Move the tab bar on Safari 4 and other hidden preferences

Safari Buddy v1.0 makes it simple to change often requested hidden preferences.

A Mac OS X Utility that enables the ability to change several hidden preferences in the Safari 4 Public Beta web browser, such as: moving the Tab Bar, reverting the Progress Style indicator, disabling Google Suggest and Top Sites and more.

I think the tabs on top approach is intended to show the tabs open across multiple open Safari 4 windows without you having to click on the underneath windw, or they're simply copying Google's Chrome.

Freeware from:
http://www.swoon.net/site/software.html

Terminal method to directly set preference:

To quickly change the tabs to the old Safari 3 position enter the following into terminal:

defaults write com.apple.Safari DebugSafari4TabBarIsOnTop -bool NO

To change tabs back to the top, enter again but with -bool YES at the end.

How to quickly launch preferences for volume or screen brightness in Mac OS X

To instantly launch the preferences controls for audio or screen/display settings, simply hold down the Option key (between Control and the Apple command key, i.e. the Alt key) then press one of the keyboard shortcuts for either volume or brightness control. Newer Apple keyboards have re-mapped these keys, so exactly which keys you press depend on the age of your keyboard; the controls are usually marked on the keyboard.

Some more keyboard volume tips:

• To move the volume up or down in tiny steps, hold down Shift and Option when you tap the volume keys, this will move the volume in quarter steps. (Possibly this is Leopard 10.5 only, I can't remember it in Tiger 10.4).
  
• To silence the volume feedback "blips" noises which trigger at each step, hold down the shift key when adjusting the volume. The noises can also be turned off completely on the Preferences Sound controls window, uncheck "Play sound effects"

Mac Address Book to Gmail contacts application

A tiny application by Ben Borofka (freeware) that alllows you to update your GMail (GoogleMail) account using the contacts held in your Mac Address book.

Create a new group in Address book drag the names you want to export into this group, select this group; then run the app and select the a to g created csv file. In Gmail use the import option in Contacts to pick up this file and import into Gmail.

The csv created by the a to g has the correct categories for Gmail. During import Gmail won't overwrite stuff, it asks you to confirm things such as differing phone numbers. Quite slick and doesn't lead to conflicts like some other applications. 

You can review the results in Gmail contacts section to alter anything you like after import.

Update: March 2008 updated to enable all contacts to be transferred, even those without email addresses in your address book application.

Title of this post links to: http://bborofka.com/atog/

Where's the # hash key gone on my Mac?

The hash key (#) on UK Mac keyboards is created using:

Option (alt) key ⌥+ 3

How To force a refresh on a Mac OS X Widget on Dashboard

1. Bring Dashboard to the front
2. Click on the widget
   
3. Hold Command key (Apple key) and press R
4. Widget will animate and swirl as it updates.

How to quickly close a Dashboard Widget in Mac OS X

To quickly close a widget, hold down Option when pointing at the widget, the close X appears and can be clicked to whisk the widget off the screen.