CNET Editors' review
Autotyping and autocorrecting applications can be a huge time-saver, sparing you from having to retype frequently used words and phrases (and even paragraphs and pictures), and they can instantly clean up your most common typos. Plus, if they work system-wide like Typinator does, they can provide you with functionality that might otherwise be limited to your word processor.
Typinator is a best-in-class example of this kind of app, with an easy-to-manage interface, above-average stability, exceptional speed (keeping up with even extremely fast typists using large abbreviation sets, even those whose keystrokes can overlap), and the ability to handle multiple languages (with autocorrection for English, French, and German). You can also search through your "snippets" with a Spotlight-style QuickSearch, which makes large snippet files more feasible. Typinator supports iDisk and Dropbox syncing, and recent updates have improved support for other apps, including Kindle for Mac, Outlook 2011, iTunes 10, and even Gmail in Firefox. Built-in HTML snippets, autocorrection sets, and frequent upgrades make Typinator an even more attractive option.
Publisher's Description
From Ergonis software:
Typinator boosts your productivity and eliminates errors by automating the process of inserting frequently used text and graphics and and auto-correcting typos and misspelled words. Configuration is easy - You just define abbreviations and their replacement text or picture. Usage is even easier - Whenever you type one of these abbreviations in an arbitrary application, Typinator inserts the corresponding replacement. Drag-and-drop import from Textpander, TextExpander, and TypeIt4Me makes migration to Typinator a no-brainer. Save your time and annoyance and let Typinator type repeating texts and pictures for you. You can use Typinator to quickly type greeting phrases, set up a list of standard text fragments to be used in e-mail replies, insert the current date and/or time in arbitrary formats with a few keystrokes, auto-correct your most frequent typos in all applications system-wide, predefined sets for auto-correction, HTML, Filemaker functions, import snippets from other typing utilities, including Textpander, TextExpander, and TypeIt4Me, insert pictures, such as smilies or bullets, insert Unicode symbols by typing a few special regular characters (e.g., type -> to insert an arrow symbol), define shorthands for frequently used Unix commands, quickly create templates for code fragments.
What's new in this version:
- Calculation fields for computations and assignments of computed values to variables.
- Improved handling of System Preferences when the "Enable access for assistive devices" option is off.
- Avoids delayed feedback sound in certain situations on some Mac models.
- Improved matching for certain abbreviations that have similar endings.
- Automatically picks the correct time zone name and UTC offset for the current date, according to daylight saving time.See all new features
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All versions:
4.4 starsout of 32 votes
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Current version:
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"I Used to Love This"
Version: Typinator 5.3
Pros
Fast
User friendly
Increases productivityCons
Persistent bug makes v. 5 unusable on my Mac
Summary
I used to love this. Used all day long. Then, a couple of months ago, something went wrong and about half the time the text expansion was the last thing copied, instead of what it should be. I ungraded from v. 4 hoping to resolve it, but the problem persisted. Support was very responsive, but we were unable to fix it. I downloaded the newest version today, but not only is my problem not resolved, it's even worse. So I'm reluctantly saying goodbye to Typinator (and my money) and moving on to another utility. I'm running a PowerPC with Leopard, so if this is your configuration, I recommend you avoid spending money on Typinator. (The demo for v.5 ran fine by the way, problems only showed up later.)
Eureka! The very day after I post this review, I finally discover the problem. PHP Pasteboard and Typinator are incompatible and you can't use them together.
Updated on Nov 16, 2012
I wish CNET would let me revise my review and give Typinator back two stars! -
"Great software"
Version: Typinator 5.0.1
Pros
Great software
Cons
Great software
Summary
Great software
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"LOVE THIS!"
Version: Typinator 5.0.1
Pros
You guys don't even know - all my life I've had a problem forgetting the closed quotes and the closed parenthesis whenever I write stuff down. This is amazing and wonderful and long overdue!
Cons
A little complicated once you get past the regular "abbreviations" set up. But still better than any other program out there which does this.
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"I use Typinator everyday all day long!"
Version: Typinator 5.0.1
Pros
Very very simple to use
Cons
I don't know of any
Summary
This is a great program at a great price....
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"Best 20 euros spent on my mac"
Version: Typinator 4.5
Pros
Does exactly what it says on the box
Smooth across all apps
Speeds up coding at least two-fold
No more worrying if your favorite text editor has autocomplete for language x.
Same signature in Mail, Thunderbird or Gmail
My spelling is getting worse but my correspondence is getting betterCons
I didn't hear about this sooner
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"Limited Usefulness"
Version: Typinator 4.4
Pros
Very easy to learn
Very clean menu driven listings of shortcuts.
Very good customer supportCons
Far too many exceptions.
Most log in dialog boxes will not work.
"Whole word" option ends up typing the terminator as well, thereby rendering the option useless.Summary
I really wanted to like this program. I even paid for it. But after one week of seeing my choices refused (a glance at the menu icon tells you that), I uninstalled it and went with iKey.
Typinator will not type in log-in dialog boxes that request pass words. So if you are looking to use it for that, it will not work.
Also, the whole word option needs a delineator key stroke, such as a space or a tab to prevent typinator from thinking it needs to complete an alpha string. The only problem is that you then end up typing the alpha string along with the extra key stroke. So all productivity gains are lost as you have to delete the extra keystroke.
It is far better to go with a program such as iKey, or QuickKeys, etc. Use a program such as roboform for log ins and a program such as CopyPaste pro for quick paste in's.
This company does offer great customer support and great documentation so I gave the program two stars. -
"Awesome App--your productivity will skyrocket!"
Version: Typinator 4.4
Pros
Easy to learn, easy to use, simple interface, quick expansion of text, ability to organize snippets, ability to insert a cursor in a fixed position within the snippet, inexpensive stable
Cons
So far I can't think of any cons
Summary
When looking for a quick, easy way to insert snippets, I first tried TextExpander for over a month, and could never bring myself to purchase it. I was still on the fence, and decided to try Typinator before committing.
After only 5 minutes, I found Typinator easier to use, a whole lot faster, and a lot more seamless. I also love that it doesn't add yet another icon to my dock. In just 2 days, Typinator has become an essential application for improving my workflow, and I can't imagine trying to work a full day without it. -
"Killer app to increase productivity !"
Version: Typinator 4.4
Pros
Typinator is a killer app to save time and increase productivity ! I could not think of working on my Mac without it. Really worth the money.
Cons
Don't see any by now, except it does not work on iPhone and iPad. I asked the guys and they say limitations come from Apple, which does not provide any means for iPhone/iPad applications to run in the background and intercept your input yet.
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"By far, the best Mac 'type expander' I've seen."
Version: Typinator 4.3
Pros
Blazingly fast, versatile, easy to use, leaves nothing to be desired in the world of abbreviation expansion - typo correction. None that I've found.
Cons
None that I've found.
Summary
Typinator 'misses no tricks' in fulfilling your needs for type expansion/typo correction. Its easily customizable, handles graphics superbly, very reliable. and is simple to use. Within minutes, you'll know this is one Mac utility you won't want to be without.
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"Quickens your typing"
Version: Typinator 4.2.1
Pros
Very intuitive program that helps with typing a lot quicker and more accurate. Helps you to avoid typing errors in a.o. bank account numbers, adress data.
Cons
Not really cons, but you have to be aware, especially in the first days, that you are using Typinator. Otherwise your typing can result in 'doubles'.
Summary
I am a writer and in my writing there are a lot of repeating things. Typinator let me win time by using shortcuts. Also I can avoid a lot os mistyping in critical data, such as bank account numbers, adress data, names of institutions etc. Helps me to avoid a lot of correcting.















