Reuel's Essential Mac Applications
When friends I know switch to a Mac, they often ask me two questions:
- What software would you recommend?
- What are some tips you can give me to use it better?
Since I find myself answering these questions over and over again, I figure it would be better to just write a blog post about them for people to reference. Let's start with question number 1.
Now, this list is not intended to be exhaustive and complete--just what I think is essential. There are a number of apps that other Mac users would suggest but these are what I use frequently and they have a definite bent toward increasing general work productivity. Using my Mac quickly and efficiently is a big thing for me so that's what these apps should help you accomplish!
Launchbar
This is my number one recommendation. Launchbar is what you would call a launcher--an app that helps you launch other apps. It sounds completely unnecessary, but in practice you will find yourself doing things dramatically faster on your computer. I didn't get it either until I tried it out.
The app allows you to do many things you would normally do with your mouse in Finder but with your keyboard instead. A general rule of thumb with computer use is that it's much faster to use a keyboard shortcut to do something than move around your mouse. By using an app like this, you'll increase your work productivity enormously.
The app has a system-wide shortcut that pops down a small bar at the top of your screen. On my computer, it's command-space. So, for example, if I need to go to Amazon.com while writing an email, I could do it quickly by typing command-space, period (this tells Launchbar I want to go to a web address), amazon, enter. Launchbar would then launch Safari and go straight to Amazon.com. That's much faster than taking you hand off the keyboard, dragging your mouse to the dock, clicking on Safari, then typing in www.amazon.com.
Another great feature of Launchbar is that it quickly searches your computer based on an index. Yes, Max OS X's built-in Spotlight function does this too but Launchbar is much faster and will show results from a partial search query. So for example, Launchbar allows you to open up a document called "Class Notes" by typing C-L-N-O or C-L-A-S or L-A-T-E-S. If you typed in the last combination, the right file would probably be near the bottom of the list, but you get the idea.
Launchbar isn't limited to searching for files; it can also search address book entries, songs in iTunes, web browsing history, and much more. You just have to tell it what to include in the search indexing.
Launchbar is a paid app but there are many other alternatives to it, such as the free and popular Quicksilver. I just prefer Launchbar because it very quick, minimalistic, and reliable.
Default Folder X
This app is more like a service that runs in the background. Basically, whenever you open a file dialog, like to open a file, you'll see additional options on the side. Then, with a quick click, you can go to a recent folder, favorite folders, or a folder that's open in the Finder. It's a HUGE time saver!
1Password
I used to be one of those people that used the same password for everything. Unfortunately, that's extremely idiotic. But if you do have different passwords, how do you keep track of them all? 1Password is the answer! It keeps track of all your passwords and allows you to easily log into sites at the click of a button. It can also generate random passwords for you, eliminating the need to think of something clever every time you sign up for a new account, and reducing the likelihood of someone being able to guess the password.
You're probably worried about the security of having all your passwords stored on your computer but don't worry. The password database is encrypted and you need a master password to open it up. Just make sure you have a secure master password that isn't easy to guess. Be sure to back up your password database frequently too so you don't lose access to important sites if you hard drive crashes.
Stuf
Stuf is a clipboard manager, which allows you to save multiple copies/cuts in your computer's memory. This means that you don't have to worry about copying or cutting over something else in your clipboard accidentally and you can recall items that you copied or cut in the past. You can even save previous items and share them with other people on your network who are also using Stuf.
There are a lot of other clipboard managers out there so you don't necessarily need to use this one. But I've found it pretty versatile and I really like the network sharing function.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a free little app that does one simple thing: it keeps your computer from going to sleep. This is especially useful when you're watching something online or doing anything else at your computer that doesn't require you to use the mouse or keyboard. I use it when I'm watching video tutorials or when I'm editing a long video.
Caffeine stays unobtrusively in your menubar and looks like an empty latte cup. When you click on it, it appears full of coffee and activates to prevent sleeping.
iStat Menus
iStat Menus is a menubar app that shows your CPU usage, network speed, memory usage, CPU temperature, etc. If you're a minimalist, you might not like this app because it can clutter your menubar a bit, but it's very useful for monitoring what your computer's doing.
For example, I use it to monitor CPU usage while I'm encoding videos. This helps me make sure I'm maximizing the speed of my computer. I also use it to monitor my Internet connection, which allows me to see how much data I'm uploading or downloading, or if my connection is stalled and I'm not transferring anything. Or every once in a while, I'll have an app that's gone berserk or is hogging all the memory. I can see that on the menubar and quickly terminate the offending app.
