OS X Hacker

Mac character keys, a handy reference for all of the extra characters that keystrokes can generate on a mac. I was going to post something like this about a month ago, but their version is much much better (and more handy). (9) # 08/21/07

Right-click context menu and services

Like Theron, I’ve been exploring the use of various organizational apps to figure out what suits me for my dissertation note-taking. After uninstalling Journaler, I noticed that it left an item in Finder’s right-click context menu. For those that don’t want such artificats, it’s relatively simple to remove. In finder, browse to ~/Library/Contextual Menu Items/ and remove the Journaler plugin.

If you want to create your own context menu items, there’s a little application called OnMyCommand. I also came across a little utility that allows you to edit the items available in the Services menu, called Service Scrubber.

Quicksilver + iTunes for easy song navigation

This one’s probably obvious to most Quicksilver users, but one of the things I hate is when I’m deep into writing some code and a song comes on iTunes that I want to skip. Most of the time when I’m working, I have iTunes running some playlist on random, and when a song comes on that I don’t want to listen to, I have to switch over to iTunes from whatever application I’m using to click “next.” it’s a pain in the ass and can easily distract me from my workflow. So, today I set up a couple of Quicksilver triggers to give myself easy access to the next and previous songs in my iTunes playlist. I set up CMD-ArrowRight for next song and CMD-ArrowLeft for previous. It’s simple, but a lifesaver when the need arises. Just go into Quicksilver, type CMD-’ to go to the triggers section, click on the iTunes icon for the iTunes triggers and activate the triggers for next song and previous song.

Click the picture for a larger view

Magic zoomin’

Working on your latest pixel-perfect design? I don’t know about you, but I am. I need to zoom in and look at my design really closely, at the pixel level. How do I do that?

• Open System Preferences
• select Keyboard & Mouse
• select Trackpad
• Enable “Zoom while holding Control”

Great. Done. Now, while holding control, drag on your Trackpad using two fingers. Let’s take a look at OSX Hacker.

Hold CTRL + drag, and Zoooom’in: