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Set Tweetbot to open links in Chrome, 1Password

Apple's Safari browser on iOS isn't for everyone. If you prefer to use 1Password's built-in browser, or Google's Chrome browser on your iOS device and you just happen to also use Tweetbot, you'll be happy with the recent update.

The latest update to Tweetbot, version 2.7, now allows you to set your default browser when opening links in your timeline. You can select to open a link in Chrome, Safari, or 1Password.

To set your default browser, navigate to the Tweetbot settings page. Under the General section you'll see a Browser option; tap … Read more

Check defaults before altering hidden settings in OS X

OS X applications and services often contain a number of hidden settings that can be used to tweak your Mac's behavior to improve performance or provide an option that is not available by default. To manage these hidden options, you can use the "defaults" terminal command to edit the target preferences file associated with a service and manually adjust a variable's value.

Since the defaults command performs these edits in a single line in the Terminal, it is relatively easy to use and is often suggested as a way to edit property list (plist) files, which … Read more

Troubleshooting case: Tackling stubborn Mail preferences

Many times when program settings don't stick properly a common troubleshooting step is to "delete the preferences file," which will remove any custom settings and have the program re-create the preferences file from defaults. This step is so commonly recommended it's almost cliche, but sometimes it's fun to take a look at exactly how preference corruption manifests itself.

Recently MacFixIt reader Fredrick contacted me with a problem that had all the indications of being from preference file corruption:

With my Mac Mini and Snow Leopard, I now find that I can't keep my "… Read more

Removing the default games from Windows

Windows 7 comes preloaded with a few classic games that some find great for passing the time. For those who don't enjoy these games, though, all they end up doing is taking up (sometimes very valuable) hard-drive space. Wouldn't it be great if you could remove them, and get them back whenever you wanted?

Step 1: Open the Windows Control Panel. This can be found in the Start Menu on the right side.

Step 2: Under the Programs heading of the main page, click on Uninstall a Program.

Step 3: On the left side of this window, click … Read more

How to change the default font in Gmail

Composing electronic correspondence can lack the personal touch that handwritten notes and letters possess. As a substitute, you can still change the font style on letters to friends and family--revealing just a small piece of your personality compared to your own handwriting. However, it adds just enough to make it seem less robotic and more "you." Here's how to change the default font in your Gmail, so you don't have to manually choose it every time:

Step 1: Log in to Gmail from your Web browser.

Step 2: Open the settings menu in the upper right-hand … Read more

How to clear a default app setting

When experimenting with different applications from the Android Market, you might come across a pop-up that asks if you want to set an application as your default choice. For instance, let's say you're trying out Google Voice on your phone and accidentally set it as the default texting app, but you want to be able to choose between Google Voice, Handcent and the default SMS app each time you send a text. Follow these steps to help correct the default app and get your choices back.

Step 1: From the Home screen, press the Menu button and then … Read more

MacFixIt Answers

MacFixIt Answers is a feature from MacFixIt where our editors answer questions e-mailed to us by our readers. We have been getting regular contacts and questions from our readers, and hope to share our correspondences so everyone may benefit and contribute to them. This week we have questions about e-mail time stamps, spinning beach ball cursors when entering text in text fields, changing the default application for documents, "File Exists" errors when managing messages in Mail, and iTunes window resizing problems.… Read more

Prevent your search default from being changed

The first thing I saw when I booted my PC yesterday evening was a notice that Google had prevented my default search setting from being changed. I certainly didn't want to switch from searching via Google by default. I hadn't even been considering a search change, regardless of Bing's pretty wallpaper.

To find out what program was trying to change my search default, I opened Vista's Event Viewer by pressing the Windows key, typing event viewer, and pressing Enter. I clicked Application in the left pane and scrolled to the approximate time the warning popped up. … Read more

More file saving functionality

For all the wonderful things that OS X does, flipping through folders while opening and saving documents remains a hassle. This award-winning app attaches a toolbar to the side of all your Open and Save dialogs, providing quick access to multiple folders and commands. You can jump to favorite and recently used folders, or even manage files and folders right from the dialog (so you don't need to go to the Finder for simple tasks such as renaming and deleting). Default Folder also lets you assign hot keys and work with recent items right from the Dock. We're … Read more