shownotes_MCM20110517

What they do out of the box
  Apple and OS X have defined the 'fn' keys as "special" and mapped a bunch of functionality to them
    F1 - Brightness Down
    F2 - Brightness Up
    F3 - Exposé
      F3 - All Windows
      Control+F3 - All Application Windows
      Command+F3 - Show Desktop
    F4 - Dashboard
    F5 - Backlight Keyboard Brightness down
    F6 - Backlight Keyboard Brightness up
    F7 - Previous Track/Rewind
    F8 - Play or pause
    F9 - Next Track/ Fast Forward
    F10 - Mute
    F11 - Volume Down
    F12 - Volume Up
Getting function keys back
  Go to your System Preferences --> Keyboard & Mouse --> Keyboard
  Check the box that says “Use all F1, F2 etc. keys as standard function keys.”
  To use the "special" key functionality after the change
    Hold the “Fn” (function) key to enable them.
    On most Apple compact and built in keyboards the 'fn'"key is to the left of the 'Control' key on the left side
    On extended keyboards it's in the little group to the right of the delete key
  By the way if you have the fn keys in "special" mode you can use the "fn" modifier key to use their standard functionality.
What can I do with them now?
  Actually use them as 'F' keys. Many apps, especially pro ones use these keys for various shortcuts
  Access Expose, "the old way"
    I prefer this method as I don't need a modifier key to access the different expose modes
    F9 - Tile or untile all open windows
    F10 - Tile or untile all open windows in the currently active application
    F11 - Hide or show all open windows
    F12 - Hide or display Dashboard
  Keyboard access to Dock, menubar, and menubar items
    Control-F1 - Toggle full keyboard access on or off
    Control-F2 Move focus to the menu bar
    Control-F3 Move focus to the Dock
    Control-F4 Move focus to the active (or next) window
    Shift-Control-F4 Move focus to the previously active window
    Control-F5 Move focus to the toolbar.
    Control-F6 Move focus to the first (or next) panel
    Shift-Control-F6 Move focus to the previous panel
    Control-F7 Temporarily override the current keyboard access mode in windows and dialogs
      Tab moves between Text Boxes and lists only or All controls.
    Navigating menus and Dock, etc with the keyboard is generally
      Tab or arrow keys to move between items
      spacebar to activate (click), sometimes Return (Enter)
      Esc to exit
Apps for better control of FN
  Paula, Molowa ($0.99)
    A menubar item that lets you quickly toggle between standard mode and Apple Mode
    Keyboard shortcut (Command+Option+Tab) to toggle or use drop down
    Nice HUD to see which mode you've switched to.
    App Store Link
  Function Flip, Kevin Gessner (Donation)
    System preference pane that lets you selectively assign which key use standard mode and which use Apple mode
    So if you just want to enable Apple's iTunes controls you can have those, but let the other keys still function as standard.
    Can control built-in notebook keyboard separate from external Apple keyboards