OS X Recommended

QuickSilver

The rave today on the web, especially those who have weblogs and use Macs is Quicksilver.

Quicksilver is an evolving structure for manipulating any form of data. The current modules include a launcher, a clipboard recorder, and a shelf.

Heard of LaunchBar? Its an app that works like a 'command-line' in OS X. Basically, all you have to do is type the first few letters of an app, an mp3, or bookmark, it looks for it, and all you have to do is hit enter, and its launched.

LaunchBar is a great app, worth the $20. Normally, I would recommend it to anyone. But lets face facts. You broke the bank getting your Apple machine. Even getting an $20 app is asking way too much, especially if you're a college student who could eat 2 meals for that price right?

Quicksilver does the same thing LaunchBar does. But for a fraction of the price. How much? Nothing. Its free, and best of all Open Source.

But its also better in so many ways. You have 3 separate views for typing a command. Whether its a menu (looks almost like LaunchBar), Window, or a Bezel. Very slick options here folks.

But that's not it! Quicksilver has a PasteBoard Option! Basically, anything you copy, will be kept in the pasteboard, so you've solved the problem of multiple copies and pastings! I've tried it out, and its most excellent!

Quicksilver also comes with a with a Shelf option. Need a file for something else later, but don't wanna navigate several folders to get to it? Drag it into shelf, and call on it when you need it.

If I'm still not convincing you, lemme tell you a little bit more. Quicksilver is FAST. its a lot faster than LaunchBar. Honestly. Its also got a kickass way of navigating your Hard Drive with the Browser option. All you have to do is hit the hot key, press slash and you can navigate your hard drive like the column view in OS X.

And you know what, when you have an program or file selected, you don't have to necessarily open it if you don't want too. Say you wanted to open a JPEG image, but not with the default assigned Photoshop. Hit the right key, and it gives you more option of what to do with the selected file.

Look folks, if I can be as excited to blog this app the minute its makes itself known on the web, you need it. Dan, Nat, Neek, download today!.

And remember, Quicksilver is not only free like air, its open source too!

In case you're interested, here's a link on making it run faster and Todd Dominey's Review.

Here's another great review of QuickSilver from Submit Response. He puts everything into perspective, stuff that got me way too excited to type out a really good reason for getting Quicksilver =)

Cocktail

I still get the giggles every now and then when I type 'cock' into LaunchBar to launch Cocktail.

In a nutshell, Cocktail is a utility that allows you to run some advanced UNIX functions, and toggle certain hidden settings in OS X. But this utlity also has option to help you optimize your system, run critical cron jobs with a single click, and a whole lot more.

Disks

• enable or disable journaling on selected disk
• set disk spindown time

System

• reprebind system or selected folder/disk
• repair permissions
• manually run cron scripts
• clean system, user and internet cache
• change system startup mode
• choose startup language
• recreate Mac OS 9 desktop alias
• update whatis and locate databases
• force empty trash from selected disk

Files

• delete locked items
• remove DS Store files
• remove archived logs
• view, print and save logs
• create symbolic links
• lock or unlock files and folder

Network

• change speed, duplex and MTU settings
• optimize network settings
• change network ports
• renew DHCP lease

Interface

• customize look and features of Finder and Dock
• set window resize speed
• enable hidden features in miscellaneous applications

Pilot

• easily optimize your system

Cocktail is $12 shareware, but looking at the list, shows clearly, that its worth it.

iPulse

iPulse 2.0 was launched today, which is why I decided to put off discussing 1.03 since 2.0 offers so much more.

A brief description of iPulse, according to its creator, Craig Hockenberry:

2 of iPulse 2.0 biggest features is the pop up windows that give you more detail on a particular gauge & Jackets. Here's an example running of iPulse running the Doppler jacket. Other newer features can be found here.

iPulse is $12.95 shareware, but Craig makes it worth every penny. I believe future upgrades will be free, since I bought iPulse when it was at version 1.03.