CNET Editors' review
Smart Scroll is a handy preference pane that can give you much more flexibility with trackpad, mouse (and Magic Mouse), and keyboard scrolling, including coasting iPhone-style scrolling.
Smart Scroll works in the background, but its settings interface gives you extensive control over its five primary features: the iPhone-style "Super Scroll" that lets the content of a window continue scrolling even after you let go of your trackpad or mouse (you can easily control the speed and amount of "coasting," stop with two fingers, and even reverse the x and y axis to match the iPhone); the "Auto Scroll" for hands-free scrolling; the "Hover Scroll," which lets you scroll by hovering the cursor near the top or bottom of a window; the "Grab Scroll" that lets you click and drag the content of a window to scroll; and the surprisingly useful "Scroll Keys" that lets you set convenient key combos for scrolling in any direction (for example, holding Control and then clicking Option to scroll up or Command to scroll down).
Smart Scroll is easy and intuitive to set up and use, and--unlike some other narrow-purpose UI enhancers--it's also fairly affordable, with a fully functional trial mode. It's definitely worth a download for people who want their Mac to feel more like their iPhone.
Publisher's Description
From Marc Moini:
Smart Scroll makes scrolling smoother, faster and more comfortable:
- Super Scroll: smoother, more comfortable scrolling for your trackpad or mouse. Try it!
- Hover Scroll: just hover the cursor near the top or bottom of a window and relax, no need to keep scrolling!
- Auto Scroll: read more comfortably with automatic, hands-free scrolling! For Safari Reader, Skim, Preview and Quick Look.
- Grab Scroll: the best way to scroll with a graphics tablet or regular mouse!
Other features include independent reversal of trackpad and mouse, Universal Scroll Keys, trackpad and scroll wheel acceleration, and more.
What's new in this version:
- Support for OS X Lion 10.7.4
- Various fixes and improvements.
- This version of Smart Scroll supports Mac OS X 10.4 to 10.7.4 and is recommended for all users.
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All versions:
3.7 starsout of 12 votes
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Current version:
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"Very good."
Version: Smart Scroll 3.9b2
Pros
Very handy. Nice to be able to click to click to a point, again, not just to top/bottom of page. I've ised this from its start. It does everything that it claims to. Except one.
Cons
There are no arrowheads. The arrowheads are quite aesthetically important to me and I really wat, nay, NEED! to have them back.
Summary
If it really did bring back the arrows, instead of merely claiming to, then I'd give it five stars.
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"Makes scrolling stutter/jerky"
Version: Smart Scroll 3.8
Pros
Gives you a lot more preferences for scrolling than Apple's standard Mouse preferences.
Cons
Makes scrolling less smooth and jerky, especially after first starting a program.
Summary
I wanted to try this program after hearing that in the next OS X mouse scrolling will be reversed, but Smart Scroll took my Magic Mouse's very smooth scrolling and makes it jerky and stuttery. Sometimes if I'm at the top and I accidentally scroll the other way (i.e. what used to be the norma way), it jerks at that point too.
I also found the options that are turned on by default to be too much and a lot of work to turn them all off. I would rather start with simple enhancements and add more changes if I want, instead of getting the whole kit and caboodle by default. Maybe since the program has so many options, it should have a single button to let someone start with everything turned off and build from there.
The program does what it's designed to do, and I would give it more than two stars if not for the performance issues. Maybe with other mice it's not as noticeable? -
"Extremely useful for pdf files"
Version: Smart Scroll 3.8
Pros
Useful with mouse and trackpad in most applications.
Cons
doesn't work in all applications e.g Firefox. Not been able to activate scroll drag with Logitech trackball. The trackball has this feature built in, but it is awkward to activate
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"I confess I don't really get the point."
Version: Smart Scroll 3.8
Pros
I don't know what they are.
Cons
I uninstalled the program using CleanMyMac during the trial period, but still get the little window telling me how many times I have used it, and do I want to buy it.
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"Excellent addition to Mac functionality."
Version: Smart Scroll 3.8
Pros
Makes navigation effortless. I especially like the way I can adjust the 'active' distance from borders of open app panes.
Cons
Can't think of one reason.
Summary
Excellent improvement to navigation on the Mac, giving it some of the same useful and neat features of the iOS on iPad/iPhone. I love it and have come to depend on it being there as I move through documents and tasks.
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"Excellent utility"
Version: Smart Scroll 3.7.6 beta 1
Pros
It allows a more iPhone-like scrolling under OS X than simply setting "scrolling with inertia". It allows you to reverse x- and y-axes so that to scroll down you flick up and vice versa and to increase scrolling speed and coasting after release.
Cons
Scrolling is not as smooth as it could be.
Summary
I never thought that scrolling with the "thumb" was very intuitive. iPhone-like scrolling is much more comfortable and natural. Smart Scroll makes that happen, easily and efficiently.
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"Dude this is"
Version: Smart Scroll 3.7.6 beta 1
Pros
Awesome. I might actually buy this application, and that's something I never do.
Cons
The price is a little high.
Summary
The bottom line is that cute chicks make the world what it is.
Great little add-on. The price is a little high and I just tried to buy it using PayPal, BUT THEY HAVEN'T UPDATED THEIR WEBSITE TO WORK WITH THE UPDATED PayPal site. I'm not giving you my credit card info, so if you want to sell this, get with it or I'll just get it free on a torrent site.
Updated on Oct 1, 2010 -
"This version breaks old app."
Version: Smart Scroll 3.7.5
Pros
Previous versions were very good.
Cons
Breaks old apps.
Summary
v 3.7.5 breaks old apps like Desktop Palm, URL Manager Pro and Splash ID (perhaps others). Previous versions were fine.
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"Effective utility makes mousing feel tactile and quick"
Version: Smart Scroll 3.7.5
Pros
It adds inertial movement that's more adjustable than mac's on/off. Provides valuable settings making work with the track pad more hot-rodded. Provides reverse scrolling-- sliding the document itself up & down and not dragging the window.
Cons
Reverse scrolling not always available-- a little confusing.
Summary
Try the demo and see if this type of control over your experience suits you. I bought it immediately after trying it, and now when I use computers without it, it feels all slow and sticky.
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"Greatest Utility Ever ... Cannot work w/o it!!!!"
Version: Smart Scroll 3.6.3
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Thanks for the quick update.
If you havenâ??t tried this, try it ... Youâ??ll be hooked!!!!
Ken
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