macs

Menu extras in OS X are small menu bar additions that appear on the far right of the system menu; they include a number of built-in controls such as the volume, Wi-Fi, and date and time menus. Third-party developers can also create their own menu extras. I've written about managing menu bar additions before -- usually you can just hold the Command key and drag the menu extra off the menu bar to remove it. But sometimes, depending on the development method used to create it, the menu extra won't allow you to disable or delete it.

These … Read more

Those who spend most of their time working from a computer may need an application to track their time. Time Clock for Mac is an easy-to-use application designed to do just this; but its operation is ultimately so clunky that it detracts from its usefulness.

Time Clock for Mac is available for free and has no restrictions. After downloading, the program installs easily without any interaction required by the user. At startup, there are no tutorials or user instructions available, which was a disappointment since the menu looks dated and the program's operation was not obvious. It was also … Read more

Users who have the native Mac backup system in use may want to adjust the preset options. TimeMachineScheduler for Mac does add some functions to the backup system that work well, but few of them are critical to most Mac users.

TimeMachineScheduler for Mac downloaded quickly and its installer did not require user interaction. A readme file clearly explained the installation process, which was a nice feature. The presence of a native uninstaller was also useful. The lack of tutorials was not much of a problem since the application is little more than an additional section of the preferences menu. … Read more

Users with a Mac computer and several mobile Apple devices may want a way to track them from their Mac. iBackup Viewer for Mac is a simple application used to monitor information on an iPhone or iPod.

iBackup Viewer for Mac is available as a free application, but does have a button that solicits donations to the developer. Fortunately, there were no unexpected problems associated with download and installation. The program did not have any instruction or tutorials, but its menu was easy to interpret without them. At startup, the computer does not require any additional configuration and simply loads … Read more

Some users may not be satisfied with the features of the native file-searching utility on their Mac. iFileX for Mac does add some additional features, but ultimately will add little to most Mac users' systems.

Download of iFileX for Mac completed fairly quickly via a high-speed connection, as did installation. There were no user instructions or technical support apparently available, which is a disappointment, even for a free program. The program's minimal menu is easy to read, although its default size is small. While the program is active, the menu also sits on top of all other program windows, … Read more

With the large number of photo editing programs available, choosing a useful one can be difficult. Image Tricks for Mac does have some good features, but it appeared to be missing one of the most basic editing options. And with its muddled interface and lack of user guidance, less experienced users might feel that the learning curve is too steep.

Tricks for Mac offers a free trial version with some filter restrictions. The full version requires a payment of $19.95 to activate. The download completed quickly and there were no unnecessary user agreements to accept, which was welcome. Unfortunately, … Read more

Those who want to use their laptop as a media server or to play continuous music may want to keep operating it while the lid is closed. InsomniaX for Mac is a simple application that performs this single purpose well.

InsomniaX for Mac downloads quickly and comes with no restrictions. The program installs without any problems, too, although the user must accept a licensing agreement to complete the process. The user agreement contains several warnings and disclaimers about the potential problems the program may cause to the computer, which is troublesome. There were no user instructions or technical support available, … Read more

Advanced Mac users may want the ability to install programs, called kext files, to modify basic system information. Kext Drop for Mac, while simple and with limited features, works well for installing these files.

Kext Drop for Mac is free. The application downloaded quickly, but had no technical support or user tutorials available. The program's small and uncomplicated menu is well thought out, though. The entire program consists of a small window with no buttons. A dotted box indicates the place where the user can click and drag kext files. Users can also select them by file from the … Read more

OS X is a multi-user platform, where each user account has its own settings and documents separate from those of other accounts, allowing for both customization differences but also for security and privacy. Not only do password requirements prevent other computer users from accessing one another's account data, but it can help deter unauthorized users from accessing the system.

While keeping the system secured with a log-in password is highly recommended for most cases, sometimes this password requirement can be a burden. For example, if you have a Mac set up as a kiosk presentation system or as a … Read more