One of the nifty things about write Mac Gems is finding useful software that enhance Mac OS X. However , sometimes the features of a Gem are so useful — or so apparently missing — that Apple finally adds similar functionality to the atomic number 76 and its bundled coating . This is especially the case when a major new version of Mac OS X is release ; in one fell swoop , many Gems are rendered obsolete — or at least a little less necessary .
With the release of Leopard , I went through the Mac Gems Catalog to see which ware have seen some — or all — of their feature article make their way of life into the late version of the OS . Here ’s Part 1 of my summation ( moderate back afterwards this calendar week for Part 2 ) . Next to each item ’s name , I note whether the product ’s features are in full replace ( or at least snug enough ) by Leopard ’s built - in functionality , or only partially so .
( take note that I ’m tattle about a program’sfunctionalityhere , not its compatibility ; many of these products have n’t yet been updated to work with Leopard . )
Butler , LaunchBar , andQuicksilver(partial ): No , Spotlight wo n’t put back the blanket functionality of any of these excellent utilities . But if you use such an add - on chiefly to quickly set up programs , two important Spotlight betterment in Leopard — muchbetter performance and automatic selection of the best practical app mate — may convince you to give up your rocket launcher . I ’m a devout LaunchBar substance abuser , but on a trial Mac in my office staff that does n’t yet have LaunchBar installed , Spotlight has work amazingly well as an coating rocket launcher .
CalculateSizeCM(partial ): This ready to hand contextual - menu plugin net ball you reckon not just the full size of a folder ’s contents , but also the full identification number of files and folders inside ( including the number of invisible file and folders ) and the exact breakdown of data - fork and imagination - fork sizes . In Leopard , the Finder at long last displays the entire phone number of items in a folder — although not the breakdown of filing cabinet and folders .
ChangeShortName(undetermined ): A new Advanced Options screen in Leopard ’s Accounts predilection lets you change the poor username of your account ; however , it ’s unreadable exactly what making a change here actually does , so I do n’t commend using it yet . ( ChangeShortName , which I have a hand in , is n’t yet compatible with Leopard , by the fashion . )
ChatFX(full ): This add - on for iChat lets you use particular effects to your own image ; put a background behind you ; partake your CRT screen ; and show a slideshow of your photos during a video chat . Leopard ’s iChat admit all of these feature film , although ChatFX still has a few additional personal effects .
Chax(partial ): The most significant Chax - render feature that ’s now build up into iChat is tabbed chat windows . There are a couple other modest ones , but for the most part , Chax ’s superfluity of utile tweak remain available only through this add - on . I ’ve been using Chax for so long that until I start using Leopard ’s iChat ( i.e. , iChat without Chax ) , I ’d forgotten how many of the feature film I take for granted are actually provide by Chax .
Combine PDFs and PDFLab 2.0.3r2(full ): The Leopard version of Preview now let you combine and rearrange PDF documents . ’ Nuff said .
Conference Recorder(full ): Although you do n’t get quite as many recording options as Conference Recorder provide , Leopard ’s iChat now lets you record audio and video chats and save them to your hard drive as QuickTime movies .
DropCopy(partial ): Leopard ’s file - deal features are dramatically improved over those of Tiger . However , DropCopy is still much more convenient for quickly transplant a pocket-size identification number of file between Macs . The biggest advantage to DropCopy is that you do n’t need to connect to a outside loudness first ; you just hang back a file onto a float magnetic disc that show you all other DropCopy users on your net , and then choose the name of the user to whom you need to send the file . DropCopy also permit you grab the content of the Clipboard of another Mac , a feature I apply regularly in my office .
EasyFind , MoRU , andNotLight(partial ): These three lookup programs offer better functionality and , in many font , better performance than Tiger ’s Spotlight . Thankfully , Leopard ’s version of Spotlight is so improved that many users will be more than glad swear entirely on Spotlight . However , these utilities still offer easy approach to some ripe - searching options .
ForgetMeNotandTaboo(full ): Safari 3 , formally part of Leopard but alsoavailable in beta formto Panthera tigris users , finallywarns you if you seek to shut a window with multiple yellow journalism receptive , or if you seek to quit Safari with multiple window or multiple tabs open . The latest variation of Safari even lets you restore late window and pill via History : Reopen All Windows From Last academic term — even if Safari gate-crash — and allow you reopen any window you accidentally closed via story : Reopen Last Closed Window . ForgetMeNot and Taboo are no longer necessary .
Google Maps Plugin(full ): It used to be that ascendancy / right field - clicking on an address in Address Book touch , and then choosing Map Of , would afford your connection browser app to a mathematical function of the destination on MapQuest.com . Because of the popularity of Google Maps , Brian Toth came up with this useful plugin for Address Book that instead carry you to Google Maps . In Leopard , Apple has updated Address Book to practice Google Maps by default . ( Will someone now release a MapQuest Plugin ? )
HistoryHound(partial ): HistoryHound indexes the contents of Web pages you ’ve visit and then lets you search those contents — useful if , for example , you remember some text or a topic on a page but ca n’t call back where you saw it . In Leopard , Spotlight itself indexes the content of Web pages you visit , and you may then search for such content via Spotlight ; public eye ’s results listing now admit a Webpages category that include all match found on antecedently - travel to Web page . ( For lesson , earlier today I wanted to view info aboutApple ’s recent Login & Keychain Update 1.0for Leopard . I remember that the pageboy note Mac OS X 10.1 , so I used Spotlight to look for “ OS go 10.1″ ; sure enough , Spotlight notice the page and let me launch the uniform resource locator in my web browser . ) Two advantage HistoryHound maintains are that it can also index the contents of website you ’ve bookmarked but not recently visit , and it works with web internet browser other than Safari .
iConiCal : For years , one of the most - requested iCal features has been for iCal ’s Dock icon to expose the current appointment all the time — even when iCal is n’t running . iConiCal provided a kludgy - but - efficacious solution , but it ’s no longer necessary in Leopard : iCal finally does this on its own .
