Although it is one of the cheapest and easiest ways for users to secure their Mac’s data, most Mac users don’t use FileVault. In this 38-minute [MacVoices interview][1], Joe explains to Chuck Joiner why many users are needlessly wary of this free feature of OS X, and points out some interesting FileVault capabilities that even…
Author: Michael E. Cohen
(Not So) Stupid TextExpander Trick — Currency Conversion
Posted on Smile’s blog today are [instructions][1] for building a TextExpander snippet that can do currency conversion. It requires that you install the [JSON Helper for AppleScript][2] app (free from the App Store). Once you have the snippet set up, you just type the dollar amount, a space, and the snippet abbreviation to run it.…
Smile Posts TextExpander Tips for Shared Snippets
If you need to share groups of TextExpander snippets with a team and want to avoid abbreviation conflicts, hie thee hence to the Smile blog for [Tips on Shared Snippet Groups][1]. These tips are also useful even if the only person with whom you share TextExpander snippets is yourself! [1]: http://smilesoftware.com/blog/entry/share-snippet-groups-with-your-team
Joe Schools Chuck Joiner on How to Boss His Mac Around
Taking time off from working on his next ten books, Joe discusses with Chuck Joiner of MacVoices how to make your Mac do more so you have more time to have a life away from the keyboard. In [this 40-minute interview][1], Joe outlines how to think about automating tasks on your Mac and why you…
A Cloudy Conversation on MacVoices
Chuck Joiner and Joe Kissell virtually sat down together recently to discuss Joe’s latest book about the “cloud” on [MacVoices][1]. In the fifty-minute interview, Joe and Chuck look at the array of network-based services and tools that comprise the cloud, and what they all mean in practical terms for computer, tablet, and smartphone users: the…
Heartbleed, Heartburn, and You
The startling and disheartening news about the recently discovered [Heartbleed][0] Internet security vulnerability no doubt has you wondering, “What should I do? What can I do to protect myself and my data?” The answer is, “Change your passwords for the affected sites. But not necessarily immediately, and not all at once.” Why not immediately? Because…
Joe Tells Chuck about Apple Mail
Joe Kissell and Chuck Joiner [discuss][1] Joe’s book about Apple Mail (in Mavericks and iOS 7) in a MacVoices interview in which Joe explains why this book about Mail is not quite like the previous editions. Joe also tells why he finally bid a possibly not-so-fond farewell to Gmail, and why Apple Mail (granted, with…
Josh Centers Talks about Take Control of Apple TV…on TV!!
It may be an itty-bitty black box, but there sure is a lot to say about it! Chuck Joiner of [MacVoices][1] interviews TidBITS managing editor and first-time Take Control author Josh Centers about his new book about Apple TV. Many of the secrets and advantages of the Apple set-top box are revealed in this wide-ranging…
TextExpander and Mavericks Tip for Text Expanding Bliss
If you have recently upgraded your Mac to Mavericks and discover that TextExpander no longer seems to work for you, don’t panic: TextExpander 4.1.1 is completely Mavericks compatible, but you may have to adjust some Accessibility settings in System Preferences. According to the Smileworthy blog entry, [TextExpander and Mavericks][1], you need to do the following:…
On MacVoices Joe Kissell Explains How to Get Ready for Mavericks
Who is the tall dark stranger riding into town? Mavericks is its name. Pull up a chair and sit down for a spell as Joe Kissell tells Chuck Joiner of [MacVoices][1] what you need to do to prepare your Mac for OS X 10.9 Mavericks. The discussion includes backup strategies, software upgrades, and more. Special…