MacMost Now 608: Must-Have Lion Apps

Check out Gary's list of apps that he suggests most people install on a new Mac on the first day. The list includes some utilities and browser plug-ins. You can get the links and make your own suggestions at https://macmost.com/must-have-lion-apps

Comments: 34 Responses to “MacMost Now 608: Must-Have Lion Apps”

    Bob Hodgson
    13 years ago

    I use VLC. It will play any video file without any problems on my Mac.

    John M. Hammer
    13 years ago

    Gary- Terrific video, as always.

    One note: The third item of your bulleted list provides the link for Flash instead of the link for ClipMenu.

      John M. Hammer
      13 years ago

      ..and... fixed!

    Markus
    13 years ago

    Some more I would recommend for everybody:
    Perian, TNEF's Enough, TimeMachineEditor and Screen Shot Plus Widget

    Russ
    13 years ago

    Growl: Centralized message notification system:
    http://growl.info/about.php

    TechTool: disk utility/repair ($):
    http://www.micromat.com/

    Carbon Copy Cloner: backup utility:
    http://www.bombich.com/

    Glenn
    13 years ago

    can you make a video solely on freeware.
    I believe that there are good freeware alternatives to many paid applications.

      Donna Brooks
      13 years ago

      I'd be interested in this, too. I use freeware apps for everything. I agree that ClipMenu is indespensible! I am still running Snow Leopard & it works great!

      I also have used Realplayer Downloader to download 100s of videos over the years. I wouldn't be without it.

    Gav Scott-Brooker
    13 years ago

    Handbrake! for moving DVDs to iTunes Library

    Lance R
    13 years ago

    Here is the list of apps I keep in evernote (perhaps my favorite app) of my first day apps.

    dropbox - online file storage
    electric sheep - screensaver
    backblaze - online backup software
    copypaste pro - clipboard stack program
    boinc - uses unused computer time for "greater good" projects
    growl - notifications
    vlc - plays any video
    Textwrangler -
    Chrome
    foxfire
    Vuze - bittorrent client
    Delicious - networked bookmarks

      Walter Molnar
      13 years ago

      Hi lance
      I just started using Evernote is their a book out that I can use to learn about what I can do with evernote also just got Dropbox how can I use it with Evernote my email is *** I live in Niagara Falls Canada. I buy and sell Srandardbred Race Horses
      Throughout USA and Canada
      Thanks
      Walter

    Dave Faczan
    13 years ago

    I still use Drag Thing to launch apps
    http://www.dragthing.com/english/about.html

    and iStat Menus for system info (I occasionally like to set the fans to medium speed when I'm using HandBrake a lot since it can use all the i7 CPU's, and the fan speed can be set from the temp display in the menu bar).
    http://bjango.com/mac/istatmenus

    Pipe
    13 years ago

    Totally... It's the best alternative all in one.

    Rick
    13 years ago

    What's up with Lion not supporting MS Word docs and the error message "PowerPC applications are no longer supported"? Is there an alternate app for opening previously created MS Word docs w/o having to buy MS Office for Mac? Or better yet, can I open MS Word docs in Pages? Thanks.

      13 years ago

      It sounds like when you go to open an MS Word doc it is trying to use an old application that is for PowerPC (old Macs) only. Those old applications are not supported in Lion. Do you know what application it is?
      Anyway, you can open Word documents in Pages, yes. TextEdit will open them too.

    Kay Fisher
    13 years ago

    Perian

    Timothy
    13 years ago

    Hi Gary,

    Great suggestions. Here's my 2 cents of must-haves that enhance the Mac experience even more:

    iWork.
    1Password
    LaunchBar. Just too handy, plus it includes excellent clipboard functionality.
    ShoveBox...handy, handy, handy scratchpad, clipboard tool, etc.
    Plex.
    Spotify.
    HandBrake
    DropBox
    Growl
    SuperDuper!

    KonaBeer
    13 years ago

    I lie Msecure over 1 Password - Great app!

    Jerry
    13 years ago

    Great list, Gary. I, too, would include growl and vlc in addition to your list.

    I consider MenuMeters (http://www.ragingmenace.com/software/menumeters/)to be another essential. I was first just looking for a way to know if my hard drive was reading or writing anything and got a ton of other helpful info. If not for MenuMeters, I'd have gone a long, long time suffering slow speed, not realizing that a document was stuck in the print spooler keeping one processor pegged at 100%.

    Donna Brooks
    13 years ago

    Gary, I have Perian and Flip4Mac installed, but I honestly don't see how they add any capability to my iMac! I just use VLC to watch anything that doesn't open in QT. How can I tell if Perian & F4M are even working correctly? I'm actually considering removing Perian & Flip4Mac since VLC is a no fuss video player.
    Regarding other people's suggestions, personally, I've never seen any need for Growl, and I'm wondering what MenuMeters would tell me that I can't find out using the Mac's Activity Monitor, which I run when my Mac is running slow. Also, Spotlight can be used as an app launcher. Just hit Command-Spacebar & the cursor will go to the Spotlight field and you can type the first few letters of an app & launch it from there. You can also do math calculations in the Spotlight field w/o opening Calculator.

      13 years ago

      The advantage of using a QuickTime extension like F4M is that you can view those video formats right in QuickTime instead of launching another player. For instance, if one of the videos is embedded in a web page.

    JoJo
    13 years ago

    It is significant to note that both Apple and Microsoft cite Flash as
    the number one reason their OS or applications crash and plan to
    disallow it in future:

      13 years ago

      You have to understand that Flash is an entire environment capable of doing all sorts of things from playing videos, displaying vector graphics and animation, games, applications, real-time text, audio and video communication, etc. It runs programs that have been created by thousands of developers worldwide. Some of those programs are good, some aren't. Just like applications, web sites or anything else. You can disable it if you want. You can also disable JavaScript, cookies, images, and soon you might as well stop using your browser altogether. Then you'll never have to worry about it crashing.

    JoJo
    13 years ago

    Just quoting 2 of the largest OS mfr's. I'm sure they thought alot about this before going public with their positions.

      13 years ago

      But you are reading o much into it. What about all of the other software that is not included with your Mac or PC? If it does come pre-installed then it isn't good?

    JoJo
    13 years ago

    After all, the choice isn't limited to "Flash" or "No Flash". HTML5 is just the beginning of alternatives beyond Flash...

      13 years ago

      That's great. Alternatives are good. But HTML5 doesn't do anywhere near what Flash can do. So it is only an alternative for some types of content.

    Devon
    13 years ago

    Hi Gary, I want to start using my Mac for online banking and other sensitive/personal business. Thing is though I have such a concern about using 3rd party software on it (i.e. Java, Adobe Flash and Microsoft Office 2011 for the Mac). What I am wondering is my concern legitimate or am I just being paranoid? Do I need to worry about any security vulnerabilities happening on my Mac while using these 3 application, even if I keep them up to date?

      13 years ago

      Well, there is always risk in using anything. But unless you want to keep your Mac off the network completely, at some point you have to weight the benefits of using a computer to do business against any risks. But I'd be much more worried about simple security issues like using a weak password (See http://macmost.com/online-password-security.html) than some extreme hacking using exploits. Why would someone go through all the trouble to break into your computer to get your info, when thousands of people protect their bank accounts and e-commerce accounts with passwords that can be easily guessed?

    Devon
    13 years ago

    You make a good point, Gary. Now let me ask you one more thing. Is Java and Flash required when one wants to use Ichat, FaceTime, and Imail as well as watch movies in iTunes?

      13 years ago

      Flash is a browser plug-in (in the context you are talking about it, anyway). None of those things are using the browser. Java is mainly a browser plug-in, but can also be used for some apps. Not for any of those, though.
      You probably don't need Java unless there is a specific site you visit that requires it. Flash is more prevalent, and a lot of sites use it, so you would miss that if you don't have it. What is your fear of having Flash?

    TimT
    13 years ago

    One of my favorite apps is Evernote which keeps copies synced cross-platform. There are apps for Macs, iOS devices, Android, Linus, Blackberry, and more. Notes can also be accessed through their online site. Evernote recently bought Skitch which does a wonderful job of annotating documents, maps, photos, etc. with text, arrows and more on Macs and iPads. Both apps are free and available from http://www.Evernote.com.

    Walter Molnar
    13 years ago

    Gary

    I just started using I Work and drop box

    Mr Anthony Cotton
    12 years ago

    I have Flash, Perian,VLC,Real Player.Flv Crunch, Zipeg, and Siverlight Preferences.
    I got rid of Flip4Mac,and Growl. I read about them on the websites and if they make common sense to me then i install them. I used to have the old version of the Windows Player,but when i upgraded it was no longer supported.
    One thing that bother`s me is VLC is still a free App,and is backed up by all the downloads of it. If it came to having to buy it,then i would.

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