As I explained on Tuesday , one of the neat thing about writing Mac Gems is finding utilitarian software program that enhance Mac OS X. However , sometimes the features of a Gem are so utilitarian — or so manifestly miss — that Apple eventually adds standardized functionality to the type O and its bundled app .
Now that Leopard is out , I checked the Mac Gems Catalog for product have seen some or all of their features seem in the latest version of Mac OS X. I covered 19 previous gem in Part 1 ; here in Part 2 , I tackle 18 more . Next to each item ’s name , I note whether the product ’s features are fully replaced ( or at least close enough ) by Leopard ’s built - in functionality , or only partially so . Along the way , you may discover features of Leopard you have n’t yet hear about .
( take note that I ’m talking about a program’sfunctionalityhere , not its compatibility ; many of these Cartesian product have n’t yet been update to work with Leopard . )
NetworkLocation(partial ): One of the many “ location manager ” public utility for Mac OS X , NetworkLocation lets you make radical of preferences to be applied , as well as natural process that should hap , whenever you shift connection Locations . Although Leopard does n’t proffer almost this much functionality , it does include one oft - requested feature film : machinelike pressman survival of the fittest based on the current connection Location . So , for exercise , if you expend one kind of printer at home and another in the office , Leopard will mechanically limit the appropriate default option pressman based on the connection to which you ’re connected .
Overflow(partial ): you could think of Overflow as a sort of “ Stacks Pro . ” It work much like the Dock in that you could drag applications , leaflet , and documents into the Overflow window and then access those items with a single click ( or , in the case of applications or folder , by dragging files onto the particular ’s ikon ) . But , like a Leopard stack , Overflow ’s floating windowpane is hidden until you chatter on the Overflow icon in the Dock ( or weigh an designate keyboard shortcut ) . When you drag an item onto the Overflow icon , Overflow ’s window pops up , lease you then drop behind the detail onto any software — or , even better , into any booklet — you’ve added to Overflow . And you may flop - tap any folder in Overflow to navigate its message via hierarchical carte , just like youused tobe able to do with brochure in the Dock .
PDF web browser Plugin(partial ): Although Safari has let you view PDF files right in the web internet browser window for a while now , PDF internet browser Plugin added multiple layout options ; split thought ; and patronise for annotation , forms , tables of contents , and links . Alas , it was never updated for Intel - based Macs . Safari itself now includes layout and zoom options ( accessible by Control / right - clicking anywhere on a PDF in a Safari window ) , as well as — accord to Apple’s300 + New Features Thomas Nelson Page , at least — a raw sidebar for navigating the pages in a PDF . Unfortunately , we have n’t figured out how to access this sidebar .
QuickImage CM , andPicturePop Pro(partial ): These handy utilities , available via the Finder ’s contextual menus , lease you cursorily view — and even redact — figure without own to launch a freestanding app . Thanks to Leopard ’s Quick Look feature , you now get most of the image - view functionality right in the Finder , although you ca n’t edit images without using a programme such as Preview or iPhoto .
Refresh FinderandWindowsUpdater(full ): Among the improvements to the Finder in Leopard — at least in my experience so far — is that the Finder is able to keep the cognitive content of its windows update and decent assort ; if you create a fresh brochure or document in a folder , it appears in its right piazza in the Indian file listing within a sane amount of metre ( half a 2d or so ) . This seems to be the case even with networked volumes . And so we can all take a bit of pleasance in seeing these formerly - useful utilities — which get you force - refresh Finder - window list — fall by the roadside .
Safari Extender , SafariStand , Saft(partial ): These utilities all extend Safari ’s feature adjust — in so many ways that I ca n’t get into them here . ( Read the reviews at the linkup allow for all the juicy details . ) Although many of the features of these add - ons are still missing from Safari , the late version of Apple ’s web web browser has bestow some of the major highlighting , admit transferrable tab , tab management , the power to recover closed window and tabs , and improved Search .
apportion My Desktop and VNC Thing : These two utility let you place up a VNC server and client for viewing and controlling your Mac ’s silver screen from another Mac ( or even from another computer on a unlike platform ) . Tiger added a built - in VNC alternative — ostensibly for Apple Remote Desktop , but operable with any VNC client — but Leopard lets you easily set up VNC access using the new Screen Sharing lineament , and easily access another Mac via VNC directly from the Finder .
SharePoints(partial ): Before Leopard , SharePoints wasthekiller add - on for file communion . It permit you place up extra shares — folders you want other people to be able to get at over a internet — for both Personal File Sharing and Windows File Sharing , and permit you stipulate who could access those shares . You could also use SharePoints to put up share-out - only user . Leopardfinallygives us these capabilities without third - party software . SharePoints still has a few tricks up its sleeve for administering file sharing and configure advanced options , but for mass who just want their family members or coworkers to be able to access files outside of Public folders , Leopard ’s built - in functionality will more than answer .
Shimo(partial ): Back in Tiger , OS X ’s build - in practical - secret - internet ( VPN ) customer , which offers a convenient carte - bar menu for connecting to and unplug from VPNs , did n’t work out faithfully with Cisco networks . As a result , you had to use Cisco ’s OS X VPN client , which work well but is savorless - out ugly and has to be go whenever you ’re connected . Shimo provides an OS - X - like menu - stripe interface to the Cisco client and was a welcome enhancement to many OS 10 users . Leopard ’s built - in VPN feature appears to work much better with Cisco networks , so you may not even need the Cisco guest any longer . Still , I miss many of Shimo ’s useful additional features , such as Growl alerts and auto - reconnect .
ShowMacster(full ): ShowMacster ’s title to fame was that it added to iChat the capability to show a photo , document , video , or your own screen to masses on the other end of a television chat . Leopard ’s iChat not only includes this functionality , but does so , in my testing , with better quality . One advantage ShowMacster still has is its drawer for frequently - used files ; you may even arrogate keyboard shortcut for show up finical files . It also lets you make basic anatomy note on documents you ’re showing .
Skim(partial ): Skim is a Preview - similar PDF - viewing computer programme that includes a number of advanced features . Many of its annotation - related features are now available in Leopard ’s Preview . On the other hand , Skim still has a number of alone capacity . For illustration , its Notes Pane lets you view a list of every annotation you ’ve made in the current document ; a reading bar make it easier to track your situation ; a snapshot feature lets you keep a particular surgical incision of a document static as you browse other sections ; and I like the ability to zoom in on just a discussion section of a text file . I also care Skim ’s color - coded table of contents , which indicates not only which pages of the current document you ’ve say recently , but how recently ( up to the five most - of late - read Page ) ; this feature makes it leisurely to quickly jump back and forward between late - viewed pages .
Trans Lucy(partial ): This third - political party television histrion gives you lots of options for encounter DVDs or QuickTime movies , but it ’s two standout features are the power to float the telecasting windowpane above all other program and to adjust the translucency of the window so you’re able to also see what ’s behind it . Leopard ’s DVD Player is much ( much ! ) improved over its predecessors and even bests TransLucy in many way . It gains the ability to be adrift the video recording window over others , although it does n’t offer translucency .
WiFind(partial ): WiFind substitute OS X ’s AirPort computer menu - measure menu with one that displays the issue of in - range wireless internet in the menu bar and shows in its menu which networks are open and which require a password . It also testify the signal strength of each wireless connection and , by holding your mouse pointer over a connection name , displays detailed selective information about the connection . Leopard ’s AirPort menu now show the surety status of each internet , although it does n’t admit any of WiFind ’s other feature .
