SafariStand is an InputManager for Safari, which basically means that it is a back-alley plug-in. Apple's web browser, Safari, does not have a supported plug-in architecture, which is a shame because that is the feature that I see as being the real draw of Firefox. Regardless, I use Safari as I find it to be the fastest, slickest web browser on the market. Luckily, mac developers have another route for adding new functionality to Apple's flagship browser through the use of InputManagers, such as the now infamous Inquisitor.
I had stayed away from SafariStand in the past as it has a complicated install process, and . The new SafariStand has some truly killer features though, and I was compelled to give it a try.
Among a host of features, there are two that stand out to me (admittedly a prototypical web geek) as must-haves:
History Flow
SafariStand saves a thumbnail of every page you visit, and then lets you browse them in a CoverFlow-like interface similar to that of iTunes. This is really best described visually:
This is a really clever idea, and has been very helpful. It is much easier to recall what a page that you visited at a week ago looked like than it is to remember the title or address.
Clip Web Archive
This feature allows you to right-click on any element on a web page, and grab the source as a web archive. When you choose "Clip Web Archive" from the context-menu it reveals a powerful menu that lets you grab the HTML source of that element or any of its parent elements. For instance if you click on a paragraph you have the option of saving an archive of just that paragraph, or, for instance, the article that paragraph is within. See below:
You also get the option to include a header in the archive that saves the page info and date recorded, as well as add a note. I have been using this to grab little pieces of info from around the web, and leave myself little notes about why I thought it was interesting. I find this to be much more powerful than just bookmarking an entire page.
I highly recommend installing SafariStand despite all the FUD surrounding InputManagers. Hey, if it's good enough for Jon Hicks, it's good enough for me.
Secrets is a new project from the creator of Quicksilver. It tracks hidden preferences in many Mac applications and provides an interface to them through a unified Preference Pane.
Some of these hidden preferences are no doubt hidden for a reason, but I'm sure there is few little things everyone would like to adjust. Take a look at a list of all of the documented preferences or download the software here. But be warned: not for the faint of heart.
- Shawn Blanc writes a stellar review of MarsEdit
- Money begins burning a hole in my pocket
I have to agree with @gruber regarding the MBA:
"They're going to sell a zillion of these things"
NetNewsWire, which seems to be the "best in breed" RSS feed reader for the Mac, is now a free download. I actually use NewsFire, but have only heard great things about NetNewsWire, and its developer, Brent Simmons.
If you are not using RSS feeds yet, I highly suggest it, and if you don't know what RSS feeds are, then you should read this.
I will be giving NetNewsWire a try now that is free, to see how it stands up to NewsFire. I will post an update regarding my findings here.
Inquisitor is a great little plugin for Safari that I found about a year ago, and have been loving ever since. I believe technically it is an "Input Manager", but that doesn't really pertain to the story. What Inquisitor does is add functionality to the built in search bar, making the experience of web search similar to that of using Spotlight. It updates the results as you type, which gives you the feeling that the entire web is right at your fingertips, and then presents you with about three possible hits, as well as a couple of related searches. I find that one of the suggested results is usually what I'm looking for, and if not I can just hit Return which takes me to the full Google search results page.
I highly recommend Inquisitor for anyone using a Mac, as it adds another level of functionality to Safari's built in search, looks great doing it, and is completely free.
Which brings me to the second part of this post, regarding the recent uproar over the fact that some of the results that Inquisitor provides are product links to Amazon and the Apple Store. The developer uses the revenue generated from the affiliate links to support the development of the software. I don't see any problem with the developer, David Watanabe, finding a way to profit from his work, and I have never even noticed that some of the links were altered.
What I find ridiculous, is that not only are people so upset with this, but that they have been using this software for over a year with absolutely no complaints, then someone cries foul, and it is suddenly an outrage.
It’s been like this ever since Inquisitor 3 was released 16 months ago. This behavior is public knowledge, and after over a year of soak-time in the public with no complaints it should be a non-issue. So, imagine my surprise when I wake up to a mailbox containing words unfit for publication, blogs declaring me as the biggest asshole in the world, and demands that people sabotage and steal my work.
When I read that post yesterday, I was discouraged, but not enough so to write a response. But that changed today when I saw an article at The Apple Blog, with the tagline:
Seriously? You are removing some of your favorite software from your computer because the developer had the audacity to try to make a few bucks in such in unintrusive way that you hadn't even noticed it, much less had to fork over a single dime? That does not make any sense to me
Sigh. One of the mediocre blogs about Apple, The Apple Blog, has unfortunately been removed from my news reader.
Apple release a new Mac Pro that sports two Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Harpertown” processors. This thing is a beast, supporting up to 4TB of storage, 32GB of RAM, and 8 30' Cinema Displays
