OnyX posts

Filed under: Software, Cool tools, Odds and ends, Freeware, Leopard

Freeware favorite OnyX goes 2.0

by Steven Sande (RSS feed) on Dec 29th, 2008

Whenever we write about Mac OS X utilities for system maintenance, our readers always remind of us one freeware utility that does a lot of work at no cost -- OnyX from Titanium Software.

This multifunction application does verification of your Startup Disk and System file structure, performs a lot of miscellaneous tasks for system maintenance and cleanup, and lets you configure some hidden parameters for the Finder, Dock, Dashboard, Exposé, Safari, the Login window, and even some of Apple's applications.

The improvements in OnyX 2.0 include faster operation, and deleting the applications cache, Internet cache, and logs has been improved. Most of these improvements are due to the application now being complied with the latest version of Xcode. One new feature lets you rebuild Mail's envelope index in the automation panel.

While the version 2.0 download is only available for Leopard, you can also download earlier versions for Tiger, Panther, and Jaguar. Support is pretty good; it's done through Titanium's forums and there are always answers available for most of your questions.

If you don't use OnyX, what's your favorite free Mac system maintenance utility?

Tags: maintenance, onyx, utility

Filed under: Freeware, Software Update, Leopard

OnyX 1.9

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on Jan 1st, 2008

A new year, a new software update. The creators of OnyX and Maintenance, Titanium Software, updated OnyX today. As you probably know already, OnyX is the ultimate Mac customization / optimization utility. In addition to this new version being completely re-written, there are also some bug fixes which include:

Enable/disable Journaling
Enable/disable iChat Data Detectors
Hide the icon of Spotlight in the menu bar
Deleting the Conversations log of instant messaging
Resetting the Sidebar of Finder windows
Some bugs of the previous beta corrected

I am sure that to avid users of OnyX this update is welcomed with open arms. If you haven't checked out OnyX before, what a better time than now? You can get your system tweaked and running smoothly for 2008! OnyX is available as freeware from Titanium Software or Mac Update.

Tags: 1.9.0, OnyX, Titanium Software, TitaniumSoftware

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, OS, Peripherals, Software, Tips and tricks

10 commandments of Mac optimization

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Jul 26th, 2007

Jason Swadley of InsanelyMac.com let us know about his posting of the Ten Commandments of Mac Optimization (I especially enjoyed the HotWp1 joke). The list is an interesting one, because it's a good mix of actual software tips, and what you might call mindset suggestions. On the practical tips side, Swadley recommends apps like Onyx and AppFresh, to keep your Mac running so fresh and so clean clean. I agree, too, with his tip about periodically taking stock of installed apps, and pruning the tree, so to speak. Like him, I tend to download and try out lots of stuff, and so it's worth it, maybe once every two weeks, to run back through the Applications folder and clear out (with AppZapper, of course) what I'm not using anymore.

But Swadley's other tips are for a much more holistic form of Mac optimization. He talks about removing peripherals that aren't used, buying every piece of software you find useful, and even not coveting your neighbor's Mac (because upgrading your own older machine might be more optimal than carting around a brand new release that you won't use half of).

I like it-- it's definitely a more widespread version of these kinds of lists than I'm normally used to, and all the tips are certainly good ones, even if you've heard them all before.

Tags: appfresh, appzapper, insanelymac.com, jasonswadley, melbrooks, onyx, optimization, running, smoothly

Filed under: Productivity, Tips and tricks

Low End Mac Suggestions for Optimizing Performance

by Mat Lu (RSS feed) on Mar 12th, 2007

Ed Eubanks over at Low End Mac has a nice set of suggestions for optimizing performance on your Mac. The main upshot of the article is to turn off or delete things you don't need (e.g. Universal Access, seldom used System Preferences, extra localization languages, etc.) in order to salvage as much RAM and hard drive space as possible, but he has a variety of good suggestions. Their motto over there is "How much Mac do you need?", but even if you've got an Intel beast I've found that you pretty much never have enough system resources, so these are good tips for everyone. Check it out over at Low End Mac.

[Via Digg]

Tags: low end mac, LowEndMac, monolingual, onyx, optimize

Filed under: Software, Odds and ends, Universal Binary

Spring Cleaning now Universal

by Brian Liloia (RSS feed) on Feb 21st, 2007

Spring Cleaning, the system optimization, cleaning, and uninstaller utility from Smith Micro is now a Universal Binary. Completely rewritten from the ground up, version 9 introduces a wealth of new features and tools, such as a Task Scheduler, Permissions Fixer, a Housekeeping Scripts Runner, Spotlight Index Rebuilder, System Cache Cleaner, and others, in addition to a reworked interface. $49.99 for the package, or $19.99 for upgrades. Requires OS X 10.4. Although I can't vouch for this application, I will recommend OnyX for folks looking for something similar, and for free. I usually make sure to crack OnyX open every month or so for a bit of housekeeping of my own.

(via Macworld)

Tags: application, onyx, optimization, smith micro, SmithMicro, software, spring cleaning, SpringCleaning, uninstaller, utility

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