If you're like me, you are always looking for an app upgrade. You can't stand to have an adequate program when there is a better one out there, even if it's only a smidge better. At the same time, you are always on the lookout for that killer app - the one that will change the way you do X, Y, or Z. Well, with both game changers and mini-upgrades, this list is for you.
1. Spotify
This is the music program to end all music programs. Well, in truth, it doesn't have any real pluses over Rhapsody. Well, there is one: its free. Yup, unlimited streaming music, with full track controls, and playlist sharing, all in one slick lightweight desktop app. There are ads, but they are thankfully few and far between - and rank about a 3 out of 10 on the annoying-scale. Also, it is not officially available in the U.S. yet...but there are workarounds. Did I mention that this is FREE?!@!
2. Things (30-day Trial, $49.99 for license, Mac only)
Ahh task management. Love it or hate it, it is (or should be...slacker!) a big part of your day. Things offers a beautiful interface to keep track of your tasks, whether or not you use David Allen's Getting Things Done system. Tasks are searchable by custom tag, can be scheduled, and can be organized into projects and categories. Pricey? Yes. But totally worth the cash.
3. Skim
If you're like me (no one is, but just bear with me) then you read a lot of documents in PDF format. And if you're even more like me (keep bearing with me...) then you aren't completely satisfied by the Mac's built in Preview software. Skim is your answer. The first point in Skim's favor is its built in mark-up tool that allow you to save annotations directly in the metadata of your PDFs. Spiffy. The second point in Skim's favor is that it allows you to scroll through an entire document with just a scroll wheel (and trackpad gestures), unlike Preview. Point 3 is that Skim...is entirely free. Gotta call this one for Skim. Game, set, match.
4. Evernote
How beautiful is this: A tag-organizable note-taking program that syncs online. Even more pretty is the built in OCR for any and all image files that you embed in your notes. Imagine this: inspiration strikes while you're sipping your triple frap mochachino and you don't have your trusty laptop. You grab a pen and start writing THE BIG IDEA on the nearest napkin. Then, with your trusty iPhone, you snap a shot of the napkin and using Evernote's iPhone app, you add THE BIG IDEA to your notebook. When you get home, you log onto your computer and voila, there is that picture of the napkin, with the text fully searchable. Can I get a "Suh-Weet"?
5. Dropbox
Scared of losing all your files? Way too lazy to backup your files on an external drive? With dropbox, if you're online, you're backed up. It works like this: you get a folder on your drive, the dropbox, that you then can fill with whatever you want. Documents, pics, music, porn...whatever. Dropbox instantly syncs any and all changes to files in the folder with your online dropbox account. That's all there is to it. It also has shiny features, like the ability to look at all previous versions of a saved file, and a public folder for file sharing. The first 2GB are free, and its $99.99 for a 1-year subscription with 50 GB. Never email yourself a document again. Never worry about losing that precious webcam recording of your co-worker asleep at his desk. Get dropbox.
