The Best Unknown Mac Apps - 1
As a small mac developer, I can relate to a lot of the small, indie developers out there. I thought that it would be great to give a list of some truly great mac software that gets left out of the typical mac software lists. No, on this list you won’t see your Adium, VLC, Photoshop, etc. Little-known, yet still great software. Get ready for Part 1.
A great freeware iTunes companion. Displays current track in the menubar, as well as in a floating window. Global hotkeys, plus integration with the SonicSwap web community.
Link
Perfect for any developer. An easy way to take OS X screenshots. Quickly changes the background of your desktop to white, and can either display desktop icons above or below. Always use it when taking screenshots for Apple.com’s download site.
Link
Like Wikis? Well this allows you to have a simple Wiki for yourself. Great for project planning or journals or note taking. Extremely simiple and great UI.
Link
I hate it when it takes for ever for Dashboard to load. This free app automatically starts Dashboard on startup so all your widgets are loaded and ready to go.
Link
This great app will display a nice calendar on your desktop. It’s simple. Elegant. And very customizable.
Link
Whenever you need to make a quick DMG file this app is a great companion. Used to take me 5 minutes to make a DMG, and then if I screwed up on one part, I had to start all over. Not with this great utility. Extremely fast.
Link
If you have to maintain any MySQL server, CocoaMySQL is a great tool to have. It provides a great interface for management of databases. It fits right into OS X.
Link
This app will auto-download the latest build of Webkit from http://webkit.opendarwin.org/ and let you run Safari with the newest and greatest features.
Link
A great app that will transform your iTunes library into a great looking website. I blogged about this awhile back. Here is what the app creates: Example.
Link | (Local Mirror)
A truly great idea. This app helps clear out your services menu. This really makes the Services menu a useful tool. Thanks.
Link
A simple tool that lets you find the ASCII and other formats of the characters you press on your keyboard. Indispensable if you are doing Global Hotkey Programming for OS X. This app will help you find all those key-code numbers for your hotkeys. Check it out.
Link
These are some really great unknown apps for OS X. Enjoy. I will be bringing new lists later on [see this blog post and this one]. Check back for more.
-Dustin
64 Replies
Dustin Bachrach’s Blog » Blog Archive » The Best Unknown Mac Apps - 2 on 2/12/2006 at 22:04[...] As I was reinstalling Windows ME on my old Dell Inspiron, I browsed the internet on my Mac while I waited. I got into scanning MacUpdate, and I found a few new cool, mildly known apps. I’ve compiled a second list of “The Best Unknown Mac Apps.” The first list can be found here. These apps for this particular list are varied in category. Some are productivity, some are widgets, and some are just cool (useless) additions to OS X. Lets start: [...]
StuckInQwerty on 2/24/2006 at 12:22Thanks for the WikiNotes heads up. There’s a widget that I like, but this one seems much more functional!
Jago Illustration » links for 2006-03-07 on 3/7/2006 at 03:20[...] Dustin Bachrach’s Blog » Blog Archive » The Best Unknown Mac Apps - 1 (tags: mac osx apple software download free list whenIhaveamac) [...]
melissa on 9/25/2006 at 23:25do you still have the downloaded file for the itunes xhtml playlist software? the site from which it’s linked is no longer functional. I’ve tried several ways of getting it, but am now getting desperate! any ideas?
Dustin Bachrach on 9/26/2006 at 06:53Hi Melisssa, I added a local mirror to that program. It’s in the list or you can just grab it here. Hope that works.
Jordan on 10/25/2006 at 15:03Do you by any chance, have the PC version of the xHTML playlist available? *crosses fingers*
Jordan on 10/25/2006 at 15:04Actually you know what, lucked out; Found the PC version.. Thanks for the OSX one though!
links for 2006-11-01 « Bloggitation on 10/31/2006 at 18:34[...] The Best Unknown Mac Apps (tags: mac) [...]
Will on 1/7/2007 at 20:22Xkeys is pretty nice. No Quicksilver, but I use it to launch just about everything.
Better Than You on 1/7/2007 at 21:25Nothing is unkown if someone knows about it. I know all these apps.
Jeff on 1/7/2007 at 21:29that iTunes XHTML would be so much nicer if it could either break it up into multiple pages, or just something to prevent such an outrageously long pages for larger libraries.
Jeff on 1/7/2007 at 21:30that iTunes XHTML would be so much nicer if it could either break it up into multiple pages, or just something to prevent such an outrageously long page for larger libraries.
Macgeek on 1/7/2007 at 22:07Is there a widget to keep todo lists that you know of?
Dustin Bachrach on 1/7/2007 at 22:11I personally don’t know of any widget that does To-Do but I’m sure a search on macupdate.com would turn plenty of hits.
Killer! Technology, Automotive, Gaming, and More - Thats Killer! on 1/7/2007 at 22:54[...] Mac enthusiast Dustin Bachrach has written up his picks for some of the best Mac software you might never have heard of. If you’re running this wonderful operating system, you need to read more. Posted in Technology | [...]
/home/nil/switch/ » The best twenty Mac apps you’ve never heard of! on 1/7/2007 at 23:12[...] Well worh the read.read more | digg story [...]
Joe on 1/7/2007 at 23:15I prefer VoodooPad to WikiNotes
Dustin Bachrach on 1/7/2007 at 23:16VoodooPad is great and so is VoodooPad Lite. It is definitely worth checking out http://flyingmeat.com/voodoopad/.
Dimitri on 1/7/2007 at 23:40I like these: Recorder.xhead a voice recorder and audio player/converter and DJAY A DJ application to mix tracks.
levi on 1/7/2007 at 23:55Great list! I’m a mac-head and I haven’t heard of most of these apps.
May I humbly submit audiozue for consideration. It’s a simple little menu-bar app that sends real-time iTunes statistics to an online profile. It gives you cool little blog/myspace widgets and RSS feeds, etc. I use it.
Adam Betts on 1/7/2007 at 23:57Thank you very much for the link to Service Scrubber. I’ve been looking for something like it for ages.
daniil on 1/8/2007 at 00:11CocoaMySQL is nice app. In fact, thats the only good one I’ve found so far. But coming from the world of windows I have to say this, nothing equals to the power and simplicity of SQLYog - man oh man do I wish someone would do that for OSX!
Mac Geeks » The unknown Mac apps on 1/8/2007 at 01:50[...] Dustin Bachrach Blog - The best unknown Mac Apps -1 [...]
cw on 1/8/2007 at 02:27We’ve had great success with ButtonGadget for Mac:
http://www.buttongadget.com.
LEE on 1/8/2007 at 03:58Hey don’t forget “Filechute”.
Best file transfer app there is = }
20 mindre kända Mac-program | smidigt.se on 1/8/2007 at 04:40[...] Del 1 [...]
Fresqui.com on 1/8/2007 at 05:25Las 20 mejores aplicaciones para MAC…
El fanático de Mac Dustin Bachrach ha hecho una lista de sus 20 aplicaciones favoritas para MAC que posiblemente no hayas oido hablar. Su lista incluye:
# WikiNotes
# CocoaMySQL
# Service Scrubber
…
Jake on 1/8/2007 at 06:37Hey,
For all the Intel Macs, there is a Universal version of CocoaMYSQL, titled “CocoaMYSQL-SBG” built off the source.
It’s available here: http://www.theonline.org/cocoamysql/
( Plus it’s much better than the original )
Freakitude Technology Blog » Blog Archive » Hot Picks - January 08, 2007 on 1/8/2007 at 07:23[...] The Best Unknown Mac Apps - 1 [...]
beta.latafanera.net on 1/8/2007 at 07:2820 apps de MAC desconegudes i imprescindibles…
Un fan de MAC ha fet un llistat de 20 aplicacions poc conegudes però que ell considera interessants. Un bon enllaç pels amants del sistema operatiu d’Apple….
End of Silence - Freedom hating on the internets since 2002 » links for 2007-01-08 on 1/8/2007 at 11:18[...] The Best Unknown Mac Apps - 1 » Dustin Bachrach Blog (tags: mac osx apple software list top tips free) [...]
CodeChimp.net » Best 20 Unknown Mac Apps on 1/8/2007 at 13:48[...] Ran across this site on Digg. It has a pretty decent list of apps for OS X that most people might not know about. [...]
subcorpus on 1/8/2007 at 17:23came here from digg …
u r right, i’ve never heard of any of the above …
will check it out …
thanks …
links for 2007-01-08 at found_drama on 1/8/2007 at 17:55[...] The Best Unknown Mac Apps via Dustin Bachrach Blog (via LifeHacker): a bunch of “little” applications worth keeping around (tags: Mac OSX freeware software todo) [...]
Cartoons Fans Lounge on 1/8/2007 at 20:55[...] story No Comments so far Leave a comment RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI Leave a comment Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTMLallowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong> [...]
links for 2007-01-09 · Lawsy.net on 1/9/2007 at 00:20[...] The Best Unknown Mac Apps Mac apps that nobody has heard of, that presumable means they don’t fit their purpose especially well but I’ll give anything a try once. (tags: apple osx application list) [...]
turntablerocker on 1/10/2007 at 13:47djay by algoriddim should be on the list! It’s the most inovative app of 2006 … watch the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze9cI4n7Es8
or download at http://www.algoriddim.net
ruindpzzle on 1/12/2007 at 00:47what happened to myTunes? i tried to visit the link, but couldn’t find the application.
Niklas’ blog » Blog Archive » My Del.icio.us bookmarks created during the past week on 1/12/2007 at 02:19[...] The Best Unknown Mac Apps — Tagged as: [software mac osx apple freeware] [...]
Dustin Bachrach on 1/12/2007 at 07:37myTunes is now BOINK!
Get it here: http://www.sonicswap.com/boink/boinkdownload.jsp
Benjamin Lutz » The best unknown Mac Apps on 1/13/2007 at 08:46[...] The best unknown Mac Apps [...]
J. Karen Parker » Blog Archive » links for 2007-01-11 on 1/16/2007 at 22:20[...] The Best Unknown Mac Apps - 1 » Dustin Bachrach Blog (tags: osx software download) [...]
131am » Blog Archive » mac freeware on 1/29/2007 at 10:17[...] two great lists of mac freeware, 10 free apps every mac users should have and 20 best unknown mac apps Posted by admin Filed in Daily Links [...]
Lists of Essential Apps on 1/29/2007 at 12:13[...] The Best Unknown Mac Apps 1 - Dustin Bachrach Blog [...]
Doug Karr on 1/29/2007 at 19:45I like Compress and MAMP.
mcdave.net » links for 2007-01-30 on 1/30/2007 at 00:29[...] The Best Unknown Mac Apps - 1 » Dustin Bachrach Blog 11 apps para mac os x, no muy conocidos pero, que te pueden sacar las castañas del fuego (tags: mac Software osx freeware apps) [...]
Dawud Miracle on 1/30/2007 at 14:16Thanks. I’m going to check out FreeDMG.
Savior Machine » links for 2007-02-01 on 1/31/2007 at 22:18[...] The Best Unknown Mac Apps - 1 » Dustin Bachrach Blog Good list of apps that aren’t always mentioned (tags: mac software osx freeware apps list Apple computer useful utility) [...]
Pinky Programmer » Blog Archive » Probably…….. on 2/12/2007 at 05:46[...] Best Unknown Mac Application [...]
Joan’s Jewels » Blog Archive » JoansJewels 02/14/2007 on 2/15/2007 at 10:54[...] The Best Unknown Mac Apps [...]
» Blog Archive The Best Unknown Mac Apps - 3 » Dustin Bachrach Blog on 2/20/2007 at 23:16[...] Due to the popularity of the last two lists (one and two), I’m following up with a new set. Enjoy the newest addition to The Best Unknown Mac Apps Part 3. [...]
Litz on 2/25/2007 at 15:39I’ve been looking for the iTunes XHTML program. You seem to be the ONLY person on the Web that has it available for download. Thanks.
Litz on 2/25/2007 at 15:40Darn, this is for Mac. I have a PC. Darn!
Jordan on 3/6/2007 at 20:28I have a PC version of the iTunes XHTML Playlist script for those that come here looking for it.
42 Reasons normal people can switch to a Mac. « The Arabianist on 3/13/2007 at 13:47[...] 8. And there’s so much more, on lists like this and this and this and this. [...]
A New MacBook- Stripping to the Essentials » Dustin Bachrach Blog on 6/19/2007 at 17:52[...] don’t forget my previous posts about the Best Unknown Mac Apps 1, 2, and 3. They have lists of less common apps to download for your [...]
Macintoast.org » Dustin Bachrach Blog: The Best Unknown Mac Apps on 8/24/2007 at 15:30[...] The Best Unknown Mac Apps 1 [...]
Cameron on 9/7/2007 at 12:28Indispensable is misspelled.
Anonymous on 9/13/2007 at 09:14these apps are almost all useless.
The Whole New World » links for 2007-10-19 on 10/19/2007 at 06:22[...] The Best Unknown Mac Apps - 1 » Dustin Bachrach Blog (tags: osx mac software) [...]
jonathan on 10/31/2007 at 13:55cocoamysql looks pretty sweet. thanks for posting this.
Essential Applications for Mac « Fascinatingly and Depressingly Yours on 11/5/2007 at 01:12[...] Dustin Bachrach: Best Unknown Mac Apps. (Mostly developer tools). [...]
Pixels with Pigtails » Seen and Noted » My Favorite Mac Apps on 2/2/2008 at 09:01[...] Best Unknown Mac Apps (part one) [...]
John Svid on 2/25/2008 at 08:07Wow great site! Some really helpful information there.
I’m sorry for little off-topic, but I want to ask you about design of this site.
Did you make this template yourself or got from any templates website?
Looks pretty cool for me. Wonderful well this reading.
