Wednesday, July 28, 2010

New iMacTech Specs "We took the world's best all-in-one and made it even better," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

There are so many new features in iPhone 4, iOS4 and Safari 5 that we didn't have enough space to cover them in this week's M2 Report.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Air Video If you have a collection of videos on your Internet connected Mac, that you'd like access to on your iPhone/iPod touch or iPad, then Air Video is probably what you've been looking for.

Friday, April 09, 2010

Here are our current top 10 MacForce picks for iPad apps.

Friday, April 02, 2010

QuickTime Player to YouTube: In Mac OS X 10.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Note: Prices on App Stores apps can change at anytime.

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Though simple in function and appearance, the iPad has profound implications for the future of computing.

Friday, January 29, 2010

As of today, Apple has a new portable solution and it's taking on the ebook/netbook/tablet markets.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

With 2010 already upon us, and having Apple scheduled to unveil a new product later this month, we cannot help ourselves.

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

The Long Goodbye I guess we were witness to the rumblings of change when we saw Apple shorten their official name to Apple Inc.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Evernote Evernote for the iPhone occupies one of the four "primo" spots at the bottom of the iPhone screen.

Thursday, November 05, 2009

The MacBook has always been a value leader for Apple, but since the latest one arrived here at MacForce, we've been surprised by how good that value has become.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

First Impression: The 27-inch iMac and it's new Magic Mouse have landed here at Macforce.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Today Apple released a slew of new Macs and peripherals with delicious cutting edge technologies.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

For those of you longing for the next MacForce Garage Sale we have a little something to tide you over.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Search Smarter, Not Harder

I often find myself needing to search for the same phrase or file type many times. Rather than going through the same tedious process every time I need to run a search, I instead create a Smart Search and save it to either the sidebar in my Finder or to the Desktop for easy access. One more thing that really helps my workflows is setting my Spotlight preferences to more accurately reflect what I feel is important to me, rather than using the system defaults. Let's take a look at how quick and easy this all is.

Saving a Smart Search
First, open a new Finder window. In the upper right hand corner, you will see a search field. Go ahead and type in what you would like to search for.

Right away you will notice some new options appear directly below the toolbar in the Finder window. To the far right you will find a + and a - button. Clicking on the + button will allow you to add more search criteria. Your Mac will automatically start providing new search results based upon the filters you have put in place. If you would like to fine tune the search even more, just add another layer to your search. You may find it best to start with a File Kind, like jpg, or pdf. You will quickly find that this new way of searching will save you a lot of time by eliminating much of the clicking and scrolling usually done when going through multiple folders trying to find what you are looking for.

Now to really make this all worth while. Once you have the search just the way you like it, go ahead and click Save in the upper right hand corner of the Finder window. You will be prompted to give your search a name. If you plan on creating several of these, make sure you are giving it a name that describes what the search does. For instance a search resulting in only jpg files that were created in the last year and last modified in the last 5 days, I would call this 5 Day jpg.

Now the last step. I personally like to keep my saved searches in my Finder Sidebar. If you work from the Desktop a lot, you may find it more helpful to have this folder placed on your Desktop.

Customizing your Spotlight Searches
When I use Spotlight, it is either to find something quickly or to launch an application quickly. So, the last thing I want is too much information bogging me down. I try to simplify my search results as much as possible and make sure that the results are presented in a way that makes the most sense for me. Here is what a typical search would look like.

Now let's go into the System Preferences and click on Spotlight. This is where you can change setting and start to customize the way searching with Spotlight works for you.

Let's start by deciding on how you would like the search results to be displayed. I personally want Applications to always be the first result I see, as I use Spotlight much of the time to launch applications. I do this to avoid having to open the finder, then the application folder and then scrolling down to the application I want. Since I already have a pretty full Dock I opt to use Spotlight to launch many of the apps do have room for in my Dock. I typically do not want to see websites, emails, fonts or preferences in my results, as I am usually looking for a file or an application and everything else is just in the way.

Clicking on the Privacy tab at the top of the Preferences window opens the window you need to be in to alter what your Mac is going to search through before providing your results. If you would like to prevent Spotlight from searching certain folders, click on the + button in the bottom left corner of the Preferences window, navigate to the folder you are wanting to exclude in your searches and drag it in to the white area in the middle of the Preferences window.

Your new search using Spotlight should be much nicer experience now. Here is what a simplified search might look like in comparison.

You can also set which keystrokes you prefer to use for Spotlight in this Preference pane, which is located at the bottom of the window.

Well, that's it! I know this saves me a ton of time and frustration when I'm up against deadlines and need to find things easily, so I hope it helps you too. Please let us know if you have requests for future Help Deck postings.

Posted By Chris at 5:44 PM

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

It’s a Performance Boost, Not a Roaring Upgrade The changes in Snow Leopard are, for the most part, invisible.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Last week Apple released iTunes 9.

Monday, August 24, 2009

It's here! Actually, it's almost here.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Summer Blast number 6 and fun and excitement continues.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

iFighter iFighter is a fun little Game for the iphone and iPod Touch.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

It's been a while since we last refreshed our iPod sound system line-up here at MacForce.

Thursday, April 02, 2009

The iPhone 3.

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Apple released revisions to four Mac models yesterday: The Mac mini, iMac, Mac Book Pro and Mac Pro.

Friday, February 27, 2009

A lot of us are holding onto older computers for longer than we'd like to stretch an extra year out of them before upgrading to new hardware.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Amongst the more than 14 devices in MacForce's Apple Museum is the computer that changed the course of computing forever.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

The new 17in MacBook Pro is an amazing piece of enginering, with its new aluminum unibody case, an 8 hour integrated battery, and full size desktop-like LED backlit display, the new 17in MacBook Pro is a welcome addition to the MacBook family.

Monday, December 22, 2008

MacForce is open! You bet we are.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

After months of anticipation, rumors, and hoopla surrounding the new aluminum unibody MacBooks, they are finally here.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

One great thing about hanging around MacForce and being involved deeply with our user group meetings is meeting some super-cool people from very different disciplines.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

There are a lot of cheap computers out there, but when you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, consider what makes the Mac such a great deal.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Last Saturday we hosted a truly unique event called the Iron Artist Competition put on by local artsy recycling heros SCRAP (The School and Community Reuse Action Project).

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Around this time every year, Apple announces new iPods, and we at MacForce look forward to another revolutionary iteration for the world's favorite portable media player.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Five years and counting.

Monday, July 21, 2008

More iPhone/iPod touch application reviews from the MacForce Crew: Shazam: I like music a lot.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

On July 11, coinciding with the release of iPhone 3G, Apple unleashed the App Store.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Every once in a while, something really cool comes along, something that blows you away with its coolness.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

I recently returned from an extended trip through Europe and ended up with thousands of pictures from my travels.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Take your iMainGo camping! That’s exactly what I did over Memorial Day weekend.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Yesterday a revolution in smart phones occurred, and not just because of Steve Jobs’ unveiling of the iPhone 3G (available July 11) at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference.

Friday, June 06, 2008

Working with our onsite team, I’m always intrigued by what our customers achieve with their Macs.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

We just hit a milestone here at MacForce: We now have 500 local businesses signed up for our Smart Business Project (SBP).

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Recently, I was talking with some students in one of our weekend classes about learning resources.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

MacForce has a new fleet of service vehicles, and they’re as sweet as could be.

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

The Shure SE110 Sound Isolating Headphones are really the best earphones I have ever purchased.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

I have been using Apple’s iPhoto for a number of years to store my photos and do some simple edits when I didn’t want to fire up Adobe’s Photoshop.

Monday, April 28, 2008

I’ve recently started keeping track of my running habits using Google Earth for calculating the total distance covered.

Monday, April 21, 2008

I am a huge fan of Jane Austen novels.

Friday, April 18, 2008

I love my Apple Airport Express router.

Monday, April 14, 2008

The Apple II was absolutely amazing to me when I was a kid.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Just when I was about give up on finding an FM transmitter for my iPod that would actually work with my car stereo, along came the XtremeMac InCharge FM.

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

I write so much about how awesome life is being a Mac user.

Monday, April 07, 2008

When MacForce graciously allowed me to take some time off last month to do some traveling in Africa, I was thrilled.

Friday, April 04, 2008

I was a late bloomer when it came to computers, my first real exposure was when I started to work for Kinkos.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Ever wonder how Apple does it? I mean how they continue to release such powerful software applications that are truly user-friendly and intuitive? I sure do.

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

I am currently surrounded by co-workers and friends that cannot seem to stop themselves from having babies.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Sometimes patience ain’t a virtue.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

I know people are always stressing the importance of backing up.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Has your computer ever acted possessed, like a ghost has invaded it and is making it do really strange things? Are the fans suddenly kicking on for no reason? Is it not going to sleep properly? Is it losing it’s wireless connection too often.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

So you just purchased a new iPod touch or iPhone and would like to play some games.

Monday, March 10, 2008

I use a lot of different applications on my Mac.

Friday, March 07, 2008

As any Mac user knows, there are limitless ways to customize your computer settings to your liking; a sort of personalized Mac style, if you will.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Back in January 2007, when Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the iPhone, he claimed it was going to “change the world.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

About a year ago, my wife's Titanium Powerbook G4 shut off for the last time.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

It’s not often that I think about how useful my Mac is to me in my everyday life.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

A buddy of mine was telling me about a recent experience the other day.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Back in 2003, I had saved and saved in anticipation of buying a beautiful new Titanium PowerBook G4.

Friday, February 22, 2008

One reason I really enjoy being a Mac user, especially in this town, is the community that surrounds it.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Here at MacForce, I get the chance to speak with a number of our customers on a daily basis about their Mac experience.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

So I updated my iPod touch with the new firmware shortly after Apple published it back in January.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Resident Mac expert Chris Cooper asks a very important question: Will a "Cheese Grater Mac" (aka a Power Mac G5) actually grate cheese? Watch this video and find out.

Friday, February 15, 2008

OK, so Apple has made it super easy for us to edit our videos, photos, songs and podcasts, but what good is all this genius if no one ever sees it? Pablo Picasso would've just been some crazy guy if no one ever saw his paintings.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

I’m a huge fan of my new iPod touch.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

One of my favorite additions to the Mac OS in 10.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

I love Apple's Safari web browser.

Monday, February 11, 2008

If you’re like me, you tend to wait until the last minute to do things.

Friday, February 08, 2008

So, I am sure by now you’ve had a chance to check out the new iPod touch or even the iPhone.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Sometimes we get so caught up in the rapidly changing world of technology and assume everyone else around us is staying up to speed.

Monday, February 04, 2008

Deciding on a Mac is a very subjective process, and it’s always been a difficult one for me.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

If I were to create a public service announcement, it might say: "Don't Drink and Compute!" Once a week I get to see a laptop come into our service center with liquid spill damage.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Starting next week, this blog will be the home of the voices of the MacForce crew.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

With so many new products from companies all over the globe at Macworld this year, I would like to take a minute to reflect on what we felt were some standouts.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Another Macworld, another great night in line spent chatting with Mac fans from around the world, waiting to get into Steve Jobs's annual keynote.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Jamie Hey Chris? I know it was your first time at Macworld.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

For the last decade, with the advent of great devices like digital cameras and the iPod, we've seen a surge of media going digital.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Portland has long been positioned as a progressive city.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Just one more reason that Portland, Oregon, loves Apple: Not only did Steve Jobs announce the world’s thinnest notebook computer today, but it’s very possibly most environmentally friendly as well.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

We’re not sure how Jobs can surpass Leopard and the iPhone, but we’re betting that he’ll find a way.

Saturday, September 08, 2007

This year's Summer Blast was the biggest and best to date.

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Thanks to everyone who made this event great!

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

> Hottest new Mac-related product? iPhone - not as clumsy or as random as a blaster, but an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

> What's your most memorable MacForce moment? Summer Blast '06.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

June 11th will be remembered as a pivotal keynote for Steve Jobs.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

If you've seen a van around town that looks like it escaped from a secret NASA installation, it's probably ours.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Today Adobe officially announced Adobe Creative Suite 3 (Adobe CS3), and it's been a long wait, especially for creative Mac users on Intel Macs.

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Apple is getting ready to release the Apple TV later this month (around the 20th), and in preparation they've updated iTunes and QuickTime.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Resident Mac fan Chris Gear has programed a collection of some of the best video moments and pictures from Apple and it's fans.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Steve Jobs attended (officially and unofficially) Portland's Reed College for two years, starting in 1972, and lived at a local commune that had an apple orchard.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Here's a video recap of the past three days at Macworld 2007: The iPhone draws crowds to its cutting edge technology and design.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

I've just left Steve Jobs' keynote at Macworld 2007.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

"The first 30 years were just the beginning.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

While many web sites have standardized on QuickTime, Windows Media Video or Flash Video, you may occasionally run across that file that just won't play on a Mac.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

James Allchin is co-President of the Platform Products and Services Group at Microsoft.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Currently there are three solutions to run Windows XP on an Intel based Mac.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

While we eagerly await the arrival of Apple's iTV player next year, it's important to remember that Apple already sells a media server solution, the iPod video.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

The Macintosh has a profound impact on society.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Microsoft has officially released its version of the iPod, trademarked Zune.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Here at MacForce we are media lovers.