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EDITOR NOTES
Version for Mac OS X 10.4-10.5 available in 'Related Links' below on this page.
DESCRIPTION
Quicksilver is a unified, extensible interface for working with applications, contacts, music, and other data.
Anyone using a computer (and the Macintosh is no exception) spends a lot of time locating files and applications, and then carrying out actions on those items. The Finder is a reasonably good tool for getting a visual overview of the contents of your disk, but it isn't ideal for quickly locating and manipulating files, especially if you have a deep and complicated folder structure, or if you prefer keyboard navigation to using the mouse.
Quicksilver allows you to find what you need quickly and easily, while keeping your hands on the keyboard. For example, if you want to launch an application hidden in the depths of your file system, simply activate Quicksilver with a keystroke, type a few letters of the application's name, then hit Return or Enter to launch it. When you don't need Quicksilver, it keeps out of your way, preserving precious screen real estate, and yet you can summon it instantly with a key stroke - just like Mercury the winged messenger. Actually, Roman mythological texts are remarkably silent on whether Mercury could be summoned with a key stroke, but it would have been great if he could. Quicksilver will certainly make you feel as if you have god-like powers.
Quicksilver indexes and parses selected parts of the contents of your hard drive in the Catalog, so that it locates and displays the items matching your search really quickly. If you are a programmer or an uber-geek, you will be glad to know that you can extend and customise Quicksilver until it does exactly what you want it to. The modular structure also means that the application will never be bloated: You only load the modules that you find useful
An older, 10.3 compatible version is available: http://getqs.blacktree.com/b36/
WHAT'S NEW
Version 1.0b57: - Default compiler changed to Clang, Apple's and the Open Source community's next gen compiler.
By doing that a 20 to 40% increase in runtime speed was gained while managing a catalog library with approx. 13k items. Quicksilver also feels a lot snappier too. This, of course, is mostly subjective (read: YMMV).
- Actions should now appear localized again where appropriate.
(e.g. 'Copy to...' for example in German could also be typed as 'Bewegen nach...' or 'Open' as 'Ouvrir' in French.
.lproj folders for English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Danish, Finish, Norwegian, Polish, and Swedish have been included. Mind you, the end result really depends on how Mac OS X handles this in the target language as Quicksilver just asks the OS for the localized representation of some common actions).
- Composed characters like German umlauts (e.g. 'ä') will now show both parts (the letter 'a' and the 'dots'. Previously only letters would show up).
- The broken action menu now shows up with a cross-selection of all enabled actions from the Actions preferences.
- The Smart Replace and Replace dialog actions no longer crash Quicksilver and will now actually append numbers via a smart numbering system if a file to be copied or moved already exists at the destination.
In order to use the Smart Replace dialog you will need to set the feature level equal to or higher than 3.To do that enter the following exactly into the Terminal and press Return: defaults write com.blacktree.Quicksilver "Feature Level" 3
- File operation requiring credentials no longer crash QS after providing the password.
- The Large Type action now keeps the text visible again for prolonged periods.
- Icons associated with custom file actions (e.g. like custom AppleScript actions) are now correctly displayed instead of a generic file placeholder icon.
- AppleScript actions which return something now cause Quicksilver to reappear again ready to use the result for the next action.
- Mouse tracking for triggers ('Mouse entered' / 'Mouse exited') now seems to work more reliably.
- The Extras pref pane no longer has a row spacing issue upon first loading of the associated NIB file.
- Excessive log outputs have been silenced to only occur if certain debugging environment variables are set in order to avoid spamming the Console.
- Dozens of API upgrades like replacing deprecated methods with safer variants or adding declaration names for the new way of handling informal protocols.
- All NIB files were converted to a SCM and collaboration friendly XIB format. A lot of clipping warnings have been fixed.
- Triggers with weird keys (like Function keys) are now displayed again.
- Updated French and German localization.
- Various other housekeeping tasks.
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.5 or later.
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| Quicksilver User Reviews (264 posts) | Write A Review |
 | Jan 23 2009 |
KZX72 Latest build: http://code.google.com/p/blacktree-alchemy/downloads/list
(Version 1.0b54) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Jun 16 2009 |
SVRROOT 1000 smileys for your link!! the best quicklaunch application, the latest builds also works on snow leopard (wwdc preview) thanks a lot!
(Version 1.0b54) | |
| Oct 2 2009 |
DR. GIRLFRIEND How awesome is it to see a new stable version of Quicksilver back on Macupdate? A big "Thanks!" to all of you brave beta testers who never gave up on it and the current developers for keeping it alive. Can't wait to try this version.
(Version 1.0b56a7) | |
| [ 2 Replies - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Oct 2 2009 |
ICONZ113 What is this, quicksilver PR day, its finished, just give up lmao
(Version 1.0b56a7) | |
| Oct 2 2009 |
STILL_SPARKLING ICONZ113, isn't there a bridge somewhere desperately in need of your trolling services? We get it. You don't like Quicksilver. Congrats. Now move along and find something else to do with your much too abundant time. The rest of us would like to see Quicksilver succeed and have grown-up things to discuss.
(Version 1.0b56a7) | |
 | Dec 1 2009 |
MDOGNRDOG Quicksilver is not really a supported "product." It is also not one of those typical Mac "it just works" things -- you have to explore how to set up your workflow to exploit the power that Quicksilver possesses, and tinker with settings until you've got it dialed in perfectly. That being said, I feel CRIPPLED when I accidentally quit Quicksilver, or I'm using a Mac that doesn't have it installed. Apple should hire the developers, and make QS functionality part of the core operating system. Sending files to the proper places, appending text to designated files, attaching files to email, looking up contacts, simple app launching -- these are tasks that would otherwise require several clicks through the Finder hierarchy, sometimes much more than that. But in Quicksilver I'm there in a flash (often with hotkey "triggers" that I've memorized to make it faster still). The new version, b57, fixes a couple problems that had plagued QS since Alcor, the original developer, abandoned QS to go work on other things. It now runs like a champ. If you can handle a little tinkering, QS gives you insane, effortless power to get things done. If you can't, don't complain about QS -- it's just not your cup of tea.
(Version 1.0b57) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Oct 5 2009 |
DR. GIRLFRIEND Bye bye Launchbar! Quicksilver is working just as good as it used to in the good old days. No instability, no system hanging, no crashes like with some of the other previous betas. And on a more superficial note, I'm elated that I no longer have to look at that ugly orange LB in my dock or my applications folder. And even more elated to save $40.00! (Sorry, ObDev. Little Snitch still rules though and is worth every penny.) Thanks, Quicksilver Team!
(Version 1.0b56a7) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Oct 2 2009 |
NONTROPPO b56a7 works brilliantly for me on Snow Leopard 10.6.1. The core plugins all work well. The only one I was missing was file tagging plugin, but recently an OpenMeta plugin has been added which is far better than the old &comment tag method, and interoperable with lots of new metadata management apps on OS X. The display of characters in the triggers dialogs is broken, but triggers themselves work fine; this is just a cosmetic annoyance. Quicksilver, even in its opensource community guise, is still significantly more powerful and elegant than Google's QSB or Launchbar. Openmeta plugin available here: http://groups.google.com/group/blacktree-quicksilver/browse_thread/thread/df03c483786ca2da/
(Version 1.0b56a7) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Oct 2 2009 |
SHOCK J Hallelujah!!!! Quicksilver is alive and updated!!! This is my all time favorite most useful Mac utility. May it live forever and we shall all praise it's glory!!
(Version 1.0b56a7) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Jan 12 2009 |
ROBERT I'm rediscovering Quicksilver after using it for years mostly as a launcher and Address Book interface. Doing more things immediately on the keyboard in its Bezel interface that I used to do by switching applications and to a mouse and back. And I'm still amazed by it and finding out what I can do. Best interface contribution to computing since the mouse. To answer some questions here, Quicksilver went open-source about a year ago. There is continued maintenance of Quicksilver b5X, and the start of something new (Google Code braintree-alchemy). This version on MacUpdate may still be what you want to use for the time being, if you're not having troubles. For more info, google last year's interview on lifehacker. To improve performance, google Quicksilver Performance Issues on the Mac. To learn how to use QS better, check Dan Dickinson's intermediate Quicksilver tutorial.
(Version 1.0b54) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Oct 1 2009 |
AIMEDIA Latest build seems to work for basic function just fine in 10.6.1. Regarding plugins, those are another game altogether. It is still MUCH faster then Spotlight. Launchbar may be an alternative, but Quicksilver works fine for my needs, free.
(Version 1.0b54) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Dec 2 2009 |
FLARK Ever since leopard, Quicksilver has been unable to find localized folders and applications on my danish version of OSX. This latest update seems to have fixed the issue with folders, however, native applications can only be found by typing their english title. e.g. "Activity monitor" is "aktivitetsovervågning" in danish, but starting to write "akti..." brings up nothing. I have to write "acti..". This update has brought back hope that QS is not down and out, so I'm really hoping to see this being fixed in a future release. Otherwise, great to see that QS is still being worked on. still one of the most invaluable apps on my mac :)
(Version 1.0b57) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Dec 2 2009 |
NITSCHI I have to agree. I'm really glad that there still/again is some development on Quicksilver, big kudos to all developers/coders! But I would be even more glad if this bug (or "missing feature") with the localized application names could be re-added to Quicksilver again. BTW: this "issue" has already been added to the project site, take a look here: http://code.google.com/p/blacktree-quicksilver/issues/detail?id=87&can=5
(Version 1.0b57) | |
| Nov 30 2009 |
MARIO ESTRADA Excellent, now faster than ever. And works great on Snow Leopard and still free!
(Version 1.0b57) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
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