Annoying isn’t it?

If you are being driven insane by the Image Capture application on your Mac, you are not alone.

By default, each time you connect a Digital Camera, or a device such as your iPhone, Image Capture will launch to enable you to import your photographs.

Personally, I like the Image Capture application. It is clean, quick, and I feel like I have more control over the way my photographs are imported and where they are stored. That being said, I don’t like it to automatically open.

In order to change this default opening action, connect your compatible device, launch Image Capture and in the left hand navigation bar your connected device will be listed. Highlight your device and additional options will be shown at the bottom of the navigation bar.

If you don’t have your Digital Camera, or iOS device connected, these options will not appear.

Simply click on the drop down menu option and select No Application. Upon doing this Image Capture will no longer launch when you connect your device.

Should you wish to have your device automatically open another application, such as iPhoto, you can also select that option in the drop down menu.

Additional Tip: You may notice that there is an option to Delete After Import. By default, this is de-active and we believe it is in your best interest to leave it this way. Photographs are a very special commodity that can never be replaced. Please ensure you have a reliable backup before deleting any photographs from your Digital Camera or iOS Device.

You will need to make these changes for each independent device you choose to use with your Mac.

If you would like more information on ways to import and manage your photo collection, please drop into our store and discuss your workflow with one of our staff members.

You may notice this when attempting to update the apps, install new apps, download content from iTunes, or perform a system update in order to use the latest version of the operating system.

If you are unable to add any additional content, due to the lack of storage on your device, you will receive the following message.

Now that you are aware of the problem you can address it by culling down on some of the apps or content on your device that you no longer need.

A quick method to find out how much storage you have available, and what apps and associated content are using the most storage, on your device is to proceed to Settings > General > Usage. From this area you can delete content from within some apps or you can remove an app completely from your device.

Many of you would use your device for capturing photos and videos of special occasions. As a result, you may find that a significant portion of your storage is taken up with this content.

Obviously, you don’t want to remove that content without adding it to your Mac and backing it up first. Remember, one copy of any file is not a backup and Photo Stream should never be relied upon as a backup method.

To help you import your photographs and videos to your computer, Apple has setup a knowledge base article that will assist you with information relating to how to connect your device and import the photographs and videos for the first time. The knowledge base article number is: HT4083.

For those of you without a Mac, the knowledge base article referred to above also details the process for users of Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7.

If you would like more information on how to manage the available storage on your device, please drop into our store and enquire about the training courses we offer.

But how do you tell others about your favorite content?

The solution to this quandary is to Email, Message, Tweet, or post the link to Facebook.

On iOS you simply tap the arrow that is presented when you are looking at a detailed view of the content or app. As you can see from the image below, a series of options will be presented. Selecting any of these will launch their specific app. Tapping on Copy Link will of course allow you to paste the link, to the content, into any text based document on your device.

Within iTunes on the Mac, you have a few similar options to explore. By clicking the down arrow button, next to the price of the content, you can select to Tell a Friend, Copy Link, and Share on Facebook or Twitter.

When you select Tell a Friend, you will be presented with an additional window that allows you to enter the email address of the recipient, along with a message to accompany the link.

Whilst this is a basic and clean process you may prefer selecting the option to Copy Link. You can then paste the link into a new email in your preferred Mail application.

Interestingly, when you look at sharing the link for an application from within the Mac App Store, you have the option of Share in Messages as well. This process is the same as the version found in the iOS App Store. Unfortunately, this functionality is not yet available for iTunes on either the Mac or iOS.

So there you have it. Plenty of ways to share the content you consider to be valuable with others. At mac-fusion, we are always interested in finding wonderful new apps and content. Please share yours with us via our Twitter or Facebook accounts.

Find My iPhone is Apple’s free service that can track your Mac and iOS devices when they are connected to the Internet. The functionality not only allows you to pinpoint the location of your device on the map, but you can also issue onscreen alert notifications, and delete the contents of your lost device remotely.

Setup Find My iPhone For The First Time

In order to setup Find My iPhone, you will need to create a free iCloud.com account. On the Mac, proceed to System Preferences > iCloud and undertake the sign up procedure. On iOS, you will need to proceed to Settings > iCloud and proceed with the sign up process. Both of these setup options will become available when you setup your new Mac or iOS device for the very first time. We recommend you turn this functionality on during the initial setup phase.

If you already have an iCloud account, then proceed to Settings > iCloud on your iOS device and switch Find My iPhone to the On position.

You will then be presented with the following message asking you to Allow the tracking functionality. Simply tap Allow and the functionality will be turned on for that device.

If you own more than one iOS device, you will need to undertake this process on each device you want to be able to track.

On your Mac, head across to System Preferences > iCloud. At the bottom of the list you should see Find My Mac. Make sure that a tick is in the box next to the option.

When you turn this functionality on, you will be presented with a popup window asking if you want to allow the location of your Mac to become available when using the Find My iPhone service. It is advised that you click Allow.

It is important to note that you may need to manually turn on Location Services. In that situation simply proceed to System Preferences > Security & Privacy. Then proceed to the Privacy tab and click the lock, in the lower left hand corner of the window, and enter your username and password. When unlocked you will notice that Enable Location Services is now available. Place a tick in the box to turn this functionality on.

Likewise, should you need to access the Location Service functionality for your iOS device, proceed to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.

You will notice besides the standard On option, that you can show the Location Services status icon in the Status Bar when you are looking for the location of your device. By default, this option is turned off and if your device is stolen, you most probably want to keep it this way. This icon appearing may alert the thief to your attempt to track the device.

Locating Your Device If It Is Lost Or Stolen

In the unfortunate event that you have lost your device, or it has been stolen, you will need to log into iCloud.com on a Mac or PC. Alternatively, you can download and use the free iOS Find My iPhone app.

Both options offer the same level of functionality and control over locating your Apple devices.

For this example we will take a look at the web browser version of Find My iPhone. Once you have logged into iCloud.com, click on the Find My iPhone icon.

Now that you are logged in, you will be presented with a list of all devices attached to your iCloud account.

Below the name of the device, you will be presented with a variety of information that includes, but is not limited to, its online status and whether of not it has been located. If your device hasn’t been located, select it from the list and add a tick to the tick box for Notify Me When Found.

This way, when it comes back online, you will be instantly sent a message.

The other options available from the Find My iPhone service include Play Sound, Lost Mode, and Erase.

Play Sound will present an audible sound from your device and a warning message will be shown on the display. An email will also be sent to your iCloud email address to indicate that this sound has been requested. This option is a perfect solution if you have simply misplaced your device at home or at the office.

Lost Mode will allow you to remotely lock your device and default information will also be shown on the display of your lost device to tell anyone how to return it to you. This information can be customized.

When setting up Lost Mode, you will be asked to enter a passcode which will lock your device and therefore prevent the content within from being accessed. After you have confirmed the passcode, you will be able to enter a phone number where you can be reached. It is optional, but highly recommended. Please remember, if it is your iPhone that is lost, you will need to issue another phone number that you can be reached on.

The final window allows you to customize the message that will be presented on the device.

Once you select Done, your device will be remotely locked and your message will be presented. The only way to unlock the device is by entering the Passcode that you have assigned. It is very important you remember this number.

We understand losing a device can be a stressful and emotional time. With that said, please refrain for sending an aggressive message. The person that finds your device, may have nothing to do with you losing it and information with only the facts will likely result in a better outcome for recovering the device.

Erase iPad (or other device, even your Mac) is your final step to ensure your information is protected should a device be lost or stolen. Please remember that unless you have a backup of that device, you will loose all the data as it is not recoverable when you undertake this process.

Whilst all these processes are useful in making attempts to have your device returned, you can also view the exact whereabouts on the Map that is included with the service. Prior to approaching someone’s home and making accusations, we recommend that you should discuss the situation with your local law enforcement. They can make enquiries on your behalf and hopefully a positive outcome will be the end result.

If you have any further questions, or would like assistance with setting up Find My iPhone, please drop into our store.

If you want to stand out from the crowd, you will need to make some changes.

To change the ringtone and notification sounds for your iOS device, you will need to proceed to Settings > Sounds.

Then look for the section titled Sounds and Vibration Patterns.

You will notice the most common notification options for your device are listed. To make changes tap on the service you are interested in changing, such as Ringtone.

A list of pre-installed options will then be presented. When you select one of these options, a short sample will be played.

If you are satisfied with the sample you can exit the settings thereby activating the new tone. If you still can’t find a tone that appeals to you, you can always purchase additional ones from the iTunes Store on your device.

You may have noticed when viewing the list of tone options, that a button for the Store is located in the top right hand corner of the Settings window.

Tapping here will now allow you to sample and purchase wonderful tones from the likes of AC/DC, The Beatles, or the Star Wars universe to name a few.

The tones area is also available anytime you are in the iTunes Store on your device. Tapping on the More button (lower right hand corner) in iTunes will present you with the option to select the Tones button and therefore browse the available options.

If you would like more information on how to customize your iOS devices, please drop into our store to discuss your specific requirements.

If you truly want a vacation and can leave the work in the office, then you will likely want to set up an auto response with your email provider. Gmail, Hotmail, iCloud, and others offer this solution. In this article we will take a look at how to set it up for users of iCloud Mail.

The only prerequisite to this tip is that you will need to have a free iCloud account. For more information about creating an iCloud account please view the FAQ article HT4436

To begin the auto response setup simply proceed to www.icloud.com on a Mac or PC. Unfortunately, going to this address on your iOS device will only yield basic information about the service and setup details for your device.

Once the iCloud website has loaded, enter your username and password. If you are using a public computer, please don’t select “Keep me signed in”. Also, when you are finished with this process please remember to log out.

Now you will need to click on Mail.

When Mail has opened, you will notice the gear in the top right hand corner of the browser window. Click and select Preferences.

Then navigate to the Vacation tab. All you need to do now is write an auto-response message and add a tick, to the tick box, to activate this functionality. When this process is complete, click done and log out of your iCloud account.

For better or worse, this setup process is rather basic. Other email providers may offer additional options such as start and end dates. Regardless, when you return to work from your well deserved holiday, you will need to log back in and turn this functionality off.

Simply remove the tick from the tick box then log out. You don’t need to delete the message text, but you can if you want. Leaving it there may assist you should your message be generic and you would therefore like to use it on more than one occasion.

If you would like more information on managing your workflow whilst you’re away from the office, please drop into our store to discuss your specific requirements.

Annoying isn’t it?

If you are being driven insane by the Image Capture application on your Mac, you are not alone.

By default each time you connect a Digital Camera, or a device capable of capturing photographs such as your iPhone, Image Capture will launch to enable you to import your photographs.

Personally, I like the Image Capture application. It is clean, quick, and I feel like I have more control over the way my photographs are imported and where they are stored. That being said, I don’t like it to automatically open.

In order to change this default opening action, connect your compatible device, launch Image Capture (if it doesn’t automatically open) and in the left hand navigation bar your connected device will be listed. Highlight your device and additional options will be shown at the bottom of the navigation bar.

If you don’t have your Digital Camera, or iOS device connected, these options will not appear. If multiple devices are connected, you can individually select and manage these additional options.

Simply click on the drop down menu option and select No Application. Upon doing this Image Capture will no longer launch when you connect your device.

Should you wish to have your device automatically open another application, such as iPhoto, you can also select that option in the drop down menu.

Additional Tip: You may notice that there is an option to Delete After Import. By default, this is not active and we believe it is in your best interest to leave it this way. Photographs are a very special commodity that can never be replaced. Please ensure you have a reliable backup before deleting any photographs from your Digital Camera or iOS Device.

Remember, you will need to make sure these changes are undertaken for each independent device you choose to use with your Mac.

If you would like more information on ways to import and manage your photo collection, please drop into our store and discuss your workflow with one of our staff members.

The good news is the Mac OS has this functionality automatically built-in to the Finder. Not only will you have a single file that is compatible across all desktop operating systems but you may also notice a file size reduction. This is especially apparent if your files have not previously been compressed.

In order to create a zip file, simply select the files and folders you wish to have compiled in the Finder. Then proceed to File > Compress “name of contents”.

Depending on the size of you folder, and the content contained within, this process can take anywhere from mere seconds to minutes, or even hours.

Thankfully, you will be presented with a progress bar as the files are being compressed into the new zip file.

It is important to note that whilst this process can decrease the overall storage size by up to 50%, or even more, you may not always see these results. This aberration is because the zipping process will compress the code of the original files as far as it possibly can. Despite this, you shouldn’t confuse this method of compression with compression techniques used in audio, video, and image files.

A comparison showing the file size compression.

The zip process is lossless. There will be no degradation of the files contained within a zipped archive. When you unzip the file, you will notice this to be true. Your content will be displayed exactly as it was prior to undertaking this process.

Creating a zip file is a perfect solution for not only forwarding content to other people, but for those of you who wish to get the most out of their available storage.

Whilst the in-built zip functionality will serve many uses, you may find that it is limited for some needs. If you want to encrypt or add a password to your zip files, you should consider other third party applications that can be found in the Mac App Store as that functionality is not currently available with the default offering.

If you would like more information relating to file management on your Mac, please drop into the store and discuss your specific requirements with our staff.

That being said, I don’t want my children to miss out on engaging apps, especially when they have educational value.

Apple has recognized this problem and have offered additional information at the purchase/download stage to indicate that an app Offers In-App Purchasing.

In iTunes, you will notice that this wording is located directly underneath the Free or dollar value purchase button as shown below:

iOS devices, such as your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch will also display this new advisory message.

This new heads-up-display is a welcome addition to the App Store and will assist anyone who is opposed to in-app purchasing.

Even if you’re not opposed to the idea of additional purchasing within apps, this new addition to the App Store will remind you to take a look at the top in-app purchasing list and decide whether the additional purchases are reasonable before taking the leap.

Both iTunes and your iOS device also present a list of top in-app purchases. In iTunes, you will notice it is located in the left hand column, below the purchase button, whilst iOS devices present this information at the very bottom of the app listing.

If you would like more information relating to the App Store and your devices, please drop into the store to discuss your specific requirements.

There are three main delete options that include Delete, Delete This Copy, and Delete From All Devices.

It is important to note that your options will change if you have Sync Collections turned on or off within the iBook Settings.

To find out the status of Sync Collections, please navigate to Settings > iBooks.

If it is turned on, the delete options will be presented as shown below. Otherwise the options shown at the beginning of this article will be visible.

Delete: Tapping on this will Delete the book from the iBooks app on the specific device you are using. Whilst it will be removed from view, you can always go back into the iBookstore, navigate to the Purchased area, and re-download the book.

Delete This Copy: This option is the iTunes Match equivalent of iBooks. Whilst the book in its entirety will be removed from your device, a placeholder will remain on your bookshelf. The cover of the book will now present a cloud icon in the top right hand corner that allows you to quickly tap to re-download the book. This process therefore negates the need to go back to the iBookstore and re-download your purchased content.

Delete From All Devices: With Sync Collections turned on, should you tap on this option it will delete the book from all your devices. Should you wish to re-download the book after using this approach, you will need to download it individually on each device you wish to have it on.

The most useful aspect of the iBooks app, and the associated store, is the ability to re-download your purchased content. This process also applies for all content purchased on the App and iTunes Stores.

If you would like more information about managing content on your devices, please drop into the store to discuss your specific requirements.