Useful MAC Apps and Hardware [Ongoing Updates]
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New 3D PDF Plugin! While I was able to do this on the Mac running SU under BootCamp I was hoping that I would see a Mac app and now we have one. I had a bug on installation (would not work) but Ashraf fixed it in double quick time. I will find this really useful for Clients viewing / exploring models on their own computers without having the need to download SU Viewer. Also I can protect my copyright! I have sent a building model to a client yesterday and the client was very pleased to be able to explore the model for himself. I can see this being very useful for sending models to Planning Authority people also. While renders, stills and movies are great, I think the 'model in your hand' does a better job of getting the idea across.
There is a Pro version and a Free version. The free version shows the vendors site address.
Simulation Lab Software http://www.simlab-soft.com released a new 3D PDF Plug-in for Google SketchUp 7.
The new plug-in is supported on Windows and Mac.
It allows the user to create interactive 3D PDF files from the Google SketchUp environment.
Fully functional free version is available at http://www.simlab-soft.com/3d-plugins/3D-PDF-from-sketchup-main.aspxMike
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Hi Guys,
I just stumbled across Paperclip by Concentrate Software http://www.fromconcentratesoftware.com/ Sometimes the really simple apps prove to be the most useful and I think Paperclip could be one of these. I often find that after taking a screen shot I leave the .jpeg on the Desktop for a while. When I come back to the .jpeg I ofter wonder what I had intended to use it for. Well, with Paperclip I can attach a 'note' in one click and the note stays with the .jpeg or any item. Its not free but good value I think as it saves a lot of time and helps keep things tidy.
On the Concentrate Software site you will find Share & Site Tagger also. I have not tried these out yet but if they are as usfull as Paperclip I will be using them. In any case its worth visiting for the free 'Countdown' app.
Mike
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A really cool free app that is very useful for SCF users!
Skitch
http://skitch.com/It basically grabs your screen, or selection and then has a great set of tools to annotate these images.
Check out the video, it does more than I mentioned and seems to be a very cool piece of software. -
@edson said:
i recently came across Freeway (http://www.softpress.com/index.php), a web design app for people who do not wish to learn coding. i had a look at their videos and got the impression it is better than iWeb and RapidWeaver, the two apps that do the same. there are two version, express and pro, as well as educationnal licenses.
i apologise for quoting myself but i just wanted to report that i bought freeway and used it to revamp my website. it is all we thought it was and more. it is extremely easy to use, their support is great (videos, forum and tech team) and there is a good number of outside developers who produce add-ons for it. i could not be happier with it.
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@unknownuser said:
A really cool free app that is very useful for SCF users!
Skitch
http://skitch.com/It basically grabs your screen, or selection and then has a great set of tools to annotate these images.
Check out the video, it does more than I mentioned and seems to be a very cool piece of software.dylan,
very cool indeed.
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@chrisjk said:
I looked for ages to find a decent file comparison tool (for editing purposes) and then found DiffMerge which is free and works very well.
A good freebie editor with syntax highlighting is Smultron and although the author is not developing it further, it's still available here.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for posting
I've been looking for something like Smultron to use learning Ruby for SU for ages... it looks a to be perfect replacement for Xcode.
Do you use it for SU rubies? and if so would you mind sharing your settings (as there's so much choice)
The main things I'm not sure about is the Encoding Pref's, I don't fully understand their role
do I just leave as default or can 'Saves' be made more Mac/PC/SU 'friendly'?
john
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7 Top Mac App for $ 19.95 reduced from $260
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RipIt
Clips
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Flow
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Hi John,
I have only started playing a bit with Ruby - when I get the time, I am following a couple of basic primers. I have used Smultron for this but I also have Textmate and tend to use that (it's not a free editor however).
Like most editors, you can change the syntax colours as you wish, I find it useful to change the colours to match those used in whatever textbook/example I am trying to learn from. There is apparently a Ruby standard but I haven't found too many folk using it! The Syntax definitions are picked up by Smultron according to the file extension unless you wish to override this by picking the "always Use" and one of the many language choices. I use the automatic choice setting and it works well for me.
The Encodings is similar in usage to Syntax definitions - let Smultron do its thing or tell it to always default to some particular encoding. I just use the default setting. Unicode UTF-8 is understood and displayed correctly by most modern programs, web browsers etc. and that is the fall back if Smultron can't figure out which encoding is in use. The default settings will work fine for all the SU plugin rubies, web pages in html etc.
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I had to slip this one in, if it hadn't already been mentioned;
It's for iPhone rather than Mac, but I'm finding this app rather useful at the moment!
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@tfdesign said:
I had to slip this one in, if it hadn't already been mentioned;
It's for iPhone rather than Mac, but I'm finding this app rather useful at the moment!
Got to thank you for that one Tom.
What a fantastic App. Simple, but a great idea and so well executed
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Cheers Dylan.
I noticed the VLC player was mentioned a few times. Personally I'm not a fan of the VLC, I much prefer Chroma, which is far more slick!
chromaplayer.com
This domain may be for sale!
(chromaplayer.com)
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@tfdesign said:
Cheers Dylan.
I noticed the VLC player was mentioned a few times. Personally I'm not a fan of the VLC, I much prefer Chroma, which is far more slick!
chromaplayer.com
This domain may be for sale!
(chromaplayer.com)
I agree on VLC, and not just because it's french, chroma does look very good...
I give this site a rating it saves a lot of digging......
http://www.usingmac.com/2009/7/29/85-useful-free-mac-apps-for-designers
this is one of many useful pages
http://www.usingmac.com/2009/1/15/unveiling-hidden-os-x-shortcutsjohn
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I've recently started using MacDraft again, so I've really got to champion MicroSpot's MacDraft Pro once more. I bought this MacDraft some years back, and never really used it, because I was lazy and didn't want to use a single button mouse again. But MacDraft really is something special, and it is very cheap too (at the moment, if bought from other distributors). MacDraft is very fast in Snow Leopard too.
There is also a Windows version too- which is very useful!
MacDraft Professional | Powerful 2D CAD, drafting, technical illustration and more for Mac | Microspot Ltd.
Sketch, draw, layout and present. The ultimate 2D CAD software from start to finish. Native to macOS, built with the latest technologies and designed for the future, MacDraft is a feature-rich 2D CAD software for architects, engineers and construction services as well as professional CAD users, designers, educators and hobbyists.
(www.microspot.com)
PC Draft Professional | Powerful 2D CAD, drafting, technical illustration and more for Windows | Microspot Ltd.
PC Draft Professional is the 2D CAD app that makes floor & garden plan design, architectural drawing and technical illustration easy on Windows. Create precise and professional 2D CAD drawings in moments, with this easy-to-use, powerful and affordable drafting application. With its precise vector tools, smart units and fully-featured scaled environment PC Draft is designed to deliver an easy to use solution, without having to spend hours and hours learning how to use more complicated software.
(www.microspot.com)
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If, like me, you look at the ruby code this is fantastichttp://www.usingmac.com/2008/10/29/time-saver-quicklook-plugins
it's from the same site I posted yesterday but is so fast and useful I thought it was worth highlighting
maybe it's been mentioned before, but I haven't seen it...
john
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@tfdesign said:
I've recently started using MacDraft again, so I've really got to champion MicroSpot's MacDraft Pro once more. I bought this MacDraft some years back, and never really used it, because I was lazy and didn't want to use a single button mouse again. But MacDraft really is something special, and it is very cheap too (at the moment, if bought from other distributors). MacDraft is very fast in Snow Leopard too.
I use MacDraft regularly but can't give it an enthusiastic thumbs up cause I can't find any way to set up keyboard shortcuts for the tools themselves, only menu items. Dragging open each tool after having to click in the first place is a drag.
Am I missing something?
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@wind-borne said:
Am I missing something?
No, and I agree, MacDraft in this area is a bit of a pile of shite. I'm championing MD, because apart from a few minor problems, like key commands, MD is actually very good. I just wish the developers would get their act together and improve it. Like I suppose Engineered Software have done for PC8 (it's now a Cocoa app). It's like Microspot don't really care for 2D anymore, despite that in the 'real world' 2D is still very much prevalent (In my experience anyway).
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I'm having a look at this app.
The blurb says,
WindowFlow makes organising your application windows a breeze.
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Just discovered BumpTop, downloaded the free version and brought the Pro version for $29 after 20 minutes! It's the type of DeskTop organiser that I have wished for. Check it out here, http://bumptop.com/mac/
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being a fairly new Mac user, I scanned through your list and found it to be very helpful. I will sit down and read each one later when time permits.
I bought this program and find it to be invaluable as far as what all you get: Mackeeper (http://www.zeobit.com). It is one of the best $40 I have spent.
Also, if you are not already aware of them, Macheist and Macupdate have some good bundles on (although the current one I have almost all the apps. I still might get it though to get the one or two apps that seem really good).
And Techsmith SnagIt for Mac is under beta. I've been using it for a while and love it! I use the PC SnagIt at work and was lost. But then again, I also have Voila and Little Snapper.
Someday I will make up my mind and start clearing house!
Rick
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