If you own an Apple computer running the Macintosh operating system, you will love this free application. You can’t print envelopes any easier with any computer or program.
Posts Tagged: Apple
30
Apr 09
Does the Operating System matter any more?
photo credit: kevindooley
I tweeted the question yesterday on whether the computer operating system (OS) really matters any more. The response from the Twitter community was less than overwhelming so I want to pose the same question to you, the HelpMeRick.com community.
My contention is that more and more computer functions get done in a web browser. I rarely use any other computer program other than my browser these days. I don’t print much, I share my photos online, I compose spreadsheets and word processing documents online, I edit photos online, I manage my web site online, I store my important files online, and much more. And more applications are born every day that make the speed of my Internet connection more important than the speed of computer.
And the wonderful thing, to me, about performing all these functions online, is I can literally sit at any Continue reading →
28
Apr 09
Make reading the web easier than ever – Video Tip
photo credit: dsevilla
Although we now have 19″ and larger monitors on most new desktop computers, the text seems to shrink. Why is that? It has to do with screen resolution (how much information can be displayed). Screen resolutions on today’s monitors are up to 3X that of monitors we used just 6-8 years ago. We can see a lot more information, but often the text is too small to view for some computer users.
Never fear. Using this week’s tip, you can easily and quickly enlarge the text of any web page using only your keyboard and mouse. This tip will work with any web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Safari, etc) and any operating system (Windows, Ubuntu, Mac OS X).
All you need is a mouse with a scroll wheel and your keyboard. This tip can be performed without the mouse as well, but I’ll touch on that later.
First, when you are reading a web site, particularly news web sites and blog type sites like mine, look for an indication of a printer friendly page. Often designated as Printer Friendly, Print this article, or simply Print, clicking this link brings Continue reading →
25
Apr 09
2 laptop suggestions for college students
photo credit: jarnott
Millions of high schoolers will be graduating soon and will be leaving for their respective campuses (campii?) at the end of the summer. These students will more than likely go to college with a computer…probably a laptop. I would like to suggest two possible laptops ideas for these students.
Both of my ideas involve good systems that will allow college kids to word process, chat, email, listen to music, watch DVD’s, browse the web wirelessly(for school research of course), create presentations, spreadsheets, download and edit photos and much more. Neither involve Windows and thus don’t require a degree in computer security and maintenance. One of the computers costs between $1200-1800 and the other costs less than $700.
My recommendations stem from first hand accounts from parents whose college kids call home frequently with tales of woe about a slow, non-functioning new computer. Students need to have their computers operational, and running around to the campus IT people or dropping the computer at a fix-it shop for expensive repairs. These two recommendations will keep calls home for repair money, tales of woe, and computer down time to a bare minimum. Continue reading →
19
Apr 09
U.S. Soldiers’ New Weapon: an iPod
photo credit: Randy Son Of Robert
Growing up I watched cartoons on Saturday morning like many other children in the 60s and 70s. I enjoyed watching the School House Rock intermissions almost more than the cartoons. One of those lessons stated that knowledge is power. I took that to heart and never forgot the phrase and now the military is putting that phrase to more direct use as well.
This interesting Newsweek article describes how the military is using the iPod Touch loaded with applications to help soldiers communicate with locals, document their whereabouts, and get instant information in the field.
U.S. Soldiers’ New Weapon: an iPod | Newsweek International Edition | Newsweek.com.
9
Mar 09
Apple Netbook Rumors
Rumors about an Apple netbook (super small laptop) have been swirling for at least six months. This CNN article claims to have sources that confirm a more definite possibility of an actual Apple netbook release in the upcoming months. We’ll see what happens.
If they charge more than $400 for it, will even the Apple fan boys purchase them?
10
Feb 09
How to add a web application to the iPhone home screen – Video Tip
Popular demand (among new iPhone users) prompted me to add this quick, yet helpful iPhone tip. Don’t worry non-iPhone users…there is a tip for you at the end of the article…keep reading or skip to the end!
To add a web page or application you frequently use to your iPhone home screen:
- Start Safari
- Navigate to the page you want to add
- Tap the Add Bookmark button at the bottom of the screen (+ sign)
- Tap Add to Home Screen
- Type the name you want to attach to the bookmark or accept what is given
- Tap Add in the upper right hand corner
That’s it, easy, but extremely handy!Watch the short video below to see this tip in action.
After six plus months with my iPhone, I barely remember my trusty old Treo. I still hope that Apple (or some enterprising programmer) adds universal search to it and copy and paste, but otherwise the iPhone has exceeded my expectations.
For you non-iPhone users, I recommend this classic tip:
6
Feb 09
Have your Mac start a program when you start the computer
If you are a Mac user and want a program to start automatically, follow these steps:
- Click the Apple from the upper left hand corner
- Click System Preferences
- Click Accounts in the System section
- Click your user name
- Click the Login Items button.
- Click the “Add (+)” button underneath the listed items
- Find the program you want to automatically start at bootup, and double-click it
- Close all your open windows
30
Dec 08
Customizing your iPhone home screen – Video Tip
This is a pretty specific tip for a relatively new device, but with WalMart now carrying iPhones more and more people will want and need to learn how to take advantage of their investment. The iPhone is a wonderful little tool…IF you learn how to use it and make it work for you.
One of the first things you can do with any piece of technology is customize it to fit your needs. With the iPhone, learning to customize the interface makes the unit more usable for you. This week, I show iPhone users how to customize the location of their icons on the iPhone launch screen or home screen.
- Touch and hold your finger on any icon
- When the icons start to jiggle, take your finger off the icon.
- Now you can drag any icon to any position by touching and dragging it to a new location or even a new screen by dragging it to the left or right edge of the screen.
- You can also drag the default icons off the toolbar at the bottom and drag the ones you use most often to the toolbar
- When you are finished moving your icons to positions that work best for you, push the button at the bottom of your iPhone.
As always, these tips make more sense by watching the video! And even if you aren’t an iPhone user, I think you will find it interesting to see the kind of tech that can be found in a phone today.
29
Dec 08
Don’t buy a new computer yet
2009 is upon us and computer prices are incredibly low, but if you can wait a year to buy a new computer, I would highly recommend it. Why? Microsoft plans on releasing the next version of Windows either late in 2009 or early in 2010. All indications point to the earlier release since Microsoft is anxious to bury Vista.
Last week, Microsoft extended the life of Windows XP for a fifth time! This indicates the continued reluctance (especially in the business world) to adopt Windows Vista. Currently, you can get XP installed on a new computer only through Dell’s business web site and through some independent builders. Buying a copy of Windows XP from limited vendors doesn’t help much either since so many of the new computers out there today don’t ship with or have Windows XP drivers available for video, audio, Ethernet and other hardware components.
I still firmly believe that if you don’t use any Windows specialty software and tend to use your computer only for email, Internet, digital photography, word processing, and games, you should seriously think about an Apple computer or installing Linux/Ubuntu on a new or existing computer an bypass Windows altogether. If you don’t want to follow that advice or need specialty Windows software, stay with what you have for another year until Windows 7 is released.
The beta (test) versions of Windows 7 are being released now, and I plan to install and keep up with them in the next couple of months. Keep your eye on the site for more information on Windows 7 as I learn more.
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HelpMeRick.com started as a monthly tip site for beginners in 1996, and now supports our popular call-in computer show, and hosts thousands of useful computer tips and links.