Here are just a few semi-secret keyboard short cuts. Have any we don’t? Please share them!

1. Option + click the sound menu bar icon to bring up inputs and outputs.

2. Full screen Quick Look: Option + Spacebar

3. Zoom Mouse: Control + (Mouse Scroll forward)

4. View invisible files in dialog boxes (SL only): Command + Shift + . (period key)

5. Show Dock item in Finder: ⌘ + Click Dock item.

6. Re-arange Menu Bar items: ⌘ + Click & Drag to desired position.

7. Hide Dock: Option + ⌘ D

8. Sleep Computer: ⌘ + Option + Control + ⏏

9. Shut Down Computer no questions asked: ⌘ + Option + ⏏

10. Yours Here: Put yours in the comments below

Keys For Success: 10 Easy Powerful Keyboard Shortcuts is a post from: The Custom Mac

A new app called TweetMyMac has come out giving us the option to control our Macs from a twitter account. TweetMyMac lets you get screenshots, iSight snapshots, and your IP address from your Mac just by sending a direct message to your specially setup Mac controlling account. You can start torrents remotely, shutdown your Mac and more.

Setting Up TweetMyMac

1. Sign up for a new Twitter account just for your Mac (I called mine TweetAlexsMac) – feel free to protect the updates if you like. IMPORTANT: You MUST sign up for a new account, not just use your normal Twitter account or everyone you follow will be able to control your Mac!
2. Set the new account to follow your main twitter account.
3. Download and run TweetMyMac.
4. Enter the account details for the new account you signed up for (that’s your Mac’s Twitter account)
5. To control your Mac send it a direct message with a command (either using the direct message option on twitter or by writing a tweet of the form “d MacAccountName command”)
6. Your Mac will reply to some commands (like retrieving IP address or screenshots) using it’s account so you will probably want to set your main twitter account to follow your Mac.

Commands:

shutdown – Shutdown your Mac. Will NOT save any open files.

restart – Restart your Mac. Will NOT save any open files.

logout – Logout of your Mac. Will NOT save any open files.

sleep – Sleep your Mac.

ip – Get your Mac’s external IP address. Your Mac will reply with it’s current IP.

isight – Snap an image from your Mac’s iSight camera. Your Mac will reply with the picture posted on TwitPic.

screenshot – Get a screenshot of your Mac. Your Mac will reply with the picture posted on TwitPic.

say [phrase] – Your Mac will speak the phrase in the default voice.

torrent [torrent URL] – Your Mac will download the torrent and open it in the default torrent client.

[URL] – Your Mac will open any URL it is sent.

%[command] – Your Mac will execute the custom shell command. Note: this is disabled by default for security and must be enabled in the options to use.

Do take into account the note on TweetMyMac’s website which states:

TweetMyMac is currently still considered beta software so please don’t blame us if your Mac spontaneously catches fire.

So there you have it! Would you use this often? What do you think this could turn into in the future?

Controlling Your Mac from Twitter is a post from: The Custom Mac

We all love our Macs but there are always a couple small “features” that we could all trive without. Here are a few annoying ones and how to stop them. Be sure to share yours as well.

1. Stop obnoxious Bouncing Dock icons (Original Post)

fire up Terminal (Applications/Utilities/Terminal) and type in the following and hit enter:

defaults write com.apple.dock no-bouncing -bool TRUE

And then type in the following to restart your dock:

killall Dock

From now on you will not be plauged by the bouncing icons!

And for whatever reason you want to turn it back on you can enter the following into Terminal:

defaults write com.apple.dock no-bouncing -bool FALSE

and then

killall Dock

2. Disable flash or countdown in Photo Booth

Disabling flash in PhotoBooth is really easy all you have to do is hold the Shift key while you click to take a picture and the screen will not flash white.

Disabling the picture count down in PhotoBooth is just a matter of holding down the Option key while you click to take a picture, your photo will take immediately.

If You combine the keystrokes by holding down Option-Shift, you’ll immediately take a picture without the flash.

3. Toggle hiding the Dock using the keyboard.

A keyboard shortcut I use multiple times a day is Command + Option + D.
This will toggle hiding the dock. Great for anyone working with large windows and applications.

Disabling Annoying Features in OS X is a post from: The Custom Mac

You ever have a song that doesn’t deserve 5 stars but is better than a 4 star? Well now you can rate your iTunes songs by halfs.

Just fire up Terminal and type the following code in and hit Enter.

defaults write com.apple.iTunes allow-half-stars -bool TRUE

Now just relaunch iTunes and start rating!

For more useful Terminal commands check all these posts

Rating Songs in iTunes With Half Stars is a post from: The Custom Mac

Sadly there is a mindset that Macs are invincible and immune to all viral attacks. This is definitely not the case. We are not attack as much as Windows users because we are the minority (so far). With that said here are tips and tools to securing your Mac.

1. Configure Build in Security Settings

Locking your screen and turning on the built in firewall are great ways to secure your Mac. Watch the video below to see how this can easily be done.

(See Video)

2. Use a Mac Car Alarm

Yes you heard me right… A car alarm. Go out and download your free copy of iAlertU. This great utility can enable an alarm triggered when your laptop moves. It also harnesses the Apple Remote so you can use it like you would your car keys. Check out the video to see iAlertU in action.

(See Video)

3. Back Up Your Mac

One of the best ways to secure you Mac is to secure your data. Read this post on how to back up your Mac using free Software.

What Do You Use?

What software, techniques and apps do you use to secure your Mac?

Securing Your Mac is a post from: The Custom Mac

1. Self Control

Self Control is a very simple application that allows you to set a “self control” timer. During the time frame you choose Self Control blocks you from predefined sites. I block twitter, facebook, and my other blogs while working.

2. Spirited Away

Spirited Away checks each running application’s activity, and if an application isn’t active for a certain fixed time, Spirited Away hides the application automatically.

3. A Reminding Wallpaper

When I have a big long work day ahead of me I make sure the first thing I do is set this image as my wallpaper:

What tools and/or techniques do you use to stay on task?

3 Tools to Keep You and Your Mac on Task is a post from: The Custom Mac