Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Tiger Edition

Chapter 21. Safari, iChat, and Sherlock

Apple is obviously intrigued by the possibilities of the Internet. With each new release of Mac OS X, more clever tendrils reach out from the Mac to the world's biggest network. You don't have to look any further than the Dashboard (Section 5.11) to see how much Apple loves integrating the Internet into every nook and cranny of Mac OS X.

Still, some of Tiger's most powerful Internet tools are full-fledged programs, not widgets. In addition to Mail (Chapter 20), Tiger includes the newly beefed-up Safari Web browser; iChat for instant messaging, voice chatting, and videoconferencing; and the now-aging Sherlock program for targeted Web searches.

NOSTALGIA CORNER : Where to Specify Your Preferred Mail and Browser Programs

Hey! Where the heck do I specify what browser I want to open when, say, I click a link in an email message? It used to be in the Internet panel of System Preferences, but that panel doesn't exist anymore!

You're right. What used to be the Internet panel is now the .Mac panel, and the places where you set up your preferred email and Web programs have gone off to the great software company in the sky.

This is going to sound a little odd, but you actually specify which browser you want to use by opening the Safari browser that came with Mac OS X, choosing Safari→Preferences, clicking the General tab, and then using the Default Web Browser pop-up menu at the top.

You specify your preferred email program the same way, but in Mail instead ...