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Your rating: Now say why...
Xslimmer removes wasted space on your Mac's hard drive by removing the binary from either its PowerPC or Intel code (depending on the system architecture used). The result users report is that you can save 47% of your disk space.
For example, when running Xslimmer on Google Earth 4, it shrinks the size from 101MB to 52.8MB, which is a 47% reduction.
As the developer states, the driving goal of Xslimmer is to achieve size reduction without compromising functionality. As of version 1.2, the option to strip applications from unwanted language files and localizations is
For example, when running Xslimmer on Google Earth 4, it shrinks the size from 101MB to 52.8MB, which is a 47% reduction.
As the developer states, the driving goal of Xslimmer is to achieve size reduction without compromising functionality. As of version 1.2, the option to strip applications from unwanted language files and localizations is
What's New
Version 1.8.2:
- Fixes a crasher introduced in version 1.8 - it crashed on startup in Leopard and Tiger systems.
Requirements
PPC / Intel, Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.
PPC / Intel, Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.
Xslimmer User Discussion (Write a Review)
Overall:
(59)
(59)
| Downloads:77,533 |
| Version Downloads:3,812 |
| Type:Utilities : File Management |
| License:Shareware |
| Date:22 Jul 2011 |
| Platform:PPC / Intel |
| Price: $14.95 |
Overall (Version 1.x):  |
| Features: |
Ease of Use: |
| Value: |
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Xslimmer removes wasted space on your Mac's hard drive by removing the binary from either its PowerPC or Intel code (depending on the system architecture used). The result users report is that you can save 47% of your disk space.
For example, when running Xslimmer on Google Earth 4, it shrinks the size from 101MB to 52.8MB, which is a 47% reduction.
As the developer states, the driving goal of Xslimmer is to achieve size reduction without compromising functionality. As of version 1.2, the option to strip applications from unwanted language files and localizations is added. Version 1.2.7 improves Leopard support by automatically excluding Time Machine paths from the analysis process.
Additional features for safe use include a "blacklist" and a custom folder list (which is by default populated with key system locations). This prevents problems with applications (or the system itself) that will no longer work after size reduction.
With the "App Finder Genie", a user can list all size reducible applications on the hard disk and choose to slim them and save a considerable amount of hard disk space.
For example, when running Xslimmer on Google Earth 4, it shrinks the size from 101MB to 52.8MB, which is a 47% reduction.
As the developer states, the driving goal of Xslimmer is to achieve size reduction without compromising functionality. As of version 1.2, the option to strip applications from unwanted language files and localizations is added. Version 1.2.7 improves Leopard support by automatically excluding Time Machine paths from the analysis process.
Additional features for safe use include a "blacklist" and a custom folder list (which is by default populated with key system locations). This prevents problems with applications (or the system itself) that will no longer work after size reduction.
With the "App Finder Genie", a user can list all size reducible applications on the hard disk and choose to slim them and save a considerable amount of hard disk space.
Copyright © 2012 MacUpdate LLC
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Wickedsp1d3r reviewed on 03 Dec 2011
Hope it's still under active development. Very nice application overall!
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Nerdnase reviewed on 27 Oct 2011
I heard back initially with a request for system info, and some other possibly related items. I provided the requested information, then nothing. That was early October. I've sent repeated requests for updates, and have received no response aside from the auto responses.
Based on my experience with LateNiteSoft and XSlimmer, I say do not gamble with an unreliable company. The payback is not worth the potential of them ignoring requests to provide service for the product they sell.
Because the after purchase service was nonexistent for me, I cannot rate any feature as acceptable because the product appears to have cause a large number of File Sync problems, all similar to iDisk/XSlimmer Backup/Google Earth.app.xs_bck/Contents/Resources. Be Warned.
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I posted as one person's experience with this product AND COMPANY as a warning to others who may think customer service important with software like this. If a product or service works well for 50% and they never need the company to back up their software, product, or service, there's no problem. If; however, the product causes problems, breaks or otherwise doesn't perform, it's important that the company is reliable, returns email inquiries, etc., don't you think? Is there something that seems unfair about this to you?
You stated: "I'm just a user, but to be fair, that's not a problem with the product at all, any sort of product that modifies the core framework of an application file like this program does will completely make any sort of "Sync" service because you changed the things its trying to sync."
Your attempt to make a point makes no sense.
XSlimmer does provide the information that you, perhaps, were trying to.
Isn't it dangerous to modify the binary data of applications?
Removing code that will never be run on your machine is safe. However, a very small number of applications may not function properly after they have been slimmed down, because they may check themselves to enforce anti-piracy measures. Xslimmer takes a number of precautions to avoid putting you in a position where an application cannot be used after being slimmed down. It provides a backup mechanism that can be enabled from Xslimmer's Preferences, automatically storing a copy of the applications before they are slimmed down. It also provides the means to "blacklist" applications that you don't want ever to slim down. The blacklist is automatically configured to ignore some popular applications known to perform integrity checks on themselves.
We recommend that you enable the backup option if you intend to reduce the size of an application that you will not be able to reinstall.
My purpose in using the software was not to run it, then replace the damage the software caused with my backup. I read the instructions, the FAQ, always have multiple backups.
Using your tortured metaphor "…its kind of like pulling things out of your engine bay 'cause you don't 'think' you need them," would be far more accurate had you included "We at general motors have a system of culling motor parts that are not being used by your automobile. A small number of some engine's functions may no longer work after using this culling procedure, so keep a backup engine ready to reinstall. Our system of culling will allow you to easily install the new engine AUTOMATICALLY."
I attempted to use the backup option that I had enabled per XSlimmer's instructions—IT DIDN'T WORK.
You have no idea what my user level is, and for the record I was able to repair XSlimmer's damage just fine. I'm not at all certain that the average user would be able to, so buyer beware.The point is that XSlimmer did not in my case support their product at all, ignored repeated requests for help, and appear to have little regard for the time of people who purchase their software.
I imagine you to be quite young, as you were able to completely miss the point of my review, miscommunicate your own point, make incorrect assumptions about my "user level," and make claims for the software company that they do not make themselves. I am tech savvy, and it was not worth the problem. At. All.
Sometimes xian_online, it's better to just admit you don't know what you're talking about and leave it at that, don't you think?
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I reverted to Version 1.7.9 from my back-ups. (how'd I miss 1.8.0?)
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I'd say that this is one more reason to stay away from Lion 'till most of its bugs are worked out.
I won't touch it until then.
The initial version of any new OS is always good for a severe case of hemorrhoids.
Be that as it may, xSlimmer is a winner; been using it for many months now and it works beautifully. No issues experienced.
Be that as it may,
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Thanks!
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Stronachab reviewed on 16 Jul 2011
Yes, I could probably have saved the $15 by stripping out surplus languages and binaries myself but (a) I'm not savvy or computer-confident enough to do that; (b) I don't have the time or interest, and (c) hey, it's $15. I suspect there are many people like me who just don't need the hassle.
The bottom line? It stripped out 4.72GB of wasted space on a 500GB iMac with 261 applications.
Most impressive were Final Cut Pro 7.0.3 going from 801MB to 183MB; MacFamilyTree dropping from 365MB to 117MB, and Aperture 3.1.3 going from 602MB to 379MB. Also, all the components of the iLife 09 suite slimmed to an average half of their previous size.
I have tried all these applications intensively since the slimming, and I was especially nervous about the hit that Final Cut Pro might have taken having lost 77% of its size. The good news is that everything — even some of the most obscure commands and facilities — seems to be working perfectly.
You could argue that $15 is a lot to pay for 4.72GB of space, but that was only partly why I bought xSlimmer. Subjectively, the heavily slimmed applications are zippier. Much zippier. I also like knowing that there is no padding or dead code on my computer; that it's as lean as it can be.
In short, as a non-geek, all I can tell you is that it has worked beautifully and perfectly for me.
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Nooneknowme reviewed on 20 Feb 2011
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Bigboysdad reviewed on 25 Aug 2010
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Some other apps react similarly, but in general this sort of thing is a pretty good way to save valuable disk space, in my experience.
Having said that, proceed with caution! Better a dry teabag than a bent shovel, as they say!
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Thanks!
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It would be nice to be able to just strip out the PPC code in the latest version until more third-party software has been updated to work in 64-bit.
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"It would be nice to be able to just strip out the PPC code in the latest version until more third-party software has been updated to work in 64-bit."
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You CAN.
Look in the preferences..
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On a 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo machine, the application wrongly figured it was running on a Power PC processor and proceeded to merrily remove the wrong code from hundreds of applications.
I sent the developer a screenshot showing the "About this Macintosh" Finder window and the About window from Xslimmer, side by side. The Finder reports "2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo", Xslimmer says "Running on PPC".
These crippled applications will have to be reinstalled.
These results are forcing me to conclude that Xslimmer is dangerous. Earlier this month the developer offered my money back. I said never mind. But as I wrote to him a few minutes ago, now I'm taking their offer.
Patricio Mason
Santiago, Chile
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While a Get Info on the application will show that only the desired language(s) remain(s), in fact hundreds of unwanted language packs still reside inside these applications, only at deeper levels. These will not show in a Get Info window. As such, you will not notice unless you check the application package contents, either manually or with a file finder utility.
It therefore appears that Xslimmer doesn't work recursively, which means that the point of removing unnecessary material is being achieved only partially.
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Running a fresh Leopard install on a PPC machine, Xslimmer 1.5.3 has just stripped Spanish language packages from some applications, although Spanish is selected as one of my two language preferences (after English) in the International panel of System Preferences.
Most strange of all, I'm now finding that random components in the (expressly excluded) System and Library folders have also been stripped of Spanish language packages. I have two internal discs with identical Leopard installations, so comparison is easy and definitive.
The more I compare, the more components with missing Spanish language packages I'm finding. Where this has happened, the component has been left with only an English language package, whereas the identical component on the other internal disc has both English and Spanish language packages.
I normally run in English, so this is not an immediate disaster. But it does mean that my computer can no longer startup in Spanish. Given the circumstances, I won't even try.
Getting my machine back to pre-Xslimmer state will require a complete reinstallation. I'm not amused.
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Bought Xslimmer in the MU bundle just a few hours ago.
Ran it but crashed when the Marine Aquarium screen saver (bought at the same time) engaged after i walked away and my MBP became idle.
So I ran slimmer again but saw many apps already got backed up (even though not showing in the Xslimmer history) in the User folder.
So now, the second time, I deactivated the screen saver and it ran successfully, except I noticed I am now short almost 5GB of space than before I used Xslimmer. (it didn't get slimmer, it got fatter.)
I know I can remove the backed up apps in the User folder, but since it crashed the first time, I now have many duplicate app files in the user folder ([App_name] and App_name-1 duplicates). I don't know which one I can remove to keep the very original app safe.
I did notice some apps started faster (such as Google Earth).
Maybe they can have built-in disable screen saver so it doesn't crash like it happened to me.
I am waiting for Xslimmer to contact me and let me know what to do with the 5GB of Apps + App duplicates...
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We have been trying to contact you repeatedly, using different email accounts. We have checked our mail server logs, which show that our emails are being sent to the address you provided. So far we are not getting any bounces or error messages, but obviously our emails are not reaching you for some reason.
Could you please email us with one of your alternate addresses, so that we can resend your license again?
Best regards,
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Pedro
Xslimmer Team
Quest4sanity rated on 02 Dec 2011
SuperMat64 rated on 20 Sep 2011
srhyne rated on 29 Jul 2011
Robgs rated on 22 Jul 2011
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TripHHH rated on 21 Jun 2011
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Tbrizitsky rated on 03 Jun 2011
AlanG100 rated on 19 May 2011
Acconcia rated on 04 May 2011
Charles Dyas rated on 07 Apr 2011
Robin-Wolf-Schneider rated on 05 Apr 2011