How To Create Mac OS X Keyboard Shortcut for Screen Saver (Lock Screen)

This article will show you how to easily create a Mac OS X keyboard shortcut to open the Screen Saver application (and lock the screen).

For Apple Magic Trackpad users, it will also show you how to setup a gesture to instantly activate the Screen Saver (and lock the screen).

Required:
- Mac OS X
- Quicksilver (free download)

Optional: (For Apple Magic Trackpad users, to setup a gesture to active Screen Saver.)
- Apple Magic Trackpad
- BetterTouchTool (free download)

Other methods to do this include pressing CTRL-SHIFT-EJECT (has a longer lag time to start up compared with activating Screen Saver), setting up Keychain Access to "Lock Screen" (requires click from menu bar and another click to activate) and setting up Hot Corners (many people prefer other methods than this, for various reasons), but we feel our method works the best (quickest, easy and free).

How To Create a Mac OS X Keyboard Shortcut to Open Screen Saver Application (Lock Screen)

1. Enable password for screen saver. To do this:
   Open System Preferences and click Security & Privacy. Check the "Require password after sleep or screen saver begins" box.
2. Copy Screen Saver application from "/System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Versions/A/Resources/ScreenSaverEngine.app" to your Applications folder.
3. Download Quicksilver and install.
4. Open Quicksilver and setup desired trigger (keyboard shortcut) to open Screen Saver application (the one copied to Applications directory). Ensure Quicksilver application is set to "Start at login", from the preferences menu.

And there you have it - simply use the keyboard shortcut you have setup to activate the Screen Saver (and lock the screen)!

How To Setup a Gesture to Quickly Open Screen Saver Application (Apple Magic Trackpad Users)

1. Download BetterTouchTool and install.
2. Setup Magic Trackpad gesture to activate the Custom Keyboard Shortcut that you have just setup above.

And now all you have to do is use your gesture to activate the Screen Saver (and lock the screen)! I personally use the "5 finger click" gesture.

Are you more likely to spend more when purchasing online?

Does anyone else find that they may spend more online than in a physical store?

I noticed I have just done this recently - when placing an order for books online. Amazon.com and other sites (such as BookDepository.co.uk) provide books for a lot cheaper than retail, so this makes it easier for a start.

But is it only the cost-effectiveness? Or can it also be contributed to the use of non-physical (electronic) money?

I know in poker the use of poker 'chips' is used, as opposed to 'physical' money. One reason for this is that users are less attached to chips than wads of cash. And thus more likely to gamble more.

I am fascinated by this concept.

Take a look at books online for 'Why We Buy' (Amazon.com)

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My scenario: I spent a lot more than I would have in a physical book store, and also purchased a sole book from a separate site, for roughly what I may have over here in a physical store, when including postage (although not available over here in physical store). Perhaps it is also that I have been engaged with the site for some time - with my goal being to purchase these books from this site - and then human behaviour dictates that I follow through with my goal. Another factor could also be that when purchasing books online (and especially from overseas, for Australian users) is that one may purchase more items in one bulk order, to make postage costs work out effectively lower per item.

Another similar example is how making things easy for customers can increase sales substantially. Take for example Apple's app store. Customers have pre-entered their credit card details, so only have to use a simple once click process to make these small app purchases (plus enter their password in a popup window - a seemingly 'nothing' thing). If users had to enter their full contact and credit card details each time, sales would be overwhelmingly lower. Of note, is that Apple has created a model for this to be used, however this may not be applicable for all businesses.