functionflip
Latest
Make your pre-Lion keyboard work with Launchpad (Updated)
It's not surprising that along with OS X Lion's release that Apple would also update its keyboards that highlight the software's new features. iSpazio posted a couple of images showing the new F3 and F4 buttons that toggle Mission Control and Launchpad respectively along with tweaked icons. These keys were originally earmarked for Exposé and Dashboard. If you have an older Apple keyboard, the F3 button automatically switches to Mission Control once Lion is installed. The F4 key retains the Dashboard toggle. But, if you want your older keyboard's F4 key to access Launchpad without completely reverting all the F keys back to normal function keys -- the default in System Preferences -- it's doable with a couple of free workarounds. The first is to download FunctionFlip, which allows you to turn individual F keys into normal function keys. Then use Quicksilver or another remapping software to remap the F4 key to activate Launchpad. Although the latest releases for both programs are for 10.6 (and show the older Exposé and Dashboard settings respectively), they work just fine in Lion. If you already have Quicksilver or you're interested in integrating it to your workflow, this is a good way to go. The second is one commenter Jess came up with that takes Quicksilver out of the equation. Before installing FunctionFlip, go into System Preferences>Keyboard>Keyboard Shortcuts and select Launchpad and Dock. Make sure "Show Launchpad" is clicked, then click on the blank space to the right, which will allow you to set a keyboard shortcut. Press F4 (or Function key+F4) or whatever key you want to bind. However, the F4 key defaults to Dashboard even after setting the shortcut, so you still need to install FunctionFlip. Once you've activated it and toggle the F4 key in FunctionFlip, the Launchpad shortcut will work as set. Update: Post updated to add in second method.
FunctionFlip reclaims your function keys
When researching this week's Ask TUAW I ran across a nifty little utility for reclaiming the function keys on a Mac portable or recent Apple external keyboard. Basically, FunctionFlip allows you to set the individual function keys to be regular F-keys instead of those special control keys (brightness, volume, iTunes, etc.).While the Keyboard Preference Pane will let you flip all of the keys one way or the other, FunctionFlip lets you individually choose which ones you want. That way you can preserve whichever of the control functions you like, but regain access to certain of the F-keys without having to hold down the fn key. It can be a handy way to have your cake and eat it too.FunctionFlip is a free download (donations requested) from Kevin Gessner.
