Programs Must Have For Mac
Windows10's market share is increasing slowly but steadily over time. This December ittouched 33% which means that over one-third of world's computers now arerunning Windows 10.
Beit the fluent design, multiple desktops or return of the Start Menu, Windows 10has taken many right steps, but, also few wrong ones in areas of privacy andupdates. One area where Microsoft has done a commendable job is improving thenative apps.
Edge is now way better than IE, there is native PDF support through Edge, support for Multiple desktopsand the list goes on.
The 5 Must-Have Utilities for macOS Catalina. I’ve used many masses of mac utilities over many years and nevertheless, rely on them to make my computing lifestyles higher. Right here’s the top 10 I recommend, a combination of loose software, donationware, and cheaper paid products. Think of Alfred as Spotlight with a dash of Siri. It’s an application launcher, but it can do a lot more than just that. With Alfred, you can quickly perform calculations, execute web searches, and find word definitions, among many other functions. The 10 must-have utilities for macOS Sierra For the least frustration and most efficiency on your Mac, install these handy extras. A Software Installation Manager: Homebrew. Unarguably, Homebrew should be the first application you need to have on your Mac. Basically, its a package manager that lets you install software tools. Just make sure that you have your Windows 7 or Windows 8 installation discs handy. What if you don’t want to reboot, and you want to share data easily between your Mac and Windows applications? Luckily, Parallels offers a solution: Parallels Desktop for Mac. The program sells for about $80, but this doesn’t include a licensed copy of Windows.
Now nobody has to hunt for an alternative app like a PDFreader or image editor as the built-in apps are more than enough for such basictasks.
However, there are still some parts of Windows 10 where we need improvement. Aspects of the OS with which users interact daily such as Windows Explorer, file operations(move/copy/rename), installing/uninstalling apps are still somewhat the same as before.
So, today we will talk about fifteen apps that will improve your Windows experience and help you in accomplishing daily tasks in a much quicker way.
1. Clover
Windows Explorer has got a design upgrade in Windows 10, but, functionality wise it's still the same. Clover is an app which adds the much-needed features to Windows Explorer. Tabs, Bookmarks, enhanced keyboard shortcuts are some of the highlights of the long list of features this app has.
Plus, it integrates seamlessly with Windows, so you will not notice any out of the place visual changes.
Qttabbar is another alternative app for Clover. It is much more powerful and offers a hugenumber of options to customize it as per your needs.
2. Unchecky
Our next app keeps a vigilant look at all the programs we install on our computers. Many of the freeware or shareware type programs often contain sneaky little tick boxes during installation which silently install the advertiser's app or make changes to your system like changing the default homepage, adding a toolbar or even changing the default browser.
While most such additional programs are just annoying and can be uninstalled easily, there are some potentially harmful ones too which can install a rootkit or keylogger. Unchecky saves you all this hassle by alerting you whenever any programs try to pull such a stunt and automatically unchecks any such check-boxes.
And it's simple to use. Just install it and let it run in the background. No need to mess with any settings.
3. Ditto
Ditto is an awesome clipboard manager for Windows 10 which supercharges the clipboard functionality. A clipboard manager is particularly useful for someone who works with a lot of text and documents.
It has happened to me many times, I copy a draft of an article from one app, close it, only to find out that it hasn't been copied after pressing Ctrl+V. And the real horror is realizing I haven't saved the draft anywhere.
Clipboard manager like Ditto saves all your copied text as Historyso one can easily find any particular bit of info even if they have overwritten or lost it. Other useful features include the ability to sync clipboards of two different PCs, a stats meter and of-course, keyboard shortcuts.
4. Everything Search
One of the parts of Windows 10 that has taken a nosedive compared to the previous version is the Search function. It's hit-and-miss for many users as it doesn't return the results expected and most of the time resort to web search through, yes, you guessed it, Bing. Very helpful indeed.
While you can fix the Search, Everything Search is a better app for this. Its response time to a search query is nearly instant and the results are pretty accurate as well. Plus you can run it without installation and has some really cool additional features.
It can search an external FTP server, you can exclude specific folders from search and even search a remote PC over the web.
5. Jdownloader 2
It's known to everyone that Windows doesn't have its own downloader app and the de-facto alternative to it is Internet Download Manager(IDM), which is a paid.The free alternative is Jdownloader 2, which performs same as IDM, has morefeatures and is open-source.
One unique feature of Jdownloader is the supportfor plugins which can do various things such as controlling it remotely over Web and solving captchas on its own.
It also supports premium accounts of many file-sharing sites so you can download without any limits. If you have time and patience to learn, you can automate JDownloader through Javascript too.
6. TreeSize
Ever wondered what is hogging storage space on your PC? You don't download a ton of things still you are running out of disk space. To solve this Windows 10 has Storage Sense feature is which frees up disk space periodically by deleting temporary and old files.
You can tweak what it does by going to Settings>System>Storage>Storage Sense.
While the Modern Storage setting does visually show which folder is taking up the maximum space, you can't see individual files or do any operations. TreeSize shows you this info in much more detail including the number of files and sub-folders.
Plus, the directory-style menu is easier to understand than that of Windows 10. Finally, there are plentyof options to customize and filter how you want to view the storage data.
7. AnyDesk
Remote connection to a computer may not fare on the list of tasks an average user does often. However, it can be very useful in times when you need to help or get help for a problem. For remote connections, Windows Remote Desktop protocol is thesuperior to other solutions out there.
Though, it has a major limitation that it's available only on Pro edition of Windows. Plus to use it you need to fiddle with the IP addresses and host-names.
AnyDesk is the free app which comes close to the performance of Windows RDP and is simple to use like TeamViewer. It also has iOS, Android and Linux apps and even works cross-platform.
8. Speccy
If you have ever felt ill-informed when someone asks how much RAM your PC has or what processor it has, you can go to Control Panel>System and Security>System and find out.
However, if they ask what frequency you RAM isrunning or what GPU it has, you will again go back to being ill-informed.
Knowing your PC's hardware helps in troubleshooting as well as gauging its capability for running certain apps and games. This way you don't go on sending angry emails to tech support stating that your new Dell AIO can't run PUBG on 4K because you don't know it has GT 1030.
Speccy provides detailed info of each component of your PC and also shows the temperatures of critical parts like CPU and GPU. Finally, you can also share the specs of your PC in text or INI format for genuine help with a problem or bragging rights.
9. Odrive
With Windows 8, Microsoft gave a lot of thrust to promoting OneDrive by integrating it natively with Windows and even offering the now-defunct unlimited cloud storage plan. OneDrive, as a cloud service is comparatively good, though there are many who use other cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox.
However, adding a desktop app for each cloud service you use becomes cumbersome and Odrive is the app which solves this problem. An all-in-one universal sync client which supports over 20+ cloud services and allows you to finely control how and what files get synced.
10. ShareX
Taking a screenshot of Windows has long been done by the humble PrtScr button or the Snipping Tool which was introduced in Windows Vista. Recently, in the Windows 10 Creators Update, a new shortcut got added, Win+Shift+S.
Programs Must Have For Mac Osx
Third party apps for taking screenshots are dime a dozen, however, ShareX is our favorite pick. The reason being, it's free, feature rich and can be useful to both a newbie or a pro user. Plus the automation features built in are really awesome. Want to add today's date to screenshot, have it numbered and upload to Gdrive?
You can do it. Want to add a black border and watermark to screenshot, upload it to Imgur and generate a short URL? You can do that too. Need I say more!
11. Smooth Video Playback
VLC is the undisputed king for video playback on Windows. It's simple to use, has plenty features and plays almost all video formats out there. Still, if you are a movie buff or like binge-watching your favorite TV shows, you will love SVP.
Smooth Video Playback or SVP 4 converts any video to 60 FPS and higher in real time. This makes the video appear more smooth and fluid, especially ones which involve a lot of action. Sadly, the free version of SVP 4 doesn't work with VLC and you will need to use(How-To) either MPC-BE or MPC-HC player.
However, if you fork out $15 for pro version, you get support for online videos, streaming over Chromecast and a bunch of other features.
12. X-Mouse Button Control
Windows settings for configuring mouse are limited to just switching mouse buttons and at best changing how the cursor looks like. If you yearn for more customization to match your Hotkey Game, XBMC(not to be confused with the media player) will give your mouse buttons multitasking superpowers.
With XBMC, you can configure what the mouse buttons and scroll wheel does in an application and add up to 10 layers to each app, which can be switched by a hotkey.
To put that into perspective, you can configure a three-button mouse to do 300 different things per application. And that's not counting scroll wheel!
13. BleachBit
Windows 10 has gotten a lot better at housekeeping by cleaning up after itself to prevent junk build up. Disk Clean-up does the job effectively by deleting all the temp and old files.
CCleaner has long been the alternative go-to app for this job, but, recently it was discovered to riddled with a malware which affected millions of users.
BleachBit is an open-source alternative which does the same thing and even overwrites the empty space so nothing can be recovered. It is also useful for cleaning files of a specific app like your browser, as opposed to Disk Clean-up which deletes everything.
14. Sizer
Windows 10 allows you to arrange open apps either side-by-side or stacked by right-clicking on Taskbar. Or you can resize them freely to arrange them as per your liking.
Sizer a free app which allows you to set custom sizes for each open windows(apps) and bind them to a hotkey. This way you can effectively divide your screen space, pixel-wise to arrange multiple apps like I have shown in the image above.
15. Teracopy
Initially, I wasn't going to include Teracopy to this list, as I always felt it didn't offer that much of an advantage over Windows copy. But, that changed when I gave the upgraded version a try on Windows 10.
While copying 37 GB of game files to my NAS server took Windows over 10 mins, Teracopy did it in under 8 mins.
Of course, how quickly files are copied and written is heavily dependent on a variety of factors like disk type, system load, network link etc, Teracopy speeds it up most of the times and doesn't hang if you cancel or pause the task. Further, it can also check the integrity of copied files by checking their checksums.
A Word About Contributions
Almost all the apps that are on the list have a portable version available, which makes it easier to test the app without installing it. And many of them are made by few small independent developers in their free time.
So, if you find any of the above apps particularly useful, consider donating or purchasing the pro version.
Because while drafting the list, I came across many other useful apps like ShapeShifter, PC-Decrapifier, and FileBot, which have been abandoned or gone completely paid due to lack of donations and time from the developer.
With that said, if you know or use any other such apps do share them through comments.
See Next: How to Post Instagram Stories Longer Than 15 Seconds on Android and iPhoneThe above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Also See#windows 10
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Contents
- 2. El Capitan Features
- 3. El Capitan Download & Install
- 4. OS X 10.11 Problems
- 5. Mac OS X 10.11 Tips
- 6. Software for OS X 10.11
- 7. Compare OS
In July, Mac has released their newest beta OS, El Capitan. While users still might experience a few bugs until the official version is released this fall, many of us are quite happy with the overall experience and all the new features. To make the experience even better, there are numerous apps available for the OS. Whether you want to increase productivity, organize your day better or find a great media player, I’ve got you covered. Here are my top 10 picks of the greatest and most indispensable software for Mac OS X El Capitan.
Top 13 Must-have Software for Mac OS X 10.11
#1. Recoverit (IS)
Recoverit (IS) recovers almost all kinds of files from multiple devices. You can use this powerful Data Recovery to recover your images, video or audio files, ducuments and archives etc. It is also available on Mac computers, video players, USB, hard drive, digital camera, and memory card. This Data Recovery provides the easiest, fastest and safest solution to recover your data lost by accidental deletion. You are allowed to preview your files before recovery. The recovery process is extremely easy and every one can use it without difficulty.
#2. Wunderlist
It can’t hurt to have a great to-do app, but finding one that is actually great for you is harder said than done (trust me, I’ve been there). Wunderlist is probably the best one out there, because of its versatility. Whether you want to write a grocery list, manage work projects, create a schedule or set a reminder for that important business meeting next week, Wunderlist has got you covered. The interface isn’t cluttered and difficult to navigate, so organization will be easier than ever. To me, this is an app I couldn’t function without. Plus, it allows you to share lists with family or colleagues and is available on pretty much every platform. You can set reminders, due dates, add hashtags, notes or print your schedule with just a few clicks. That’s power, right there.
Price: Free ($4.99 for the Pro version)
#3. 1Password
Do you know that feeling when you have so many accounts or email addresses that you eventually forget what the password is for every one of them? I do, which is the reason why I love 1Password so much. It keeps all of your passwords in one place, so you’ll never have to click that embarrassing “I forgot my password” button again. There are a lot of similar apps available, but I opted for this one because of its overall simplicity. In El Capitan, 1Password might experience slight display glitches, but other than that, it works fine.
Price: Free ($69.99 for the Full version)
#4. iSkysoft iMedia Converter Deluxe for Mac
iSkysoft iMedia Converter Deluxe for Mac is an all-in-one video converter that converts an audio or video media file to virtually any format. In this case, this can be a very helpful tool that allows you to convert your video files from or to any other format. You can not only convert various video formats files, but also be able to make and manage distinctive videos. This powerful Converter allows users to crop, trim or rotate video before conversion. The converting process is so simple that even beginners can use it in no time.
Price: $59.95
#5. Mailbox
Going through your emails is often like running through a maze – you get lost in junk mail, subscriptions, newsletters and personal emails, so sometimes, you overlook a few important messages. Mailbox is only one of email management apps, but, unlike most of the others, it’s already available for El Capitan. With mailbox, you get an iPhone-like experience; you can swipe right and left to delete or mark your emails, it has a bunch of useful features and a fast and visible interface.
Price: Free
#6. MalwareBytes
Every computer needs a good anti-virus protection. MalwareBytes has over 200 million downloads, so it must be doing something right. It’s simple to use, while still effectively protecting your Mac from those dangerous Trojans, worms, spyware, rogues and whatnot. Protecting your computer is definitely something every user should invest in, so if you haven’t downloaded it by now, get right onto it.
Price: Free ($25.54 for the Premium version)
#7. Caffeine
This tiny little app prevents your Mac from automatically going to sleep and starting screen savers. Although it doesn’t do anything groundbreaking, it’s pretty useful for users and that’s why I love it. After installation, you’ll see a little coffee cup at the top of you menu bar – when you click it, Caffeine will be active, but you can turn it off just as easily. Plus, it’s free, so if you decide you don’t want it anymore, you won’t shed any tears over the price.
Price: Free
#8. CoconutBattery
CoconutBattery allows you to see everything you need to know about your battery’s life: how often it was charged, how much time you have before you need to charge it again, current capacity in comparison to when it was new, its age and so much more. It doesn’t take up much space on your Mac, but is really useful.
Price: Free (they accept donations, though)
#9. Colloquy
Have you been searching for that perfect messenger to communicate with people? If so, this is the best choice you can make. Usually, Mac’s chat apps aren’t very easy on the eyes, but Colloquy is the exception. It’s really simple, clean and easy to use and has a feel of a high-quality Mac app. Plus, it’s available on mobile, as well. It has a sleek interface and you can customize the look of it however you like. It also includes a dictionary and emoji’s, so communication will be really easy.
Price: Free
#10. Fantastical 2
This is probably one of the best, clearest and most user-friendly calendar programs out there. It allows you to import your schedule, organize your tasks in different categories (family, work, personal etc.) and all of it will be reachable and easy to navigate. You can also set reminders and have 2 different themes to choose from – Dark and Light. Fantastical 2 is the Holy Grail of calendars, trust me on this.
Price: $39.99
#11. Filmora Video Editor
For those who needs a tool for video editing, Filmora Video Editor is by far the most powerful and useful video editor. This software allows users to convert video clips into movies a lot faster. You can also create a timed movie with background music, professional effects and smooth transitions. With Filmora Video Editor, you can edit and personalize your video and audio files with ease.
Price: $39.95
#12. CleanMyMac 3
This is a software useful to anyone with a Mac. Most of us have a lot of apps or old files we don’t really need anymore, but can’t quite bring ourselves to delete them. That’s where CleanMyMac 3 comes in. Hey, did you know that every time you rotate a photo or make any sort of change to it, your computer automatically creates a copy of it? Now, how many unnecessary files is that? A lot. With this program, you can choose which folders you want scanned, so broken downloads, old updates, file copies or old email attachments won’t eat up your disk space anymore. Call it a spring clean, but every computer need a cleanup every now and then.
Price: Free (€39.95 for the full version, €59.95 for 2 Macs, €89.95 for 5 Macs)
#13. Deliveries
Now if you are big on online shopping like me, you’ll love this app. It will be located on the bottom of your screen and show you the status of your purchases. Whether you’re waiting on the latest gadget, a piece of clothing or a new book that you can’t wait to read, with Deliveries, you’ll be able to track your shipment. If you click a particular delivery, it will display more information and there’s also a countdown timer, so you’ll always know how much more you need to wait until you get your hands on an anticipated product. It’s compatible with more carrier services, like FedEx, DHL or City Link.
Best Programs For Mac
Price: $4.99