Summary: (http://knowtech.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/john_desktop.jpg) the path setting has to be the full path. that is to set the screenshots in reference to your home directory such as: /Users/John/Desktop/clips/. defaults write com.apple.screencapture location_path here's the command line incantation to completely hide all the Desktop icons: turn them off: defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool false killall Finder turn them on: defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop -bool true killall Finder (http://knowtech.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/camouflage.png)the freeware app called "camouflage (http://www.briksoftware.com/products/camouflage/)" will give you more options compared the command line versions. Path Finder (http://www.cocoatech.com/), which is Craig's pick for Finder Enhancement that he can't do without, has a "hide desktop icons" check box. Hazel (http://www.noodlesoft.com/hazel.php) is a tool that will automatically file files using a rules based system. set it to load music into iTunes, put photos into iPhoto. and writing into a journal folder. St Claire software make a tool called Default Folder (www.stclairsoft.com) which offers pretty much all the functionality that we wished for in the talk. it has a 30 day demo to get you hooked on it. we'll give it another spin and decide if it's $35 well spent.
