Filed under: Software, Cool tools
BetterTouchTool makes multi-touch infinitely more useful, for free
We recently covered a utility called MagicPrefs that adds a hatful of new and configurable multi-touch gestures to your Magic Mouse. Well, there's another free utility called BetterTouchTool that works with both trackpads and Magic Mice, providing a huge number of gestures and infinite possibilities for configuration. BetterTouchTool is a fork of the MultiClutch project, built for Snow Leopard and expanding the feature set greatly. It's the work of Andreas Hegenberg (also the author of SecondBar), and it's come a long way since the first alpha version I tested a while back.
Aside from improved stability, the interface is one of the elements that's come the farthest. It's now quite easy to start adding gestures such as 'Three Finger Swipe Down' and 'Four Finger Click,' and assign them to predefined actions like 'Show Desktop' or 'Open Finder.' You can also assign any shortcut key you like, or assign a gesture to launch any application ... meaning you can make just about anything happen. BetterTouchTool also has actions available that control window sizing and movement, ala SizeUp, but with gestures.
Groups of gestures can be assigned to specific applications, or made global. The latest version includes presets (which you can switch between), import, and export. Separate gestures are available for the trackpad and the Magic Mouse, and the new "Live View" feature makes it very easy to gain precise control over sensitivity settings and to test out gestures. BetterTouchTool is free, and is likely to remain that way, according to the author. It's still got the occasional glitch, but development is rapid and it's improving and expanding almost daily. If you've got a MacBook or MacBook Pro with a multi-touch trackpad, a Magic Mouse, or both, give it a shot!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gazoobee said 12:27PM on 1-05-2010
This doesn't work with the Magic Mouse.
It might technically be possible, but in practice it basically ruins the mouse. There is a good reason Apple limited the functionality of the Magic Mouse multitouch, the reason is it's just not workable to do complicated gestures on the thing.
For trackpads I'm sure this is a welcome addition, but for the Magic Mouse, not so much.
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huth.sebastian said 12:42PM on 1-05-2010
Well, then either don't use it at all with MM or just don't use every single gesture.
There might be a reason Apple limited its functionality, but at least people know that there's a reason for that.
Plus, you can change some gestures, like that annoying 4-finger swipe with touchpads that for some reason was programmed to switch applications can now switch spaces. Much, much more useful. Or that annoying thing Photoshop does when you rotate 2 fingers and it rotates the picture irreversably can now be set to switch between pictures like tabs in firefox.
It's definitely the program I use most, without knowing that it's there, I don't have to adjust to gestures my computer gives me, I can make my computer adjust to the gestures I give it.
Vohaul79 said 1:18PM on 1-05-2010
Um, doesnt work with the magic mouse? It works brilliantly with the magic mouse. Have you even tried it?
Dorv said 5:38PM on 1-05-2010
This was the best thing to happen to my Magic Mouse. I don't know what you're talking about...
rhodesy22 said 12:36PM on 1-05-2010
Personally I use Jitouch - adds heaps to the magic mouse too!
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Andreas Hegenberg said 12:41PM on 1-05-2010
I'm the author of BetterTouchTool, if you have problems or suggestions please post them in the support forum (http://blog.boastr.net/forum) but I'll also answer them here!
Thanks for the article!!
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Vohaul79 said 1:23PM on 1-05-2010
Thanks for the awesome software. Its the best tool ive tried around. Ive been recommending it to everyone I know that has a Magic Mouse and or Trackpad.
Your software literally saved my MM from being thrown mac in my i7's box.
Before the tracking was so slow it was basically broken. No expose, single finger scrolling was a nightmare in my programming / design apps.
Love it, will continue to recommend it.
Thanks.
John said 1:45PM on 1-05-2010
I couldn't get this to work on my core 2 duo 2007 macbook. Is it for the new unibodys only?
Kane said 1:51PM on 1-05-2010
I would like to see support for 4 finger swipes (left/right, up/down) so I can replace the app switcher swipe with one to bring up spaces.
(didn't want to register for yet another bbs, so I am posting this here)
gib said 3:28PM on 1-05-2010
Thanks for the program... this has saved me hours, simply because made it easy for my wife to get used to the Magic Mouse without too many lengthy tutorials.
Tacoman said 3:33PM on 1-05-2010
You can use 4 finger swipes, but turn off the application switcher in system preferences>trackpad. That is what I did.
ijohnjones said 5:54PM on 1-05-2010
I love this tool for my Magic Mouse. I'm going to spread the word to everyone at the Dallas Apple User Group that have been missing Spaces/Expose from their mice.
BeeB said 12:54PM on 1-06-2010
BetterTouchTool for me is one of the best free mac apps there is. I always have it open and my mac feels so much easier to use. Everything on it is now very easy to program - an added benefit. I'm on an mbp, so I can only talk about the trackpad side of the app. If you are too, I would seriously recommend this. (What have you got to lose? It's free!)
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walkerjs said 12:53PM on 1-05-2010
Doesn't work with a Magic Mouse? My Magic Mouse begs to differ. BTT has given me back my Exposé (with a two finger swipe rather than a squeeze) and given me a middle click option (three finger click.) It's awesome, and unlike some pendants I don't mind it's presence in the Menu Bar.
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Vohaul79 said 1:21PM on 1-05-2010
Doesn't even have to be in the menu bar. It capable of being added to the pref pain now as well.
Anyone saying this doesnt work is clueless or hasn't tried it. Its lightyears ahead of jitouch. I strongly recommend trying this product if you have a magic mouse.
Hats off to the author for providing such great software for free!
Bo Franklin said 1:32PM on 1-05-2010
I've just discovered this, and it's awesome! It's everything that my MacBook's trackpad always should've been. I've set it to launch Safari with a three finger swipe left, iTunes with a swipe right, and Quicksilver with a swipe upwards. It's so intuitive, and makes my computing so much quicker. Honestly, you have to try this!
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Brooklynguy said 1:31PM on 1-05-2010
Andreas,
Does it work with the older MacBook Pros, the ones that never got 3-finger forward/backward swipe? Those have smaller, non-glass trackpads. That's the machine I have, and yes I've upgrade to Snow Leopard. I really need 3- and 4-finger swipe capability!
Thanks.
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Andreas Hegenberg said 1:36PM on 1-05-2010
no sorry doesn't work on older macbooks (only if you use a magic mouse connected to your old macbook) :(
jennyp said 1:44PM on 1-05-2010
Does this have the four fingers tap from "pinky to index" (and "index to pinky") in quick succession - like briefly drumming your fingers on the trackpad - like Jitouch? I find that gesture great for showing the desktop and minimizing.
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Andreas Hegenberg said 1:52PM on 1-05-2010
no at least not yet. But you may try two finger tiptap where you have two fingers on the touchpad and then tap with one finger on the left or right side of those.