The Download Dispatch for Mac

Need to run Windows (or another operating system) on your Mac? Check out VirtualBox, a free virtualization software program that lets you run Windows or just about any operating system without needing to reboot. Handy wizards help you through the setup process so you can set up multiple environments to suit your needs. This latest version features compatibility improvements and bug fixes.

Also this week, there's an update for Mellel, the multilingual text editor that offers tons of useful features anyone can appreciate. Our game this week is Conquer Online, a free-to-play MMORPG where you get to play as … Read more

If you're looking for a Mac uninstaller with a little extra under the hood, CleanApp offers all the features you need to get rid of unwanted apps once and for all.

With CleanApp, you drag and drop apps to the interface, and then you can view them and their associated files before you decide what to do. But unlike other uninstall utilities for Mac, CleanApp offers a few extras across the top of the interface, so you can zero in on what you want to uninstall. The Applications button displays all installed apps; a System Accessories button lets you … Read more

MarsEdit makes blogging easier, letting you ditch clunky browser-based editing in favor of a full-featured, fully Mac-powered desktop editor. With nice bonus features like autosaving, Technorati tag editing, blog-specific image settings, support for Tumblr, and a speedy Flickr browser, MarsEdit is a great example of indie software done right. It gives you lots of functionality, a professional level of quality, responsive support, and (of course, this being indie software) a modest price tag.

Also this week we have the latest version of 1Password, the secure Web site log-in and password utility that only requires you to remember one password. Our … Read more

With the release of OS X 10.7 Lion, Apple has made an effort to streamline the OS to the prevalent technologies used in OS X and on the Mac platform in general. Apple is pushing developers to use 64-bit code instead of 32-bit code even for applications that do not need it, use native Intel code instead of maintaining PowerPC code and optimizing its performance under Rosetta (which is now missing from the OS), and implement Objective-C Coco APIs instead of Java and alternatives. Nevertheless, many programs (including popular tools like Adobe CS4 and earlier) still require alternative runtimes … Read more

Mac OS X Lion is finally here, offering more than 250 new features. Everything from Multitouch gestures, to full-screen apps, the new LaunchPad, and tons of other useful tweaks make this version of Apple's operating system one of the best yet. We got down and dirty with Mac OS X Lion and think it's a pretty great upgrade for most users. Check out our CNET review at the link above.

Also this week we have the latest version of Transmission, the Bittorrent client built from the ground up for Mac. Our game this week is BZFlag, a multiplayer … Read more

If you're not already a pro at using the command line, OnyX is a solid choice for conducting routine maintenance and tweaking the interface on your Mac. This free utility can help you with everything from checking SMART status on your disks to configuring the Dock, Finder, Dashboard, and Expose to your liking. This latest version adds several fixes to speed up the cleaning process.

Also this week we have the elegant graphing app, OmniGraphSketcher, which lets you easily create presentation graphs by sketching what you want and then tweaking it until you get it just right. Our game … Read more

Apple has released a few updates for its iLife suite of media creation and management applications, which have been made available through the Mac App Store as well as by conventional means. Because of the way Mac App Store applications are coded, the version of iLife distributed through it will require updates issued through the store instead of via Software Update. Therefore, if you have installed iLife via the Mac App Store, you will need to use the Store to update your applications, and if you have iLife installed by conventional means then you can download updates either via Software … Read more

The ability to play Blu-ray movies in OS X has been a bit of a sore spot for Mac users. When Blu-ray was being developed, Apple's presence as a supporter of the technology spurred much speculation and rumor that Mac users would be seeing native Blu-ray support in OS X. Unfortunately, to this date this has not happened, and Apple has progressively shied away from Blu-ray in support of alternative options like the iTunes store.

While Apple has claimed that the complex licensing for Blu-ray playback has been partly to blame for the lack of Blu-ray support, oddly the … Read more

Evernote for Mac is just one part of an excellent, access-from-anywhere note-taking system. In addition to the Evernote desktop client, you can create and get to your notes from a variety of mobile devices (including apps for the iPhone and iPad) and any Web browser on any computer. A free Evernote account links all your notes together. This means that whether you're taking notes or saving images and other media, you'll be able to access them from any device.

Also this week, we have the latest beta version of GraphicConverter, the low-cost image editor that lets you convert … Read more