Chapter 9
Learning Useful OS X Tasks
OS X Mavericks comes with many tools that help you accomplish everyday tasks. In this chapter, you learn how to synchronize an iPod, iPhone, or iPad; work with notes and reminders; post to Facebook or Twitter; share data; and work with notifications, tags, and maps.
Synchronize an iPod, iPhone, or iPad
Install a Program Using the App Store
Sign In to Your Facebook Account
Sign In to Your Twitter Account
Share Information with Other People
Work with the Notification Center
Synchronize an iPod, iPhone, or iPad
You can take your media and other data with you by synchronizing that data from OS X to your iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad. However, you should synchronize movies and TV shows with care. A single half-hour TV episode may be as large as 650MB, and full-length movies can be several gigabytes, so even a modest video collection will consume a lot of storage space on your device. To synchronize your device, first connect it to your Mac and then click the device when it appears in the iTunes menu bar, to the left of the iTunes Store button.
Synchronize an iPod, iPhone, or iPad
Synchronize Music
Click Music.
Click Sync Music (
changes to 
).
Click Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres (
changes to 
).
Click each item you want to synchronize ( changes to ).
Click Apply.
If you have finished syncing your device, click Done.
Synchronize Photos
Click Photos.
Click Sync Photos from ( changes to ).
Click Selected albums, events, and faces, and automatically include ( changes to ).
Click each item you want to synchronize ( changes to ).
Click Apply.
If you have finished syncing your device, click Done.
Synchronize Movies
Click Movies.
Click Sync Movies ( changes to ).
Click each movie you want to synchronize ( changes to ).
Click Apply.
iTunes synchronizes your movies.
If you have finished syncing your device, click Done.
Synchronize TV Shows
Click TV Shows.
Click Sync TV Shows ( changes to ).
Click each TV show you want to synchronize ( changes to ).
Click Apply.
iTunes synchronizes your TV shows.
If you have finished syncing your device, click Done.
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Can I sync wirelessly?
Yes. Connect your device and select it in iTunes, click the Summary tab, and then click Sync with this device over Wi-Fi, where device is iPhone, iPad, or iPod ( changes to ). To sync over Wi-Fi, on your device tap Settings, tap General, tap iTunes Wi-Fi Sync, and then tap Sync Now.
How do I get my photos from my device to my Mac?
You can view and work with device pictures on your Mac by importing them into iPhoto. In iPhoto, click your device, then press and hold 
and click each photo you want to import. Use the Event Name text box to type a name for this event, and then click Import Selected.
Install a Program Using the App Store
You can enhance and extend OS X by installing new programs from the App Store. OS X comes with an impressive collection of applications — or apps — particularly if your Mac comes with the iLife suite preinstalled. However, OS X does not offer a complete collection of apps. For example, OS X lacks apps in categories such as productivity, personal finance, and business tools. To fill in these gaps, you can use the App Store to locate, purchase, and install new programs, or look for apps that go beyond what the default OS X programs can do.
Install a Program Using the App Store
In the Dock, click App Store (
).
The App Store window appears.
Locate the app you want to install.
Click the price button or, if the app is free, as shown here, click the Free button instead.
The price button changes to a Buy App button, or the Free button changes to an Install App button.
Click Buy App (or Install App).
The App Store prompts you to log in with your Apple ID.
Type your Apple ID.
Type your password.
Click Sign In.
A The App Store begins downloading the app.
When the progress meter disappears, your app is installed. Click Launchpad (
) and then click the app to run it.
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How do I use an App Store gift card to purchase apps?
If you have an App Store or iTunes gift card, you can redeem the card to give yourself store credit in the amount shown on the card. Scratch off the sticker on the back to reveal the code. Click to open the App Store, click Featured, click Redeem, type the code, and then click Redeem. In the App Store window, the Account item shows your current store credit balance.
Write a Note
You can use the Notes app to create simple text documents for things such as to-do lists and meeting notes. Word processing programs such as Word and Pages are useful for creating complex and lengthy documents. However, these powerful tools feel like overkill when all you want to do is jot down a few notes. For these simpler text tasks, the Notes app that comes with OS X is perfect because it offers a simple interface that keeps all your notes together. As you see in the next section, you can also pin a note to the OS X desktop for easy access.
Write a Note
Create a New Note
In the Dock, click Notes (
).
The Notes window appears.
Click New Note (
).
Note: You can also click File and then click New Note, or press +
.
A The Notes app creates the new note.
Type your note text.
Delete a Note
Right-click the note you want to delete.
Click Delete.
Notes asks you to confirm.
Click Delete Note.
The Notes app deletes the note.
Pin a Note to the Desktop
You can ensure that you always see the content of a note by pinning that note to the OS X desktop. The Notes app is useful for setting up to-do lists, jotting down things to remember, and creating similar documents that contain text that you need to refer to while you work. Rather than constantly switching back and forth between Notes and your working application, you can pin a note to the desktop, which forces the note to stay visible, even when you switch to another application.
Pin a Note to the Desktop
Double-click the note you want to pin.
The Notes app opens the note in its own window.
Click and drag the note title to the position you want.
Click Window.
Click Float on Top.
A The Notes app keeps each opened note on top of any other window you open.
Create a Reminder
You can use Reminders to have OS X display a notification when you need to perform a task. You can use Calendar to schedule important events, but you likely have many tasks during the day that cannot be considered full-fledged events: returning a call, taking clothes out of the dryer, turning off the sprinkler. If you need to be reminded to perform such tasks, Calendar is overkill, but OS X offers a better solution: Reminders. You use this app to create reminders, which are notifications that tell you to do something or to be somewhere.
Create a Reminder
In the Dock, click Reminders (
).
The Reminders app appears.
Click New Reminder ().
A You can also click the next available line in the Reminders list.
Note: You can also click File and then click New Reminder, or press +.
Type the reminder title.
Click the Show Info icon (
).
The Reminders app displays the reminder details.
Click On a Day ( changes to ).
Specify the date and time you want to be reminded.
Click Done.
The Reminders app adds the reminder to the list.
B When you have completed the reminder, click its check box ( changes to ).
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What does the At a Location option do?
The At a Location option allows the Reminders app to display a notification for a task when you arrive at or leave a location and you have your Mac notebook with you. To set this up, follow steps 1 to 4, click At a Location ( changes to ), then type the address or choose a contact that has a defined address. Click either Leaving or Arriving ( changes to ), and then click Done.
Create a New Reminder List
You can organize your reminders and make them easier to locate by creating new reminder lists. By default, Reminders comes with a single list called Reminders. However, if you use reminders frequently, the Reminders list can become cluttered, making it difficult to locate reminders. To solve this problem, you can organize your reminders by creating new lists. For example, you could have one list for personal tasks and another for business tasks. After you create one or more new lists, you can move some or all of your existing reminders to the appropriate lists.
Create a New Reminder List
Create a Reminder List
Click New List (
).
Note: You can also click File and then click New List, or press +
.
A The Reminders app adds the new list to the sidebar.
Type the list name.
Press 
.
Move a Reminder to a Different List
Click the list that contains the reminder you want to move.
Click and drag the reminder and drop it on the destination list.
Click the destination list.
B The reminder now appears in the destination list.
Note: You can also right-click the reminder, click Move to List, and then click the destination list.
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Why does my Reminders app not have a Completed list?
The Reminders app does not show the Completed list when you first start using the program. When you mark a reminder as complete by clicking its check box ( changes to ), Reminders creates the Completed list and moves the task to that list.
Can I change the order of the lists in the sidebar?
Yes. By default, the Reminders app displays the new lists in the order you create them. To move a list to a new position, click and drag the list up or down in the sidebar. When the horizontal blue bar shows the list to be in the position you want, release the mouse button.
Sign In to Your Facebook Account
If you have a Facebook account, you can use it to share information with your friends directly from your Mac because OS X Mavericks has built-in support for Facebook accounts. This enables you to post status updates and other data directly from many OS X apps. For example, you can send a link to a web page from Safari or post a photo from Photo Booth. OS X also displays notifications when your Facebook friends post to your News Feed. Before you can post or see Facebook notifications, you must sign in to your Facebook account.
Sign In to Your Facebook Account
Click System Preferences (
).
Note: You can also click the Apple menu (
) and then click System Preferences.
The System Preferences window appears.
Click Internet Accounts.
The Internet Accounts preferences appear.
Click Facebook.
System Preferences prompts you for your Facebook username and password.
Type your Facebook username.
Type your Facebook password.
Click Next.
System Preferences displays information detailing what signing in to Facebook entails.
Click Sign In
OS X signs in to your Facebook account.
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Is there an easy way to add my Facebook friends’ profile pictures to the Contacts app?
Yes. Follow steps 1 and 2 to open the Internet Accounts window, click your Facebook account, and then click Get Profile Photos. When System Preferences asks you to confirm, click Update Contacts.
Can I prevent Facebook friends and events from appearing in the Contacts and Calendar apps?
Yes. Follow steps 1 and 2 to open the Internet Accounts window, then click your Facebook account. If you do not want to clutter Contacts with all your Facebook friends, click Contacts ( changes to ). If you do not want your Facebook events or friends’ birthdays to appear in Calendar, click Calendars ( changes to ).
Post to Facebook
Once you sign in to your Facebook account, you begin seeing notifications whenever your friends post to your News Feed. However, OS X Mavericks’s Facebook support also enables you to use various OS X apps to post information to your Facebook News Feed. For example, if you surf to a web page that you want to share, you can post a link to that page. You can post a photo to your News Feed.
Post to Facebook
Post a Web Page
Use Safari to navigate to the web page you want to share.
Click Share (
).
Click Facebook.
OS X displays the Facebook share sheet.
A The web page appears as an attachment inside the post.
Type your post text.
Click Post.
Post a Photo
In Finder, open the folder that contains the photo you want to share.
Click the photo.
Click Share ().
Click Facebook.
OS X displays the Facebook share sheet.
B The photo appears as an attachment inside the post.
Type some text to accompany the photo.
Click Post.
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Can I use OS X Mavericks to post information to my LinkedIn connections?
Yes. OS X Mavericks also comes with support for the LinkedIn social network. To sign in to your LinkedIn account, click System Preferences (), click Internet Accounts, and then click LinkedIn. Type your LinkedIn username and password, click Next, and then click Sign In.
To share information with your LinkedIn connections, open the app that contains the data, click Share (), click LinkedIn, type some text to accompany the post, and then click Send.
Sign In to Your Twitter Account
If you have a Twitter account, you can use it to share information with your followers directly from OS X Mavericks, which comes with built-in support for Twitter. This enables you to send tweets directly from many OS X apps. For example, you can send a link to a web page from Safari or tweet a photo from Photo Booth. OS X also displays notifications if you are mentioned on Twitter or if a Twitter user sends you a direct message. Before you can tweet or see Twitter notifications, you must sign in to your Twitter account.
Sign In to Your Twitter Account
Click System Preferences ().
Note: You can also click the Apple icon () and then click System Preferences.
The System Preferences window appears.
Click Internet Accounts.
The Internet Accounts preferences appear.
Click Twitter.
System Preferences prompts you for your Twitter username and password.
Type your Twitter username.
Type your Twitter password.
Click Next.
System Preferences displays information detailing what signing in to Twitter entails.
Click Sign In.
OS X signs in to your Twitter account.
Send a Tweet
After you sign in to your Twitter account in OS X Mavericks, you can send tweets from various OS X apps. Although signing in to your Twitter account is useful for seeing notifications that tell you about mentions and direct messages, you will mostly use it for sending tweets to your followers. For example, if you come across a web page that you want to share, you can tweet a link to that page. You can also take a picture using Photo Booth and tweet that picture to your followers.
Send a Tweet
Tweet a Web Page
Use Safari to navigate to the web page you want to share.
Click Share ().
Click Twitter.
OS X displays the Twitter share sheet.
A The attachment appears as a link inside the tweet.
Type your tweet text.
B This value tells you how many characters you have remaining.
Click Send.
Tweet a Photo Booth Photo
Use Photo Booth to take a picture.
Click the picture you want to share.
Click Share ().
Click Twitter.
OS X displays the Twitter share sheet.
C The attachment appears as a link inside the tweet.
Type your tweet text.
D This value tells you how many characters you have remaining.
Click Send.
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Are there other apps I can use to send tweets?
Yes. If you open a photo using Quick Look (click the photo in Finder and then press 
), you can click Share () and then click Twitter. Similarly, you can open a photo in Preview, click , and then click Twitter. Also, with your permission, many third-party apps are able to use your sign-in information to send tweets from the apps without requiring separate Twitter logins for each program.
Share Information with Other People
You can use OS X Mavericks to share information with other people, including web pages, notes, pictures, videos, and photos. OS X Mavericks and Mountain Lion were built with sharing in mind. In previous versions of OS X, it was often difficult or tedious to share information such as web pages, images, and videos. OS X Mavericks and Mountain Lion implement a feature called the share sheet, which makes it easy to share data using multiple methods, such as e-mail and instant messaging, as well as Facebook and Twitter.
Share Information with Other People
Share a Web Page
Use Safari to navigate to the web page you want to share.
Click Share ().
Click the method you want to use to share the web page.
Share a Note
In the Notes app, click the note you want to share.
Click Share ().
Click the method you want to use to share the note.
Share an iPhoto Picture
In iPhoto, click the picture you want to share.
Click Share ().
Click the method you want to use to share the picture.
Share a Video
In QuickTime Player, open the video you want to share.
Click Share ().
Click the method you want to use to share the video.
Share a Photo Booth Picture
Use Photo Booth to snap a photo.
Click the photo.
Click Share ().
Click the method you want to use to share the photo.
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Do I need to configure OS X to use some of the sharing methods?
Yes. You cannot use the Email method unless you configure Mail with an e-mail account, and you cannot use the Message method until you configure Messages with an account. Flickr and Vimeo must be configured in System Preferences. Click in the Dock, click Internet Accounts, and then click the type of account you want to add.
Work with the Notification Center
You can keep on top of what is happening while you are using your Mac by taking advantage of the Notification Center. Several apps take advantage of a feature called notifications, which enables them to send messages to OS X about events that are happening on your Mac. For example, the App Store uses the Notification Center to let you know when there are OS X updates available. There are two types of notifications: a banner that appears temporarily and an alert that stays on-screen until you dismiss it. You can also open the Notification Center to view recent notifications.
Work with the Notification Center
Handle Alert Notifications
A An alert notification displays one or more buttons.
Click a button to dismiss the notification.
Note: In a notification about new OS X updates, click Update to open the App Store and see the updates. For details about the updates, click Details.
Handle Banner Notifications
B A banner notification does not display any buttons.
Note: The banner notification stays on-screen for about 5 seconds and then disappears.
View Recent Notifications
Click Notification Center (
).
Note: If your Mac has a trackpad, you can also open the Notification Center by using two fingers to swipe left from the right edge of the trackpad.
C OS X displays your recent notifications.
Click a notification to view the item in the original application.
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Can I control which apps use the Notification Center and how they use it?
Yes. Click System Preferences () in the Dock and then click Notifications. Click an app on the left side of the window, and then click a notification style: None, Banners, or Alerts. To control the number of items the app can display in the Notification Center, click the Show in Notification Center option menu and select a number. To remove an app from the Notification Center, click the Show in Notification Center check box ( changes to ).
Organize Files with Tags
You can describe many of your files to OS X Mavericks by adding one or more tags that indicate the content or subject matter of the file. A tag is a word or short phrase that describes some aspect of a file. You can add as many tags as you need. Adding tags to files makes it easier to search and organize your documents.
For an existing file, you can add one or more tags within Finder. If you are working with a new file, you can add tags when you save the file to your Mac’s hard drive.
Organize Files with Tags
Add Tags with Finder
Click Finder (
) in the Dock.
Open the folder that contains the file you want to tag.
Click the file.
Click Edit Tags (
).
OS X displays the Tags sheet.
Type the tag.
Note: To assign multiple tags, separate each one with a comma.
Press .
OS X assigns the tag or tags.
Press .
Add Tags When Saving
In the application, select the command that saves the new file.
The application displays the Save sheet.
Use the Tags text box to type the tag.
Note: To assign multiple tags, separate each one with a comma.
Choose the other save options, such as the filename, as needed.
Click Save.
The application saves the file and assigns that tag or tags.
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Is there an easier method I can use to assign an existing tag to another file?
Yes. OS X keeps a list of your tags, and it displays that list each time you display the Tags sheet. So you can assign the same tag to another file by displaying the Tags sheet and clicking the tag in the list that appears.
Can I assign the same tag or tags to multiple files?
Yes. First, use Finder to select all the files in advance. For example, hold down and click each file. Once you select the files, click and then type the tag, and OS X automatically assigns the tag to all the selected files.
Search Files with Tags
Once you assign tags to your files, you can take advantage of those tags to make it easier to find and group related files. Although it is good practice to keep related files together in the same folder, that is not always possible. That can make it difficult to locate and work with related files. However, if you assign the same tag or tags to those files, you can use those tags to quickly and easily search for the files. No matter where the files are located, Finder shows them all together in a single window for easy access.
Search Files with Tags
Search for a Tag
Use Finder’s Search box to type the first few letters of the tag.
When the tag appears, click it.
A Finder displays the files assigned that tag.
Select a Tag
In the Finder sidebar, click the tag.
B If you do not see the tag you want, click All Tags to display the complete list.
C Finder displays the files assigned that tag.
Note: With the tag folder displayed, you can automatically assign that tag to other files by dragging the files from another Finder window and dropping them within the tag folder.
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Can I control which tags appear in Finder’s sidebar?
Yes, by following these steps:
Open Finder.
Click Finder.
Click Preferences.
Click the Tags tab.
For each tag you do not want to appear in the sidebar, click the check box to the right of the tag ( changes to ).
Click Close (
).
Search for a Location
You can use the Maps app to display a location on a map. Maps is an OS X app that displays digital maps that you can use to view just about any location by searching for an address or place name. Maps comes with a Search box that enables you to search for locations by address or by name. If Maps finds the place, it zooms in and drops a pin on the digital map to show you the exact location. For many public locations, Maps also offers an info screen that shows you the location’s address, phone number, and more.
Search for a Location
Click Maps (
).
OS X starts the Maps app.
Use the Search box to type the address or name of the location.
A If Maps displays the name of the location as you type, click the location.
B Maps drops a pin on the location.
C Click Zoom In (
) or press +
to get a closer look.
D Click Zoom Out (
) or press +
to see more of the map.
If Maps offers more data about the location, click Show Info ().
E Maps displays the Info screen for the location.
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Can I use Maps to show my current location?
Yes. Maps can use surrounding electronic infrastructure, particularly nearby wireless networks, to come up with a reasonably accurate calculation of your current location. Click Current Location (
), or click View and then click Go to Current Location (or press +).
How do I save a location for future use?
You can save a location as a bookmark, which saves you from having to type the location’s address or name each time. Display the location on the map, click Show Info (), and then click Add Bookmark. You can also click View and then click Add Bookmark. To see a bookmarked location, click Show Bookmarks (
) and then click the location.
Get Directions to a Location
Besides displaying locations, Maps also understands the roads and highways found in most cities, states, and countries. This means that you can use the Maps app to get specific directions for traveling from one location to another. You specify a starting point and destination for a trip, and Maps then provides you with directions for getting from one point to the other. Maps highlights the trip route on a digital map and also gives you specific details for negotiating each leg of the trip.
Get Directions to a Location
Add a pin to the map for your destination.
Note: See the section Search for a Location to learn how to add a pin.
Click Directions.
The Directions pane appears.
A Your pinned location appears in the End text box.
B Maps assumes you want to start the route from your current location.
To start the route from another location, type the name or address in the Start text box.
Select how you intend to travel to the destination:
C Click Car (
) if you plan to drive.
D Click Walk (
) if plan to walk.
Click Directions.
E Maps displays an overview of your journey.
F This area tells the distance and approximate traveling time.
G This area displays the various legs of the journey.
H If Maps displays alternate routes, you can click these banners to view the routes.
Click the first leg of the trip.
I Maps zooms in to show you just that leg of the trip.
As you complete each leg of the trip, click the next leg for further instructions.
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Can I get traffic information?
Yes, Maps can display current traffic conditions for most major cities. Click View and then click Show Traffic, or click Show Traffic (
) in the toolbar. On the map, you see a sequence of red dots where traffic is slow, and a sequence of red dashes where traffic is heavy.
Can I get directions even though I do not have an exact address?
Yes. You can give Maps the approximate location and it will generate the appropriate directions. To specify a location without knowing its address, click View and then click Drop Pin (or press +
). Maps drops a purple pin randomly on the map. Click and drag the pin to the location you want.
Install a Font
OS X ships with a large collection of fonts, but if you require a different font for a project, you can download the font files and then install them on your Mac. Macs have always placed special emphasis on typography, so it is no surprise that OS X Mavericks ships with nearly 300 fonts. However, typography is a personal, exacting art form, so your Mac might not have a particular font that would be just right for a newsletter, greeting card, or similar project. In that case, you can download the font you need and then install it.
Install a Font
Click Spotlight (
).
Type font.
Click Font Book.
You can also open Finder, click Applications, and then click Font Book (
).
The Font Book application appears.
Click File.
Click Add Fonts.
A You can also click Add fonts () or press +
.
Open the location that contains the font you want to install.
Click the folder that contains the font files.
Click Open.
OS X installs the font.
B The typeface name appears in the Fonts list.
Click 
to open the typeface and see its individual fonts.
Click a font.
C A preview of the font appears here.
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What is the difference between a font and a typeface?
A typeface is a unique design applied to each letter, number, and symbol. A font is a particular style of a typeface, such as regular, bold, or italic. However, in everyday parlance, most people use the terms typeface and font interchangeably.
What is a font collection?
A collection is a group of related fonts. For example, the Fun collection contains fonts that are normally used with informal designs, while the Web collection contains fonts that render well on web pages. To add your new font to an existing collection, drag it from the Fonts list and drop it on the collection. To create your own collection, click File and then click New Collection (or press +).