The Real Mac Genius

Day 1 as an Apple Employee

2012-02-02T18:35:07Z

According to Business Insider, the typical goal of a new hire orientation at most companies is to excite the employees with the new company. Employees are typically greeted with a shiny new computer and company swag. While some of this is similar to Apple, day 1 as an Apple employee requires you to setup a shiny new Mac.

That’s right, no tech support. Apple assumes that if they hired you, you must be smart enough to setup a new computer. This unique way of approaching technology helps break the ice by having employees help one another.

Apple has been notoriously know for their secrecy. The head of security tells the new employees that they will be fired if they leak information. Apple has even been heard to have place employees on “fake products” before they think they can trust them.

The unique part of Apple’s culture can be linked to the success Apple has had over the past few years. Does revolutionizing industries such as the phone and music industry require this magnitude of strictness to produce results?

What do you think about Apple’s unique culture? Can you argue with their unique ways if they produce phenomenal results?

Review: Targus Spruce EcoSmart Topload

2012-01-23T04:41:06Z

It is very difficult to find the right messenger bag that combines style and functionality. If it wasn’t for Targus I don’t know where you would be able to find a messenger that combines these aspects for under $65. The Targus Spruce EcoSmart Topload’s large body allows you to carry any computer with screens under 15.6” Mac or PC. In this bag I was able to comfortably fit a 15” MacBook Pro, my iPad, and a few documents without it looking bulky. Then in the front pocket I was able to fit my key chain, two pens, business cards, computer charger, iPad charger, and a small portable mouse. But this can also be a downfall if you are like me and have a 13” MacBook air and do not want such a big bag. Before I go any further, lets check out the specs:

The Breakdown:

-Brand: Targus

-Name: Spruce EcoSmart Topload

-Price: $63.99 USD

- Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty

-Color: Black/ Green

-Intended for: Laptops with 15.6” Screens

-Materials: Recycled Polyester

-Size (Exterior): 15.63” x 13.25″ x 4.25”

Point-Scaled Grading:

For reviewal of all products by The Real Mac Genius.com, a point-scale grading system is used to cover each individual aspect of the product. Said grades on varying scales are then weighed to determine a final score, which is then translated to an overall grade, as follows:

Style: 1-25 Given: 22
Price: 1-15 Given: 13
Quality materials: 1-15 Given: 12
Brand name: 1-10 Given: 7
Modern technologies: 1-15 Given: 15
Compatibility: 1-15 Given: 15
Ease of use: 1-5 Given: 5

OVERALL: 89/100 B+
For further explanation, continue reading.

Continued Evaluation:

The Spruce EcoSmart Topload is quick to fool you when looking at the outside with its sleek look and durable exterior, but take a closer look inside to see thin, shiny, and plastic feeling materials. Final Thoughts: Other than the one fall back of cheap inner materials, I have to say that Targus impressed me with a very stylish and functional bag. If you are looking for a larger messenger bag I would recommend the Targus Spruce EcoSmart Topload. (Also if you did not realize this messenger was made was made for a PC). If you did not particularly like this messengers for any reason Targus has similar messengers bags that will open up different ways or for different products like the netbook.

What do you think about the Targus Spruce EcoSmart Topload? Let us know, leave a comment.

Stay connected at my new twitter handle to stay updated 24/7 @TRMGaveragejoes and @realmacgenius What do you think? Let us know in the comment section.

Targus 14″ Proxy Sleeve

2012-01-23T04:38:45Z

If you are looking for an alternative to the Incase Neoprene Sleeve, the Targus Proxy Sleeve is just as good. In fact if you do not like the simplicity of Incase’s design the Targus Proxy Sleeve will be perfect. The Proxy Sleeve has two pockets in the front: a zippered one and a small one (made for iPods or Phones). The other nice thing about the Proxy Sleeve is that it has a handle, so you don’t have to carry it like a book. Before I go into more depth, let me give you the specs:

The Breakdown:

-Brand: Targus

-Name: 14” Proxy Sleeve

-Price: $34.99 USD

- Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty

-Color: Black

-Intended for: Laptops with 14” Screens

-Materials: Ariaprene (Toxic Free Material)

-Size (Exterior): 9.97”H x 14.88”L x 1.50”W

Point-Scaled Grading

Style: 1-25 Given: 24
Price: 1-15 Given: 12
Quality materials: 1-15 Given: 14
Brand name: 1-10 Given: 7
Modern technologies: 1-15 Given: 15
Compatibility: 1-15 Given: 14
Ease of use: 1-5 Given: 5

OVERALL: 91/100 A-
For further explanation, continue reading.

Continued Evaluation:

I have had the Incase Neoprene Sleeve for a few years now and I have noticed that the inside lining of it has started to rip from the neoprene. Compared the Proxy Sleeve seems to be much more durable. But even so the Proxy Sleeve still has an Achilles heel, which is the outside edging of the sleeve. The material on the outside edge feels cheap, but you should not worry because it actually helps make the case stiffer and thicker on the outside incase you drop your computer on the side (not saying that it will totally save your computer, but it will do more then the Incase Sleeve.) Final Thoughts: The Targus Proxy Sleeve is a great alternative to the Incase Neoprene Sleeve because of the few more features it has and the fact that it is less expensive. (Also if you did not realize this sleeve was made was made for a PC).

What do you think about the Targus 14” Proxy Sleeve? Let us know, leave a comment.

Stay connected at my new twitter handle to stay updated 24/7 @TRMGaveragejoes and @realmacgenius What do youthink? Let us know in the comment section.

How To: View Your Apple Support Profile

2012-01-10T05:21:24Z

Apple Support Profile is a great way to view your history, warranty information, and other details of your apple products. Getting there is easy, just click this link: Apple Support Profile. After that sign into your apple ID account and all items registered under that account will apear. In your Apple Support Profile you will be able to view and do many things like: adding nicknames to your apple devices, viewing/ changing your user information, view serial numbers, unregister devices, coverage details, case activity, repair activity, support resources, and much more. This was a great tip from @MacGeekPro and OSXdaily.com.

Review: OmniFocus

2012-01-06T04:17:24Z

After being swamped with a multitude of tasks, the next step was to determine how to finish all of these tasks. When OmniFocus launches, it becomes apparent that the developers of OmniFocus wanted to build a great Getting Things Done (GTD) application. OmniFocus is a complex beast, but the features OmniFocus provides are invaluable. OmniFocus can be found on the Mac, iPhone and iPad.

Task Management

OmniFocus excels in task management. The key to the OmniFocus task management is that it allows the user to create a task and have the actions required to complete the action. One of the reasons why task management programs do not provide success for the user is because the task added can be very abstract. The abstract task they want to accomplish requires many different actions to complete the task. OmniFocus aids the user to breakdown the task into the actions that will bring successful completion of the task. This is one of the most powerful features of OmniFocus.

Design

OmniFocus launches to a basic user interface that allows complete customization of the application from the toolbar to view. Since OmniFocus contains complexity in the organization of actions, this requires you to open the Inspector using more screen real estate.

Syncing

Unlike other GTD applications, OmniFocus triumphs in the syncing of the application. OmniFocus allows for local network, MobileMe, WebDav, Disk or even the Omni Sync Server. The Omni Sync Server allows for Over-the-Air (OTA) syncing. This is a definite plus not only to backup the current OmniFocus database, but to also sync the database to other mobile devices.

Mobile

The Omni Group does a great job implementing the application in the mobile environment. Currently, OmniFocus is available for iPhone and iPad and can sync your OmniFocus Mac version OTA, so you will always have your tasks on the go. Additionally, the option of OTA allows for an automated and cloud stored version of the OmniFocus database as well as no hassle between syncing versions. The iOS version of OmniFocus does a great job of providing the majority of features of the Mac version to the iOS versions. The iOS versions use location for its advantage by providing helpful information for the user when creating or using a task.

Closing thoughts

OmniFocus helps ensure that projects will be completed through the breakdown of actions that are required for a project to be completed. In addition to the breakdown of actions, OmniFocus provides users with an option of OTA syncing which can allows for the backup of the database as well as no hassle syncing between devices. A major setback to the adoption of OmniFocus is the price of the application. OmniFocus for Mac costs: $79.99 and the iPhone version costs: $19.99, but the value of OmniFocus outweighs the cost. OmniFocus provides the tools to mark tasks off of your tasks list. Take OmniFocus for a spin, visit the site the OmniFocus site.

How To: Use Mission Control

2011-12-26T07:31:14Z

Mission Control is a new application that comes with OS X Lion. It gives you the ability to control and organize all of your windows and applications. Mission Control is a very basic and user friendly application. To quickly access Mission Control hit f3 depending on your keyboard. To use Mission Control you can add extra desktop spaces with the + button on the top right. To organize the desktop spaces just drag from side to side in desired order. Next when you open Mission Control it will display all of the windows opened in each of your desktop spaces. This allows you to see which window you want and to select it quickly. To go between desktop spaces swipe three or four fingers depending on what your preferences are. To check or change your preferences, open System Preferences, click on Trackpad, and go to More Gestures. Now that you know the basics of Mission Control, you are now ready to explore it on your own.

Stay connected at my new twitter handle to stay updated 24/7 @TRMGaveragejoes and @realmacgenius What do youthink? Let us know in the comment section.

What’s changed with Apple with Tim Cook?

2012-01-30T21:35:20Z

After Steve Jobs, Tim Cook took over as Apple’s new CEO. Tim Cook brought about very subtle changes to Apple ever since taking the position as CEO. When working with Steve Jobs, they both disagreed about certain components of the company.
One thing that Tim Cook had in mind was using Apple’s cash to pay a dividend or to buy back stock. Steve Jobs did not agree with that, but now with Tim Cook in control, things may change.

Tim Cook also set up a charity program. Apple isn’t known to be charitable and Steve Jobs wasn’t into giving away Apple’s money. The program is a match employee contributions to non-profits program. It matches up to $10,000.

It was also noted that Tim Cook emails more frequently and addresses Apple as a “Team.” He also promoted Eddy Cue to senior vice president of cloud services. Other changes include dividing up the company’s education division into sales and marketing groups.

With Tim Cook as the new leader of Apple, people are keeping their eyes open as to see what else he will do next. Without the creativity of Steve Jobs, will the company be able to maintain its products and services?

Feel free to leave questions or comments.

[Image Source]

How To: Customize Your Finder Window

2011-12-12T03:39:03Z

You might be asking yourself why would I want to customize my Finder Window. Well customizing your Finder Window will help with navigating through files faster. There are multiple ways to customize your Finder Window. The first way is to go to the Menu Bar in the top Left, click on Finder, scroll down to Preferences, and select it. From there go into Sidebar and you can pick what menu items you want to show up in your Sidebar. The next way to edit your toolbar is by right clicking on the toolbar. From there you can choose from hiding icons to customizing all of the buttons on your toolbar. If you select Customize Toolbar… a new screen will pop up and you can drag new icons into open spots, move icons in different spots, or remove icons by dragging it off the screen. Another handy tip is that you can drag any file, document, application, ect.. into an open toolbar space, it will leave an icon in that spot and if it is clicked on it will open the file or application.

Stay connected at my new twitter handle to stay updated 24/7 @TRMGaveragejoes and @realmacgenius What do youthink? Let us know in the comment section.

Apple Looking for Cloud Executives

2011-11-29T21:05:59Z

Based on the Wall Street Journal, Apple has started to search for senior-level executives that are familiar with the cloud. Apple has also approached an Internet entrepreneur about a job position, but the information is undisclosed.

Apple is taking steps to improve their products and appeal to those who don’t want everything to be separated by device and want to have everything made available to all computers and devices that rely on Apple’s operating systems and programs. The first step is with the new iCloud that allows content stored in the cloud to be pushed wirelessly to devices.

The company has already begun to employee lower level positions that are related to Web software and services. Apple doesn’t have a solid record when it comes to past Internet products that did not succeed as expected, such as MobileMe and Ping. iCloud is a big improvement and is currently working very well.

One difficulty that Apple faces is that many higher level potential employees are more interested in other companies rather than working for Apple. Apple’s Web services don’t appear to be as high of a priority to Internet engineers and look elsewhere for jobs. Nonetheless, Apple is a strong company and turnover rate is low in Apple’s higher positions.

What do you think? Feel free to leave comments and suggestions.

[Image Source]

How To: Reset Your Password Using Apple ID in OSX Lion

2011-11-28T06:08:45Z

Have you ever forgotten your password to your computer? Well you can easily reset it using your Apple ID Login. Note that this does not work for the Login Screen, but does work for unlocking the ability to change settings. Also you must have your Apple ID account connected to your user account, which you can do by going to your account information in System Preferences and signing in under the accounts name. After three fail attempts to unlock the settings a Reset Password button will show up in the bottom. Select that button and a new screen will show up. In the new screen type in your password for the selected Apple ID and then fill in your new password.

Stay connected at my new twitter handle to stay updated 24/7 @TRMGaveragejoes and @realmacgenius What do youthink? Let us know in the comment section.