A five - mouse valuation is n’t as rare as , say , a four - leafage trefoil . But you could make a warm example that the former is boundlessly more worthful . After all , a four - leafage clover just brings you safe luck ; a five - mouse rating mean you ’ve got our highest good word for a Cartesian product that ’s among the in effect we ’ve seen in its class .
MacworldandPlaylistlooked at hundreds upon hundreds of production in 2005 — only 27 received five - computer mouse ratings . We could n’t countenance the twelvemonth come in to a close without take one last look at the computer hardware and software that earned our highest marks during the last 12 months .
3D Wheel FilmMaker : Power SupportReviewed : PlaylistWhat it does : Unlike other protective films that carry through the Click Wheel on new iPods from scratches but allow the Enter clit expose , the 3D Wheel Film covers thewholething . And it ’s a double-dyed fit . toll : $ 11
three-D Weather Globe & Atlas 1.1Maker : Software MacKievReviewed : September 2005What it does : If you ’re a geography or weather forecasting addict , this program is for you . 3D Weather globe & Atlas takes weather and geography data and displays them in a rich and gorgeous app . Price : $ 40
Agent 18 mini shockMaker : Agent18Reviewed : PlaylistWhat it does : Agent18 takes the increasingly popular two - piece design for iPod mini cases to the next spirit level by bring significant seismic disturbance aegis . Leontyne Price : $ 20
BART WidgetMaker : WorryDreamMac Gems WeblogWhat it does : This widget tender a slick way for Northern California residents — or anyone with an interest group in gear docket — to check out schedules and maps for Bay Area Rapid Transit ( also know as BART).Price : Free
ColorTagGen .01Maker : RAD ProductionsReviewed : Mac Gems WeblogWhat it does : ColorTagGen is a one - trick program — but what a trick . Using a simple two - windowpane port , the free program displays the RGB and hex - encoded color economic value for any pick out color — an idealistic peter for anyone who plan Web land site . toll : devoid
Covertec Apple Mini iPod caseMaker : CovertecReviewed : PlaylistWhat it does : This iPod mini carrying case was the nicest leather case we ’ve yet check for the diminutive music player , and one of our favorite regardless of panache or material . Price : $ 35
FileXaminer 2.4.2Maker : Gideon SoftworksReviewed : September 2005What it does : This political program has a big interface for changing file permit and other file attributes that can be difficult to get at . It ’s one of our favorite utility . Price : $ 10
FileMaker Pro 8 AdvancedMaker : FileMakerReviewed : December 2005What it does : More than just managing data point , this program supply an incredibly powerful way to organise database . It also allow for better script writing with an improved user interface . Mary Leontyne Price : $ 499 ; raise $ 299
Incase Folio for iPod U2 Special EditionMaker : IncaseReviewed : PlaylistWhat it does : A clever figure helps this casing protect your U2 Special Edition iPod while also showing off the music player ’s singular design . Price : $ 40
iSqueezMaker : Griffin TechnologyReviewed : PlaylistWhat it does : leaven that some of the full products are also the simplest , the iSqueez ( formerly the PodPod ) is nothing more than a foam iPod stand for your car ’s cupholder . But when it comes to securing your iPod when you ’re on the go , you wo n’t find a more convenient accoutrement . Price : $ 10
Ivory 1.0Maker : SynthogyReviewed : March 2005What it does : This is an impressive collection of virtual immortalize pianoforte to use in mixing and seduce your own music . Price : $ 349
LaunchBar 4.0.2Maker : nonsubjective DevelopmentReviewed : Mac Gems WeblogWhat it is : An already impressive utility got even more powerful , adding the ability to access late used document in any software , browse databases of finical programs , and do context lookup , among other unexampled features . Price : $ 39 , clientele license ; $ 20 , rest home license ; $ 30 family permit ( up to 5 electronic computer )
unrecorded 4Maker : AbletonReviewed : January 2005What it does : This incredible real - time music creation political platform now offers full MIDI livelihood . Price : $ 499 ; ascent , $ 149 ( boxed ) or $ 119 ( download )
Mathematica 5.1Maker : Wolfram ResearchReviewed : May 2005What it does : hard-core math geeks will love the late version of Mathematica — one of the best math programme out there — which now includes input and yield of binary matrix and special array graphics . Price : $ 1,880
mini ToughSkinMaker : Speck ProductsReviewed : PlaylistWhat it does : As with the original ToughSkin ( listed below ) , Speck achieve near - perfection with this version aimed at the iPod mini . Leontyne Price : $ 35
OmniOutliner 3 ProfessionalMaker : The Omni GroupReviewed : August 2005What it does : The latest interpretation of The Omni Group ’s outliner programme leapt to the head of a very talented socio-economic class of Mac lotion by bestow utilitarian features such as folded redaction , the ability to view lineation plane section in the drawer , and Microsoft Word export . Price : $ 70 ; upgrade , $ 50
OtterBox for iPodMaker : OtterBoxReviewed : PlaylistWhat it does : This case offers crush - proof protection for your iPod without forcing you to give admission to the euphony participant ’s controls . Price : $ 50
Sennheiser PX 100 WMaker : SennheiserReviewed : PlaylistWhat it does : The former version of these lightweight , “ over the head ” headphones shares the original ’s cagy design for best protection during travel . Price : $ 60
Silicone Jacket for iPod shuffleMaker : Power SupportReviewed : PlaylistWhat it does : Offering significantly thicker silicone polymer around the corners of the shuffle for better wallop trade protection is just one of the nice touches that sets this Cartesian product asunder from other iPod shuffling skin case . terms : $ 23
Sonos Digital Music SystemMaker : SonosReviewed : February 2005What it does : This music web machine effectively combines digital music , high - calibre audio , wireless comfort station , ease of employment , and , most crucial , play . toll : Varies , depend on complexity of setup
SoundTrack ProMaker : AppleReviewed : October 2005What it does : This all - determination audio recording tool with a great interface and an across-the-board sound - effects library comes fully integrated with Final Cut Studio . Price : $ 299 ; upgrade from Soundtrack 1.X , $ 99 ( $ 1,299 , as part of Final Cut Studio )
Squeezebox2Maker : Slim DevicesReviewed : Squeezebox 2What it does : The addition of 802.11 g wireless networking support makes this successor to the original networked music player a joy to use . Price : $ 199 ; wireless version , $ 279
SubEthaEdit 2.1.2Maker : The Coding MonkeysReviewed : Mac Gems WeblogWhat it does : With SubEthaEdit , you and several other the great unwashed can apportion and make co-occurrent changes to a papers , free from the disasters normally associate with such collaborative efforts . terms : $ 35 for commercial-grade license ; barren , for non - commercial-grade consumption
synergism 2.0.1Maker : WincentReviewed : September 2005What it does : This is an iTunes restrainer that provides system - wide spicy key for playback , volume command , and many other minimal brain dysfunction - ons to use with iTunes . Price : 5 euro
TextWrangler 2Maker : simple Bones SoftwareReviewed : May 2005What it is : This is a with child textbook editor that also happens to be free . terms : barren
ToughSkinMaker : Speck ProductsReviewed : PlaylistWhat it does : From shock protection to easy access to the iPod ’s controls , Speck get nearly everything right with this iPod case . Price : $ 35
World of WarcraftMaker : Blizzard EntertainmentReviewed : February 2005What it does : require to struggle orcs , humans and other phantasy fictitious character in a ostensibly neverending , massively multiplayer online world ? This is your biz . toll : $ 50 ( plus monthly fee )
[ Dan Frakes , Playlistreviews editor , bestow to this report . ]
