Guides & How-Tos

Tutorial: Flash content will not play in Web browsers, resolving

[Published Wednesday, April 25th]

When Flash content embedded in Web pages will not play, there are a few generally successful options for dealing with the problem.

Update to the latest version of the Flash player Visit the Adobe Flash Player version test page to check what version of Flash is currently being used by your browser. This page also shows the latest version of the Flash player available for your system, which can be downloaded from the Flash download center.

Make sure QuickTime is not attempting to play Flash Apple's QuickTime has the ability to play Flash content embedded … Read more

Troubleshooting-related changes in Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

The case for disappointment over Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)'s delay lacks a key component -- anticipation fueled by the existence of compelling, publicly announced features beyond those unveiled during Steve Jobs' 2006 WWDC keynote presentation. Fortunately, with regard to the troubleshooting and general stability of Apple's next-generation operating system, there is cause for excitement. Among the improvements that should make for a more problem-free computing experience in Leopard:

The Software Update mechanism in Leopard will force the user to quit all open applications before applying most updates. This change is made in an attempt to obviate … Read more

Speeding up Safari: Reducing spinning pinwheels, other performance bottlenecks

Safari is generally one of the fastest browsers for Mac OS X with regard to page rendering. Unfortunately, its also prone to significant slowdown -- including repeated stalls accompanied by the spinning pinwheel progress indicator, slow launch times, and more. There are a few procedures you can use to minimize the occurrence of stalls and eliminate other hindrances, improving the overall speed of Apple's Web browser.

Slow launching

Clean startup routines There are a number of routines Safari has to perform each time it is launched, and making sure there aren't excessive steps in these routines -- by … Read more

Blocking in-line content rollover or keyword advertisements in Safari

Numerous sites have implemented "keyword rollover" advertisements that are inline with content. Generally they appear as underlined or double-underlined text strings that are part of an article or other content, and trigger a bubble-shaped pop-up whenever the mouse scrolls over them.

Unfortunately, routines for blocking these advertisements -- which can interfere with the display of content and significantly slow page load times -- are not built-in to most browsers, as are routines for blocking traditional pop-up or pop-under ads. With the use of a shareware utility called PithHelmet, however, you can eliminate the display of these ads while … Read more

Controlling PDF display in Web browsers (using Preview instead of Adobe Reader or vice versa, etc.); forcing Safari to download

Less than intuitive are the controls for determining how PDFs accessed through Safari and other Web browsers are displayed. Options are generally hidden within specific applications rather than accessible via universal system controls, and it's sometimes not clear how to invoke given options.

There are two basic alternatives for viewing PDFs from the Web, with variations:

Display the PDF in the browser window with the aid of either Safari's built-in PDF display, the Adobe PDF Viewer Plug-in, or a shareware utility like PDF Browser Plugin Force your Web browser to download the PDF for viewing in Adobe Reader, … Read more

Mini-tutorial: Force-deleting stubborn or problematic files in Mac OS X

Mac OS X can experience difficulty deleting certain files due to the following (and other) reasons:

The file is in use by an application or system process The file is locked The user does not have permission to delete the file The file is damaged or otherwise corrupt and "cannot be found" by the system A. (File in use) If you receive an error message indicating the the file is in use by an application, try one of the following: Quit any and all applications you think might be using the file Open Activity Monitor (located in /Applications/… Read more

mac.column.ted: An Alternative FAQ for Apple TV

Ted Landau April 2007

If you have questions about Apple's new Apple TV, there's already a wealth of answers on the Web. Considering that the device has only been available for a few days, that's pretty impressive. Such is life in the fast-paced world of the Internet. For this column, I sought to come up with some "alternative" information that had not yet been widely covered, if at all—and combine it with some personal comments. The result is the following FAQ collection:

Q. How exactly would you categorize an Apple TV? Is it a … Read more

Tutorial: Fixing Wireless connectivity (including AirPort) problems: Dropouts, slow speed, more

Troubleshooting issues with wireless connectivity can be tricky. There are a bevy of potential causes for drops in the connection, slow-downs in throughput and sporadic signal loss. As such, it's best to take a shotgun approach, throwing a number of possible fixes at the problem and hoping one sticks.

We've gathered some of the most common workarounds, listed below, along with indications for when they are most likely applicable. Issues addressed include:

Repeated dropouts (Connection lapses sporadically) Poor wireless throughput (Slow network speed) Router [AirPort Base station included] not recognized (doesn't appear in available networks) Cannot connect … Read more

Tutorial: Resolving common printer problems

Mac OS X offers a robust printing system with built-in support for hundreds of devices from a wide body of manufacturers. It's not without flaws, however, and printers often become unrecognized or non-functional after a significant Mac OS X update. Printers connected through hubs or AirPort base stations can also exhibit some frustrating issues.

Below is a run-down of the most generally successful printer workarounds. Keep trying until one of them sticks.

Try IP printing instead of AppleTalk Some Macs are unable to see AppleTalk printers that are located on the local AirPort (or other wireless) network. Several users … Read more