Shades is a utility for controlling the brightness of your screen. It runs in the background providing easy control over the brightness of your display via a slick Mac-like interface, with greater dynamic range and finer granularity than the built-in controls. As with all HomeKit accessories, favoriting the window shade will place Serena Motorized Shades on the first screen of the Home app and include it on the Apple Watch app (although Siri on Apple.
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Today's Best Tech Deals
Picked by Macworld's Editors
Top Deals On Great Products
Picked by Techconnect's Editors
Last year, Macworld served up 60 of the best low-cost programs available for the Mac ('Mac Software Bargains,' July 2002). This time around, we've tipped the scales with 75 more great apps that will help you get the most out of OS X, hone your creativity, and work better with the Internet and over networks.
And thanks to everyone on the Macworld.com forums who told us about their favorite low-cost apps -- we appreciate the input, and we've reviewed many of those programs here.
System Utilities
Alfred 1.4
; Inferiis, [email protected], www.inferiis.com; $7
; Inferiis, [email protected], www.inferiis.com; $7
Alfred is a customizable add-on and plug-in manager for OS X; it lets you enable and disable (in the manner of OS 9's Extensions Manager) preference panes, contextual menus, kernel extensions, screen savers, Services, and many more system add-ons. In addition, you can drop a plug-in icon onto Alfred's icon, and Alfred will install the plug-in for you -- no more digging through Library folders to figure out where it belongs. You can also create custom installation rules that automatically move files with certain extensions, types, and creators to specific folders (for example, one rule could move MP3s to your iTunes Music folder while another moved .dmg files to a software archive). -- dan frakes
AliasMenu 3.0
; Benoit Widemann, [email protected], www.widemann.net; $25
; Benoit Widemann, [email protected], www.widemann.net; $25
The long-awaited update to the popular OS 9 utility AliasMenu generates hierarchical menu-bar menus for each folder or folder alias you drop into the AliasMenu folder. By editing the names of files or folders, you can create keyboard shortcuts to items and even make groups of items that will open all at once. Selecting a clipping file from an AliasMenu menu pastes its contents into the front-most application (and as a bonus, a Date clipping automatically pastes in the current date). You can also get information on any menu item, or reveal it in the Finder, instead of opening it. -- df
CandyBar 1.5
; Panic and The Iconfactory, 336/299-5251, www.iconfactory.com; $13
; Panic and The Iconfactory, 336/299-5251, www.iconfactory.com; $13
CandyBar makes it easy to change the Finder's toolbar icons, folder icons, clipping icons, and even the Trash icon. To change an icon, drag and drop a new icon onto the existing icon in CandyBar. Due to the changes the program makes, you'll be required to enter your administrator's password the first time you drag and drop an icon. If you want to restore things to normal, a Restore Default Icons button makes it easy to do so. The only real downside to CandyBar is that you must restart your Mac in order to see the effects of your changes. -- rob griffiths
Carbon Copy Cloner 2.1
; Bombich Software, www.bombich.com; free (donations accepted)
; Bombich Software, www.bombich.com; free (donations accepted)
Whether you're making a backup or transferring your data from one Mac to another, Carbon Copy Cloner is an essential utility. Under Mac OS 9, it was easy to move your system to a different drive or Mac: you just selected all your files and folders and dragged them to the new drive or Mac. Mac OS X can't be copied in that way, but Carbon Copy Cloner does the job. Android to mac transfer app. It puts a simple interface on a series of complex Unix-based scripts. Version 2.1 includes several slick new features, including the ability to synchronize files, schedule backups, and create bootable disk images of your drive. -- jason snell
ClearDock 1.2
; Unsanity, [email protected], www.unsanity.com; free
; Unsanity, [email protected], www.unsanity.com; free
TransparentDock 2.0
; Free Range Mac, [email protected], www.freerangemac.com; $8
; Free Range Mac, [email protected], www.freerangemac.com; $8
ClearDock is a system utility that removes (or changes) the semitransparent white background behind the Dock. ClearDock requires Unsanity's Application Enhancer, which provides the user interface for ClearDock through its System Preferences interface.
In addition to removing the background, thereby making it look as though your Dock icons were floating above your desktop picture, you can specify a color scheme and change the color of the active-application indicator triangles. Used with the proper background imagery, a clear Dock can be quite stunning. -- rg
TransparentDock lets you customize the color and translucency of pretty much every aspect of the Dock and change the animation that occurs when you remove a Dock item. But it really shines at enhancing the Dock's functionality: you can choose the Dock minimizing effect and speed; change placement and pinning; show background-only apps; disable Dock floating (so the Dock no longer floats above other windows); enable Single Application mode (clicking on an application hides all others); enable unlimited hierarchical Dock menus; and add Hide/Hide Others items to application Dock menus and a Quit option to the Dock's own options menu. Finally, if you just can't decide which features to use, you can create preference themes and alternate between them. -- df
Cocoa Gestures 1.1
; bitart, [email protected], www.bitart.com; free
; bitart, [email protected], www.bitart.com; free
Cocoa Gestures is an amazing little application that allows you to use mouse movements to perform actions in all Cocoa applications, such as Mail, Safari, Text Edit, and many more. Once it's installed in your Library folder, you'll find a Cocoa Gestures item in each application's Application menu. Activate it, and a screen allows you to define mouse motions and associated actions for each Cocoa application. For example, you could assign a control-click and an up-down-right mouse motion to Safari's Show Bookmarks menu item, or use a control-click and a down mouse motion to close a window. The possibilities are endless. -- rg
Coffee Break Pro X 2.1
; Thomas Reed, [email protected], http://home.earthlink.net/~thomasareed; $20
; Thomas Reed, [email protected], http://home.earthlink.net/~thomasareed; $20
If you spend your workday at a computer, you may be familiar with sore wrists, tight shoulders, and neck pain -- or worse. Even though we know we should take regular breaks, many of us forget. Coffee Break Pro lets you work for a set amount of time and then forces you to rest by blacking out the screen. The program displays some suggested stretches for the duration of your break. If you're in the middle of an amazing thought, don't worry -- a snooze button allows for a delay (although the snooze time is taken out of your next work period). -- df
DocJector 1.0
; Monkey Food, [email protected], www.monkeyfood.com; free
; Monkey Food, [email protected], www.monkeyfood.com; free
![Windowshade App For Mac Windowshade App For Mac](/uploads/1/3/3/8/133821805/714432961.jpg)
Unmounting removable media buried behind application and Finder windows has always been difficult in OS X. DocJector is the easy solution you've been waiting for: click on the DocJector icon in the Dock, and up pops a menu of all mounted media (CDs, DVDs, disk images, iPods, USB drives, and memory cards); select a volume, and it's immediately unmounted or ejected. DocJector is so simple and useful that we wonder why Apple didn't include this feature with the OS. The only thing keeping DocJector from getting a five-mouse rating is that it can't unmount network volumes. -- df
DockFun 3.7
; Donelleschi, [email protected], www.dockfun.com; $20
; Donelleschi, [email protected], www.dockfun.com; $20
DockFun allows you to have multiple OS X docks, each of which can contain unique collections of apps and documents, and can be located at any of the standard dock window locations. A floating window identifies the active dock and makes it easy to switch between the docks in your collection. The interface can be confusing at first, but you'll quickly get the hang of adding and removing docks from your collection. DockFun can help you control the size and complexity of your OS X Dock by off-loading work to other docks that are called upon only when needed. -- rg
DropObliter8 1.0
; Howard Oakley, [email protected], http://homepage.mac.com/howardoakley/; free
; Howard Oakley, [email protected], http://homepage.mac.com/howardoakley/; free
File-permission snafus in OS X can cause a host of mind-numbing problems, such as when your Mac informs you that you don't have permission to delete files from the Trash. Other times, the system says that a file you need to get rid of is in use, although it obviously isn't (aborted or incomplete FTP downloads, for example). In either case, simply drag problem files or folders to DropObliter8's icon, and those pesky rogues will be gone forever -- without any command-line voodoo. It's a single-function app, to be sure, but a talented one. -- jonathan l. seff
FileXaminer 1.5
; Gideon Softworks, [email protected], www.gideonsoftworks.com; $10
; Gideon Softworks, [email protected], www.gideonsoftworks.com; $10
Among the myriad utilities that help you edit file information and permissions, FileXaminer stands out. In addition to an easy-to-use interface for editing file permissions and attributes (including advanced settings such as sticky bits), it provides Super Delete and Force Empty Trash functions -- accessible from the Dock, Finder contextual menus, or the application -- for getting rid of stubborn files. It also has a batch mode for working with multiple files simultaneously, Finder integration (1-option-I to get info or 1-option-C to copy a file path to the Clipboard), and systemwide support for contextual menus. FileXaminer even lets you create and delete user groups without making you delve into NetInfo Manager. -- df
Horse Menu 1.6
; nimatoad, [email protected], www.nimatoad.com; $8
; nimatoad, [email protected], www.nimatoad.com; $8
If you need to know everything about your Mac at the touch of a button, Horse Menu is an amazingly informative utility. It provides a systemwide, customizable menu that includes detailed information about your Mac's hardware, network interfaces, memory use, graphics cards, USB and FireWire devices, mounted volumes, loaded kernel extensions, and even connected UPS devices. It also lets you control all running processes, including force-quitting misbehaving apps and setting application priorities. Finally, Horse Menu provides quick access to system logs, individual System Preference panes, and common system utilities. One of those utilities is Apple System Profiler, which, ironically, you may never need to open again. -- df
iAddressX 2.1
; MibaSoft, [email protected], www.mibasoft.dk; $8
; MibaSoft, [email protected], www.mibasoft.dk; $8
Need to quickly look up a phone number or get an address for a letter? iAddressX displays a list of your Address Book entries in the menu bar, providing a shortcut to this information from any application. It displays entries sorted by groups. You can choose which groups to include and specify what information to show in the menu. Copy phone numbers or addresses to the Clipboard or paste them directly into the front-most application with a single click. -- robert ellis
iPulse 1.0
; The Iconfactory, [email protected], www.iconfactory.com; $10
; The Iconfactory, [email protected], www.iconfactory.com; $10
iPulse is a life monitor for your Mac, displaying all of its vital system information in a colorful, compact (and resizable), multipurpose, and fully customizable gauge. iPulse displays CPU activity, system load, network activity, memory usage, disk usage, and the current time and date. You could get much of this information by typing the top command in Terminal, but that's like getting a computer printout to read the speedometer and fuel gauge in your car. iPulse displays all of your vital information at a glance. There are other system monitors, but excellent design gives iPulse the edge. -- r
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/3/3/8/133821805/400476675.png)
jEdit 4.1
; Slava Pestov, [email protected], www.jedit.org; free
; Slava Pestov, [email protected], www.jedit.org; free
jEdit is a programmer's text editor written in Java. It has a number of great features for programmers, with syntax coloring for more than 50 languages (including Java, PHP, and HTML), unlimited undo and redo levels, auto-indenting of source code, and a fully customizable interface. Furthermore, an extensible architecture provides features such as alternative themes and tabs (as in Microsoft Excel) for opening multiple documents in one window through the use of third-party plug-ins. jEdit's feature set and the fact that's it's free make it an excellent alternative to commercial editors. -- rg
Keyboard Maestro 1.2
; Michael Kamprath, info@keyboard maestro.com, www.keyboardmaestro.com; $20; Lite version, free
; Michael Kamprath, info@keyboard maestro.com, www.keyboardmaestro.com; $20; Lite version, free
Keyboard Maestro not only provides you with a great keyboard-based application switcher, but also gives you the ability to automate, via keystrokes, almost anything you can do on your computer. You can open files and folders, launch applications, select menu items, move and click the mouse, run AppleScripts and shell scripts, and even type frequently used text. A keystroke can also trigger any combination and/or sequence of actions. As a bonus, Keyboard Maestro provides unlimited clipboards, accessible via -- you guessed it -- keystrokes. (The free Lite version provides the same features but limits the number of hot keys, actions per hot key, and clipboards.) -- df
Labels X 1.1
; Unsanity, [email protected], www.unsanity.com; $10
; Unsanity, [email protected], www.unsanity.com; $10
Labels X is the answer to the question 'What happened to OS 9's file and folder labels?' Labels X brings back about 95 percent of OS 9's labeling functionality. Using the Labels X preferences panel, you can choose a color and label definition. Applying a label is a simple matter of selecting one from the contextual menu. Labels X will also show (and sort by) the label values in column-view Finder windows, giving you the ability to sort your Projects folder by priority, for example. -- rg
LiteSwitch X 1.5
; Proteron, [email protected], www.proteron.com; $15
; Proteron, [email protected], www.proteron.com; $15
LiteSwitch X is an application switcher for OS X. Instead of using 1-tab to switch apps in the Dock, use it (or another keyboard combo) to activate LiteSwitch X. Once activated, the program allows you to apply a number of actions to any open application. These actions can be applied via contextual menus or keyboard shortcuts. The switching window's colors, transparency, position, and size are all easy to customize, and you use the program to control how windows behave when switching applications (in other words, hide all, hide current, and so forth). -- rg
MacJanitor 1.2
; Brian Hill, [email protected], http://personalpages.tds.net/~brian_hill; free
; Brian Hill, [email protected], http://personalpages.tds.net/~brian_hill; free
MacJanitor carries out routine system-maintenance tasks according to your timeline, not your operating system's. OS X tries to run these tasks in the middle of the night; it assumes the system will always be on. But if you put your machine to sleep at night, these tasks will never execute. MacJanitor provides an easy-to-use interface with buttons for each task. Just launch MacJanitor when you have a few minutes of free time, and run the task of your choice (or all tasks) with a click of a button. -- rg
people book 4.2
; Amar Sagoo, [email protected], http://homepage.mac.com/asagoo; free
; Amar Sagoo, [email protected], http://homepage.mac.com/asagoo; free
At first glance, people book looks very similar to Address Book, but people book includes some important features missing from Apple's application. It lets you print envelopes, custom labels, and lists. It also lets you use your modem to dial numbers -- a great time-saver if you make a lot of work-related phone calls from home or need to round up your Little League team. Unfortunately, importing data requires that you drag your contacts from Address Book one at a time. If you have a large mailing list, use Snail Mail (see our review, elsewhere in this article), which accesses Address Book directly, instead. -- r
Print Window 2.0
; SearchWare Solutions, [email protected], www.swssoftware.com; free (donations accepted)
; SearchWare Solutions, [email protected], www.swssoftware.com; free (donations accepted)
OS X is more advanced than OS 9 in many ways, but you still can't print a Finder window. You can drop a folder onto Print Center to get an ugly text listing, but that's about it. Print Window comes to the rescue by allowing you to print the contents of any Finder window via drag and drop, manual selection, a key combination, or the Finder's Services menu. It goes beyond the classic Mac OS by letting you print all file information, just file names, just the current window's contents, a hierarchical listing of all subfolders, or icons. You can even include your own custom headers. -- df
PTHClock 2.3
; PTH Consulting, [email protected], www.pth.com; free (donations accepted)
; PTH Consulting, [email protected], www.pth.com; free (donations accepted)
PTHClock gives you everything Apple's menu-bar clock provides, but with a lot more control over time format; date format; and font size, color, and style. You also get a configurable, drop-down calendar, quarter-hourly chime settings, spoken alerts, and a date tool tip (pass the cursor over the time in the menu bar, and the date floats over the desktop). The calendar feature alone is worth a donation; with the clock options, this is the best menu-bar clock and calendar available. (If you don't want two clocks, turn off Apple's clock.) -- df
PTHPasteboard 3.1
; PTH Consulting, [email protected], www.pth.com; free (donations accepted)
; PTH Consulting, [email protected], www.pth.com; free (donations accepted)
PTHPasteboard lets you manage an unlimited number of Clipboard entries, and it excels in making them easily accessible. You can paste the most-recent ten entries at any time, via keystrokes; the rest are available through the PTHPasteboard buffer (via a keystroke, the menu bar, or the Services menu in any Services-aware application). In addition to multiple clipboards, PTHPasteboard lets you create multiple customized pasteboards that store frequently used text or graphics. For example, you can create one for personal information (for pasting into correspondence, Web forms, and so forth), one for HTML tags, and one for e-mail signatures. Each can contain an unlimited number of items. -- df
QuickVoice X 1.7
; nFinity, [email protected], www.quick-voice.com; $20
; nFinity, [email protected], www.quick-voice.com; $20
This voice recorder lets you quickly record notes, create stickies with voice notes attached, or send recordings as e-mail attachments. Files are saved in the QuickTime format, so they can be played on Macs and PCs. QuickVoice's interface is compact and comes with several attractive skins. You can create as many as ten channels, each containing as many as 99 messages of any length (provided you have the disk space). Audio files can be disk hogs, but QuickVoice lets you change the sample rate and choose from several compressors to adjust the size and quality of your files. -- r
SmallScreenX 2.2
; Loren Brichter, [email protected], www.beaconschool.org/~lbrichte/lbsoftware; free
; Loren Brichter, [email protected], www.beaconschool.org/~lbrichte/lbsoftware; free
SmallScreenX displays resizable borders to simulate different screen resolutions -- helpful for Web designers who want to get an idea of how a page will look on different monitors. You can drag a border to resize a page or type in exact dimensions; then you lock it in place. A menu lets you select any open application and automatically resize the application window to the SmallScreenX dimensions. You can save SmallScreenX borders as separate document files. This handy, stable utility is free. If you need more control over screen measurements, try charlieX Screen Rulers (see our review, elsewhere in this article). -- r
Snail Mail 0.2
; Nixanz, [email protected], www.nixanz.com; free
; Nixanz, [email protected], www.nixanz.com; free
Snail Mail is a program designed to do one thing: print envelopes from your Address Book. It reads the Address Book database directly, so you don't have to import your entries (as you must do with the more full-featured people book). You can display your contacts, sort them into groups, and filter them by typing a few letters into a search box. You can also print a single envelope or many envelopes for all of the entries in a group. Snail Mail lets you format the envelope to show or hide specific fields (such as title or company), and you can change the fonts and margins, or even paste in a custom logo. -- r
Snard 1.6
; Gideon Softworks, feedback@gideonsoft works.com, www.gideonsoftworks.com; $10
; Gideon Softworks, feedback@gideonsoft works.com, www.gideonsoftworks.com; $10
Snard combines the utility of OS 9's Apple menu with a launcher and Root Runner (the GUI equivalent of the Unix utility sudo) to provide a flexible do-it-all menu. Available from the Dock, the menu bar, and via a hot key, Snard allows you to use hierarchical menus to quickly access files, folders, and applications (for example, it lists System Preference panes individually, like the old Control Panels menu). It also includes submenus for accessing recently used items, mounting favorite and recent servers, and launching worksets -- groups of items that open simultaneously with one click. Finally, you can easily open any application as root by option-selecting it from the Snard menu or by choosing the Open App As Root menu item. -- df
SwordfishExpress 1.0
; buyolympia.com, www.buyolympia.com/software; free
; buyolympia.com, www.buyolympia.com/software; free
The United States Postal Service (USPS) Web site allows you to generate mailing labels, but it's a bit of a hassle. SwordfishExpress takes the mailing and return address you enter and generates USPS labels for Priority, First Class, or Media Mail. If you want delivery or signature confirmation, the program also connects to the USPS Web site, obtains the appropriate tracking numbers, and then generates the required bar codes. Finally, if you highlight a USPS tracking number and select the Confirm In Browser item from the Services menu in any Services-aware app, your browser will provide the tracking information. SwordfishExpress saves you time and money -- you don't have to fill out forms at a post office, and the USPS charges less for electronic labels. A nice feature addition would be the ability to save frequently used addresses; the developers promise Address Book integration in a future version. -- df
WindowShade X 2.1
; Unsanity, [email protected], www.unsanity.com; $10
; Unsanity, [email protected], www.unsanity.com; $10
WindowShade X brings collapsible windows to OS X and adds punch, thanks to Aqua. Using WindowShade X, you can double-click on a window's title bar to collapse the window (as in OS 9), or you can have the window turn semitransparent (based on a transparency level you set). You can also replace the minimize button's behavior with window-shading behavior. If you use the semitransparent mode, you can even continue working in the window in its semi-see-through state. -- rg
Xounds 1.4
; Unsanity, [email protected], www.unsanity.com; $10
; Unsanity, [email protected], www.unsanity.com; $10
Xounds brings an end to the silent era for OS X. Xounds allows you to import old OS 9 sound sets (a link on the Unsanity Web page leads to a sizable collection). Once you import a sound set, you control which actions will generate sound effects, and at what volume level the sounds will play. You can also create an 'exclude' list so that any listed applications will not have sound effects. While it doesn't give you all the options of OS 9's sound sets, Xounds does a great job of bringing back nearly the same functionality. -- rg
Xupport 1.2
; Laurent Muller, [email protected], www.computer-support.ch; $20
; Laurent Muller, [email protected], www.computer-support.ch; $20
Xupport incorporates functions found in dozens of shareware and freeware applications. It gives you the power to create bootable backups, optimize your network, browse hidden folders, change SWAP file locations, configure your firewall, set ports for file sharing, and much more -- all via a straightforward interface. You might be intimidated by some of the features Xupport offers, and it does go into the nitty-gritty of OS X. Fortunately, Xupport also has a very helpful appendix section with a wealth of Unix and general Mac information. -- anton linecker
Creative/Fun
Amadeus II 3.5
; HairerSoft, [email protected], www.hairersoft.com; $25
; HairerSoft, [email protected], www.hairersoft.com; $25
Need a low-cost two-track audio app for recording and cleaning up cassettes and LPs, or editing files you already have? Look no further than Amadeus II. It supports 16- and 24-bit audio in many formats (including AIFF, WAV, MP3, and Ogg Vorbis) at sample rates as high as 1,000kHz. You can easily split albums into tracks and even join several files. In addition to built-in effects such as normalization, fading, and sound repair, Amadeus II supports the VST plug-in format -- and you can download more than 30 free plug-ins from the HairerSoft Web site. -- jls
Audion 3.0
; Panic, [email protected], www.panic.com; $30
; Panic, [email protected], www.panic.com; $30
Audion's pleasingly simple interface belies the robust program's many MP3 uses. Users can encode MP3s singly or in batches; switch between listening to CDs, MP3 playlists, and remote audio streams with the click of a button; expand audio searches to include the Web; and set a time for Audion to begin playing a specific playlist -- handy for people who like their morning routines to be set to music. Managing playlists occasionally gets cumbersome, and OS X users may become frustrated when they try to install and shuffle Audion's applications and plug-ins to the proper folder, but this is a serviceable MP3 player for OS 9 users iTunes left behind. -- lisa schmeiser
Baby Banger 1.1
; Paul Suh, [email protected], www.goodeast.com; free
; Paul Suh, [email protected], www.goodeast.com; free
Parents of small children will appreciate Baby Banger, which provides an outlet for kids' natural predilection to smash keys on mommy's or daddy's keyboard at inopportune times. When Baby Banger is running, every key your child smashes causes colorful shapes to appear on screen; the program can either speak the name and color of the shape or just beep. You can choose from several different color schemes for the shapes, as well. Worried that your kids will figure out how to hit 1-Q and wreak havoc outside of Baby Banger? Fear not: to exit, you have to type a child-proof combination: 1-control-shift-option-P. -- js
BarWare Deluxe 2.5
; Digital Fried Chicken, [email protected], www.digitalfriedchicken.com; $13
; Digital Fried Chicken, [email protected], www.digitalfriedchicken.com; $13
Throwing a cocktail party but can't remember how to mix up a Melon Ball? Confused when a friend asks for a Honolulu Hammer? Want to stump your favorite bartender by ordering a Pendennis? BarWare Deluxe comes to the rescue, with instructions for creating more than 750 mixed drinks. You can search by type of spirit, mixer, or even garnish (such as a lemon slice, twist, or wedge). BarWare Deluxe comes with a Bar Guide that includes common measurements, a glossary, and a drawing of different glass types. So the next time you need behind-the-bar advice, don't reach for a book -- fire up your Mac. -- jls
BLT 0.2
; Braxtech, [email protected], www.braxtech.com/blt; free
; Braxtech, [email protected], www.braxtech.com/blt; free
Few things are as annoying as stumbling on the dreaded 404 Not Found error. Full-featured Web-authoring programs will search for broken links in your site, but if you rely on a shareware program for coding, BLT can spare your visitors unnecessary frustration. BLT will check files located on your hard drive or on the Web, and it will check all the objects on a page (including links embedded in comments -- handy if your site contains Java scripts), not just hyperlinks or images. You can test a single file or recursively check all files linked to the starting file. -- r
charlieX Screen Rulers 3.1
; charlieX software factory, [email protected], www.kotarac.freeuk.com; $15
; charlieX software factory, [email protected], www.kotarac.freeuk.com; $15
charlieX Screen Rulers is indispensable for graphic artists, Web designers, and software developers who need help measuring or aligning screen objects. It includes five different on-screen rulers and measurement tools. Choose from a transparent screen-edge ruler (which you can set as the front-most application so it's always visible), a dragging ruler with resizable vertical and horizontal rules, and screen-size templates (which display outlines of standard or custom screen sizes, so you can quickly preview how your work will appear at different resolutions). You can also display mouse x-y coordinates or vertical and horizontal guidelines directly on screen. -- r
Windowshade App For Mac Computer
ColorWrite 1.1
; AdaptiveView.com, [email protected], www.adaptiveview.com; free
; AdaptiveView.com, [email protected], www.adaptiveview.com; free
If you've ever agonized over choosing colors for your Web site, ColorWrite can help. This tool allows you to select colors with several color models (Web Safe, HSV, RGB, CMY, and CMYK) and preview color combinations. Best of all, ColorWrite can generate color combinations based on several different kinds of color schemes, including Analogous,
Complementary, and Monochromatic. After selecting your palette, you can copy CSS, HTML, or Java code to the Clipboard for use in other applications. -- r How much does it cost to make an app.
Discus 2.7
; Magic Mouse Productions, 415/669-7010, http://magicmouse.com; $39
; Magic Mouse Productions, 415/669-7010, http://magicmouse.com; $39
Kindle App For Mac
Discus helps you create professional-looking labels for everything from CDs and DVDs to business-card CDs, VHS tapes, and even audiocassettes (remember those?). Although it features a very nonstandard user interface, Discus makes the label-creation process painless. After selecting a label type, you choose the output template (an Avery label number, for example), which takes you to the main screen. Here you use five sections (Canvas, Paint, Photo, Text, and Print) to create and output your masterpiece. With more than 900 high-quality backgrounds available, you'll be amazed at the quality of the labels you can create. -- rg
iSleep 2.3
; FlyMac, [email protected], http://isleep.free.fr; $8
; FlyMac, [email protected], http://isleep.free.fr; $8
iSleep adds a sleep function to iTunes and Apple DVD Player -- set a timer, and when the countdown reaches zero, your music or movie fades out and then stops. You can also choose to put your Mac to sleep, log out of your account, or shut down at the end of the timer. (In the case of a DVD, iSleep can wait until the movie is finished before it puts your Mac to sleep.) iSleep can even act as an alarm clock, waking up your Mac at a certain time and then playing your favorite music in iTunes. The interface is a bit quirky, but the functionality is top-notch. -- df
iStorm 2.0
; Math Game House Software, [email protected], www.mathgamehouse.com; $20
; Math Game House Software, [email protected], www.mathgamehouse.com; $20
Need to brainstorm with someone in the next office or the next building? iStorm lets multiple users collaborate on documents simultaneously in real time (depending on their connections) over a local area network. iStorm uses Rendezvous, so no network configuration is required. Starting a collaboration session is easy: create a new document and click on Host, and everyone on your LAN can join in. Edit text documents (which can include pictures, QuickTime files, and links), draw on a chalkboard, and chat. The program also includes a calculator and a Tex equation interface for doing serious math. Export files to Rich Text Format or plain text. -- r
iWork 1.2
; IGG Software, [email protected], www.iggsoftware.com; $20
; IGG Software, [email protected], www.iggsoftware.com; $20
iWork is a timing, billing, and invoicing application that's perfect for anyone who's self-employed. Use the built-in timer to track work hours with timed events, and add flat-rate and quantity-based items (such as expenses). iWork integrates with Address Book (just add your clients to an iWork group, and they automatically appear in iWork) and iCal (you can turn a deadline into a To Do). A Project Manager organizes all of your projects and lets you see whether they've been completed and paid. When you're finished with your project, create an invoice with your logo and custom formatting. -- r
iChatStatus 1.2
; David Remahl, [email protected], www.ittpoi.com; free
; David Remahl, [email protected], www.ittpoi.com; free
Kung-Tunes 2.1
; Adriaan Tijsseling, [email protected], www.kung-foo.tv; free
; Adriaan Tijsseling, [email protected], www.kung-foo.tv; free
Some people are intensely private; others enjoy living their lives in public. If writing a Weblog of your personal thoughts isn't enough, consider these ingenious utilities. Kung-Tunes lets you update your Web site with the name of the track you're currently listening to in iTunes (as well as a list of recentl