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TUAW Podcast #26: File Launchers

by David Chartier Jun 14th 2007 at 12:00PM



We talk up the file launcher and manipulator Quicksilver quite a bit here at TUAW, but there is a solid batch of similar productivity-enhancing utilities that offer different things for different users. Whether you're looking for a simple utility that lets you launch your applications faster than Spotlight can find them, or you're prepared to step up to vast amounts of power and flexibility with what you find and how you use it, chances are I covered an app in this screencast that will fit the bill for you. From the power of Butler to the simplicity of Namely, I wanted to give you at least some of the basics and a visual on how 5 different launchers work, as well as their pros and cons and how they differ from each other. However, since I am a Quicksilver lover at heart, it is very likely that I missed a key feature or two in these apps, so feel free to highlight your favorite features and what you think new users can truly benefit from in the comments. Also, for anyone interested in what I'm using to create these screencasts, I include a very short blurb at the beginning which highlights a few of the tools I use to record the screencast and create some of the effects I use.

This time around I've decided to try something different, and I've created two versions of the screencast. In our podcast feed is an iPod-friendly version of the podcast that's 640 x 400, 17 minute and 40 MB - that's the one you can get by subscribing to our iTunes Store podcast feed or our direct TUAW podcast feed. I've also created an HD version for those who want something with a little more detail (sorry, we don't have an RSS feed for HD podcasts yet; this is a new thing so we'll see how it goes). That one will look better on larger displays and should play mighty fine on the Apple TV.

To make sure we're all on the same page and that you can run out and grab demos of these launchers, here is a list of links to all the apps I mention in the screencast, including the ones I use to create and record it:

Launchers
Screencast recording
  • Desktopple Pro - hiding the desktop icons, custom wallpaper and more (which we've mentioned before)
  • Mouseposé - spotlight effects, keystroke overlays (which I didn't use in this specific screencast) and other presentation highlighting tools (mentioned here)
  • iShowU - excellent and customizable app for recording screencasts (mentioned a couple times here)
I hope you enjoy the screencast, and please feel free to leave feedback to let me know how I'm doing with producing these. If you prefer HD podcasts that look better on screen and can play on an Apple TV (instead of 640 px wide podcasts which are the max an iPod can handle), definitely let me know that too.

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We talk up the file launcher and manipulator Quicksilver quite a bit here at TUAW, but there is a solid batch of similar...
 

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Steve

The HD version was excellent - one of the best quality podcasts I've seen! Would love a TUAW HD podcast. Oh, and love the pronunciation of 'TUAW' as well - sounds like something from Street Fighter!

July 06 2007 at 7:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Henry Wakeling

Great screencast - would you mind listing all of your apps in the dock? Some of them I don't recognise and would to explore. Thanks and keep it up.

June 15 2007 at 6:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dobson

I loves me some launchbar. I have tried quicksilver a number of times, each time really giving it some time to learn the interface and what it can do. It's true, it's very powerful, and much more extensible than launchbar. However, the thing that brings me back to launchbar each and every time is the speed. The thing is blazing fast compared to quicksilver. (perhaps it's just my system (1.5GHz/PPC G4/2GB RAM).)
Isn't that what these launchers are all about anyway? speed of access?
I also found that the functions I use most frequently are all available in launchbar as well. . . one can even find an object, and act on it in many of the same ways (i.e. find a file, and open a new email message to a contact all within launchbar)
It's just so much faster.

June 15 2007 at 1:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David Chartier

#19 Matt James: Ok this is bizarre: I just deleted TUAW from my podcast feeds and resubscribed through the store. This latest episode #26 downloads, but it doesn't actually appear in the store. I've done this on two of our Macs to verify. Strangest thing! THanks for letting me know. I just pinged our code ninjas to see what's up.

If you have some free time, would you mind subscribing or refreshing your TUAW podcast subscription *from the iTunes Store* (not directly via our own feed) to see if #26 downloads?

June 15 2007 at 12:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kevin P

Great screencast, I'm watching the HD version, which is excellent. One niggle: in the write-up above and in the screencast itself you describe QuickSilver as donationware. I really wish it was! As far as I can tell there's no way to send Alcor something for this outstanding application.

June 14 2007 at 8:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Matt J

For the record, this latest episode doesn't appear in the iTunes Store. The only way I could download it was to subscribe to the series. Perhaps iTunes hasn't refreshed the server I'm apparently loading yet?

June 14 2007 at 8:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
OlsonBW

Two thumbs up

June 14 2007 at 7:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Galley

I loves me some Overflow, but it appears it may be somewhat obsolete once Leopard is released with its Stacks feature.

June 14 2007 at 6:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tommyjolly

#2: Yep, that's what I meant. The description in the RSS Feed.
The post is really good, no worries!

June 14 2007 at 5:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jailerjoe

Overflow is simply the best at what it does. Check it out at http://www.macmentor.org/switch/

June 14 2007 at 4:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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