My iMac (Mountain Lion Edition)

Product Author Bios

John Ray is a life-long fan of Apple products; he has been an avid Mac user since its inception in 1984. He relies on Mac OS X both at work and at home because it is a robust, flexible platform for programming, networking, and design. Over the past 14 years, John has written books on OS X, iOS development, Linux, web development, networking, and computer security. He currently serves as the interim director of the Office of Research Information Systems at The Ohio State University. He lives with his long-time girlfriend, their dogs, a collection of vintage arcade games, and an assortment of tech toys.

My iMac offers iMac users full-color, step-by-step visual instructions to learn how to get the most out of their iMac and OS X Mountain Lion. Using a task-based format accompanied by full-color images, you see the detail of each step as you move through a task enabling you to quickly and easily accomplish tasks such as: managing and arranging your desktop, connecting to wired and wireless networks, creating virtual workspaces using Mission Control, understanding and using iCloud services, setting up calendars, contacts, and email, connecting to others via social media apps, downloading and installing applications, adding peripherals such as printers and backup drives, troubleshooting system problems, securing your data, and much more.

Table of Contents

Prologue: Getting Started with the iMac     1

Getting to Know the iMac Hardware     1

What You Need to Know     4

Understanding iCloud and Apple ID     12

Windows Compatibility     13

Chapter 1: Managing Your iMac Desktop     19

Organizing in the Dock     20

Customizing Finder Windows     24

Arranging and Grouping Files     26

Previewing Document Contents with Quick Look     28

Using Instant-Access Utilities in the Dashboard     31

Finding Information with Spotlight     34

Keeping Track of Application Events with Notifications     38

Chapter 2: Making the Most of Your iMac’s Screen Space     43

Swimming in a Sea of Application Windows with Mission Control     44

Managing and Launching Applications with Launchpad     53

Managing Auto Open and Save Features     61

Chapter 3: Connecting Your iMac to a Network     65

Connecting to a Wired Network     66

Connecting to a Wireless Network     67

Manually Configuring Network Settings     72

Creating Virtual Private Network Connections     78

Managing Multiple Connections with Locations and Configurations     80

Seeking Automated Network Assistance     83

Chapter 4: Accessing iCloud, Email, and the Web     87

Setting Up iCloud     88

Exploring Unique iCloud Services     92

Getting Started with Accounts     100

Using Mail     102

Web Browsing in Safari     128

Chapter 5: Being Social with Messages, FaceTime, Twitter, Facebook, and Game Center     149

Instant Messaging with Messages     150

Video Calls with FaceTime     168

Using the Mountain Lion Twitter and Facebook Posting Support     174

Getting Your Game on with Game Center     178

Chapter 6: Keeping Contacts, Appointments, Reminders, and Notes     191

Managing Contacts in Contacts     192

Working with Schedules in Calendar     206

Remembering with Reminders     220

Keeping Track with Notes     226

Chapter 7: Sharing Devices, Files, and Services on a Network     237

File Sharing on Your iMac     238

Sharing Files via Share Sheets     250

Sharing Printers     255

Sharing a Scanner     258

Sharing an Optical Drive     260

Sharing Your iMac Screen     262

Sharing Your Internet Connection     268

Chapter 8: Entertainment on the (iMac’s) Big Screen     273

Using DVD Player     274

Viewing Browser Video or Downloaded Video Files     277

Creating a Media Library in iTunes     281

Building the Ultimate Media Center     309

Chapter 9: Installing and Managing Software on Your iMac     319

Mac App Store     320

Installing Non-App Store Applications     326

Keeping Your Applications and Operating System Up-To-Date     329

Chapter 10: Making the Most of Your iMac Hardware     333

Going Green with Energy Saver     334

Updating Keyboard and Dictation Settings     336

Changing Trackpad and Mouse Options     341

Adjusting the iMac Display     346

Setting Sound Input and Output     350

Recording Audio, Video, and Screen Actions     355

Chapter 11: Connecting Devices to Your iMac     361

Connecting USB Input Devices     362

Using Bluetooth Devices     364

Using External Displays and Projectors     369

Connecting to an Apple TV (or Other Device) with AirPlay     373

Connecting and Using a Printer     .377

Connecting and Using a Scanner     382

Chapter 12: Securing and Protecting Your iMac     387

Working with Users and Groups     388

Tracking Passwords with Keychain Access     396

Encrypting Your Mountain Lion Disk     400

Limiting Application Execution     402

Achieving Network Security with the Built-In Firewall     403

Backing Up Important Information     406

Chapter 13: Troubleshooting Your iMac System     417

Dealing with Troublesome Software     418

Restarting and Correcting a Frozen Machine     422

Fixing Disk Problems with Disk Utility     427

Gathering Information About Your iMac     431

Remember Your Backups!      435

Chapter 14: Upgrading Your iMac     437

Upgrading Your Built-In Hardware     437

Adding External Storage     441

Index     447