Learn how to use Hot Corners
With the new Big Sur, you can install Widgets like the ones on your iPhone by clicking on the “Date Time” on the top right, which then displays the Notification Center. There you can insert new Widgets, like Weather, Stocks, News, Clock and other cool stuff.
If your desktop looks all cluttered up with folders all over the place, you can “Control Right Click” — that will stack your Desktop icons. Try it and see what it does.
I always like to see my battery percentage up on the top right. To do this, go to System Preferences, Dock and Menu Bar, scroll down to Battery and click on “Show Percentage.”
What are Hot Corners? Well, we’re going to find out about this hidden feature that’s going to change your life forever!
Let’s start out by going to System Preferences and Mission Control, then click on Hot Corners. Each corner represents a corner of your desktop. Let’s choose the lower left corner for fun. Just click on the Up and Down arrows and choose Mission Control. If you feel dangerous, you could make the top left corner “Application Window.” But if I scroll my mouse to the lower left- hand corner, Desktop 1 shows up and a + sign to the right. If you click on the + sign, Desktop 2 shows up. Try it.
Well, big deal. What’ so cool about that? Actually, this will allow you to set up two separate Desktops — sort of like two different computers. This is so cool that you’ll definitely use it.
For instance, let’s say you want to check out discounted and refurbished used garbage bags on Amazon and compare the price on eBay. One Desktop could have Amazon open and the other eBay opened. If you move your mouse to the bottom left, that allows you to switch between Desktop Screens. And now you have two separate computers, but both have the same icons.
But let’s have some more fun and change the background photo on Desktop 2. Click Desktop 2, then open up System Preferences and choose Desktop & Screen Saver. Knock yourself out and choose a cool background photo. Want to see what you did now?
Scroll on down to the lower left-hand corner showing Desktop 1 and Desktop 2. Each appears with different backgrounds. So from doing all this hard, complicated work of creating two different Desktops, Desktop 2 remains hidden unless you scroll down to the lower left corner. That desktop could be holding your secret divorce papers.
Here is something that might interest you. In Safari, there is an icon that when pressed will tell you if you’re being tracked on that website. It’s a little diamond-shaped icon with one side white and the other side black on the left side of Title Bar. Click on it, and a list of websites shows up.
“Command + Space” brings up Spotlight, where you can find on your Mac any words in any documents.
These days, dictating has come a long way, and you can use it to create documents without typing in a word. This can be set-up by going to System Preferences, Accessories, Voice Control. Click on it, and an icon with a Microphone is placed on your desktop. When you click on it, you’re able to dictate into your Word document. When you’re done, just click on Sleep, and if you want to use it again, click on Wake UP.
Send your computer-related questions to MauiMist@aol.com.