C# For Mac Using Xamarin Studio Part 2

C# For Mac Using Xamarin Studio Part 2

Here are some steps on how to get started on making Android apps:

• When building an Android app for the first time, it will take a while since it will download some files, so be patient.
• Go to Tools->SDK Manager and install your target Android version SDK. Remember, your target SDK version should be less than or equal to your Android device version.
• Go to Project->App Options->Under Build->General choose your target Android version.
• On your Android phone, enable Developer Mode and USB debugging.
• Connect your device and Run-> Start Debugging. This will build the app and install on your device.

See ya!

C# For Mac Using Xamarin Studio Part 1

C# For Mac Using Xamarin Studio Part 1

What is C#? 

C# is a programming language created by Microsoft in making cross platform apps.

What is the benefits of C#?

C# is multi-platform. It can be used on Windows and Macs and even on Linux.

What is Xamarin Studio?

Xamarin Studio is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Apple macOS used in making apps for macOS, Android, iOS such as iPhone, iPad, etc. Xamarin is owned by Microsoft and is free to use.   

Where do I get Xamarin Studio?

Click on the link here: https://www.xamarin.com.

Where can I learn Xamarin Studio?

There are video tutorials to get you started: https://developer.xamarin.com.

Where can I learn C# language?

There are lots of video tutorials on Microsoft’s website called, “Microsoft Virtual Academy,” which is free to join: https://mva.microsoft.com.  

What’s Next?

I will be showing you how to build your first Android project and debug it on your Android phone.

See ya!

Unity 3D And Pokemon GO!

Unity 3D And Pokemon GO!

Who would’ve thought that augmented reality or “mixed” reality is a blockbuster hit? What’s even more interesting is the tool Niantic (the developer of Pokemon Go), used to create the world’s most popular mobile game in U.S. History (http://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-becomes-most-popular-mobile-game-in-us-/1100-6441797/). Yup, it’s Unity 3D. Unity 3D is a game development software where you can make games for ALL platforms. This maybe for iOS, Android, Windows, VR, etc. You name it! What’s even cooler is that you can download and make games for FREE! (There is also a subscription service for additional features. Please check in the downloads section). And, there are lots of Unity game making tutorials that can be bought at incredibly low, low prices! 

I’ve already did the searching for you, just click here to purchase and learn about Unity 3D Game Development: 

• https://stacksocial.com/sales/unity-2016-gamer-bundle?utm_source=stacksocial&utm_medium=social-twitter&utm_campaign=unity-2016-gamer-bundle_071416_7a.

• https://stacksocial.com/sales/ben-tristem-triple-pack-vr-3d-and-unity.

Note: These tutorials will not teach you to develop Pokemon Go style games. It will teach you on how to build games by getting started and learning to use Unity 3D software. But, with a little imagination and some hard work, you might be able to create your own Pokemon Go games.

I also do recommend for you to wait a little while for someone to create video tutorials on how to create specifically for augmented reality games. Will keep you updated. Or, if you do know how please create videos for it. It’s a great opportunity!

Create your own video tutorials and publish here: 

• https://www.udemy.com.
• https://www.lynda.com.
• https://www.skillshare.com.

See ya!

LineApp Walkie Talkie For Your Phone

LineApp Walkie Talkie App For Your Phone

What’s different about this is you can talk to others using a local WIFI router, even without internet connection and without using cellular data. I haven’t tested this thoroughly, but based on user feedback it works. I am reviewing this app not from my own experience but giving you an idea that this technology exist and is possible. You may also look for other kind of apps that work similarly by googling it. 

Check it out here on their website: https://www.lineapp.at.

Boom 2 Audio Enhancement App Sale!

Boom 2 Audio Enhancement App Sale!

I’m using the first version and it’s still really great! I am not an audiophile but I love music and the reason I recommend this thing because music sounded better. You’ll know what I’m talking about until you’ve tried it. Yes, kind of a little steep for the price? But, half discount is better than nothing, right? I am not affiliated with these guys, I just review apps for fun. Helping people discover apps that they will truly love. So, go ahead try it! It won’t bite.

Check the link here: https://itunes.apple.com/ph/app/boom-2-best-audio-enhancement/id948176063?mt=12&ign-mpt=uo%3D4.

Click the “View in the Mac App Store” to buy and check more details.

TextExpander App for Mac Now For Sale!

TextExpander App for Mac Now For Sale!

It’s just $19.98. You may already heard this popular app and at regular price this deal is worth the wait. TextExpander  will really help you save time typing things over and over on emails, letters, creating your own snippets and shortcuts to truly do things fast. 

In El Capitan, there is a similar capability built-in but very limited. Go to System Preferences->Keyboard under Text, you may add shortcuts to common phrases you use every time. When you type in a shortcut, it will expand to the phrase you assigned it in.

Now, TextExpander goes further by expanding paragraphs, not just short phrases. You may also add your email signature library and reuse it everywhere.

Check out the link here: https://stacksocial.com/sales/textexpander-1-yr-plan-single-user. 

Ultimate PC Bundle Sale!

Ultimate PC Bundle Sale!

I know, I know this is not for the macOS, but you can install Windows on your Mac right? Using the free built-in Bootcamp for Mac, you can easily install and partition your Mac and run Windows 10 by choosing what to boot as your startup disk. So, you have the best of both worlds! Now, this deal is really good to have if you are a PC user. You might not need all of them, however you will enjoy some like the popular Scrivener for writers, CCleaner PRO for keeping your PC safe and private, Mind-mapping tool for brainstorming ideas and sharing them, Power productivity tool with PhraseExpander and more!

Check it out in this link: https://stacksocial.com/sales/pc-bundle-2016.

More Freebies?

More Freebies?

Almost all of the apps in the Apple App Store are free and I hate it. I would rather buy apps upfront than emptying my wallet for all of those “gems” and still not satisfied. Don’t get me wrong, some apps are legitimately free without being greedy. I am a developer myself and give apps for free without any catch (except for ads on some). You might ask that developers need to earn a profit for in-app purchases, and thus their business. As a developer that’s good but as a consumer that is greed. Therefore, it really depends. If you really, really like to support the developers and have tons of money then go ahead, make them happy. Free-to-play is awesome if you want to test their games or apps although I think they should have demo versions (oh, free versions are demo versions actually). And, there are gazillions of paid apps that you would want anyway, so why the hate? Sometimes, you need to be in their shoes in order to understand their situation, right? Creating apps is not an easy task. It takes a lot of your time and investment in order to create apps, and using apps without paying developers are just unfair and sad even they are responsible for driving sales for hardware manufacturers, which you buy. “Almost all of the apps in the Apple App Store are free and I hate it (but they love it).”

Ubisoft 30th Anniversary Free Games

Ubisoft 30th Anniversary Free Games

It’s Ubisoft’s 30^th Anniversary and they are giving away seven free PC games for you to download and enjoy. For the month of June, you get Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Get the game NOW!

Click the link here: https://30years.ubi.com/en-GB/operation-index.

Steam Games Summer Sale!

Steam Games Summer Sale!

Yup, it’s that time again. It’s Valve’s Steam Games Summer Sale! Get ridiculous discounts for old and new games for the old and new (no pun intended). I know you’ve been planning to buy that game a year ago when everything is not a picnic and very expensive. Now is the time to buy the games you’ve been waiting for all those summers. Being old is still FUN! (Any way you look at it). So, come on! Grab your games NOW! 

Of course, the link is here: http://store.steampowered.com.

Note: Refreshing deals until July 4^th, 2016.

Disclaimer: I am not related to this person or company by any means.

Mac Tips Extended Part 2 Send Files from Mac to PC Using Bluetooth

Mac Tips Extended Part 2 Send Files from Mac to PC Using Bluetooth

On PC:

1. Right-click on Bluetooth icon->Settings.
   
   
   Bluetooth devices
   
2. Check All Bluetooth devices to find this PC.
   
   
   Allow Bluetooth Devices to Find this PC

When sending files from Mac to PC:

1. Right-click on Bluetooth icon->Receive a file.
   
   
   Receive File
   
   
   Waiting for Connection

From Mac:

1. Send the file and choose the PC device.

Mac Tips Extended Part 1

Mac Tips Extended Part 1

One great tip to make your Mac run faster is to remove or uninstall unneeded applications. Click the Apple logo on the upper-left of the screen, choose, “About this Mac” click the System Report button under Overview tab, then under Software, choose Applications. Here, you will see all the installed applications from Apple and other third-party developers. Sort the applications according to, “Obtained from” by clicking the column. You will see applications created by unknown developers. Usually, these are applications from Google Chrome which you added, and therefore safe to remove unused apps by opening Google Chrome and put, “chrome://apps/“ in the address bar and hit Enter. Right-click on the apps you don’t need and choose,” Remove from Chrome.”

You can also check those “unknown” apps by looking at the location upon clicking on it. Most probably, you don’t need most of them and therefore safe to delete by using the apps’ installer or googling it on how to uninstall it. But, be sure to check first.

Summary

Here, we showed you on how to improve your Mac’s performance by removing unused applications by using the “About this Mac” option.

If you want more tips on how to drastically improve your Mac’s performance, please check out my latest book at Amazon, which is on sale today! Thank You. ❤️📘😃

Mac Tips (Only $7.99)

by Fernando Jr. Cuevas 

Link: https://amzn.com/B01GYDUNEO.

Apple macOS Sierra Features

Apple macOS Sierra Features

Apple has just launched their new macOS at WWDC on Monday and there are some new features like the most convenient copy and paste from your iPhone to your Mac, unlock screen using your Apple watch or iPhone, multiple tabs that are native, iMessage that are full of emojis (which is a doozy), the all new Apple Music, storage cleanup, the obnoxious AI assistant Siri (which we love to try out immediately), and many more!

These features are added on top of El Capitan, and therefore all the things we use on our Mac everyday will still be there. Our workflow might change since the unveiling of Siri that makes our work more efficient and handle tasks much faster and be more productive. In short, we can do more since Siri will finally arrive for work.

Ah, and one more thing, I’ve just published my new ebook called, “Mac Tips” at Amazon. This book is different. It brings some unique features that are not usually taught in schools. It’s like a book about discovery and exploration in using your Mac. It also highlights apps that are essential to make you more like a super hero and do stuff faster and easier! There are so much things you can do with your Mac, and we just scratched the surface! 

Here is an excerpt:

Super Simple Way to Speed Up Your Internet

You can speed up your Internet browsing by using Google’s public DNS servers. What is DNS? The Domain Name System (DNS) protocol is an important part of the web's infrastructure, serving as the Internet's phone book: every time you visit a website, your computer performs a DNS lookup. Complex pages often require multiple DNS lookups before they start loading, so your computer may be performing hundreds of lookups a day. For more info, go to this link: https://developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/.


Google Public DNS Website

1. Open System Preferences->Network->Advanced.
   
   
   Network Advanced Options
   
2. Under DNS->DNS Servers, delete existing servers by clicking the minus (-) sign.
3. Click the add (+) button and type: 8.8.8.8 and also add 8.8.4.4.
   
   
   Network DNS Servers

That’s it! Now, you have a faster internet and even more secure. Enjoy!

Summary

Is there a dead simple way to make your Internet browsing faster? Yes, by changing your DNS Servers in the Network preferences using Google public servers. It’s faster, and it’s safer!

Mac Tips (Sale Today! Only $2.99)

by Fernando Jr. Cuevas 

Link: https://amzn.com/B01GYDUNEO.

Thank You! 😃

Mac Tips Youtube Videos PadBangers Part 3

Mac Tips Youtube Videos PadBangers Part 3

Here is another cool video on awesome Mac apps for better workflow:

I like the part about using the free Disk Utility to make password protected folders. Time Machine is also indispensable. He suggests using TotalFinder which cripples your Mac security that he cautioned. I would rather recommend Commander One Pro by Eltima Software, which is available without compromising your Mac security. Commander One Pro is found on the Mac App Store for a minimal fee. There is also a free version where you can try.

Although he mentioned about using his own scripts for converting music files, I haven’t checked his scripts so use with caution.

Another thing is I prefer to use Pixelmator rather than Affinity Photo but it just boils down to preference.

Overall, I found his tips very useful although some requires purchasing apps, it really is such a time saver and some are really high-quality stuff.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I am not related to this person or company who provided this free tutorial.

Mac Games I Play Part 2

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Mac Games I Play Part 1

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Mac Tips Youtube Videos 9 to 5 Part 2

Mac Tips Youtube Videos 9 to 5 Part 2


Here is another video to show some nifty tips on how to make your Mac more useable.

I love the part when you can minimize windows into its application icon. This removes clutter and make your Mac more manageable.

Another cool stuff is when you can access emojis on the menu bar. This is handy on social networks like Facebook or Twitter, and it’s more organized than the list from the Edit menu.

Folder shortcuts to the Sidebar is also a time saver and it’s awesome!

So, that’s it. I hope you enjoyed another great video and thanks to 9to5 Mac.

You can visit their website here: http://9to5mac.com.

---

About 9to5 Mac

We deliver breaking information in digestible format peppered with commentary, wit, and a deep understanding of the subject matter being discussed. It isn’t enough to just inform; our posts strive to be interesting and entertaining, complimented with compelling, high-quality images and video.

Disclaimer: I am not related to this person or company who provided this free tutorial.

Mac Tips Youtube Videos - How To Make Your Mac More Secure

Mac Tips Youtube Videos
How To Make Your Mac More Secure

My first Youtube video I would like to share to you is from, “Apple Made Easy.” 

This video is about on how to make your Mac more secure by adding passwords when you login, requiring passwords for purchases in Mac App Store and iTunes Store, making use of Safari more securely and more private.

She also taught on how to enable downloads from Mac App Store, and enabling your Firewall, which is essential. But, what I would like to add is blocking all incoming connections by:

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on the Security & Privacy icon->Firewall.
3. Click on the padlock icon and enter your administrator username and password.
4. Click on the Firewall Options.
5. Check Block all incoming connections.
6. Click "Ok."
7. Then, click the padlock icon to lock.

The reason I mentioned this is for making your Mac more secure from hackers by enabling this option.

Note: Some sharing features will be blocked like File Sharing, Screen Sharing, etc. You have to uncheck this if you are going to use those features.

---

Apple Made Easy uploads weekly tutorials videos related to the Mac, iPhone, iPad and other Apple products.  If you have a comment or a question, feel free to post a comment or send me an email at letters@applemadeeasy.com.

Disclaimer: I am not related to this person or company who provided this free tutorial.

Permissions

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Security

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Leaders

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Mothers

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Expectations

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Choices, Choices

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Hack Attack!!!

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Congestion

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New Apple Support Site

New Apple Support Site

Apple just unveiled a newly designed support site to help users troubleshoot their devices, answer questions and learn more on how to use their products. I checked it and it's nice to see basic information and other tips that you'll be pleased to learn. It gives the right information straight from the source without being too technical.

So, I don't need to buy books? For the most part, it's good education, for it provides a wealthy source of step by step tutorials on how to troubleshoot your devices to avoid going to the Apple Store or calling support when you, yourself can fix it. It's not a replacement for books since books provides a more in depth resource, explaining the details behind the technology.

Just like in life, we can learn something from anybody. No matter what background they have, or no matter how little that he or she had education, we can learn from their valuable experiences. Sometimes, experience is the best teacher.

Check the new support site here: https://support.apple.com.

Gaming on Macs Will Drastically Change History

Gaming on Macs Will Drastically Change History

Ask every gamer on the planet and they will say Macs suck on gaming. But, if you ask them gaming on iPads or iOS devices like iPhones and they will obviously say it's great because all games on the Apple App Store basically can be played on your iOS devices. Why do games on iOS fare better or even far exceeds on Macs? Well, it's because of their popularity since all games on iPads are essentially free and most very cheap. Games on Macs on the other hand are expensive and heavily depends on Steam, which is a third party gaming online store. The other reason is all iPads are capable for gaming but not on Macs. Some Macs can barely handle triple A games with high GPU requirements. Metal, a low level API to access the GPU power which is very important on gaming, is only available on 2012 Macs and newer (you have to check it's compatibility on their website).

The Metal API is important on Macs to be a serious competitor in the gaming space, but it only gives developers, especially on iOS, the means to port their games to Macs easier. Steam on the other hand is by far the largest game provider on Macs, therefore Steam has to choose Metal to make Macs more viable in gaming. The only problem is game developers wants to port their games also on Windows and Android if they want to make more money, and both of them have the largest market share in the planet. Nobody will make games solely on Macs so Metal is not a good reason for gaming on Macs. From what I’ve heard, Vulkan IS the choice for game developers that solves cross compatibility problems. It has the same lower level access to the GPU, which is Metal but cross platform for Macs, Windows, Linux, Android, and etc.

So, I guess Macs will become a gaming platform and will perform well in the future because of iOS popularity, Metal, Vulkan, ports from iOS to Macs and cheaper pricing.

Sales Are Down, Let’s Jump Ship!

Ipad sales are down, mac sales are down even their most valuable, bread and butter product is down, except two things: Apple App Store and Apple Music. They are gaining on services while suffering in hardware sales. Some analysts say this is inevitable, they have reached the peak. But, surprisingly Samsung Galaxy 7 phones improved in sales (yoy), which means people are buying Samsung phones rather than iPhones. Why? I have a Mac but I don’t consider myself a fan boy; I am platform agnostic because I own different OSs from smartphones, to desktops, to laptops and tablets. And, I would rather learn different platforms since that is my job. I study them for years and write books about it.

Now, the reason I am telling you this is because I want to give you an unbiased view regarding these different technologies. I had an iOS device and the advantages are obvious, which is the flourishing App Store. They have apps there not found on Google Play Store, and these apps are considerably superior than in other app stores. Second, they rarely get viruses unlike Windows and even Android, which can’t be upgraded to the latest version for some reason (the reason for fragmentation). However, there are disadvantages like iOS doesn’t have a more useful file system unlike Android’s. For example, you like to upload a file in the web browser. Using iOS, it only enables the photo gallery to be uploaded not other files like PDFs or Office documents (as of time of writing). Another, the battery has a short lifespan; it easily get bloated that is why I recommend you getting Apple Care for extended warranty especially for iOS devices (although you have to pay more, but saves money in the long run).

Lastly, Apple products are expensive. They cater the 1%, and not everyone can afford their products. You pay for these products for high quality and design and also it’s a status symbol (come on, let’s not kid ourselves). People buy these because they feel good about themselves having those Apple sticker logos plastered on their devices and even at the back of their cars to say that they are rich. Is it bad? It depends actually. I don’t want to generalize Apple users since I too own their products and I am not “showy.” We emulate Apple because they are successful because we also want to be like them. For some, it’s quite inspiring, aspiring to be a company who is one of the most valuable in the world.

Mac OS X El Capitan

Mac OS X El Capitan

This is the latest version of the most advanced operating system in the world. A faster, more refined experience and some enhanced features:

• Pin tabs in Safari.
• Swipe gestures in Apple Mail for improved productivity.
• Faster boot, faster launch of apps, an improved performance across the board.
• Split screen.
• A more powerful Notes.
• Faster gaming with Metal (2012 or newer).
• …And more!

Check out what’s new in this link: http://www.apple.com/osx/whats-new/.