GeekwithEnvy

Apple

How to Show Hidden Files in OS X

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HiddenOSXFiles

Sometimes you need to access files that are normally hidden by default, but these files can sometimes be critical to the proper operation of the operating system and are therefore hidden for a reason. This means that it isn’t always easy to “unhide” these files as developers want to try to prevent less experienced computer users from deleting things accidentally. However, if you’re a geek then chances are you know exactly what you’re doing and you need direct access to hidden files in OS X.

Fortunately, “unhiding” files in OS X is very easy. Just open Terminal and enter the following command.

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

If you find you no longer have the need to view hidden files, you can hide them again by adding a “NO” at the end of the command.

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles NO

Once you have entered either one of these commands, you need to relaunch Finder in order for the changes to take effect.

Relaunching Finder

One of the easiest ways to relaunch Finder is to hold down the “Option” Key and then click and hold the “Finder” icon. You can also hold down the option key and “Right-Click” the Finder icon. You should see the option to relaunch. After you relaunch Finder, you should see your changes take effect.

Apple Pushes Out OS X Update 10.8.3 and SMC That Fixes Game Lag

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Apple Logo

Just the other day I put together a brief article on how to fix low frame rate issues on the Macbook Pro Retina, which were being caused after a recent update. Fortunately, You should no longer have to worry about those issues as Apple has just pushed out update 10.8.3 which also came with an SMC update version 1.1 that has corrected these frame rate issues.

SMC11updateSS

Update 10.8.3 Details

  • The ability to redeem iTunes gift cards in the Mac App Store using your Mac’s built-in camera
  • Boot Camp support for installing Windows 8
  • Boot Camp support for Macs with a 3 TB hard drive
  • A fix for an issue that could cause a file URL to quit apps unexpectedly
  • A fix for an issue that may cause Logic Pro to become unresponsive when using certain plug-ins
  • A fix for an issue that may cause audio to stutter on 2011 iMacs
  • A fix for an issue in Contacts that may cause cards to print out of order
  • A fix for an issue that may cause the desktop picture to change after logging out or restarting
  • A fix for an issue in Messages that may cause messages to appear out of order after waking from sleep
  • A fix for an issue that may cause the screen to display incorrectly after waking from sleep
  • Improves compatibility with IMAP servers in the Notes app
  • Allows the Slideshow screen saver to display photos located in a subfolder
  • A fix for an issue in Contacts that may cause addresses to print in the wrong location
  • Reliability improvements when using a Microsoft Exchange account in Mail
  • Xsan reliability improvements
  • A fix for an issue that could cause Active Directory accounts to be locked out after accessing the Security & Privacy pane in System Preferences
  • A fix for an issue that could cause link aggregation to not complete after a restart
  • A fix for an issue that could cause delays when logging into an Active Directory account on high latency networks

For more information on the OS X 10.8.3 update you can head to Apple’s official support page.

Featured App: Lemon Wallet

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I came across this app and thought why would this be good? Having all your information that can be stolen so easily all in one place? Looking further into it, I realized that this is a great idea! Here’s why:

Lemon Wallet allows you to store a digital copy of all of your cards—ID, insurance, loyalty and payment cards—so you always have a backup in case your wallet is misplaced, lost or stolen. Lemon Wallet digitizes your cards in a smarter way with interactive balance updates, personalized offers and a simple way to communicate with brands and merchants.

1.Take a picture of your cards

Getting started is as easy as snapping a photo of every card in your wallet. Lemon Wallet captures the important information and stores your cards in your phone and on our servers.

2. Safer than your wallet

All your data is safely stored and encrypted, and a PIN is required to access your cards. If you lose your phone, you can remotely unlink it from your Lemon account.

3. Access anywhere, anytime

Have you ever forgotten your wallet? With Lemon Wallet, you can access your information when you need it. Plus you can always have a backup in the cloud in case your wallet is lost or stolen.

4. Store your receipts

You can also store all your receipts in case you need to make a return, for tax purposes or to track your spending. Just take a picture of your receipt, and we will digitize key information.

 

These are just a few features of this app. So far it seems safe to use and very convenient. Imagine if you go to the store and you forgot the credit card you wanted to use at home? This app makes it so you can pull that card right up on your phone and still be able to use it right in the store, without having to go back home and get it! To get more info about Lemon Wallet go here

 

 

Available for iPhone  Android and Windows Phone 

How to Fix Lag With Diablo III and More on Macbook Pro Retina

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Apple Logo

OS X Version 10.8.2 brought a few unwanted features to Macbook Pro Retina display owners. The main issue seems to be serious lag in many games, most notably Diablo III. Another issue  users were reporting seems to be the fan not running correctly, and that’s never good.

There’s Good News

Apple has released an update along side OS X 10.8.3 that corrects these issues. You can get more information on that update here. If your not interested in that update for some reason or are unable to update, you can follow the instructions below for a temporary fix, otherwise this issue should be resolved.

There’s a quick fix for this issue that will get your Macbook Pro Retina (MBPr) back to it’s peak performance in no time. All you should need to do is reset the System Management Controller (SMC). For the best instructions on how to do this I recommend just going straight to Apple’s documentation which you can find here.

*This should speed up everything, from Desktop UI to gaming!

*Be sure to follow the instructions specifically for your type of computer. In this case it seems that only the MBPr is having issues.

 

 

Featured App: ILoveFilm

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Looking for an iPad app that acts as a small light box for tracing?

I discovered ILoveFilm while searching for a free light box app. Even though the name and purpose of this app was to be able to look at negative images from a camera, I have found that using it as a light box to trace my sketches was the best one I could find.

The way it works is super simple, you open the app and you touch the little button to turn on the light. You also have a bar to move up or down to adjust the brightness. Thats it!

ILoveFilm

The one thing that bothers me about using an iPad as a light box, is when you rest your hand on it, the touch screen goes a little crazy and sometimes closes the app and then opens other things due to the multitouch gestures. I found that if you go into Settings>General>Turn OFF Multitasking Gestures, this turns off the ability to use four or five fingers to: pinch to the home screen, swipe up to reveal multitasking bar, and to swipe left or right between apps. Now that the gestures are turned off, resting your hand on the screen while tracing, will not give you anymore problems. Now just make sure the brightness is turned up all the way on the iPad and you are ready to trace!

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I recommend this app for small artwork due to the screen size. Other then that, it’s free and extremely simple to use!

Only available on Apple iPad.