For some reason, my favorite free launch utility stopped working, and Launch turns out to be a slick, attractive menu bar launcher for a budge price. Of course, it's possible to use the Mac OS to launch applications - and for free - but Apple's approach is surprisingly use-unfriendly.
Launch It! doesn't have much of a user's guide, but it's relatively straightforward once you get used to it. And if you want to change your settings, the menu bar interface is a nice touch.
While I like MacTheRipper, RipIt is every bit as easy to use, and takes about the same amount of time. Once you drop in a DVD, it will rip the disk, and will show you a rotating disk image with time remaining in the operation, with a percentage finished. I haven't tried the Compress function.
I particularly like the reliability of the rip, as well as the price - a discount since it was purchased as a part of a MacUpdate bundle.
If you have some non DRM books hanging around, old or new, BookReader is an appealing way to read and organize your books. Simply drop the file onto BookReader, and it will automatically ready it so you can read it on the reader application. It's ideally suited for a MBP, and doubly so if you read on wide-screen mode. I've only used it with ePub files, though there are other options.
You won't find any online help or FAQ, and you will have to use an application like Calibre to convert Mobi files to ePub. Given the relative paucity of similar applications, $9.99 is an agreeable price.
You can download a prior version of this software on the developer's website; chances are, you'll buy it.
JIsoX has one job, but it does it well: convert a VIDEO_TS to ISO image. While Toast 11 doesn't perform the job as well as it might, but JIsoX does everything quickly and faultlessly.
You may have to juggle around your file system to locate the file you want to convert, but after a little while, this application will manage the task nicely - and for free. True, the interface is a little utilitarian, but it's unlikely you'll be using it every day. Nice job!
I installled Lion on an iMac and MBP, without incident. In fact, there are several improvements that have improved my computing. But first, the bad news:
1. I've noticed that my MBP battery will empty after only five hours (or less) - a considerable reduction of capacity. I tend to rely on my MagSafe adapter, but that doesn't negate the battery issue.
2. There's an increased amount of hangs with Lion. And the more you switch between applications, the more chance this will happen.
3. Lion's Launch Pad is, for me, an unnecessary feature, whose only purpose seems to be to incorporate iOS into the upgrade. I've not used it, even once.
4. Lion has forced me to give up beloved applications like MS Works '03, Appleworks, and move from other programs dependent on Rosetta.
5. Lion doesn't offer any support comprehensive support via PDF (or even on Apple website). It's up to the user to scrounge for information, glean through blogs, or purchase some kind of guide book. I'm willing to learn features, but at least you need to know Lion's commands and how they work.
And there's good news, too:
1. The increased use of gestures significantly improves the use of Safari. The three finger swipe opens the entire desktop, and the two finger sideways swipe immediately brings the previous screen. A single swipe brings a full palate of widgets. I use this nearly every session.
2. Mail is now a full screen application, which allows you to view emails and attached text in one window.
3. Reading List doesn't have all the features it should, but it's a potentially huge application, allowing you to keep track of websites quickly and intuitively.
4. Occasionally, portable drives and USB devices aren't compatible - and that's when Air Drop is such a surprise. I've used Air Drop to send small files to DVD-sized documents, without a hitch. Of course, larger documents take longer to process, but Air Drop works when nothing else will.
I've not had any kernel panics, loss of internet, or system problems.
JIsoX has one job, but it does it well: convert a VIDEO_TS to ISO image. While Toast 11 doesn't perform the job as well as it might, but JIsoX does everything quickly and faultlessly.
You may have to juggle around your file system to locate the file you want to convert, but after a little while, this application will manage the task nicely - and for free. True, the interface is a little utilitarian, but it's unlikely you'll be using it every day. Nice job!
You can that find free typing tutors, but Mavis Beacon has pushed to the front position with notable improvements. You can begin typing either as a neophyte or someone who just wants to brush up on basic skills. But Ultimate Edition contains several features that will surprise users.
Earlier versions (like v. 18) were silent tutors; recently, instructions and encouragements are provided verbally - giving the feeling you're interacting with a real person. Learning typing isn't fun, but this software at least gives variety to a thankless task.
You'll achieve improvement with any decent typing tutor, but it's easier to stick with learning with MB. I was surprised that there's an option for learning the Dvorak keyboard, and even tuneage to add variety. I can't think of any real competition to this software.
"No iPods Found" message on desktop. Apparently, expod was unable to locate the files on my Touch - though the app is pleasingly simple and easy to use. The expod blurb suggests that it will work with all ipods, even Touches.
[Version 0.4]
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Launch it!
Poikkeus reviewed on 25 May 2012
Launch It! doesn't have much of a user's guide, but it's relatively straightforward once you get used to it. And if you want to change your settings, the menu bar interface is a nice touch.
DNSCrypt
Poikkeus rated on 08 May 2012
[Version 0.10]
iFFmpeg
Poikkeus rated on 08 May 2012
[Version 3.0.0]
HandBrake
Poikkeus rated on 08 May 2012
[Version 0.9.6]
+1
RipIt
Poikkeus reviewed on 05 Jan 2012
I particularly like the reliability of the rip, as well as the price - a discount since it was purchased as a part of a MacUpdate bundle.
BookReader
Poikkeus reviewed on 04 Jan 2012
You won't find any online help or FAQ, and you will have to use an application like Calibre to convert Mobi files to ePub. Given the relative paucity of similar applications, $9.99 is an agreeable price.
You can download a prior version of this software on the developer's website; chances are, you'll buy it.
JIsoX
Poikkeus reviewed on 25 Sep 2011
You may have to juggle around your file system to locate the file you want to convert, but after a little while, this application will manage the task nicely - and for free. True, the interface is a little utilitarian, but it's unlikely you'll be using it every day. Nice job!
Apple OS X Lion
Poikkeus reviewed on 25 Sep 2011
1. I've noticed that my MBP battery will empty after only five hours (or less) - a considerable reduction of capacity. I tend to rely on my MagSafe adapter, but that doesn't negate the battery issue.
2. There's an increased amount of hangs with Lion. And the more you switch between applications, the more chance this will happen.
3. Lion's Launch Pad is, for me, an unnecessary feature, whose only purpose seems to be to incorporate iOS into the upgrade. I've not used it, even once.
4. Lion has forced me to give up beloved applications like MS Works '03, Appleworks, and move from other programs dependent on Rosetta.
5. Lion doesn't offer any support comprehensive support via PDF (or even on Apple website). It's up to the user to scrounge for information, glean through blogs, or purchase some kind of guide book. I'm willing to learn features, but at least you need to know Lion's commands and how they work.
And there's good news, too:
1. The increased use of gestures significantly improves the use of Safari. The three finger swipe opens the entire desktop, and the two finger sideways swipe immediately brings the previous screen. A single swipe brings a full palate of widgets. I use this nearly every session.
2. Mail is now a full screen application, which allows you to view emails and attached text in one window.
3. Reading List doesn't have all the features it should, but it's a potentially huge application, allowing you to keep track of websites quickly and intuitively.
4. Occasionally, portable drives and USB devices aren't compatible - and that's when Air Drop is such a surprise. I've used Air Drop to send small files to DVD-sized documents, without a hitch. Of course, larger documents take longer to process, but Air Drop works when nothing else will.
I've not had any kernel panics, loss of internet, or system problems.
JIsoX
Poikkeus reviewed on 22 Sep 2011
You may have to juggle around your file system to locate the file you want to convert, but after a little while, this application will manage the task nicely - and for free. True, the interface is a little utilitarian, but it's unlikely you'll be using it every day. Nice job!
+3
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing
Poikkeus reviewed on 15 Sep 2011
Earlier versions (like v. 18) were silent tutors; recently, instructions and encouragements are provided verbally - giving the feeling you're interacting with a real person. Learning typing isn't fun, but this software at least gives variety to a thankless task.
You'll achieve improvement with any decent typing tutor, but it's easier to stick with learning with MB. I was surprised that there's an option for learning the Dvorak keyboard, and even tuneage to add variety. I can't think of any real competition to this software.
Arcade Invaders
+1
expod