CNET Editors' review
TinkerTool is a small, free app that lets you tinker with your user preferences, allowing access to options that you can't find through System Preferences. These "hidden" preferences--extras like adding scroll arrows to both ends of scroll bars--exist for a variety of reasons, but are usually invisible to users without the help of an app like TinkerTool.
TinkerTool's preferences are organized under 10 main headings: Finder (for options like showing hidden files or restricting the Finder), Dock, General (a lot of useful options, including control over scroll arrows and screenshot file formats), Applications, Snow Leopard (with options for Spotlight, Mail, and Spaces), Fonts, Font Smoothing, Login Items, Safari, and QuickTime X. Compared with some other "tinkering" apps, TinkerTool is a bit more limited in its options--but that limitation can also be reassuring, since TinkerTool doesn't add files, run background processes, or require any special permissions. If you get tired of TinkerTool, you can choose to reset your computer to its "pre-TinkerTool state" (or not) and simply trash the app. Recent builds have kept TinkerTool up to date with the most recent changes in the Mac OS and related apps, including the capability to disable the Ping and iTunes Store pull-down menus in iTunes 10, and disable all RSS features in Safari.
You can find similar apps with more potent features, but TinkerTool is a solid (and free) option that's worthwhile for anyone with limited preference-tweaking needs.
Publisher's Description
From Marcel Bresink Software-Systeme:
TinkerTool is an application that gives you access to additional preference settings Apple has built into Mac OS X. This allows to activate hidden features in the operating system and in some of the applications delivered with the system.
The tool makes sure that preference changes can only affect the current user. You don't need administrative privileges to use the tool. With this design, it is no problem to use TinkerTool in professional networks where users have restricted permissions. The program will never change any component of the operating system, so the integrity of your system is not put at risk, and there will be no negative effect on system updates.
All preference settings changed by TinkerTool can be reset to Apple's defaults, or to the state that existed before using the tool. No dangerous background processes are used for TinkerTool's operation.
Because TinkerTool only gives you access to settings already built into Mac OS X, its feature set varies greatly between different operating system versions. For details please refer to the feature table at the developer's site.
What's new in this version:
- Added a Simplified Chinese language package.
- Enhanced support for Mac OS X Lion.
- The documentation has been revised.
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All versions:
4.6 starsout of 187 votes
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Current version:
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My rating:
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"a good reliable tool"
Version: TinkerTool 4.4
Pros
Tinkertool makes it easy to deal with the OS in a user friendly fashion. I've been using it for years!
Cons
none that I can think of
Summary
Very useful tool. It has served me well and faithfully through various iterations
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"Love it and always have!!"
Version: TinkerTool 4.4
Pros
Easy to use and powerful
Cons
None really
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"easy to use for changing system parameters"
Version: TinkerTool 4.4
Pros
esay to use
Cons
no problems
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"I haven't had a chance to try it out yet"
Version: TinkerTool 4.4
Pros
I haven't had chance to try it out yet.
Cons
None, haven't had a chance to try it out.
Summary
None at this time.
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"I downloaded but did not install it."
Version: TinkerTool 4.3
Pros
NA because it was not installed.
Cons
NA because it was not installed.
Summary
NA
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"Way to kool for messing around."
Version: TinkerTool 4.3
Pros
Fast easy to follow instruction and easy to click for any problem with explainations.
Cons
I did't find any that I can say.
Summary
Defult is not the best and this software gives a lot of options.
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"Does what it says on the label."
Version: TinkerTool 4.3
Pros
Simple interface to OS tweaks. Well laid-out and succinct. No observed undesirable side effects.
Cons
Might be nice to have a more detailed explanation of some tweaks or categories where appropriate, either with mouse-over or right-click, maybe.
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"Simply honest!"
Version: TinkerTool 4.2
Pros
clear, stable, free, complete, simple.
Cons
For sure someone more clever than me will find it! A good review finds ever some flaw, lac, at least adds some wishes but not, I can't!
Summary
Typical 'must have' in the Utility Folder
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"when I to used it it was very efficient and useful"
Version: TinkerTool 4.2
Pros
haven't used it enough to comment
Cons
haven't used it enough to comment
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"Great features, very solid"
Version: TinkerTool 4.2
Pros
Powerful and useful features, well maintained. Very convenient
Cons
Just average appearance, boreing interface
Summary
Well worth having..
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