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Mac OS X Services in Snow Leopard

Mac OS X Services let one application supply its powers to another; for example, a Grab service helps TextEdit paste a screenshot into a document. Most users either don't know that Services exist, because they're in an obscure hierarchical menu (ApplicationName > Services), or they mostly don't use them because there are so many of them.

Snow Leopard makes it easier for the uninitiated to utilize this feature; only services appropriate to the current context appear. And in addition to the hierarchical menu, services are discoverable as custom contextual menu items - Control-click in a TextEdit document to access the Grab service, for instance.

In addition, the revamped Keyboard preference pane lets you manage services for the first time ever. You can enable and disable them, and even change their keyboard shortcuts.


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Published in TidBITS 864.
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29 Jan 2007 | Print Printer-Friendly Version of This Article

Take Control News/29-Jan-07

by Adam C. Engst Send Email to Author

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How Old Is Your Most Recent Backup? If you don't have a good answer to the title's question, we hope you'll check out the second edition of "Take Control of Mac OS X Backups," by Joe Kissell, since it explains how to set up, use, and restore from a backup system that fits your budget and lifestyle.

We've thoroughly updated this new edition to cover current topics: what you should know before installing Windows on a Mac (and how to back up Windows-related files); expanded info on special cases like backing up photos and movies, backing up installed applications, and backing up while traveling; and a look at how Leopard's Time Machine might play into a backup strategy. It also now offers instructions on how to set up easy-to-use backups for a friend or relative and issues surrounding rolling your own backups with Unix command-line tools.

You can also listen to a podcast of Joe talking about backups in a recent MacVoices interview.

(We've sent email to owners of the first edition who asked to be notified of updates. Those who purchased after 01-Nov-06 can download the second edition for free; let us know if you didn't receive that message. If you bought the book before 01-Nov-06, click the Check for Updates button in your copy to receive a 50% discount.)

 

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