CNET Editors' review
For users who frequently download applications, finding a program to completely remove them is important. Amnesia for Mac performs this function well and has some easy-to-use additional features.
Download and installation of Amnesia for Mac completed quickly due to the native installer. The program does require that the user accept a licensing agreement before allowing program use. After startup, the program did not offer any instructions, but the interface made them unnecessary. Large buttons at the top of the program indicate the main program functions. Users can designate a specific, known program for deletion, and search for a list of all available applications, widgets, or plug-ins. The returned list was comprehensive and easy to read. Users can then highlight one or more applications to be removed. Once initiated, the programs are removed quickly and completely. Updated versions were available, indicating that the program is well supported. Amnesia performs its stated function well, but ultimately could benefit from additional, related features, like malware protection. The program is available as a free 15-day trial version with the fully-unlocked program requiring a $19.95 payment.
Amnesia for Mac works well and has an easy-to-use interface. Users who need to scan and remove Mac applications completely from their system will definitely benefit from this program.
Editors' note: This is a review of the trial version of Amnesia for Mac 1.4.3.
Publisher's Description
From Koingo Software:
Many software titles on Mac OS come with the uninstall directions of simply "Drag the application to the Trash and empty it". In reality, this often leaves many related files on the computer taking up valuable hard drive space. Amnesia performs a smart scan to determine all related files to be removed. Easily uninstall not just applications, but also Screen Savers, Dashboard Widgets, and Preference Panes. Amnesia will remove logs, caches, application support files, preferences, crash reports, and other application specific files. Take the frustration and time out of searching for all of these files manually. In addition, turn on a secure deletion option to prevent recovery of the removed files. Scared to accidently remove something you may need later? Amnesia comes with a built-in backup function which creates an archive of related files incase you wish to restore them at a later time. It will reinstall the pieces of the product exactly where they came from -- even if you choose to restore to a different machine! Another powerful feature Amnesia has to offer is the ability to create a list of Untouchables (in addition to the ones built-in). Untouchables are software products which Amnesia will warn you about incase a remove is attempted. This is handy incase a particular software product should be removed using a manufacturer-provided uninstaller instead.
What's new in this version: Bug Fix: Fix for Lion that would bring the app foremost if in the background when choosing a folder action in the Finder or if the opening folder had a Folder Action on it.
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All versions:
4.0 starsout of 5 votes
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Current version:
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My rating:
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Results 1-5 of 5
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"Well-written but pricey."
Version: Amnesia 1.2.3
Pros
Nice, easy to use interface that scans well and gives many options for uninstalling.
Cons
Only dislike is price: you can achieve pretty much the same with trash me and Onyx.
Summary
If you have to take care of other people's macs or are one of those frequent app changers, like me, then this is a great tool. 20 USD is a bit steep for scripts with a nice interface, though.
-
"Feel very confident using Amnesia"
Version: Amnesia 1.1.7
Pros
Pleasure to use
Cons
nothing wrong to my observation
Summary
I think it's the better choice of many
-
"More expensive than the rest, but ultimately n..."
Version: Amnesia 1.1.6
Summary
...more
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
There are several applications out there that claim to do a more complete job of deleting apps from OS X along with the related support files that often get left behind if one merely moves an unwanted application to the trash. Amnesia, at $19.95, is the most expensive of these dedicated app "uninstallers". So what does it do that the other don't do? Well it has an "untouchables" list that will keep you from mistakenly deleting an app. It also has a couple other options like rebuilding the Launch Services after removal (a pretty good idea actually) that come in handy.
Ok, so aside from the extra options that may be handy, just how good is it at its core job... deleting apps and their support files? In a nutshell... it is no better than the rest. At all. Every app uninstaller I've tried has failed to delete some related files/folders found in /Library/Application Support. A folder created by Firefox named "Mozilla" is one example, but there are quite a few others. Additionally, most of these apps are incapable of deleting the support files for other users on your system if the files are in their user Library. Amnesia is equally incapable in all these respects. In fact, the only one I've found that will scrub all user Libraries is TinkerTool System, but even it misses the same files/folders in /Library that the others miss.
So bottom line... if you have a single user system; are possibly clumsy enough to accidentally select an app for deletion when you know you'd never ever ever want to do so, yet have the foresight to add it to the "untouchables" list; and are willing to pay more than double the cheapest alternative, then Amnesia may be for you. -
"Programs Completely Removed"
Version: Amnesia 1.0.8
Pros
Works perfectly, low cost to buy, ease of use
Cons
There are no cons
-
"This should be a must for alll computers."
Version: Amnesia 1.0.6
Pros
It does what it says it does.
Cons
I haven't found any .
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