Chimoosoft's Mac Picks and Reviews
Picks Archive
This page is part of our archive. For weekly reviews of software and hardware for Mac OS X, please visit our main OS X Picks page.
September, 2006
Afloat
- 1.0
- freeware
- 9/25/2006
"Afloat. Light as air." An unusual user interface enhancement which adds several new options to the Window menu of all Cocoa applications. The namesake "keep afloat" option forces the current window to float over all other windows; something which is occasionally useful. When a window is kept afloat, it is translucent unless the mouse pointer is placed over it, at which point it becomes opaque. Another menu option lets you arbitrarily adjust the transparency level of the current window. Probably the most useful enhancement is the ability to move any window by ⌃⌘ (control command) clicking and dragging anywhere on it rather than on the title bar as usual.
Requires installation of the free SIMBL framework (included with download) for loading additional code into Cocoa applications. Due to this "hack," it is possible that installation of plugins like Afloat could adversely affect the security or stability of your system, so proceed with caution.
- By millenomi.
- download
- screenshot
SoundSource
- 1.1
- freeware
- 9/24/2006
When switching between multiple sound input and output sources using the built in System Preferences pane becomes frustrating, try SoundSource. This simple free menu extra alleviates the problem by allowing you to quickly choose a global sound input and output source with the click of a menu. A perfect example of something which should have been built in to start with!
Dictionary
- 1.0.1
- built in
- 9/23/2006
The Oxford American Dictionary and Thesaurus is bundled for free with Mac OS X version 10.4 (Tiger) and above! This well designed and full featured dictionary application is less than a click away when you need the definition for a pesky word.
A seldom known feature accessible from any application written with Cocoa is the ability to obtain the definition for a word on the fly. Hold down ⌃⌘D (control command D) while your mouse pointer is hovering over any word and a definition will pop up - no need to click! You can also bring the entire dictionary to the foreground by clicking on the "More..." button. Note that this shortcut is customizable in the Keyboard & Mouse System Preference pane and may be set differently on your computer. The dictionary automatically finds matching definitions as you type in its search field, and usually includes word origins which make them easier to remember in the future. Well done for a free included application!
AntiRSI
- 1.4
- freeware
- 9/22/2006
RSI, which stands for repetitive strain injury, is a problem plaguing more and more people as computer use becomes ubiquitous in our modern world. Since treatment for this condition is difficult, taking preventative measures is the way to go.
This freeware gem helps you prevent RSI; AntiRSI keeps track of how much you're using the mouse and keyboard and reminds you to take breaks accordingly. Two different break types are provided - the "micro pause," and the "work break." During a micro pause, which may be on the order of ten seconds, moving the mouse or typing will force the pause to start over - a good incentive to hold still! During a work break, which is typically a few minutes long, movement only causes the countdown to pause which prevents you from accidentally resetting a long countdown. A "postpone" button is also present on the work break in case it comes up at an inopportune moment. This software is well thought out and worth trying!
- By Onne Gorter.
- download
- screenshot
OmniWeb
- 5.5
- demo
- 9/21/2006
A "power user's" web browser which hails from the NeXT glory days but has been thoroughly updated for Tiger. Useful features include resizable graphical tabs, collections of windows and tabs called workspaces, and preferences customizable on a site by site basis. Web browsing is a fast and pleasant experience since the rendering core is shared with Safari.
The joy of using this browser is in discovering all the finishing touches that have been put in. For example, to duplicate a given tab, hold down the option key and drag the tab in the vertical tab drawer (akin to copying files in the Finder). When relaunching the browser, the previous workspace is restored including all windows, tabs, and scroll positions, enabling you to pick up browsing right where you left off. Begin typing in a window and matching links are highlighted; hit return, and the selected link is followed. ⇧⌘ (shift command) F jumps to the web search field which defaults to Google, but is completely customizable.
Other interesting features include searchable and sync-able bookmarks, RSS feed support, speech recognition, HTML source code editor, ad blocking, ability to send a workspace to another user, and form fill. The peace of mind attained by using this browser will make you forget you had to pay for it! A free demo is available.
Tofu
- 1.3
- freeware
- 9/20/2006
Tofu is a unique electronic book reader which splits text files into columns and scrolls horizontally rather than vertically. This creative approach improves readability on a computer screen while saving your eyes from fatigue. A horizontal scroll bar along the bottom shows your position in the text while easy keyboard controls move the text side to side. Tofu also includes speech recognition support and a full screen mode - both appear to work well. An alpha of version 2 is also available.
An assortment of the best software and hardware for Mac OS X chosen from around the web and briefly reviewed. Our picks are normally updated on a weekly basis, so check back often for more! No, we don't take requests for reviews at this time; the programs are chosen solely by the reviewer and tend to be lesser known but useful titles which deserve a bit more attention.
The companies or individuals producing reviewed software or hardware are in no way affiliated with Chimoosoft. Software reviewed includes freeware, shareware, commercial, and built in to the OS. All software is tested with the most recent shipping version of Mac OS X currently available at the time of the review.
The software reviews above are for programs (a.k.a. software) for the Macintosh OS X (ten) operating system (Mac OS X, or sometimes just osx). A program may also be referred to as a utility or application depending on its intended purpose. Reviews are copyright 2006-2007 by Chimoosoft.