TotalFinder

There are several Finder replacement/modification applications. However, apps such as PathFinder get too far away from the original Finder. They begin to feel bloated and messy. TotalFinder, created by BinaryAge, seeks to improve the Mac Finder experience by adding features to Finder that really should have been included in Finder to begin with, yet also keeps the original clean and simple Finder experience.

The most prominent feature of TotalFinder is the tabbed browsing. Just like tabbed browsing revolutionized the web browsing experience, TotalFinder’s tabs revolutionize the Finder experience. TotalFinder’s tabs make dealing with multiple folders at the same time effortless. There are many times where I have found myself to be working with multiple Finder windows and have had to deal with a mess of different windows all layered on top of each other. With the tabs, I am able to open multiple folders and quickly navigate between those folders. This leads me to another major feature of Total Finder, cut and paste.

Windows users are able to select a folder or file then cut and past it to another location on the computer. I remember how frustrated I was when I switched from Windows to OS X, only to discover I could no longer cut and paste files and folders. Mac users know that Apple does not include cut and paste functionality into Finder. TotalFinder remedies this frustration by enabling cutting and pasting!

Other features include a “visor mode,” which brings up TotalFinder by a hotkey, and “dual mode,” which allows two browsing windows side-by-side (useful to compare files or to move files back and forth).

TotalFinder is one of those applications (like 1Password and Launchbar) that, once you begin using it, you don’t know how you did without it!

One feature that I would really like to see TotalFinder implement in the future is merging folders. This is another one of those Windows features that Mac users just don’t have. Sometimes you may have two folders with a lot of files in them and you want those folders merged into a single folder (removing duplicates by keeping all unique files). Merging would really add to the already incredible TotalFinder experience.

Overall, this is a pretty incredible app. If you have recently switched from Windows to OS X (Mac) then TotalFinder will bring some of the familiar features of Windows to your folder and file browsing experience. If you have been an OS X user for a while already, then you may still want to check out TotalFinder for its tabbed browsing and cut and paste functionality. The value of the features far exceed the $15 price of the software.

To download a 14-day trial or to purchase TotalFinder click here.

LaunchBar

LaunchBar is probably my second favorite/most used application. LaunchBar is like Spotlight on steroids. With LaunchBar, you never have to click through folders in search of the file you are looking for, and you will never have to open your “applications” folder again.

LaunchBar allows you to use a quick hot-key combo (default is command+space bar) to bring up a search bar. You type whatever you are looking for into the search bar and LaunchBar brings up a list of results. LaunchBar learns to find what you are you looking for based on what you type and what you select from the results. Additionally, LaunchBar allows you to type in different search queries to get the same result. For example, if you want to launch Microsoft Word you could type “Word,” “Microsoft,” or “MW.” Results are displayed in a list that can be navigated by the arrow keys or you can select the first result by hitting enter.

LaunchBar can even perform actions straight from LaunchBar such as searching websites (like google, wikipedia, imdb, etc.), creating new emails, creating iCal events, calculations, iTunes controls, and many others.

LaunchBar, like 1Password, is an application that you don’t realize what you are missing until you use the app. Using LaunchBar you will be more productive and spend less time trying to find the files you are looking for.

You can read more about LaunchBar, download a trial, or buy the app here.

1Password

1Password is my favorite and most used application. It is definitely one of those “you don’t know what you are missing until you use it” type of applications.

1Password stores all of your login information (usernames and passwords) for the websites you visit, credit card information, software serial keys, and secure notes. You will never forget your login information ever again because you will never need to remember it. All you need to know is your “1 password” to access all of your other information. Additionally, 1Password comes with browser plug-ins so you can have your username and password automatically filled in—after typing in your “1 password.”

You can try or buy 1Password here.

Snow Leopard Up-to-Date

Anyone having problems getting the up-to-date page to work (it has been asking you to log in and then sending you to an empty cart) use this link:

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?partNumber=MC204Z/A