Mac OS X Unleashed

Mac OS X Unleashed

By John Ray and William C. Ray

Internet Software

For the remainder of the chapter, we'll take a look at some of the more interesting applications currently available for Mac OS X. These packages have been selected based on their unique features and immediate availability (either in full or demo form) over the Internet.

First up are Internet applications. Although Mac OS X provides a great suite of connectivity apps, it doesn't have the tools necessary to make everyone happy. The following applications can be downloaded to expand your library and Internet arsenal.

OmniWeb

OmniWeb, by the Omni Group (www.omnigroup.com/), is an excellent alternative Web browser that has been around since the days of the original NeXT. This browser sports some amazing features, such as a setting to limit JavaScript's capability to open dozens of new windows while browsing. In addition, the top-notch rendering engine produces pages that have a book-like appearance, and is an excellent choice for demonstrating online-public presentations. Figure 8.8 displays the OmniWeb browser in action.

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Figure 8.8 OmniWeb's rendering engine is second to none!

Alternatives

Even more alternatives to IE are available on the OS X platform. Although OmniWeb is by far the most stable and stunning browser available anywhere, the competition is quickly heating up.

Fire

Written by a single developer, Fire (www.epicware.com/fire.html) is the Mac OS X answer to the instant messaging battle. Rather than keeping a separate application for each service you use, Fire provides a unified interface to AIM, ICQ, IRC, JABBEER, MSN, and Yahoo! chat services. Although several of the services have attempted to alter their protocols slightly to keep out unauthorized clients, the author of Fire has been diligent in making certain that Mac OS X users have uninterrupted access to these services. Figure 8.9 displays Fire in use.

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Figure 8.9 Fire is capable of interacting with all the popular instant messaging services.

Alternatives

If you'd rather stick with the original, several vendors have released their official IM clients on the Mac OS X platform.

RBrowser

Mac OS X does not come with an FTP client beyond IE's capabilities and the command-line tools. RBrowser (www.rbrowser.com/) rectifies the situation with a unique FTP solution. Based on a piece of software originally developed for OpenStep, RBrowser uses a column mode, similar to the Mac OS X Finder to navigate the file system. In addition, it supports SSH file transfers for complete system security. Figure 8.10 demonstrates the RBrowser display.

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Figure 8.10 RBrowser uses a Mac OS X Finder-like interface for accessing FTP sites.

Alternatives

There are a large number of FTP clients already released or in development for Mac OS X. Although the RBrowser user experience is unique, some might find themselves more at ease with an alternative solution.

MP3 Rage

Ahhh, what kind of day would it be without downloading an MP3 or two? Obviously, you should download only songs that you own, and what better way to do it then over a Napster or Gnutella server. Unlike other clients for these file-sharing networks, MP3 Rage tracks alternative Napster-like servers, just in case Napster no longer carries the songs you own. This single application can search and download from both of the leading file sharing networks. Download MP3 Rage from www.chaoticsoftware.com/ChaoticSoftware/ProductPages/MP3Rage.html. Figure 8.11 displays the MP3 Rage application in action.

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Figure 8.11 MP3 Rage connects you to the best music- sharing servers available.

Alternatives

There are a number of MP3-related applications available, although none has the same features as MP3 Rage. If you'd like to expand your music software collection, take a look at these:

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