Since we bought that dual PowerMac G4 last month, Mac OS X has been used a lot more than before in our home. However, I tend to try out stuff a lot for reviews and other reasons and so I re-install Mac OS X quite regularly on my test Macs (three installations throughout November). Everytime though, I hurry to VersionTracker to download these following apps that I can't live without.Internet:
Browser Pack
I do some web development for OSNews from time to time and so I need to test out the results with all the browsers, and so these browsers are a must have for me: Mozilla, Camino, Opera, iCab, OmniWeb, Firebird. Get them at the VersionTracker web site.
Transmit
Uploading the work mentioned above would require an FTP client. While command line FTP works fine it is faster dealing with a graphical client. My personal favorite is Transmit, but FTPeel and CaptainFTP are also good choices.
BitTorrent
Surely you would also need the BitTorrent client if you are a lot into Torrent downloads. I am not too much, but there are times that it is very handy. This client is very good too.
Fire
I am always using 5 IM protocols at the same time so iChat doesn't do the job for me. Fire does. Proteus has the same capabilities but it is full of bugs in my experience. My colleague David uses Proteus and says that most of the serious glitches have been addressed in the latest releases but in my experience I get 4 times the same AIM messages when my chatters don't use the original AIM client.
Watson
The great all-arounder meta-browser. Instead of having to go to different service web sites you get the whole functionality in this meta-application, Watson, gathering the info you need, all in one place.
X-Chat Aqua
A good IRC client. There are others too, but they are mostly shareware, X-Chat is free.
Speed Download and iGetter
On WinXP I use GetRight and it does its job excellently to make sure I download non-corrupted files and with the ability of resuming. I can never decide which one I like best, Spped Download or iGetter.
iBlog
An iApp that it wasn't created by Apple. Attention to detail, nice looks, easy to the eye. Recommended if you are into blogging.
NetNewsWire Lite
This is the free version of NetNewsWire and I must say that I don't need the full paid version. The Lite does the job in giving me the headlines I need via RSS/RDF.
Media:
Acquisition and Poisoned
Limewire sucks, sorry. For file transfer I would recommend either Acquisition or Poisoned, with Poisoned getting a bit more edge.
WireTap and Audacity
I don't need to do audio work too much, but the times I do, WireTap will let me record everything I need (including sound from other apps) and the OSS Audacity will let me edit and manipulate the audio captured.
Media Player Pack
QuickTime is great, but it doesn't give me access to all the video file formats I need. Downloading RealOne Player, MPlayer OS X, Windows Media Player and VLC (to play other zone DVDs ;) is a great addition to the OS. MPlayer OS X still has some bugs but it offers a great deal of file formats so it weighs positively too. Get them from VersionTracker too. Occasionally, people complain that they can't view certain types of audio/video files on OS X, but they just don't know where to look. When in doubt, try VLC.
MacAmp Lite X
iTunes is great, but I need something smaller. Something that is not as intrusive on the screen to play for me my favorite Radio station. The company went down under and so the MacAMP Lite player is now free to use.
Graphics:
Gimp
A great OSS graphic app to do some basic photo editing (no 16bit support though (no, CinePaint doesn't do what we need)). There was a free Mac version to download about 2 months ago but I don't have the URL anymore, here is the main homepage of the Gimp for Mac.
- "Favorite Mac OS X Apps, Page 1"
- "Favorite Mac OS X Apps, Page 2"
