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DESCRIPTION
LaunchBar is an award winning productivity utility that offers an amazingly intuitive and efficient way to search and access any kind of information stored on your computer or on the web. It provides instant access to your applications, documents, contacts and bookmarks, to your music library, to search engines and more, just by entering short abbreviations of the searched item's name.
You just hit Command-Space to bring LaunchBar's input window to front, enter an arbitrary abbreviation, and as soon as you start typing LaunchBar displays the best matching choices, ready to be opened immediately.
Start applications, open documents, invoke system services, compose emails or navigate the web - LaunchBar will be your essential servant.
WHAT'S NEW
Version 5.0rc3: - Improved Send-to support allowing to send text to a wider range of applications.
- Improved TinyURL actions, adding “http://” prefix if missing.
- Fixed an issue with calendar input.
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.4 or later.
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| LaunchBar User Reviews (210 posts) | Write A Review |
 | Jun 16 2009 |
SVRROOT well, for my feeling 24 bugs for this little software is a bit to much...
(Version 5.0rc3) | |
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| Jun 1 2009 |
LARRYMCJ Thanks, LEONCAHUN...but I think your emphasis on two things that are indispensable to you...are exactly why I don't need LB (even though I like it and it's certainly better than QuickSilver. I only use my Mac about an hour a day. I sometimes go for several days and don't open a folder in /Documents. I use the same six or seven programs daily so I just use Application Wizard to open them all at once in the morning and close them in the evening (to prevent memory leaks). So I don't need SPEED and the few other things you mention you do with LB I know how to do, but they aren't important to me. So it's a great app and I haven't really missed anything :-) It's just not for me. Thanks for confirming this.
(Version 5.0rc2) | |
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| May 31 2009 |
LARRYMCJ As much as I want to find a reason to purchase LaunchBar, it still can not find embedded text in any document I've tried (.txt, .doc, .pdf). Spotlight will find embedded text in any document I've tried. If I need to launch an app...how difficult is it to just click on Applications/AppName or Applications from the Dock? Can someone tell me why this is worth $35? What am I missing?
(Version 5.0rc2) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Jun 1 2009 |
LEONCAHUN Sorry to say, but you really miss everything. LB, to me, is by far the most essential utility on the Mac, period. It feels like someone has cut off both of my hands when I am forced to use a Mac (not my own, to be sure) without LB installed. First of all: LB is not supposed to be a Spotlight replacement; in this regard, you are right: LB does not do full text indexing/search; it's not made to do that. That's Spotlight's job. LB is, primarily, a launcher: It should launch apps, urls; it should open folders, files -- FAST. And it does. While it is true that Spotlight, insofar as it indexes everything, it indexes titles (of folders, files, etc) as well, it does also find (the names of) apps, folders, files. But it is MUCH slower in doing so than LB (try it on a not totally virginal Mac with a decent amount of stuff its harddrive). And: LB learns. LB adapts (very fast) to your habits, history: the most/last used items show up first -- and they show up FAST. Really, when it comes to launching, it's all about speed. And in this regard, I think, LB is unmatched. And, in the not so long run, speed is everything that matters here. It's essential. It's the thing. Your suggestion of launching things 'the standard way', like via Dock, Finder windows, etc: Think about it, this works only if you have very few apps to launch, very few folders to open; or, if you have a VERY large display providing space for a VERY long Dock. No, really, it won't work, or it won't compare. The thing is, thanks to LB you dont even need to know where a folder, app, file, etc resides on your harddrive: say farewell to the spatial metaphor of file hierarchy! (although LB provides a very handy way to browse your folder hierarchy, directly in LB's bar). Moreover, there are LOTS of great features in LB beside the mentioned core functionality (search google, wikipedia, amazon, etc directly from LB; calculate there; control iTunes; display phone numbers; the clipboard history, etc). To sum up: You should REALLY give LB a try. I know of NO ONE who wasnt convinced (convinced like in feeling BLESSED), when she finally had found out how essential to the Mac workflow LB can be. And, no, I have no affiliation whatsover with the developers. I know I sounded differently :)
(Version 5.0rc2) | |
 | Apr 30 2009 |
PETERT Of all the tools that are a 'must have' on my installs this is the most vital and the best productivity enhancer I have installed. It is also by far the one I miss most when driving someone else's mac. It's simple, unobtrusive and elegant interface (during day-to-day use) is one of the best there is. The added clipboard history feature in Version 5 is almost worth the upgrade fee on it's own although the other new features are as valued although not noticed as much in my daily use pattern. I highly recommend this product to all Mac owners as the first tool to purchase. Disclaimer: I have no association with the publishers of LaunchBar other than being a long time (family) licenced user. | |
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| Apr 30 2009 |
WFM Brilliant program!! Extremely fast, esp compared to Quicksilver. It also has lots of great new features. FANTASTIC.
(Version 5.0rc1) | |
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| Apr 30 2009 |
BILL CLINTON Version 5 of LaunchBar is very slow on "only" a 1.5 GHz Powerbook. It takes several seconds for the thing to slide out and several more to recognize typing and then respond.
(Version 5.0rc1) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| May 31 2009 |
SAMPLER Well, I have a 1.5GHz PB G4 with OS X 10.4.11, 2 Gb memory, and I haven't observed any slowdown with RC1, even with the new clipboard functions enabled.
(Version 5.0rc2) | |
| Apr 27 2009 |
VFJCZYN5LQXK Excellent productivity enhancement utility. Somewhat similar to Spotlight but it does a lot more than just searching and launching via keyword, and it also complements Spotlight nicely. It's saved so much time and effort over the past few years of using it. Strongly recommended.
(Version 5.0b7) | |
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| Apr 17 2009 |
AV Great! I dont use probably 90% of its functionality but for what it does for me its great (an app launcher, extended clipboard & clipmerge). I plan to use it alot more but i havent got around to going deeper into it. Highly recommended.
(Version 5.0b7) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Apr 1 2009 |
KAIDOH As presumably a lot of other people I have used Quicksilver before. I was looking for another launchingandotherpurposes utility after QS got more unstable every week and I was fed up rebuilding indices and digging for problem solutions (aka acting without getting things done). I'm glad I tried LaunchBar and will never look back. To be honest it took a while to get accustomed to the ways of LauncBar as the user concepts differ to some extend and old habbits have to be broken (e.g. you can't define custom key combination shortcuts). But after a short phase of reactance I now find LaunchBar's way of dealing with things much easier and slicker. Here are some observations: * Holding down a key for a short time is simply a great way to trigger off events. After you've learned the right rhythm this feels ultrafast. * Managing file operations with LB is just done right. Have to whisper this as my Finder get's jealous because he feels so neglected lately. * The clipboard history is another winner. Simple but powerful (check out the clip merge function) *Drag and drop works in any direction and almost always behaves the way you would have expected it (and provides quite some ways you have never thought of - RTFM!) * Speed: Spotlight is a dodderer against it. * Stability: In the months of testing LB 5 beta did not crash on me a once! As said, I'm glad I made the switch and I can't think of a single QS feature I'm missing (not even the comma trick). LB isn't free but it's worth every penny. I reccomend you try it for yourself and I also recommend you give it some time to get accustomed to it and before you render a judgement. My experience is that this time is payed back manifold by the time this little apss saves you.
(Version 5.0b7) | |
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| Apr 1 2009 |
ROBOTANK LaunchBar is probably the most useful application I've ever purchased. It makes routine tasks like opening applications and documents, moving, deleting, and copying files, creating folders, getting information on files/folders, etc. incredibly quick and convenient, eliminating the need to switch to the Finder and navigate a hierarchical folder structure. It also allows you to quickly send emails, go to URLs, access browser history and bookmarks, perform web searches, control iTunes, perform Dictionary searches, and access numerous other functions system wide. Although I don't use it because I slightly prefer CopyPaste Pro (and owned it before LB 5 came out), the clipboard history feature added in the v.5 betas is solid and probably good enough to eliminate the need for most users to purchase a separate multiple clipboard app. For me, LB is absolutely essential.
(Version 5.0b7) | |
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