Bulletin Updates

Tech Tip Tuesday – Enable Dark Mode on your Mac

By November 17th 2020

A few months ago we posted on how to enable “dark mode” on your Windows 10 device. Did you know that dark mode is also available on your Mac? Here’s how to enable it:

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences
  2. Click General.
  3. Select one of the Appearance options at the top of the window:
  • Light: Use the light appearance.
  • Dark: Use the dark appearance.
  • Auto: Automatically use the light appearance during the day, and the dark appearance at night.

General System Preferences window with Dark Appearance selected

Read more about Mac’s Dark Mode on the Apple Support site.

Subscribe to get LITS News and Updates in your inbox.

Tech Tip Tuesday: Virtual Backgrounds in Google Meet

By November 3rd 2020

Google Meet now offers the option to select a virtual background! These backgrounds can be changed at any point during the meeting.

To select a virtual background prior to starting a meeting, click on the Change background icon in the bottom right corner of your video preview.

To change your virtual background within a meeting, click on the three dots within the white bar. From there select Change background.

Please note that using virtual backgrounds may cause your computer to run slower.

Tech Tip Tuesday: Deleting Outdated Passwords on a Mac

By October 27th 2020

When you find that a password for a website or the wifi isn’t working, it’s possible that your Mac is retaining an older password. This is especially likely if your password has changed since the last time you used it on your Apple devices.

Macs use a feature called Keychains to store this information. While this is a useful feature, it can sometimes keep you out of an account if your password has changed.

You can delete outdated Keychain passwords. Here’s how:

1. Open the Keychain Access app from the Applications window on your Mac.
2. Find the Keychain you want to delete, and select it with a click.
3. From the File menu, choose Delete Keychain [keychain name].
4. Select Delete References.

The next time you visit the website or try to log onto the wifi, you will need to re-enter your username and your new password.

Tech Tip Tuesday: Tweaking Performance in Meet and Zoom

By October 20th 2020

If Meet or Zoom isn’t performing as well as expected, there are various things you can do to improve your experience.

  • Mute your microphone when you’re not speaking.
    When your microphone is on, Meet and Zoom will devote part of your Internet connection to an audio stream for you, even if you are not speaking. Mute your microphone when you do not need it to free up bandwidth for your meeting or class.
  • Stop your webcam video when you don’t need it.
    If your instructor or moderator is okay with you doing so, start your video only when you need to show yourself on webcam, and stop your video when it isn’t needed.
  • Consider disabling custom or blurred backgrounds.
    Custom backgrounds can slow down performance during a video chat. If you’re comfortable displaying your present surroundings, disabling background options can improve your session.
  • Disable HD webcam video.
    Sending high definition (HD) webcam video requires more bandwidth than sending non-HD. Disabling HD video or using a lower definition can improve the quality of your connection.
  • Free up bandwidth from other sources.
    Close programs you’re not using on your computer, and close out tabs in your browser that you don’t need at the moment. If you’re using wifi, consider disconnecting your phone, smart speaker, game console, etc., from the wifi during meetings or classes, to conserve local bandwidth.

Subscribe to get LITS News and Updates in your inbox.

Pelletier Library Adds Saturday Hours

By October 19th 2020

As Pelletier Library continues to expand hours, LITS is pleased to announce that the InfoDesk will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Evening hours have also been expanded by one hour, to midnight Monday through Thursday.

The full hours are as follows:

  • Mon.-Thurs.: 12 noon – 12 midnight;
  • Fri.: 12 noon – 6 p.m.;
  • Sat. – Sun.: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Allegheny ID is required for entry.

Subscribe to get LITS News and Updates in your inbox.

Tech Tip Tuesday: Manage App Shortcuts on Chromebook Desktop

By October 13th 2020

Add, Move, and Remove App Shortcuts on Chromebook Desktop

You can add an app that you use often to your desktop on a Chromebook.

Add an app

  1. In the corner of your screen, click the Launcher  and then Up arrow .
  2. Find the app you want to add.
  3. Right-click the app icon.
  4. Click Pin to Shelf.

When you pin an app to your shelf, the app will stay there until you move or remove it.

Change the order of the apps

To change the position of an app:

  1. Click and hold the app you want to move.
  2. Drag it to a new position.
  3. Release to put the app in a new spot.

Remove an app

  1. Right-click the app you want to remove.
  2. Click Unpin.

Learn more

Google provides an interactive tutorial for working with apps on your Chromebook.

Subscribe to get LITS News and Updates in your inbox.

VLC Player for DVDs in Classroom Presentation Spaces

By October 7th 2020

VLC media player software is now available on all presentation space computers on campus. This software is intended for use by faculty to present DVDs as part of a classroom session.

When you insert a DVD into the tower, you will see a prompt asking you what you’d like to do with the disc. Choose “VLC”. To allow students who are attending remotely to view the video, remember to share the presentation computer’s screen in Zoom or Meet.

Note: Discs played in the separate Blu-Ray player will not be viewable by remote students.

Please reach out to the InfoDesk at infodesk@allegheny.edu or call 814-332-3768 with any questions.

Tech Tip Tuesday: Pin important emails to the top of your Gmail inbox

By September 29th 2020

You can pin certain emails to the top of your Gmail inbox. Here’s how.

First, click on the little gear-shaped Settings icon in the upper right corner of your Gmail window. This will open a Quick Settings menu.

Quick Settings menu in Gmail

Scroll down to the section labeled Inbox Type.

Inbox Type menu in Gmail

Choose Starred first.

Close the Settings menu.

Then, in your inbox, simply click the star next to any emails you want to appear at the top of the list, in a separate section. It will add another section below the Starred section, labeled Everything Else. As you can see in the screenshot below, there are five starred email conversations in the inbox.

Gmail inbox sorted with starred items first

Any conversation that you have starred will stay at the top of the list until you remove the star (simply by clicking on the star again) or remove the conversation from your inbox by archiving or deleting it.

Similarly, you can pin unread emails to the top by choosing Unread first instead of Starred first.

Tech Tip Tuesday: Color-code Folders in Google Drive

By September 22nd 2020

If color-coding is something that fits your organization style, you can color-code your Google Drive folders.

In your browser, just right-click (control-click on a Mac) on the folder whose color you would like to change. Choose Change color, and then select the color from the grid that pops up. The new color will remain until you change it again.

Screenshot of "Change Color" folder menu in Google Drive

Tech Tip Tuesday: Managing Multiple Google Accounts

By September 8th 2020

The widely used Google Chrome browser allows you to be signed into multiple Google accounts at once, which will conveniently allow you to switch between accounts without signing out and back in again.

For multiple sites and services used by the college, however, it’s important to make sure that you’re accessing these sites with your Allegheny Google account, and not a personal one.

For example, when joining a Google Meet video call, it’s important to join the call with your Allegheny account. (Most Google applications will indicate which account you are using.)

If the displayed account is not your Allegheny account – click on your account icon, and select your Allegheny account, or Add another account.

Questions or Concerns? Please send us an email at infodesk@allegheny.edu.