From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

System Preferences
System Preferences in Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger"
Developer:	Apple Computer
Latest release:	3.5 (3.5) / 2005
OS:	Mac OS X
Use:	Settings
License:	Proprietary
Website:	Official System Preferences Site

Preference Pane from Mac OS X 10.4.

Screen Saver from Mac OS X 10.4.

System Preferences is the application used by Mac OS X to modify user preferences. A variety of preference panes for controlling the current user session, networking, hardware and other settings are included with Mac OS X. Additionally, preference panes can be installed by third party installers for hardware devices or system-wide utilities.

System Preferences was introduced in Mac OS X v10.0 it replaces Control Panels found in pre-Mac OS X versions of Mac OS.

In Mac OS X v10.0 through Mac OS X v10.3, a user could drag their favorite preference panes to a toolbar at the top of the System Preferences window. In Mac OS X v10.4, this was replaced with a Spotlight-style search. Results are indicated by dimming the window as a whole and brightening the preference panes that contain settings that match the user's search, achieving an effect similar to physical spotlights shining on to key items on a dimmed stage.

Mac OS X v10.4 includes the following preference panes:

• .Mac — used to set preferences for the users .Mac account and iDisk
• Accounts — user creation/deletion, administrator privileges and user limitations are set here
• Appearance — changes the general color of the OS as well as placement of Scroll arrows and Font Smoothing.
• Bluetooth — pair Bluetooth devices, edit Bluetooth settings.
• CDs & DVDs — used to set default settings upon inserting blank CD/DVD's, as well as music CDs, Picture CD's and Video DVDs.
• Classic — used to activate the Classic environment as well as set up settings for the Classic environment.
• Date & Time — used to set the Date & Time of the computer, as well as how the clock appears on the menu bar
• Desktop & Screensaver — used to set the Desktop Picture as well as the screensaver, and there settings.
• Displays — set screen resolution and Color settings here.
• Dock — adjust the dock size as well as magnification and position on screen.
• Energy Saver — optimize energy settings as well as sleep times and processor usage.
• Exposé — set Active Screen Corners and Keyboard and Mouse settings to activate Exposé
• Ink — set handwriting recognition settings.
• International — set the default OS language as well as numerical formats.
• Keyboard & Mouse — set keyboard settings, as well as change keyboard shortcuts, and mouse settings.
• Network — set Ethernet, AirPort, Modem and VPN Settings.
• Print & Fax — set the default Printer as well as fax settings.
• QuickTime — set Network speeds, plug-in settings, update, and register Quicktime here.
• Security — set "FileVault" settings, set up a Master password and set Account Security Settings.
• Sharing — set firewall and computer services preferences.
• Software Update — set default times to check for updates, and view updates already installed.
• Sound — set Alert Sound, Volume and Input/Output option.
• Speech — set the computers Default Voice, set up Speech Recognition, and other Speech Settings.
• Startup Disk — set the default disk, Hard Drive or Otherwise, for the computer to boot into.
• Universal Access — make your computer more accessible for those with, sight, hearing and other impairments.

• Official System Preferences Site
• Official Mac OS X Site