Devir Kahan

3 Questions About The Switch To Mac

// July 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // Apple, Blog, Computer, Tech, TechKnowledgey

After I got the following email today about switching to a Mac, I decided to share my answer with all of you. Seeing as to the fact that so many people want some more info on switching to a Mac, and an episode of TechKnowledgey all about it is still hard in the works (but is not going to be done for a while), I thought the least I could do was share this. So here we go.

The email first:

Hi Devir,

I am writing to you to ask you about moving from vista to leopard. In September, I will be purchasing an iMac. I wanted to get around the mac os, so I have a few questions to ask you.

Question 1

How do you delete programs on mac. Like in windows it is start>control panel > programs then uninstall program.

Question 2

How does time machine work, what hard-drive would you recommend.

Question 3

Finally!

How do you add email addresses to the application mail. I am using Yahoo Mail, people say you need to pay for the pops but do you.

Many Thanks!

And my reply with the answers:

1. Deletion is fairly simple. Usually just a drag and drop to the trash. If not there is sometimes an uninstall that comes with the program. Otherwise, there are all sorts of 3rd party apps that make sure to get rid of every little scrap left of an app you want deleted.

2. Time Machine is literally just a switch. Flip it on from the System Preferences, and let it back up your ENTIRE Mac!

3. Adding email addresses is just like Outlook, unless it’s a Gmail account or another popular one, in which case it’s automatic! You just need your password and email address and Mail does the rest. Yahoo, though, does indeed charge money to do that. Switch to Gmail though! WORLDS better!

Hope that helped!

So there you go! And yeah, I do hope that helped!

The Setup Tour I

// July 5th, 2010 // No Comments » // Apple, Blog, Byte Sized, Computer, Electronics, Entertainment, Fun, Gadgets, General, Hardware, Information, Life, Tech, TechKnowledgey, Video, iPad

I give you the new tour of the set of TechKnowledgey and my personal setup and office on this episode of Byte Sized.

It’s A Cinch For A Mac

// March 2nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Apple, Electronics, How To, Internet, Software, Tech, TechKnowledgey

On this episode of TechKnowledgey, I talk about Windows 7 and some of it’s nice window management features. You know how you can compare two windows by dragging them to the edge of the screen? Well now a developer has created a program for the Mac that allows you to do this in Mac OS X as well.

I always found it interesting how it seems that lately, at least, Microsoft is doing all the copying of Macs and Apple with their new Zunes and so on. No, I am not saying that they just go ahead and steal all Apple’s ideas – but you have to admit that as of late, they just have not been as innovative as Apple. Sure, Apple has taken ideas from Windows over the years – every tech company takes ideas from others, but Microsoft is just not as original as many people would like them to be.

It just seems a little odd that for once it is the Mac copying an idea of Microsoft’s. Sure, Windows originally got this idea of managing windows from Macs’ Expose feature, which has been around forever, but to me, it still seems a little crazy that enough people wanted this feature on the Mac that a developer actually went ahead and created a way to do it. So, with a little help from my good friend Eli, I explain managing windows on both Macs and PCs, and why it’s such a “Cinch”.

Show Links

Download Cinch – Irradiated Software: http://irradiatedsoftware.com

A Site Called MacSlice

// February 14th, 2010 // No Comments » // Blog, Community, Computer, Education, Electronics, Gadgets, Hardware, How To, Information, Internet, Reviews, Software, Tech, TechKnowledgey

MacSlice is an excellent collaborative blog that talks about anything and everything tech related. The URL is a little different than a typical website at http://macslice.info as opposed to a .com or a .net. This is because Kevin Nunez, the founder of MacSlice wanted to make a statement that it is an incredible resource for information.

Plus, what is really great about MacSlice is that it is a collaborative blog, so close to 20 different people are writing for it throughout the day. It is updated multiple times a day, and because of the many different people blogging, there is always something for everyone! I myself happen to be one of those bloggers, but you won’t find much, if any, new content from me there. I just have the same material I post here on my blog, over there as well. This allows me to share Techknowledgey with more people!

MacSlice is kind of like Engadget or Gizmodo, just more focused and less crowded. I want you to go check it out. I can guarantee you that you will like it!

MacSlice: http://macslice.info

My MacSlice page: http://www.macslice.info/author/DevirKahan/

Kevin’s YouTube page: http://youtube.com/yankeesfan100

MacSlice Screenshot Applet: http://grabs.macslice.info

Apple’s January 27th Event: Is The Tablet Finally Here?

// January 18th, 2010 // No Comments » // Apple, Business, Electronics, Gadgets, Hardware, Media, Software, Tech, iPhone

Being that Apple today announced their event to take place on the 27th, and being that this is a tech channel, I fell compelled to share my thoughts. I even give a few predictions if you like that kind of thing.

The only information we have now is the slogan for the event: “Come see our latest creation”, and of course the 500 year old rumor of a supposed tablet. Will we finally see the ling awaited Apple Tablet? Or will it be something totally new? What about a netbook? If it is a tablet, what will it be called? I hope not the iSlate like everyone is predicting. Whatever it is I’m sure it will revolutionize the tablet industry forever and create a new standard. You can say good-bye to all of the of the other tablets and eReaders because I have a good feeling that this is the one that’s going to win.

I also hope we see an update to the iPhone software or at least an announcement of an update. Apple also needs to fix up the Mac Pro because right now, there is no big reason for anyone to buy it with the fully loaded 27 inch iMac on the market for thousands of dollars less. Are we gonna see these updates too?

We’ll just have to hold our breath a few days longer to find out.

Put A Clock On Your Desktop

// January 5th, 2010 // No Comments » // Blog, Community, Fun, Software

From Chris’s blog post:

Devir has come up with another excellent screencast for us! If you’re tired of changing your background all of the time, a wallpaper clock might be the answer for you. Alternatively, you just may be someone who is forever needing to check the date and time! Again, this would be the perfect desktop wallpaper for your system! This wallpaper is fun – and functional.

Head over to Vladstudio to download. You’ll see versions for both Mac and Windows. The Windows version has a free 30-day trial. The OS X version is actual freeware. Once you’ve downloaded, you’ll be able to browse their huge selection of clocks. You’ll find ones with nearly any color or theme you can think of. Also, if you’re a developer, you can create some of your own. There are already 288 pages full of different designs!

Choose one to download. It will recommend a size for your screen after detecting your resolution. There are sizes compatible with nearly ever size of monitor, up to 30″ ones!

Adding a clock is simple. Once you’ve downloaded the actual program, just choose your design and download that. Click on your downloaded clock file, and it will automatically open in the program. Once the program is open, highlight the wallpaper clock that you want to use at the present time, and click the Apply button. It’s that simple.

Last, but not least, each clock comes with different options, such as adjusting the way time shows up. Choose between standard and military time, different date display options, and more!

The next time you need to know what the date is, just install a wallpaper clock. You will no longer confuse yourself as to what day your brain should be on! (Doesn’t it always feel like Monday?!)

A big thank you to Kat for doing all this with Chris. I am so glad that I was able to do these screencasts for you channel and look forward to doing more!

Dynamic Wallpaper Clocks

// December 4th, 2009 // No Comments » // Apple, Holidays, How To, Life, Reviews, Tech

http://geeks.pirillo.com/video/dynamic-wallpaper-clocks – Yep. It’s another screencast for Lockergnome’s YouTube channel. I am still waiting on them to be uploaded, but they should be rather soon now.

Many geeks – myself included – like to change our wallpapers. I even have a few different programs that do just that (and if you still are using the wallpaper that came with your system that has a Dell logo or something – it’s time for a change). But, Wallpaper Clocks, cross platform – although only free for Mac OS X, are truly awesome dynamic wallpapers that display the time on some of the greatest and highest quality wallpapers that I’ve ever seen. The selection of Wallpaper Clocks is huge, and open to developers to add to. They also have a number of nice ones for the holiday season as well. They are clever, original, functional, and just an awesome thing to have as your wallpaper. And most people I know don’t have anything like this, either.

What Are Your Mac OS X Secrets?

// December 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Apple, Blog, How To, Tech

I’ve been using Mac OS X for a long time now. Ever since I switched to OS X from XP about four years ago, I have absolutely loved the experience of OS X. I switched, of course, because to me, OS X was just the superior operating system hands down. I was tired of Windows, and wanted something better. And I knew that OS X was that thing. But all of that is a story for another time.

Over the course of the time I have used OS X I have found a number of different tips and tricks. I have customized OS X to how I like it, and so that it works for me. And, well, within the Mac community, everyone uses their Mac a little differently, and we all have our own tips and tricks, and ‘secrets’ so to speak about OS X.

One that I recently discovered though, and is not documented anywhere obviously by Apple, is a feature of the multi-touch trackpad of the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros. There had been a application switching feature in OS X for a while that you can access by hitting Command + Tab. You get a grey box in the middle of the screen with icons of all currently running applications, and you can switch to any one of them by either clicking it, or tabbing to it and hitting enter (if you’re more of a keyboard kindda guy). But, and this is the ‘feature’ that I’d like to share, you can also get to that same grey box by simply swiping on the trackpad wither left or right, with four fingers. From there you can then just click on the one you want.

Now, I know this is not such a big feature, but what’s nice is that you can now use the application switcher entirely from the trackpad as well as entirely from the keyboard. So depending on what you’d prefer, or where you hand is at the time, there is always an easy, simple way to change applications.

Since everyone does have their own Mac OS X secrets and features and all, I’d love to hear some of yours. Drop a comment below with yours!

iPhone OS X

// October 28th, 2009 // No Comments » // Apple, Gadgets, Tech

Yes, I purposely put the X at the end of the post title. The reason? Well, I was walking outside of an AT&T store when I saw this:

An iPhone, running not the iPhone OS, but rather regular OS X – the same OS that runs on a typical Mac. You know what that means, right? We’re not getting tablets, we’re getting giant iPhones the size of a full grown human being running a colossal version of Mac OS X!