Got a lot of repetitive tasks in your work life? Automate them! We’ll show you how.
All month long, Macworld has been taking a look at Automator, the built-in Automation tool found in Mac OS X 10.4. As part of that look into how to use Automator workflows to handle the repetitive jobs on your Mac, we’ve lined up an interview with Sal Soghoian, product manager of Automator at Apple. I talk to Sal about how Automator is different from AppleScripts and how to put the automation tool to work in everyday life.
Also, we’ve got a short interview with Macworld executive editor Dan Miller about the Macworld Gear Guide. That feature appears in the December 2005 issue of Macworld —it’s also appearing in installments at Macworld.com this week, so be sure and check it out.
Listen to episode 15
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Show notes
The online version of the Gear Guide includes Mac-themed gift ideas for office workers, travelers, music lovers, and digital photographers. We’ll post gear aimed at kids and gamers on Thursday and Friday this week. Be sure to also read some more musical gift ideas from Playlist reviews editor Dan Frakes.
In our interview, Dan Miller mentions the Kensington Thin & Light 70 Watt AC/DC Notebook Power Adapter, and one of my favorites, the PowerSquid.
As for more information on Automator, be sure to read the feature story from the December 2005 issue. There are sections on taking Automator for a trial run and troubleshooting your workflows. We’ve also got an excerpt from Matt Neuburg’s ebook Take Control of Customizing Tiger that deals with Automator. Both the Geek Factor and Digital Photo columns from the December 2005 issue also address how to incorporate Automator workflows into your routine.
Music credits
“Basic” by Epicte the Elemental. Want to hear more of his music? Need a DJ in the Washington, D.C. area? E-mail him at epicte@gmail.com.