The Best 5 Applications I Use All the Time: Part 1
By Dr. Eric Flescher (dreric1kansas@aol.com)
A computer is a multifaceted instrument. I use my iMac for a myriad of needs at home, at work and for writing and other business ventures. In this column, I present five applications I use on a daily basis. Look them over and see if you can use them, want to try them out or give me feedback what you like or dislike about these applications. Or let me know if you have an application that is better for your purposes.
My top five for this Part 1 are: Quickeyes, SnapProzX, GraphicConverter, FireFox and Blogger.
QuicKeyes (This version: Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later but other version for OS 8 to 10.4)
http://www.cesoft.com/
If you use your computer often, you usually repeat the same type, set of keys, commands or other functions, over and over again. There may be certain words, phrases, key codes or special information or website addresses you must repeatedly type in documents or emails and with other software. Wouldn’t it be nice if an application let you find, produce and replay many of these repetitious tasks requiring the same keystrokes? If you have the need, try a macro program.
So what is a macro program anyway? Macro programs are mini-programs that actively engage a task through the use of one or more keystrokes. I started using another macro program called Keyquencer, to help with repetitious operations that I needed when using OS system 9. I loved using it, but this program was not supported when OS X was released, so I had to search for an alternative.
I found out about QuicKeys X2 and installed it - relatively easy to use, it was very versatile. I was pleased to hear when QuicKeys X3 was available (since then updated to version 3.1), and was eager to try it out and see the improvements. There are many.
Version 3 is easy to install. I was afraid that I would lose my “old” trigger commands if I installed version 3.0.2, so I contacted the company and was told that older triggers are preserved and integrated automatically upon installation. I was happy about that, as I did not have to start all over crafting new commands.
QuicKeys X3, is now made for Mac OS X 10.4 and is Tiger ready. This new version has a number of new features that make the macros even more flexible, manageable and easier to use then version X2.
Once installed, the interface opens up. In the toolbar there are several options. Click on a QuicKeys word at the left to see several options in the pulldown menu: About QK, preferences, check for updates, provide feedback, hide QK, hide others, show all, quit QK.
A multitude of options are at your fingertips. The possibilities in the pulldown menus on the tool bar include: File (new, save, import, export, page set up, print); Edit (undo and redo); View (hide editor, customize toolbar); Create (start recording shortcuts, files, (use operations for) Internet, Network, QuicKeys Scripting, System; Text, and User Action); Shortcut (Play, Turn on, Shortcut debugging, Edit steps (of operations) and Turn shortcuts off; Toolbar (New, Edit, Delete); Window (Zoom, Minimize, Q editor, Toolbar show inspector, variables, equation tester, Bring all to front; and Help.
The user interface has been changed and is even better. The editor is more visually pleasing and appealing and yes, easier to use. It is easier to locate many parts of the Editor and is less confusing, although it really was not all that bad in version 2.
The triggers, the keys that can be set to “trigger” the various actions at your command, are much easier to use. The display is more easily seen as it is all laid out for you. New Speech, Time Range, Application Event and Device Shortcut Triggers are also improved.
The new visual look provides an all-in-one way to inspect the key parts of this macro program. Less clicking and better visual looking editor makes this version of the program even handier to use. Logic and Variables options provide greater power and control to sequences. Improved Recording and recording hints make shortcut creation even easier. There is a better look-and-feel of the whole set-ups. In the editor, you create and save shortcuts, and you can delete the ones you don’t want or modify existing shortcuts.
There is now a Devices window for controlling which devices QuicKeys uses for triggers and for recordings. Users can now control the devices used by QuicKeys instead of QuicKeys using all devices present and this helps address several issues with USB devices which are attached to the computer. There is an added feature to Manage Files actions to “not wait for an action to be completed.” An issue fixed in version 3.0.2 is where QuicKeys previously would not see some application switches. Also fixed where problems where the QuicKeys menu could not be clicked if QuicKeys is a Startup Item, and an issue where some shortcut steps could not be reliably selected by clicking. An improvement in version 3.0.2 is how QuicKeys waits for modifiers to be released when playing certain shortcuts.
Sometimes Third party software that hack or modify Mac OS X system behaviors may interferes with and/or crash QuicKeys, or just prevent it from functioning. The following QuicKeys related issues are due to limitations:
- If you include QuicKeys in your Startup Items list, it is recommended that you place QuicKeys last in the list.
- In some instances if QuicKeys is not the last item, other startup items may not launch properly.
- Command-Space and Command-Option-Space should not be used to trigger shortcuts.
More QuicKeys issues and Mac OS X known issues can be found in the QuicKeys Help areas.
I rate this program as a best buy for its flexibility and recommend this application for anyone who wants to increase their speed and efficiency in accomplishing repetitious tasks. And for those with different types of OSes, there are versions as well as the OS X version. With constant updates, the company is doing its best to make QuicKeys even better.
Snapz Pro X 1.0.7
http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/utilities/snapzprox/
800-231-1816 (orders only)
Price: $49.00, upgrading from Snapz Pro 2 to Snapz Pro X costs $19; upgrading to Snapz Pro X w/ movies costs $39 (both are $10 off the normal price).
Have you ever wanted to capture images or short movies of your favorite games, application, documents or pictures? Mac OS has the ability to take a snapshot of your whole screen (Open-Apple shift 3) or part of the screen (Open-Apple shift 4). While OS X offers the capability with the Grab function that is capable of taking full screen snaps and saving the grabbed screen in pdf format, you may want more options. Have you wished your Macintosh had the ability to create sharper screen capture pictures or capture screens from your DVD? Possibly you want to be able to save the captures in different formats without a graphics editor program or need to turn your screen frames into QuickTime movies? If so, your wish may be answered by using Snapz Pro X 1.0.7.
This utility offers flexibility for capturing shots of your monitor’s screens. This versatile application allows capturing the whole screen, selecting an object on the screen, capturing part of the screen as an image or making a movie. Selecting the full screen, an image is captured immediately while selecting object mode, the image is captured when you click the mouse inside the window or menu. If you use the selection tool, once you've highlighted the area you want, the image will be captured when you hit either the return key or press the Snapz Keys again.
No matter the mode you choose, Snapz Pro X uses "ClearScale," to automatically make your images look better, producing clearer and sharper images, fonts and colors - when the images are scaled to a smaller or larger sizes. The screen captures look crisper and clearer then normal screen Mac OS captures.
Other options (palette, the color, border, file, type or changing the quality of the saved image) can improve the final image appearance. Alterations to your final image include scaling, cropping, dithering, adding borders, generatie thumbnails and overlaying a watermark/copyright notice. The graphic settings can be changed along with specifying file-naming options and the new "Fatbits" tool lets you zoom in on the pixels on the screen for doing close up work.
More capabilities under the Preferences tab help speed up your ability to customize the final image and allowing for several other options. Screen captures can be triggered with hot keys (which you can set up), and there is a script in the extras folder to take a picture at a special time or after a certain period of time.
Instead of saving an image in jst one mode, the graphics settings format can be changed to insert another name of of the picture and then take snapshots in one of many graphic formats (ex. .bmp, pict, .gif, .jpg, .png, tiff, .pdf, Photoshop, etc.). This helps speed up your work, since a graphic editor does not have to be launched or used to convert the files.
There is the option to view the captured image within 12 applications (including Appleworks, Photoshop, and QuickTime), and there is an option if you want a prefix appended to the image name. Miscellaneous settings allow choosing and changing the border type, thumb nail size, quality of the image, the background color, and the opacity (how clearly the graphic shows) of the background and copyright symbol.
Video capture is also at your fingertips. Movie options include fixed capture, following a cursor, capture via a smooth panning of the screen, and choose the frame rate. There is also a microphone option for use of a MacIntosh audio track. During my tests, capturing as a QuickTime movie was simple.
GraphicConverter
www.graphicconverter.net/
Most computer users have heard about graphic programs that allow the manipulation of graphics and photos. While there are many graphic programs on the market for Macs and PCs, the one known to most is Photoshop, which is at the top for graphics manipulation. Photoshop has more “bells and whistles” than most people ever need, but most novice or intermediate users will never use even half of the options. Besides, the software is very expensive and even smaller sibling Photoshop Elements is not as pricey, but still has more features than most people want or need. Expense and useful features are good reasons to try shareware and freeware programs, and one of the best is GraphicConverter.
GraphicConverter is shareware, so you get to try the product without obligation and free of charge. The shareware price for GraphicConverter is just $30 when downloading the application, while a CD is available as an option. I think once you try you will find it not only easy to use, powerful, reliable and worthy of using for Macintosh users for many years.
Import and export over 80 graphics formats (one I need for astronomy work is called FITS images, which can’t be converted by Photoshop). You can also use this program to import pictures (including RAW format) from your camera, as well as using interface TWAIN for scanners.
Slide show functions, batch conversion, and basic and advanced picture editing are all supported as well. Enhance pictures with color and use Photoshop -compatible plug-ins for other graphic modifications. This software works with Mac OS 8 to OS X, as well as the new Intel-Macs. Different versions for computer type and operating system are available and useful when you move to a different computer.
What more could you want for $30? Over 1.5 million users world wide can’t be wrong. I use it, and believe the price is right for you to start to improve your graphics editing capabilities now.
FireFox 2.0 for OS X
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/products/
I was looking for an alternative to IE when I learned about FireFox from a friend . I did not like IE primarily because of it is a Microsoft product and it lacks innovative features. I wanted something besides Safari, which I liked but was unable to import my bookmarks or use tabbed folders. After finding out more about the first versions of Firefox and reviewing a book Firefox Secrets by Cheah Chu Yeow, I saw what I liked and progressed to version 2.0.
Firefox is free for Mac and PC.; it is easy to download and install. Once installed, you place a FireFox icon in the Mac OS X dock or on the desktop. Firefox brings you a flexible product beyond Internet Explorer.
One nice feature ares I preferred over Safari were tabs to display different websites without opening a new browser window. The entire FireFox screen can be customized with freeware and shareware extensions to customize the product for many personal preferences. Before I knew it, I had added a number of add-ons that are seen when the Firefox interface opened up.
Try Firefox, Opera or another browser to get better versatility, and don’t let Internet Explorer hold you hostage.
Blogger!
http://www2.blogger.com/home
http://www.blogger.com/
I started creating websites before 1998, then recently learned about Facebooks, Flickr and Blogs. I saw that web logs had more to say regarding almost any subject. They were very much like scrolling files that could be added to nearly any subject of your choice. The different between websites and blogs was that instead of linking content on multiple pages, a blog positioned additional information on one continuous writing area.
I tried Blogger and found it was intuitive, easy to install website addresses in the blog, and was tied in with Google. I found the Blogger dashboard has a nice interface that is a “one stop shopping” for customizing, view different blogs, or other options. I also liked that I could look for photos on my desktop or on my iMac, then upload them into the webblog area. Cool and easy.
In addition, Keyboard shortcuts can be used and work in Internet Explorer 5.5+/Windows and the Mozilla family (1.6+ and Firefox 0.9+), and might work in other browsers. Also a series of keywords can be posted at the bottom of the blog, which send out messages to people on the web (about your blog) if you have signed up for Google Alerts.
Try it for yourself and see what you think. Blogging with Blogger is fun and is also another way to communicate, think, and really say something. And that’s no bad.
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