Must have OSX tools!

***temeteus82*** · Apr 5, 2008, 06:06 AM

Hi guys!

I was wondering what tools (mostly freeware) are must with OSX?

Lowfat · Apr 5, 2008, 10:33 AM

Really I don't use/need a whole lot of 3rd party apps. Most of the applications I use come with Leopard.

The only third party programs I have on my MBP are:
VLC (so much better than the PC variant)
Transmission (torrent application)
Firefox (only use it because there is no Downloadthemall! extension for Safari)

Remote Desktop Connection
Adium (best MSN client out there)

That is all I use for 3rd party apps.

Automator, Disk Utility, iPhoto, iTunes, and Stickies are the programs I use the most, but all of which come with OS X .

***temeteus82*** · Apr 5, 2008, 12:07 PM

I see is there any goos software that would be the OSX couterpart for CCleaner from windows word?

Lowfat · Apr 5, 2008, 12:26 PM

Just delete the ~/Library/Cache and /Library/Cache folders occasionally.

Malus · Apr 5, 2008, 01:24 PM

AppCleaner.

Tipstaff · Apr 17, 2008, 02:21 AM

I can't seem to find it, so it either doesn't exist, or got deleted, but didn't Zardon once start a similar thread? And no, I don't mean the one about useful apps, but I seem to recall one he started one regarding the best/useful Mac apps/tools.

The reason I remember this is that there were tips, tweaks, and tools posted in there, including ones on cleaning the library cache (which I think was ClearCaches or Leopard Cache Cleaner), and things like that. I even remember a tool that was posted about Boot Camp. During beta Boot Camp would stop at the MAC/Windows selection screen, which now it doesn't, and I remember a tool/tweak that was posted to force it to come up again so that you no longer have to hold the Alt-Option key to have the option screen come up. It was either BootPicker, or rEFIt, just can't remember which one was recommened.

Other programs I remember mentioned (cuz I downloaded them) were Unarchiver, Gimp.app, Quicksilver, and NeoOffice. Those are the ones off the top of my head.

(Hope you're reading this Ryan!)

**dj_stick** · Apr 17, 2008, 02:44 AM

rEFIt is used alot in hte OSX86/hackintosh crowd i think, haven't heard much about BootPicker

as with LowFat, most of the apps I use came with OS X, though there is one awesome freeware app (well technically two) that lets OS X write to NTFS drives (OS X only nativey reads NTFS, it can't write to), really useful for bootcamp, although it's not as fast as writing natively
macFUSE with the NTFS-3g addon

there is another app, Paragon NTFS, that lets OS X write to NTFS drives natively, but does cost ~US$40

I currently don't have either installed atm, but have tried both on previous OS X installs, I really like the speed of the Paragon app, but can't justify spending that much for a feature I don't use too often, and with NTFS-3g, the write speeds aren't exactly the best, but it's a worthwhile trade-off if you don't need fast write speeds

for web browsing I tend to use Opera, Safari is ok i guess, but I am so used to Opera's mouse gestures

thanks for mentioning Unarchiver btw, I needed something that can handle .rar files

thunderclap · Apr 17, 2008, 11:24 AM

OnyX is good maintenance software.

Tipstaff · Apr 18, 2008, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunderclap

OnyX is good maintenance software.

Bingo! That was the one I couldn't remember the name of. Thanks.

**dj_stick** · Apr 19, 2008, 05:10 PM

i'll have to check that one out

Malus · Apr 20, 2008, 02:07 PM

Macports.