“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.