How to Add Your Music Library to Steam and Use the Steam Music Player | Dramel Notes

Steam’s Music Player allows you to add a MP3 file stored on your computer to a local music library and play it back — inside or outside a game, with a controller or keyboard and mouse. This would be particularly useful on a Steam Machine or living-room gaming PC in Big Picture Mode.

This works in Steam on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Steam OS. You can add music and play it back either from the desktop interface, or through Big Picture Mode.

Add Your Music Library From the Desktop

To get started, click the “Steam” menu in Steam and select “Settings”. Click over to the “Music” tab in the Settings window.

Click the “Add” button and add one or more directories on your PC that contain music files. By default, Steam automatically scans its own directory for soundtracks and your user account’s “Music” directory. Click “Scan Now” to have Steam detect the music when you’re done.

If you regularly add new music files to your library, click the “Scan at Startup” checkbox and Steam will automatically scan your library for new music when you load it. You’ll have to either relaunch Steam with those option enabled or visit this window and click “Scan Now” to find new music.

You can adjust other options from this window, too. For example, you can have Steam automatically pause music when you start an application, and control whether it’s automatically paused while you’re voice chatting within Steam. You can also choose whether you want to see a notification when the track changes.

Play Music From the Desktop

To view your music library, you can visit the “Library” tab in Steam, click the label at the right side of your search box, and select “Music” to view your music library instead of your game library. You can also just click View > Music details to view your music library.

If you have some games that include soundtracks installed, you might see some music here even if you haven’t provided any of your own music yet.

Start playing music back from your library and the music player will appear. You can also select View > Music player to open it.

Of course, this feature is particularly useful because you can control music playback from within games without Alt+Tabbing. After all, Alt+Tab can cause problems with many games.

To do this, open the Steam overlay within a game. The default shortcut for this is Shift+Tab. You can customize the shortcut from within Steam by clicking Steam > Settings, selecting “In-Game” in the Settings window, and providing a new shortcut here.

At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see a “Music” link. This will open the music player in the overlay and allow you to control playback. Just press the overlay shortcut again — Shift+Tab by default — to quickly close the overlay and get back to the game.

Add Your Music Library From Big Picture Mode

You can do this same thing from within Big Picture Mode. These settings are shared, so if you’ve already set this up on the desktop, you won’t have to set it up separately in Big Picture Mode.

However, if you have a Steam Machine or just a living-room PC running Steam, Big Picture Mode will allow you to set this feature up and control playback with just a controller.

In Big Picture Mode — launch it by clicking the controller icon at the top-right corner of the desktop if you’re in desktop mode — use your controller or mouse to select the gear-shaped settings icon at the top-right corner of the screen.

Select “Music” under Audio on the Settings screen.

This screen provides the same options for configuring your music library. To add new folders containing music, select “Setup music library” and add the folders in the dialog that appears.

If you have a Steam Machine and you don’t want to mess with the file system, you should just be able to put some music on a USB flash drive or external hard drive and plug it into your Steam Machine. Then, select the drive from this window. This would work on any computer to enable access to music stored on a removable drive, of course.

Play Music From Big Picture Mode

The Music Player works similarly in Big Picture Mode. To access it, visit the “Library” section and select the “Local Music” category on the left.

You’ll see a thumbnail-style list of all the albums available on your PC. Select an album and you’ll be able to play the entire album or a single song from it.

When you do, the Steam Music Player will appear. While you’re playing music, there will be a music note button at the top-right corner of the main screen that allows you to quickly pull up the music player.

While in a game, you can pull up the Steam Overlay — using the keyboard shortcut, by pressing the Steam button on a Steam Controller, or by pressing the Xbox button in the center of an Xbox Controller. You’ll see a “Now Playing” box with the music that’s currently playing. Select it to open the music player.

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This feature is a bit basic, but Valve may improve it in the future. Possibilities include integration with Spotify, Pandora, and other music-streaming services. Valve will hopefully add support for more than just MP3s in the future, too.

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Which Key on a Mac Keyboard Corresponds to the ⇥ Symbol? | Dramel Notes

Keyboards tend to be the same overall no matter what type or brand you are using, but every so often you will see a key referenced in some kind of documentation that seems to be missing from your own personal keyboard. With that in mind, today’s SuperUser Q&A post has the answer to a frustrated reader’s question.

Today’s Question & Answer session comes to us courtesy of SuperUser—a subdivision of Stack Exchange, a community-driven grouping of Q&A web sites.

Photo courtesy of wheatfields – allispossible.org.uk (Flickr).

The Question

SuperUser reader user40780 wants to know which key on a Mac keyboard corresponds to the ⇥ symbol:

I was looking at PyCharm documentation which has the following instructions:

To change indentation of a text fragment, do one of the following:

1. On the main menu, choose Edit | Indent Selection / Edit | Unindent Selection.

2. Press ⇥ / ⇧⇥.

What functions as the ⇥ key on Macs? I do not see this symbol on my keyboard.

Which key on a Mac keyboard corresponds to the ⇥ symbol?

The Answer

SuperUser contributors Spiff and Levi have the answer for us. First up, Spiff:

The Tab Key is the one you are looking for.

Followed by the answer from Levi:

I have had similar problems interpreting Mac keyboard shortcuts and found the following list to be useful:

Image Source: Dan Rodney – Mac Keyboard Shortcuts

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Have something to add to the explanation? Sound off in the comments. Want to read more answers from other tech-savvy Stack Exchange users? Check out the full discussion thread here.

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The Quickest and Easiest Way to Make a Table in Word | Dramel Notes

It seems that the useful features in Microsoft Word never end. From hidden features for power users to important keyboard shortcuts anyone can use to their advantage, Word is a treasure trove of productivity.

For example, the next time you need a table, instead of going to the Insert tab on the Ribbon, place your cursor on a new line and type four plus signs with a space between each one. You can also use the vertical line (|) if you like. After this, just press Enter to make the table.

+ + + + 

This makes a table with one row and three columns, corresponding to the four plus signs you typed (one for each line on the table, and a space for each cell). If you need more columns, add more plus signs before pressing Enter.

To make the columns wider, add dashes between the plus signs:

+----------+----------+----------+

Don’t forget you can also use Word’s format tools to get it right after you create the table.

If this doesn’t work for you, enable the setting by going to File > Options. Click the Proofing tab on the left, then click the AutoCorrect Options… button at the top. At the top, change the tab to AutoFormat as You Type. Under the Apply as You Type header, make sure Tables is checked. Then you’re ready to go!

Now that you’ve got a table, make sure to format it perfectly with our tips.

Have you made any tables with this trick? Do you like using keyboard shortcuts for small tasks like this, or would you prefer the Ribbon? Let us know by commenting!

Image Credit: vinnstock via Shutterstock.com

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A Simple Trick for Cleaning Under Your Keyboard’s Keys | Dramel Notes

Do you clean your keyboard regularly? Whether you’re the type of person who snacks in front of the computer, thus getting crumbs everywhere, or you’re a neat freak who never puts anything dirty near their keyboard, stuff always gets in there.

Cleaning the actual keys is simple: A paper towel will do the job without a problem. But how are you to clean under and between the keys? Compressed air is a solid option, but what if you don’t have any available, or what if you don’t want to blow the stuff under your keyboard around the room?

The answer is shockingly simple, and it comes from something we all have around the house.

Clear tape! You simply need to tear off a small piece (about an inch or so), fold it in half so the sticky side faces out, then rub it around between your keys. Because you’re working with tape, you’ll be able to see all the nasty stuff that’s been hiding all of this time. It’s a little gross, but at least it will be gone!

Make sure you don’t use duct tape or any other highly adhesive tape, as you can leave residue under your keys, which is obviously not good. Stick with the standard clear tape that you would use to wrap a present, and you’ll be safe!

What kind of nastiness did you find under your keyboard? Share the horror with us in the comments!

Image Credit: Khomkrit Phonsai via ShutterStock

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Is Apple’s Official Keyboard The Best Choice For Your Mac? | Dramel Notes

When it comes to buying a keyboard for your Mac, you’re likely to think of an Apple keyboard first. They look great, they have command, function, and option keys instead of control and alt keys, and they’re made by Apple—so they’re the best, right?

As it turns out, there are a lot of options out there. Let’s see if they stand up to the brushed aluminum heavy hitter that is the official Apple keyboard.

Apple’s Keyboard: The Aluminum All-Star

There are actually two keyboards that Apple makes for Macs: one wired, and one wireless. The wireless model is probably more popular, as it has a smaller footprint and is highly portable. But what makes it one of the best Mac keyboards out there?

In short, it’s just a really nice keyboard: it has a nice feel to it (for a membrane keyboard, anyway), it’s relatively quiet, and it holds up under a lot of very heavy use — I’ve been using my wired keyboard for several years of many-hours-a-day typing, and it’s showing almost no signs of wear. Bluetooth connectivity means it works with not only your Mac, but also with your iPad, which is nice, and the battery life is solid, making use of two AA batteries in the latest version. It’s also notably smaller than many other keyboards, adding portability without sacrificing key size.

The wired version is another great keyboard, and even includes a number pad. If you’re working with a lot of numbers, this could be a big bonus, and you never have to worry about running out of batteries.  Both keyboards have all of the function keys you want with your Mac, including dedicated keys for Exposé, Mission Control, Launchpad, and media control. The wired keyboard has larger arrow keys and some extra navigation keys as well.

And, of course, the aluminum enclosure is fantastic. It feels solid, holds up well to wear, and matches the rest of your Apple products. The typing feel of the keyboards is decent; I much prefer the feel of either Apple keyboard to the built-in keyboards found on Apple’s laptops, which to me feel pretty “mushy,” something you’ll hear mechanical keyboard advocates say about membrane keyboards all the time. And I really do love the number pad.

Because these are official Apple products, they tend to just work with your Mac with relatively little fuss. You might have occasional problems, but for the most part, they’re very easy to configure and use with OS X.

I’m not alone in liking the Apple keyboard. Both the wireless and wired version of the Apple keyboard have great reviews on Amazon. The previous version of the wireless board has 4.6 out of 5 stars after 1,500 reviews, and the wired one has 4.5 after 1,000 reviews.

But what else is out there? And is it better?

Other Options: Performance and Ergonomics

Of course, there are plenty of options when it comes to Mac keyboards from a wide variety of manufacturers. We’ll take a look at some of the most popular here to see how they stand up to Apple’s own boards.

Logitech makes a number of Mac keyboards, but the Easy-Switch K811 ($95) might be the best; it offers rechargeable wireless connection (the micro USB cable lets you recharge while you type), a super-slim profile, and easy switching between three different Bluetooth devices, so you can switch between your Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV without having to re-pair all the time.

Backlit keys and Logitech’s “whisper quiet” operation make for effective typing, and built-in Apple TV controls round out the feature list for an extremely capable keyboard.

If you’re a serious typist and you’re looking for a wireless mechanical keyboard, the Matias Laptop Pro for Mac ($160) is the one for you. Great tactile feedback usually results in loud keys, but Matias uses Alps switches that are significantly quieter than the Cherry MX switches that are so popular in other boards (Matias says that these switches create about the same amount of noise as a membrane keyboard).

The Laptop Pro for Mac emulates classic Apple keyboards for fans of earlier designs, but include a huge rechargeable battery, USB ports, and better key labelling to bring the keyboard into the present.

Spending a lot of time on a keyboard can be hard on your wrists and forearms, so a lot of people use ergonomic keyboards that put your hands and wrists in a more natural position to reduce strain. If there’s one thing the Apple keyboards aren’t, it’s ergonomic. The Kinesis Freestyle2 ($98), however, is a highly regarded Bluetooth split keyboard that lets you get the right amount of space between your hands to reduce strain.

There’s even an accessory that lets you change the angle at which the keyboard sits on your desk. If you need something more ergonomic than an Apple keyboard, this is the way to go.

Another popular keyboard for Macs is the Das Keyboard ($133), a larger mechanical board that offers Cherry MX blue switches for solid tactile and audio feedback. This is a serious keyboard for serious typists. It even includes the number pad and expanded navigation keys that come standard on the Apple wired keyboard. Media controls, USB ports, and the ability to register up to five simultaneous key presses make for a serious workhorse of a keyboard. The keys are even laser-etched to prevent fading.

These are all great options for Mac keyboards, but you’ve probably noticed that they’re all quite a bit more expensive than the standard Apple boards. Is there anything at the same price range that outperforms an Apple keyboard?

If you’re looking to stay around the $60 price point, the Logitech Wireless Solar K750 for Mac ($60) is a great bet—with a Mac-friendly layout, super-slim profile, and solar charging. You’ll get everything you need to work with your Mac without the hassle of changing batteries at inconvenient times. It even comes in silver to match your Mac. And the Logitech unifying receiver will work with up to six different Logitech devices at once, so you can use your mouse, keyboard, and any other Logitech wireless devices from a single port.

Are Apple Keyboards Really the Best?

There’s no denying that Apple makes great keyboards. With their reasonable price and solid construction, they’re a lasting investment that will keep you typing away for a long time. But if you’re willing to spend a bit more money, you’ll get an increase in performance and comfort.

Is it worth the extra cost? That probably depends on how much you type. If you spend hours on your keyboard every day, you’ll probably be glad that you upgraded. If you’re a frequent or serious gamer, you’ll definitely want mechanical switches. But if you just write the occasional email and check Facebook most of the time, an Apple keyboard will be just fine.

Which keyboard do you use with your Mac? Have you noticed a difference between the Apple keyboard and any other one that you’ve used? Which would you recommend? Share your thoughts below!

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10 Awesome Windows Shortcuts You Never Knew About | Dramel Notes

10 Awesome Windows Shortcuts You Never Knew About

 

Keyboard shortcuts not only help you get the work done faster, but also make you more efficient. While new users might be slowly moving the mouse around the screen to look for a button to click, seasoned users will do it more efficiently with their vast knowledge of hotkey combos. In fact, if you are familiar with the keyboard shortcuts, you can increase your productivity tremendously.

 

Of course, every Windows user might have a few shortcuts up their sleeves. Here are some awesome shortcuts even you might not know about.

 

1. Win + L

Leaving your computer for even a brief moment might leave your screen vulnerable to prying eyes. Better be careful and use this shortcut to lock your PC instantly.

 

2. Ctrl + Shift + N

Windows has made it easier to create a new folder in Windows Explorer by using Ctrl + Shift + N right where you are and a new folder with the name ‘New Folder’ will appear highlighted for you to type in its folder name.

 

3. Ctrl + Y

Many knows that Ctrl + X is a useful shortcut to undo a previous action performed by a user. This is all good until you need to redo an action that has been undone. Ctrl + Y is here to save you the trouble and redo what has been undone.

 

4. Shift + Delete

If you think dragging stuffs into the Recycle Bin to delete it is troublesome, there is a Delete key which will do the same action. But an even simpler way is to use the Shift + Delete shortcut key which will bypass the Recycle Bin. Be careful though, as you won’t be able to restore the file from the Recycle Bin if you later decide that you want it back.

 

5. Alt + Print Screen

The Print Screen key is a nice shortcut to take screenshots of the current screen. But if you just want to take a snapshot of the active window, then use Alt + Print Screen so you do not need to edit the screenshot to just the active window later.

 

6. Alt + 6

When you have multiple windows open, clicking around to switch to the right window might be time consuming. Use this cool shortcut to quickly switch between windows.

 

7. Win + M

Too many windows cluttering your desktop? This shortcut will help you to minimize all open windows to the Taskbar. Press Win + Shift + M to have all running windows pop open again.

 

8. Win + Spacebar

If you need a quick peek at your desktop, there is no need to minimize all your windows with the Win + M shortcut key. Simply press Win + Spacebar will make all your working windows transparent so you can see right through them, and possibly confirm a file that you have placed on the desktop. To return to your normal view, just let go of the keys.

 

9. Win + Right Arrow + Enter

This shortcut will execute the first option in the Shutdown Button and is one of the fastest ways to shutdown a Windows PC. This shortcut may not work on Windows 8 & 8.1 though.

 

10. Win + (+/-)

Need to take a closer look at something on the screen? Hit Win and + will bring up a magnifying glass on the screen. While magnified, hit Win and – will zoom you back out again.

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