We first mentioned NetworkLocation back in November '06, and since then this automated location manager and setting switcher has been upgraded to v2.0 with some killer new features. In addition to automatically changing settings like system volume, opening a webpage, playing an iTunes playlist or switching Mail servers all based on the wired or wireless network you connect to, this new version adds a great new feature that users have been dying for: the ability to auto-detect which network you're connecting to and begin changing any settings you prefer with no effort on the user's part. Also on the new actions list are things like disabling bluetooth and locking the keychain, with another great enhancement making it easy to duplicate locations and stets of actions: the ability to drag and drop said actions between locations. NetworkLocation has also received plug-in support, with the first plug-in available for rooSwitch, another utility we love that allows you to switch between multiple profiles and sets of data for an application (i.e. - multiple Yojimbo libraries or different Firefox profiles with their own bookmarks and add-ons).
I have to say, after the development crew was kind enough to allow me to test the beta, NetworkLocation 2.0 has become one of my can't-live-without Mac OS X utilities. I move between home networks, multiple coffee shops, wireless on campus and friends' houses, and allowing NetworkLocation to adjust all my settings automatically in the background is easily worth the $25 price tag (though upgrade licenses are free for 1.x owners). Heck, I'd go so far as to say NetworkLocation should be the next Cover Flow, deserving to get bought by Apple as a feature Mac OS X should have had a long time ago.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-30-2007 @ 11:49AM
thebimbo said...
How is this better (apart from the nicer GUI) than LocationX already has? I do see that LocationX also has additional Entourage mail prefs.
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7-30-2007 @ 12:14PM
Tony said...
How does this compare to MarcoPolo?
http://www.symonds.id.au/marcopolo/
I've just started using MarcoPolo, and like it...Anybody used both care to offer an opinion?
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7-30-2007 @ 12:35PM
Eric said...
Sounds kinda like the free HomeZone which works great for changing settings while moving from location to location.
http://metaquark.de/homezone/
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7-30-2007 @ 1:12PM
David Chartier said...
This sounds a lot like other similar utilities. Some of the things that made me decide to switch from LocationX (even though I purchased a license) and not use HomeZone is a rich selection of available actions, as well as a pop-up list when joining new networks that allows you to select a specific location to maintain specific settings on the fly.
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7-30-2007 @ 2:33PM
simba said...
marcopolo is better and free
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7-30-2007 @ 3:29PM
David Chartier said...
#5: Define 'better?' I don't like MarcoPolo because it requires me to create multiple locations in Apple's built-in Locations manager, which has more or less fallen by the wayside during Mac OS X's evolution. NetworkLocation gives me a one-stop shop for setting all this stuff up and tieing actions to wireless networks.
Remember kids: 'free' does not always mean better. What works for some doesn't work for others, and the old addage that 'you get what you pay for' often remains true in the software world.
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7-30-2007 @ 6:08PM
Vince said...
We currently have a NAS setup off of our home router that I can access externally as long as I keep the dyndns IP routing correct. As my wife and I both use laptops we don't have one computer always and only on the home network to run the dyndns updater client from - when I am home it updates correctly but when I go to work it picks up the new IP I get at work. Will any of these location managers allow me to selectively toggle the dyndns update client - ie only update it when it knows the computer is connected to my home airport network? I went through the web site for this program as well as about 6 others including the dyndns site and could not find any help with this. Thanks!
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7-30-2007 @ 7:19PM
rhix said...
Vince, I am one of the developers of NetworkLocation. I think NL2.0 would be up to the task, please send me a note at rick (at) centrix (dot) ca, so that I can make sure that I understand the problem correctly. I'll see what I can do to help you out.
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7-30-2007 @ 7:31PM
Sky Stream said...
Vince,
your better off having your linksys or d-link router do your dynamic updates to dyndns.org
it should be listed in the settings as DDNS
in addition, you might want to consider DD-WRT (free firmware upgrade for linksys routers as well as a few others) that give you MORE flexibility in terms of connecting to home.. for example.. it can act as a SSH server, vpn server, etc...
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7-31-2007 @ 5:09AM
Dave said...
You might be interested to know that MarcoPolo 2.0 (which is just about to come out of beta once the localisers finish their work) does not require network locations. It also extends the "location" metaphor to contexts, adds more evidence sources and actions, and, in my (admittedly biased) opinion, blows the socks off all other similar programs, including this one.
MarcoPolo is free, and sometimes you get much more than what you pay for. While David Chartier's comment is true in general, I think MarcoPolo *is* better.
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7-31-2007 @ 12:53PM
Oliver said...
The only thing which doesn't work for me in Marco Polo (yay for Growl support) is that I can't select different smtp settings for different Mail-Accounts. This can be done with Network Location. Otherwise very nice!
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8-10-2007 @ 6:42AM
Art said...
Well, color me stupid for buying this on an enthusiastic recommendation when all it does now is quit when I try to delete a location. I made all kinds of adjustments to my Newtork in my System Preference panel, and NL doesn't even see them. When I try to delete my non-existent locations...poof! The app quits. POS, if you ask me. Like I said at the start, color me stupid.
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