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Having trouble with your contacts in Apple’s latest OS X update El Capitan? Trying to get to know your contacts better? With every new operating system Apple releases, there are changes and things you are going to have to tinker with. Here are some helpful tips for improving your contacts in OS X El Capitan.

Add Fields

One of the more useful things you will find in Contacts are Fields. Launch Contacts Preferences and then choose Template. Use the Add Field drop-down menu to add fields to your Contacts. You can add things like Twitter handles for contacts as they aren’t enabled by default. All you have to do is select Twitter in the drop-down list.

Birthday

You can use Contacts in conjunction with Automator in order to automate the sending of birthday greetings via email. This is useful for not only remembering birthdays but also for gaining a little insight into Automator and how it can help you in other ways.

Smart Groups Are The Best

You can create Smart Groups by going to File > New Smart Group. From here you can set up different parameters across the four search fields. You can add additional search filters by pressing the + button and you can use this to also create groups that will automatically be updated. This includes Card Contains Apple or Birthday Is In The Next Week. A majority of users don’t realize that Smart Groups is a thing though it can really help when working on a project or with a group.

Get Rid Of Duplications

Contact Books can easily become overloaded by data that we don’t necessarily need. This includes duplicates of contact addresses. In Contacts go to Card > Link Selected Cards from the Menu. This will minimize everything to a single listing.

Use Contacts Cleaner

Contacts Cleaner, which only costs $4.99 from the Mac App Store, is a fantastic tool that helps you fix problems. It will inform you about errors in your database, including duplicate addresses or bad phone numbers. In addition to that, it also offers to resolve problems for you and allows you to edit records if you want or need to fix problems manually.

Suggested Contacts

In El Capitan, Mail can detect when you receive new information for a contact, allowing you to update the contact card from inside the mail app. It also identifies whenever a new person makes contact. You can find contact info in your Contacts app, which identifies itself as “Found in Mail”.

Siri

Nickname and Related Name are two fields that are very handy. Enable either of these and you will be able to define your relationship with contacts or give them nicknames. After you’ve assigned roles or names to your key contacts you can use Siri more effectively with your iOS device.

Organization

Try organizing your existing contacts into different groups using File > New Group. Create a name for the group and place the appropriate amount of contacts there. Then you can decide what the groups are for, i.e. friends, colleagues, family, etc… This makes it easier for you to find and manage your contacts.

Check Your Default Account

If you don’t seem to be getting regular updates to your Contacts then you should ensure that you have the correct default account configured across all of your Macs and devices. Open Contacts and go to Preferences > General and look for the lowest item in the list marked as Default Account. Set this to iCloud as this is where the new contacts will be added by default.

Links

Duplicate contacts can cause problems, especially when using multiple email accounts. You could very well see two entries for the same person in your address book, one for Gmail and another for iCloud. To eliminate this press Command and select the cards. Then choose Card > Link Selected Cards from the Menu. This will make them a single listing.

That’s really all there is to it. If you are having problems with your Contacts or you simply want to make them easier to navigate and more organized then follow these tips and you’ll have them all sorted out in no time!

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Trying to use your new Magic Trackpad 2 on your Mac desktop? Well if you’re having trouble then let me be of assistance. The Magic Trackpad 2 requires you to be using a Bluetooth 4.0-enabled Mac desktop with OS X v10.11 or later. Obviously this means that not every Mac is going to be able to take advantage of this peripheral. If you’re wondering about your Mac, most made in 2012 or later and some made in 2011 should be compatible with the Magic Trackpad 2. There are a few notable exceptions, including the late 2011 MacBook Pro models and the late 2011 iMacs. There are reports that you can finagle the trackpad to work on these older devices though Apple doesn’t recommend it.

So, if your Mac is compatible then you should connect the trackpad to the Mac using the Lightning to USB cable. Once you’ve done this, switch the trackpad on and the device should automatically pair with your Mac in Bluetooth Preferences. Once you’re all setup the trackpad works similar to an iPhone, offering you a Force Touch surface that you can use to move the pointer and issue gesture-based commands. In addition to that, the trackpad is also capable of telling the difference between non-imperative hand rest positions and actual commands. You can set up gestures and even create your own optional commands by going to System Preferences > Trackpad.

If you’ve used Force Touch on the latest Apple laptops then you will already have a feel for how this trackpad works. The UI features allow you to access items while reducing the steps it takes to get there. Multitouch is also supported and there are different commands you can issue, including Click, Force Click, Two-Finger Click, Pinch-to-Zoom, and Swipe. Click allows you to press anywhere on the trackpad and utilize it like a mouse click. You can also enable “Tap to Click” in the preferences. Force Click allows you to firmly click anywhere on the trackpad until you feel a deeper click. Use this to have more contextual information about an on-screen item or to access things like word definitions or a preview on Maps. Two-Finger Click allows you to click with two fingers to open shortcut menus. Tapping with two fingers allows you to do the same thing if you have Tap-to-Click enabled. Pinch to zoom works the same as it does on the iPhone. If you swipe left or right with two fingers you will scroll through web pages, documents or iBooks.

In addition to tall of that, the trackpad also offers a lot of tools for getting around apps. If you pinching closed with four or five fingers allows you to open Launchpad to find and launch apps. Swiping left or right with three or four fingers will switch between full-screen apps, and swiping up with three fingers will gain you access to Mission Control. If you go to Help > Mac Help in the finder menu and search for “Trackpad” you can access more information about using the device.

Hopefully, this helps you get through using your trackpad on a Mac. None of these things are really complicated and it should be easy for almost anyone, even those unfamiliar with Mac devices, to jump right in and start using their new Magic Trackpad 2 right out of the box with no hassles.

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A massive update is in store for the standalone products offered by Apple. This includes the company’s keyboard, mouse and trackpad, with ways of making each device a lot better than they used to be. One of the key changes coming to all the devices is the fact that they are all ditching their AA battery requirements in favor of built-in batteries that charge via Lightning cable. These new batteries are expected to last for about a month on a single charge and are supposed to quickly charge enough for nine hours of use after just two minutes of being plugged in.

Aside from the battery changes, each device is getting a design change with some being more than others. The trackpad is getting the biggest change in the fact that it is no longer terrible. The new trackpad comes with a flat metal base and a white top that slopes downward back to front. The surface of the trackpad is wider and has a more rectangular shape and also comes with some new tricks. Force Touch is now supported and, the feature that most people will love, you now have the ability to click the trackpad literally anywhere on its surface. However, all of these new bells and whistles come with an increased price tag as the new model runs $129.

The next thing to see a big change is the Apple keyboard. The new keyboard looks far different from its predecessor, having a single piece of metal that gently slopes down from top to bottom, much like the trackpad. As a matter of fact, the trackpad and the keyboard actually fit perfectly side-by-side. The keys themselves are slightly wider than the older model, reducing the air gap around them though their placement is identical. The function keys also see a change in size, shifting from tiny rectangles to full square keys that are very satisfying to press on.

Even though the keys are in the same place, they feel very different. These new keys are far shallower than their predecessors, which might not seem like a big difference until you factor in the slope of the keyboard. Each row of keys is closer to being level with the row next to it, meaning you have to move your fingers slightly more to reach certain keys. I’m sure you’ll get used to this quickly though you shouldn’t expect perfect typing right out of the box. This new keyboard is also getting a price hike to $99.

The Apple mouse sees the least amount of changes compared to the trackpad and keyboard. The new mouse looks practically identical to the old one, with the same flat top that looks like no other mouse on the market. The new one is slightly longer, which makes it feel less awkward in your hand. The biggest change is on the bottom of the mouse, where there is no longer a thin, removable plate covering where the batteries would be. This is significant because that thing was a pain to remove. Apple has also noted that it has redesigned the “rails” the mouse slides on though they seem pretty much the same. Like the other two products, the new mouse is increasing in price to $79.

All three of these products are also receiving slightly new names as well. The trackpad is now known as the Magic Trackpad 2 instead of the Magic Trackpad, the Magic Mouse is now known as the Magic Mouse 2, and the keyboard is called the Magic Keyboard. Why not the Magic Keyboard 2 you might ask? Well, because the old keyboard was simply known as the Apple Wireless Keyboard. Magic or not, I think the new one should be called the Magic Keyboard 2 for continuity purposes. All three products are currently available from Apple.

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As if Apple’s bumper September launch event wasn’t good enough, with the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, as well as a bumper-size iPad Pro and Apple TV top box device, now the Cupertino company is said to launch a new 21.5-inch iMac this week.

According to multiple sources, 9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman says Apple will be releasing the new iMac desktop as early as Tuesday! Apple hasn’t actually announced any news yet, but Gurman has a great connection when it comes to rumors and leaks from Apple.

The new iMacs apparently will have 4,096 x 2,304 of resolution and better graphics cards compared to their predecessors, with 1,920 x 1,080 of resolution. They will also be slightly more expensive.

There have been hints dropping about the 4k iMac since June. Code in a beta version of Apple’s latest desktop operating system, El Capitan, includes support for an iMac with a display of 4,096 x 2,304.

Apple has been continuously updating their devices to have high-resolution Retina displays, starting with iPhones all the way to MacBooks and iPads. Since Apple launched the larger-screened 27-inch iMac to have a 5K Retina display, it looks like the 21.5-inch iMac is their next project. The 21.5-inch iMacs are starting at $1,099.

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Have you been dreaming of having a touchscreen Mac running iOS? Well, I usually don’t condone giving up on your dreams, but you may have no other choice with this one. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, recently dismissed the assumption that Apple will merge the iOS mobile software with its OS X computer software. This means that iPads and Macs are, for the foreseeable future, going to remain separate entities, despite all the new similarities between them.

“We don’t believe in having one operating system for PC and mobile,” Cook stated on Tuesday during a chat with CEO of Box Aaron Levie. “We think it subtracts from both, and you don’t get the best experience from either. We’re very much focused on two.” Box is a company that provides cloud storage for businesses and is hosting its BoxWorks conference this week in downtown San Francisco.

These comments from Cook reiterate what Apple has been saying for years: that it’s PC and mobile systems will continue to be separate. Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi told CNET that introducing Macs with touchscreens was something that Apple had no intentions of doing. “We don’t think it’s the right interface, honestly. Mac is sort of a sit-down experience.”

Apple has kept its computer operating system totally separate from its iOS mobile software though it does feature things like “Handoff” from last year’s iOS 8, which allows the two programs to interact better. The feature allows you to start a program on an iPhone and then complete it on an iPad or Mac. According to Kantar Worldpanel Analyst Caroline Milanesi, “Apple continues to see the need for a continuum of experience but not a need for both experiences to merge if that means there is a compromise to make. I think that is the right approach.”

On the flip side, Microsoft has done the exact opposite. Under CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft has adopted a “one Windows” strategy. It has ported its new Windows 10 operating system to desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and even its Xbox One gaming console.

With the iPad Pro being officially unveiled earlier this month, questions about whether Apple would merge iOS and OS X into a single system resurfaced. The new 12.9″ tablet comes with an optional keyboard and stylus, which allows designers and others to do much more with their iPad. In addition to that, having an iPad with a bigger screen could also allow people to replace their computers with a tablet, which is something that could be vital as Apple works desperately to revitalize its iPad business.

Even if there is no foreseeable future for the merger of iOS and OS X, people can still dream. While the new iPad Pro could push Apple in the right direction with merging the two operating systems, it isn’t something we should hang our hopes on. However, if Apple wants to remain competitive, it should definitely consider merging. Microsoft has already seen great success with it and people are continually trying to find more portable ways to replace their desktops.

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Apple debuted its newest operating system, OS X 10.11 El Capitan, at the Worldwide Developers Conference back in June. This new operating system builds on the features and design changes that were introduced with OS X Yosemite and while El Capitan may seem like an odd name, it is meant to highlight the operating system’s position as an update that brings under-the-hood improvements and refinements to OS X Yosemite.

In terms of reality, El Capitan is one of the most popular rock formations and landmarks located within the Yosemite National Park. The El Capitan name for OS X 10.11 hearkens back to a long-running OS X naming scheme that is used to denote updates that are refinements to previous updates. Other similar name changes include Leopard to Snow Leopard and Lion to Mountain Lion.

El Capitan shows that Apple is focusing on two major areas: the user experience and performance. Improvements to things like apps, window management, and Spotlight search enhance the way people use their Macs. In addition to that, the under-the-hood additions, like Metal graphics technology, make everyday activities like launching apps much faster.

El Capitan doesn’t change up its aesthetic too much, keeping the same general look as Yosemite. However, it does include a new system-wide font known as San Francisco. OS X’s window management feature, Mission Control, has also been given an upgrade and introduces a Split View feature that mimics the iOS 9 multitasking feature on the iPad. This features also allows for two full-screen apps to be used simultaneously side-by-side.

Spotlight search will now support natural language input with El Capitan as well as gaining deeper functionality and more sources. Safari has also gained Pinned Sites, which will allow users to pin favorite websites on the tab bar. There’s also a nifty new mute button that will mute all sound coming from Safari or quickly identify specific tabs playing audio.

Mail also supports new iOS-style gestures for managing messages while a Smart Suggestions addition will recognize names and events for quick additions to contacts and calendars. Moreover, whenever you are in full screen, there will also be tools that deal with multiple emails one at a time.

Another thing that is gaining support with El Capitan is Photos. Photos will now support third-party photo editing extensions from Mac App Store apps. The Notes app is also being revamped, much like the Notes app for iOS 9 was. This new app will support checklists, content from other apps like Safari or Maps, and an Attachment Browser.

In terms of performance, the addition of Metal improves speeds for the Mac by increasing system-level graphics rendering. This graphics improvement, along with other enhancements, allows many standard apps to perform better and also allows games and pro apps to see significant performance boosts as well.

OS X 10.11 El Capitan was given to developers back in June right after the Worldwide Developers Conference. On July 9, Apple began offering OS X El Capitan to public beta testers. Since then, Apple has given out eight El Capitan betas to developers along with six betas to public beta testers with each one adding small tweaks and improvements to the operating system. The operating system is supposed to be available to consumers sometime this Fall.

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There are all kinds of things that make iOS awesome, but some of the coolest features are also some of the ones that are least known. You’d think they would include them in the instruction manual, right? Well, for those of you looking to get the most out of your Mac, here is a list of 5 awesome tricks that you probably didn’t know anything about.

Recording your iOS 8 device’s screen

This little trick can come in pretty handy for a lot of different reasons. You can actually record whatever is happening on you iPhone’s screen straight to your Mac. All you have to do is plug the device into your Mac using a Lightning cable. Then you can open up the QuickTime player app on the Mac, choose File and then New Movie Recording, and then select you iPhone or whatever other device is plugged in and hit the record button.

Print faster in shared offices

Doesn’t it suck when you are in a shared office and you have to wait forever to print your files? With this trick, you can skip the line and automatically print from the first available printer. Launch System Preferences>Printers & Scanners, then select all of the shared printers in the office and create a printer tool that includes all of them. Now, every time you print just remember to select the pool, and your print job will get printed out on the first available printer. Pretty sweet, right?

Summarize

Your Mac has the ability to summarize long tracts for you. All you have to do is select the text, right click, and then click on “Services”. Then you can enable Summarize in the Shortcuts section under Text.

Apple Dictionary

A lot of people don’t know this, but Apple actually has their own dictionary for all of the Apple related terms. You can access it by launching Dictionary and selecting the Apple tab at the top of the window. Now you can learn lots more about your computer and your operating system in general. This comes in handy for just about everyone.

Command

If you press Command and hit tab you can move between apps, everyone knows that. But what most people don’t know is that if you hold down Command and use the Q and H keys with it, you can either quit or hide the selected applications.

Pretty cool stuff right? There are a ton of little tips and tricks like this that Mac users can utilize, these are just a few of our favorites. Enjoy!