OS X has evolved and became better of the years, and while it's changed names, at its core, it's still the same basic operating system that Steve Jobs introduced back in 2000. Over the years, Apple has added new features, and new shortcuts as well. That's why we'd like to present to you the top 5 OS X tips and tricks that all Apple users should know. Once you learn how to use them, you'll wonder how you ever lived without them.
1. Temporarily Disable Notification Center
There are times when you may wish to silence the notifications coming through your Mac. While you could navigate into the Notification Center, scroll up to the top, and enable the toggle for "Do Not Disturb," this little trick is much simpler, and gets the same effect.
To enable Do Not Disturb mode and save yourself from the torrent of tweets about your co-worker's cats, simply hold down the Option key on the keyboard and click on the Notification Center icon in the top-right of the menu bar.
When you do this, you'll notice the icon dim, and notifications will cease, at least for the rest of the day; it'll be re-enabled the following day, so you don't need to worry about re-enabling the notifications.
To enable Do Not Disturb mode and save yourself from the torrent of tweets about your co-worker's cats, simply hold down the Option key on the keyboard and click on the Notification Center icon in the top-right of the menu bar.
When you do this, you'll notice the icon dim, and notifications will cease, at least for the rest of the day; it'll be re-enabled the following day, so you don't need to worry about re-enabling the notifications.
2. Do Math in Spotlight
Let's face it: most of us haven't added anything in our heads since high school. For those that require quick calculations, opening the calculator app in OS X seems like a bit of a hassle.
Fortunately, there's an easier way, and it involves Spotlight. To do basic calculations, simply press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight, then enter the math expression you wish your Mac to conveniently echo back to you. You'll see the result next to the expression that you typed.
If you decide you actually need the calculator to perform even more calculations, just press enter in Spotlight and the calculator will open. How easy was that?
Fortunately, there's an easier way, and it involves Spotlight. To do basic calculations, simply press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight, then enter the math expression you wish your Mac to conveniently echo back to you. You'll see the result next to the expression that you typed.
If you decide you actually need the calculator to perform even more calculations, just press enter in Spotlight and the calculator will open. How easy was that?
3. Slowmo Animations with Shift
Your Mac is full of eye-candy, and the animations used throughout the system are no exception. There's enough motion and UI effects in OS X to make any Windows or Linux user jealous. Why not show off those animations a little slower?
Whether you need to study the animation techniques used by Apple or you just want to show off to your friends, you can easily slow down an animation by holding down the Shift key while performing the action to cause an animation.
Go ahead: Hold down Shift and click the minimize button on a window. For added effect: Do it on a window that contains a playing video. You'll wonder how you ever lived without this modifier key.
Whether you need to study the animation techniques used by Apple or you just want to show off to your friends, you can easily slow down an animation by holding down the Shift key while performing the action to cause an animation.
Go ahead: Hold down Shift and click the minimize button on a window. For added effect: Do it on a window that contains a playing video. You'll wonder how you ever lived without this modifier key.
4. Move Dock with Shift
Ever been doing something on your Mac but the Dock was in the way? Hiding it could solve the problem, but what if you want to have it still visible? Fortunately, there's a shortcut to save the day: Hold down the Shift key, then click and hold on the separator line that appears between the apps in your Dock and the files/trash. Move your mouse cursor to the left, bottom, or right of the screen, and the Dock will snap to that location.
5. Rearrange Menubar Icons with Command
Menu bar icons are the small icons that appear in the upper right-hand corner of the OS X desktop next to the clock. Did you know that you can rearrange the order in which they appear? It's true, and it's easy.
You can easily rearrange Apple-included menu bar icons, and some third-party icons that appear in this location, by holding down the Command key on the keyboard, then clicking and dragging the icons left and right.
Note: You can completely remove a menu bar icon by Command + Clicking and dragging the icon below the menu bar. It'll disappear in a puff of smoke.
Are there other tips and tricks that you know and we didn't cover that are crucial to the Mac experience? Let us and other readers know in the discussion below.
You can easily rearrange Apple-included menu bar icons, and some third-party icons that appear in this location, by holding down the Command key on the keyboard, then clicking and dragging the icons left and right.
Note: You can completely remove a menu bar icon by Command + Clicking and dragging the icon below the menu bar. It'll disappear in a puff of smoke.
Are there other tips and tricks that you know and we didn't cover that are crucial to the Mac experience? Let us and other readers know in the discussion below.
This post was written by: Gadhvi Devraj
Devraj is a Tech geek and founder of Worldtechlovers
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