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<div class="center_top">Thoughtful, detailed coverage of the Mac, iPhone, and iPad, plus the best-selling <a href="http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/?pt=TB-TAGLINE" style="color:yellow">Take Control</a> ebooks.</div>
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<h6>Find Your Mac's Serial Number</h6>
<p><p>Want to check your Mac's serial number quickly and easily? Select About This Mac from the Apple menu, and click on the text directly below "Mac OS X" that reads "Version 10.x.x." Click once and you'll get a build number which is more specific information about the software. Click twice, and you'll get your Mac's serial number.</p></p>
<h2><a href="http://db.tidbits.com/feeds/blogs.rss" title="Subscribe to the Staff Blogs RSS feed"><img src="/images/feed-icon-16x16.png" height="16" width="16" border="0" class="pagetitle_img" alt="RSS"></a>Staff Blogs</h2>
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<div class="sticky"><h3 class="head_primary">
<a href="/article/9143">Apologies for the Look Spam</a></h3>
<p class="sticky_preview">In which Adam apologizes for allowing spam to sneak through our defenses and be delivered to about half of the TidBITS text issue list.</p>
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Adam%20C.%20Engst">Adam C. Engst</a> | 28 Aug 2007</div></div><div class="sticky_bottom"> </div><div id="blurb_toggle_line" onClick="set_summary_show()">Show summaries of articles</div>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_11491" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_11491">How Matt Neuburg's reluctance to switch to iCal was overcome with the help of some really cool free software.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Matt%20Neuburg">Matt Neuburg</a> | 04 Aug 2010 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/11491.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a> | <a href="/article/11491#comments">27 comments</a></div></div>
<a href="/article/11469" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('11469', 'show')">A Weird and Wasteful Ad Campaign From Extensis</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_11469" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_11469">So you think you want to be a software reviewer? If you knew the stuff we had to put up with sometimes, you might change your mind.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Matt%20Neuburg">Matt Neuburg</a> | 28 Jul 2010</div></div>
<a href="/article/11160" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('11160', 'show')">Google Groups on the Fritz</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_11160" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_11160">When you're as pervasive as Google, even a slight glitch can be a nightmare for users and for your public image. That's the case with a Google Groups problem that has surfaced recently.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Matt%20Neuburg">Matt Neuburg</a> | 05 Apr 2010 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/11160.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a> | <a href="/article/11160#comments">5 comments</a></div></div>
<a href="/article/11072" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('11072', 'show')">Transferring Vinyl LPs to Digital: One Approach</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_11072" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_11072">So you have a collection of LPs and you wish you could listen to them in iTunes or on your iPod? Or you'd just like to preserve the music in digital format so you can listen without a needle touching the vinyl? Here's one user's inexpensive, speedy approach.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Matt%20Neuburg">Matt Neuburg</a> | 10 Mar 2010 | <a href="/article/11072#comments">16 comments</a></div></div>
<a href="/article/10780" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('10780', 'show')">Snow Leopard's Creator-Code Snubbing Now Official</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_10780" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_10780">Apple's documentation at last officially admits that, in Snow Leopard, creator codes are ignored when deciding what application owns a document.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Matt%20Neuburg">Matt Neuburg</a> | 22 Nov 2009 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/10780.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a> | <a href="/article/10780#comments">27 comments</a></div></div>
<a href="/article/10772" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('10772', 'show')">How to Fix Snow Leopard's Finder-Copying Bug</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_10772" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_10772">Certain files can't be copied from one computer to another via File Sharing in Snow Leopard. The cause of the bug has to do with permissions on symlinks. Here's how to detect troublesome symlinks and fix them.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Matt%20Neuburg">Matt Neuburg</a> | 19 Nov 2009 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/10772.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a> | <a href="/article/10772#comments">7 comments</a></div></div>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_10537" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_10537">In an undocumented and unannounced change, Snow Leopard has stifled an application's ability to mark a document as its own, thus hampering users and developers alike.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Matt%20Neuburg">Matt Neuburg</a> | 06 Sep 2009 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/10537.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a> | <a href="/article/10537#comments">89 comments</a></div></div>
<a href="/article/10433" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('10433', 'show')">Cause of Font Cache Bug Revealed?</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_10433" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_10433">Ever see your browser suddenly displaying nonsense? That's the Mac OS X font cache corruption bug. Apparently, a major cause of the corruption has been found.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Matt%20Neuburg">Matt Neuburg</a> | 26 Jul 2009 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/10433.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a> | <a href="/article/10433#comments">16 comments</a></div></div>
<a href="/article/10307" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('10307', 'show')">How to Reformat a New External Hard Disk</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_10307" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_10307">The printed instructions for how to reformat a new disk are usually wrong; here's the right way.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Matt%20Neuburg">Matt Neuburg</a> | 28 May 2009 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/10307.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a></div></div>
<a href="/article/10303" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('10303', 'show')">ClickToFlash Spiffs the Safari Experience</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_10303" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_10303">A free Safari plug-in makes pages load faster by turning Flash content into Flash-on-demand.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Matt%20Neuburg">Matt Neuburg</a> | 28 May 2009 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/10303.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a></div></div>
<p> </p><div class="sponsorbox">
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<a href="/article/10275" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('10275', 'show')">iPhone Gets Short End of SlingPlayer Stick</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_10275" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_10275">Nearly a year after we got to see a working proof-of-concept app, Apple has finally let SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone and iPod touch into the App Store. The long-awaited handheld app from Sling Media allows Slingbox owners to enjoy whatever's on their television, but only via Wi-Fi, not on cellular networks such as AT&T's 3G network.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Mark%20H.%20Anbinder">Mark H. Anbinder</a> | 13 May 2009 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/10275.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a></div></div>
<a href="/article/10240" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('10240', 'show')">Beware the GPS Thieves</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_10240" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_10240">As Adam and Tonya discovered first-hand on a recent trip to New York City, the latest trend in car-related theft revolves around the increasingly popular GPS devices from the likes of Garmin, Magellan, and TomTom. Don't let it happen to you.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Adam%20C.%20Engst">Adam C. Engst</a> | 24 Apr 2009 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/10240.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a></div></div>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_10021" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_10021">Without fanfare, Apple has improved the specs of the white MacBook, the low-end $999 white polycarbonate laptop that remains in the product lineup alongside its shinier aluminum cousin. Most notably, the low-end laptop now features Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics, a dramatic upgrade from the Intel integrated graphics of earlier models.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Mark%20H.%20Anbinder">Mark H. Anbinder</a> | 21 Jan 2009</div></div>
<a href="/article/10002" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('10002', 'show')">Log In to Me</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_10002" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_10002">During a bout of insomnia, Joe Kissell cleverly slid his MobileMe email address into a song recorded ten years ago.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Joe%20Kissell">Joe Kissell</a> | 14 Jan 2009 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/10002.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a></div></div>
<a href="/article/9897" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('9897', 'show')">Fix Your Clicks With Klicko</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_9897" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_9897">In the switch to Mac OS X, what's the worst change, overall, that Apple made to the interface? It's clickthrough. At long last, here's a utility that blocks it.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Matt%20Neuburg">Matt Neuburg</a> | 01 Dec 2008 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/9897.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a></div></div>
<a href="/article/9879" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('9879', 'show')">Big Discounts on Macs at Best Buy This Week</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_9879" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_9879">Why wait for Black Friday, the notorious day-after-Thanksgiving retail bonanza in the U.S.? Retailer Best Buy is offering Apple computers at discounts ranging from $50-150 through Wednesday.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Mark%20H.%20Anbinder">Mark H. Anbinder</a> | 24 Nov 2008</div></div>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_9849" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_9849">Modern air travel is never easy, but when bad weather diverts Rich Mogull's plane, his trusty iPhone ensures he gets a hotel room for the night with three measly screen taps.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Rich%20Mogull">Rich Mogull</a> | 11 Nov 2008 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/9849.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a></div></div>
<a href="/article/9821" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('9821', 'show')">Apple and Microsoft Snipe in Ad Campaigns</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_9821" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_9821">Apple's "Get a Mac" ad campaign has taken direct aim at Microsoft, finally causing the industry giant to strike back with a $300 million ad campaign. Now Apple is returning fire.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Adam%20C.%20Engst">Adam C. Engst</a> | 20 Oct 2008 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/9821.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a></div></div>
<a href="/article/9790" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('9790', 'show')">Font Puns Galore in Extensis's Bravefont Trailer</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_9790" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_9790">Extensis had way too much fun in producing this trailer for a spoof movie called Bravefont. It's really a teaser for Suitcase Fusion 2, but the video is a must-see for its combination of movie cliches and font jokes.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Adam%20C.%20Engst">Adam C. Engst</a> | 30 Sep 2008 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/9790.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a></div></div>
<a href="/article/9779" onMouseOver="blurb_slide('9779', 'show')">MercuryMover 2.0 Puts Windows Where You Want Them</a></h4>
<div class="article_preview" id="blurb_9779" style="display:none"><div id="popup_inner_9779">Over the weekend, Tonya didn't lose my marbles, but she nearly lost a window. However, the brand-new MercuryMover 2.0 came to the rescue and let her recover her off-screen window.</div><!-- blurb inner --></div><!-- blurb outer -->
<div class="featured_meta"> by <a href="/author/Tonya%20Engst">Tonya Engst</a> | 22 Sep 2008 | <a href="javascript:void(0)" onClick="open_podcast_window('http://db.tidbits.com/podcasts/9779.m4a')" title="Listen to an audio version of this article">Listen <img src="/images/listen_icon4.gif" width="12" height="10" border="0" alt="Listen to This Story"></a></div></div>
<p class="cat_next"><a href="/section/blogs/1/">Next 20 articles for Staff Blogs...</a></p>
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