2.0.2

Users who perform menu operations multiple times may want to automate them to save time in the future. Shortcuts for Mac, despite its overly complicated menu, has many options for creating hot keys and shortcuts.

Shortcuts for Mac downloaded and installed, easily. Instructions were available with the program in the form of a readme file with the installer--a great addition because the program is very difficult to use. It is also unclear if technical support is available. The user must choose whether to open the regular version or a 32-bit option. This choice could be confusing to a number of … Read more

While not easily completed with native programs, users may still want the ability to create a bootable USB of their Mac OS. Lion DiskMaker for Mac lacks any other features, but completes this function well.

The free program downloaded and installed easily. Minimal instructions were included beyond a frequently asked questions section and it was not clear if technical support was available. At startup, Lion DiskMaker for Mac immediately asks which operating system the user would like to use, whether OS X 10.7 or 10.8. The menu is small, but uncomplicated and walks the user through the process. … Read more

Although Macs come with some decent audio software such as GarageBand, Audacity goes beyond the Apple-designed app in many ways. The one area it isn't so successful in is its user interface, which can be overwhelming.

As you launch Audacity, you'll be greeted by a pop-up window that leads you to multiple Help files. You'll need these files if you want to use all the great features that the small application has in it. You'll likely be overwhelmed by the number of tools that are available, but you'll get used to them as soon as … Read more

There's more than one way to automate tasks in Windows, but the Task Manager and macro options fall far short of many users' needs. If you find yourself wishing you could automate any repetitive task in Windows, try WinParrot, the "Windows parrot." This portable freeware lets you create, record, and play macros automating virtually any task or process in Windows. While it's not difficult to use, beginners will find it a bit overwhelming. Those users with a passing familiarity with code and text files will get the most out of this flexible tool's many options … Read more

Students, conference attendees, lawyers, and anyone who has to transcribe recorded audio should try Listen N Write, a free tool designed specifically for transcription. It doesn't use speech recognition or automatic transcription, and Microsoft Anna doesn't speak your text files out loud. It's simply a media player bundled with a text editor, but a media player with subtle but clever differences that make it a great tool for playing back recorded lectures and speeches (for example) and writing down what you hear. To begin with, the Skip arrows move the recording forward or back just a few … Read more

If you spend a lot of time working with text files, you may find it handy to be able to combine multiple text files into one without a bunch of cutting and pasting. That's exactly what TXTcollector does. It's a simple program with a very specific purpose: to streamline the process if text files play a large role in your work or hobbies.

The program's interface is plain and intuitive, just a small rectangle with a few menus and buttons. First, select the directory you want to scan for files and the file format you want to … Read more

RoboBasket lets you manage and monitor a large number files at one time. Though we found some its features a bit confusing, its batch processing features worked as promised.

The program's bland user interface could be better designed for navigation, but it didn't take long to get the hang of it. When not in use, the program sits in your system tray until you click on it. Using the link provided in the Quick Start guide, we were able to browse for and select a folder containing multiple Word documents. From there, we were taken to the Rule … Read more

DJ software for portable and personal use has gotten so powerful and capable that it's becoming indistinguishable from expensive pro-level applications. Xylio's FutureDecks Pro is typical of the new breed of DJ software, with all the bells and whistles, but it offers many useful tools that other applications don't. Features like video mixing and vinyl timecode compatibility are pulled together in a single package that can do the job in clubs, live performances, outdoor venues, and even the studio. Its features are too many to list, but some highlights include full compatibility with major external controllers and … Read more

As much as we may like to pretend otherwise, there are lots of people--or more accurately, companies--tracking our every move on the Internet. Most of the time the information that's being collected is for marketing purposes, not malicious ones, but even that can be a bit creepy. Ghostery is an unobtrusive add-on for Firefox that shows users exactly which trackers are present on a given Web page, making it much easier to control who's gathering information about you.

The program's interface is quite user-friendly, with the add-on appearing as a small Pac-Man-style ghost in Firefox's status … Read more