How to Get Your Mac to Read a Webpage to You

Would you like to read through a webpage, but don't have the time? Are you more of an auditory learner? If you are, this tip is for you!

If you use Safari, you can get your computer to read a webpage to you. Here's what you need to do:

1. Open up a webpage using the Safari browser.

2. Highlight the text you'd like to hear.

3. Right-click on the highlighted text. A menu will pop up. Select "Speech" and then "Start Speaking."

4. Your computer will start reading to you! If you need it to stop, select "Stop Speaking."

There you have it - a way for your Mac to read webpages to you. I've been using this while I've been working on packing for our upcoming move, and it's really helped to keep me entertained. Hope this tip helps you too.

How Connect Directly to Someone's Voicemail

Need to return a call? Don't want to? Wish you could just leave a message and not have to talk to the person? Now you can!

Slydial is a service that you can use to be connected directly to someone's cell phone voicemail. As far as I can tell, it doesn't work for regular landlines. The service is free, but you do have to listen to a short advertisement before your call goes through. In my mind, it's well worth it to listen to the advertisement to be able to save time by just leaving a message.

I used Slydial the other day to leave a message for my friend while she was in a meeting. I didn't want to disturb her, but I wanted to give her specific information about where we were going to meet for dinner. I actually told her that I used Slydial so I wouldn't embarass her during her meeting, and she was very appreciative.

Others use Slydial to avoid making calls that might be awkward, long, or difficult. Whether this is ethical is up for debate. It's up to you to decide how you want to use this free tool.

To use Slydial, do the following:

1. Call 267-SLYDIAL (267-759-3425) from a cell phone or a landline.

2. One you are connected, you'll hear a short ad and then a voice prompt. When you hear the voice prompt, enter the phone number of the person you want to "slydial."

3. As your call is connecting, you will hear another short advertisement. It's about 10 seconds long.

4. Your call will be connected directly to the person's voicemail.

5. Leave a voicemail, and hang up. You're done!


Slydial also offers a premium service for $2.95/month that doesn't have any advertising. Personally, I don't use Slydial enough to make it worth the expense, and I don't mind the advertisements.

There you have it! You can use Slydial to call someone's cell phone voicemail directly. It saves time, and could potentially get you out of some awkward situations.

What do you think about using Slydial?

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