TUAW's Daily Mac App: PinPoint
Have you ever lost your cursor on your screen? Do you do lots of screen-sharing demonstrations? How would you like an app that puts some customizable animations around your cursor to help you or your audience spot it?
PinPoint is an app that does just that -- it puts a circling animated highlight around your cursor. The app comes with different animations, from circling lines to dog paw prints, each with a plethora of options. The full-screen crosshairs, for example, are particularly useful if you're trying to make precise adjustments to graphics or layouts. You can even create your own custom animation using an image file, something that could be great for branding presentations or screenshots.
Several activation options are also available, whether you want it on all the time or just when the cursor is moved. PinPoint can also show your keystrokes in an on-screen pop-up with the option to limit it to just modifier keys. A menu bar icon acts as an indicator to show you whether PinPoint is turned on or off, which you can do with a keyboard shortcut.
If you're prone to losing your cursor on the screen, waving the mouse around like a madman trying to spot where it is, PinPoint will certainly help. Likewise, if you're someone who does demonstrations of applications on the Mac, being able to highlight cursor and keyboard input could be a real boon. PinPoint is available in the Mac App Store for US$2.99.
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Have you ever lost your cursor on your screen? Do you do lots of screen-sharing demonstrations? How would you like an app that puts...
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Why buy or use an add-on? Had problems finding the cursor on my 27" iMac. Went to Preferences/Universal Access. At the bottom is a section 'For difficulties seeing the cursor". You can vary the cursor size from normal to GIGANTIC. And it also is free.
May 05 2011 at 10:58 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyTry OmniDazzle
It has a magnifier, and it is free...
I use OmniDazzle. It is a free app which quite a few options for how you want to find the cursor. I lose my cursor on that 27" screen too!
May 04 2011 at 8:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIs there an app that would keep a small magnified area around the cursor? I sometimes use my 24" mac with a remote mouse in bed and precision clicking is hard.
May 04 2011 at 6:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply+1 for MouseLocator. I do Mac workshops all the time and have ML installed so folks know where the heck I'm clicking, etc.
May 04 2011 at 6:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replythe free MouseLocator is the first new program I install on every new Mac.
May 04 2011 at 6:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyCool, just what I was looking for.
May 04 2011 at 7:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDo any of the tools mentioned animate the pointer only when a click is initiated? I'd like that.
So weird, I was just thinking about a utility like this earlier today...
I give presentations where the large room screen is behind me. Thus I must point the cursor to objects on the computer that is in front of me. When doing so, the cursor on the large room screen is always tiny, no matter what you do, no matter what program you use (I've tried 'em all). Now, if I move the cursor off the computer screen to the large room screen, the cursor can be large, or highlighted or whatever I want, except NOW MY BACK IS TO THE AUDIENCE.
May 04 2011 at 4:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyFor the people who want less features than OmniDazzle, but want to pay money on it.
http://www.omnigroup.com/products/omnidazzle/
Was just going to come and give a shout-out re/OmniDazzle.
May 04 2011 at 4:42 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIf you're looking to save a few bucks, try out Mouse Locator: http://www.2point5fish.com/
I've been using it for years.
The core features are the same but if you're looking for something more check out PinPoint.
+1 for mouse locator. I lose my cursor all the time on my 27" iMac. ML heelps me pick it right up.
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TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
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