Must have OSX tools!

**temeteus82** · Apr 5, 2008, 01:06 PM

Hi guys!

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

Lowfat · Apr 5, 2008, 05:33 PM

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, 07:07 PM

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

Lowfat · Apr 5, 2008, 07:26 PM

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

Malus · Apr 5, 2008, 08:24 PM

AppCleaner.

Tipstaff · Apr 17, 2008, 09:21 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, 09:44 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, 06:24 PM

OnyX is good maintenance software.

Tipstaff · Apr 18, 2008, 07:09 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 20, 2008, 12:10 AM

i'll have to check that one out

Malus · Apr 20, 2008, 09:07 PM

Macports.

Apr 5, 2008, 05:33 PM	#2
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,251 Rep Power: 99	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 . __________________ 27" iMac: i5 750 * 80GB X25-M G1 * 4GB DDR3 * HD4850 Stacker: 2600k * P8P67 Pro * 4GB DDR3 * 80GB ioXtreme * 30GB X25-E * (2) HD6950 * Asus D2 * Enermax Revo85+ HWD: (2) Xeon E5649 * EVGA SR-2 * 6GB DDR3 * 8800GTS * 1000W Antec FT01BW: (2) Xeon E5645 * EVGA SR-2 * 6GB DDR3 * GTS210 * Gigabyte 800W Odin GT Storage: (2) Sans Digital TR8M-B * 29TB

Apr 5, 2008, 07:26 PM	#4
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,251 Rep Power: 99	Just delete the ~/Library/Cache and /Library/Cache folders occasionally. __________________ 27" iMac: i5 750 * 80GB X25-M G1 * 4GB DDR3 * HD4850 Stacker: 2600k * P8P67 Pro * 4GB DDR3 * 80GB ioXtreme * 30GB X25-E * (2) HD6950 * Asus D2 * Enermax Revo85+ HWD: (2) Xeon E5649 * EVGA SR-2 * 6GB DDR3 * 8800GTS * 1000W Antec FT01BW: (2) Xeon E5645 * EVGA SR-2 * 6GB DDR3 * GTS210 * Gigabyte 800W Odin GT Storage: (2) Sans Digital TR8M-B * 29TB

Apr 5, 2008, 08:24 PM	#5
Malus BSD SMASH! Join Date: May 2002 Location: A rabbit hole. . . Posts: 1,170 Rep Power: 0	AppCleaner. __________________ quad (FreeBSD/amd64 8-CURRENT): Intel Q6600 - Asus P5E-VM HDMI - 2x2 GB Kingston PC6400 DDR2 Ram - Seagate 320GB 7200RPM HD - 2xSeagate 1TB 7200RPM HD in RAID 1 via ZFS - Lite-On 20x DVD Multi Recorder - Coolermaster Centurion 5 router (FreeBSD/amd64 8-CURRENT): Intel E4500 - Intel D945GCNL - 2 GB PC6400 Mushkin Ram - Lite-On 48x24x48x16 - Seagate 320GB 7200RPM HD - Silverstone SST-SG02-F wanderer (FreeBSD/i386 7-CURRENT): Lenovo Thinkpad T61p mini (OS X 10.5): Intel Core 2 Duo @ 1.8Ghz, 4 GB Mushkin PC5400 Ram - Headroom MicroDAC Portable sound: Rockboxed iPod Video -> Westone UM2's Not-So-Portable Sound: Headroon MicroDAC -> Singlepower PPX3-SLAM -> Grado RS-1's or Beyerdynamic DT-880's Very-Not-Portable-Sound: Squeezebox v3 -> Denon AVR-1507 -> B&W 683's & Sunfire HRS-10

Apr 17, 2008, 09:21 AM	#6
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,658 Rep Power: 187 System Specs	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!) __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Apr 17, 2008, 06:24 PM	#8
thunderclap HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 348 Rep Power: 32	OnyX is good maintenance software. __________________ Marc B. Genrefinity.net - Your source for all things in the horror, science fiction and fantasy genres

Apr 20, 2008, 09:07 PM	#11
Malus BSD SMASH! Join Date: May 2002 Location: A rabbit hole. . . Posts: 1,170 Rep Power: 0	Macports. __________________ quad (FreeBSD/amd64 8-CURRENT): Intel Q6600 - Asus P5E-VM HDMI - 2x2 GB Kingston PC6400 DDR2 Ram - Seagate 320GB 7200RPM HD - 2xSeagate 1TB 7200RPM HD in RAID 1 via ZFS - Lite-On 20x DVD Multi Recorder - Coolermaster Centurion 5 router (FreeBSD/amd64 8-CURRENT): Intel E4500 - Intel D945GCNL - 2 GB PC6400 Mushkin Ram - Lite-On 48x24x48x16 - Seagate 320GB 7200RPM HD - Silverstone SST-SG02-F wanderer (FreeBSD/i386 7-CURRENT): Lenovo Thinkpad T61p mini (OS X 10.5): Intel Core 2 Duo @ 1.8Ghz, 4 GB Mushkin PC5400 Ram - Headroom MicroDAC Portable sound: Rockboxed iPod Video -> Westone UM2's Not-So-Portable Sound: Headroon MicroDAC -> Singlepower PPX3-SLAM -> Grado RS-1's or Beyerdynamic DT-880's Very-Not-Portable-Sound: Squeezebox v3 -> Denon AVR-1507 -> B&W 683's & Sunfire HRS-10