In an earlier installment, we showed you how to download a program using the Safari web browser. In this episode, we show you how to install it into the applications folder.

Apple has done an excellent job creating a secure multi-user system in OS X. Each local user has their own folder that remains isolated from the rest of the system.

From time to time, you may need to share files between your users. This is accomplished two ways. If you need to share with a single user, you can use the Drop Box. If you want to share files between all of the users you can use the shared folder.

The following video demonstrates how to use the Finder to share files using both methods.

It’s important to keep the software on your Mac up to date. Apple releases security updates and software improvements from time to time. Some of these are critical updates that Apple recommends that you install. This process is easy if you use the Software Update application built into OSX.

When you install OSX the Software Update application is set to run weekly. The application works by going out onto the internet to Apple servers and downloading any software updates. Then, if updates are available you are presented with a dialog box requesting you to install the updates. Some of these updates may require you to reboot the computer.

To manually check for updates, click the Apple menu in the menu bar and select Software Updates. This will open the update dialog presenting you with a list of updates that are ready to install.

Software Update is configured through the System Preferences application. Select System Preferences and Software Update to configure the application settings. Through this settings dialog you can configure the frequency of updates and look at a list of installed updates in your system.

Keep your Mac healthy by running Software Update and you will have years of happy computing.

When I first made the transition from Windows XP to OSX I was a bit confused about the Finder menu. To a Windows XP user, the Finder menu had the features of the start menu, an application menu and the tray notification area rolled into one. The menu bar is broken into two areas, on the left side are application menus, on the right side is a notification area.

The application menu shows the menu of the currently active application. When no application is running, the bar displays the Finder menu. If you are used to Windows XP this may take some getting used to. Windows XP application menus are typically displayed inside the running application window. If you are running an application and want access to the Finder menu, just click on the desktop.

The icons on the right side of the menu bar typically indicate the status of running programs. This is very similar to the tray notification area used by the Explorer in Windows XP. Applications can place an icon in this area to provide you with valuable feedback. Icons in this area also can have their own menus attached to them to allow quick access to common application functions.

You use software called a web browser to view content on the Internet. There are many types of web browsers. Windows bundles Internet Explorer with their operating system. Apple’s OS X is no exception. Apple bundles the Safari web browser.

Safari let’s you view content on the Internet. From time to time, you may wish to download and install new software. This brief video shows you how you do this.

When you download software it is saved in a Downloads folder by default. Downloads is found in your home directory and it is also placed in the Dock as a stack. After a files finishes, click the stack to reveal the software you just downloaded.

There is a great companion post over at OSX Help which discusses what to do once the file is downloaded into your system.