10.15. iPhoto

10.14. Internet Connect

Internet Connect is primarily designed for people who connect to the Internet via dial-up modem, but it's also handy for managing AirPort and Bluetooth connections. Here's what you can accomplish with Internet Connect:

• Click Connect to dial out using your current modem settings.

• Once you're hooked up, check the status display to confirm whether or not your modem successfully connected to your ISP ”or if you've been disconnected.

• You can also check your connection speed to find out if you're really connected at 56 K (ha!).

• A timer shows how long you've been connected.

• Internet Connect keeps a log of your connection activity (choose Window Connection Log). Reading this log is about as exciting as reading random entries from the White Pages. Nonetheless, if youre having serious connection problems, it can be a useful troubleshooting tool.

• The "Show modem status in menu bar" checkbox (on the Internal Modem panel) lets you use a menu bar icon to dial and observe your connections ”without using Internet Connect at all.

Even then, you don't really need Internet Connect to get online. If your dial-up settings are configured correctly, your Mac automatically dials whenever you launch a program that requires one (such as Safari).

What else is Internet Connect good for?

• Internet Connect is your gateway to Virtual Private Networking, a feature that lets you tunnel into corporate networks from the road (Section 22.5).

• You can use it to initiate PPPoE (PPP over Ethernet, a connection required by certain DSL modems).

• If you use your Bluetooth-equipped Mac to dial the Net using a Bluetooth-equipped cellphone as a wireless modem in your pocket (man, is that cool!), you can once again use Internet Connect to start and stop the connection. See Chapter 13.

• Internet Connect now incorporates the setup programs for AirPort wireless networks (Chapter 13).