[Andrman]

Originally posted by Dr.Michael:
I tested Quicksilver yesterday. I am a longtime user of lauchbar and wanted to check the differences.

As a result I must say that it would be embarrassing for me to copy an existing application (launchbar) and add nothing more than a little eye-candy.

Plagiarism is allowed with software but it adds no value for me. I prefer to support smart people instead of unimaginative developers who only know how2 operate a copier ( - like a bad secretary?).

And if you really don't have the money there is a freeware version of launchbar that has only slight restrictions.

And do you know what? Launchbar is much faster that QS. Ha!

Cheers, Michael

So you're saying Blacktree really (illegally?) copied code from LaunchBar, or they just stole the idea?

[Dr.Michael]

Originally posted by Andrman:
So you're saying Blacktree really (illegally?) copied code from LaunchBar, or they just stole the idea?

Oh no, they surely did not copy code! I only used the metaphor of a copier to illustrate how inventive I judge Quicksilver.

Of course the developers had to write their own code. But that can be done if you know how to write c code.

But the idea and the functionality of Quicksilver is VERY close to Launchbar. I cannot find any own idea thats worth its name. See yourself.

[Andrman]

Ah well yes I totally agree that the basic functionality of the application is the same. I guess I just never considered that a problem seeing as there are many different implementations of similar applications out there. I prefer QS because mainly it's free, and secondly, call me quirky, but LaunchBar always bugged me with the little icon to the right of the clock. I wanted it to behave as a regular menu item like everything else!

[threestain]

But the icon is no longer to the right of the clock and hasn't been for a while now. In fact I found it very useful to have it there - prevented accidental clicks whilst using other menu items.

Yes its not free, but it works better and more unobtrusively than anything else in my opinion!

My updated list of loves:

1. Launchbar, still!
2. News You Can Use - an RSS feeder that is actively good
3. iBlog, for all the crud that is blogged, this at least speeds up the process
4. Meteo - nows its fixed I no longer have to look out of my window.
5. FFmpegX - crackingly easy stuff.

[Randman]

Updated:

F10
Konfabulator
SlimBattery Monitor
WinSwitch
CandyBar
ShapeShifter
iCal ReFresh Date
iBlog

[idlewild]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PabloTX:
[B]What are some of your favorite free/cheap shareware programs, and what are they?


1) Corona for personal checking and accounting
2) Daktari for viewing and editing web pages
3) Safari for web browsing; Firefox for compatibility testing
4) Transmit for FTP domain management
5) iLife for fun and magic

[DocZ]

• teTeX via i-Installer - I use LaTeX for all of my work
  
• iTexMac - very nice editor for LaTeX documents, outputs PDFs
  
• DrScheme - best programming environment (if you like Lisp )
  
• Fink - most Unix programs suck, but at least you can make them install automatically
  
• mi - stable, completely free text editor (one of the few editors apart from BBedit that doesn't suck)

[andretan]

There's this brand new Open Source text editor out there... it's called Smultron.

It's free and offers syntax-colors!

Pretty much the same as BBEdit Lite BUT with colored syntax which is what I need.

[GeeYouEye]

1. SideTrack
2. EnhancedDataBurn (an example that comes with the Dev Tools) - a free quick way to burn to the entire capacity of the disc instead of what the Finder says is the full capacity (~ 500 MB difference on a DVD, 60 MB on a CD) and to do so without copying to a disk image first.
3. VLC
4. OmniWeb
5. TextEdit - yes it comes with the OS, but it's one of the most underrated programs out there in my experience.
6. iTunes
7. Transmit
8. SubEthaEdit

[demograph68]

PithHelmet Removes ads from the web. Works perfectly. Safari loads faster with it too.

[neoTony]

Originally posted by Dr.Michael:
Oh no, they surely did not copy code! I only used the metaphor of a copier to illustrate how inventive I judge Quicksilver.

Of course the developers had to write their own code. But that can be done if you know how to write c code.

But the idea and the functionality of Quicksilver is VERY close to Launchbar. I cannot find any own idea thats worth its name. See yourself.

Are you serious? Perhaps to the untrained eye...

Nick Jitkoff, the author of Quicksilver was honestly surprised when I told him I generally only used QS to launch apps. App launching is not the purpose of QS at all! It's just a nice feature that came about from the engine. Nick is one insane programmer too... he's got features in QS that nobody else seems to be playing with yet (check the "zoom" on the QS logo on app start -- did you know that's a feature of expose?)

Nick'd be able to explain it a lot better than I can, but I find it easy to think of QS like an "on-the-fly" version of automator -- it links different types of content with other content, or actions, or locations, and vice versa -- it's incredibly powerful.

Go read the blacktree forums, or get Nick's email address from the blacktree.com website and ask him yourself - he'd happily explain it to you - just be aware that Quicksilver has one feature that encompasses all of what Launchbar does, but it's only one feature of many.

[wataru]

Originally posted by demograph68:
PithHelmet Removes ads from the web. Works perfectly. Safari loads faster with it too.

I've found the exact opposite - it slows Safari down. Plus it looks like Pithhelmet will be turning into shareware in the near future. I'll stick with Firefox's free Adblock extension.

[milkmanchris]

Thanks for this thread guys.

As a recent convert from windoze, it has made interseting reading.

Now as a result i can add my fave apps to the list

1. Meteorologist
2. Quicksilver
3. Mail Ticker
4. Menumeter
5. Gmail Status
6. Slim Battery

just need to find a nice itunes contoller for the menu bar, maybe what looks like mail ticker, any clues.

Thanks for the input.

C

[Starry Night]

Originally posted by wataru:
I've found the exact opposite - it slows Safari down. Plus it looks like Pithhelmet will be turning into shareware in the near future. I'll stick with Firefox's free Adblock extension.

I recently tried Pith Helmet (v.85) for Jaguar. I think it does slow Safari down a little bit, but the thing I really didn't like was the increase in pop-up ads on some sites that I frequent. Going to the same site using Safari without Pith Helmet the pop ups were blocked. Hence Pith Helmet got escorted to the trash.......

I really like FOB, the dock based free timer program that reminds you to go check your soda in the freezer

[fisherKing]

Originally posted by Starry Night:
I recently tried Pith Helmet (v.85) for Jaguar. I think it does slow Safari down a little bit, but the thing I really didn't like was the increase in pop-up ads on some sites that I frequent. Going to the same site using Safari without Pith Helmet the pop ups were blocked. Hence Pith Helmet got escorted to the trash.......

I really like FOB, the dock based free timer program that reminds you to go check your soda in the freezer

are u using the right version or pithhelmet for jaguar?

first, popup blocking is a safari option.
second, pithhelmet does slow safari down a little, but it does a great job of blocking flash ads, etc.

worth it imho.

to each his (or her) own!

[Starry Night]

Originally posted by fisherKing:
are u using the right version or pithhelmet for jaguar?

first, popup blocking is a safari option.
second, pithhelmet does slow safari down a little, but it does a great job of blocking flash ads, etc.

worth it imho.

to each his (or her) own!

Yeah, I'm using the right version. For some reason, on some sites, Pith Helmet disables Safari's popup blocker. I found the addition of pop-ups more anoying than the normal ads...........

[d.fine]

MenuMeters
Temperature Monitor
VLC
CandyBar
iBatt

[andretan]

Originally posted by milkmanchris:
just need to find a nice itunes contoller for the menu bar, maybe what looks like mail ticker, any clues.

Thanks for the input.

C

Sounds like you are looking for Konfabulator.

[1800-whatever]

-Audion
-Transmit
-VLC
-Carbon Copy Cloner
-Omniweb

[fiesta cat]

Smultron Text editor - free

Hog Bay Notebook Journal/Notebook - Shareware, but well worth the price

HimmelBar - Free application/utility launcher

GEDitCOM - Shareware, genealogy software (although I've been flip-flopping back and forth with Reunion)

VueScan - Shareware, scanner software that works better for me, than the default software that came with the box.

[Bloodwarmer]

- VLC the best application to read DivX and developped by clever students

- Mozilla firefox : good browser, very fast and easy to use

- Microsoft Entourage

- iTunes

- SharePoints : to share folders and files to mac and PC networks

[threestain]

I'm adding to my list:

CalendarClock - The version before it was broken by MenuCalendar
NYCU - Still wicked
VoodooPad - I broke and bought. Superb for note taking.
Firefox - Not bad, but bit clunky still
Stickies - One of those seldom used beauties on the mac

AND LAUNCHBAR!!!!

[SafariX]

Quicksilver (has changed the way I use a computer)
MenuMeters
iTunes
DVD Backup

[malcolmj]

1. Adium
2. Transmit
3. BitTorrent
4. VLC
5. iApps

[demograph68]

Originally posted by wataru:
I've found the exact opposite - it slows Safari down. Plus it looks like Pithhelmet will be turning into shareware in the near future. I'll stick with Firefox's free Adblock extension.

How about stopADVbanners.css for Safari? Info for it here

[wataru]

Originally posted by demograph68:
How about stopADVbanners.css for Safari? Info for it here

Thanks for the link, but CSS-based blocking isn't as flexible as regex, plus I like Firefox better than Safari for other reasons.

Back to shareware... I hate to toot my own horn, but I'm getting a lot of use out of my own iPodBackup (free).

Other nice items I've recently discovered:
1. Peripheral Vision
2. TeXShop
3. NetNewsWire Lite
4. Gimp.app
5. WordLookup
6. SubEthaEdit
7. OSXvnc
8. Chicken of the VNC
9. Nisus Thesaurus
10. WinSwitch

[GoofyFBI]

1. Xcode Tools (freeware)
2. iTunes (freeware)
3. GraphicConverter (shareware)
4. fennel DVDManager (donationware)
5. SubEthaEdit (freeware)

[metfoo]

butler
Desktop Manager
Subetha edit
UnrarX

[wataru]

I just discovered Azureus, a free Bittorrent client. It suffers from some Java ugliness, but it has way more features than the official client, and it runs on OS X 10.2. All in all I find it superior.

[Nacente]

Mines are:

1 - Transmit
2 - VideoLan Client
3 - Books
4 - Menu Meters
5 - Radeon Enabler

[milkmanchris]

update....

Just found Bluephone Menu

http://www.reelintelligence.com/BluePhoneMenu/

Well worth a look if u have a Bluetooth phone.

Works like a charm.

C

[demograph68]

In no particular order:

1. NetShade
2. Little Snitch
3. BroadbandOptimizer
4. CPUPowerUp
5. Synergy
6. mAC3dec
7. Volume Logic
8. Broken Helix
9. Monolingual
10. MactheRipper
11. iChatExporter
12. TinkerTool
13. iPhoto Diet
14. Divx Doctor
15. VLC

[kam e leon]

1) shapeshifter
2) bluephone menu
3) adium
4) onyx
5) tinkertool

[Gerrit Vanoppen]

1 Butler
2 Pixadex
3 CandyBar
4 ShapeShifter
5 ClearDock

[DarylF2]

In no particular order:

DragThing (application launcher; shareware)
Konfabulator (Java-based desk accessories; shareware)
AquaMon (system monitor; freeware)
Hardware Monitor (hardware temperature/power/fan monitor; shareware)
X Resource Graph (system monitor; freeware)
Mozilla (web browser; freeware)
Fire (AIX/Yahoo IM/ICQ/... IM client; freeware)
NewsMac (RSS news reader; freeware)
Watson (Sherlock-like utility; shareware)
Transmit (FTP/SFTP client; shareware)
Notational Velocity (note editor; freeware)
iOrganize X (styled text editor/freeform database; shareware)
Smultron (text editor; freeware)
OmniGraffle Pro (diagramming tool/drawing program; shareware)
GraphicConverter (graphics conversion tool with editing features; shareware)

[zachs]

Time for an update. Mine in random order:

1. NewsFire (RSS Reader)
2. Transmit (FTP)
3. ShapeShifter (Themes)
4. Adium (IM client)
5. FireFox (Web browser)
6. Butler

I've got a bunch more that I use, but those are at the top of my list. Just Google 'em to find their respective websites.

[Slock]

My current Top 5 are:

1 - Quicksilver
2 - AdiumX
3 - Desktop Manager
4 - Meteorologist
5 - Newsfire

[threestain]

Just discovered Desk Shade Plus - well good. Highly recommend - apparently I have a background again!

[AlfaMunky]

1 :: cee pee you : CPU monitor
2 :: VLC : got to see my ripped movies and porn w/ something
3 :: Limewire : finally many revisions later, it works
4 :: Firefox : for when safari acts gay
5 :: Tomato Torrent : for bit torrent downloads
6 :: Guitar Wave Tuner : useful app for tuning an electric guitar

[ohm^n]

Anyone who is looking to filter ads should check out Privoxy.

http://www.privoxy.org/

It does a really good job. Once the software is installed you use it like an html proxy. All of your data gets fed though it and it does a great job of stripping most ads out. The only ones I've seen get through are ads done in flash.

-Matt
www.myndlinksw.com

[demograph68]

Originally posted by demograph68:
How about stopADVbanners.css for Safari? Info for it here

I found a better one for you guys here. The site.

[siMac]

In no particular order:

ShapeShifter (ooh, pretty)
FruitMenu (gotta have that Apple menu)
AdiumX (yak, yak, yak)
Clicker (remote control my Mac)
Quicksilver (f*ck off, it does so much more than LunchBar)
MacBiff (tells me if I've got mail without having to open a mail app)
Skype ('free internet telephony')
XFactor (P2P)
Synergy (I've tried 'em all, this one's the best iTunes controller)

[rotorwash]

QuickSilver - Great free launcher
dbVisualizer - database visualizer/manager
NewsFire - RSS aggregator
CalendarClock - calendar/clock/et.al.

[Afrodizzy]

seems like all my favourites are covered..except..*drum roll*

- sticky windows

this app brings "safariesque" tab browsing to your desktop..mucho cool!

[NeoMasamune]

VLC
Firefox
XFactor
BitTorrent
Launchbar
Proteus
Shapeshifter

[UnixMac]

anyone mention Little Snitch?

Great if you value your privacy.

[Aramas]

Favourite freeware apps:

Whamb An excellent, simple mp3 player that does what I want, when I want it - rather than what iTunes wants.

NMP3 Ripper A simple CD ripper that uses the LAME encoder for better sound quality than iTunes, and a lot less drama.

Xfactor A simple p2p client for those impossible to find remixes. Short on features compared with Windows apps, but still the best of the bunch for Mac.

MacMP3Gain The indispensible tool for mp3's - Adjusts the volume on all of your tracks so that they sound the same. Bloody marvelous.

TriTag A simple mp3 id tag editor - perfect for repairing the dog's breakfast that iTunes made of my music collection.

Goldberg A very simple photo manipulator - Does what I thought iPhoto would do, but doesn't.


Safari and Camino - what one can't do, the other can.


Most disliked apps:

Anything in the iLife collection. Bloated crap that creates labyrinthine file systems with folders for almost every item, nested up to five deep. A nightmare if you ever want to use another app to manipulate your files. Does anyone really need three seperate links to the iTunes store in every song? At least you can't complain about the price

[lavar78]

Originally posted by Aramas:
Does anyone really need three seperate links to the iTunes store in every song?

Why not just reverse the behavior like a lot of us have done? Links to a specific item (artist, album, song) in your library are quite useful.

[yikes600]

In no particular order..

Firefox
USB Overdrive
VLC
NetNewsWire Lite
Graphic Converter

[Agent69]

Okay, here is the current list of 3rd party software installed on my Mac. Even though I am the sole user of my computer, I keep them installed in ~/Applications so that they are separated from system applications. Items with a "*" are non-free.

Cocktail* (I won a free license in a contest at MacUpdate)
ExifRenamer
Firefox 1.0PR (G4 optimized build by Albook)
GraphicConverter*
JView
MacMame
Nanosaur II*
OmniOutliner*
Quicksilver


Apps I have licenses for but I no longer use:

CandyBar*
Pixadex*
Watson*