How-Tos

Apple's next release of OS X "Mountain Lion" is slated for release by the end of this month, with some recent developments suggesting it may be out by as early as next week. If you are thinking about upgrading your Mac to the new operating system, then you might consider reserving some time this weekend to ensuring your system is capable of and prepared for the upgrade.

While for the most part you should be able to download and install the upgrade without any problems, there are a few things you can do to help prevent running … Read more

I know what you're thinking. Why on earth would you want to turn Google's quad-core, Android 4.1 supertablet into an Amazon Kindle Fire?

Well, you're right. But don't worry, I'm not here to neuter your Nexus 7. I'm here to show you how to get (nearly) all of Amazon's great Android offerings on the Nexus.

In Android 4.1, Google finally shows off the full breadth of its ecosystem of media services, right out of the box. Boot it up, and you'll see Google Books, Google Music, Google Video, and the … Read more

Apple's MacBook systems are stylish and quite popular, but also come at a relatively steep retail price that may be too much for some people. While Apple offers discounts for refurbished systems, another option people have is to purchase a system second-hand from someone who has upgraded their older system.

While new and refurbished Mac systems come with a one-year warranty and 90-days of free technical support, this likely will not be the case with a used system, so if you buy one you will need to be sure it is working properly.

MacFixIt reader Nooruddin recently wrote in … Read more

The $199 Nexus 7 tablet from Google is one of the most approachable full-fledged Android tablets I've played with. Instead of the "Tron"-inspired graphic motifs and deliberately opaque navigation elements that defined Honeycomb (Android 3.0), the Nexus 7 feels like it was made for a human being.

But while Google's new emphasis on its media services (video, music, books) makes this tablet feel a little like more a Kindle Fire than a high-end Android tablet, there are number of customizations you can make to the Nexus 7 to make it uniquely your own.

In … Read more

Foursquare has added a new feature to its app and Web site called Connected Apps. Basically, it's a showcase of apps that got a head-start on using the Foursquare API. In the choices you'll see apps such as: The Weather Channel, Instagram, and Eat This, Not That!

When you check in to a location, you'll see the Connected Apps information right below Foursquare tips from other users. Ready to add some to your Foursquare and check them out? Here's how:

Step 1: Open the Foursquare app and head to the Me … Read more

Google+, the social network Google is integrating into almost all of its other Web services, is rolling out a new feature today: Events. The idea is to make scheduling events and keeping track of the details (attendees, photos, etc.) a breeze.

Creating an event To create an event, simply head to your Google+ page. Click on Events in the left-hand side menu to open the details window.

There are a lot of stock pictures with small animations -- called "cinegraphs" -- added by default in the theme section at the top of the window, and they look pretty … Read more

MightyText is similar to iMessage, except for Android. You can send SMS from your computer or tablet (all you need is a Web browser), and still use your own phone number. You'll also be able to screen incoming calls by seeing the caller information on the computer. This is also a great way to stay in touch with friends and family if you forget your phone at home or work and can't run off to get it right away.

Note: You will need a Google account to use this app. The account is used for syncing access from … Read more

Flipboard is your one-stop app for many networks and news sources. In fact, Flipboard supports Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Google Reader, LinkedIn, Instagram, Tumblr, and a few others! Once you have all your networks linked to the Flipboard account, a beautiful stream of information will appear in the app.

Here's a quick guide to getting your feet wet with an app favored by many:

First you'll want to get a copy of Flipboard for Android. After it's installed, open the app and flip your finger upward on the screen to reveal the Get Started and Sign In … Read more

Despite having an official mobile client available for Instagram, there are still a lot of third-party apps out there for viewing photos from the service. Instamap, one of the alternative clients, offers a feature not yet present in the official app: finding photos by geotag. Think of Instamap as Instagram meets Google Maps -- a lovely pairing.

Grab a copy of Instamap for Android. After installing, open the app and choose whether or not to use your Instagram account when browsing photos around the world. If you sign in, then you can Like or comment on photos, as well … Read more