Free Screen Capture and Annotate App - Snaplr

I have discovered some great free apps the last couple of days.  Snaplr is a free screen capture and annotate map.  It has some similarities to TechSmith Jing.  It can be downloaded from http://www.vessenger.com/snaplr for both the Mac and Windows PC.  A screen shot of the app is below. 

• Click on the Take Screenshot button 
• The screenshot will fill the window
• Annotate with the drawing/test icons
• Copy to the clipboard or save the image

The app is simple and easy to use.

Customizing the Mac Computer Dock

Yesterday, over half of the readers for this blog are Mac users - amazing.  That make some sense because many of my more recent blogs relate to Apple products.  A couple of days ago, Chris Breen posted a new How-To blog on customizing the dock, where selected apps appear on Mac computers at http://www.macworld.com/article/2018708/mac-101-dealing-with-the-dock.html?page=2 .

The secret, once again, is in the System Preferences.  Many of us were originally Microsoft PC users.  When we migrated to Apple products, we tried to do everything like using Microsoft Windows.  Now that I use Windows and Apple operating systems almost equally, I find myself trying to work on a Windows PC like I do on the Mac, for example, mouse scrolling and finger gesturing.

Because Apple products are designed differently, the Mac experience can be initially frustrating. That is a good reason to explore Chris Breen's How-To postings.  Next week he will focus on System Preferences (analogous to the Control Panel in the Windows OS).  That should be a great How-To!

Making the Mac Easier to View

A colleague using a 17" MacBook Pro asked for advice on making the screen easier to view.  Believe that the easiest fix is to change the screen resolution (similar to what is done on a Windows computer).  The percentage of viewers for this blog is up significantly to 40%, so thought that the information might be helpful.

Here is how to change the resolution:

• From the homepage click on the Apple icon
• Click System Preferences
• Click Display
• Click Scaled Resolution
• Click on the icon of your preference

Of course, if you are viewing a webpage, you can make it larger or smaller by clicking the Command key plus either the Plus or Minus key to alter the view.  On a windows computer, click the CTRL and Plus or Minus to alter the view.

Switching from Windows to a Mac

Chris Breen has started a new column series that assists user to switch from the Windows platform to a Mac.  The first column in the series is online at http://www.macworld.com/article/2010716/mac-101-getting-set-up.html.  Chris has done numerous video tutorials for Lynda.com.  He is an excellent resource for learning about the Mac. 

LogMeIn vs Splashtop for Remote Computer Access with the iPad

LogMeIn if a free app for the iPad.  The initial problem that I had was that I received an error indicating the the date and time zone were not set correctly.  It still gives me that error when attempting to connect to the Mac laptop.  However, I was able to connect with the computer in my university office. Hmmm.  Will try to Windows laptop next. LogMeIn is the same company that created one of my favorite screen-sharing apps, Join.me.

LogMeIn is similar to Splashtop in that I can control a remote computer with the iPad.  I find that it is easier to control the movement when using Splashtop.  I am interested in hearing from others about apps they have used for screen sharing that work with both the iPad and a Windows PC or Mac.