Odds and Ends: Creating a new file directly from the Finder; Sleep issues with SMC Fan Control; Apple Knowledge Base updates

Creating a new file directly from the Finder MonkeyBites tackles one of the more frustrating issues for Windows users switching to the Mac: creating new files directly on the Desktop or elsewhere in the file navigation interface (Finder).

"Just in the last two days I've run across no less than four ways to create new files directly in the Finder. The first is an application called Document Palette. Document Palette runs in the background and allows you to create new documents in the current folder. With a folder active in Finder, press Control Option Command N to make the palette appear, then select the document type you wish to create. New files aren't limited to blank documents, you can create new documents using templates with, say, basic HTML code."

Sleep issues with SMC Fan Control MacFixIt reader Randy Loos reports some sleep issues that occurred after his installation of SMC Fan Control, and were alleviated by uninstalling the program.

Randy writes:

"I recently installed the updated 2.1.1 smcfancontrol. Several interesting things started to happen. My MacBook Pro started going into deep sleep for the first time since I've owned it (a year), and I started having shutdowns when the power cord was disconnected. I'm running 10.4.9 on an almost vanilla system. Dropping the app on Appzapper and rebooting made the problems go away."

If you are experiencing a similar issue, please let us know.

Apple Knowledge Base updates

• #305222 Mac OS X Server 10.4: Unable to switch keyboard layouts in input menu
• #305221 Mac OS X Server 10.4: Installation language determines login window keyboard layout
• #305290 Apple TV: Not showing in the iTunes device list when connected on Ethernet
• #305038 AirPort Extreme (802.11n): USB storage device supported formats and protocols
• #106717 Mac OS X: How to connect to the Internet with PPP (dial-up access) and a modem

Resources