Need some gift ideas for Graduate-to-be?  Well, we’ve got Macs…and more.  Check out our list of some great gift ideas for your Graduate:

Twelve South BookBook Case for iPone, iPad, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro: $59.99 – $79.99

Laptop Messenger Bag by Thule: $89.99

iHome iP2B Speaker Dock: $119.99 SAVE $80!

Microsoft Office 2011 Home & Student Edition: $99.99 SAVE $20

Kensington KeyFolio Pro Keyboard Case for iPad: $79.99 SAVE $20

This video above was created and uploaded to YouTube entirely through this link here. Google has made it super easy for anyone that wants to make  a story, commercial, or promo video using web searches to do so.  And it’s all done with a simple fill in the blank website.

The process involves three steps.  One, enter your search criteria and where you want to search (ie. web, images, maps, etc…) in the blanks.  Two, choose a song from their small selection.  And three, watch and upload the final video to YouTube.

Take a look at our video then give it a try yourself.  It’s quite fun.

Here's the text we filled in for our Google Story

After their eggs are stolen by a giant claw from outer space, the Angry Birds head into space to retrieve them. This game boasts 60 new levels, superpowers, trick shots and an all new style of sling-shotting fun due to planetary gravity.

Check out the animated video below to see how the Angry Birds ended up in Space and to see some of the game play.  Angry Birds Space [App Store Link] is available for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, and iPod Touch 3rd and 4th Generation running iOS 4.  Angry Birds Space HD [App Store Link] is available for all iPads with iOS 4.2 or later.

Not a fan of the new sidebar icon size?  Well, you’re in luck then because Apple added a preference to choose between Small, Medium or Large for your “Sidebar icon size.”  Go to System Preferences > General and click on the dropdown menu next to “Sidebar icon size:” to change it.

Check back to our blog regularly for more tips and tricks for your Mac, iPad, iPhone and other Apple gadgets.

In the past, when a company would send you a tracking number for Fed Ex or UPS, or USPS, you used to have copy and paste that tracking number into your web browser, or click on the provided link, if they sent you one.  In Lion, you can track the shipment without every leaving Mail. To do this, hover over the number and the tracking number will be selected and an arrow will appear.  Click on the arrow and select “Track Shipment” in the drop down menu. A pop up window will show you the status of your package.

This feature which Apple calls Data Detectors has been around since OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and provides more options that just tracking packages.  Mail detects additional data such as addresses and phone numbers.  It allows you to add an event to iCal or even add a new contact to your Address Book with one click.

Take a look at your dock right now. Do you see the little white lights under your web browser icon? That means that application is currently open. We’ve found that a number of customers didn’t even know that feature was there. We’ve also had a few customers that really don’t like the indicator lights. The good news for those that don’t like the lights is that Lion allows you to turn them off in the System Preferences.

To turn off the Indicator Lights, go to System Preferences > Dock and then uncheck “Show indicator lights for open applications”.

Check out this SuperQuick Mac Tip on how to open specific system preference panes directly with a keyboard shortcut.

By right-clicking items in the dock, or control-clicking them, you can get a lot more use out of the applications down there. In Safari you can see a list of open windows, with other applications such as Pages or Writer, you’ll see a list of recently opened documents.

By right-clicking on Mail in the dock you can check mail, compose a new message or create a new note

With iTunes you have all sorts of options. From playing, skipping, shuffling, and repeating, to even rating the songs or liking in Ping.

Check out this SuperQuick Mac Tip on how to mute that annoying clicking sound while adjusting your volume using your keyboard.

By default, Lion (OS X 10.7) puts your dashboard widgets on their own space, to the left of your main desktop.  If you liked the way Tiger , Leopard, and Snow Leopard treated widgets, by overlaying them on top of your current desktop, you’re in luck.  There is a setting to undo the new way of viewing your widgets in the dashboard.

By opening System Preference > Mission Control and unchecking the top option “Show Dashboard as a space” you can now see your widgets on top of your desktop.