Sebastopol, CA--With Mac OS X as a foundation, Apple's iApps and iLife technology has coalesced into a "digital hub," an interconnected set of tools that helps users store and organize photos and music, entertain the kids, stay in touch with significant others, and even assist in running a business. To take this information to a higher level, Apple created .Mac (pronounced "dot Mac"), a suite of services that allows subscribers to share information online. While .Mac hasn't received the same attention as its more glamorous i-cousins, it's endowed with the same traits: an attractive, intuitive interface and a wealth of powerful features, including web mail, an online contact management system, storage space, a fully customizable personal web site, and much more. About the only thing missing from this embarrassment of riches is a thorough guide. Inside .Mac by Chuck Toporek (O'Reilly, US $19.95) is just that, the first--and only--manual that delves deep into .Mac.
"Most people I've spoken to who are .Mac members don't really realize what they're getting for their annual .Mac membership," observes Toporek. "I not only tried to show how to get around the .Mac services, but also how to use them in tutorials. For example, the 'Building a .Mac HomePage' section demonstrates how to use the HomePage tools to create and manage a .Mac site, as well as how to create a movie page from iMovie, or a Photo Album page from iPhoto. I describe some of what's going on behind the scenes too, such as how a Photo Album page uses JavaScript to display the images you click on."
Inside .Mac is a handy, quick reference offering a clear overview of the entire .Mac package and many of its not-so-obvious features. "I hope people pay close attention to Chapter 6--'Using Backup'--and not only learn how to back up their Mac, but understand why it's important to do on a regular basis," notes Toporek. Some of the other important features the book covers include:
"Scientists say that we really only use about ten percent of our brain, and I have a feeling that theory applies to the .Mac services," concludes Torporek. "People are probably only using about ten percent of what's there, and I hope that this book shows them how to use the other ninety percent to get the most bang for their buck."
From enthusiastic new users to hardcore Mac geeks, anyone who uses .Mac will be able to get the most from their subscription service with Inside .Mac. There's no better way take control than with this invaluable reference.
Additional Resources:
- Chapter 5, "Using Virex"
- More information about the book, including table of contents, index, author bio, and samples
- A cover graphic in JPEG format
- For more information on Mac-related issues, visit the O'Reilly Mac DevCenter
Inside .Mac
Chuck Toporek
ISBN: 0-596-00501-6, 384 pages, $19.95 US, $28.95 CA
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