Once again, Microsoft may have implemented the technology first, but Apple has turned it into a compelling end-user experience. Credit where credit is due for both parties.
The feature in question is Volume Shadow Copy which some of you might know of as 'Previous Versions' introduced to the file properties dialog since Windows Vista. Even fewer of you might have even used it to recover an old file. If not, I don't blame you since it's neither well exposed and easy to use.
After OS X Lion is released in approximately a few months, it's my guess many folds more users are going to love 'Versions'. Why? Because even if they don't need to recover a file, they're going to enjoy the visual spectacle of traveling through time with their documents.
'Function over form' comes to mind with Microsoft's approach with a traditional list control. Some might argue Apple's is 'form over function' but if you consider both the visuals of the preview and the timeline, you'd understand that the form is the function in this case. And the space background? It's pretty.
Trace my shadow is a tool that allows you to get a glimpse into the digital traces you're leaving - how many, what kinds, and from what devices. Start by selecting the device and services that you use. See how many traces you leave and what you can do take control of you traces. Check off the devices that you use. Shadow Health Help Desk; Student Troubleshooting; macOS; macOS Audio issues in Safari; Upgrading your OS X installation; How to adjust microphone volume (macOS) Enable Microphone on macOS; Status Page: Submit a request.
Note: The UI for Versions is not unlike Time Machine introduced in Leopard, however that feature required an external drive to function, thus it was a backup feature.
- You may Download the file to your hard drive. NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.
- Shadow has several shortcuts built-in to the application, making it possible to open or change settings using the keys from your keyboard. When Shadow is open on macOS, you can use shortcuts to: Show/hide the Quick Menu; Fullscreen or windowed mode; Mouse control locked/unlocked; Close Shadow; See the shortcuts and their results below.
- If you'd prefer to have your screenshots drop shadow-free, you can use the following command: $ defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool TRUE. You can either restart your Mac to see the changes or, using another command, see them instantly: $ killall SystemUIServer.
If you troubleshoot Macs on a regular basis, sooner or later, you're going to need an old Mac OS X install CD or DVD. Only the truly organized will be able to locate that Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard DVD they last used two moves ago. For those of you looking to find a way to replace your old Mac OS X install discs, we'd like to offer the following suggestions.
eBay
You'll find it all on eBay, albeit not at the best possible prices. Like any commodity that's not being produced anymore, original Mac OS X installation CDs and DVDs are being kept, hoarded, and sold at impressive profits. Remember when Apple routinely insisted that $129 was a reasonable amount to jump from Mac OS X 10.3 to 10.4? Well, the person who kept their boxed installation disc would like to see their money back—and it's going to come out of your pocket.
Still, eBay is the place where the selection is the most optimal, the price competition remains fierce, and odds are you can find exactly what you need and have it on your doorstep in a few days' time. Check that the seller has a reputation around or close to 100 percent before you order what you need.
Craigslist
If it's for sale and local, you'll find it on Craigslist. Log in, check the local computer equipment listings and you should be able to find what you need, or at least someone who has a good lead on the Mac OS X CD or DVD that you suddenly found yourself needing for a project.
Unlike eBay, there's a little wiggle room for negotiation once you've contacted the seller via phone or email, so use this to your advantage and with any luck, they'll come to you with the product.
Like anything else with Craigslist, be on the lookout for scams, deals that seem too good to be true, and the like. Contact the seller, see how you get along and with any luck, you can have the install disc you need by the end of the day.
Techie yard sales/Macintosh user groups
You'll have to dig around and pen them into your calendar, but you'll find what you need here plus Mac-based advice and camaraderie to boot. Growing up in the 1990s, Macintosh User Group techie yard sales were among the greatest things on Earth and allowed you to find almost any piece of hardware or software that you might need. This tradition continues and Apple still keeps a list of physical Macintosh User Groups as well as online-only Apple User Groups, so see what's near you.
You Are My Shadow Mac Os Pro
Once your older Mac OS X CD or DVD is in your hand, set aside some time with Disk Utility and some blank CD-Rs, DVD-Rs, or, in the case of the Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard operating systems, dual layer DVD-Rs. These are your property now, they're yours to back up and there's always the chance that someone will be happy to buy your original disc somewhere down the road.
