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You are here: MacNN Forums > Software - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Applications > Your top 5 (or so) freeware/shareware apps for OS X?

Your top 5 (or so) freeware/shareware apps for OS X?
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PabloTX
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Jul 1, 2003, 01:38 PM
 
What are some of your favorite free/cheap shareware programs, and what are they?


(In no particular order)

1) Transmit - ftp
2) Mac Stumbler - presence/singal/strength of wireless networks
3) ClearDock - removes translucent background from the Dock
4) Camino - browser
5) VLC - media player
     
OptimusG4
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Jul 1, 2003, 01:48 PM
 
Transmit
CSSEdit
Candybar
VLC
Firebird
"Another classic science-fiction show cancelled before its time" ~ Bender

15.2" PowerBook 1.25GHz, 80GB HD, 768MB RAM, SuperDrive
     
Sharky K.
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Jul 1, 2003, 01:51 PM
 
- CSSEdit
- Salling Clicker
- Safari, Mail, Address Book, iCal, iChat etc...
- Hydra
- Mellel
- R-name
     
Sarc
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Jul 1, 2003, 02:11 PM
 
Proteus
iApps
VLC
BitTorrent
osXigen (ftp)
:: frankenstein / lcd-less TiBook / 1GHz / radeon 9000 64MB / 1GB RAM / w/ext. 250GB fw drive / noname usb bluetooth dongle / d-link usb 2.0 pcmcia card / X.5.8
:: unibody macbook pro / 2.4 Ghz C2D / 6GB RAM / dell 2407wfp - X.6.3
     
Nonsuch
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Jul 1, 2003, 02:20 PM
 
Thoth
Rosetta
RBrowserLite
Meteorologist (when it works)
Default Folder (to be obviated by Panther)
vlc
Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them.

-- Frederick Douglass, 1857
     
cpac
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Jul 1, 2003, 02:22 PM
 
in no particular order:

(1) iApps
(2) OmniApps (I love OmniWeb, depend on OmniOutliner, and think OmniGraffle is a deal for what it does - plus OmniDictionary (free!) is extremely convenient)
(3) iConquer - great risk game - first game I've seen that looks like it was built for OS X - rendezvous & internet networking, plugins, GORGEOUS maps, etc.
(4) Acquisition - for all your gnutella needs, SO much better than limewire
(5) Meteorologist - free menu bar weather - most customizable I've seen
cpac
     
vmpaul
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Jul 1, 2003, 02:27 PM
 
LaunchBar
LaunchBar and
LaunchBar
Thoth
Hotapp

Did I mention LaunchBar?
     
hyperizer
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Jul 1, 2003, 02:53 PM
 
  • Carbon Copy Cloner
  • Proteus
  • NetNewsWire Lite
  • GraphicConverter
  • Transmit
( Last edited by hyperizer; Nov 3, 2003 at 12:11 PM. )
     
boyracer
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Jul 1, 2003, 03:03 PM
 
1. StickyBrain
2. Camino Knight / CaminIcon
3. Disk Tracker
4. Sound Studio
5. NoteTaker
     
engaged
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Jul 1, 2003, 03:12 PM
 
Not in any specific order:

Thoth
Curator (Shame that Caffeine Software are no more!)
PrefEdit
FruitMenu
ClearDock
MenuMeters
     
mdc
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Jul 1, 2003, 03:18 PM
 
no order

launchbar
ilife
ichat av
proteus
vlc
     
vault86
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Jul 1, 2003, 03:19 PM
 
1.) transparent dock-customize alot of things about the dock

2.) VLC

3.) DVDBackup-backs up DVDs

4.) Fetch-FTP app

5.) AACelerator-converts to AAC in quicktime much faster than it would be manually
I think I think...therefore, I think I am.
     
poulh
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Jul 1, 2003, 03:26 PM
 
Liteswitch
iChat
msft remote desktop (faster then virt pc)
emacs
iTunes
     
Judge_Fire
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Jul 1, 2003, 03:39 PM
 
LaunchBar! - the only way to fly in Mac OS X

MyMind - a small outliner + map, which I use for my to-do list

Clutter - a more traditional way to view my music

WindowShade X - while waiting for Expos�

FotoWire - iPhoto won't give me prints in Europe, but I don't care; FotoWire beats it anyway

And FocusLayer, which I sparked here at the dev forum, but which now appears to be siteless

There are tons. These are of the more functional kind

J
     
Sage
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Jul 1, 2003, 05:00 PM
 
In no particular order (because I don't feel like thinking about it):

1. iApps, plus Safari
2. ThemeChanger
3. ThemePark
4. Snard
5. Cocktail
     
chris v
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Jul 1, 2003, 05:19 PM
 
Dragthing
Fruit Menu
Show Desktop
Sound Studio
Watson

I also get some use out of
Windowshade X
Default Folder
Acquisition
Captain FTP
Desktop Calendar
Drop JPEG
Little Secrets
Weather Pop

CV

When a true genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. -- Jonathan Swift.
     
gralem
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Jul 1, 2003, 05:29 PM
 
1) OpenOffice 1.0.3 (by far my #1)
2) VLC
3) Fugu
4) Konfabulator
5) Safari (not sure if it should count, but it is based on open source software)

[many of these will be replaced by panther out of the box]

---gralem
     
waffffffle
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Jul 1, 2003, 05:32 PM
 
The four applications that I use most often on my Mac happen to all be freeware (sort of):

1. Adium
2. Safari
3. Mail.app
4. iTunes
     
[APi]TheMan
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Jul 1, 2003, 05:54 PM
 
In no particular order:

1. VLC
2. Adium
3. MenuMeters (since NetMonitor is shareware now )
4. Terminal.app
5. BitTorrent (Amazing technology. )
6. Spy (the CPU monitor. mmmmua!)
( Last edited by [APi]TheMan; Jul 1, 2003 at 06:06 PM. )
"In Nomine Patris, Et Fili, Et Spiritus Sancti"

     
smeger
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Jul 1, 2003, 05:56 PM
 
In no particular order:
  • LaunchBar (I actually have a broken spacebar because I use it so much)
  • DragThing (although I'm only using it to show running programs right now)
  • PTH menubar extras - PTHClock, PTHITunesNotifier, and PTHCPUMonitor
  • Camino - I can't live without keyword bookmarks and type-ahead-find and Safari ain't got 'em.
  • Cocoa Browser - indispensable while coding
  • MathRPN - excellent RPN scientific calculator
  • VLC - ugliest interface in the world, but an excellent program
Geekspiff - generating spiffdiddlee software since before you began paying attention.
     
The DJ
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Jul 1, 2003, 07:55 PM
 
1: VLC (i may be a bit biased in this )
2: Fugu (we lost from them at the Design Awards, and i have to say it is GOOD
3: Stuffit Expander (why are so many ppl taking this baby for granted)
4: Seti@home (run it all the time)
5: OpenOffice.org (even though it f#cked up my custom build environment i keep for VLC by installing it's own version of dlcompat )

Derk-Jan Hartman, Student of the University Twente (NL), developer of VLC media player
     
badtz
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Jul 1, 2003, 10:14 PM
 
Launchbar

Microsoft Word (yes, you read that correctly!)

Kung-log

Page Sender

Transmit



     
mark9939
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Jul 1, 2003, 11:09 PM
 
Adium
Meteo
Menu Meters
VLC
Keyboard Maestro
Acquisition/Liberty


Good stuff... all free except Acq and Liberty.
MBP 1.83 GHz CD/iPod 30GB
     
lavar78
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Jul 2, 2003, 12:19 AM
 
In order:

1. LaunchBar (easily the best)
2. Keyboard Maestro (hotkeys)
3. Meteorologist
4. PTHPasteboard (multiple clipboards)
5. BookIt (bookmark manager)
6. Amadeus II (sound editor)
7. Huevos (internet search tool)
8. iPhoto Library Manager
9. VLC
     
VValdo
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Jul 2, 2003, 03:35 AM
 
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I just discovered MenuMeters, after two years or so of using LoadInDock.... how terrific.

Here are my tops... excluding free iSoftware and BSD stuff that comes with OS X...

Meteorologist -- FREE - see the weather without having to look out the window!
OpenOffice.org -- FREE - Microsoft Office compatibility without Microsoft Office prices.
VLC -- FREE - View .avis and .wma without putting MS software on your nice Mac.
Camino/Phoenix/Mozilla/Safari -- FREE - four great browsers using two great open source rendering engines.
BBEdit Lite -- FREE - there are some nice text editors you can run from the shell, but BBEdit Lite works great for me.
gimp-print -- FREE - The best printer drivers in dah known universe.
iTerm -- FREE - Like Tabbed browsing? Try a tabbed terminal!
The GIMP graphics editor -- FREE - A free, X11-based photoshop-like program. Not as good as the Adobe program, but works great for my simple needs.
Fink and the Fink Commander-- FREE - A great way to download, install, and maintain even more free Unix applications. Fink Commander is a cocoa front-end for Fink.

I could go on...

All the above programs can be download and used fully at no cost and without expiration.

W
     
andreas_g4
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Jul 2, 2003, 07:25 AM
 
iApps/Safari/Mail etc.
KDX Client
VLC
Carbon Copy Cloner
Sound Studio
     
wallinbl
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Jul 2, 2003, 08:01 AM
 
MS RDP Client
NCFTP
Fink
     
MojoRising022
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Jul 2, 2003, 09:22 AM
 
In no order (all freebies):

1) VLC
2) StreamRipper X
3) Open Office
4) MacTracker
5) Hydra
     
cpac
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Jul 2, 2003, 09:55 AM
 
Originally posted by badtz:
Microsoft Word (yes, you read that correctly!)
Word is neither freeware or shareware.

Instead it's "monopoly-priced-ware"
cpac
     
MacGorilla
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Jul 2, 2003, 11:27 AM
 
LaunchBar, hands down the most useful app ever made for Mac OS X.

Along with...
Watson and VLC
Power Macintosh Dual G4
SGI Indigo2 6.5.21f
     
lavar78
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Jul 2, 2003, 12:23 PM
 
Originally posted by MacGorilla:
LaunchBar, hands down the most useful app ever made for Mac OS X
... or any OS IMO.
     
ranga
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Jul 2, 2003, 02:03 PM
 
My favorite freeware/shareware apps are:

1. VLC - To watch Anime!
2. Rbrowser Lite - Sometimes I'm too lazy to use the terminal
3. Zterm - To debug crashed systems via serial console
4. SparkME - To edit MP3s
5. Mozilla - For those crappy sites that don't load in Safari
6. TinkerTool - To turn on some nice hidden features in OS X.

--ranga
     
spiky_dog
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Jul 2, 2003, 02:54 PM
 
launchbar, of course, but asm is definitely the runner up. http://www.vercruesse.de/software
     
Brien
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Jul 2, 2003, 02:59 PM
 
Transmit
Menu Master
WindowShade X
CandyBar
Themepark
     
keston
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Jul 2, 2003, 03:08 PM
 
1. Launchbar - This app is now part of my being. I cant imagine NOT using it now .
2. Fruitmenu - Alot of useful organization and functions. The contexual menu is also very handy.
3. Menumeters - Some good info at a glance.
4. Acquisition - I can still find what i want with this.
5. Proteus - Very well done all in one messenger client.

Other than those, also Apple's Software (Safari, Mail, iCal, iTunes, iSync) and my .mac services.
     
Jerommeke
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Jul 2, 2003, 03:09 PM
 
1. Proteus
2. Synergy
3. Fruit Menu
4. Drag Thing
5. Meteorologist
iMac G5 2.0 Ghz 20", 2 GB RAM, 400 GB, OS X 10.4.5, iPod with color screen 60 GB
     
suthercd
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Jul 2, 2003, 03:54 PM
 
Interesting to see what different people have as combos.

1. iKey
2. VLC
3. Fugu
4. Watson
5. TigerLaunch

Craig
     
Alex00087
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Jul 2, 2003, 06:57 PM
 
1. MacJournal -- Beautiful Cocoa Journal app to record your thoughts and feelings.
2. Acquisition -- That mldonkey/kazaa fasttrack thing is still too complicated to set up, you can still get lots on acquisition.
3. iFlash -- Makes flashcards to help you cram for an exam the next day.
4. VLC -- again.
5. RealOne Player -- There are so many real player files out there.
     
MacGorilla
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Jul 2, 2003, 07:17 PM
 
Originally posted by Alex00087:
1. MacJournal -- Beautiful Cocoa Journal app to record your thoughts and feelings.
2. Acquisition -- That mldonkey/kazaa fasttrack thing is still too complicated to set up, you can still get lots on acquisition.
3. iFlash -- Makes flashcards to help you cram for an exam the next day.
4. VLC -- again.
5. RealOne Player -- There are so many real player files out there.
Have you tried mlMac? It makes setting up mldonkey/kazaa effortless.
http://www.abyssoft.com/software/mlmac/
Power Macintosh Dual G4
SGI Indigo2 6.5.21f
     
bighill
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Jul 2, 2003, 07:28 PM
 
1. launchbar

2. CiphSafe (password manager that is FREE. love free)

3. Weatherpop (gave up on meteo, it stops working too much)

4. cee pee you

5. Fruitmenu
     
DamnDJ
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Jul 2, 2003, 08:15 PM
 
Without tanting my answers by reading other responses, here are my essentials that I download (not ones that come with the machine / Apple Apps)

1. Transmit
2. Snak
3. iJournal (heh)
4. Thoth
5. iView
     
nobodybutme
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Jul 2, 2003, 10:01 PM
 
1. Camino
2. JEdit
3. Poseidon for UML
4. Launchbar
5. Graphic Converter
     
Ludovic Hirlimann
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Jul 3, 2003, 03:17 AM
 
1) Camino.
2) MacSoup - Best News reader.
3) Mail.app.
     
entrox
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Jul 3, 2003, 07:50 AM
 
1) OmniWeb
2) All kind of emus

OmniWeb is the best browser in my opinion (especially after they fixed some of the most annoying bugs in sp37) and is the only shareware application I've paid for. I'm eagerly awaiting OW 5.0
     
PabloTX  (op)
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Oct 31, 2003, 04:08 PM
 
After using the Mac for a while longer, I'd have to take Camino and Macstumbler out and replace them with LaunchBar and NetNewswire Lite.
     
:dragonflypro:
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Oct 31, 2003, 04:40 PM
 
Nothing more so than LaunchBar

Then..no particular order

BuddyPop
Meteorologist
SubEthaEdit (hydra)
CSSEdit
iWork
iBank
     
Peter
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Oct 31, 2003, 06:10 PM
 
  • Transmit - FTP Client
  • Crikey - IRC Client
  • Comictastic - Comic Book Viewer
  • Proteus - Instant Messenger
  • Pixadex - Icon Organiser
  • Poisoned - p2p
(no order)
we don't have time to stop for gas
     
Cadaver
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Oct 31, 2003, 09:35 PM
 
(no order)

� MenuMeters
� Camino
� Watson
� Transmit
� GraphicConverter
� Microsoft Remote Desktop
� iRad (medical DICOM image viewer)
� Folder Icon (makes, as you guessed, custom folder icons)
� DNSupdate (forwards my DHCP IP address to dyndns.org)
     
OwlBoy
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Oct 31, 2003, 10:56 PM
 
Menumeters
VLC
DivX (from divx.com)
Adium
iTunes

-Owl
( Last edited by OwlBoy; May 14, 2006 at 03:22 PM. )
     
clarkgoble
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Oct 31, 2003, 11:23 PM
 
My top 6:

VLC -- best movie player. I only wish he'd give us the interface he mocked up in the theme forum here!

iKey -- pretty good macro program. Annoying icon in the menubar but that's easy enough to change.

MS RDC -- remotely control a PC. It's free and works great -- better than Virtual PC.

MacPar Deluxe -- split or join compressed files into numerous small files. I watch HDTV feeds of Smallville, Alias, and 24 that way. (Along with newsgrab to grab the files executed every 3 hours in a cronfile)

Pic2Icon -- thumbnails of pictures. Most excellent.

Yadal -- best application launcher by far. Right click on it's icon in the dock and you can launch files. Far faster than dragging a folder to the dock.
( Last edited by clarkgoble; Nov 2, 2003 at 02:40 AM. )
     
 
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