OS X Lion Tips and Tricks
OS X Lion provides quite a few new features; it also made some changes to how the OS works. For most users, the changes will be well received. For a few, they will present some difficulties. For the rest of us, they're a mixed blessing, with many changes being difficult at first, but then becoming second nature.
No matter which camp you fall into, this ongoing collection of OS X Lion Tips and Tricks should be helpful.
OS X Lion's new method of resizing windows lets you change a window's size from any side or corner. While the new capabilities are handy, Apple also added a few secret resizing options that may be helpful for many Mac users.More »
OS X Lion's sidebar is missing the entire Search For section found in previous versions of OS X. You can recreate the smart search options that used to be available from the Finder's sidebar using this guide. More »
OS X Lion includes a built-in Wi-Fi Diagnostics application that you can use to troubleshoot your wireless network connection. You can also use it to tweak your Wi-Fi connection for best performance.More »
Getting your files organized is a much simpler process with Lion's New Folder with Selection option. This guide will show you how to use this Lion feature.More »
Apple changed the default behavior of scrolling in OS X Lion, and adopted the "natural" scrolling seen on multi-touch iOS devices. In essence, scrolling is reversed from the way it used to work on the Mac.
For most users, a day or so of using this natural scrolling will be enough to make it seem second nature. The rest of us can reset scrolling to the older "unnatural" method with this tip.More »
Where did the scroll bars go? OS X Lion changes scroll bar behavior; it hides all scroll bars unless you are actually scrolling. While I usually suggest trying out new concepts before deciding whether you like them or not, this one is just beyond me. It's a good example of trying to bring iOS features to the Mac, even when they do not translate to the larger screen.
Luckily, you have control over scroll bar behavior. You can configure it to your liking using this tip.More »
OS X Lion hides the user accounts Library folder, the location of many resources that installed applications use. The Library folder is also a go-to place for troubleshooting applications that won’t start, freeze, or behave badly in any number of ways.
You can restore the Library folder's visibility with a simple Terminal command, or you can use the Finder's Go menu, as outlined in this tip.More »
If it seems like both the Finder and Mail sidebars are larger than they used to be, that's only because they are. Both the fonts and the icons are larger. The result is that for most users, sidebars will be too large to display all of their contents without either scrolling or resizing windows to ridiculous proportions.
You can change the sidebar to one of three pre-defined sizes (small, medium, or large) using this tip.More »
Lion's spelling and grammar options, including the auto-correct spelling system, can be enabled and disabled both system-wide and at an application-by-application level. This guide will show you how to set the options to meet your needs.More »
You can assign applications you launch from the Dock to specific desktop spaces, which ensures that an application launches into the space you want it to be in. But you can also force an application to open into all of your desktop spaces by utilizing this little trick.More »
No matter which camp you fall into, this ongoing collection of OS X Lion Tips and Tricks should be helpful.
•Resizing OS X Lion's Windows
OS X Lion's new method of resizing windows lets you change a window's size from any side or corner. While the new capabilities are handy, Apple also added a few secret resizing options that may be helpful for many Mac users.More »
•Restore Smart Searches to OS X Lion's Finder Sidebar
OS X Lion's sidebar is missing the entire Search For section found in previous versions of OS X. You can recreate the smart search options that used to be available from the Finder's sidebar using this guide. More »
•How to Use Lion's Built-in Wireless Diagnostic System
OS X Lion includes a built-in Wi-Fi Diagnostics application that you can use to troubleshoot your wireless network connection. You can also use it to tweak your Wi-Fi connection for best performance.More »
•OS X Lion Finder Feature - New Folder With Selection
Getting your files organized is a much simpler process with Lion's New Folder with Selection option. This guide will show you how to use this Lion feature.More »
•OS X Lion Scrolling - Natural or Unnatural?
Apple changed the default behavior of scrolling in OS X Lion, and adopted the "natural" scrolling seen on multi-touch iOS devices. In essence, scrolling is reversed from the way it used to work on the Mac.
For most users, a day or so of using this natural scrolling will be enough to make it seem second nature. The rest of us can reset scrolling to the older "unnatural" method with this tip.More »
•OS X Lion Scroll Bars - Controlling Scroll Bar Options
Where did the scroll bars go? OS X Lion changes scroll bar behavior; it hides all scroll bars unless you are actually scrolling. While I usually suggest trying out new concepts before deciding whether you like them or not, this one is just beyond me. It's a good example of trying to bring iOS features to the Mac, even when they do not translate to the larger screen.
Luckily, you have control over scroll bar behavior. You can configure it to your liking using this tip.More »
•OS X Lion Is Hiding Your Library Folder
OS X Lion hides the user accounts Library folder, the location of many resources that installed applications use. The Library folder is also a go-to place for troubleshooting applications that won’t start, freeze, or behave badly in any number of ways.
You can restore the Library folder's visibility with a simple Terminal command, or you can use the Finder's Go menu, as outlined in this tip.More »
•Change the Finder and Mail Sidebar Display Size in OS X Lion
If it seems like both the Finder and Mail sidebars are larger than they used to be, that's only because they are. Both the fonts and the icons are larger. The result is that for most users, sidebars will be too large to display all of their contents without either scrolling or resizing windows to ridiculous proportions.
You can change the sidebar to one of three pre-defined sizes (small, medium, or large) using this tip.More »
•OS X Lion Automatic Spelling Correction
Lion's spelling and grammar options, including the auto-correct spelling system, can be enabled and disabled both system-wide and at an application-by-application level. This guide will show you how to set the options to meet your needs.More »
•Force an Application to Open in All Spaces
You can assign applications you launch from the Dock to specific desktop spaces, which ensures that an application launches into the space you want it to be in. But you can also force an application to open into all of your desktop spaces by utilizing this little trick.More »
