Switching From Windows to Mac (8 page)

Like a lot of Apple apps, it’s a powerful app with not a lot to it. There are only a handful of options. So let’s talk about those options.

First, like a lot of Mac apps, this one can be run in full screen mode; just click the green button in the upper left corner. To exit full screen mode, you can either click the green button again or hit the ESC button on your keyboard. When you are using an app in full screen, you can always get back to your desktop by swiping with three fingers to your right on the trackpad.

So that first photo was just for fun and now you want to get rid of it. That’s really easy; on the bottom of the screen you’ll see all of your recent photos. Click the one you want to delete, and hit the X in the corner.

But let’s say you really like a photo—so much so that you want to share it with all of your friends. Just click the photo, and then hit the square button with an arrow pointing up, and pick how you want to share it.

There are all sorts of effects for taking photos and videos. Try a few out; just click on the Effects button in the bottom right corner (NOTE: if you don’t see that button then you probably are still viewing your photos, so click the camera button to get back).

This will bring up 45 different camera effects.

You won’t see all 45 at once; you’ll see them 9 at a time; click arrows or the circles to see the next nine effects (NOTE: The last page of effects is for you to add your own backgrounds). When you see the effect you want, just click it.

When you are back to the main screen, there are three options in the lower left corner of the box.

The default box is the middle one. That takes one photo. The first one will take four different photos (one in each box), and the last will take a video of you. When using the video option, the camera will change to a video recorder.

If you want to use some of the fancier effects where it puts you somewhere you aren’t (say Yosemite or the beach), then it will ask you to step out of the picture so it can detect the background; then after a few seconds you will step back in. It’s best to use a solid background for this effect. If you aren’t happy with the way it looks, then you can reset the filter by going to the Menu bar on top, then clicking View and finally clicking Reset effect.

If you want to add your own background, then go to the last page of Effects, and drag a photo of your choice into the box. Once you see that photo appear, click on it to activate the effect.

Don’t be afraid to play around with the program. There’s nothing you can press that will mess anything up!

Calendar is another feature that can be synced to your iCloud account—so as long as you’re using the same account, then everything you put in your calendar from your computer will also show up on your iPhone and iPad. You can also sync the calendar to other ones you may be using online like Google or Yahoo.

To get started with it, go to your Launchpad in the Dock and click on the Calendar icon.

At the top of the application window from left to right you have the standard stoplight buttons, Calendars, New Event (+), several different views including Day and Month, and the Search bar. 

Syncing Calendars

If you already use a calendar with iCloud, Google, Yahoo, or any other provider, you can sync it up with the Mac Calendar application. 

1. In the top menu bar click Calendar > Add Account.
   

1. Like you did with Mail, you’ll be prompted to enter your name, email address, and password. 
   

Once you finish the setup process your events from that calendar should automatically populate in the Calendar window.  If you have multiple accounts with separate calendars, you can filter through them by clicking on the Calendars button in the toolbar, and checking or unchecking the boxes next to the appropriate calendars. 

Changing Views

You can change the calendar view between Day, Week, Month, or Year by clicking on the corresponding button in the toolbar. 

Day will display all of that day’s events, broken down by hour.

Week will show you the whole week at a glance, and display blocks for events so you can easily see when you have events, and if you have any upcoming free time.

The Month view will probably be your default view if you just need your calendar to remind you about bill payments and due dates, or don’t have too many appointments each month but they are scattered through the month.

As the name implies, the Reminders application is used to remind you of things—and, as you might have guessed by now, it can be synced using iCloud to the Reminders app on your iPhone or iPad.

The app lets you create list for things like groceries or anything else on your mind; you can also use the app to schedule when things are do—like paying a bill by the 15
th
of the month; it can even be set to remind you every time you leave or arrive at your home to turn your home alarm on or off.

To get started, open the app by clicking on the Launchpad icon, then selecting it from the list of apps.

If you just need to be reminded of a single item, or several unrelated items, you should enter them into the Reminders list. 

1. With the application open, click on Reminders in the left hand window. 
   

1. In the main window, click on the (+) button next to the title of the list (“Reminders” in this case).
   
2. A new item will be added that you should name immediately.  Notice the radio button that appears next to the newly-created item. 
   

1. Once the item is named, double click on it to open up the information pane.
   

1. Here you’ll be able to set the reminder date and time, priority level, and if you’d like to be reminded as you are arriving or leaving someplace. 
   

1. Fast forward to the day of the reminder; once you have completed the task, you can click on the radio button next to the item to mark it as Completed. 
   

1. You’ll then be able to hide or show any previously completed items.
   

1. To delete items whether complete or incomplete, click on the name to highlight it and press the Delete key. 
   

Single list are great for things like “open the gate Monday for the gardener” or “Pay the utility bill on Tuesday” but if you want to create reminders for things like shopping lists, then you’ll need to create a reminder list—these can be as long (or short) as you want.

1. Open up the Reminders application if you closed out of it before.
   

1. On the left hand side of the window, at the bottom you will see (+) Add List.  Click it and enter a name for your newly-created list. 
   

1. Once the new list is named, click on it and press the (+) button next to the list title as you did with Reminders to add new items.  You can also choose whether you want due dates or not. 
   

If you want to create a reminder that is location based (i.e. “when I leave work, remind me to call wife”) then follow the steps above.

Click the Information icon next to the reminder (the “i” with a circle)

This will bring up a few extra options. One says, “remind me” with a checkbox for “At a location”; click that checkbox. Next, enter the address, and select if you want the reminder when you get there or when you’re leaving there.