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Immediate Essentials For OS X 10.4 TigerThese are all programs I install on a fresh OS X system. They all seem to operate independently without any conflicts, but anything can happen with software. Current system is OS X 10.4.2. These so-called 'immediate essentials' include powerful multitalented utilities like Butler, and 'hacks' to OS X like making hidden files visible as a systemwide default. Butler, by Peter Maurer - Free, Donations accepted - the logical result of what Quickeys should have become in OS X. The ultimate multipurpose quick application/bookmark/file launcher/keyboard shortcut manager/multiple clipboard keeper, the former Another Launcher has evolved into having more controls than I could possibly name here (including hotkeys for iTunes control, and multi-site web search from the menu bar). Just get it, and donate if you enjoy using it. I use it for hotkey application launching and switching, and for systemwide iTunes control. TinkerTool, by Marcel Bresink - Free - Allows the Dock to show hidden applications as a transparent icon, also enables the Finder to display all hidden files. This application allows access to many settings which are normally hidden in OS X. Be aware that you may have to logout or restart the Finder or Dock to see some changes take place. URL Manager Pro, by Alco Blom -$25 USD - If you're anything like me, you've amassed a hefty chunk of bookmarks over the years, quite possibly with a few different browsers. My main use for URLMP was to amass a master list of all my bookmarks/favourites from different browsers and folders of dragged URL files. Once complete, you have the option to save that list to any and all of your browsers. Surprisingly stable, it flies through files that Dreamweaver chokes on. URLMP is an app that I've used in its free mode for a long time, only recently picking up a license. ClearDock, by Unsanity - Free - This 'Haxie' (Unsanity's name for ResEdits/Hacks/changes to the system) removes the light white background from the Dock so the Dock icons appear cleanly on your desktop. Requires logging out and back in, or restarting to take effect. Application Enhancer, by Unsanity - Free - Required by ClearDock, please see below. If it's a slower machine (900MHz G3 to 350MHz G4): Shadowkiller, by Unsanity - Free - This Haxie removes all shadows from OS X windows, making the overall interface much faster. If you're installing on a slower machine, also make sure to check a few options in particular within TinkerTool, namely 'Disable the animation effect when opening files in the Finder,' 'Disable the animation effect when opening information panels or Desktop icons,' 'Disable the animation effect when selecting information categories,' and 'Accelerate the animation of opening and closing sheets.' Also useful: MenuMeters, by Raging Menace - Free - A set of system monitoring tools that reside in your menu bar. Includes the ability to graph network and disk activity, as well as CPU and memory usage. iTaf, by Dilaroga - Free, Donations accepted - Open source alarm clock for iTunes. Works well. PithHelmet, by Mike Solomon - $10 USD - The premier ad blocker for Safari. Uses content filtering to do a pretty decent job of cleaning up the Web for day-to-day surfing. If you have any issues with online banking sites or other secure sites, just disable it for that site. Recently Discovered: Sidenote, by Pierre Châtel - Free, Donations accepted- An extremely handy multi-document notepad which appears as a drawer on the side of your screen. |
Why?
Why would you want the invisible files visible from the finder? Just use your terminal....
It can occasionally be handy
It can occasionally be handy to work with invisible files through the Finder's interface. As well, some people may not have any experience with the Terminal.
View invisible files
There is a freeware utility called Blind that toggles the showing of invisible files when you double-click it. I have added it to my Finder toolbar. It does relaunch the Finder, though, so be careful when copying files etc.
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