Your Favorite Apps for Macbook Pro?

DRE

DRE

Well-known member
I am posting from my new Macbook Pro. Looking for some free apps, maybe paid. I want to buy Scrivener later but for now I'm just looking in the app store for cool free apps. My computer-related hobbies are design-related. I like drawing so one day I'll buy one of those drawing tablets. I guess nothing is better than Photoshop so I'll get that later. I like to edit video so I'll get Final Cut Pro. I like writing that's why I want Scrivener. I probably need some good webmaster tools type apps like a good ftp program.
 
What sort of webmaster tools are you looking for exactly?

As far as FTP/SFTP clients, Transmit is the way to go in my opinion: http://panic.com/transmit/

Some of my favorite apps that I would be very sad to have to go without now:

• Snapz Pro X (screenshot/video capture) - http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/snapzprox/
• Little Snitch (reverse firewall... see/manage what traffic is going OUT) - http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html
• CloudApp (handy things like a global hotkey will send whatever is in your clipboard to "the cloud") - http://getcloudapp.com/
• Zend Studio (PHP IDE) - http://www.zend.com/en/products/studio/
• MaxMenus - http://maxmenus.net/

I keep thinking MaxMenus is going to break some OS update, and the company's website that made it isn't even around any more. BUT... it amazingly still works perfectly and when it finally breaks I don't know what I'll do. Basically what it does is add menus that you can define if you click in the corner of your screen (that's what the green thing is in the screenshot... which BTW took 1 second to take a screenshot of part of the screen to clipboard with Snapz Pro X, and another 1 second to upload the image from my clipboard with CloudApp (Option + Command + C to copy to the cloud).

Image%202012.12.13%2010:30:06%20PM.png
 
digitalpoint said:
What sort of webmaster tools are you looking for exactly?

As far as FTP/SFTP clients, Transmit is the way to go in my opinion: http://panic.com/transmit/

Some of my favorite apps that I would be very sad to have to go without now:

• Snapz Pro X (screenshot/video capture) - http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/snapzprox/
• Little Snitch (reverse firewall... see/manage what traffic is going OUT) - http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html
• CloudApp (handy things like a global hotkey will send whatever is in your clipboard to "the cloud") - http://getcloudapp.com/
• Zend Studio (PHP IDE) - http://www.zend.com/en/products/studio/
• MaxMenus - http://maxmenus.net/

I keep thinking MaxMenus is going to break some OS update, and the company's website that made it isn't even around any more. BUT... it amazingly still works perfectly and when it finally breaks I don't know what I'll do. Basically what it does is add menus that you can define if you click in the corner of your screen (that's what the green thing is in the screenshot... which BTW took 1 second to take a screenshot of part of the screen to clipboard with Snapz Pro X, and another 1 second to upload the image from my clipboard with CloudApp (Option + Command + C to copy to the cloud).

Image%202012.12.13%2010:30:06%20PM.png
Click to expand...
Webmaster tools... I need to have a local installation of Xenforo so that I can experiment with new modifications and skins I create. Nowhere near your level of expertise but I'm just learning.

My hobbies are very varied. Sometimes I make music. I like making videos and posting them on YouTube. I write tutorials for my Media Law Wiki. It's very interesting that you linked that Snapz app. It will definitely come in handy.

Oh wait... you mean when you took that screenshot you made it go to the cloud and that's where that image is hosted? That quick and easy??? :eek:
 
8thos said:
Oh wait... you mean when you took that screenshot you made it go to the cloud and that's where that image is hosted? That quick and easy??? :eek:
Click to expand...
Yep... Snapz Pro X for taking screenshots is super handy... allows you to just highlight part of the screen and send it to the clipboard as an image if you want (which you can just paste into whatever)... or you can send it to a file of course.

And also yes to the CloudApp... literally Option + Command + C (in any app/Finder) just "copies" whatever is in your clipboard to the cloud (including image hosting). So to take that screenshot, crop it and upload it to "the cloud", it literally takes somewhere between 2-3 seconds. :)

As far as a local install, Mac OS X has Apache and PHP built into the operating system, so really just need to "turn it on"...
 
digitalpoint said:
Yep... Snapz Pro X for taking screenshots is super handy... allows you to just highlight part of the screen and send it to the clipboard as an image if you want (which you can just paste into whatever)... or you can send it to a file of course.

And also yes to the CloudApp... literally Option + Command + C (in any app/Finder) just "copies" whatever is in your clipboard to the cloud (including image hosting). So to take that screenshot, crop it and upload it to "the cloud", it literally takes somewhere between 2-3 seconds. :)

As far as a local install, Mac OS X has Apache and PHP built into the operating system, so really just need to "turn it on"...
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for that info because I'm always teaching people how to do stuff. I've just been copying and pasting to MS Paint then uploading it to Tinypic. That crap's getting old.

Okay thanks that will cut me down some research time. Looks like I have to turn it on from Terminal: http://osxdaily.com/2012/09/02/start-apache-web-server-mac-os-x/

This looks nice though: http://www.mamp.info/en/index.html
 
Chris Deeming said:
Windows (y)
Click to expand...
Dont be crazy....nobody wants that crap on their sexy new Macbook Pro :p

Get yourself a copy of Sublime Edit 2 - I switched from Coda 2 to it a few weeks ago - its amazing. Quite possibly the best code editor out there IMO.

Other than that:

- Mailtab (appstore)
- Evernote (appstore)
- Google Drive
- If you invoice people, 'On The Job' is a great app

Browsing around the Mac App Store is also pretty useful.

Oh and as Digitalpoint said, Snapz Pro X is worth having.

MAMP Pro is also pretty handy as it lets you switch between 3 different PHP versions, and create VHOST records without having to modify the files manually.
 
digitalpoint said:
What sort of webmaster tools are you looking for exactly?

As far as FTP/SFTP clients, Transmit is the way to go in my opinion: http://panic.com/transmit/

Some of my favorite apps that I would be very sad to have to go without now:

• Snapz Pro X (screenshot/video capture) - http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/snapzprox/
• Little Snitch (reverse firewall... see/manage what traffic is going OUT) - http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html
• CloudApp (handy things like a global hotkey will send whatever is in your clipboard to "the cloud") - http://getcloudapp.com/
• Zend Studio (PHP IDE) - http://www.zend.com/en/products/studio/
• MaxMenus - http://maxmenus.net/

I keep thinking MaxMenus is going to break some OS update, and the company's website that made it isn't even around any more. BUT... it amazingly still works perfectly and when it finally breaks I don't know what I'll do. Basically what it does is add menus that you can define if you click in the corner of your screen (that's what the green thing is in the screenshot... which BTW took 1 second to take a screenshot of part of the screen to clipboard with Snapz Pro X, and another 1 second to upload the image from my clipboard with CloudApp (Option + Command + C to copy to the cloud).

Image%202012.12.13%2010:30:06%20PM.png
Click to expand...
So would max menus basically be a configurable 'start menu' like the one in windows? Can you make it be in any corner?
 
8thos said:
I want to see how many apps I can install as a replacement for the programs I have on my PC first.

After that I'll install Windows 7 probably. I haven't heard of anything good about Windows 8 to install that.
Click to expand...
I would recommend trying Windows 8. It's not all bad.

I use it on my laptop at home. It's not terrible. It's just not great. I'd say it is no worse or no better than Windows 7.
 
RickM said:
Dont be crazy....nobody wants that crap on their sexy new Macbook Pro :p

Get yourself a copy of Sublime Edit 2 - I switched from Coda 2 to it a few weeks ago - its amazing. Quite possibly the best code editor out there IMO.

Other than that:

- Mailtab (appstore)
- Evernote (appstore)
- Google Drive
- If you invoice people, 'On The Job' is a great app

Browsing around the Mac App Store is also pretty useful.

Oh and as Digitalpoint said, Snapz Pro X is worth having.

MAMP Pro is also pretty handy as it lets you switch between 3 different PHP versions, and create VHOST records without having to modify the files manually.
Click to expand...
I use something called EditPlus for windows. Is it about the same as that coda and sublime stuff?
 
Chris Deeming said:
I would recommend trying Windows 8. It's not all bad.

I use it on my laptop at home. It's not terrible. It's just not great. I'd say it is no worse or no better than Windows 7.
Click to expand...
I heard there's more restrictions and stuff. Plus I don't like the look of Metro. Windows 8 is making more PC users interested in Apple.
 
What restrictions?

Don't believe everything you read. Judge it for yourself.

Metro isn't exactly forced on you.

Yep, when you log in you're in Metro. But, then all you need to do is click "Desktop" to be taken to your normal Desktop.

You hover your mouse in the corner where the Start button used to be and clicking that takes you back to Metro (i.e. the Start screen).

So that is a pretty big changed forced on you, but, think about it. How much time do you spend in the Start menu? How do you use it?

Whenever I need to launch something that isn't on my desktop, I go to the Start screen, type its name and it pops up instantly.

I would use Metro more on a touch screen device. Some of the Metro based apps and games available give a good tablet experience, but I have to say I don't use them while using the laptop traditionally. I probably would if it was a tablet or had a touch screen.

So yeah, it's not all that bad. Try it.

That being said, I do want a Mac. I'm just poor :(
 
I was mad when Windows Vista/Windows 7 released and took away some of my fav features. I don't even think I wanna do this again with Windows 8. I wonder if I can install both Windows 8 and 7 at the same time? And Ubuntu? Hmmm.
 
Yeah quadruple booting isn't unheard of.

Mac,
Win 7,
Win 8,
Ubuntu

What you really want to aim for sextuple booting... Just because it sounds cool :cool:
 
I don't use too many local tools these days - but I like....

Fetch (ftp)
BBedit (text editor)
and Photoshop Elements for basic web and other graphics

Those are some of my paid apps. I just treated myself to Adobe Lightroom, but that's mainly for hobby use.

Other than those, just about everything else is free or web based.

I do use Final Cut Express on my pro downstairs - know just enough to be able to use it! I made neat videos of my kids entire lives, etc. to present to them on graduation, wedding, etc.
 
On Mac, I use a lot:

Chocolat.
PHPStorm
Terminal
Mail / Sparrow
Safari
Transmit SFTP -- goodbye FTP.
CloudApp

Office for Mac
 
8thos said:
I use something called EditPlus for windows. Is it about the same as that coda and sublime stuff?
Click to expand...
Yup, I used to use that when I was on windows. Sublime is available for windows, and it pretty much blows edit plus and coda 2 away. It's free to try, but I advise watching a few YouTube clips about it first.
 
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