Tweak Mac OS X Lion 10.7 – Hidden Folders, Dock, Launchpad, iCal and Address Book design

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I was one of the first folks to update to Lion when it became available on the app store. This is normally not my M.O. as I usually wait for the first few patch fixes to come out for any operating system. However, for Lion I was very excited because of the prospect of a better Apple Mail. Along with Apple Mail came a new iCal and a new Address Book. All of the UI enhancements closely resembled the iPad. While this was not terrible I was a bit annoyed that we didn’t have the ability to customize the appearance of iCal and Address Book back to the old look and feel. The new look had a leather appearance with torn sheets design. It looks very un-apple and feels a bit clumsy to use.

I also noticed there were a few nuances that were quite annoying. Apple by default now hides your Library folders and doesn’t allow you to mess with them. Another annoying component was the fact that Launchpad while extremely useful was very cumbersome to update and move apps around. I also noticed that if you “X”-ed an app you were actually removing and deleting it from the app directory. The only way to really organize everything was to use folders and I didn’t want to mess with my main app directory structure.

I also still never liked the 3d look of the dock. In snow leopard I actually changed it to 2d which I thought was much nicer but for some reason Lion returned it back to the 3d dock.

Last but not least was the unfortunate font issues with Apple pre-installed fonts, namely Helvetica Neue. This one was a simple solution as all you have to do is use the LinoType version of the font and you are set.

Display your library folder in Mac OS X Lion

Open the Terminal app and type

chflags nohidden ~/Library/ 

The Library folder will reappear in your user folder.

Customize and hide apps from Launchpad from the Preference Pane

http://chaosspace.de/launchpad-control/

Change Mac OS X Lion Dock Theme to 2D

Open up the terminal and type

defaults write com.apple.dock no-glass -boolean YES

Now reload the dock by typing

killall Dock

Remove Mac OS X Lion iCal and Address Book Leather Design

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/39514/lionbleacher

And lastly, Mac OS X Lion GrowlMail for Apple Mail 5.0 Notifications Update

I posted this last week however, here it is again here

GrowlMail 1.3 for Mac OS X Lion 10.7



140 character thoughts 2012-01-27

140 character thoughts 2012-01-20

  • The interwebs are broken. Space weather? The Chinese? Friday the 13th??http://t.co/feV6MojC #
  • breath deep… #
  • “In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer”
    Albert Camus. Thanks Usha. #
  • I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.- Og Mandino thanks again usha #
  • To Scars – to those we've already earned and to those that are coming. #

140 character thoughts 2012-01-13

140 character thoughts 2012-01-06

  • @1Password so 9.0.1 ff mac just broke 1P 3.8.9? don't make me use chrome :-( #
  • Fuck new years. #
  • @dteare @1password yep that worked. Thanks. #

140 character thoughts 2011-12-30

  • I don't know how to describe what I'm feeling right now.I should be in a more festive spirit. However this year I don't seem to give a fuck. #
  • I now feel really guilty about what I said last night. Enough with the pity party. Merry Christmas everyone. #

140 character thoughts 2011-12-23

  • “@darthvader: Just hope North Korea doesn't bust out the Ewoks & fireworks for the funeral. #KimJongIl #
  • http://t.co/BobbcQeX anyone slightly worried yet? #
  • ding.. new email… ding… new twitter… ding… new IM… ding… SMS… ding… nothing done… ding…go to sleep and begin again #
  • Tweak Mac OS X Lion 10.7 – Hidden Folders, Dock, Launchpad, iCal and Address book design – http://t.co/2TDfxl5H #

140 character thoughts 2011-12-09

  • Ship has been burned…Possibly even sunk by a nuclear weapon. A brave new world is upon me and all future destinations are unknown. #
  • @EDDashD This should bring you back – Slick Rick – "Need some bad" http://t.co/8vJIPWMr click the weird little play icon… #
  • @pritibali nice link. I like startup America a lot. #
  • anyone know the name of a bar/lounge/club that was a furniture/retail store by day in nyc? almost 8 yrs ago and may no longer be in business #

140 character thoughts 2011-09-23

  • @culturedcode it's been almost a month and my patience is getting really short. CMON ALREADY!!!!!!! #
  • I just can't get comfortable… I am wondering if it's the pillow… or just me…. #
  • finally get a comfy seat and every single outlet is taken… jeezz #
  • @culturedcode @Marxamus is there anyway at all to set up alerts? or a notification? or allow growl to pop up? #
  • @culturedcode does the app need to be loaded for that to happen? #
  • @culturedcode also under my regular iOS notification settings.. things isn't listed as an app #
  • out of 50 laptops here… I counted 2 PCs… 1 netbook… #
  • @AltaThaxton9457 yeah thanks however. I don't need a shitty dell. #
  • @pritibali cigarette jeans anyone? #
  • you know it might be time to move on when something makes you this physically ill…. #
  • @pritibali #hipsters have a lot of #fwp #039;s oh what crappy trend will they set next? #
  • ah yea… 3 hours of meetings = zero productivity today! #
  • @pritibali how about MC Hammer pants? #
  • @pritibali @arfeldman roflmao. I think the snark society needs to meet IRL for drinks to discuss #fwp #hipsters #irony #bowties #usopenlove #
  • Webit is searching to endorse the Most Influential People Online. Maybe you are one of them. Explore your influence http://t.co/tFsGKsfN #
  • Just posted a photo http://t.co/GqrDPSZy #
  • Just posted a photo http://t.co/mNuIWrut #
  • Just posted a photo http://t.co/5gSIelcO #
  • @Phreeksta whats THL and do you have access to their iOS beta already #
  • social networks are supposed to make us more social and connected however, I only feel connected to my phone. :-( #
  • @Phreeksta wunderlist has almost everything I need I just can't get used to the user interface. #
  • @pritibali @arfeldman Feldman is already too much for the world to handle. #
  • I think I'm going to look for some trouble tonight ;-) #
  • so supposedly Facebook is announcing the changes they made yesterday.. http://t.co/CUwgMpFs #
  • so this big reveal happened yesterday… however they are saying it will happen today… http://t.co/QSrrglQ7 I am very confused #
  • On Thursday, developers will be elated, users will be shellshocked and the competition will look ancient. #
  • Facebook will be reborn. Prepare yourselves for the evolution of social networking. ???!?!?!?!?!?!?! eh mashable got it wrong on this one #
  • and its bullshit #
  • wow nic felton at Facebook… this is probably going to be awesome #

140 character thoughts 2011-09-16

140 character thoughts 2011-09-09