Simplify your laptop buying
Are you happy with your Web browser? Your Mac comes preloaded with Safari (certainly a great browser in its own right), but it never hurts to check out the competition. Mozilla's Firefox is an excellent choice, as is its lightweight made-for-Mac entry, Camino. If you stay connected with social sites, Flock is another great option. The fact is, with so many great choices on the Mac, choosing your browser becomes more a question of style.
Opera is the unsung hero of the Mac browser category, with tons of unique features like Speed Dial (to get to favorite sites), its own spell checker, an integrated e-mail client, and much more. Give it a test drive and you might find that Opera has all the features for your particular surfing style.
Also this week we have Path Finder, the standalone file management tool that acts as a replacement for the Mac OS X Finder. Our game this week is Vendetta Online, the massive multiplayer online RPG where you captain your own ship and explore and battle your way through a huge universe.
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If you run your own Web site or design your own blog, you need a good FTP client to keep your site updated and running smoothly. Fetch has been around for more than a decade as the go-to FTP client for Mac and is a solid and tested option for all your file transferring needs. This latest version fixes bugs and improves on its stability.
Also this week, we have the latest version of Vuze, one of the best BitTorent clients for Mac, featuring the capability to view full HD video from within the software. Our game this week is Sun Blast, a fast-paced 3D arcade shooter in which you'll battle waves of enemies to reach the mothership for the ultimate showdown.
Don't forget to check out our iPhone apps of the week!
The Dock in Mac OS X acts as a launcher, program switcher, and much more. But if you want more space and flexibility with your main program and file launcher, you might want to try DragThing. This popular and well-tested shareware GUI-enhancer has become an indispensable addition to OS X for many users. If you want a new way to organize your apps and files, this feature-rich utility is the perfect tool.
Also this week we have the latest version of AppDelete, the uninstall utility that helps you get all the files associated with an unwanted app off of your Mac for good. Our game this week is Mad Skills Motocross, a simple side-scrolling motocross game with unique challenges and entertaining gameplay.
Don't forget to check out our iPhone apps of the week!
Want to see what's in store next for Firefox on the Mac? If you consider yourself a tech-savvy Mac user, check out the latest 3.6 beta release of Mozilla Firefox. New enhancements, like the capability to change the browser's appearance with a single click, improved JavaScript performance, and numerous other tweaks, were designed to make your overall Web-surfing experience better. Like any beta software, make sure to save your important data before you install and run this program. Warning: there may be bugs.
Not an early adopter? Then check out Xupport, the Swiss Army knife of utilities that helps you safely optimize your Mac using several system tools. Our game this week is Solavant, the hardcore Solitaire game with 240 game types and absolutely no hints or cheats--it's just you against the cards.
Don't forget to check out our iPhone apps of the week!
Every so often I get to feature software in this newsletter that's tops in its category. This week, we have the latest update of possibly the best FTP client for Mac OS X, Transmit, from Panic software. It offers everything you need for uploading and downloading files from your Web site and comes with a slew of nifty features to make all your site maintenance even easier. This latest version fixes a bug that occasionally prevented replacing folders.
Also this week we have the update for current paid users of Parallels Desktop, now adding support for recently released Windows 7. Our game this week is Rocket Golf, a 2D, side-view, arcade, golf game where you'll need to figure out the perfect shot to get to the hole across dramatic terrain.
Don't forget to check out our iPhone apps of the week!
If you've ever wanted to expand your Mac's capabilities, you probably wondered what--and how much--your machine could handle. MacTracker is a handy free utility that eliminates the guesswork, providing current, comprehensive, and accurate technical specifications on every Mac known to man, from Apple's latest right on down to the vintage Macintosh 128K.
Also this week, we have the latest update for multiservice chat client Adium, adding several fixes including the capability to use iChat emoticons in Snow Leopard. Our game this week is Armagetron Advanced, the game inspired by the movie Tron that challenges you to race lightbikes and eliminate other players all in full 3D.
Don't forget to check out our iPhone apps of the week!
Built around a gorgeous, newly overhauled interface, this free, GPL-licensed FTP browser is a lean, mean, file-managing machine. CyberDuck offers support for both FTP transfers as well as the more secure SFTP and makes it easy to bookmark frequently visited sites for quick file transfers. This latest version fixes several bugs and adds minor interface enhancements.
Also this week we have MacPilot, the program that lets you access and tweak more than 900 hidden Tiger and Leopard features. Our game this week is the latest version of X-Plane, the flight simulator with possibly the widest range of flyable aircraft of any in the genre.
Don't forget to check out the latest iPhone apps of the week!
True to its name, GraphicConverter's main functionality is converting graphic files--importing from some 200 formats and exporting to about 80, at last count. But it also proves invaluable as a high-speed image editor that lets you quickly browse, resize, sharpen, adjust color, and optimize for the Web, all at a price that makes commercial packages blush. This latest version features several interface tweaks and bug fixes.
Also this week we have the latest version of VMware Fusion, which lets you launch your Windows applications from the Dock and switch between Windows and Mac applications using Expose. Our game this week is Eternal Lands, a free, cross-platform MMORPG with multiple classes, crafting capabilities, and a large world to explore.
Don't forget to check out the latest iPhone apps of the week!
One thing we always try to tell our readers is that keeping your software up-to-date is not only the safer route, but often gives you more features and fixes to make your software even better. Through the hard work of many people here at CNET, we now have a way to do it for you. The TechTracker app for Mac (beta) scans the software on your hard-drive and then checks our database to see if you have the latest version. From there you can review your available updates to determine which you want to download. To help you, we've included editor and user ratings inline with your updates. By using the TechTracker app for Mac (beta), you'll know you're getting the most out of your software.
Also this week, we have the latest update to Little Snitch, the app that informs you when your software tries to establish an outgoing Internet connection. Our game this week is the latest version of Vendetta Online, the expansive space MMO in which you pilot your own ship and make a name for yourself in a vast universe.
Don't forget to check out our iPhone apps of the week!
Spotlight search is already a great tool for finding the files you need on your Mac. But if you're not satisfied with the power or flexibility of the Mac's built-in search tool, you should check out HoudahSpot. This app isn't a Spotlight replacement, but rather a more versatile front-end for Spotlight, as it actually uses the technology behind Spotlight to help you find files on your computer. Through the use of several drop-down menus, you'll be able to refine your search to exactly what you're looking for.
Also this week, we have AppDelete, a useful utility that helps you uninstall all files associated with an unwanted program. Our game this week is Kitty Spangles Solitaire, the highly-polished (though admittedly cutesy) solitaire game that lets you play several popular solitaire variations.
Don't forget to check out our iPhone apps of the week!
