TinkerTool

MacRumors · Aug 31, 2002, 11:40 PM

A very popular tool to add to Mac OS X is TinkerTool.

TinkerTool adds a control panel into your Mac OS X System Preferences which allows you to unlock many hidden features in Mac OS X. These features existed, but there were no options available to enable or disable certain features.

As soon as OS X was released, tips and tricks were posted and discussed on how to change these hidden settings through the command line (Terminal). TinkerTool provides an easy Graphical Interface to alter many of these settings. Since it is only changing configuration files, rather than patching any part of the operating system, it should be relatively safe.

Customizations Include:

Finder - Use Desktop, Show Rectangle Effect, Show Hidden and System Files, Add "Quit to Finder menu, Disable arrows, Icons, Previews,
Dock - Use Transparent Icons for Hidden Apps, Enable Dock Shadow
General - Change Location of Scroll Arrows, Language, Multimedia Options
Fonts - Change System and Application Fonts
Font Smoothing - Disable Font Smoothing
Terminal - Transparency

Download

Durandal7 · Sep 1, 2002, 12:28 AM

I've had very good luck with Tinkertool. It seems pretty stable to me and has some interesting features.

screwyt · Sep 6, 2002, 12:26 AM

Unfortunatly, TinkerTool does not function for OS X.2! However it's a great tool for 10.1.

tomek

shakespeare · Sep 7, 2002, 07:23 AM

Not so, Tomek! I'm running Tinkertool 2.3 and it works just fine under OS X 10.2! Get the new version!

screwyt · Sep 7, 2002, 10:44 AM

Ha, you are so right! Thank you!

King Cobra · Sep 7, 2002, 10:53 AM

TinkerTool is incredible. I can change the clock font, the System Pref. font, smooth the fonts in Appleworks and in most other Applications lacking Anti-Aliasing, and split the scroll arrows to the days of OS 7, with one at each end. I can't stand them being at one end. I'm using 10.1.5.

mc68k · Sep 8, 2002, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by King Cobra
…and split the scroll arrows to the days of OS 7, with one at each end. I can't stand them being at one end.

Just a minor correction. Don't want to be a dick, but up until 7.6.x, the Mac OS was referred to as a System. They changed it because of licensing issues with the clone manufactuers.

The main reason is that Apple wanted the name to be less generic and more descriptive of its monopolistic grip on the OS.

I just say this because people refer to Mac OS as System and System as Mac OS and it just bugs me to no end. Sorry for this little rant.

To stay on topic, I like TinkerTool too, but it's 10.2 version is a little castrated. They say it's the fault of Apple.

sparkleytone · Sep 8, 2002, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mc68k

To stay on topic, I like TinkerTool too, but it's 10.2 version is a little castrated. They say it's the fault of Apple.

actually that wouldnt be the "fault" of Apple.

any programmers that utilize unpublished APIs and undocumented tweaks and hacks are bound to be negatively affected by major upgrades. its the nature of that area of software. unpublished and undocumented equals unsupported. in that respect, if the update breaks it, oh well.

mc68k · Sep 8, 2002, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sparkleytone

actually that wouldnt be the "fault" of Apple.

any programmers that utilize unpublished APIs and undocumented tweaks and hacks are bound to be negatively affected by major upgrades. its the nature of that area of software. unpublished and undocumented equals unsupported. in that respect, if the update breaks it, oh well.

Yeah, I found that a little suspicious too. A lot of my "hacks" ceased to work in 10.2 Blaming Apple didn't seem like the right thing to do.

I've been up with the Jag builds since c48 and the amount of tweaking has only skyrocketed with the official release.

unsupported is my middle name. unsupported=fun

danielgrenell · Sep 16, 2002, 11:49 PM

i use tinker tool all the time! most helpful feature is...making a hidden icon translusent in the dock

sparkleytone · Sep 17, 2002, 12:13 AM

im waiting for some helpful jag features from tinkertool. tops on my list would be getting rid of the zoom folder effect.

on the other hand, after an initial clump of useless software and lamer forum advertisers, it seems unsanity is coming out with quality "haxies" that people are finding alot of use for. I know I really appreciate the elegance of the transparent dock. When I have any money, I'll probably buy WindowShade from them because it is nice.

blackpeter · Sep 18, 2002, 01:42 PM

Yep. TinkerTool is a great little add-on.

King Cobra · Sep 18, 2002, 07:25 PM

>Just a minor correction. Don't want to be a dick, but up until 7.6.x, the Mac OS was referred to as a System. They changed it because of licensing issues with the clone manufactuers.

Nah. I knew it was System 7 until 7.6. I just didn't want to put in the .6. I think we're even on that one.

Is there an option to completely hide the dock in TinkerTool?

eyelikeart · Sep 18, 2002, 09:07 PM

I installed TinkerTool last week on my TiBook...running 10.1.5 (no Jag yet...he he he)...

I love it...I really like the transparent icons for hidden applications...a great help when looking quickly...

Aug 31, 2002, 11:40 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	TinkerTool A very popular tool to add to Mac OS X is TinkerTool. TinkerTool adds a control panel into your Mac OS X System Preferences which allows you to unlock many hidden features in Mac OS X. These features existed, but there were no options available to enable or disable certain features. As soon as OS X was released, tips and tricks were posted and discussed on how to change these hidden settings through the command line (Terminal). TinkerTool provides an easy Graphical Interface to alter many of these settings. Since it is only changing configuration files, rather than patching any part of the operating system, it should be relatively safe. Customizations Include: Finder - Use Desktop, Show Rectangle Effect, Show Hidden and System Files, Add "Quit to Finder menu, Disable arrows, Icons, Previews, Dock - Use Transparent Icons for Hidden Apps, Enable Dock Shadow General - Change Location of Scroll Arrows, Language, Multimedia Options Fonts - Change System and Application Fonts Font Smoothing - Disable Font Smoothing Terminal - Transparency Download

Sep 6, 2002, 12:26 AM	#3
screwyt macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Chalfont, PA	Doesn't Work in OS X.2 Unfortunatly, TinkerTool does not function for OS X.2! However it's a great tool for 10.1. tomek

Sep 16, 2002, 11:49 PM	#10
danielgrenell macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Bronx, NY	i love tt! i use tinker tool all the time! most helpful feature is...making a hidden icon translusent in the dock

Sep 17, 2002, 12:13 AM	#11
sparkleytone macrumors 68020 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC	im waiting for some helpful jag features from tinkertool. tops on my list would be getting rid of the zoom folder effect. on the other hand, after an initial clump of useless software and lamer forum advertisers, it seems unsanity is coming out with quality "haxies" that people are finding alot of use for. I know I really appreciate the elegance of the transparent dock. When I have any money, I'll probably buy WindowShade from them because it is nice. __________________ "The Reality Distiortion Field™ is starting to warp Steve's mind if he thinks for one second that this thing is gonna take off."

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Sep 1, 2002, 12:28 AM	#2
Durandal7 macrumors 68040 Join Date: Feb 2001	I've had very good luck with Tinkertool. It seems pretty stable to me and has some interesting features.

Sep 7, 2002, 07:23 AM	#4
shakespeare macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Portland, Maine	Not so, Tomek! I'm running Tinkertool 2.3 and it works just fine under OS X 10.2! Get the new version!

Sep 7, 2002, 10:44 AM	#5
screwyt macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Chalfont, PA	Ha, you are so right! Thank you!

Sep 7, 2002, 10:53 AM	#6
King Cobra Guest Join Date: Mar 2002	TinkerTool is incredible. I can change the clock font, the System Pref. font, smooth the fonts in Appleworks and in most other Applications lacking Anti-Aliasing, and split the scroll arrows to the days of OS 7, with one at each end. I can't stand them being at one end. I'm using 10.1.5.

Sep 18, 2002, 01:42 PM	#12
blackpeter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2001	Yep. TinkerTool is a great little add-on.

Sep 18, 2002, 07:25 PM	#13
King Cobra Guest Join Date: Mar 2002	>Just a minor correction. Don't want to be a dick, but up until 7.6.x, the Mac OS was referred to as a System. They changed it because of licensing issues with the clone manufactuers. Nah. I knew it was System 7 until 7.6. I just didn't want to put in the .6. I think we're even on that one. Is there an option to completely hide the dock in TinkerTool?

Sep 18, 2002, 09:07 PM	#14
eyelikeart Demi-God (Moderator emeritus) Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Metairie, LA	I installed TinkerTool last week on my TiBook...running 10.1.5 (no Jag yet...he he he)... I love it...I really like the transparent icons for hidden applications...a great help when looking quickly...