Recommended Mac Software and Services

These are the products and services I'm recommending to anyone getting started with their Mac computer. You'll find most of these in my OS X Dock:

Mozilla Firefox - Firefox is an open source browser from the Mozilla Foundation. It's faster and more secure than Internet Explorer and offers tabbed browsing. It also offers a number of useful extensions which Mac's Safari does not.

Google Bookmark Synchronization - Google's Bookmark Synchronizer for Firefox is the most useful extension that I've found. It completely synchronizes your browser's cookies, bookmarks, and tabs through Google keeping your home, work and laptop computers completely in sync. If you use multiple computers, this is a must have extension.

Gmail - More and more, everyone is using GMail. Whether you use it as a primary mailbox or simply a Web interface to read and review your email while travelling remotely - GMail is becoming an essential tool. I'm using GMail as my primary mail interface and finding that it's faster than any mail client available - even Thunderbird. Be sure to authenticate your email address so you can send directly from your existing address even in GMail. GMail's new integrated chat service is also interesting thought not yet fully polished.

SpamArrest - I forgot to include this one earlier. SpamArrest has been a life saver for me. SpamArrest is a whitelist or challenge/response spam-fighting service. Essentially, only people in your address book can email you. When someone new emails you (or a spammer), they receive an email from SpamArrest which requires that they verify themselves as a human being. Only emails that are sent by verified people can get through to your inbox.

Apple iCal - I use Apple's iCal as an essential calendar and scheduling tool for all of my daily activities.

Apple Address Book - I use Apple's Address Book as well for my email addresses and phone numbers.

.Mac and Apple iSync - If you have multiple computers, I highly recommend subscribing to .Mac and using OS X iSync to keep your Address Book and Calendars in sync via the Internet. If you have a bluetooth phone, you can also use iSync to keep your phone numbers and calendars in sync with your phone wirelessly.

Bloglines - If you want to keep up on your favorite news sites or blogs, Bloglines provides an outstanding online service for organizing your frequently used sources. I've also heard good things about the Mac application BlogBridge.

Feeling more advanced?

TypePad for your own Blog - I've used SixApart's TypePad tool for a long time now to host this blog. I find that it's the richest, most user friendly blog service on the market.

Flickr for your photos - I've been enjoying using Flickr recently for my photos. The social networking and the ability to share original image files make it the tool for me. They also have a Mac Uploader - which is still a bit buggy - but not terrible. If you want a simpler photo solution, I've been very happy with the prints from Kodak Gallery. If you do a lot of photography, check out Apple's Aperture, which I've just started using.

Parallels Desktop for Mac - I've been super impressed with Parallels Desktop for Mac which lets you run Windows in a window on your Mac. It requires an Intel-based Mac - all the newer Mac's are now Intel-based.

Skype for Internet Voice Calls - I've used Skype off and on for a while. It works pretty well for long distance calls. If you're calling other Skype users, it's free. If you need to call long distance numbers, they have affordable rates via the SkypeOut service. A lot of my friends use Skype for chatting as well.

Miscellaneous

Apple iTunes - Despite Apple's terrible DRM policies, I use iTunes - mainly because I'm not a gigantic music buff and it works super well with my iPod. I'm also recently enjoying the iTunes TV Show downloads. iTunes podcasting support is also pretty good.

Democracy Player - The Participatory Culture Foundation's Democracy Player is the future of the Internet media broadcasting system. I don't use it a lot right now but I've been very impressed with it. It's a great BitTorrent client solution and makes it easy to subscribe to your favorite online videocasts and media.

TextWrangler - I use Bare Bones' free text editing software regularly for notes and to do lists.

NeoOffice Aqua Beta - For serious writing, I use Microsoft Office X Word and may upgrade when Microsoft finally releases Office 11 next year. However, while I haven't yet tried it out, I'm excited to hear more about the NeoOffice Aqua Beta - the first OpenOffice version in the native Mac GUI.

Mozilla Camino Web Browser - Mozilla's Camino is a simplified, streamlined browser for the Mac. I've been impressed with it but prefer Firefox. Other friends of mine swear by it.

NewsCloud - I would be remiss if I didn't mention my own site - NewsCloud.com as my favorite source for progressive, lefty news. Please check it out and let me know what you think.

Feedback

Please post any comments or feedback to this post below. What's in your Dock? Feel free to recommend services I haven't mentioned. Thanks.

Technorati Tags: .mac, address book, apple, bloglines, democracy player, firefox, gmail, google bookmark synchronization, ical, os x, recommendations, top 10, typepad

Comments

[Phil]

Wow, thats a huge list...anyway, I have mixed feelings about SpamArrest. It gets annoying sometimes to have people NOT in my address book repeatedly try and contact me and then get frustrated and give up...or worse, call me on the phone. ;) I've given it up for time being, though.