptops with similar characteristics!” Yes, I don't argue. But I get a thrill from working with this device, I don’t regret a single ruble that I invested in it.

First impressions

Bought! I'm running home! We need to unpack the box quickly! I carefully open it and immediately this very smell hits my nose. The smell of a new device, which should bring a lot of positive impressions. I gently lift the lid. I look at my new silver friend. How handsome he is!

The main advantages are immediately noticeable:

The first week after the purchase there were still doubts about the necessity of this very purchase. The main question that tormented me was - what is this? Do I really need this? Everything didn’t seem so convenient; I was already quite used to Windows. But only a week passed and I began to feel all the charm. I figured out the software and began to enjoy working with this laptop.

I especially like writing. You expand the WordPress post editor to full screen, just a white screen and text, soft buttons that your fingers play like a piano, and if you add to this the fact that I type touch-sensitive, then typing text is a pleasure. My thoughts don’t run away, my fingers keep up with them, I don’t have to press the key twice, everything works clearly and correctly. In a word - a thrill.

The MacBook was created in order to create and not be nervous about all sorts of “brakes”, “glitches”, “blue screens” and other rubbish. Especially if you like to write texts or draw, then you will like it. Imagine, I always thought that the background on my site was just white, but it turns out there are also horizontal stripes, which are very visible on a Mac, in general, my site has now become much more beautiful for me, I get satisfaction:

I don’t know if it’s noticeable on your computer, but imagine: for 2 years I didn’t know that my website background was not white. Something like this, gentlemen. 🙂 I repeat, “Mac” is an ideal option for writers, designers, and people involved in video. That is, if you are a creative person, you will remain mega-satisfied. The only people who probably won't like Apple products are programmers. My suggestion.

I repeat, I bought the device for 43,000 rubles. I don’t regret a single ruble that I spent on it. Don’t think that if you buy a MacBook, you will start earning 2 times more. Although this is also possible. When I really wanted a car, I couldn’t work normally, it was constantly in my thoughts, I couldn’t really concentrate. As soon as I bought it, my head was unloaded and work began. This is also possible here if you really want it.

What's installed on my Macbook Air

1. Publishing blog posts.

I wrote posts on Windows using the program. Loved her very much. As it turns out, the Mac doesn't have it. I started looking for a replacement. I tried a bunch of options, nothing was right. The solution turned out to be outrageously simple. Writing through the WordPress admin panel, as it turns out, is incredibly convenient! I expand the screen to full screen and just write. Even WordPress itself says briefly and clearly: “Write.”:

And the hotkeys make the work much easier; in front of me there is just a white screen and text, nothing more. I also recommend that owners of Windows computers try this method of writing articles. After the 3rd post you will start to have great fun. Verified.

So the loss of Windows Live Writer was actually positive for me. I get more joy out of the standard editor. I focus completely on the text.

2. Text editor.

I also use Microsoft Word and Excel at home. There is no dispute here; indeed, these programs are practically irreplaceable. Just as I had them on Windows, they also migrated to Mac.

3. Browser.

On Windows. But, if you surf the Internet using Google Chrome, the battery life is significantly reduced. Willy-nilly I had to switch to Safari. And, after several months of working with it, I can confidently say: Safari is the best browser. At least for Os X. It was hard to part with Chrome, but now I don’t even want to go back to it. Everything is conveniently implemented, everything “flies”, excellent synchronization with my other devices (iPhone and iPad).

4. FTP client

For quite a long time I was looking for a similar worthy replacement for my Mac. Found. This is the Yummy FTP program. Almost 100% coincidence with Total Commander (at least in those functions that I need for work):

5. PHP editor.

Oh, how. It turns out that on a Mac it was quite easy to find a replacement for your favorite PHP editor. This is TextWrangler:

6. Antivirus.

There is no need to install antiviruses at all. All the chicks and farts. 🙂 Don’t worry.

7. Virtual machine.

Unfortunately, there are some programs that I simply need in my work, but they cannot be replaced and they currently only work in Windows. In these cases, a so-called “virtual machine” comes to the rescue. I’ll tell you what it is below, but first I’ll list the programs that I need, but they don’t exist for Os X:

• Webmoney - yes, there is no full version on Mac for a reason unknown to me. Of course, you can do without a client, operations can be carried out by confirmation by phone, but still. Updated: The Webmoney app is now available on Mac, hooray! Link - https://itunes.apple.com/ru/app/my-webmoney/id807337125?mt=12
• - my favorite SEO program for working with keywords.
• - favorite program for taking positions.

I was worried, wondering what to do with these programs. It turns out that everything can be solved very simply. We install a virtual machine on a Mac. Moreover, it is very easy to install and there are quite a lot of choices. I installed free VirtualBox, installed Windows 7 on it, allocated 512 MB of RAM and 20 GB of memory. That's all. Now I can run a full-fledged Windows on my Mac, and I don’t need to restart anything, everything opens in a convenient window as a separate application, or can be expanded to full screen. And transferring files from one system to another, using the clipboard, etc. is not a problem. In general, everything is simple:

It is generally very easy to launch it, Windows just flies there. The only thing is that I was a little sorry to allocate 512 MB of RAM and 20 GB of hard drive. But I note that I did not notice any deterioration in the speed of work.

8. Required software

All the main software is also on Os X. That's me, Skype, Firefox, Chrome, Photoshop. I’ll even say more: programs on Mac are made better and more convenient. They are also significantly faster (I remember how long it took me to run Photoshop on my desktop computer).

9. Software for everyone

I also have the following installed:

• SelfControl - you can block URLs of different sites for a certain amount of time. VKontakte, Twitter, etc. while working so as not to be distracted. We launch it, set the timer for 2 hours and during this time it is impossible to log into VKontakte, etc.
• Lightshot Screenshot is a very convenient program for webmasters when they need to share screenshots. By pressing a key, a screenshot of a certain area of ​​the monitor is taken, it is automatically uploaded to the server and a link to this picture is immediately displayed. We simply send the link to the interlocutor.
• Snagit - I use this program to take screenshots for lessons, although you can get by with the previous one. The habit of "arrows".
• Screenflick - I use it to make screencasts (video recordings from the monitor screen).
• iMovie is a video editor. Moreover, it is an official Apple product. In my opinion, the best.
• Mindjet - I use it to create mind maps.
• PuntoSwitcher - automatic translation of a word if it is written in the wrong layout. A very convenient program from Yandex.
• CheatSheet is a program that suggests hot keys in any program. Hold down cmd and that's it.
• Super time management program. While I won’t say which one, I need to devote a whole post to it. In general, I said that after 4 years of searching I managed to find . I also, in my opinion, almost found the ideal program. I'll introduce you very soon.

All. I don't have anything else installed on my Mac, that's enough. For the rest I use standard software. If there are any good worthwhile programs, write in the comments, I’m interested.

Conclusion

I completely switched to Mac after about 2-3 weeks of use. He threw everything over and forced him to work only on it. At first it was uncomfortable. But now I don't turn on my desktop computer at all. I only work on one device. I carry it everywhere and always.

I’m writing this post and I’m in such ecstasy. Even if you start writing a book, it seems to me that it will write itself. Work should bring pleasure and you should not be distracted by all sorts of little things. Hooray!

I remembered myself when all the SEO people around were using Macs. Even then I thought: these are show-offs, braggarts and majors! 🙂

If you want to buy a Windows laptop in the near future, think about it. It might be better to wait another six months and save up for this miracle device. But I warn you: once you get hooked on Apple technology, you won’t be able to “jump off” it. Believe me.

Now for me Macbook Air is not a tool, but a real friend.

The principles of operation in OS X are somewhat different from Microsoft Windows, so users who have recently purchased a Mac experience some difficulties as a replacement for a computer with the Redmond OS. If in the USA and Europe people begin their acquaintance with computers with both PCs and Macs, then in our country and the CIS there is no particular alternative. There is a 99% chance that your first computer experience will be Windows. Relearning, as you know, is much more difficult than learning again, but by following our simple tips, you can reduce all the difficulties of the transition to a minimum.

Installing and uninstalling applications

Your first search query in Safari will probably be: “How to install programs on Mac?” This simple operation that you will inevitably encounter is radically different from that in the Microsoft OS. And what’s remarkable is that installing the application will take less time than you will spend on a search query.

Most programs are distributed in dmg archives (images) and are installed in just a couple of clicks:

• open the downloaded .dmg file (it will be visible in Finder as a removable disk);
• drag the application directory into the “Programs” system folder;
• The application will appear on Launchpad in a couple of seconds (pinch gesture to open) and will be immediately ready for use;
• You can now extract the distribution image in the Finder sidebar and delete the .dmg file;

You can install the application from a .dmg file in any folder convenient for you, but then the program icon will not appear in Launchpad. Therefore, I recommend using the “Programs” folder, especially since this is what it is intended for.

Some applications have their own installer and are installed through it. In this case, you will see a dialog box with buttons “Accept”, “Next”, “Install” (hello, Windows!).

Starting with version 10.7, OS X introduced the Mac App Store, similar to the App Store on iOS. It’s even easier to work with; to install, just click the “Install” button on the application page.

By analogy with installation, uninstalling an application consists of removing it from the “Programs” folder. We drag the catalog with the application into the “Trash” - and the job is done. If the program has its own installer, then uninstallation also occurs through it.

Interaction with windows. Close or collapse?

Windows users are shocked at first: not only are the window control buttons on the left, but they also work differently. In fact, the “x” button does not close the program, but only closes its window. This is due to the fact that in OS X applications can have several windows and after we close the window the program continues to work. The “+” button does not expand the window to full screen, but scales it to the size of the displayed content.

In order to completely terminate the application, press “Cmd+Q” or right-click on the icon in the dock and select “End”.

It is convenient to monitor running programs using the indicator in the dock. This feature is enabled in system settings, in the “Dock” section.

Also, as of version 10.7, OS X apps can run in full-screen mode, hiding the Dock and menu bar. To activate this mode, you need to click the arrow icon in the upper right corner of the screen.

Using multi-touch gestures

One of the main features of OS X is support for multi-touch gestures. There are a lot of them here (I counted more than 10 gestures), and most importantly, thanks to the wonderful trackpad, they work just great.

Open the system settings and go to the “Trackpad” (“Mouse”) section, enable the necessary gestures and watch a demonstration of their operation. In addition to the banal imitation of the right mouse button, scrolling and dragging windows, using gestures we can: search for the highlighted word; rotate, scale images; open Launchpad, Mission Control, Notification Center.

Taking a few minutes to learn the gestures will make your work in OS X more productive and much more enjoyable.

Useful functions of the Fn key

Using the Fn button you can quickly access many system functions. Here are some useful shortcuts:

• Fn+Ctrl+F2 allows you to navigate the menu without using a mouse;
• Fn+Backspace replaces the Delete button;
• Fn+F11 show desktop;
• Fn+up arrow replaces the Page Up button;
• Fn+down arrow replaces the Page down button;
• Fn+left arrow replaces the Home button;
• Fn+right arrow replaces the End button;

These shortcuts are very easy to remember and I recommend using them in everyday work. By the way, there is a tiny utility called CheatSheet that will help you remember and use all the available abbreviations. After installation, it is built into the system and when you press the “Cmd” key, it displays the full list of abbreviations available in the open application.

Adding applications to Startup

When installed, some applications are immediately added to the list of programs that will be automatically loaded when the system starts. You can edit this list at your discretion to fine-tune your settings.

Open “Settings” - “Users and groups” and on the “Login Objects” tab, edit the list using the “+” and “-” buttons. On older Macs, it makes sense to remove unnecessary elements; this will speed up the system boot time.

Detailed information about your Mac

In a Windows environment, in order to obtain complete information about the computer’s hardware, you have to use third-party utilities, like AIDA 64. Apple’s operating system compares favorably with its competitor in this regard. OS X includes the System Information utility, which gives us a detailed report of absolutely all hardware and software. Here we can see the processor frequency, number of slots and memory type, wifi and bluetooth MAC address, as well as a lot of other service information.

You can find System Information in the Utilities folder on Launchpad or by clicking the Apple icon in the menu bar and selecting About This Mac.

Quickly view files

My favorite built-in feature in OS X is Preview. In the Finder, pressing Spacebar on any file or folder will open a Quick View window. All file types known to the system are supported: images, videos, documents. Close the viewing window by pressing the space bar again. Fast, simple and convenient.

Force termination of applications

It happens that programs stop responding to requests or, more simply put, freeze. For example, you have opened a large number of tabs in Chrome or launched several “heavy” applications. Windows users are familiar with the “Ctrl+Alt+Delete” shortcut, which they use regularly. In OS X, to bring up the application termination dialog, you need to press “Command + Option + Esc”, here we select the frozen program and click “End”.

This may rarely happen on Mac OS, but if it does happen, you will know what to do.

We enable support for all video formats

Built-in QuickTime supports major video formats and is sufficient for the needs of most users. But if you have a diverse video collection, you will have to expand the list of supported formats. This can be done using the Perian codec pack or by installing a third-party media player such as VLC. Both solutions are free.

Don't forget to make backups

The last piece of advice is banal and hackneyed, but nevertheless constantly ignored. To ensure that your data is always completely safe, use backup and regularly make backups using Time Machine. This will also allow you to experiment with the system without fear, which will be inevitable at first.

Considering that a new version of the Mac OS High Sierra operating system was released not so long ago, and taking into account the huge number of different discounts on MacBooks for students, it is quite possible to assume that you have become one of the lucky owners of a Mac. Perhaps you just switched from Windows or Linux, or perhaps this is your first computer - in any case, this article will allow you to learn a lot of new things.

1. Smart Unit Conversion with Spotlight

If previously it was possible to carry out various calculations using Spotlight, then with the release of the new Yosemite operating system, this application acquired an additional function - converting units of measurement. This program is so smart that in many cases it not only answers your query, but also offers conversion to alternative units of measurement.

Enter “$1299” and the program will immediately show you how many rubles are in this amount (based on what national currency you selected in “System settings” in the “Country\region” section), and a little lower on page you will see other results, for example in euros, yen and so on.

2. Improved version of Siri

Before the release of Mac OS Sierra, the Voice Recorder tool installed on the Mac showed itself in the best light, surprising us time after time with its speech recognition abilities. But Siri's long-awaited return to Apple desktops and laptops has left it in tatters.

Siri, which we are all accustomed to back in iPhones, can be called up by pressing and holding Command + Spacebar or by clicking on the corresponding icon in the Dock or Menu. However, the new version of Siri looks much more effective.

In addition to answering common queries, such as “What is the weather now?” and “Who won the last playoff game?”, Siri on Mac OS Sierra can turn system features like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on or off, and find individual files on your system based on file information you you tell her.

Siri can even open and close apps at your request, and save the results of your queries in the notification area for you to use in the future. Just press Command + Spacebar and ask her something.

3. Start Windows

Yes, yes, we foresaw the question: who wants to run Windows? In fact, sometimes this can be extremely convenient and even necessary, for example, to play the latest version of a recently released game or to run a certain program that does not have an equivalent on the Mac.

You can run Windows alongside Mac OS using applications such as VMware Fusion, Parallels Desktop or VirtualBox. This can also be done by partitioning the hard drive and then installing Windows - in this case, you will need Boot Camp, located in the “Utilities” folder.

4. Create screenshots of any size

For a person who uses Windows, taking a screenshot can be quite a difficult task. For example, you can use the PrtSc key to capture the entire screen, or use the Windows Snipping tool to capture part of the image. In addition, some keyboards do not support this function, and opening a special application to take a screenshot is too long and complicated. Luckily, Mac makes this process as easy as possible.

In order to take a screenshot of the entire screen, simply hold down Shift+Command+3 at the same time - the screenshot will be saved on your desktop. To take a picture of some part of the screen, hold down Shift+Command+4 - the screenshot will also be saved on the desktop, and to take a picture of a separate window, hold down Shift+Command+4, then press the spacebar and click on the window whose picture you want to take.

Finally, if you're lucky enough to own a new MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar, then press Shift+Command+6 to take a photo of that little OLED strip. Either way, all you need to do to take screenshots on a Mac is just remember a few simple key combinations.

5. Automatically appear and hide the menu bar

The menu bar has been fixed in place since the release of the Mac in 1984, but with the release of OS X El Capitan, users now have the ability to hide it. To do this, open System Preferences, go to the General tab and select Auto-hide menu bar. Now it will only appear when you move the pointer to the top of the screen.

6. Using unusual symbols and emoticons

Along with the letters and numbers that are marked on the keyboard, you can also use a huge number of special characters. You probably already know how to place an accent mark above a letter, as in the word “café” (press Option+E and E again, in OS X 10.7 and later - just hold E until you see a menu with additional options) . But these are not all the functions available to you.

Go to the Edit menu, which is found in most applications, and at the bottom you will see a “Special Characters” panel with a huge number of different characters that you can include in your document if you wish. Unfortunately, not all applications and operating systems support them, but for the most part they comply with the Unicode cross-platform standard.

However, emoji (the bright and colorful symbols available in OS X 10.7 and later) are a rare exception to this rule. Although they are available not only in Apple devices, but in the case of them, there is a possibility that the recipient will not be able to see them, since his device does not support these characters.

7. Create a signature on PDF documents directly in Mail

Even though we live in the 21st century, we still put our mark on paper when we officially agree to something. If you've been emailed a PDF document that you need to sign, you no longer have to go through the hassle of first printing it, then signing it, and finally scanning it to send it back. Now you can sign it immediately via email.

Drag the PDF file into the email you're about to send, hover over it and a small button will appear in the top right corner. Click on it and you will see a number of available options, one of which will be “Sign the document”. The most convenient way to add a signature is to use the webcam on your Mac: just hold the piece of paper with your signature on it and wait until the camera captures it. At the same time, the camera perfectly recognizes the signature, excluding everything unnecessary in the background. Alternatively, you can use your touchpad, which makes it much easier to sign with a stylus.

8. Using Split View Mode

Using two Mac programs side by side has become much easier with the release of OS X 10.11 El Capitan. This was made possible thanks to the Split View mode. In order to switch to this mode, you must hold down the green full-screen button located in the upper left corner of the screen, as a result of which the window will be minimized, and you can drag it and dock it on the left or right side of the screen.

After that, you need to select another window or application and click on it to dock it to the opposite side. When using this mode, the OS X launcher and menu are hidden, which allows you to avoid distractions and get more workspace.

Thanks to the vertical line between the windows, you can easily change the width of the windows, as well as their position. This format will be extremely convenient, for example, if you want to simultaneously monitor the progress of a sports game and at the same time continue to do work/other things.

9. Create annotations for PDF files and pictures

The Preview program has an excellent set of tools that make it easy to create annotations for pictures and PDF files. And, most importantly, the annotations added by this program use standards compatible with the Adobe Acrobat PDF application. This application is widely used by companies and Windows users, so it is extremely easy to share annotated documents with colleagues.

Before creating an annotation, make sure the "Toolbox" is visible (if not, correct it in the "View" menu). Thanks to this panel, you can draw various shapes, arrows, comic bubbles and thought bubbles. Additionally, you can highlight text with different colors, add strikethrough text, notes, and various types of text fields.

10. Adding your signature to the required documents

In OS X 10.7, thanks to the Preview program, it became possible to add your signature to a document. To do this, launch the program and go to the “Signatures” tab in the “Settings” section, then click on “+” or the “Create a new signature” option. After this, take a small piece of white paper and leave your signature on it using a black pen. Bring the piece of paper with your signature to the webcam. Once you are satisfied with the result in the viewing window, click the “Accept” button. If you want to use this signature in the future, make sure you save it.

Now open the document in which you want to insert this signature, go to the toolbar and select the signature icon - it looks like a slanted letter x S with a small dash below. Select the location where you want to insert your signature. Once you insert it, you will be able to scale and move your autograph.

11. Editing a picture

In our opinion, Preview is one of the most underrated Mac programs. This is especially true of the latest versions of OS X, in which it has received a huge number of excellent features. In fact, with the help of this program you can do many of the things for which we are accustomed to using more complex and expensive applications like Photoshop. Just try opening a picture in this program and see what a wide selection of image editing tools it offers.

For example, you can crop the picture. To do this, click the “Rectangle Select” button and use it to select the area you want to save. Then press Command+K or click on the “Crop” button in the “Toolbar”. There you can also find more complex and interesting options, such as, for example, the Instant Alpha tool, which allows you to select and remove the background or other object of an image, as well as Smart Lasso, which allows you to extract an image.

If you have multiple Apple devices (for example, a Mac at home and work, a Mac and an iPhone, or multiple iOS devices), then turn on iCloud Keychain. This will allow you to synchronize logins and passwords that you enter in the browser, information about credit cards and Wi-Fi connections on all your devices.

This means that if, for example, you save the password and login of a site on your iPad, you can then quickly log into that site from your Mac. Or, by saving your credit card information on your Mac, you can then safely use it on your iPhone. Using this function may seem a little difficult at first glance, but the benefits it will bring you later are definitely worth the time and effort spent.

13. Create hotkeys for any necessary function

Keyboard shortcuts are incredible time-savers, but you don't have to settle for just the options that were built into your Mac by its designers. If there's a menu option that you use all the time that doesn't have a preset keyboard shortcut, you can always set the shortcut yourself.

Select the "System Preferences" menu item, click "Keyboard", and then select the "Keyboard Shortcuts" section. Click "+" to add a new combination and select an application from the list that opens. However, you must know exactly the name of the menu command, which you will need to enter in the next step. And finally, select a previously unused key combination that will open the application you need, then simply click “Add”.

14. Using Automator to Do More with Less Effort

Automator is a program built into OS X that allows you to create a number of standard operations that run without your intervention and make complex tasks easier. In this program, you can create small applications that will store a script for a ready-made action, or you can add the necessary actions to an existing application as a service - in this case, you can access the functions by right-clicking. With Automator, you can rename a large number of files at once, convert images to another file format, convert text documents into audio files, and much more.

1. To get started with the program, open it and then select the type of document you'd like to create. Each type is used for a different purpose, so click on each one in turn to see a short description. Select the option that suits you best and click the “Select” button.
2. Start adding elements of your future operation one by one, dragging the available actions from the left side of the screen to the right side, where the process area is located. Available actions are arranged depending on the type of application and file type - just click on the action you are interested in to find out what it does.
3. Once you have added all the necessary actions to your operation, you can try to start the service you created by clicking on the “Run” button in the upper right corner. If any inaccuracies are identified that interfere with the completion of the task, the program will highlight in red the part where the problems occurred.

15. Quickly import images using “Image Capture”

Although you can import photos from your iPhone manually, it is easier to do this using the Image Capture program. This feature has been available in Mac OS for quite some time, but, as a rule, many users just switching to Mac do not know about it. Thanks to this program, you can directly transfer all the photos taken with your camera to a folder of your choice at the same time. Or, even more convenient, view photos one by one on your computer and immediately delete the originals from your iPhone if you no longer need them.

You can also connect to the scanner wirelessly and transfer scanned documents and photos to a directory of your choice. You can also link your camera to any Mac OS application. So you can configure Image Capture so that a specific program, such as Photoshop, opens every time you connect your iPhone.