MSAD #4

* Freebies: Atomic Learning offers some free tutorials and some subscription based tutorials. One of their freebies covers Tiger (OS X 10.4). They have a series of Quicktime movies covering various aspects of Tiger. A really useful site for beginners.

* Built in Freebie: Check out the Help menu sometime - the built in help engine in OS X is really quite useful as well as user friendly.

*MLTI built in assistant: The Learning Center - you can access this either from the bookmark in Safari or from the springboard on the dock. This is a great resource on the MLTI machines.

*A non-MLTI version of the Learning Center is available online as well.

Okay, this section is a little thin right now, I'll add more as I come across them, if you have any tips that you think should be added, email them in to me.

In the mean time, this site has a pile of tips and tricks already collected! MacTips also has a variety of tips and tricks that include not only OSX but also other applications

Of course, if you check out Apple's own OS X site you will get a really good feel for the features built into your system.

What is with all the cats? Ever walk into a conversation about computers and somebody asks if you are running Leopard yet? Or mentions a cool feature that they just found in Leopard? Ever feel like you are speaking a different language? Here's the deal. . . Apple has various versions of it's OSX operating system. They each have their own codename. Here's a rundown of the versions and their codenames:

10.0 - Cheetah
10.1 - Puma
10.2 - Jaguar (the system for MLTI v. 1)
10.3 - Panther
10.4 - Tiger (the current system and the system shipping on MLTI v. 2.0)
10.5 - Leopard (Will be on the MLTI image for 2008-2009)

Okay, so after hearing about this, my superintendent started singing "Wondering where the Lions are" . . .

Right Click for Windows Users: Simply hold down the Control Key and click on an object, works pretty much like right-click.

The Dock: Key combinations to do a variety of things with your dock:

The following section contains tips about troubleshooting OS X and iBooks on an Airport network. The aim of this section is to help teachers and students keep their computer running. If you do not feel comfortable doing any of these items, please see your friendly neighborhood techie. These tips are not exactly Apple endorsed, they are based on my experience here at school. If you really need to find a solution to a problem, try Apple's support pages.

One of the really cool things about OS X is that there are a lot of freeware and shareware programs out there. A lot of them are just small, "one trick pony" applications that only do one thing, but they do it really well. Here are a few of my current useful favorites and a couple of links to find your own.

VersionTracker is the ultimate download site for programs.

Apple also has a MAC OS X Hot Apps Site.

If you want to get started with open source software check out SourceForge or SchoolForge for education specific open source software.

iSkysoft, The Free Mac, and The Free Mac Classroom are also great resources.

Widgets all over the place - get your Widgets here!

Jiggler - wiggles your mouse periodically so you computer doesn't go to sleep and the screen saver doesn't come on.

Want to spotlight an area on your screen? Try Mousepose.

Need to get your music off an ipod and back into your machine? Then you need Senuti.

Okay, so there are useful links all over this page. Here are a few that I couldn't find a home for elsewhere.

Did you know that Google has a search engine that limits searches just to Macintosh subjects? Really useful. http://www.google.com/mac

About.com's Mac OS site, all kinds of useful tips and tutorials.

Gotta keep a lab of machines up and running - check out this site for managing a lab.

Apple has a techical site set up for tech. coordinators - check it out here.

Maine Learns is a site that supports the MLTI project, they have an abundance of teacher resources and ideas linked there. Check it out and see what's happening around the state of Maine.

The MLTI portal site also contains a variety of information including the MLTI FAQs.

Some days are just a little stressful - pop a little bubble wrap.

Need a new look for your laptop or ipod?

Instructables.com - Interesting do it yourself site - some great stuff here, some warped stuff too!

SodaPlay - a really cool site if you are into making models from soda straws.

How about creating your own machine?

How about your own kaliedoscope?

Make your own sand falls.

Okay, if you have actually made it all the way to the bottom of the page you obviously have WAY too much time on your hands! Congratulations - spend some time at the Center for the Easily Amused. Or if you've had it with the Internet, check out this site!