mac

Review: Quickly rename batches of files with NameChanger for Mac

Having to rename a bunch of files manually every time can be labor-intensive. With NameChanger for Mac, users can now rename their files quickly and easily in just a snap. While not too complicated for inexperienced users, this app will keep advanced users more than satisfied with the level of customization offered.

To install NameChanger for Mac you just have to drop the app into the Applications folder. Upon startup this application will greet you with a clean, tidy, and easy-to-navigate user interface. While the app has only one, pretty basic function, it is very useful. It replaces the original … Read more

Review: Process multiple images at once with Photo Sense for Mac

Editing and adjusting images manually can be quite time-consuming. But what if you could process multiple images automatically? Photo Sense for Mac offers powerful yet easy-to-use tools for effective, automated, and fast photo editing. However, there's a steep price to pay for such a basic application.

Photo Sense for Mac comes with a free demo version, which is limited in features and adds a watermark to saved images. The full version costs $33.99. The app, itself, is very light, and the installation is quick and easy with the usual drag and drop. Upon running the app, a quick … Read more

Review: Soften your screen brightness with Screen Shades for Mac

When working in a dark environment, some users may find their screen to be too bright even when the brightness is already on the lowest setting. With Screen Shades for Mac, users will now be able to fine-tune their Mac's brightness even more.

Screen Shades for Mac is very basic freeware. The app is small in size and the installation only took a few seconds to complete. Upon launching the app, a menu will pop up, allowing the user to turn on the effect, which will add a tint and darken the screen of their Mac. Right below the … Read more

Review: Save time and keystrokes with Shortcuts for Mac

Users who perform menu operations multiple times may want to automate them to save time in the future. Shortcuts for Mac, despite its overly complicated menu, has many options for creating hot keys and shortcuts.

Shortcuts for Mac downloaded and installed, easily. Instructions were available with the program in the form of a readme file with the installer--a great addition because the program is very difficult to use. It is also unclear if technical support is available. The user must choose whether to open the regular version or a 32-bit option. This choice could be confusing to a number of … Read more

Review: Organize your genealogy with ohmiGene for Mac

Managing your genealogical data can be difficult and time consuming. If you don't feel like managing the data and drawing the family tree, yourself, ohmiGene for Mac might just be the right app for you.

ohmiGene for Mac comes in Lite and PLUS versions. The Lite version is free to try but the number of profiles that you can have is limited, and a watermark is added when you export files. The PLUS version costs $40 and comes without watermarks. The installation of the application is very quick and easy as it's the usual Mac drag and drop … Read more

Tackle OS X Thunderbolt firmware update woes

Last week Apple issued a firmware update for its entire Thunderbolt-supporting Mac lineup, which was intended to address some stability problems when using Macs in Target Disk mode. While the update works as intended for the majority of systems, a few have encountered problems, either applying the update or not being able to recognize Thunderbolt drives after updating.

If you are unable to install the update, you should first make sure that your system is one of the Thunderbolt-based Macs for which the update is intended. While Apple's Software Update service should limit the update's availability only to … Read more

Five ways to right-click on a Mac trackpad

My friend and old boss Ben Patterson answered a reader question on his blog about the various ways in which one can right-click on a Mac trackpad. I read the post and was surprised that my preferred method of right-clicking was not covered. Although my method is a derivative of one of the four Ben outlined in his post, I still count it as a separate and distinct manner of right-clicking. Without further ado, let us discuss the five ways in which you can perform a right-click on a Mac trackpad.

1. Click with thumb while making contact with two … Read more

Disk Utility may combine custom drive setups on some Macs

Apple's Disk Utility program is the built-in drive and volume management tool for OS X that is included not just in the working OS X installation but also in the OS X installation and recovery volumes for an OS X system. While useful for checking system file permissions and fixing formatting errors, there are some instances where it may not properly manage some custom drive setups on iMac and Mac Mini systems.

In 2012 Apple introduced iMacs and Mac Minis with Fusion drives. This Fusion drive, in which a smaller solid-state drive is coupled with a larger hard drive … Read more

Home networking Part 7: Power line connections explained

Editors' note: This post is part of an ongoing series. For the other parts, check out the related stories section below.

Power line networking basically turns a building's existing electrical wiring -- the wires that carry electricity to different outlets in the house -- into network cables, meaning they also carry data signals for a computer network. And this means virtually all households, in the U.S at least, are "wired for" power line networking. It doesn't replace a regular network, so you'll still need a router, but it's a good way to extend … Read more