macdisp

Give Mac OS X a tuneup

Most of the time Macs run smoothly; however, once in awhile the computer might experience sluggishness or something else out of the ordinary. To rule out system problems, check out OnyX. OnyX lets you verify your Mac's Startup Disk and the structure of System files, and it offers several configuration tools to let you tweak the Finder, Dock, and other native applications. If you're a do-it-yourself type of person, or would just like a way to tweak some settings, OnyX might be just the tool you're looking for.

Also this week we have the latest version of … Read more

Big-name browser updates

Apple's Safari comes loaded on everyone's Mac and the latest Safari update is a huge improvement on an already solid browser, but that doesn't mean it's the right browser for everyone. Mozilla Firefox, the most popular alternative browser, just received an update, too, and Firefox fans should definitely download it to fix security issues.

Already have your browser of choice squared away? We also have the latest update for Cocktail, the software that's loaded with Mac maintenance tools and interface tweaks to get your Mac running the way you want. Our game this week is … Read more

When Spotlight isn't enough

When you want to search your hard drive, Apple's Spotlight is a valuable tool, but it doesn't do everything. Sometimes you don't know the exact name of the file your looking for and you end up searching through countless folders in the hope that you'll stumble across it.

HoudahSpot lets you search for files based on unique criteria like specific keywords, when the file was last modified, or even the type of content in the file. Using drop-down menus, you can include as many specifics as you want, and HoudahSpot will display likely matches right in … Read more

The video player that plays everything

When it comes to video files, nothing is ever as easy as it should be. Thankfully, VLC Media Player offers a one-stop solution for the file-format problem. The program supports playback of OGG, MP2, MP3, MP4, DivX, DVD, and a whole slew of other file types. This latest release candidate features a number of fixes that should make VLC Media Player run more smoothly. You will need Mac OS X 10.5 to use this version.

Also this week we have the latest version of GraphicConverter, the low-cost image-editing and batch image conversion software. Our game this week is Luxor 3, … Read more

Talk to everyone with one chat client

Anyone who uses a chat client frequently knows what it's like when one of your friends is on a different service. You can download the client to match what they use, but that means you'll need to have at least two chat clients running at all times. If someone else comes along that uses a third service, that's when it really starts to get confusing.

Instead of filling up your Dock with chat clients, why not just download Adium? This multiservice chat client lets you register for new services and chat with all of your friends from … Read more