All this week , we ’ve been sharing our favorite low - cost software of all meter — lean 78 programs that palm everything from enhancing OS X to serve you easily deal files among Macs . Let ’s wrap things up with 10 net favourite that will enable you to work more profitably , analyze more in effect … and muff off some steam with a nice game of patience .
Version numbers are current for these apps — with one exclusion that I remark below . These computer programme should all run on the latest version of OS X , but , as always , ascertain the developers ’ connection land site connection to check that your Mac meet the organisation requirements .
Screen-capture tool: Snapz Pro X 2.0.2
If you ’re serious about taking screenshots , Snapz Pro X 2.0.2 ( ) is the tool to expend . you could well enamor an entire screen , target ( singly or in mathematical group ) , or a selected area , and then save up the resulting photo in most coarse simulacrum data formatting ( TIFF , JPEG , and PDF , to name a few ) . you could also include borders , drop shadows , and watermarks , create thumbnail ikon , and choose colour depth and compression levels . A Live Preview mode lets you see exactly how your screenshot will look , including all the options you ’ve applied , before you actually take it . If you need animation , Snapz Pro X ’s movie translation can record full - motion picture and audio . When you ’re done recording , you choose the video - condensation data format from your QuickTime - compatible codecs , along with the flesh rate , color depth , and data rate ( useful for creating smaller videos for the Web or for e - post message ) ; you could also find fault audio - concretion options . ( screenshot - only version , $ 29 ; movie version , $ 69;Ambrosia Software )
Mac database: Mactracker 4.0.5
IT informantWith Mactracker , you ’ve got quick entree to specs on almost every product Apple has ever made .
If you need to find the specs of a particular Mac model — to buy it , upgrade it , service it , or betray it — don’t blow your time searching Apple ’s Knowledge Base or chock up through the outcome of a Google search . Instead , downloadMactracker 4.0.5 ( ) , a browsable and searchable database of entropy on nearly every Apple product ever made , from 128Ks to Intels , eMates to Xserves , QuickTakes to keyboard , LCs to liquid crystal display . Each entry in Mactracker is chock full of more information than you ’ll ever demand to make out about that intersection , down to the most minute detail : central processor , bus upper , drives , computer storage , art bill , size of it , weight , supported OS versions , and tardy microcode update . You also get an image of the mathematical product , a abbreviated verbal description from The Apple Museum or apple-history.com , and — for computers — an audio demo of the model ’s startup gong . you could even make Smart Category view ; for example , “ AirPort Card includes g ” to list all Macs that support the 802.11 g standard . ( free;Ian Page )
Collaboration tool: SubEthaEdit 2.5
Having several hoi polloi put to work on a document at the same time is usually a recipe for tragedy . SubEthaEdit 2.5 ( ) makes such collaborative efforts practicable — even pleasurable — by allowing an unlimited routine of participant to join a plain - text redaction school term over the Internet or on a local web via Apple ’s Bonjour . Each participant can edit the papers simultaneously ; each soul ’s contributions are go after in a different color , and each participant can see what others are doing . consolidation with Apple ’s iChat and Mail apps means that you’re able to confabulate or e - mail with participants on the side , and a split - screen door way lets you take in two section of your document at once . New automation features permit you make prompt oeuvre of cook text . ( $ 35;TheCodingMonkeys )
Typing utility: TextExpander 1.3.1
If you discover yourself oft typing the same school text , TextExpander 1.3.1 (; formerly Textpander ) can save you hours of work — and your fingers time of day of typewrite — each calendar month . It let you assign abbreviations to snippet of schoolbook ; the abbreviation are automatically expound to the full text snippets when you type them . For deterrent example , when I typehomeadd , TextExpander typewrite my full home address . TextExpander can also slip in figure of speech or a premix of text and image , and you could create new snip from choose text . TextExpander works systemwide , so your snippet are usable in any OS X software program that lets you type text . ( $ 30;SmileOnMyMac )
Text-processing utility: TextSoap 5
Copy cleanupYou can tidy up your textual matter with a chink of a push button , using TextSoap ( shown here in an earlier version ) .
Text is n’t always tidy , peculiarly when you get it from eastward - mail , the connection , or a PDF — often littered with odd characters , hard returns , quotation Mark , and who do it what else . My preferred way to pick up this text is the aptly namedTextSoap 5 ( ) . merely paste your schoolbook into the TextSoap windowpane and then pick out your favoritecleaner(a set of rules that tells TextSoap exactly what to do with the text edition ) ; your text is quick straighten , ready to be pasted wherever you like . The usable cleaners range from the simple ( removing forwarding characters [ > ] and pull strings eccentric and data format ) to the comprehensive ( multiple operations in one suction stop ) . But you may also create your own custom cleaners that include action such as find and replace . armed service financial support makes TextSoap ’s cleaners available in most OS X apps . In the Deluxe version , plug - ins for plan such as BBEdit ply a palette of cleaners for quick access and a contextual - carte plug - in make your cleaners available in most other applications . you’re able to even access cleanser via Automator ( Standard and Deluxe versions ) and AppleScript ( Deluxe ) . ( Standard , $ 29 ; Deluxe , $ 39;unmarked software )
Other top tools for work, school, and play
Business Card Composer 3.2 (; $ 35;BeLight Software ) have much of the guesswork out of produce your own business card , with 100 templates , customizable layout and design features , and tools that aid you publish cards that seem professional . The software was recently updated to version 4 , which boasts 100 new menu design ; I plan to revisit this software in the Mac Gems weblog shortly .
Physics 101 SE 5.1.1 (; $ 10;Praeter Software ) remains a must - have teaching and acquire tool for physics — the bit of formulas has swelled to more than 125 , and it also includes special modes for model projectiles , establish virtual lap , and more . Students will also benefit from iFlash 2.7.2 (; $ 12;Loopware ) . Like most flash - card software , it have you create , arrange , and see cogitation aids that you make . But advanced feature , such as particular testing modality and family for better organization , make this flash - card programme place upright out from the crowd . PCalcwent four old age between update , but version 3.0.3 of this calculating machine app (; $ 19;James Thomson ) was worth the waiting , thanks to a number of utile additions you wo n’t find in other reckoner .
How to take the edge off after a generative day at employment or school with these other Mac Gems ? TrySolitaire Till Dawn X 1.5 (; $ 25;Semicolon Software ) ; since our last review , the number of admit games has jumped from 85 to 100 .
