What we published, and notable links
Here are the things we published this week, as well as some great link material. You can also stay up-to-date by following us on Twitter and RSS.
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Alfred is our favorite OS X launcher »
We wouldn’t consider the OS X app launcher space a crowded one, but there are enough options out there that could make oneself think twice about clicking the download button. After numerous keystrokes and much reflective deliberation, we think that Alfred is the favorite launcher for Mac OS X.
What Alfred does best is incorporate different features from its competitors and implement them in a distinctive, easy, and understandable way — all while offering more power for advanced users to take things further.
Mike Dickens’ iOS world travel setup »
Mike Dicken’s is a software developer and project manager from Arlington, VA, but is currently traveling the world with his wife.
Mike’s travel setup is minimal and well-thought out, and it’s really fascinating to read about how he uses these tools and apps as he and his wife travel around the world. One thing that really stuck out to me was what he said about his camera, the Sony RX1:
We will use the images from this trip for prints, projects, and keepsakes for the rest of our lives. Everything else is supplemental.
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Quick Tip: Use any remote with your Apple TV »
The Apple Remote is a prime example of taking simplicity too far — it’s just so small. I know of many Apple TV users who have had to buy replacements because they lost their original. One of the little known features of Apple TV is that it allows you to program third-party remotes to control it.
If you’re like me, you had no idea this was possible. Thanks to Bradley, our worlds have been expanded and we can worry less about those tiny Apple TV remotes mysteriously vanishing.
Fantastical 2 for OS X »
Fantastical 2 for OS X was released this week and caused quite a stir in the community. A favorite calendar app for many on OS X (and certainly for iPhone), version 2 is a major update that takes the app from being a menu bar widget to a full-fledged calendar app.
There’s a lot of additional functionality and delight to explore with this new update, and Federico of MacStories has written an in-depth review that will explain why there’s so much to love about Fantastical 2. Fantastical 2 is normally $49.99, which is good price for such a useful and delightful tool, but is currently on sale for $39.99 to celebrate the release.
Rescue Time Review »
Shawn Blanc, Founder of The Sweet Setup, wrote an in-depth review of a small utility that can help you make informed decisions about how you spend your time. Rescue Time, and app for OS X that logs what you do on your computer, can help you monitor how you spend your day so that you can make positive changes in your routines and habits to become more productive and healthy. And, while it’s helpful to see the raw data of how much time you’ve spent in a certain app, Rescue Time can take things further and allow you to set goals for yourself, such as spending less than an hour per day on social media sites. If you’re interested in gaining more control over how you spend your computing time, this is a great place to start.
In the past 8 weeks, I’ve logged more than 400 hours of my time using Rescue Time. They say hindsight is 20/20, and the Rescue Time service is a way to see how you’re actually spending your time. Its insight and data can help you make better decisions about what you do with your day.
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