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Little known feature in Leopard: Spotlight Dictionary and Calculator

by Kristian Freeman

While there are features in Leopard that are seldom ignored, i.e. Time Machine and Spaces, there are some things that are often ignored. The Spotlight in 10.5 has been updated, and there is a new feature that has slipped its way in that is surprisingly helpful. This is the addition of a Dictionary and Calculator built right into it. Type in “2+6″ and it shows up in the spotlight as “2+6=8″. The dictionary function is the same way. Type in a word, such as “spotlight”, and a dictionary definition appears as one of the top search results. Overall, it is a very useful function when you need to quickly check a calculation or you’re not quite sure how to spell a word.

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Posted in Mac OS X, Software on November 14th, 2007

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2 Responses to “Little known feature in Leopard: Spotlight Dictionary and Calculator”

  1. Karen Lynch Says:
    November 21st, 2007 at 10:23 pm

    THIS is cool. Thanks for the tip!

  2. Stewart McKinlay Says:
    May 20th, 2008 at 2:29 pm

    Spotlight does not always check the dictionary. I was looking for the definition of Titration, which is a chemistry technique. Spotlight gives nothing but if you look in the dictionary the word is there with the definition. Any thoughts?

    Stewart.

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About Apple Reporter

Your source for Apple news and rumors. Product reviews, how to guides, and our take on Apple's cutting edge technologies, all under one site. Come here first for your Apple a day - it helps keep the Windoze away. Does your company have new software, Apple product, or accessory you'd like us to test and review? If so, contact us to schedule a review and interview. Kristian is a part-time blogger, part-time student. He also writes for his own personal blog, kristianfreeman.com. He's also a Mac fanatic, and hopes someday to be able to carry around one of those cool iPhones. If you want to contact him, he can be reached at kristian.freeman@451press.net.

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