Review is probably a bit of a stretch for what's here. This is more of a list of software I like (or may like in the future) with some quick comments about each one. I keep this list because good software is hard to find and when I move to a new machine or need to reinstall I like to know what I usually install on that machine.
Note that this is software that I find useful, you may not care for any of this. If you're slightly OCD, enjoy programming, play role playing games and a bit of a gadget freak this list may have some things on it you'd like.
Applications are free or donation-ware unless otherwise noted. Please see the Disclaimer.
Mac OS X Software
My main machine at home is a mac, so most of the software I use is for Mac OS X.
Using
Software that has survived daily use for a week or more. These are applications that I prefer to have installed on my machine.
- Adium - Instant messaging application that can connect to multiple services.
- AppleJack - I use this as my primary application for hard drive repair. It's simple and has a fire-and-forget type of use that appeals to me.
- AppZapper - Uninstalling a Mac application isn't always easy, with this it is. $12.95
- ArgoUML - Free, cross-platform UML application.
- AtomicParsley - Sets iTunes metadata, I use it to make video files "TV Shows"
- Chmox - A CHM viewer, comes in handy once in a while.
- ClamXav - Virus scanner. I haven't had a virus on my Mac but this has caught a windows virus in one of my files.
- Connoisseur - The best recipe manager I could find and it's not very good. $20
- CyberDuck - FTP and SFTP browser, I use this when the command line won't do.
- Delicious Library - A MacHeist Bundle item that I have used in a limited fashion. I'd never have paid full price for it. $40
- Disco - Part of the MacHeist Bundle but worth the full price. This is the only burning software I use on the Mac. $29.95
- Disk Inventory X - Shows the sizes of files and folders, useful for tracking down why your hard drive is full.
- ffmpegX - Converts video.
- Fink - This is how I got Apache 2 and Subversion installed on my Mac. By far the easiest way to get open source software on OS X.
- Firefox - In the rare cases Safari doesn't cut it, I run to Firefox.
- Flip4Mac - So I can watch WMV movies seamlessly.
- Google Earth - Just because it's fun to play with.
- GraphicConverter - Image viewer/converter $39
- Growl - Used by several pieces of software for notifications.
- HandBrake - Resizes and converts video. This is going away as soon as I purchase VisualHub.
- iLinkPod - Allows you to access the music that Apple normally hides in your iPod. This saved me after a hard drive crash.
- iStat menus - Shows system status in the menu bar.
- MacTheRipper - DVD Extractor for backing up your property.
- ManOpen - GUI application for viewing manual pages (man command line tool).
- NeoOffice - My main word processor at home, I don't want to spend the money on MS Office and NeoOffice is more than enough.
- OmniFocus - Over the top task manager. If you're into Getting Things Done, go get this.
- Perian - Fills in support for the video formats I use.
- RCDefaultApp - Allows you to set the default application to use a file type.
- RapidWeaver - What I use for this web site. Purchased as part of MacHeist Bundle, I would have paid full price for this. $39.95
- Remote Desktop Connection Client - My telecommunication tool.
- Subversion - Version control system, if you write code of any sort you should be using some sort of VCS.
- QuickSilver - If you have Mac OS X, you need this application. Learn how to use it and never go back.
- Quinn - A wonderful implementation of a popular block falling game.
- TextExpander - Expands abbreviations as your type, another app you can't live without once you use it. $29.95
- TextMate - The best text editor on the Mac, part of the MacHeist bundle but worth every penny at full price. $52.70
- The Unarchiver - Un-archives all the compression formats I use.
- TimeMachineEditor - Allows you to tweak your Time Machine settings.
- Tooble - Download YouTube videos.
- Transmission - I use Xtorrent most of the time, but sometimes I use this.
VisualHub- Resizes and converts video. I purchased this for my AppleTV, if all of your video content is on DVDs, use HandBrake instead NO LONGER AVAILABLE- Xcode - My main development environment.
- Xtorrent - I used to download all torrent in Windows because uTorrent was better than everything on the Mac. Now, everything goes through Xtorrent. $20
Under Consideration
This is applications that is installed on my machine but hasn't been used enough to be considered a permanent fixture.
- GimmeSomeTune - iTunes controller
- Jumpcut - Clipboard buffering.
- Mplayer - Video playback, supports some more exotic formats than Quicktime.
- VLC - Video playback, plays almost everything under the sun.
- Yep - iPhoto for PDFs
Possibilities
Software that isn't installed right now, but I plan on trying out. Most of this comes from MacBreak Weekly.
- Apple Core - Apple TV modification
- Cocoalicious - del.icio.us application
- Compress - File compressor supports tar, zip, bzip2, gzip and p7zip.
- DeepVacuum - Web site downloader.
- Dock Spaces - Spaces for your dock.
- Evernote - Very impressive note taking application.
- Inkscape - Vector graphics editor.
- Inquisitor - "Spotlight for the web."
- Mozy - Online backup for the Mac.
- PagePacker - Makes pocket-sized books.
- Platypus - Mac OS X application wrapper for interpreted scripts.
- Scrivener - I'm thinking about getting this to use when preparing for RPGs.
- SuperDuper! - Make bootable images of your HD, very useful when upgrading your hard drive. Free / $27.95
- TVShows - TV show downloader?
- WebnoteHappy - Bookmark manager
- xPad - "The Ultimate Notepad"
Not Used
Applications that I purchased but don't use.
- DEVONthink - Document repository that was part of the MacHeist Bundle. I can't find a use for it. $39.95
- FotoMagico - I purchased it as part of the MacHeist Bundle and never had a need for it. $39.99
- iClip - Part of MacHeist, it just doesn't work with my work flow well so I stopped using it. $29
- NewsFire - Anther MacHeist application, I tried to read RSS feeds using this but Safari's method suites me better. Still, a very nice application. $20
- Pangea Arcade - Part of MacHeist, it's a set of good games (I love Nucleus) but I just don't play them that much. $19.95
- Pixen - I didn't purchase this but it's buggy enough that I should warn you NOT to use this. It's costed me hours of work.
- ShapeShifter - Changes the appearance of OS X, part of MacHeist. Interesting but not really worthwhile. $20
- Synergy Advance - Hotkey control over iTunes. Used to love it, but the author never released updates. $13.45