A software control panel that provides options for the user to change the appearance or actions in an application or in system software such as the operating system or in the hardware. In the Mac, preferences are provided for the OS and the applications. In Windows, operating system preferences are called "control panels" while application preferences are typically called "options," "tools" or "preferences."
If a program's preferences are not modified by the user, the default settings are used. See default and control panel.
Mac System Preferences
The user control panels for the Mac operating system are called preferences, and the user options in applications are called preferences as well.
If a program's preferences are not modified by the user, the default settings are used. See default and control panel.
Mac System Preferences
The user control panels for the Mac operating system are called preferences, and the user options in applications are called preferences as well.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Dock-It 2.7.4 (Mac)
- Dock-It is a multifunctional dock and Finder enhancer for the Mac OS X operating system. We decided to take a different path in regards to Dock-Its feature set. Many of our competitors clutter their offerings. Dock-It is simple and to the point. It has everything one would look for in...
- Software downloads 2009-11-22
- SEEdit Pro 1.9.0b5 (Mac)
- With SEEdit's fast and powerful Editor Toolbox, insertion of code and classes are always just one click away. SEEdit's handy advanced Tag Editor also handles CSS classes and Javascript functions. Other powerful features to assist professionals and hobbyists worldwide include Tidy Checker for standards-compliant code, the Quick CSS Tool for...
- Software downloads 2009-11-22
- Timer Utility 3.5.3 (Mac)
- Timer Utility exhibits simplicity with the creation of alarms, timers and stopwatches. With each alarm and timer, you are are able to define actions to perform upon an alarm, or timer completion. Further available options in the in the application preferences allow the user to customize Timer Utility; enabling simple,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-22
- BdCalendar 1.250 (Mac)
- Why waste precious menu bar room with Apple's Date & Clock menu bar, when you can replace it with BdCalendar. BdCalendar gives you a 1,3, 6, and 12 month Calendar with iCal Event/To-do, Address Book and Notes access all from your menu bar and is only a Hot Key press...
- Software downloads 2009-11-21
- Statbook 3.2.2 (Mac)
- Statbook allows you to keep track of baseball or softball statistics, and now, with version 3.1, basketball and soccer, all for the same low price of $20. Easily enter statistics and then customize reports and create an entire website with the click of a button. The program was originally developed...
- Software downloads 2009-11-21
- Zip Express 2.7 (Windows)
- Zip Express allows you to search by zip code, city, county, state, or area code. As you type in search criteria, potential matches are displayed. Preferences may be chosen on what data is to be displayed. Copy data to the clipboard or print it. It lets you automatically paste zip...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- Numbers Flashcards for iPhone 1.1 (Mobile)
- Numbers Flashcards for iPhone is a simple flashcard application for numbers. This application will be very useful for toddlers and younger kids who are about to learn numbers. Designed to be very simple and plain. It not only displays the number but also says the number. It features touch to...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- myBlogEdit 2.4 (Mac)
- myBlogEdit is 'Featured Download' at apple.com.myBlogEdit is an easy-to-use weblog editor focusing on the most important functions for blogger with easy to use features and a clean user interface. Why should you hinder yourself by using the slow and hard-to-use webinterface WordPress comes with, if you could do it with...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- 3D New Years Countdown 3.6 (Mac)
- Symbols of time float before a large time symbols video as clock softly counts down to midnight New Years Eve. When midnight comes confetti falls, a flashing Happy New Year greeting is played with orchestral rendition of Auld Lang Syne. New Years greeting plays all day New Years Day and...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- iTweaX 2.0.6 (Mac)
- iTweaX features: User friendly GUI Uses very low system resources Maintenance tools Optimize OSX with no knowledge Many OSX tweaks for Finder, Dock, Safari, Mail, ... Clean handling of preferences! When you disable a hidden tweak it will be 100% removed. not so with other tweak tools Only hidden features...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- IceClean 3.3.2 (Mac)
- IceClean is a powerful Finder and System optimization tool using ONLY built-in Unix system tasks to help your System stay healthy and to keep it running smoothly. IceClean lets you execute the following tasks: System Maintenance Process & Infos Periodic Routine Scripts Verify Preferences .plist files Repair Permissions Update Prebindings...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- BackupLoupe 1.8.3 (Mac)
- Have you ever wondered, why Apple's TimeMachine takes so long to backup your files? Where all that free space on your backup drive went? Or just want more control over your backups? BackupLoupe is for you. Features: Quickly identify the items which take up the most space History: Show...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- ZippyRippy 1.0.6 (Mac)
- ZippyRippy is a new program developed with one goal in mind, ripping DVD media for use on personal devices. ZippyRippy is set apart by the idea that DVD conversion should be automatic without the need to endlessly tweak controls. If a DVD with a valid VIDEO_TS folder is detected when...
- Software downloads 2009-11-18
- PTHPasteboard PRO 4.5.3 (Mac)
- Welcome to PTHPasteboard PRO 4, the best and most mature multiple pasteboard program for OS X. How often have you copied something only to find that you need it a few minutes later but you've already copied another item? PTHPasteboard PRO watches you while you work and keeps a copy...
- Software downloads 2009-11-18
- 3D Stairway to Turkey Heaven 2.4 (Windows)
- Cute 3D turkey angels with halos and harps float against a starry backdrop with heavenly stairways and arches. Smooth blues music accompanies the turkey angels flights. Change number, size, fade, and speed of animations. You can also change the screen savers tint and brightness. You can also play up to...
- Software downloads 2009-11-18
- Personas 1.4 (Windows)
- Personas for Firefox is an extension that adds lightweight theming to your browser. And all you need to do is look for the one that best suits your preferences. Personas is a prototype that builds upon the ideas that: Themes today are too hard to find, install and use; Graphic...
- Software downloads 2009-11-17
- MixMeister Studio 7.4.2 (Windows)
- Advanced software for producing commercial-quality DJ mixes. MixMeister Studio is a digital audio application designed exclusively for high-end DJ mix production. Studio gives you the ability to make exact tempo adjustments, remix songs, add beat loops and plug-in VST audio effects. The timeline display lets you zoom in on individual...
- Software downloads 2009-11-17
- Space Jammer 1.7 (Windows)
- Space Jammer is a crawler which shuffles through the artist-pages of MySpace and plays the music it finds there. You can create favorite-lists and individual preferences for your music-search. If you want to get more information about an artist or if you want to buy his record, you can vistit...
- Software downloads 2009-11-16
- MkConsole 1.11 (Mac)
- This is a little application that displays logfiles on your desktop. Really useful if you have to monitor servers or you just want to keep an eye on what's going on on your machine. In its standard configuration it displays entries from any number of logfiles interleaved in a single...
- Software downloads 2009-11-16
- QuickTime Player X Preference Pane 1.1 (Mac)
- The new version of QuickTime included with Snow Leopard called QuickTime Player X is almost a complete overhaul of the previous version, from the look and feel of the application windows right down to the preferences menu or lack thereof. If you were looking to change some options but don't...
- Software downloads 2009-11-16
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