dailyApps

Mac OS X is one of those operating systems where its users are its ultimate fanboys and they swear by it. I for one have always found Mac OS X to be a better alternative to Windows for all those who want a nice computer which is not as geeky as a Linux Box. I just thought i should help all the new Mac OS X users by pointing them to apps that are a must have for Mac OS X. So here they are in no particular order.

• Quicksilver

Quicksilver is a beautiful and powerful application - it places your Mac only a few taps away. Essentially it is an application launcher but it can do much more. Quicksilver features a learning algorithm so it quickly picks up what you want to do.

Quicksilver is freeware.

Download (2 MB)

• Mira

Mira drops into your System Preferences and provides an easy interface to change button settings for all your applications. Settings are made in a familiar profile fashion for individual applications and over 60 profiles are already built-in. You can add your own, or edit those already included. Best of all, you don’t have to fiddle around with Mira to make it work, it’s ready to go out of the box! The correct settings are immediately available when using any application.

Mira is shareware - $15.95

Download (2.6 MB)

• Sizzling Keys

Have you ever wished you could control iTunes without leaving your current app? Sizzling Keys lets you do just that - and more - in an intuitive and unobtrusive way. I use this app a lot - and I mean a LOT! It is so quick and easy to implement and it brings iTunes to your fingertips no matter where you are in OS X

Sizzling Keys is freeware - paid upgrade option available.

Download (940 kB)

• Paparazzi!

Paparazzi! is a small utility for Mac OS X that makes screenshots of webpages. Weighing in at just over 300kbs, it loads instantaneously. This is very useful for showing off your whole webpage and not just half of it.

Paparazzi! is freeware.

Download (190 kB)

• ImageWell

This is one of the best apps we have ever used. Since Ryan and I blog a lot its not always practical to fire up pro editing software, such as Photoshop, just to add a line of text or crop an image. This is where ImageWell comes in. It’s best feature has to be the ability to upload the edited image to your iDisk or FTP server with a click of a button.

ImageWell is freeware - optional extras are available for $14.95

Download (925 kB)

• XSlimmer

XSlimmer’s purpose is to optimise your Mac’s hard drive space by removing code intended for the PowerPC/Intel architecture from an application - leaving you with only the code your Mac needs. XSlimmer can break some apps so be sure to download the latest version of its blacklist.

XSlimmer is shareware - $9.95.

Download (2 MB)

Alternative
TrimTheFat is a similar application to XSlimmer and best of all it’s free! - Download (104 kB)

• Little Snitch

You start an application that tells you that a new version is available. With Little Snitch you will suddenly realise that with every start this application it connects to the developer’s server. Information about your computer may be sent along side this request, so to cut your internet traffic, and protect your privacy install Little Snitch as soon as possible. The settings are accessible through your System Preferences, but you can create rules on the fly for applications you haven’t set rules for previously.

Little Snitch is shareware - from $24.95

Download (529 kB)

• Growl

Growl is a notification system for Mac OS X which can be used in harmony with many applications. There are even plugins for apps that don’t support growl at this point in time. Growl also comes with built-in styles that you can tweak to make them look however you want. At first it is weird to see the suprising amount of applications already support Growl, without you knowing previously!

Growl is freeware.

Download (2 MB)

• UnRarX

UnRarX is a Cocoa application that allows you to expand rar archives and restore corrupted or missing archives using parity files. A great substitute for the unpacking side of StuffIt.

UnRAR X is freeware.

Download (716 kB)

If you have anything to add to these apps please drop in a comment and make sure you are heard by the rest of the Mac Community.