Mac OS X Snow Leopard Secrets

• The Snow Leopard 10.6 update to the Mac OS X operating system continued to utilize the interface familiar to users of Leopard 10.5. But underneath the similarities are some big changes to the architecture of the computer. Additionally, a number of small tweaks to the operating system and system applications give you new and improved ways of accomplishing various tasks.

Converting Video for iPod, iPhone, iPad and Apple TV

• Snow Leopard brought with it QuickTime X, a new version of the popular QuickTime video-player. One new feature in QuickTime X is the ability to convert videos into different formats. Apple devices like the iPod, iPhone, iPad and Apple TV rely on certain file formats. Using the "Share" menu, you can specify which device you want to play a file on and convert it to the correct format.

Text Substitutions

• In the "Languages & Text" system preference window, you can create text substitutions. These can be as simple as replacing "teh" with "the" or as complicated as using a unique code to prompt multi-line replacements. The latter is useful if you frequently write the same things over and over in multiple programs. To use substitutions, you have to go to the "Edit" menu and select "Substitutions."

Quick Look

• If you have ever wished you could see what was in a file before opening it, Quick Look is made for you. Select the file you want to preview and hit the spacebar. A window opens that displays the document, image or video.

Screen Recording

• It used to be if you wanted to record the action on your screen, you had to get a third-party application to do it. But QuickTime X brings with it the ability to do screen recording without additional software. The "New Screen Recording" option is in the "File" menu.

Display the Date in the Menu Bar

• Mac computers display the day of the week and the time in the menu bar by default. If you often find yourself needing to know the exact date, Snow Leopard can help. Go to the "Date & Time" System Preference window to add the full date to the menu bar.