Coolest thing you get your MB/MBP to do

[TonySwartz]

I use a program called Proximity -- http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/proximity.html -- to do the following:

• When Proximity can't detect my Bluetooth phone (which means I'm not at the computer), it: turns on Adium's away message, pauses iTunes, turns on the screensaver password setting in System Preferences, and then activates the screensaver
• When Proximity detects my Bluetooth phone again (meaning I've returned), it: sets Adium back to available, turns on the screensaver (without requiring a password), and then turns off the screensaver password setting in the System Preferences

If iSync worked with Sony-Ericsson's M600i (my phone), I'd have it automatically iSync as well. Unfortunately, Sony hates OSX. (Go to http://www.tswartz.com/files/Archive.zip for the AppleScript files to do the tasks above.) :-D

 

[deadpixels]

the coolest is the Shadowbook trick, so you can change desktops by passing your hand over the light sensor of your laptop

 

[eXan]

Actually it really annoys me having that logo slapped on my laptop. I've already paid Apple enough money without advertising their product for free.

That glowing Apple is awesome, man! Especially in a dark/semi-dark room

 

[deputy_doofy]

MacSaber - my boss almost wrote off his new MBP when I showed him that...

M.

Yeah... MacSaber impresses everyone.
"Hey, how did it do that?"

 

[richard4339]

My Mac once convinced someone I was someone else...

 

[iJawn108]

http://www.delicious-monster.com/

its nuts it's seriously nuts how well it works.

 

[princealfie]

I used it to finish up my first novel.

 

[Elixer]

The coolest little thing I use on a daily basis is the screen zoom feature.

(ctrl + 2 fingers on the track pad)

I use that ALL THE TIME....love it.

Oh wow, I never knew that one. It's so cool, thanks for sharing.

 

[SC68Cal]

help me graduate / make money

 

[flaconlx]

apple + shift + 4

when I want to show a friend something, I use that feature, and send it on iChat

 

[DA-Steve]

http://www.delicious-monster.com/

its nuts it's seriously nuts how well it works.

the guy that started that company now works for Apple doign the icons doesnt he?

 

[kkarb]

http://www.delicious-monster.com/

its nuts it's seriously nuts how well it works.

How's your experience with Delicious Library? I've read that it is really, really slow. It looks awesome, but I don't want to get it and find out its a piece of crap.

 

[jsalzer]

Mine's magic

That's right - mine's magical. After I unplug it, it keeps running for about an hour and a half!!!

I keep setting it next to the iMac and chanting to try to get its magical powers to transfer over, but alas the iMac doesn't seem to retain the charge the way the MBP does.

 

[anjinha]

I use a program called Proximity -- http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/proximity.html -- to do the following:

• When Proximity can't detect my Bluetooth phone (which means I'm not at the computer), it: turns on Adium's away message, pauses iTunes, turns on the screensaver password setting in System Preferences, and then activates the screensaver
• When Proximity detects my Bluetooth phone again (meaning I've returned), it: sets Adium back to available, turns on the screensaver (without requiring a password), and then turns off the screensaver password setting in the System Preferences

If iSync worked with Sony-Ericsson's M600i (my phone), I'd have it automatically iSync as well. Unfortunately, Sony hates OSX. (Go to http://www.tswartz.com/files/Archive.zip for the AppleScript files to do the tasks above.) :-D

I downloaded Proximity and the AppleScript files but I can't get this to work. Is there anything I should know about for this to work?

 

[iJawn108]

How's your experience with Delicious Library? I've read that it is really, really slow. It looks awesome, but I don't want to get it and find out its a piece of crap.

I've only used the demo, it's not the fastest thing.... but it's quicker than setting up your own form and trying to make a list yourself typing. Also it didn't accept the bourne identity book the sequel . They came up as some fitness book. lol Otherwise though I was scanning all my movies and games(k well i only have 1) and books I was just blown away.

 

[kkarb]

Cool, I'll have to give that a try. It certainly looks nice!

Today I accidentally made my macbook do something pretty cool that I'd never seen before. Now maybe I'm just a "noob" or something but if you press and hold shift and then press the buttons for widgets or expose, etc. (so like...F9 through F12) they go slow! So instead of coming up fairly fast, the widgets slowly fade in. Not sure why you would need it but it looks pretty cool.

 

[TonySwartz]

I downloaded Proximity and the AppleScript files but I can't get this to work. Is there anything I should know about for this to work?

I assume you've set Proximity to detect the right device and set the away script for exiting proximity and the available script for returning proximity?

 

[Sesshi]

Coolest thing you get your MB/MBP to do

Coolest thing? Idle. On an iCurve. In front of a desk fan

Seriously, in terms of where I feel it really stands out is as a portable VCR at home with the EyeTV software. There's lots about it's ease of use I like. I don't watch a lot of TV but when I do, I like using EyeTV to do so.

 

[kolax]

Get it to tell me the most pathetic jokes I've heard in my life through voice reconigtion!

 

[kkarb]

Get it to tell me the most pathetic jokes I've heard in my life through voice reconigtion!

Me- "Tell me a joke"
Computer- "Knock knock"
Me- "Who's there"
Computer - "Desdamona"
Me- "Desdamona who?"
*silence*
Me- "Desdamona who?!"
*more silence*
Me- "DES-da-mone-A who?!"
*even more silence*
Me- "God, this thing effing sucks!"
Computer- "Desdamona lisa hanging on the wall"

 

[anjinha]

I assume you've set Proximity to detect the right device and set the away script for exiting proximity and the available script for returning proximity?

Yes, I have.

 

[PkennethV]

How can I use my mouse for the zoom feature? I have a generic two-button USB mouse. Thanks!

make sure zoom is enabled in system prefs>universal access>seeing. Then just press command-plus or minus.

As for the coolest thing I do on my Mac...I'd say it would be running OS X.

 

[Nar1117]

I downloaded Proximity and the AppleScript files but I can't get this to work. Is there anything I should know about for this to work?

I assume you've set Proximity to detect the right device and set the away script for exiting proximity and the available script for returning proximity?

In the applescript utility, you have to have GUI Scripting enabled. This allows the scripts to work with "assisitve devices" such as a mobile phone.

If you havent used apple script in a while, this feature might be disabled.

And FYI, the "away" script included doesnt include the pausing of iTunes. To make it do this, add the line:

tell application "iTunes"
activate
tell application "iTunes" to pause
end tell

To the script.

 

[regre7]

Mine cures cancer. Ha, beat that.

 

[Satch]

Mine cures cancer. Ha, beat that.

You are hoping that it will find a way to cure cancer...
-
Proximity sounds genious btw. Gonna try that with my mobile phone!