Apple has introduced a number of cool features with the new version of OS X Yosemite. The new improvements were meant to make one’s computing experience easier and more efficient.
While some may already be familiar with some of OS X Yosemite’s more prominent features, Apple’s desktop OS, per usual, is teeming with a number of under the radar features which will undoubtedly prove enlightening for both seasoned OS X users and those completely new to the world of Mac.
The top three features that many may not be aware of, but will probably be of most use are the following:
Enhanced Dictation
Though initially spotty, dictation on iOS has gotten remarkably good over the past few years. With OS X Yosemite, Apple finally brought dictation to the desktop. To enable it, simply open up your System Preferences and select the "Dictation & Speech" option from the bottom row.
From there, simply select the Dictation: "On" radio button and you’ll be good to go. From there, you can enjoy the magic of voice dictation by either selecting “Start Dictation” from the Edit menu anywhere you might otherwise type. You can also enable a keyboard shortcut to initiate a dictation session.
Add a Real Signature From the Mac
One of the cooler yet "under the radar" features in OS X Yosemite is the ability to sign any document on the web with your own handwriting. This feature is a godsend for those pesky moments where a real life signature is required for an important document.
To sign any document, simply open up the document in question in Preview. From there, go to Tools > Annotate > Signature > Manage > Manage Signatures. Once selected, you’ll be presented with the following screen.
From here, you have a few options. If you have a laptop, you can select the ‘Trackpad’ toggle and scrawl your signature on your trackpad with your finger. If you want the most accurate representation of your signature as possible, or if you happen to have a desktop, you can select the “Camera” toggle instead. From there, all you have to do is jot down your ole’ John Hancock onto a white piece of paper and hold it up to your iSight camera. OS X can figure out where the signature is and can copy it accordingly. Once you hit “Done”, you can then drag and drop your signature anywhere on the open document.
As an added layer of convenience, OS X Yosemite will even save previously recorded signatures so that you can quickly add them to other documents as needed.
Send and Receive Text Messages from the Mac
For many, the ability to send and receive text messages directly on your Mac is by far the most used new feature in OS X Yosemite. For anyone with Yosemite who hasn’t yet tried this, it’s well worth it. It truly makes texting a breeze as typing away on a keyboard is much more efficient than using iOS’ virtual keyboard.
To get things started, open up the Messages app and go to Messages > Preferences. From there, click on the “Accounts” tab. Next, enable the Apple ID account associated with your phone and, boom, just like that texting on your phone and on your Mac is now synced up.
While some may already be familiar with some of OS X Yosemite’s more prominent features, Apple’s desktop OS, per usual, is teeming with a number of under the radar features which will undoubtedly prove enlightening for both seasoned OS X users and those completely new to the world of Mac.
The top three features that many may not be aware of, but will probably be of most use are the following:
Enhanced Dictation
Though initially spotty, dictation on iOS has gotten remarkably good over the past few years. With OS X Yosemite, Apple finally brought dictation to the desktop. To enable it, simply open up your System Preferences and select the "Dictation & Speech" option from the bottom row.
From there, simply select the Dictation: "On" radio button and you’ll be good to go. From there, you can enjoy the magic of voice dictation by either selecting “Start Dictation” from the Edit menu anywhere you might otherwise type. You can also enable a keyboard shortcut to initiate a dictation session.
Add a Real Signature From the Mac
One of the cooler yet "under the radar" features in OS X Yosemite is the ability to sign any document on the web with your own handwriting. This feature is a godsend for those pesky moments where a real life signature is required for an important document.
To sign any document, simply open up the document in question in Preview. From there, go to Tools > Annotate > Signature > Manage > Manage Signatures. Once selected, you’ll be presented with the following screen.
From here, you have a few options. If you have a laptop, you can select the ‘Trackpad’ toggle and scrawl your signature on your trackpad with your finger. If you want the most accurate representation of your signature as possible, or if you happen to have a desktop, you can select the “Camera” toggle instead. From there, all you have to do is jot down your ole’ John Hancock onto a white piece of paper and hold it up to your iSight camera. OS X can figure out where the signature is and can copy it accordingly. Once you hit “Done”, you can then drag and drop your signature anywhere on the open document.
As an added layer of convenience, OS X Yosemite will even save previously recorded signatures so that you can quickly add them to other documents as needed.
Send and Receive Text Messages from the Mac
For many, the ability to send and receive text messages directly on your Mac is by far the most used new feature in OS X Yosemite. For anyone with Yosemite who hasn’t yet tried this, it’s well worth it. It truly makes texting a breeze as typing away on a keyboard is much more efficient than using iOS’ virtual keyboard.
To get things started, open up the Messages app and go to Messages > Preferences. From there, click on the “Accounts” tab. Next, enable the Apple ID account associated with your phone and, boom, just like that texting on your phone and on your Mac is now synced up.
Comments
Post a Comment