“The Mac comes with an array of basic software already built in. The Mail and iCal software provide satisfactory e-mail and scheduling, Safari is a good Web browser, and TextEdit performs basic text-editing and word-processing tasks. But you’re probably going to want more,” Mitch Wagner writes for InformationWeek.
“What follows is a list of more than a dozen free or cheap applications to help beef up your Mac. It starts with a few essentials: Applications that virtually every Mac user will find valuable. Then I move on to describe applications that are great for users with specific needs,” Wagner writes. “Ten of these applications are free, one is donationware, and the other three are priced under $30.”
Wagner covers:
• Quicksilver
• Adium
• SplashID
• 1Passwd
• Firefox
• Camino
• TextExpander
• Chicken of the VNC
• Flip4Mac
• Skype
• MT-NewsWatcher
• Synergy
• USB Overdrive
• Office alternatives (iWork ’08, NeoOffice, Mellel, Nisus Writer, Zoho, Google apps)
Full article here.
Gotta have Flip4Mac…. use it every day
What of software to camel up? Beef is not the only meat out there you know!!
Farts up if you agree with me!
15. Carbon Copy Cloner
16. R-Name
17. Handbrake
18. Microsoft Windows (via Bit Torrent)
Two browsers on the list? Come on!
One of my favorites is Witch – it’s like Command-Tilde, which switches between open documents and not just apps like Command-Tab. However, Witch works all the time (Command-Tilde will only work with certain apps – Cocoa?), is free, and almost infinitely customizable.
Also, of course, Onyx – free and keeps the system clean. Many others out there like it, too.
Finally, MacOSaiX (not sure on the spelling). It does only one thing but does it well – it will make a mosaic out of any source picture using pictures on your hard drive, from Google pics, or from Flickr, or all 3. You can choose the size of the mosaic, as well. And it’s free, too!
Cubert
I nominate Chicken of the VNC as the best named app.
I like WhatSize
<http://www.id-design.com/software/whatsize/index.php>
Guy seems unaware of KeyChain or the Mouse control panel. But other than that…. Suppose he’s too used to paying for basic OS level utils.
Onyx
Concierge
ForgetMeNot
SlimBatteryMonitor
MagiCal
WeatherDock
iStumbler
Default Folder. It may not be cheap, but I can’t work without it!
MDN Magic Word: These… yeah
Yojimbo – I would be lost without it especially with two Macs in two locations.
Let’s not forget my favorite piece of software…
Little Snitch
let’s not forget PTH pasteboard. if you do a lotta copy/paste, you’ll find this lil free app to be a wonderful lil gem!
TASKMENUBAR
33. Linotype FontExplorer X.
Oops. 34.
Sorry, Mark.
Spead Freak is awesome if you need to render video or run your processor(s) full tilt. I cut a 5 hour render to 4.5 hours and sometimes less.
What a boring list
Perian
WireTap Pro
iShowU
VLC
tubesock. for $15, it’s pretty useful.
iShowU
Transit
Whatsize
Clutter
Handbrake
MacTracker
To shiftOpt k,
PTH looks like something I can really use. Thanks a lot.
More necessary freebies:
Cyberduck – free FTP client
MacJanitor – runs cleanup cron jobs that are normally run overnight
BatChmod – Max interface to chmod, Unix file permissions
StuffIt Expander – when OS X built in unzip fails
/me revels in the geekly sharing by posters here.
Off to try some of these out.
MW: “Run”… gotta!
Quicktime flaw for Firefox is deadly serious!!
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/12/quicktime_vulnerability_attacks_firefox/
Don’t run as admin, don’t install apps with admin password
You don’t know what it’s going to do.
Apple STILL hasn’t fixed the meta-data file exploit. So absolutely TRUST the source of ANYTHING you download and doubleclick on.
I’m serious.
Apple has not, REPEAT HAS NOT been updating the open source components of Mac OS X to keep up with the security issues found. A malicious person could use the open source exploits on Mac OS X very easily because they are publically published.
Hopefully with Lepoard everything will be fixed.
DO turn on your Firewall and enable the advanced options BEFORE connecting a Mac or new OS install to the internet
To make a new user that’s not admin.
Make sure you have enough drive space on the boot drive and some extra.
Create a new user and give it admin authority with a complex password and name.
Log out and into the new admin.
Reduce the original admin to regular user status.
Go on as usual.
Now when you need admin to install apps, alter certain folders and such Mac OS X will ask you without even needing to log into admin. Of course somethings like OnyX, Superduper, Disk Warrior and Carbon Copy Cloner only work only in admin.
Always backup multiple times al your data, passwords, serial numbers and orignal disks.
10.5 is coming and it will have glitches, bugs and new exploits like anything else does.
Do “bury” your Terminal app in admin password only folders.
MR Reeee: you said it about Default Folder. It isnt cheap but its one of my favorite sharewares of all time.
• Quicksilver – Hope it dies quickly
• Adium – Sucks
• SplashID – Uh, No
• 1Passwd – HAHAHAHA
• Firefox – gotta have a backup when safari doesnt work I guess
• Camino – oh look its its an alternative browser made by mozilla, What is Firefox again?
• TextExpander – resource hog that sometimes does things you DON’T want it to.
• Chicken of the VNC – I guess
• Flip4Mac – Gotta have it
• Skype – Gotta Have it
• MT-NewsWatcher – Not bad, nothing special
• Synergy – uh, its called a remote control, BUY ONE
• USB Overdrive – but my Mac already works with most USB devices..??
• Office alternatives (iWork ’08, NeoOffice, Mellel, Nisus Writer, Zoho, Google apps) – IWORK FTW! Neo Office would be nice if it would print. everything else is trash
MacJanitor
iphoto diet
Forgot-
Mother-In-Law Exterminator
NeoOffice 2.2.1 prints for me. MacBook 10.4.10
Best yet,
Smart Scroll.
It’s not a utility but I’m enjoying AlephOne and the various Marathon editions. Really old but still fun. And free.
P.S. I turned off my firewall and disabled the advanced options. I may run with scissors later.
NeoOffice 2.2.1 mad a lot of improvements over previous builds. One of the fixes was overcoming a problem where it didn’t support printing over 300 dpi.
@CrissyOne
I agree, and perhaps Carbon Copy Cloner should be #1.
For drawing don’t forget DoodleCAD
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Werd.
MW: ‘hotel’ (calipornya)
Could you expand on your problem with, say, Quicksilver? Why do you hope that a free application that you are under no obligation to run “dies quickly?”
Mactheripper
Transmission
Gimp
I can’t imagine using Safari without AcidSearch.
As an alternative to USB Overdrive, some people may want to consider SteerMouse. It does essentially the same the USB Overdrive does, except that it supports bluetooth mice (USB-O doesn’t) and it only supports mice, iirc (USB-O supports “any” USB device).
iStabilize is awesome for video. It takes the shakiness out of video and it works better than the filter in Final Cut Pro, and is much easier.
I hve old stuff shot on Hi-8 on a camera that didn’t have image-stabilization on it. I can finally watch my old videos without getting the motion sickness that you get watching something like the “Blair Witch Project.”
I’m taking notes reading these responses because I’ve never heard of some of these programs.
Oh, and I forgot “Tofu” is a program that puts things in column format, like a newspaper, so it’s easier on your eyes to read on you computer screen.
The biggest joke on this list is the Office alternatives. Why would anyone in their right mind decide to not use MS Office. Its by far the most powerful full featured application in the planet. Gates and Ballmer visionary leadership with Office has made it what it is today. The number one productivity suite period. These alternatives posted (iWork ’08, NeoOffice, Mellel, Nisus Writer, Zoho, Google apps) are nothing but a sad attempt to emulate Office. Just use the real Office suite and don’t even bother playing with these wannabeees Office program. You’ll just get frustrated and end up banging your head on the wall and aggravating other users with your incompatible files from these substandard applications.
No mention of Butler… sheesh
-graphic converter
-audio hijack
-google earh
-isquint
-switch
windows
SuperDuper!
1. MenuMeters
Just get a real computer and you won’t have to deal with these cheap freebies. Windows Vista and Office 2007 is all that you will ever need to make it in this world. Bill Gates and Ballmer has set the standard that will continue its lead well into the 22nd century.
Originalrecipes “Why would anyone in their right mind decide to not use MS Office. Its by far the most powerful full featured application in the planet.”,
apparently you didn’t read the headline “free and cheap apps”.
NeoOffice works just fine for me. Why the heck would I pay for MS Office? NeoOffice has no issues with MS Office file formats.
@Original Recipes
Said: “Why would anyone in their right mind decide to not use MS Office”.
Well, for a start it is slow, it is bloated, it carries 90% of features no-one anywhere wants to use, it is made by a company that should be boycotted.
Now compare that to iWork – fast, efficient, elegant, it just does everything you need with much more enjoyment and satisfaction.
And it’s made by a company you can trust, coz we all live with Apple for 80% of our waking hours.
I use Microsoft for precisely ZERO waking hours a day, and boy am I happier for it.
Pac the Man X
Skim (amazing PDF viewer)
Google Earth
Google SketchUp
CoRD (Windows Remote Control)
Vine Server (VNC Server)
TinkerTool
MenuMeters
Growl
(I could go on…)
My top votes go to..
Quicksilver
Handbrake
iSquint
ImageTricks
MagiCal
SideNote
Skype
@ Originalrecipes
Zune Tang?
Great software!!!! http://myeclinic.com
Bean is a >b>GREAT</b> word processor, highly recommended and FREE!
MDN, please allow us to review our comments before posting so we can check for stupid mistakes.
MDN Magic Word, growing, as in, I am experiencing growing pains as I attempt to put an arc in my learning curve.
The free or under-$30 apps I use most are:
– MailTicker
– CocoThumbX
– LaunchBar (but QuickSilver is also nice)
– Inquisitor
– Little Snitch
– Firefox
– Adium
– Bookdog
– Flip4Mac
– DefaultFolder X
Sorry, but my list goes to 11….
Definately little snitch. A must have. Also, VLC client.
am i doing my math wrong? iwork is less than $30? where?
CarbonCopyCloner
MactheRipper
DVD2one
iSquint
VLCplayer
GoogleEarth
EnzymeX
Flip4Mac
Intaglio
OnyX
PDFLab
That’s my list, but I guess everybody will have his/her own favourites, depending on what you do on your Mac.
Applejack http://tinyurl.com/2nqjox
TinyURL http://tinyurl.com/
Applejack
TinyURL
Hmmm…How did that happen?
– AppleJack (unless you’ve got a second bootable drive to use the “repair disk” function in Disk Utility, this terminal app is easy, and amazing– should be on everyone’s “must-have” list)
– UnRarX – (better than Stuffit for .rar extensions)
– Xact – for the audiophiles using flac files
You know? Nobody yet has mentioned Thorsten Lemke’s GraphicConverter. I have used this program for years before even bothering to mess with Photoshop. I love the fact that it can convert any kind of graphics format to any kind of graphics format, and the drawing and editing capabilities aren’t too bad either.
The fact that GraphicConverter was one of the first classic programs to go to Mac OS X tells a lot about the programmer and how well he has supported his product and the Macintosh platform.
They still make Tinker Tool?
My absolute favorite new program is Calq. It’s freeware (donations appreciated -and deserved). It has in one day entirely replaced Calculator and the calculator in Dashboard. One hotkey combination pulls it up, you type the math in, it displays it and then disappears. Perfect simplicity and perfectly useful.
late to the party…
Cannot live without (drum roll please)
DISKWARRIOR
iSquint – iPod distiller, converts FLV, WMV, etc. to MP4
Seashore – paint program, lame and tame
CyberDuck – ftp client
Bean – word processor, sweet
LinoType FontExplorer – font management
CocoThumbX – jpeg thumbnailer
Pencil – Flash vector / bitmap alternative
Pixer — picture thumbnailer and image resiser
AppDelete – deletes associated files for all your demos you try
JetPhoto – cool photoalbum software, versitile
Renamer4Mac – batch renamer – best ever
Handbrake – DVD to mp4
Audacity – sound editing and re-encoder
Slideroll Gallery AV – movie and photo gallery for webpages
JAlbum – photo web gallery software, powerful, many templates
NeoOffice – nice alternative but iWORKS is worth every penny!
Ohhhhh I could go on. THERE are many many more.
I use each app DAILY. For most I listed are totally free, while others are donation ware – if I remember correctly.
THERE simply are some GREAT programs out for MAC.
THX to all. Who make these EXCELLENT free apps.
MY mac and me LOVE them. Makes MAC experience all the more HEALTHIER and HAPPIER!!!!
I highly recommend buying VisualHub. Even though Handbrake is free and I use it… VH is WONDERFUL. That and Quicktime are my FAVORITE apps to update and re-purchase when required.
j
And last but not least….
Camel’s Milk!
Little Snitch for sure.
Apple and app developers are a nosey bunch.
For instance they want to know when you boot your computer, when you launch apps, when you use Frontrow, if your using widgets or not and so on.
iTunes pops a warning if Frontrow is blocked from the internet with Little Snitch. Now why is that?
Because they are getting us prepared to accept our computers will not work well unless they are connected full time to the internet. Part of Trusted Computing no doubt.
Little Snitch will work well although with EFI MacIntels the firmware can contact the internet, read hard drives etc., without the OS and what’s installed in it (meaning you) even knowing about it.
There is presently no security what so ever for the EFI OS/ firmware enviroment. It’s run by a new group called the UEFI which consists of Microsoft among others.
And of course Apple has been busted with the iPhone not being “off” when it’s turned “off”.
Microsoft has been busted with stealth updates.
So you see where all this is going. Little things, slowly over time to rob you of your privacy, security and piece of mind.
My advice? Don’t enter ANY person information and/or do anything you want to keep secret on a computer physicall or wirelessly connected to the internet or LAN.
Use a computer totally detached from anything for personal and private buisness.
OSex 0.1.1a(or something like that)-dvd ripper I like better than mtr.
VLC-player that plays everything.
Visualhub-transcodes almost any video into almost anything else.
Handbrake-good dvd transcoder.
mpegstreamclip-free transcoder, wide variety of supported formats.
Wow, no one mentioning DesktopManager or coconutWiFi. Does that mean no one here using a laptop on the road ?
Other tops (not mentioned)
Synchronize! Pro
EasyBatchPhoto
NetNewsWire Lite
Tex-Edit Plus
PDF Shrink
ABFR
DiskTracker
Pacifist
The Unarchiver
Xshelf