Chapter 21: Enhancing Your System with Utility Software

Every major operating system revision, including Mac OS 10.3, brings with it significant enhancements in performance and ease of use over previous versions. Nevertheless, Apple can’t think of everything. Developers step in to create software that enhances Mac OS X in novel ways that can increase your productivity and computer experience. This Chapter presents some of the tools and packages available to enhance your computing experience. You will also discover some of the different licenses that developers use to release their software, and find some useful places to begin your search for new software packages.

Finding Utility Software

The Internet has truly changed the way software is distributed. Because most software is distributed over the Internet in demo form, without dropping a dime or leaving your house you can easily find and test several different products that all perform the same function. Web sites have sprung up whose sole purpose is to track software for different platforms and provide download links so that you don’t have to go elsewhere. Most software developers, even noncommercial ones, have their own Web sites where you can learn about their products, download the latest versions, and even obtain demo copies.

The software mentioned in this Chapter is just a small fraction of what you can find. The multifaceted environment that Mac OS X brings to the table has drawn thousands of developers, and you too can discover many interesting products while you’re visiting a developer’s Web site to obtain one of the utilities listed in this Chapter.

There are some great places to find useful utilities, hacks, and software packages on the Internet if you know where to look. Here are some places to start:

• Software folder of your iDisk: If you have a .Mac membership, this folder has Mac OS X software from Apple and many other developers. To check your iDisk, switch to the Finder and choose Go iDisk My iDisk (if you haven’t set your iDisk up for autosyncronization). To access the software folder, your .Mac account information must be entered in the Internet pane of System Preferences. This is a good place to start, but there is no information about the package you’re downloading, and the selection is limited.

• Mac OS X Downloads pages: Apple provides an extensive collection of current software that you can download for Mac OS X. This site has shareware, software updates, demo versions of commercial software, and free software in every category. The site is well organized, with a search function. You will find information on each piece of software offered for download, but no reviews. Go to www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/.

• Apple’s Mac OS X Applications page: This Web page is also hosted by Apple, and has a database that you can use to search for Mac OS X applications and hardware. While a good resource, there are no downloads available, it is still a good place to find great software. Its main thrust is commercial software. Find it at http://guide.apple.com/macosx/.

• VersionTracker Online: One of the best software resources available online, VersionTracker is a great Web site that keeps tabs on the latest versions of Macintosh software. You’ll find Mac OS X, Mac OS 9, Windows, and Palm software in different tabs, and the database is updated throughout the day with the most recent updates appearing right on the front page. You can search for a particular software title or by using keywords that describe a something about the type of software you’re trying to find. There is also a pro version of the Web site (subscription fee required), which will alert you to updates of the software packages you specify, as well as provide more advanced searching capabilities. It’s at www.versiontracker.com.

• CNET’s software library: This library offers extensive shareware, demo software, and freeware. Go to www.download.com.

  If you can’t find what you’re looking for at this site, you may find a shareware or freeware title at its sister site, Shareware.com, at www.shareware.com.

• Info-Mac.Archive: This archive is a major storehouse of shareware, freeware, and demo versions of retail software. All software is submitted to a central location and redistributed to mirror sites throughout the world, such as Apple’s FTP mirror site (ftp://mirror.apple.com/mirrors/Info-Mac.Archive/). At most mirror sites, you browse for files by category. MIT’s HyperArchive mirror (http://hyperarchive.lcs.mit.edu/HyperArchive.html) has an Info-Mac search facility, but little information is available on software packages.

• Applelinks.com: Another, less well-known, stockpile of shareware, freeware, and demo versions of retail software. Go to http://search.applelinks.com.