mouse

MacFixIt Answers

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which we answer questions e-mailed from our readers. This week we have questions on Web browsers not loading Web pages, trackpads and mice getting stuck in a "clicked" mode, and Safari not being able to load PDF files. We continually answer e-mail questions, and while we present a few here, we certainly welcome alternative approaches and views from readers and encourage you to post your suggestions in the comments.

Question: Browser not loading Web pages or connecting to Wi-Fi hot spots

MacFixIt reader "Philippe" asks:

Until last week, [my daughter] … Read more

Mouse over to view

DockView is a desktop customization app that lets you take a neat trick from Windows and mimic it in Snow Leopard: with DockView running, when you mouse over an app's icon in the Dock, you can instantly see live thumbnail images for all the windows open in that app.

You can accomplish something similar without DockView, by clicking and holding a Dock icon for a few seconds, but DockView gives you a much quicker and less intrusive view, while allowing you to quickly flip between different apps in the Dock. Plus, DockView's ability extends to the Mac OS … Read more

High-tech exhibits shine at Walt Disney museum

SAN FRANCISCO--It's hard to imagine anything in a museum featuring hundreds of original Disney concept sketches and art pieces, including dozens of Mickey Mouse, being as impressive as the art itself.

But try visiting the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio here and not coming away with the strong impression that the way the facility was designed, with its wide variety of beautiful digital displays, imaginative use of video screens, innovative touch-screens, audio clips of Walt himself nearly everywhere you go, and much more, is nearly as compelling an experience as the opportunity to see first-hand the origins … Read more

Make the Dock even better

HyperDock is a System Preferences pane (currently in free beta) that lets you add some time-saving functionality to your Dock that is similar to the Aero Peek feature found in recent versions of Windows.

With HyperDock installed, you can mouse over applications in the Dock and see thumbnail previews of all windows open in that app--which can make switching between different apps and windows faster and easier. You can accomplish a similar effect without using HyperDock (by just clicking and holding an app's Dock icon), but HyperDock shows you the preview much more quickly, and in thumbnail form, just … Read more

Sometimes it's the mouse

If your computer is lagging and behaving slowly, there is a possibility the problem could be your mouse or keyboard. When input devices do not work properly, sometimes button clicks may take a while to register, or there may be intermittent disconnects that can cause cursors to move in a jerky manner. At times, the behaviors may be similar to those when systems experience slowdowns, which may cause people to assume their systems are running slowly when in fact their mice are malfunctioning.

If you have a wireless mouse and keyboard, be sure to regularly check the battery level because … Read more

Smoother Mac scrolling

Smart Scroll is a handy preference pane that can give you much more flexibility with trackpad, mouse (and Magic Mouse), and keyboard scrolling, including coasting iPhone-style scrolling.

Smart Scroll works in the background, but its settings interface gives you extensive control over its five primary features: the iPhone-style "Super Scroll" that lets the content of a window continue scrolling even after you let go of your trackpad or mouse (you can easily control the speed and amount of "coasting," stop with two fingers, and even reverse the x and y axis to match the iPhone); the &… Read more

Android-powered LuvPad tablet on sale in Japan

Japan's Mouse Computer is hoping for some love with a 10-inch tablet that runs Android 2.2 on an Nvidia Tegra 250 chipset.

Following Toshiba's Folio 100 and Samsung's Galaxy Tab, the LuvPad AD100 launches at the end of this month in Japan for 39,800 yen, or about $466.

The cheapest iPad model in Japan goes for 48,800 yen (about $576), and GeekStuff4U is offering the LuvPad to overseas customers for just about the same price. It comes with a Japanese manual.

The LuvPad has a 10.1-inch LED TFT multitouch screen with 1,024?… Read more

The 404 670: Where we mouse on over to OnMouseOver (podcast)

If you noticed strange black blocks covering text on the Twitter homepage, one of your friends likely fell victim to a new hack that exploits Twitter's Web interface. The exploit was discovered early this morning by security firm Sophos, which realized that if you put the JavaScript code "onmouseover" into a URL in a tweet, a user can make a pop-up window emerge just by hovering over the link.

"Mouseover" hacks aren't new, and CNET reporter Caroline McCarthy tells us they've been used within e-mails in the past, but the fire is out...for now. In the interim, we recommend you use third-party sources like TweetDeck--at least until Twitter beefs up its security.

We've been talking about "The Social Network" for a few weeks now, and although we're all still skeptical about a movie based on a Web site, we're willing to check it out, and we want you to join us! We're giving away 20 pairs of tickets for a sneak preview showing of "The Social Network" on Tuesday, September 28 at a theater in Manhattan, and all you have to do is 1. FOLLOW @THE404 and 2. TWEET OUT this message:

If you're near NYC, FOLLOW @the404 and RT this for a chance to win a pair of tix to see The Social Network on 9/28 the404.cnet.com

...and you're entered to win! Don't forget that the theater is in Manhattan, so be sure you can get to the showing on September 28 if you enter. Winners will be chosen at random on Friday, September 24, so start tweeting!

Speaking of get-togethers, we're in the midst of organizing a 404 meetup! Our target date is Thursday, October 7, and the tentative location is The Frying Pan bar off of Pier 66 here in NYC, so save the date and we'll send out an official Meetup RSVP soon!

Episode 670 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Amazon.com has the Think Outside Stowaway Travel Mouse for $39.99, after $40 savings.

Save $40 on the Think Outside Stowaway Travel Mouse from Amazon.com >> Regular price is $79.99 >> Sale price is $39.99 >> Savings $40 (50.01%) >> Click here for deal