O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: LaunchPad

  • Some 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro owners cite user interface choppiness, lag under OS X Yosemite

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    This is what bug and firmware fixes are for.

    As nifty as the new 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro is, a number of users have logged complaints about the user interface lag in OS X Yosemite. The lag accounts for slow and choppy animations across functions like Mission Control, Launchpad, launching full-size applications, resizing windows and scrolling through web pages.

    A pair of threads related to the issue have received close to 200 replies and 20,000 views within the discussion forums, with some users that previously experienced UI lag offering advice on how to resolve the problem. One potential solution involves resetting the Mac’s PRAM, while temporary workarounds listed include increasing contrast and reducing transparency under the Accessibility menu in System Preferences.

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  • OnyX updated to 2.7.3

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    Never doubt a regularly updated app.

    OnyX, Titanium Software’s popular freeware multifunction utility for Mac OS X, has been updated to version 2.7.3. The new version, a 22.1 megabyte download, adds the following fixes and changes:
    – Deleting the Applications Cache improved.

    – New Parameters > Mission Control tab.

    – New option: Change the background image of Mission Control.

    – New option: Show the window preview of Mission Control in full size.

    – New option: Show/hide the App Store Debug menu.

    – Showing/hiding rubber-band scrolling function improved.

    – Bug when resetting Launchpad corrected.

    – Bug while setting the Safari history corrected.

    – Bug while searching for an update corrected.

    – Misc. minor corrections.

    – New version of sqlite3.

    OnyX 2.7.3 requires an Intel-based processor and OS X 10.8 or later to install and run.

    If you’ve tried the new version and have any feedback, please let us know in the comments.

  • Cocktail updated to 6.7

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    On Tuesday, shareware developer Maintain released version 6.7 of CocktailCocktail (Mountain Lion Edition), the popular shareware utility program that allows for additional Mac OS X system tests. The new version, a 5.6 megabyte download, adds the following fixes and features:
    – Improvements on the “Clear System caches” procedure. Added clearing of CVMS and Core symbolication daemon caches. XPC Helper Agent cache is now forced to be rebuilt – this can fix many of media plug-in issues, including issues with Aperture and iPhoto.

    – Improvements on the “Clear Java caches” procedure. Added compatibility with the latest version of Java.

    – Improvements on the “Clear Kernel caches” procedure. Addresses an issue in which kernel cache could not be rebuilt, “Can’t create kext cache under / – owner not root” error.

    – Improvements on the “Clear QuickLook caches” procedure.

    – Improvements on the “Clear QuickTime caches” procedure.

    – Addresses an issue in which Cocktail may not be able to change Launchpad background blur radius.

    – Addresses an issue in which number of CPU cores may not be displayed in the Specifications window.

    – Added OS X 10.8.5 compatibility.

    – Updated Automator actions.

    – Updated Help files.

    Cocktail 6.7 retails for a US$19.00 shareware registration fee and requires an Intel-based Mac running Mac OS X 10.8 or later to install and run.

    If you’ve tried the new version and have any feedback to offer, please let us know in the comments.

  • Cocktail updated to 6.6.1

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    On Monday, shareware developer Maintain released version 6.6.1 of CocktailCocktail (Mountain Lion Edition), the popular shareware utility program that allows for additional Mac OS X system tests. The new version, a 5.5 megabyte download, adds the following fixes and features:
    – Improvements on the “Clear user caches” procedure.

    – Added ability to change Launchpad background effect (Interface – Misc).

    – Added ability to change Launchpad background blur radius (Interface – Misc).

    – Added ability to refresh Launchpad contents (Interface – Misc).

    – Added ability to remove all apps from Launchpad (Interface – Misc).

    – Added OS X 10.8.5 compatibility.

    Cocktail 6.6.1 retails for a US$19.00 shareware registration fee and requires an Intel-based Mac running Mac OS X 10.8 or later to install and run.

    If you’ve tried the new version and have any feedback to offer, please let us know in the comments.

  • Apple releases Mac OS X 10.7.5 update

    It may not be quite as snazzy as the iOS 6.0 release, but it’s still helpful to have updates.

    On Wednesday, Apple released Mac OS X 10.7.5. The new operating system update, a 1.14 gigabyte download, offers the following fixes and changes:

    – The 10.7.5 update is recommended for all OS X Lion users and includes general operating system fixes that improve the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac. It also includes Gatekeeper, a new security feature that helps you keep your Mac safe from malicious software by giving you more control over what apps are installed on your Mac.

    – Resolve an issue where icons in Launchpad may get rearranged after a restart.

    – Improve Wi-Fi reliability for iMac (Late 2009 and newer).

    – Resolve an issue using Spotlight to search an SMB server.

    – Improve compatibility connecting to Active Directory servers.

    The Mac OS X 10.7.5 update is available for free and can also be located, snagged and installed via Mac OS X’s Software Update feature.

    Mac OS X 10.7.5 requires an Intel-based Mac and Mac OS X 10.7.4 or later to install and run.

    If you’ve tried the new version and have any feedback to offer, please let us know in the comments.