To quickly return to something you’ve recently used:

1. Click on the Apple menu
2. Choose Recent Items
3. Follow the menu to reveal the list
4. Click on the item you want to open

COMPARING PHOTOS IN iPHOTO

Often you will have two similar pictures and it’s hard to decide which one is better. Instead of looking at one, then the other, you can compare them, side by side.

1. Click on the first photo

2. Hold down the Command key and click on the other photo

3. Click the Edit button in the bottom toolbar

4. They will open in the Edit mode, side by side

5. Now you can choose which one to keep or use in your project

Slow iPhone 3G

If you have a 3G or 3GS phone and you are experiencing a major slowing down since you upgraded to the new iOS4, try this:

Turn Off Spotlight:

1. In Settings, click General
2. Click Home Button
3. Remove the check Marks next to everything

You should notice a major improvement in the speed of things now.

Do you ever want to quickly enlarge your screen so you can see something bigger?

1. Under the Apple menu, choose System Preferences

2. Click on the Mouse icon

3. Click to put a check mark next to Screen Zoom.

4. Click the Options for more choices.

5. It is set to use the Control key but you can choose a different key if you prefer.

6. You can also change how the screen moves when you zoom. Play with the different choices to see which works best for you.

7. Click Done

Now, anytime you hold down Control key and scroll with the mouse button, you’ll be ZOOMING! Try it.

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS IN SAFARI

Instead of using your mouse’s scroll wheel or dragging the blue scroll bar, you can move down the page by pressing the Space Bar. Move up the page by holding down the Shift key and pressing the Space Bar.

To go Back to the previous page, instead of clicking the Back Arrow, press the Delete key.

HIDING PICTURES IN iPHOTO

If you have your Desktop Screen Saver set to use all the pictures in iPhoto, you may have certain pictures that you don’t want to include. Instead of creating a separate album specifically for the Screen Saver, you can hide selected photos.

In iPhoto, click on any picture you want to hide from view.

From the Photos menu, choose Hide Photo. An X will appear in the top right corner, indicating it is marked as Hidden.

If you don’t want to see Hidden photos in iPhoto, under the View Menu, re-select Hidden Photos to remove the check mark.

The picture is still in your Library, you just can’t see it.

To Unhide it, first, from the View menu, choose to show Hidden Pictures

Then select the photo that has the X on it and choose Unhide from the Photos menu

For more great iPhoto tips, check out the new video training series, Maximize Your Mac.

THE EASIEST WAY TO CHANGE A FILE NAME

To change the name of a document or a folder:

Click once on the item you want to rename and press the Return key. All of the words will be highlighted.

To type over the existing text, just start typing.

To add or delete, try pressing the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the cursor to the desired location and then type.

Press Return when you are done.

CONVERTING FROM AOL to APPLE MAIL

Apple and AOL make is easy to move all of your addresses in Apple’s Address Book, favorites become Bookmarks in Safari and all of your incoming and outgoing mail into Apple Mail.  All you need to do is download the AOL Service Assistant program.

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/internet_utilities/aolserviceassistant.html

Color-Code Your Folders

It’s easier to find things when they’re color-coded. Click one on the folder (or document) you want to color. Click on the File menu. the last choice shows your color choices. Choose one. When you click off of the item, you’ll see the color applied.

Fun Mail with Apple Mail

If you want to send fancy emails, try using the STATIONERY feature in Apple Mail. Click NEW MESSAGE. In the top right corner of your toolbar, click SHOW STATIONERY. You’ll see several templates or pre-designed emails. Click in the categories on the left to see more choices. Choose one and then you can customize it with your own pictures and text.

Adding Photos to Apple Mail

The easiest way to add photos to your email and even to Mail’s Stationery is to click on the Photo Browser icon in the top right corner of the toolbar. All of your iPhoto images will appear. Just click on the picutre you want and drag it into the body of your email.

iCal Calendar Colors

You can change the colors of your calendars in iCal to suit your preferences. Click once on the Calendar you want to change. From the File menu, Choose Get Info. The current color is displayed on the right side. Click on the arrows to see more color choices. Click Other to open the Color palette, where you can choose any color in the rainbow.

Print Your Address Book

Apple’s Address Book has many printing options so that you can take your lists with you and also, so that you have a backup hard copy. You can print your entire Address Book or just selected Groups. You can print all of a person’s information or just their name, email address and phone number. You can also use the Address Book to print mailing labels and envelopes.

First, choose who you want to print by selecting names or a group. Then, under the File menu, choose Print. From the STYLE pulldown menu, choose to print envelopes, mailing labels or a list. You can modify the layout of the labels, choose which fields print in a list. Some things are not changeable.

Favorite iPhone App of the Month

Dragon Dictation: Record a memo and easily turn it into an email, faster than you can say Dragon Dictation!

Dragon Dictation is a free app (my favorite kind) from the same people that make the voice recognition software for your computer. Just tap a button to record and then you have the choice to edit the text, send it to Email or as a Text Message.