tonymacx86 Blog: QuickTip

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Update Your Mac OS X Lion App to 10.7.4 [QuickTip]

The original installation media for Mac OS X Snow Leopard was a 10.6 DVD. The DVD was only updated once to version 10.6.3. In order to provide more frequent updates to users, Apple is now slipstreaming the latest version of Lion directly into the download. Upon fresh installation, no updating is necessary!

If you purchased Lion from the App Store prior to May 9th, 2012, you most likely have 10.7.3. To re-download Lion and update your App to 10.7.4, simply log into the Mac App Store and click Update. When the download finishes, the app will automatically open. The updated 10.7.4 Install Mac OS X Lion App can be found in the Applications folder.

If you don't see the Update button, follow this simple procedure.

If neither of the above processes work for you, try creating a new User account. You can delete it later.

1. Open System Preferences
2. Click on Accounts
3. Click Lock Icon
4. Click (+) to add a new User
5. Create a new Admin User
6. Log out, and log into new User
7. Proceed with steps above.

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Update Your Mac OS X Lion App to 10.7.3 [QuickTip]

If you purchased Lion from the App Store prior to February 1st, 2012, you most likely have 10.7.2. To re-download Lion and update your App to 10.7.3, simply log into the Mac App Store and click Update.

When the download finishes, the app will automatically open. The updated 10.7.3 Install Mac OS X Lion App can be found in the Applications folder.

If you don't see the Update button, follow this simple procedure.

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

Update Your Retail Mac OS X Lion App to 10.7.2 [QuickTip]

If you purchased Lion from the App Store prior to October 12, 2011, you have either 10.7.0 or 10.7.1. To re-download and update your App to 10.7.2, follow this simple procedure.

1. Delete your existing copy of Install Mac OS X Lion.app from Applications folder.
2. Hold down the alt/option key on your keyboard, and click the App Store icon.
3. With alt/option key held, click on Purchased
4. With alt/option key held, click on OS X Lion
5. With alt/option key held, click on Install

The Installed button should change to Install, allowing you to re-download Lion. When the download finishes, the app will automatically open. The updated 10.7.2 Install Mac OS X Lion App can be found in the Applications folder.

If this doesn't work for you, try creating a new User account. You can delete it later.

1. Open System Preferences
2. Click on Accounts
3. Click Lock Icon
4. Click (+) to add a new User
5. Create a new Admin User
6. Log out, and log into new User
7. Proceed with steps above.

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

Change the Mission Control Background in Lion [QuickTip]

I don't usually recommend messing about with system files and images, but here's an easy and safe tweak for Lion. You know that grey fabric background of Mission Control? You can change it to whatever you like!

The image file is inside /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app, at /Contents/Resources/defaultdesktop.png. It is 256x256 pixels, and displays in tiled format. This gives the illusion of being one big image, while maintaining a small file size. If you edit this image, you're pretty much limited to colors and textures.

However, if you rename this image to defaultdesktop-old.png, or delete it, the Mission Control background becomes the system standard wallpaper.

The Andromeda Galaxy wallpaper location is /System/Library/CoreServices/DefaultDesktop.jpg. So, in order to make a full Mission Control background replacement, place your custom wallpaper in this location.

1. Open Finder
2. Navigate to /System/Library/CoreServices/DefaultDesktop.jpg
3. Rename file DefaultDesktop-old.jpg
4. Place any suitable wallpaper .jpg image in /System/Library/CoreServices/
5. Rename file DefaultDesktop.jpg
6. Log Out, then Log In

Further theming and tweaks can be done to other images in this folder. You similarly change such items as dashboard background, login screen, dock background, system preferences icons, and more. Be sure to back up before editing any of these files. Post your results in the Customization area of the forum here. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Update: Just found the location of the Dashboard wallpaper- it's in the same location, but it's a much smaller file called pirelli.jpg. If you rename it in the same way, the default wallpaper is used for the background.

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

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Improve Font Smoothing in Mac OS X [QuickTip]

This may be old news for some, but those new to Mac OS X will find it extremely useful. In Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, Apple removed the ability for the user to adjust font smoothing via System Preferences. For a flat panel monitor, some may prefer to view with the anti-aliasing turned up or down. This simple tweak can reduce eye strain, and improve the rendering of fonts on larger non-Apple branded monitors.

To adjust, open Applications/Utilities/Terminal and type the following:

defaults -currentHost write -g AppleFontSmoothing -int 2

Then reboot to see the changes. You can use any number between 1 and 4, which is the default. The value 2 is apparently best for flat panel screens. If this works well for you, let us know! Further information with comparison screenshots at macworld.com.

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Move Background Windows in Mac OS X [QuickTip]

One of the things I love about Mac OS X is that you can learn new features even after using it for years. Here's a tip I picked up via the Mac Life Podcast recently.

If you've got a messy desktop, you can get to a window's content and still keep the focus on the top window. Just hold down the Command key and move the window with your pointer- it will not overlap the top window. Great for referring something in the background window and typing in another.

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Customize Icons in Mac OS X [QuickTip]

Sick of those stock icons in Mac OS X? Here's a quick tip to re-badge and customize any drive or folder in OS X. I have a few familiar custom icons that I use, and have gotten very used to. My OS X experience just isn't complete without em!

Highlight the icon or folder you want to use for your custom icon.
Type command-C or right-click and choose Copy.
Right-click on any hard drive or folder, and choose Get Info.
Navigate to the upper left corner, and highlight the icon.
Type command-V or choose Paste from the file menu.

That's it! There are a ton of great free open-source icons available at InterfaceLIFT. Check them out! Here's a snapshot of my finder's sidebar- easier on the eyes in my opinion than a lot of blue folders.

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