Brief Summary
This video showcases a curated list of free or low-cost Mac apps designed to enhance everyday productivity and user experience. It covers apps for file management, system monitoring, and creative tasks, emphasizing their practical benefits and ease of use.
- Folder Preview: Enables quick previews of folder and zip file contents.
- Command X: Restores the cut functionality for files in Finder.
- Umbra: Automatically switches between light and dark wallpapers based on system appearance.
- Blip: Facilitates cross-platform file transfers, competing with AirDrop.
- Launchy: Provides a customizable app launcher for quick access to frequently used applications.
- WNote: A minimal text editor designed for quick note-taking and text formatting tasks.
- Pure Paste: Ensures text is always pasted without formatting.
- ImageOptim: Optimizes images by removing metadata and compressing files.
- Gifski: Converts videos into optimized GIFs for various uses.
- Usage: Monitors system activity with a focus on memory, CPU, and battery usage.
Folder Preview
Folder Preview is a $2 app that enhances Finder by providing previews of folder contents when you hit the space bar, similar to how individual files are previewed. It also offers previews for zip files, allowing you to quickly view the contents without unarchiving them, saving time and effort. This is especially useful for large zip files.
Command X
Command X is a free app that addresses macOS's unconventional cut-and-paste functionality. Instead of using the standard Command+C and Command+V for cutting files, macOS requires Command+Option+V to move files. Command X simplifies this by providing a traditional cut function, accessible from the menu bar, complete with an optional sound effect to confirm the action.
Umbra
Umbra, created by Replay studio, is a free app that manages your desktop wallpaper by automatically switching between light and dark versions based on your system's appearance settings. You can select a light and dark image within the app, and Umbra seamlessly transitions between them when you toggle dark mode. It also offers an option to dim the wallpaper when in dark mode.
Blip
Blip is a free file transfer app that works across multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone, offering an alternative to AirDrop. Users create an account and can then transfer files between devices by dragging and dropping them onto the Blip icon in the menu bar. Blip also allows file sharing with others via email invites, even if they are not on the same network. A speed test showed Blip transferring a 5GB file in 1 minute and 5 seconds, slightly faster than AirDrop's 1 minute and 10 seconds, though results may vary based on internet speed and network conditions. Plot Node Pin is mentioned as a tool for recording, transcribing, translating, and summarizing.
Launchy
Launchy is a free app launcher that helps declutter the dock by providing a quick way to access applications. Triggered by a customizable shortcut (default is Command+Option), Launchy presents a circular menu around the mouse cursor, allowing you to launch apps quickly. It can be configured to hold frequently used apps or even currently active apps, serving as a fast app switcher.
WNote
WNote is a minimal text editor created by the video author, designed to streamline common text editing tasks. It simplifies processes like clearing text formatting, which typically requires multiple steps in the default Mac Text Edit app. WNote offers a cleaner interface and faster performance for these tasks. It is available for free, and the author encourages users to provide feedback for future improvements.
Pure Paste
Pure Paste is a free, simple app that ensures all pasted text is unformatted. Living in the menu bar, it eliminates the need for complex shortcuts like Shift+Command+Option+V, allowing users to paste plain text with just Command+V. This is particularly useful for those who prefer to always paste without formatting.
ImageOptim
ImageOptim is a free app that optimizes images by removing bloated metadata and compressing files without significant quality loss. It offers basic image adjustment settings, such as JPEG and PNG quality control, and optimizes images quickly via drag and drop. The app overrides existing files, reducing file sizes significantly without noticeable visual differences.
Gifski
Gifski is a tool used to convert videos into high-quality GIFs. It allows adjustments to frame rate, quality, resolution, and animation speed, with options for loop or bounce effects. The goal is to create visually appealing animations with small file sizes, suitable for online stores or newsletters.
Usage
Usage is a lightweight system activity monitor that provides user-friendly insights into memory usage, CPU activity, and battery consumption. It avoids overwhelming charts and graphs, offering a simple overview of system performance. The free version allows customization of menu settings to monitor storage, while the paid version offers synchronized access across devices.
