Free sample

by Macworld

Ebook: $4.99

• More Info
• Contents & Intro
• FAQ

Foreword

While most people are aware of the big-name software titles—Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and the like—some of the best Mac software is, like so many precious gems, hidden. Many great products out there don’t get the recognition, or even the awareness, that they deserve. And when that happens, Mac users miss out.

That’s where Macworld comes in. We mine the Web, looking for inexpensive software (roughly $35 or less) that makes your Mac run better, helps you work more efficiently, and lets your Mac do the little things—and some pretty big ones—you always wished it could do. We call these programs Mac Gems, and we highlight them twice a week on Macworld.com and every month in the pages of Macworld. We’ve covered nearly 1300 products since the Mac Gems column started back in 2003, and given how many new software titles are released for Mac OS X every day, we don’t plan on stopping there.

But even among the gems we’ve unearthed over the years, some deserve special recognition, and highlighting the very best of Mac Gems is the purpose of this book. We’ve picked our favorite Lion-compatible products, and we present them here. For each program, we give you a brief description of what it does, as well as links to the developer’s website and our full review.

Some of the products in these pages are ones we’ve recently discovered; others are oldies but goodies. The one thing they all have in common is that each is a standout product that won’t break the bank. If you enjoy this collection, don’t forget to visit Mac Gems online to keep up with our latest discoveries.

—Dan Frakes
San Francisco, April 2012

Table of Contents

Master the Web, Email, and Social Networking

Between email, blogs, social networking sites and services, instant messaging, videoconferencing, and so on, you’ve never had more options for keeping in touch with far-flung friends and family—even strangers are no more than a few clicks away. But with all of that chatter comes the sometimes daunting task of dealing with the deluge of information, as well as the various forms of communication. Thankfully, there are plenty of tools that can help.

Work with Text

Copy. Cut. Paste. Repeat. Working with text can involve dozens of little repetitive tasks. Some have easy-to-remember keyboard shortcuts, but others—like changing formatting or eliminating line breaks—usually don’t. If you’re tired of the more tedious aspects of working with the written word or if you’re just looking for a great writing app, these text-focused utilities can help. Whether you’re taking notes at a meeting, writing HTML code, or doing some creative writing, let these tools take care of the heavy lifting and help you focus on what matters—your words.

Be More Productive

Reaching your maximum level of productivity is a personal journey—no single application or combination of tricks works for everyone. That’s why we’ve packed this chapter with numerous third-party programs and add-ons that offer faster shortcuts, smarter calendars, easier file organization, and other customizations to make your time in front of the screen as productive as possible.

Work with Media

Between iTunes, iPhoto, QuickTime, GarageBand, and iMovie, your Mac can handle many common audio, photo, and video tasks. But there’s plenty these programs can’t do. For the audiovisual and photo nerd lurking in all of us, third-party programs address everything from getting your DVDs onto your iPad to giving your photos a retro feel. We’ve collected some of our favorite add-ons, big and small, that improve and complement your music, photo, and movie libraries.

Enhance Your Mac

Your Mac is designed to be as intuitive and easy to use as possible, but each user has a unique set of needs and habits. While you can alter your preferences for OS X and individual programs, there’s a limit to how much you can do without third-party help. In this chapter you’ll find tools for customizing your system so that it’s the perfect fit for you. These utilities can change the behavior of everything from the Dock and the Finder to your mouse and Spotlight.

Secure Your Data

The digital world is full of do-no-gooders hoping to gain access to your accounts and other private data. These Gems help you keep that information save by encrypting your data, whether it’s on your Mac, in your browser, or traveling over the Internet.

Maintain & Back Up

Macs are relatively hassle-free—most people get by with minimal maintenance. But it’s still good to keep an eye on your drives and to back up regularly, as doing so can reduce your chances of problems big and small. Every Mac owner’s first line of defense is having a good backup system. The next is being aware of how your computer is using its resources.

Can I read this ebook on an iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, or Kindle?

There are lots of great ways to read our ebooks on these devices. For more details, please read our latest Device Advice.

Ask a Question

Feel free to ask us if you have a question about this title!

Send Us Your Comments!

How could we not publish such kind words? If you'd like to send us your comments (good or bad, though we hope they're all good), just click the Feedback link on the cover of your copy of the ebook. Be sure to let us know if we can publish your comment. Thanks!

Orders are processed for us by eSellerate on a secure site.
Copyright 2013 TidBITS Publishing Inc. | Privacy Policy | Contact | Follow on Twitter