This issue kicks off our Take Control spring sale, where you can save 50 percent on all Take Control titles! You can also enter to win a free copy of BeLight Software’s Get Backup Pro (a $19.99 value) in this week’s DealBITS drawing. Michael Cohen has discovered that Google Docs can now generate ebooks in the EPUB format, but the feature isn’t fully baked yet. Julio Ojeda-Zapata wades into the ocean of USB-C accessories, pulling forth some warnings and recommendations. Adam Engst and Josh Centers once again explore the power of Preview, with tips for viewing images and PDFs in OS X’s ubiquitous viewer. Last but not least, we are serializing Glenn Fleishman’s upcoming “Take Control of Slack Basics” book! Slack is a popular group messaging and collaboration service, and we invite everyone to read the first two chapters and join our new public SlackBITS group. Notable software releases this week include BBEdit 11.5.1, Airfoil 5.0.2, and ChronoSync 4.6.6 and ChronoAgent 1.6.0.
Through 21 March 2016, you can save 50 percent on the entire Take Control catalog of books. It’s a great opportunity to pick up titles that you’ve been wanting to read or that might be useful to have on your virtual shelf for reference. As always, all our ebooks are DRM-free and available in PDF, EPUB, and Mobipocket (Kindle) formats.
All Mac users need bootable backups, and BeLight Software’s Get Backup Pro makes it easy. Josh Centers shares what’s cool about Get Backup Pro and how you can win a free copy.
If you use Google Docs, you may have noticed a new download option: Download as EPUB Publication. Unfortunately, the new capability is only marginally useful at present.
If you’re looking for a way for a group — a work team, club, or even family — to stay in touch through Internet messaging, check out Slack and our new book explaining how to use it. We even have a public Slack group you can join to talk about Slack and anything related to Apple.
Apple’s minimalist ethos has struck again, causing the company’s 2015 MacBook to be equipped with just a single USB-C port. Most people agree this is not enough. Third-party port-expansion products are now available, though, with other USB-C accessories providing added features. Julio Ojeda-Zapata looks at a sampling of USB-C accessories.
In the latest installment of The Power of Preview, we look deeply at how you view images and PDFs in Apple’s ubiquitous Mac document and image viewer.
Notable software releases this week include BBEdit 11.5.1, Airfoil 5.0.2, and ChronoSync 4.6.6 and ChronoAgent 1.6.0.
We have just two ExtraBITS this week, since all the stories about Apple and the FBI were merely speculation or opinion on one side or the other. In solid news, Apple is holding an event on 21 March 2016 and we get a look at how growing up in Alabama shaped Tim Cook.