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The "Official" Must Have Free Apps/tools Thread

munkle said:
These threads always seem to pop every once in awhile but I'm a fan of them so I'll play along 🙂

AirStumbler: wireless network discover tool. I prefer it to MacStumbler.
Backlight: allows screensavers to be used as desktops, works great with MarineAquarium 😉
WClock: menu bar clock with pop down calendar, now that Calendarclock/MenuCalendarClock has become shareware.
iCal Birthday Shifter: takes birthdays from Address Book and makes them into events in iCal.
iGetMovies: copies Quicktime movies from the iTMS and Safari to your desktop.
iPhoto Buddy: allows you to make multiple iPhoto libraries. Indispensible app which makes iPhoto that much better.
JAlbum: generates photo galleries for your website. Who needs .mac? 😉
Quicksilver : application launcherx10. Closest thing to Spotlight at the moment. Greatest freeware app full stop.
TinkerTool: gives you access to additional preferences settings.
VLC: for all your multimedia needs.
Onyx: maintenance app.
MacUpdate: last but not least, the place to get all your freewares/sharewares!

That should be do for now! 😉 😛 I'm a big fan of the Mac developer scene, and am constantly amazed at the quality of the freeware/shareware apps available. Download and support them people! 🙂
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Screensaver on my desktop?? I just installed it and it is awsome!! Thx
 
Since it reacently became freeware I have to include TextWrangler from BareBones, an exellent free alternative to BBEdit, also from Bare Bones. This one doesn't suck,® either... 😉

Also second, Adium X, which is so much better than Adium was... best multi protocol IM software I've found so far...
 
stepbasin said:
Ok, here you go, my list of "Must Have" free apps: .......
Gimp: A very poor man's photoshop.

Anyway, thats all. Let me know what you think of my list.
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I'd have to disagree Gimp is a powerful app I love it and compared to PS it's a steal. It's free and if your a hobbyist like me that alone is unbeatable, I could never justify spending $649 for just touching up the odd photo, Gimp is invaluable if you like to make your own calendars, invites, birthday cards, spoof pictures etc, I used to use Corel Draw/Photo-Paint8 until I upgraded to OSX and can say Gimp is far superior to them, I'm not having ago at you I just think the term "very" would put off a lot of non/semi pro's from trying it.
System optimizer is shareware-$12
Cocktail is a demo prices start from $14.95 - $699-(ok thats for a worldwide licence 😀 )
Konfabulator is shareware-$24.95
 
what about this?

iPulse is a nice little app. I use it as a clock/system monitor.

"Using its concise and pleasing user interface, iPulse graphically displays the inner workings of Mac OS X on the desktop or in the dock. The entire user interface is completely configurable so you can turn off gauges you don't want, leaving only what you are interested in for easy viewing."
 
camomac said:
iPulse is a nice little app. I use it as a clock/system monitor.

"Using its concise and pleasing user interface, iPulse graphically displays the inner workings of Mac OS X on the desktop or in the dock. The entire user interface is completely configurable so you can turn off gauges you don't want, leaving only what you are interested in for easy viewing."
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It's not free.........
 
I use VLC, Gimp, and SKYPE and Wiretap, altough streamRipper (which i discovered here) Seems much better cos it breaks up the tracks for you. I bought AirFoil, cos its a great concept. but there is a delay, so its sux for dvds and stuff.
 
the other synergy

synergy
Synergy lets you easily share a single mouse and keyboard between multiple computers with different operating systems, each with its own display, without special hardware. It's intended for users with multiple computers on their desk since each system uses its own monitor(s).
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thx to markoibook for directing my attention to it in this thread.
 
I don't know if this was listen but i was browseing the apple downloads page and came across this
it puts a mini ical icon in the task bar. Once clicked, a mini calender pops up and u can hover over the dates and it shows whats scheduled. I like because it shows the real date in the task bar for easy refference. Check it out
 
puckhead193 said:
I don't know if this was listen but i was browseing the apple downloads page and came across this
it puts a mini ical icon in the task bar. Once clicked, a mini calender pops up and u can hover over the dates and it shows whats scheduled. I like because it shows the real date in the task bar for easy refference. Check it out
Click to expand...

Not free.
 
stevietheb said:
Some of the features are free--however the iCal integration is not. In fact, it costs something like $20--$5-10 and I mighta bought it.
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Yeah I've been playing with it and the amount of cool stuff it does for free is more then their website makes it sound like. A definite must have!
 
I don't think this one has been mentioned.... I think Microsoft's Remote Desktop is a wonderful app. I have had my iBook for almost a year now and Remote Desktop was one of the major reasons I decided to delve into the Mac world. I go to a college with abundant wireless access and I can basically use my Mac as both a Mac and PC (Remote Desktop allows you to remotely log in to a windows machine). And don't just on me for this.....there are some programs at school we have to use that are Windows only.... 🙄

Microsoft Remote Desktop: http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downlo...ate_103.xml&secid=80&ssid=10&flgnosysreq=True
 
DaveP said:
I think Microsoft's Remote Desktop is a wonderful app.
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Agreed, this is a very handy app. Unfortunately, when I tried it a few months ago, it wouldn't work for me. It took me a while to figure out why. The answer: All the PCs I wanted to connect to have Symantec pcAnywhere installed, and that prevents Microsoft's app from working, whether by design or for some technical reason. So I can't control the PCs as I'd hoped.
 
Wiretap

I'm looking to copy a NPR feed tomorrow (Saturday) night, so I checked out the Wiretap link from the first page. Times have changed, it seems, and now there is only Wiretap Pro, which costs $20. Is there another (free) program available that will allow me to record a netradio feed?

Thanks.
 
Disctop Light
Normally when you insert a CD in your Mac it disappears, but where does it go? They simply pop up on your desktop! After installing Disctop, your inserted CD or DVD slides in from the side and neatly fades back into your desktop picture. Now you always know if there's a disc inside, and what type it is.
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The lite version is free.

I learned about it from forum member Lau.
 
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