mguhlin

Must-Have Mac Software (Updated 12/2012)

The following is my list of must-have Macbook software (check out the Must-Have Windows list), followed by my list of nice to have software, including favorite Firefox browser plug-ins that make life so much easier. I’ll be adding more to this list over the next few days since I’m poring through my Mac for those apps.

What did I miss?

Must-Have Software
This category is divided into two area…the no-cost section and the costs money section.

No-Cost

  1. AESCrypt – Encrypt your files easily with this free, open source software. Works on Mac, Windows, and Linux, so you’re not locked into one platform.
  2. Audacity: audio-only podcasts (Free – Windows/Mac/Linux)
  3. CarbonCopyCloner – great software to make backups of your hard drive or reimage a lab. Hook up a portable, mac formatted external USB drive and you can easily backup your computer, operating system and all. Or, to just back up data and settings, use iBackup.
  4. NameChanger – allows for batch renaming of files. A time-saver if you’ve ever had to do that.
  5. HideFolders – Use this to protect documents and folders by hiding them and safeguarding them with a password. Of course, I prefer the more secure TrueCrypt, mentioned below.
  6. Image Tricks – simple things you can do with an image file.
  7. MPEG StreamClip – You can use MPEG Streamclip to: open most movie formats including MPEG files or transport streams; play them at full screen; edit them with Cut, Copy, Paste, and Trim; set In/Out points and convert them into muxed or demuxed files, or export them to QuickTime, AVI, DV and MPEG-4 files with more than professional quality.
  8. LiquidCD – this is like the best find for CD burning and also allows you to burn DVDs from VIDEO_TS.
  9. Skitch – awesome software that lets you annotate images. If you’re doing any kind of tutorial creation, screen captures, this is a must have free program.
  10. Skype for Macintosh (supports video)
  11. Songbird – This is an iTunes music manager/player+ replacement program that allows you to do all sorts of neat things. And, if you get accustomed to it, you can use it on Windows and/or GNU/Linux, too.
  12. TextWrangler – Powerful, free text editor (supports GREP)
  13. The UnArchiver – uncompresses just about anything. Here are two great compression titles you can use to create archives.
  14. TrueCrypt – lets you create encrypted drives so that you can store your private information in them. Very easy to use…put your confidential information in the encrypted containers this program can create.
  15. VLC Media Player – This media player will let you play MP3, OGG, MOV, AVI, and, in short, most video and audio formats available on the Web…something that you can’t do easily without it. And, it will let you convert between some of them, although it’s not the easiest process…but it is free. Be sure to also get the Perian Components below:
    1. Perian Components – This adds functionality to Quicktime and media playing. Get it online at http://perian.org

Nice to Have Software (all no-cost)

  1. App-delete – lets you uninstall programs–and their pesky preferences–from your computer.
  2. LibreOffice.org – Let’s you work with MS Office files and save to a variety of formats. You can also use this to create a Flash movie out of your Powerpoint presentation. Just open the PPT in LibreOffice then export or save as Flash.
  3. Google Earth
  4. Picasa for Mac – Manage your photos, images and easily share them online via PicasaWeb. Note that this program is also available for Windows and GNU/Linux computers.
  5. Keka File Compression – Software compression tool that creates 7zip compressed files, as well as AES256 encrypted files! Absolutely wonderful! Great for backing up folders of stuff into one easy to store, share via email file. Here is a more in-depth discussion.
  6. Handbrake – rip DVDs (like movies) to a file – http://handbrake.m0k.org/
  7. Soundflowerbed (awesome sound diverting so you can record what you’re playing into Audacity) – http://www.cycling74.com/products/soundflower
  8. The GIMP – http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/
  9. GimpShop – http://plasticbugs.com/?p=241
  10. Pixen – http://opensword.org/Pixen/
  11. SeaShore – http://seashore.sourceforge.net/
  12. Pencil – http://www.les-stooges.org/pascal/pencil/
  13. VirtualBox – free open source software that allows you to run Windows on your Mac. You’ll need a Windows XP install CD, but after that, it’s pretty straightforward! Give it a try! This replaces the VMWare Fusion or Parallels commercial software.
  14. Miro – This is an awesome way to interact with video/audio podcasts available for free on the Web. If you think iTunes is too busy and confusing, check out Miro!

Costs Money
(that is, programs I’d buy…and I’m miserly when it comes to buying software! Items with an asterisk are ones I own personally)

  1. SnagItPro* – Lets you record what’s happening on your computer. SnagItPro uses a premium video format records rich content from your screen. You can re-capture an online video and add your own commentary. Or record that Skype video chat for posterity. Cost: $29.95
  2. XSlimmer* – Trims out all the extra junk in programs and can result in gigabytes of saved hard drive space. Love this app! Cost: $14.95
  3. ShredIt X* – Shreds free space on your hard drive, as well as allows you to shred files and folders for security/privacy purposes. Cost? $19.95
  4. Comic Life – “Comic Life,” shares Tim Stahmer (AssortedStuff.com), “is a terrific story telling tool. It’s a very fast and easy way to layout photographs (great integration with iPhoto) and add captions for an album.” Tim goes on to say that, “I’ve also seen Comic Life used by kids to create storyboards for other projects they were working on. And, I think the full version still comes free with every new Mac.”. Cost: $24.95
  5. Keynote – presentation software that is part of the iWork suite. Although some may find Pages and other tools worthwhile, I think Keynote is the only component that’s great.
  6. iLife Suite – includes iDVD, iMovie, Garageband, etc. All great apps. The only one I don’t like is iPhoto, which I’d replace with Picasa. 

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24 comments

  1. Miguel, what a good list! There are a few on here that are new to me and I’m heading over to them to check them out. Thanks again for being such a terrific resource.

    Reply

  2. Miguel, what a good list! There are a few on here that are new to me and I’m heading over to them to check them out. Thanks again for being such a terrific resource.

    Reply

  3. GraphicConverter is excellent photo editing software for the Mac that’s been around for many years. It keeps getting better. Try for free. Cost when you buy is $34.95 USD. Gets excellent reviews.

    Reply

  4. GraphicConverter is excellent photo editing software for the Mac that’s been around for many years. It keeps getting better. Try for free. Cost when you buy is $34.95 USD. Gets excellent reviews.

    Reply

  5. Great collection and I have only one suggestion. In the “costs money” category I would add Pixelmator, an excellent replacement for Photoshop. At $59 it’s not cheap but certainly a huge bargain compared to Adobe’s product.And I still highly recommend Comic Life. A whole lot of very creative fun.

    Reply

  6. Great collection and I have only one suggestion. In the “costs money” category I would add Pixelmator, an excellent replacement for Photoshop. At $59 it’s not cheap but certainly a huge bargain compared to Adobe’s product.And I still highly recommend Comic Life. A whole lot of very creative fun.

    Reply

  7. @Tammy, I’m glad to have had the opportunity to brighten your day! If you find other neat stuff, share back!!@Jo, I agree that GC is awesome. Have you heard Wes Fryer’s interview with the creator of Graphic Converter?@Tim, wow, Pixelmator is awesome. Makes me wish I knew something about art and all that enough to use it.

    Reply

  8. @Tammy, I’m glad to have had the opportunity to brighten your day! If you find other neat stuff, share back!!@Jo, I agree that GC is awesome. Have you heard Wes Fryer’s interview with the creator of Graphic Converter?@Tim, wow, Pixelmator is awesome. Makes me wish I knew something about art and all that enough to use it.

    Reply

  15. Miguel, I noticed that you have a DVD ripping program that you recommend. Is there a Mac app that you would recommend to put the DVD back together for you (and I'm sure I haven't asked that correctly). Basically I ripped a DVD and now I have this folder on my desktop that has an Audio_TS folder and a Video_TS folder inside of it. I've tried several programs to put it back together, but have not found a free one that would do the trick. Any suggestions of ones you've tried that you particularly like, thought were user friendly?

    Reply

  16. Miguel, I noticed that you have a DVD ripping program that you recommend. Is there a Mac app that you would recommend to put the DVD back together for you (and I'm sure I haven't asked that correctly). Basically I ripped a DVD and now I have this folder on my desktop that has an Audio_TS folder and a Video_TS folder inside of it. I've tried several programs to put it back together, but have not found a free one that would do the trick. Any suggestions of ones you've tried that you particularly like, thought were user friendly?

    Reply

  19. Thanks for sharing this list Miguel! We are just starting out a with a new Macbook Pro and this list is a fantastic start and guide for us. Have a great new year!

    Reply

  20. Thanks for sharing this list Miguel! We are just starting out a with a new Macbook Pro and this list is a fantastic start and guide for us. Have a great new year!

    Reply

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