By default, OS X identifies user selections of text and files with a blue highlight. This has been part of the operating system for so long that you may have never even thought about it. But if you’re tired of blue and want to customize the look of your Mac’s operating system, you can easily change this highlight color with a quick trip to System Preferences. Here’s how to do it.
How to Set a Screen Saver as the Desktop Background in Mac OS X
Apple has long offered users a wide variety of beautiful, high quality images to use as desktop wallpaper, but if you’d like something even more interesting on your Mac’s desktop, you can use a Terminal command to set one of your Mac’s animated screen savers as the background instead.
Pin and Launch Mac Apps from the Finder Toolbar for Easy Access
From the Dock to the Desktop to Spotlight, there is no shortage of ways to launch apps in OS X. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and most users are familiar with them. But there’s yet another way to launch apps in OS X, and it’s a bit less well known: the Finder toolbar.
Quickly Enable Do Not Disturb on Your Mac with an Option-Click
Notification Center is a great feature in OS X that lets users keep track of updates and alerts in real time. But sometimes it’s all too much and we need a break, and that’s why Apple introduced a Do Not Disturb feature for Notification Center. Here’s a quick tip on how you can enable or disable Do Not Disturb with a single click.
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How to Disable a MacBook’s Built-In TrackPad When Using a Mouse or Wireless Trackpad
Many MacBook owners frequently connect their laptop to an external mouse or wireless trackpad. You can prevent accidental cursor input while in this configuration by disabling the MacBook’s built-in trackpad while your external mouse or trackpad is connected.
How to Change the Default Search Engine in Safari for Mac OS X
Google has long been the default search engine in Safari for OS X, but privacy concerns have led many users to seek an alternative. Here’s a quick tip on how you can change the default search engine in Safari.
How to Find Your Mac’s Exact CPU Model
When buying a new Mac, Apple provides basic CPU info but hides the specific processor model. This is fine for most users, but those troubleshooting issues or hoping to compare their Mac to a PC or older Mac may want to know exactly which CPU is powering their system. Here’s how to quickly find your Mac’s CPU model via Terminal.
How to Remove or Hide Preference Panes in OS X System Preferences
The System Preferences window in OS X contains most of the important settings and configuration options for your Mac, but not every user needs regular access to every preference pane. Here’s how you can remove or hide preference panes in OS X System Preferences.
Quick Tip - Use the Option Key to Resize All Finder Columns
Mac users know that the Option key plays a powerful role in OS X. Here’s how you can use it to make navigating Finder’s column view a little easier.
Two Ways to Reveal the Location of a Spotlight Search Result in OS X
Spotlight in OS X makes it easy to open a file or application, but what if you just want to find out where the file is located? Here are two ways to reveal the location of a Spotlight search result.