Tools for Working With or Reading About Words
The best of what we reviewed.
By Harry {doc] Babad
Introduction
In this, the second article will summarize the tools we’ve reviewed that fit the word processing tools categories I’ve previously defined and provide you a quick entrée into the commercial or shareware tools we both like and use.
In this my second article in this Word Processing Tools related issue, I focus on sharing those reviews, over the last year or so that we’ve shared with you. I’ve only summarized those items that fit the word processing tools categories I’ve previously defined and provide you a quick entrée into the commercial or shareware tools we both like and use. The only changes to the original articles, I’ve made, are to provide you with the number of the latest version and the link in MacUpdate site. All of this material is of course available on our web site.
Much to our dismay, we’d covered the area of tools to use words less thoroughly than graphics, computer security, and assorted wow utilities. Perhaps the April and May issues will restart that effort?
The Review Summaries
Point & Click OpenOffice.org! — Point & Click OpenOffice.org! a book by Robin ‘Roblimo’ Prentice Hall PTR. Miller Is an Open Source alternative to “professional” word processing, spread-sheeting, drawing, presenting and data-basing apps. Robin ‘Roblimo’ Miller is the editor-in-chief of the Open Source Technology Group. Reviewed by Robert Pritchett in January 2006 [5.0 macCs]
Just Say No To Microsoft: How to Ditch Microsoft and Why It’s Not as Hard as You Think - Tony Bove, No Starch Press — It’s for all readers with an interest in computer history will find it worth reading. Moreover, some of you may take its contents seriously enough to start saying No! A book review by Harry Babad in January 2006 [4.5 macCs]
Readiris Pro X 11.0.3 — A Powerful OCR Application for the Macintosh - Readiris Pro 11, the most advanced OCR software for Mac, quickly and easily transforms your paper documents into electronic files you can edit into your favorite application. Readiris Pro 11 not only retypes the text but also reproduces the layout of your original documents until perfection. Columns of text, titles, fonts, bullets, tables, graphics, etc ... are well recreated. With the PDF capabilities of Readiris Pro 11 you will be able to transform the information locked in PDF files into editable text and if desired. Extremely powerful, Readiris Pro almost exactly recreates the original format of your documents and replaces columns of text, tables, and graphics in the output file. A commercial software product reviewed by Harry Babad in January 2006. [4.5 macCs]
Pop Char X – 3.0/3.1 – Find the missing characters you need and add them in a single click. A shareware utility reviewed by Harry Babad & Chris Marshall in August 2006 & March 2007. [4.5 macCs]
Typinator version 1.3 — Typinator enables users to rapidly insert text or graphics into any type of application, and does so easily and as advertised. Those familiar with the programs TextExpander and TypeIt4Me will be familiar with this product. Typinator is an easy-to-use automatic text software that helps you to quickly insert phrases or pictures into any type of document. If you find yourself needing to repeat the same text, formatted text, or pictures, over and over again, Typinator will be for you. A shareware product reviewed by Wayne Lefevre in August 2006. [4.5 macCs].
Accio 1.0 and Ultralingua 6 English Language Dictionaries — With Additional Thoughts on other Dictionary and Thesaurus tools. Shareware dictionary-thesaurus tools reviewed by Harry Babad in November 2006. [User experience dependant 4.0/4.5 macCs]
MacJournal 4.1/4.1.1 - For years, aspiring writers have used journals to record thoughts and ideas for novels and short stories. Keeping a journal not only keeps those earlier experiences available for later review, it also forces the writer to do what they should: write. I’ve kept journals for many years, and read some of them when I need specific details or feelings when working on a story. So when I heard Mariner Software gave a sneak peek of MacJournal 4.1 at MacWorld Expo, I wanted to see if they improved it or just fixed a few bugs. Apparently they did both. MacJournal, as the name implies, is product you can use to create a journal, and you can use it for blogging and creating podcasts. All three areas are improved in version 4.1. MacJournal supports .mac syncing, so you can access your journal on the road as well as at home. A commercial software product review by Mike Hubbartt in February 2007. 4.0 macCs
Tools For Would-Be Literati Only – The versions of the tools are outdated but these and other utilities and sites are still valuable to a would-be author. An article by Harry Babad in January 2004.
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