Neowin Forums > Essential OS X Apps

DrunkenMaster

Jul 11 2005, 16:47

Smultron is a really nice, minimalist code editor (w/ syntax highlighting) and line counts. Freeware.

CopyWrite is a great text editor (my favorite) esp for complicated tasks (academic papers). All projects are stored in their own "container" a tab at the top lets you select your project and you right in the Windows below. You also get a side bar where you can keep notes on the entire project and each individual entry. Shareware. $29.95 US.

Instead of using Word (which I find is god-awfully slow), I'm using a combination of CopyWrite and Pages to do all my University work. It helps streamline everything. CopyWrite, at least for me, is a "killer" app.

C-M

Jul 25 2005, 04:06

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Aduim yet.

http://www.adiumx.com/ - It's great, has the same feel as Ichat, with many more features and MSN support.

*Edit* ya know, it helps to look at the first page. Ingnore this. x.@

Fusion

Jul 25 2005, 04:50

QUOTE(Corona @ Jul 10 2005, 15:32)

Acid Search

user posted image

AcidSearch is a search enhancement for Safari. It adds unlimited "Search Channels" to the Google search field. Channels can be customized in a nearly infinite variety of ways. AcidSearch also includes powerful features such as JavaScript support, the ability to import iSeek and Butler Search Sites, true hierarchical menu organization, and the ability to search multiple search engines at the same time. AcidSearch also allows you to access your search channels with key equivalents, shortcuts (a la SafariKeywords), and a contextual menu. It patches Safari using Mike Solomon's great SIMBL InputManager. AcidSearch is free software, and will always be free. If you like AcidSearch a lot, and wish to reward me for my development efforts, you are welcome to donate. AcidSearch is available in English, Japanese, Italian, French, and traditional Chinese.
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A great app indeed, but check out Inquisitor as well. An awesome implementation of most of those features and google suggest and automatic history and.... Pretty new and really good. Freeware as well.

bontakun

Aug 6 2005, 16:43

i haven't seen anyone mention Cabos yet, it's a p2p client similer to Acquisition, but it's open source + free

Link

Mykal

Aug 20 2005, 22:09

Cyberduck is another nice FTP app. I like that it supports multiple connections and has a pretty clean UI.

San Diego

Aug 20 2005, 23:06

QUOTE(Mykal @ Aug 20 2005, 17:09)

Cyberduck is another nice FTP app. I like that it supports multiple connections and has a pretty clean UI.
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StevoFC just made me aware of this great app.

sniffles

Sep 2 2005, 06:57

I read through all pages but cannot recall if this p2p app was mentioned... apologies if it was.

"Xfactor 0.32: Truly innovative mac p2p

Access 4major p2p networks (Kazaa, Gnutella, OpenFT and Ares) seamlessly using giFT. (cross platform modular network daemon)
Providing a simple iTunes-like interface, integrated p2p portal, internal theater for previewing flicks while they download or simply viewing them from the shares library, iTunes and Finder integration, IRC Chat and loads of other goodies while using very minmal system resources and best of all XFactor is FREE software based on ever evolving open source technologies."

I like the Growl support myself.

Syphonic

Sep 3 2005, 00:10

QUOTE(DrunkenMaster @ Jul 11 2005, 16:47)

Smultron is a really nice, minimalist code editor (w/ syntax highlighting) and line counts. Freeware.

CopyWrite is a great text editor (my favorite) esp for complicated tasks (academic papers). All projects are stored in their own "container" a tab at the top lets you select your project and you right in the Windows below. You also get a side bar where you can keep notes on the entire project and each individual entry. Shareware. $29.95 US.

Instead of using Word (which I find is god-awfully slow), I'm using a combination of CopyWrite and Pages to do all my University work. It helps streamline everything. CopyWrite, at least for me, is a "killer" app.
[right][snapback]586196081[/snapback][/right]

Can you give me some more info of how you use it with Pages? I'm starting Uni soon and while Word runs ok on this iBook I don't find it very easy to use...

hwojtek

Sep 3 2005, 10:26

I don't know if anyone mentioned this before... Growl - freeware systemwide notification application, displays information and alerts from 100s of other applications using pop-ups with enough eyecandy to satisfy everyone...

www.growl.info

Corona

Sep 12 2005, 00:36

Dashboard Killer

its a small great app which turns off and on Dashboard

s1zeRo

Sep 15 2005, 02:08

whats the best dvd ripper out right now?

MacTheRipper, popcorn or other?

.Neo

Sep 15 2005, 20:42

Roxio Toast 7.0.1 Titanium

Great burning application, easy to use, beautiful interface and there is nothing like it on Windows. Can't use Mac OS X without it.

hwojtek

Sep 16 2005, 10:24

QUOTE(s1zeRo @ Sep 15 2005, 04:08)

whats the best dvd ripper out right now?

I use Handbrake. Quite good in fact...

Eredain

Sep 16 2005, 10:39

Could you add links to codecs (like divx or xvid)? I'm thinking buying a imac and this is very important for me.

.Neo

Sep 16 2005, 14:34

QUOTE(Eredain @ Sep 16 2005, 11:39)

Could you add links to codecs (like divx or xvid)? I'm thinking buying a imac and this is very important for me.
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Yup there are DivX plugins available for QuickTime 7 or you could just use VLC which supports about everything.

Chad

Sep 16 2005, 16:14

QUOTE(Eredain @ Sep 16 2005, 05:39)

Could you add links to codecs (like divx or xvid)? I'm thinking buying a imac and this is very important for me.
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As long as people don't link to any illegal codecs. But yeah, download VLC and you pretty much have it all covered.

bontakun

Sep 16 2005, 16:16

the mac divx codec is on the divx.com page and here is the xvid component for quicktime

Luisc

Oct 1 2005, 20:43

Hey it's impossible to play a .avi file with last WMV9 codec?

AppleDave

Oct 1 2005, 20:48

Great lists guys thanks a ton.

craybox

Oct 4 2005, 17:41

is there a list of freeware apps?

ZZOOzzoo

Oct 4 2005, 17:59

QUOTE(Luisc @ Oct 2 2005, 04:43)

Hey it's impossible to play a .avi file with last WMV9 codec?
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Yep. There's no way to play .avi files with WMV9 codec yet.

WMP can play .wmv files with WMV9 codec, which I believe is a bit more common, though.

Corona

Oct 5 2005, 16:29

QUOTE(craybox @ Oct 4 2005, 17:41)

is there a list of freeware apps?
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visit www.macupdate.com or www.versiontracker.com as they have large collection of apps shareware and freeware

rajputwarrior

Oct 20 2005, 04:13

inquisitorx is a great plug-in for safari
you can download it at version tracker (it's version 1.0)
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/21991

to get 2.0 you need to donate first
http://www.inquisitorx.com/safari/

a web version can be viewed here
http://www.inquisitorx.com/beta/

XxiNickxX

Oct 20 2005, 06:27

QUOTE(rajputwarrior @ Oct 20 2005, 04:13)

inquisitorx is a great plug-in for safari
you can download it at version tracker (it's version 1.0)
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/21991

to get 2.0 you need to donate first
http://www.inquisitorx.com/safari/

a web version can be viewed here
http://www.inquisitorx.com/beta/
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How the is that donating? You're paying for it.

toastyghost

Oct 20 2005, 19:12

QUOTE(XxiNickxX @ Oct 20 2005, 06:27)

How the is that donating? You're paying for it.
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Because its not priced at anything. You can donate 1 cent if you like, you'll still get the download. Its just to see how effective the distribution model is.

I personally think its worth paying for, and donated $5.

Fusion

Oct 22 2005, 07:01

QUOTE(toastyghost @ Oct 20 2005, 11:12)

Because its not priced at anything. You can donate 1 cent if you like, you'll still get the download. Its just to see how effective the distribution model is.

I personally think its worth paying for, and donated $5.
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I went for $5 as well. I think that's a really good price point for specialized software like this. The only other app I remember being that cheap was Synergy and I pulled the trigger right away. $5 for a small utility that makes my life a little easier and is good software sounds like a deal to me.

am_fek

Oct 22 2005, 23:04

And how much are you going to donate when you want to download version 2.0.1? And 2.0.2 after that? 2.1? From what I can tell, the expectation is that you will have to pay for every single download.

Speaking as someone who's bought licences for 50+ shareware Mac apps: no thanks

.Neo

Oct 23 2005, 00:20

QUOTE(am_fek @ Oct 23 2005, 01:04)

And how much are you going to donate when you want to download version 2.0.1? And 2.0.2 after that? 2.1? From what I can tell, the expectation is that you will have to pay for every single download.

Speaking as someone who's bought licences for 50+ shareware Mac apps: no thanks

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Thank god Transmission in combination with certain sites take care of that!

toastyghost

Oct 23 2005, 04:02

QUOTE(am_fek @ Oct 22 2005, 23:04)

And how much are you going to donate when you want to download version 2.0.1? And 2.0.2 after that? 2.1? From what I can tell, the expectation is that you will have to pay for every single download.

Speaking as someone who's bought licences for 50+ shareware Mac apps: no thanks

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David Watanabe said that the donation will allow you unlimited downloads for this version and all updates from the same IP, and if there are any issues you can email him (for example if you're on a non-static IP connection).

am_fek

Oct 23 2005, 09:06

Okay, well that's good. The site says that a donation will let you download 2.0 an unlimited number of times, but doesn't mention anything about other 2.x versions.

Syphonic

Oct 23 2005, 11:46

[attachmentid=145148]
LaTeX. Must have for writing scientific/mathematical/technical documentation and any other word processing you want to look good.

DrunkenMaster

Oct 29 2005, 15:15

Latex equation editor: http://evolve.lse.ac.uk/software/EquationEditor/

It works great since I want to be able to hand in assignments and correct my work. It only invovles a small amount of editing. The equations just get pasted into a Word doc.

There isn't a lot of documentation. You either know Tex or go on the web to learn. If someone needs some help, PM me as I can provide some equations to help out.

Trancosrt

Oct 31 2005, 14:02

I've loked for ages for a music (and media) library player ala WMP (god forbids me!). I just don't get iTunes (as a matter of fact it just drives me crazy to try to create a playlist or even play 2 albums in a row. in WMP you just add it to the now playing list on a complete different portion of the program and voila! With WMP you can even look up the cd cover and infop out of a single mp3 track! I've look in many placed (freshmeat, google, neowin, etc) with no avail. These are stupid features I know, but I'm to used to that style of management

.

am_fek

Oct 31 2005, 15:32

Wow, sounds like you've gone to an awful lot of trouble... but in all of your investigations and research, did you try simply dragging an album out of the library browser onto party shuffle?

Cover Art is one area where iTunes lags WMP, I'll give you that. But google "fetch art" and it will be fixed.

And how are you having trouble creating a playlist? File -> New Playlist, or just press the + button at the bottom of the iTunes window.

Trancosrt

Oct 31 2005, 16:29

QUOTE(am_fek @ Oct 31 2005, 11:32)

Wow, sounds like you've gone to an awful lot of trouble... but in all of your investigations and research, did you try simply dragging an album out of the library browser onto party shuffle?

Cover Art is one area where iTunes lags WMP, I'll give you that. But google "fetch art" and it will be fixed.

And how are you having trouble creating a playlist? File -> New Playlist, or just press the + button at the bottom of the iTunes window.
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I also have problems with the format iTunes displays all the music. WMP displays music with the archaic tree method (list by artist->albums) which might not be up to Tiger's modern style, but I find a lot more comfortable than having to loo. (many times I don't know what I want to listen until I see it in the list and iTunes confuses me). Regarding the album art, I have the fetch Art script installed, but it still is waaaay to complicated to use (yes... I've become spoiled with M$ point and shoot style).
I use iTunes because I don't have any other choice when using my iBook, but I have it installed in my PC, and i always use WMP when I want to listen to full albums and the like and Winamp when listening miscelaneous music. What can I say...Old habits die hard

.

am_fek

Oct 31 2005, 19:28

Well it sounds like iTunes just isn't going to work for you, but I'm not sure what you're referring to there. Look at my screenshot again, why can you not just click on the album you want to listen to? Each to his own I guess... I really missed WMP for a long time after I switched too, but these days I can't really see what I ever saw in it

doug_jnr

Dec 19 2005, 12:31

for what its worth ...iTunes is one of the few multimedia player apps that supports true multithreading...

shodan

Dec 28 2005, 08:52

QUOTE(Trancosrt @ Oct 31 2005, 17:29) [snapback]586749402[/snapback]

I also have problems with the format iTunes displays all the music. WMP displays music with the archaic tree method (list by artist->albums) which might not be up to Tiger's modern style, but I find a lot more comfortable than having to loo. (many times I don't know what I want to listen until I see it in the list and iTunes confuses me).

Did you use the 'Browse' function in iTunes?!? So you can have a list of Artists on the left pane, and the Albums regarding that Artist on the right one? I find it very useful, and much quicker than the tree view of WMP.
You might want to get rid of 'Genre' pane (i find it pretty useless...), so you can activate the 'hide genre when browsing' option in the preferences....

SolidSapphire

Feb 7 2006, 04:03

how do you make VLC the default media player?

bslag.xj

Feb 7 2006, 05:23

whoops

.Neo

Feb 13 2006, 12:10

QUOTE(SolidSapphire @ Feb 7 2006, 05:03) [snapback]587164188[/snapback]

how do you make VLC the default media player?

Select a media file of choice > Right click and select "Get Info" or press cmd+I > Go to the "Open with:" pane > Select VLC.app > Click "Change All...".

jerry

Feb 14 2006, 23:59

Dashboard KickStart

eastblu

Feb 18 2006, 13:00

QUOTE(jerry @ Feb 14 2006, 18:59) [snapback]587196731[/snapback]

Dashboard KickStart

Agreed. One of the best apps out there. Sometimes it gets annoying, but it sure saves a lot of time over here.

carlskov

Mar 13 2006, 19:50

CyberDuck Open Source FTP & SFTP client

notoriousformula

Mar 23 2006, 05:39

BluePhoneElite..Best thing ever happened to a BT cellphone.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v472/notorio...le%20bluetooth/

estranged

Mar 23 2006, 20:14

QUOTE(notoriousformula @ Mar 23 2006, 05:39) [snapback]587339190[/snapback]

BluePhoneElite..Best thing ever happened to a BT cellphone.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v472/notorio...le%20bluetooth/

Thats actually really cool, thanks

bontakun

Mar 24 2006, 03:06

QUOTE(notoriousformula @ Mar 22 2006, 23:39) [snapback]587339190[/snapback]

BluePhoneElite..Best thing ever happened to a BT cellphone.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v472/notorio...le%20bluetooth/

really? i was annoyed by all the small problems with it (although it was several months ago i'm sure they updated it since then), and it's overpriced ($20 is just too steap for the functionality it gives me)

illicit

Mar 28 2006, 17:40

QUOTE(notoriousformula @ Mar 23 2006, 00:39) [snapback]587339190[/snapback]

BluePhoneElite..Best thing ever happened to a BT cellphone.

Whoa... that is pretty cool.

cyclingplatypus

Mar 30 2006, 14:47

I got AppZapper for free but I would've gladly paid for it.

Corona

Apr 28 2006, 08:01

SafariBlock
SafariBlock helps to provide a seamless extension to Safari Web Browser that supports ad-blocking.
and i tell you its fantastic you can even block individual flash ads