Stupid Simple Mac Tips #47 – Trackpad Ninja Part 2 of 4: I can see clearly now
You’re back! That must mean you want to learn more about the Magic Trackpad 2.
Don’t ignore this tip if you don’t use the Magic Trackpad; it works on the MacBook’s trackpad too!
If you work on an iMac or Mini, you might end up buying one of these magic little devices by the time we’re done.
I have so many tips. I’m not sure where to start.
Like I said in the last SSMT, my challenge is to filter, to edit, to keep it simple.
So I asked myself if there was only ONE trick I taught on the Magic Trackpad, what would it be?
Tough challenge, couldn’t do it.
I narrowed it down to 3.
Here’s the first of these, I’ll call it: I can see clearly now
Do you still minimize windows one by one by clicking on the little yellow button in the top left corner of a window?
Or perhaps you’re a window dragger: you drag and move windows around one by one until you can see the window you need?
Archaic.
If you’re not using this little trackpad trick yet, you’ll be glad you read this Stupid Simple Mac Tip.
Swipe-up with three fingers, and you’ll see ALL your windows at once, what Apple calls Mission Control.
Then click on the window you want and voila!
Your colleagues will think you’re a tech guru when they see your moves!
But there’s more.
A problem and a cure.
Problem: If you have lots of windows and applications open, like many lawyers I know often do, the quantity of windows can be too many – they end up being too small to see and choose between.
Cure: The inverse of my tip is to swipe DOWN with 3 fingers.
Doing this is called App Exposé and it shows you all the windows in your current application.
Have a number of PDF documents you are going between in Preview or Adobe Acrobat?
Swipe down to see them all at once.
Ever have 7 Word documents you are going back and forth on?
Swipe down and you’ll see them, click where you want to go and presto!
Can I weave in any more cheesy magical terms? Perhaps.
Let’s make sure you know how to turn these features on:
What I really care about is that you turn these features on and remember:
Swipe with 3 fingers
Up for all windows
Down for App windows
Using this takes milliseconds to move around windows.
Poof, I’m out!
