The Ultimate macOS Thread

[Paddy]

Thought it would be handy for any OS X users, both new and old, to compile a list of essential programs, sites and guides. Please feel free to add more to the thread and we can organise them into the first post !

Browsers
Firefox - www.getfirefox.com
The Web is all about innovation, and Firefox 3 sets the pace with dozens of new features, including the smart location bar, one-click bookmarking and blindingly fast performance.

Firefox for Intel Macs - http://www.beatnikpad.com/archives/2008/10/05/firefox
Optimized for Intel Macs, this version of FF or Minefield as it has been named by its author.

Opera - www.opera.com
Opera is the only Web browser that comes complete with everything you need to be productive, safe and fast online.

Camino - http://caminobrowser.org/
Camino is a Mac OS X-native browser built on Mozilla?s Gecko rendering engine.


Instant Messaging
Adium - www.adiumx.com
Adium is a free instant messaging application for Mac OS X that can connect to AIM, MSN, Jabber, Yahoo, and more

MSN:Mac - http://www.microsoft.com/Mac/products/messenger/default.mspx
Built for corporate Mac users on Office Communications Server 2007, Messenger for Mac 7 gives co-workers new ways to communicate easily with each other in different locations or time zones. Additionally, personal users will find a few improvements for managing their contact lists.


Torrents
Transmission - www.transmissionbt.com/
Transmission is designed from the ground up to balance power with simplicity. We've set initial preferences so things "Just Work", while advanced features like watch directories, bad peer blocking, and the web interface can be configured with just a few clicks. When Ubuntu chose Transmission as its default BitTorrent client, one of the most-cited reasons was its easy learning curve.

Tomato Torrent - http://sarwat.net/bittorrent/
A Macintosh BitTorrent client.

Vuse - www.azureus.sourceforge.net
Formerly known as Azureus. Same frog, new name. Find torrents fast.

Peer Guardian - http://phoenixlabs.org/pg2/
PeerGuardian 2 is Phoenix Labs? premier IP blocker for OS X. PeerGuardian 2 integrates support for multiple lists, list editing, automatic updates, and blocking all of IPv4 (TCP, UDP, ICMP, etc), making it the safest and easiest way to protect your privacy on P2P.


FTP
Fetch - http://fetchsoftworks.com/
Fetch is an easy-to-use, full-featured FTP and SFTP client for the Apple Macintosh.

Cyberduck - http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/internet_utilities/cyberduck.html
A open source product licensed under the GPL and free to use. Donations are welcome to help advance development in the future. Thanks to contributors, Cyberduck is available in English, Czech, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Slovak, Spanish, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Russian, Swedish, Danish, Polish, Indonesian, Catalan, Welsh, Thai, Turkish, and Hebrew.


IRC
Colloquy - http://colloquy.info/
An IRC client for Macintosh OS X. Contains screenshots, documentation, support and download area.

X-Chat Aqua - http://sourceforge.net/projects/xchataqua/
X-Chat Aqua is X-Chat with an Aqua interface for MacOS X


Video Playback
VLC Player - http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
VLC media player - the cross-platform media player and streaming server

Quicktime Pro - http://www.apple.com/quicktime/pro/
Available for Mac OS X and Windows, QuickTime 7 Pro offers a perfect solution for anyone who enjoys watching, recording, creating or sharing high-quality multimedia.

Perian - www.perian.org
Perian is a free, open source, QuickTime component that supports many popular media types, including AVI, DivX, and XviD.

DivX - http://www.divx.com/divx/mac/
DivX offers a free Apple Macintosh compatible media player.


Hardware
Apple - http://www.apple.com/store/ (Regional)

RAM - www.crucial.com


Dual OS
Parallels - http://www.parallels.com/
Run Windows, Linux and more side-by-side on Mac OS X without rebooting.

VMware Fusion - http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/
Seamlessly run your favorite Windows applications and devices, on any Intel-based Mac. Built from the ground up for the Mac, VMware Fusion is the easiest way to switch to Mac?letting you bring all of your Windows applications with you, making the most of your Windows software investment, while providing the perfect safety blanket for the switch.

Windows Vista - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/default.aspx
Windows Vista contains many changes and new features, including an updated graphical user interface and visual style dubbed Windows Aero, improved searching features, new multimedia creation tools such as Windows DVD Maker, and redesigned networking, audio, print, and display sub-systems. Vista also aims to increase the level of communication between machines on a home network, using peer-to-peer technology to simplify sharing files and digital media between computers and devices. Windows Vista includes version 3.0 of the .NET Framework, which aims to make it significantly easier for software developers to write applications than with the traditional Windows API.


Applications
SMC Fan Control - http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/23049
smcFanControl lets the user set the minimum speed of the build in fans. So you can increase your minimum fan speed to make your Intel Mac run cooler. However in order not to damage your machines smcFanControl doesn't let you set a minimum speed to a value below Apple's defaults

Little Snitch - http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/download.html
A firewall protects your computer against unwanted guests from the Internet. But who protects your private data from being sent out? Little Snitch does!

Quiksilver - http://mac.softpedia.com/get/Utilities/Quicksilver.shtml
A viable alternative to Spotlight

Smultron - http://tuppis.com/smultron/
A Free powerful text editor for OS X 10.5

Labtick - http://labtick.proculo.de/
For MBP users, a program to control the keyboards backlight

Awaken - http://embraceware.com/software/awaken/
A clock-alarm for your OS X system.

UnRARX - http://www.unrarx.com
UnRarX is a Mac OS X Cocoa application that allows you to expand rar archives and restore corrupted or missing archives using par2.

Senuti - http://fadingred.org/senuti/
Unlock your iPod with Senuti, a simple application that allows you to transfer songs from your iPod to your computer

Handbrake - http://handbrake.fr/
An Opensource DVD to MPEG4 converter

Mac the Ripper - http://www.mactheripper.org
MacTheRipper is a free DVD ripper (extractor) for Mac OS X. It can extract commercial DVD movies to your hard drive, minus all the copy protections and region controls put in place by DVD publishers.

iAlertU - http://www.slappingturtle.com/home/
iAlertU is an machine protection program, basically you "arm" the system by using the mini remote supplied with a lot of apples computers and it makes plipping noises just like a car alarm. then if anyone comes an tampers with your machine while your gone, and alarm sounds, the screen flashes and the in built iSight (on newer macs only) takes a snap shot of them and then emails it to you!

Textmate - http://macromates.com/
TextMate brings Apple's approach to operating systems into the world of text editors. By bridging UNIX underpinnings and GUI, TextMate cherry-picks the best of both worlds to the benefit of expert scripters and novice users alike.

OnyX - http://www.titanium.free.fr/pgs/english.html
It allows you to run misc tasks of system maintenance, to configure some hidden parameters of the Finder, Dock, Dashboard, Expos?, Safari, Login window and of some of Apple's own applications, to delete caches, to remove a certain number of files and folders that may become cumbersome, to see the detailed info of your configuration, to preview various logs and CrashReporter-reports, to check the Preferences files and more.


Widgets
iStatPro - http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/status/istatpro.html

Gmail Notifier - http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/email_messaging/gmailinbox.html

 

[MadCow809]

wow. Didn't know you can get so many apps for OS X. So that's like..... what.. hm... about 4 mil other apps behind Windows?

 

[Lilleput]

Windows Vista
Windows Vista contains many changes and new features, including an updated graphical user interface and visual style dubbed Windows Aero, improved searching features, new multimedia creation tools such as Windows DVD Maker, and redesigned networking, audio, print, and display sub-systems. Vista also aims to increase the level of communication between machines on a home network, using peer-to-peer technology to simplify sharing files and digital media between computers and devices. Windows Vista includes version 3.0 of the .NET Framework, which aims to make it significantly easier for software developers to write applications than with the traditional Windows API.

 

[Paddy]

wow. Didn't know you can get so many apps for OS X. So that's like..... what.. hm... about 4 mil other apps behind Windows?

It's okay, going by your signature you obviously feel threatened by others and must try to show your superiority by showing off your massive spec list to make yourself feel better. If you want, we can start a thread where you can beat your chest and remind yourself how great your Windows machine is ?

Whilst the rest of us relax and have the craic because we don't really care about indifferences regarding to taste and preference

xxx

 

[MadCow809]

you mean the taste and perference of getting shafted in the arse by apple??

 

[Paddy]

You get what you pay for

Anyways, there are enough Apple Versus Windows threads here and which to be honest are getting quite tiresome, so can we please keep this on topic ?

 

[otispunkmeyer]

i think a good one for quick simple money management is Squirrel

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/business_finance/squirrel.html

i would also like to vouch for these cool apps too


Quicksilver (just use ctrl+space to bring it up) which lets you quick launch absolutely everything, its very useful for fast working

http://www.blacktree.com/?quicksilver

iAlertU http://www.slappingturtle.com/home/ on the middle of the page. iAlertU is an machine protection program, basically you "arm" the system by using the mini remote supplied with a lot of apples computers and it makes plipping noises just like a car alarm. then if anyone comes an tampers with your machine while your gone, and alarm sounds, the screen flashes and the in built iSight (on newer macs only) takes a snap shot of them and then emails it to you!!! its awesome

 

[Derek]

Some people...staying on topic, how hard can it be?

 

[vRS]

I have dreams about being able to afford a MacBook and thus being able to use OS X.

 

[Zuhaib]

I dont know if we need a App list, you can find that via google.. But recommendations sounds like a good idea!

First for Browser, I would like to suggest Intel-Specific build of Firefox which you can find here http://www.beatnikpad.com/archives/2008/10/05/firefox thats from the latest release. And he releases a few days after updates if you follow the blog

Another great app, especially if you do any coding or scripting is Textmate http://macromates.com/ . I love this text editor and wish he made a Windows/Linux version.

That's all I can come up with for right now

 

[Hercules286]

www.ubuntu.com - hardware accelerated desktop effects, multiple "workspaces", loads slower than Windows, but when it's done it's done, great security, customization doesn't give you a massive performance hit, and fuck you it's orange not brown!

Also, you get this AWESOME package-management system, you just install programs and drivers as "packages". Then every 8 hours, Ubuntu checks if there's a new version out there and tells you about it. Updates are a two-click operation. I wish they added a way to easily see the changelogs.

On supported hardware, it Just Works(tm).

 

[thevictor390]

www.ubuntu.com - hardware accelerated desktop effects, multiple "workspaces", loads slower than Windows, but when it's done it's done, great security, customization doesn't give you a massive performance hit, and fuck you it's orange not brown!

Also, you get this AWESOME package-management system, you just install programs and drivers as "packages". Then every 8 hours, Ubuntu checks if there's a new version out there and tells you about it. Updates are a two-click operation. I wish they added a way to easily see the changelogs.

On supported hardware, it Just Works(tm).

Fanboys will always find a way for their favorite thing to win.

 

[Shawn]

God am I glad I don't own an Apple anymore.

Not because I didn't like it, but because I got tired of being persecuted by Windows fanboys. Let it go already... you get what you pay for. Do any of you hate Bang & Olufsen? Lots of things aren't good bang for the buck, so what? I defy you to find a better looking laptop than the MacBook Pro.

It all comes down to price. I have lived with both Windows and Mac machines and I never, ever found one thing that one platform did considerably better than the other (games aside). It's all about preference... if you don't think people should have the right to a preference, there's something hideously wrong with you.

Hopefully now that I've got a desktop, laptop and mobile running Windows I can learn to ignore such fanboys, but for now, it still angers me. I hope all fanboys get what they deserve for talking out of their ass... not just Apple fanboys, not just Windows fanboys... all of 'em. Anyone who shows blind allegiance because they can't think for themselves, and then go about forcing it on others.

As for applications, all the ones I used on my MBP have been listed here.

 

[Phila]

[I'm typing this on my MacBook, I am not an Apple fanboy nor a hater]

I think Apple screwed up a bit by making the new MacBook and MacBook Pro look essentially the same. They always looked like two distinctly different products, now the MBP just looks like a smaller MacBook.. or the other way around.

 

[Shawn]

I think Apple screwed up a bit by making the new MacBook and MacBook Pro look essentially the same. They always looked like two distinctly different products, now the MBP just looks like a smaller MacBook.. or the other way around.

I didn't know they had new ones. They fucked them up!

It was hard improving the awesome, sexy chassis that started with the PowerBook G4. I'm sure this one is built quite well, but the black is ugly to me. I bet HDMI and Bluray is nice to have on that.

 

[Phila]

I don't know how comfortable I would be with the giant-track-pad-that-is-also-a-giant-button-at-the-same-time too. If I could somehow combine the features I love of my MacBook with the improvements of the new one I would be happy.. oh wait this isn't fantasy land.

 

[Shawn]

I'd prefer a traditional keyboard and trackpad too. But Apple always fails at input devices anyway...

 

[Phila]

Ugh the more I found out the less I like.

Apple is only giving a $50 education discount now, instead of $100. Also the back-lit keyboard is only available on the more expensive model. (on the MacBook, that is)

More pompous Apple douchebaggery at its finest. boo-urns

 

[XeroState]

I liked the old Macbook lineup but the new ones are overpriced, underspec'd and that glossy screen.. what were they thinking?

Only a Firewire 800 port too so you have to buy a special legacy cable to let older Firewire products to work, no HDMI on the Pro, no Blu-Ray support.. like wow.

I was even thinking of getting a Macbook after graduation but now I won't even look at the new lineup. I'm not paying over a grand for 1GB of ram and a 13" screen, sorry. If I can find a now old model I still might, but I doubt I will able to find one that is in good shape and not overpriced [used + outdated should = cheaper, not more expensive than it was new].

 

[Phila]

^ The models priced above $1,000 all come with 2GB of ram standard, and the MacBooks have had glossy screens.

Besides all that, I agree with you. The prices just got even more ridiculous.

If you really want a [now previous version] MacBook the Apple store online has the top of the line BlackBooks for $1050, not bad.