MacJournal.org » snow leopard

Snow Leopard Server “a tremendous value”

matrix — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:18:39 +0000

In an in-depth review of Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server, Ryan Faas (computerworld.com) cites “performance gains, improvements to several collaboration tools introduced in Leopard Server, enhanced simple administration for non-technical users and new features designed for mobile access and for supporting the iPhone.” Adds Fass: “Snow Leopard Server is a tremendous value.”

Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server a “fantastic deal”

matrix — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:50:49 +0000

Reviewer Jason Snell (macworld.com) awards Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server 4.5/5 mice, calling it a “fantastic product for workgroups, small businesses, and even schools to use.” Emphasing value, Snell adds: “Mac mini server is just too good a deal to pass up.”

Apple releases Brother, Canon, HP, and Lexmark printer drivers for Mac OS X Snow Leopard

matrix — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:41:01 +0000

Apple has released the latest drivers for Brother, Canon, HP, and Lexmark printers and/or scanners for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

How to enable root user in snow leopard

matrix — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:20:13 +0000

Accessing the root account is disabled by default in Snow Leopard and the Directory Utility application is not available in the Utilities folder any more.

Here’s how to enable root in Snow Leopard:

Open Directory Utility in its new home, which is /System/Library/CoreServices.
Unlock the application by clicking the padlock icon and entering your Administrator login.
Select Edit » Enable Root User.
Choose Edit » Change Root Password, and choose a password for the root user.

That’s it! Make sure to re-lock the application by clicking the padlock icon.

Warning: Enabling the root account can leave your Mac vulnerable to security threats. Only enable it if you are aware of the risks and know what you are doing.

Source: MacOSXHints

Snow Leopard Server Provides Powerful Feature Updates

matrix — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:43:13 +0000

Citing significant upgrades to the Podcast Producer, Wiki, and Mobile Access components of Mac OS X Server Snow Leopard, reviewer Cameron Sturdevant (eweek.com) recommends that IT managers “put Snow Leopard Server on their short-term evaluation list when considering system updates in creative departments where Mac systems predominate” or in any enterprise “where high-value content is produced.”

New Expose feature in Snow Leopard

matrix — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:35:05 +0000

In Mac OS X 10.5, you could combine the use of Exposé’s Application Windows mode and the Command-Tab application switcher by first activating Exposé and then pressing Command-Tab. When you selected another application and released Command-Tab, that application would come to the foreground in Exposé mode, revealing all its windows. Alternatively, you could release just the Command key, and cycle through all your applications (while still in Exposé mode) by just pressing the Tab key.

While this worked well, it required you to activate Exposé before pressing Command-Tab. In Snow Leopard, this process has been greatly improved. While the old method still works as before, you can now activate Exposé’s Application Windows mode after pressing Command-Tab. Don’t try to do this with the Exposé key on your keyboard, though, because that won’t work.

Instead, keep the Command key pressed, release Tab, and then press either the Up or Down arrow. This will switch you into Exposé’s Application Windows mode for the currently-select application in the Command-Tab app switcher. At this point, you can release the Command key, too, leaving no keys pressed.

From here, press Tab (and Shift-Tab) to cycle forwards and backwards between applications (while remaining in Exposé’s Application Windows mode). When you see the window you’d like to activate, press one of the arrow keys to select it—the selected window will gain a blue outline (or you can use the mouse/trackpad, of course). To activate the chosen application with the selected window, just press Return to exit Exposé mode, and the selected window will come to the foreground.

Another nifty Exposé trick in 10.6—and this works both in the above example, and when using Exposé’s normal Application Windows mode—is the ability to Quick Look a window with Exposé active.

Full Article: MacWorld

Snow Leopard: Reveal Hidden Menu Bar Icon

rose — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:21:43 +0000

In Mac OS X 10.5, the AirPort icon in the menu bar had a trick up its sleeve—hold down Option when clicking the icon, and you’d see more information about the various available AirPort networks. In Snow Leopard, this feature has been expanded, not just for the AirPort menu, but for some others as well.

Here’s what you’ll see when you hold down the Option key and click on various menu bar icons:

AirPort: In addition to the hardware (MAC) address of the wireless station, which channel is in use, the signal strength (RSSI), and finally an indication of the data transmission rate (all available in 10.5), you can also see what mode your connected network is using (802.11n, for instance), security (WPA2 Personal, etc.), and something called the MCS Index, which appears to be related to the 802.11n standard. (If you’re really into this stuff, feel free to look up your MCS Index value on this table; interpreting what you find there, though, well, that’s up to you!).

Sound: If you use more than one sound input and/or output on your Mac, you’ll love this change. Instead of using a third-party app such as SoundSource, or opening System Preferences, just Option-click on the Sound icon. Instead of the usual volume slider, you’ll see a list of available output and input devices; just select one from the list to use that output or input device. This is a great timesaver.

Full Article: MacWorld

Switch sound inputs and/or outputs

rose — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:44:37 +0000

Upgrading to Snow Leopard made me disappointed to see that Sound Source no longer works as a menu extra. However, this left me disappointed for only a few seconds, as I figured out that by Option-clicking the OS X Sound icon in the menu bar, you can choose your inputs! I don’t recall Leopard ever doing this, or seeing it in the new features of 10.6. Enjoy!

Snow Leopard: Applications Folder

matrix — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:46:36 +0000

AppleScript Folder In 10.5, this folder contained four distinct programs: AppleScript Utility, Example Scripts, Folder Actions Setup, and Script Editor. In 10.6, this folder is gone, its pieces scattered elsewhere.

The biggie of the group, Script Editor, can now be found in the Utilities folder, under the new name AppleScript Editor.

In 10.5, AppleScript Utility let you change the default script editor, enable GUI scripting, set up Folder Actions, and enable or disable the Script menu in the main menu bar. In 10.6, you set the default script editor and control the Script menu from the General tab of the new AppleScript Editor’s Preferences panel. Folder Actions Setup is now an entry in the Finder’s contextual menu; Control-click on any folder and select Folder Actions to configure them.

The only scripting piece that seems to have vanished completely is GUI scripting control. GUI scripting is tied in with Universal Access; you enable it by enabling access for assistive devices in the Universal Access System Preferences panel.

Exposé The Exposé application has moved from the Applications folder to Applications -> Utilities. Many users don’t even realize that there is a standalone Exposé application; if you launch it, it just opens Exposé in All Windows mode, as happens when you press the Exposé hot-key.

Spaces Like Exposé, Spaces can now be found in the Utilities subfolder within the Applications folder. Also like Exposé, I don’t think many users will be searching for it.

Snow Leopard’s Day

matrix — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:02:15 +0000

As hard as it is for those of us in the northern hemisphere, Friday, August 28, 2009 is a Snow Day. It’s the day that Mac OS X 10.6—Snow Leopard—arrives in stores. But here at Macworld, we’ve been using it for weeks, and in some cases, for months.

Now we’ve got the details on Apple’s new operating-system release, from a full review to in-depth feature roundups and individual stories that dive deep into special corners of this new cold-weather cat.

Below you’ll find an ever-growing list of Snow Leopard stories from Macworld. Check back often for even more coverage. And if you’d like to see a comprehensive list of every story we’ve published about Snow Leopard, we’ve got that too.

Full article: MacWorld