Three End-Of Year Tips to make 2019 Easier

One, get a timer. 

 

Whether you use the timer on your phone, a Website (https://onlineclock.net) or pick up one at the store, a timer can make life easier in 2019. 

 

You need a timer to make sure you don’t play Fortnite while others fume in the laundry room over your taking the last good dryer.

 

You need a timer to time the food you’re cooking. Yes, stop going to fast-food joints and cook your own food this year. 

 

For starters, go here to the most profane and hilarious cookbook I have ever read. Warren’s sister wrote this for him. Read it here or download it in several formats. Cook and laugh. 

 

 

 

Two, how to make a simple template for your Mac’s documents you use over and over again.

 

This tip is not new. Apple has included this feature since way back in the Classic OS days. Yet people keep reinventing the wheel when they need a new document only varying slightly from many previous documents. 

 

Here’s the deal:

 

Select a document you want to recycle in the Finder. Click on it once.

 

 

Right-click or control-click on the document to bring up the Information Panel.

 

 

Click to put a checkmark in the Stationary Pad checkbox. 

 

 

Click in the Stationary Pad checkbox. You’ve created a simple template for future documents.

 

 

Now when you click on this document, you’ll get a duplicate of it opening in the application using this document.

 

You can use it for letters you send out with your name and address and contact information already in place.

 

You can use it for computer coding documents you use over and over again with only a change to one or two variables. 

 

You can use this with pictures, too. Any document you want to edit on your Mac can use this technique.

 

Now many apps already come with their own template capability. You can include variables, such as using a mailing database to insert names and addresses from that list. 

 

The time and date are other variables your app’s templates could insert that this simple Stationary Pad technique won’t do.

 

 

Having said that, you now possess a simple technique from Apple for making templates for simple apps such as Text-Edit and Preview. 

 

Third, get a second display

 

Macs, at least since the start of the Intel era in 2006, have come with a second display port. 

 

Make use of it for your profit and amusement. 

 

You can use your big screen TV or an iPad as that second monitor. You can also buy a cheap used monitor.

 

For the big screen TV, you need an adaptor cable. You’ll need a cable that fits into the Mac’s second display port on one end and into your big TV’s second HDMI port on the other. 

 

For the iPad with the Duet Display, you’ll need your iPad’s USB to the iPad’s connector. Recent iPads use the Lightning connector, which are easy to find and purchase.

 

If you use an older iPad, it came with a 30-pin to USB cable. You will have trouble finding these on the market, so check your junk drawers. 

 

Now you can use a Wi-Fi connections between your iPad and your Mac. Avatron’s AirDisplay uses the Wi-Fi connection. 

 

If you want to display video on your iPad, you’ll want the hardwired connection used by 

Duet Display. 

 

I’ve used both. They take a little fiddling to make the connection between Mac and iPad. 

 

 

You want to make it simple? Just get a second monitor, put it where it’s convenient and plug in the correct cable and adaptors. 

 

Tip: If you want to buy a cheap monitor, go here to PCLiquidations. They have used LCD monitors. They may have some missing pixels or a scratch on the bezel, but you can save some dollars. 

 

Come here to Monoprice for the right cables. 

 

 

That’s my 3 tips for years end to make life better.

 

Happy New Year!

 

Tom Briant

Editor, MacValley Blog