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Alfred
Alfred 1.0
Your rating: Now say why...

(23) 4.434782608695652

Quick launcher for apps and more.   Free
Add to my Watch List
Email me when discounted
  • Download Now
    2.3 MB
  • Visit Developer's Site
    Running with Crayons Ltd
Alfred is a quicklaunch application for Mac OS X, which aims to save you time in searching your local computer and the web. Whether it's maps, Amazon, eBay, Wikipedia, you can feed your web addiction quicker than ever before.
  • Increase your productivity by launching apps with shortcuts
  • Quicker access to web searches, bookmarks & more
  • Be the first to identify "that guy" in a movie with speedy IMDB search
  • Ward off RSI - skip using the mouse with easy shortcuts
  • Best of all, it's FREE!
What's New
Version 1.0:

Global Hotkeys

  • Significant improvements to Powerpack Global Hotkeys:
  • Assign hotkey to Application and optionally toggle show/hide with assigned hotkey
  • Assign hotkeys to your extensions and optionally pass a parameter
  • Assign hotkeys to Alfred's built in system commands such as Sleep, Empty Trash etc
  • Assign hotkeys to Alfred's iTunes functions such as Random Album, next, previous, iTunes volume
  • Assign hotkeys to groups of URLs to show all your favourite sites in a single keypress
  • Assign a hotkey to a folder to browse in Finder or directly within Alfred's filesystem navigation
  • Global Hotkey Syncing between your macs
  • Relative ~ paths for hotkeys linked to files for better syncing
Features
  • New Payment process: We now accept CC payments & PayPal directly: alfredapp.com/purchase
  • Remember recently typed URLs for subsequent recall / use. New preferences section to configure this
  • cmd+c now copies information for the current result in Alfred's default results (e.g. file path or URL)
  • Improvements to snippets preferences allowing for searching and sorting for editing:
Improvements
  • Improved preferences, consistency and performance
  • Snippets can now be used when the Clipboard History is disabled
  • Show the clipboard history source icon next to the clipboard history icon for better context
  • Show a nice generic icon to represent web links rather than the Safari document icon
  • More available custom fallback searches (6 instead of 3)
  • Allow wildcarding in iTunes search and also improve search accuracy
  • Flatten diacritics in iTunes search for more predictable matching
  • Better distinction between Album and Artist icons in iTunes mini player
  • Tickbox to enable/disable individual extensions
  • Improved / less imposing look to the "Alfred should have found something" fallback result:
  • Better URL handling and recognition (can now accept things like messages://)
  • Nicknames now accepted in Alfred's 'Email to' action
  • Drop folders directly into Alfred's search scope list
  • Increase the total storage time for clipboard history to 3 months
  • Allow for + for space encodings in custom searches to support more site searches
  • Improve accuracy when using double tap hotkeys, ensuring that shift doesn't interfere
  • If {query} is used in a custom search's title, no longer automatically appending {query}
  • Alfred can now eject all items in /Volumes (set this in the preferences)
  • Improve the 'play' keyword to also look at file name as well as track name
  • Allow extension parameters to be marked as 'optional' as well as 'required' for more flexiblility
  • Global [advanced] option to mark AppleScripts as 'run' instead of 'open' (can still open using cmd+o)
  • Update to newer Growl framework
  • Remove and update deprecated code to make Alfred more future proof
  • Make the delete/backspace key work for deleting extensions for consistency
Bug Fixes
  • Improve defence against odd unicode character entry into Alfred search box
  • Run "empty trash" command in the background to prevent blocking Alfred with very many trash items
  • Fix subtext for iCloud synced contacts for correctly showing in Alfred
  • Ensure that ~ correctly resolves to the home folder in the actions views
  • Make the numpad "enter" key work the same as the "return" key
  • Better handling of symbolic linked folders and files in Alfred's file system navigation
  • iTunes keywords now removed from the default results when disabled in prefs
  • Remove trailing slash from Applications when using the Finder Selection hotkey
  • Remove defunct § key from launching the iTunes mini player (legacy)
  • When importing a new extension, correctly scroll to the new extension in the list
  • Correctly launch contact web addresses when they are missing the http://
  • Work around Lion bug where isCaseInsensitiveLike was failing for certain strings causing a hang
  • No longer miss off the first letter of an email address if setting the email keyword to @
  • Stop custom search icon from being lost when adding a second custom search with identical URL
  • Fix help text on reindexing shell script, changing 'any key' to 'enter' for continue
Version 1.0:

Global Hotkeys

  • Significant improvements to Powerpack Global Hotkeys:
  • Assign hotkey to Application and optionally toggle show/hide with assigned hotkey
  • Assign hotkeys to your extensions and optionally pass a parameter
  • Assign hotkeys to Alfred's built in system commands such as Sleep, Empty Trash etc
  • Assign hotkeys to Alfred's iTunes functions such as more...
Requirements
Intel, Mac OS X 10.6 or later







  • NuKit
    +18
    Commercial $19.99
    Multi-purpose utility; ...

  • Launcher
    +18
    Free
    Fast and light app launcher.

  • Shortcuts
    +11
    Commercial $7.99
    Create keyboard shortcuts for ...

  • Quicksilver
    +3
    Free
    Application launcher and much ...

  • LaunchBar
    +2
    Shareware $35
    Powerful file/URL/email ...

  • AppLauncher
    +1
    Free
    Quickly launch your apps.
Alfred User Discussion (Write a Review)
ver. 1.x:
(23)
Your rating: Now say why...
Overall:
(70)

sort: smiles | time
burypromote


Trendjunket reviewed on 13 Feb 2012
Without being able to search using multiple terms, I simply could not replace spotlight (and its fuzzy logic search). This is a bit of a deal-breaker for me.
[Version 1.0]


burypromote

+30

Myka reviewed on 30 Dec 2011
Alfred, plus its Powerpack, has become my new best friend on my Mac Mini (I'm still with Snow Leopard). I used LaunchBar for over a year, but ditched it when I fell in love with my lovely Alfred. I'm not saying LaunchBar isn't good. LaunchBar is excellent, and I know folks who swear by it. But...I dunno...Alfred is much faster on my system, I love its interface - the larger window, the color customization (as soon as I bought the Powerpack, I created three favorite color schemes! Yay!). And the growing, user-based extension library is a wonderful idea (I love the Wolfram Alpha extension, among others). In short: Alfred plus its Powerpack is the best app launcher I found, and much more. I should point out clearly that Alfred's free version is great too - I used the free version for a while before I decided to buy the extra features. If you're mainly after a great keyboard launcher, Alfred's free version is more than adequate. With the Powerpack you also get interface color customization, installing your extensions of choice, clipboard/snippets, iTunes player and...probably other goodies I forgot to mention.
[Version 1.0]

4 Replies

burypromote

+35
taja replied on 08 Feb 2012
have you noticed any things Alfred cannot do that Launchbar can? I've been thinking about switching for a while, but as far as I can tell Alfred doesn't have an equivalent of LB's 'Instant Send'… any thoughts?
burypromote
+1

+30
Myka replied on 11 Feb 2012
Hi taja, take a look at this Alfred support thread (just googled it for ya!):
https://getsatisfaction.com/alfredapp/topics/open_alfred_with_selected_text
Currently Alfred has something similar to "Instant Send", if you have the powerpack: select a file in Finder, then press cmd + alt + to pop up the result actions for that given file (where you can choose to open the file or 'open with', email it, copy/move/delete etc.).
It appears that in the upcoming release of Alfred 1.1, it would be possible to select text as well. Right now I'm using version 1 (I didn't opt for the "pre-releases" option under 'Updates' in Preferences, since I'd rather use the stable versions), so right now I can only select files.
burypromote

+35
taja replied on 11 Feb 2012
thank you! really helpful. Will come back to Alfred at 1.1, as Instant Send in LB is really helpful..
burypromote

+30
Myka replied on 11 Feb 2012
Welcome :)

Slight correction: You press cmd + alt + backslash () to pop up the results action menu. For some reason macupdate failed to display the backslash I typed earlier...
burypromote

+2

Filp reviewed on 14 Dec 2011
It's hard to determine why anyone would go to such lengths trashing an efficient, accurate, and easily-managed tool -- one that is free -- with no better explanation than what comes down to "I don't like it." So you don't like it. Don't use it. Or at least go away after one lousy review. No need to pile on the minimal-star ratings.
[Version 1.0]


burypromote
+1

+4

Angry-Ferret reviewed on 12 Dec 2011
This is AWESOME! SO many features in the one free app! I have 100+ apps on my Mac - now I need just to type a name of the app and its will be opened. coooool
[Version 1.0]


burypromote

-3

silverhand31 reviewed on 01 Dec 2011
Nice app, love the way it go.
Could you add "open Facebook", I quite common lately :D
[Version 1.0]

2 Replies

burypromote

-3
silverhand31 replied on 01 Dec 2011
Ah, I know how to do it now, brilliant!
burypromote

-3
silverhand31 replied on 08 Dec 2011
Could you add something that I drag my app/doc out of search tab to drop it in the Trash, like the spotlight
burypromote

-1

Joe-Y. reviewed on 01 Dec 2011
Great job, congrats. This is so better, handle and friendly than and Quicksilver, maybe it's the interface. But free? For how long?
[Version 1.0]

2 Replies

burypromote

+39
Aetnaria replied on 01 Dec 2011
Potentially forever, since there is a powerpack available for purchase if you want more features.
burypromote

-1
Joe-Y. replied on 01 Dec 2011
Definitely!!!
burypromote
+5

+89

Morannon reviewed on 01 Dec 2011
There was a time when Spotlight was a huge help to find files. But Apple made Spotlight more and more unfit: It didn't find the files I was searching for, and I didn't like the way the results were displayed.
That was the moment when Alfred came into play. The installation was really easy, and I liked Alfred's user interface. Alfred just worked for me in a few minutes, and since then, I never used Spotlight anymore.
I prefer Alfred to Spotlight because of the following reasons:

1) Alfred's much faster.
2) Alfred find's ALL my files (in contrast to Spotlight).
3) I can control my search by far easier than using Spotlight: To start applications and to open folders, I just type in a word. To search for files and its content, I press the space bar before entering my search term.
4) Alfred knows what I want to search for. In other words: Alfred seems to remember my search behaviour much better than Spotlight does.
5) I can configure custom searches, for example to directly find a term in wikipedia or to look up an translation of a word in leo.dict.org.
6) Alfred places the results of my search before my very eyes – I don't have to look in the right upper corner and read the results in a tiny font size.
7) Alfred is prettier.

These are my seven good reasons to use Alfred. As I bought Alfred's powerpack to expand Alfred's functionality, there are even more reasons to use Alfred. Thank you, developers, to offer such an huge time saver for free.
[Version 1.0]

2 Replies

burypromote
+1

+20
Paul Roberts replied on 01 Dec 2011
They are totally different applications with different purposes. Spotlight is not Alfred's competition.
burypromote
-2

-41
alsar replied on 01 Dec 2011
1) don't know what kind of problem do you have in your system, spotlight is not just only fast, is instant. You messed up your system. Repair your permissions or something

2)Alfred doesn't find all your files whereas spotlight always can. That's a constant issue that some users that really tried to used seriously , found. That;s what i found.

3) The smart way to configure custom searches is using GlimmerBlocker because it works globally, on spotlight, on any web browser and they url bars. Is a nonsense to have just one app to do that when you will want to do it from your browser as well.

Im not gonna to trust ever again on reviewers
burypromote


goofansu reviewed on 01 Dec 2011
Very good and stable on lion. Ui is simple and beautiful.
[Version 1.0]


burypromote
-15

-41

alsar reviewed on 30 Nov 2011
to everyone:

It seems that neither of those reviewers never used spotlight or just don't know how to use it

Reason #1 Smart Launching: Spotlight does the same thing. it can list your applications based on your behavior.
Reason #2 Control Your File Search. Spotlight cant do the same thing, even better using the kind trigger. Besides,it seems that Alfred doesn't find all my files , with a 40% fail rate. Spotlight find ALL my files.

Reason #3 Web Search: Spotlight can do web search too. Even have a web history search!

Reason #4 System Commands: Thats true. Spotlight can't do system commands.. THANK GOD!. I don't want to log out accidentally again while searching for a file called logs.sys. Stupid Alfred.

and about this review:http://www.macstories.net/mac/why-i-ditched-spotlight-for-alfred/. It seems that the guy switched to Alfred just because, without any valid reason. Spotlight slow? doesn't find his files? i think he missed up his own system

To END:http://www.macgasm.net/2011/02/08/theres-a-new-man-in-my-macs-life-and-his-name-is-alfred/
The only cool feature that this guy mention is that you can do custom searches. Yea , i missed that too, but then i found a more powerful, robust and versatile application for that: GlimmerBlocker.

GlimmerBloker is a ad blocking proxy that lives in your system. It doesn't only block ads, but it also let you to create custom searches , custom styles, modify web content... GLOBALLY, without missing up with your safari, spotlight or whatever because it never touch any applications, is just a proxy.

Right now i have tons of custom web searches that i can access from spotlight, the safaris' url bar, and even works in firefox, google chrome or what ever applications that connects to the internet. Alfred is a pitty compared to that.
[Version 1.0]

5 Replies

burypromote
+7

+73
Ulyssesric replied on 30 Nov 2011
You ranked it low twice just because there are other different applications that can achieve the same functionality ?

I'd really like to push the "Report Abuse" button but I can't find one.
burypromote
-6

-41
alsar replied on 30 Nov 2011
@Ulyssesric
I would love to delete my previous review, i don't know how to do it. But i rated low this app because is not better than other options,in fact is crap, yet it is seems to be popular.
burypromote
+3

+81
Rampancy replied on 30 Nov 2011
...because God forbid that other people use their Macs in ways that are different than *yours*. How dare they! How dare they use an app that *you* don't like! I can't believe they'd have the audacity to not share your opinions on what all Mac users should be doing!
burypromote

Arky replied on 01 Dec 2011
i found alfred to be around four times faster than spotlight and that is already a good enough reason for me use Alfred. It doesn't mean spotlight is useless or bad, and i think alfred likely utilizes spotlight for many of its features.
burypromote
-1

+20
Paul Roberts replied on 01 Dec 2011
Exactly, Arky. This was a bozo uninformed idiot review.
burypromote
-12

-41

alsar reviewed on 30 Nov 2011
Nice launcher, but i found that it is just fancy, nothing more. I can do all that alfred can do using spotlight instead, even with fewer clicks and keystrokes. I wonder why people don't even try to stop for a few moments and just do a real alfred vs spotlight test.
[Version 1.0]

2 Replies

burypromote
+3

+83
Macmaria replied on 30 Nov 2011
To start:
http://sayzlim.net/post/1633828233/alfred-app-vs-spotlight
http://www.macstories.net/mac/why-i-ditched-spotlight-for-alfred/

To end:
http://www.macgasm.net/2011/02/08/theres-a-new-man-in-my-macs-life-and-his-name-is-alfred/
burypromote
-6

-41
alsar replied on 30 Nov 2011
to macmaria:

It seems that neither of those reviewers never used spotlight or just don't know how to use it

Reason #1 Smart Launching: Spotlight does the same thing. it can list your applications based on your behavior.
Reason #2 Control Your File Search. Spotlight cant do the same thing, even better using the kind trigger. Besides,it seems that Alfred doesn't find all my files , with a 40% fail rate. Spotlight find ALL my files.

Reason #3 Web Search: Spotlight can do web search too. Even have a web history search!

Reason #4 System Commands: Thats true. Spotlight can't do system commands.. THANK GOD!. I don't want to log out accidentally again while searching for a file called logs.sys. Stupid Alfred.

and about this review:http://www.macstories.net/mac/why-i-ditched-spotlight-for-alfred/. It seems that the guy switched to Alfred just because, without any valid reason. Spotlight slow? doesn't find his files? i think he missed up his own system

To END:http://www.macgasm.net/2011/02/08/theres-a-new-man-in-my-macs-life-and-his-name-is-alfred/
The only cool feature that this guy mention is that you can do custom searches. Yea , i missed that too, but then i found a more powerful, robust and versatile application for that: GlimmerBlocker.

GlimmerBloker is a ad blocking proxy that lives in your system. It doesn't only block ads, but it also let you to create custom searches , custom styles, modify web content... GLOBALLY, without missing up with your safari, spotlight or whatever because it never touch any applications, is just a proxy.

Right now i have tons of custom web searches that i can access from spotlight, the safaris' url bar, and even works in firefox, google chrome or what ever applications that connects to the internet. Alfred is a pitty compared to that.
There are currently no troubleshooting comments. If you are experiencing a problem with this app, please post a comment.



gcrouse rated on 08 Jan 2012

[Version 1.0]



+25

DonkeyKong rated on 05 Dec 2011

[Version 1.0]



+81

Weaselboy rated on 01 Dec 2011

[Version 1.0]




Seanandersen rated on 01 Dec 2011

[Version 1.0]



+14

Michaelfuchs rated on 30 Nov 2011

[Version 1.0]



+83

Macmaria rated on 30 Nov 2011

[Version 1.0]



-295

Monkeyjunkey rated on 30 Nov 2011

[Version 1.0]




Jamiepeloquin rated on 30 Nov 2011

[Version 1.0]



+12

Fongd rated on 30 Nov 2011

[Version 1.0]




Pccuser rated on 23 Oct 2011

[Version 0.9.10]


Downloads:19,389
Version Downloads:3,821
Type:Utilities : File Management
License:Free
Date:30 Nov 2011
Platform:Intel
Price:Free0.00
Overall (Version 1.x):
Features:
Ease of Use:
Value:
Stability:
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Alfred is a quicklaunch application for Mac OS X, which aims to save you time in searching your local computer and the web. Whether it's maps, Amazon, eBay, Wikipedia, you can feed your web addiction quicker than ever before.
  • Increase your productivity by launching apps with shortcuts
  • Quicker access to web searches, bookmarks & more
  • Be the first to identify "that guy" in a movie with speedy IMDB search
  • Ward off RSI - skip using the mouse with easy shortcuts
  • Best of all, it's FREE!
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