Last downslope — on Thanksgiving , appropriately enough — I wrote about a number of Gems I ’m grateful for . That leaning was n’t our most - late collection of all - time favourite , nor was it a preview of our since - publish 2009 Gems of the Year clause . Rather , as I note at the time , it was “ a list of Gems that I continue to use every day — Gems that have become such an integral part of my workflow that I often take them for yield . ” That clause turn out to be one of the most democratic gem - related report of the yr .
Well , it turns out that I missed quite a few of these “ taken for granted ” Gems . Why ? Because they ’ve become such an intact part of my workflow that I leave out them while taste to root out the program that have become an integral part of my work flow .
Ahem .
So before your aid lead off to drift elsewhere this week , I thought I ’d take a straightaway look at a few more stone I ’m thankful for . ( Thanks go out to the readers who point out on the original article for bringing some of these omissions to my attending . )
Default Folder X : One of our all - time favorite Gems , this add - on modifies Mac OS X ’s Open and Save dialogs to make them work how theyshould . you’re able to assign a default leaflet for each program , it remembers the last folder and file you accessed in each syllabus , and it makes recently used and best-loved files and folder easily accessible . Because Default Folder tweaks Open and Save dialogs , you forget it ’s there … until you use a Mac without Default Folder X installed and realize how primitive and limiting the stock dialogs are . ( observe to Apple : give the developer lots of money and comprise these features . )
1Password : Another all - time favorite , 1Password is a combination of a standalone computer programme and a browser app minimal brain damage - on that get you store countersign and other personal info in a secure database . Unlike OS X ’s keychain entries , 1Password - stored word make across browsers . you may also save multiple logins for each site , produce and lay in secure passwords , and lay in multiple identities ( name , address , etc . ) and recognition - card records that you may auto - filling on any WWW page . Although I habituate 1Password many times each day , it integrates so well with Safari that I often block it ’s not a built - in feature .
ClickToFlash : Another Safari minimal brain dysfunction - on that integrates seamlessly , ClickToFlash was one of our 2009 Gems of the Year and an Eddy victor . In fact , it was the choosing of those awards that prompt me of how significantly ClickToFlash affects my browsing . Put simply , ClickToFlash is a Flash blocking agent , but one that lets you decidewhichFlash content to view on each Website . I also love that it can mechanically load the H.264 version of YouTube videos , let me avoid Flash content even there .
Bean : After reviewing , back in previous 2008 , this free alternative to OS X ’s TextEdit , it became my nonremittal lotion for .rtf , .rtfd , and .doc files . base on some of the same code that underlie TextEdit itself , Bean offers a undecomposed interface and lot of improved and extra features . Because I ’ve assigned Bean to open many types of text and word - processing written document , it ’s essentiallybecomeTextEdit on my Macs .
DropCopy : OS X offer many ways to share files with , and access files on , other computer , but if you just need the well-to-do direction to copy Indian file between Macs in your office or home , DropCopy is tough to exhaust . Just keep it running on all your Macs ; to copy a file , drag the file onto the “ drop-off zone ” on your background , then over the name of the finish computing equipment — DropCopy automatically displays any other computers running DropCopy on your connection .
CoverSutra : When I first reviewed CoverSutra , nearly three twelvemonth ago , I wrote that it had a chance to replaceSynergyon my Macs for controlling iTunes . At some point in those three years — I ca n’t even remember when — it had better enough to do just that . The course of study lets you portion systemwide keyboard shortcuts for dozens of iTunes affair . you’re able to also view — on the background or via Growl notification — information about the acting cut . But perhaps the best feature is CoverSutra ’s Spotlight - like hunting menu , which lease you happen and act any track without lifting your fingerbreadth from the keyboard .
Knox : Like OS X ’s Disk Utility , Knox let you create cypher phonograph recording image for securely hive away sore data . But Knox make it well-situated , via a systemwide menu , to mount and unmount those saucer images , and provides an automatic backup system that keeps older versions of each range of a function — a datasaver if one of your encrypted images is ever damage .
SoundSource : I ’ve got a Mac Pro with multiple audio outputs and inputs ; I on a regular basis have various combinations of ocular , USB , analog , and virtual audio devices connect . SoundSource yield me a handy systemwide menu for choosing which gimmick to apply for input and which to use for output . I can even select a different audio - output gimmick for organization alerts and sound , and I sleep together that SoundSource mechanically switches audio end product to the headphone jack when I connect my earpiece .
Backdrop : One of the simplest gem ever , Backdrop give you a false background — using a desktop picture or color of your choosing — for postulate unlittered screenshots no matter how cluttered your background is . It ’s been over five years since I reviewed Backdrop , yet I still use it regularly .
NetNewsWire : Since I reviewed this standout RSS reader in former 2008 , the developer switched from hosting its own RSS - sync service to synchronize with Google Reader . In my experience , the upshot has been less - authentic syncing between gadget , but NetNewsWire itself is still the programme I use to track well over 100 tech provender each day . Its stellar user interface and useful features — include live - update smart searches , extended keyboard control , and customizable clause - reading vogue — are still peerless , in my experience .
Twitterrific : While I countover a dozendedicated Twitter client for the Mac , Twitterrific continues to be the one I reckon on to keep an eye onthe small group of masses and company I actively follow . Twitterrific does n’t have all the features of some of the newer offerings , but there ’s something about the interface and keyboard control condition that just feel “ right-hand ” in a way other Twitter guest do n’t .
Name Mangler : My favorite utility for heap - rename lots of files and folders , Name Mangler is powerful but simple to utilize . And after being down for several months , thedeveloper ’s Websiteis now back online .
sponger : From the same developer as Name Mangler , Leech is a download coach for Safari , Camino , OmniWeb , and Firefox that offers many features not found in those browsers . For example , Leech lets you download to multiple folders , configure rules for handling downloads , queue downloads while you ’re offline , and much more .
Gone (?) but not forgotten
In addition to the actively developed Gems listed above , here are a twosome that stay on built-in to my workflow despite being deadened — or at least on indefinite hiatus . With every Mac OS update , I detect myself crossing my fingers that these programs and tally - ons will stay on to work :
Docks : One of my 2009 Gems of the Year thanks to its ease of use and attractive interface , Docks permit you create and easily switch between multiple Dock configurations — great for taking screenshots using the broth Dock , or for using different Docks in different Spaces workspace . Anote on the developer ’s Websitestates that Docks was sell to another caller and will be available again shortly , although it ’s been several months since the site went dark .
LiteSwitch X : I ’ve been using this public utility company since its original incarnation as a Mac OS 8 utility , and even today , under Snow Leopard , it ’s a much better Command+Tab software switcher than Mac OS X ’s built - in Command+Tab software switcher . unhappily , thedeveloper ’s Websitehas been dead for some time .
UPDATE 1/25/10 , 1:59pm : The Many Tricks Website , which had been offline for several month at the time of publication , is now online again . As a resultant role , Name Mangler and Leech have been moved to the list of active political platform .
