Geekbit: Spotlight Calc

Perma-Widget

Are you one of those Mac users who loves a particular Widget but hates the fact that you have to use Dashboard to get to it? If so, then I've got the cure for what ails ya. Watch this Geekbit to learn the solution. Also, don't forget to log out and and back in to make the changes take effect. I forgot to add that little nugget to my demo.


The text you need to paste in the Terminal is

defaults write com.apple.dashboard devmode YES

Then hit the Enter key. Free at last, Free at last. Remember to vote for me as Supreme Commander or the WLO (Widget Liberation Organization)!

Geekbit: Address Book Labels

There's a treat waiting for you in your OS X Address Book. Watch and see. You're gonna like it!

Geekbit: Using Spotlight to Launch Applications

Geekbit: What's Up, Dock?

You know how when you're doing laundry and you find twenty bucks in your pocket that you had forgotten about? This tip is like that. It's built right into the OS but you'd never know it was there if you hadn't stopped by here and checked our pockets. Thanks to applegazette.com (where I found it) and osxdaily.com (where they found it).


If you've never used the Terminal, this might be a little intimidating but it's really very simple. Here are the commands that I reference in the video:

Enable transparent hidden Dock icons:
Type this: defaults write com.apple.Dock showhidden -bool YES
Press Enter
Type this: killall Dock
Press Enter

Disable transparent hidden Dock icons:
Type this: defaults write com.apple.Dock showhidden -bool NO
Press Enter
Type this: killall Dock
Press Enter

Geekbit: OS X Hits The Spot

This geekbit is a little longer than usual but some of you will get the time back right away. The next time you go looking for that file that you know you saved on your desktop, somewhere (if you could only find your desktop), just call on Spotlight to find it in a flash! Take a look:

Geekbit Review: iClip Lite

Thanks to Doc for turning me on to this great widget. Be warned, this is one of those little utilities you'll use a few times and wonder how you did without. After you watch the video, head on over to Inventive and download it for free. There is also a helpful review of the difference between iClip and iClip Lite over at TwisterMC. Enjoy!

Geekbit Review: OmniDiskSweeper

If you're running out of space on your hard drive, you need this. Watch to find out how it can help. This cool little program is available from The Omni Group. You can head on over and down load it to try out for free. If you like it, it's only about $15.00. This is a great program, well worth the money and if you're a laptop user, it will be invaluable to you. (NOTE: The initial scan takes a few minutes in real time. I ran the scan ahead of time for this review.)

Geekbit: Yellow Pages Widget

Get rid of the clunky big yellow books. This slick little widget speeds up the process and your friends will all think you're really smart.

Geekbit: Quick Email Attachments

Geekbit: Screen Capture

Thanks to Brian and Scott for all the great name suggestions for this category. I've decided to go with Geekbits. So here's the first installment of Geekbits (formerly "Mac Minute").

Mac Minute: Expose

Mac Minute: Bezel

A reader suggested recently that I start a basics tutorial to help you discover things that might otherwise go unnoticed for months or years if you don't read your manual. Does anybody read the manual?

I have been thinking about doing this for a while now and so, Scott, thanks for the little extra push. I've made a list of things that I think you would find helpful. I'll be adding to the list as time goes on and I invite you to make suggestions as you think of basic OS X features that you've found helpful but not necessarily obvious to the average user. I'm starting off with something really basic, but I know a few of you probably don't use it. Take a look: