Mac OS X is great, with 10.6 rounding out what I do feel to be the best operating system available for home users. But just like any other operating system, except for Jolicloud, OS X is not an innately social creature.
Though you'll likely have to click on the image above in order to see properly, this image shows you (in the upper right hand corner) the icons for four programs that will help you stay social online: Dropbox, Google Notifier, Twitterrific and Facebook Notifications.
All four of these programs can take advantage of Growl (though one won't immediately out of the box), a unified system for subtle notifications. Growl is an amazing, very understated piece of software. Since it is the link between these minimalistic programs and you, I will first give a step-by-step on how to get Growl. (If you have a reason to hate Growl, it certainly isn't required for any of these applications -- but I think it improves their worth by a great deal.)
Growl:
For Mac OS 10.4 or 10.5 - http://perian.cachefly.net/growl/Growl-1.1.6.dmg
For Mac OS 10.6 - http://growl.info/files/beta/Growl-1.2b3.dmg
(Do note that for 10.6 users this install is a BETA, though I have not run into any problems yet.)
After Growl is installed by following the easy onscreen directions, you are ready to install the other applications.
Dropbox:
Dropbox is an online storage and sharing service with a desktop application add-on. The add-on allows you to move files from this online service to your computer and back again as if you were moving files between any two regular folders on your computer. In other words, you won't even know that the Dropbox folder hosts all of its files online. This is an amazing service for keeping files up to date across multiple computers of any operating system. You can also access the files online through their website without installing any software. In the event that your computer crashes, any of the files you had in your Dropbox will still be waiting for you, safely stored on their servers. You won't have to worry about using USB drives or e-mail to move files around from work, school, and home.
In the name of fair disclosure, I'll tell you that Dropbox allows for inviting other users and in doing so the one doing the inviting benefits from it. Signing up for Dropbox using this URL will let the Dropbox team know that I referred you and will get me an extra 250MB of storage space (something I will love you for). That being said, if you are uncomfortable with that for any reason then you can use this URL to sign up without giving me this bonus.
I won't post links directly to the application installer because their website is so well-tuned and straightforward. Just head over to Dropbox, make an account, and follow their instructions to get started. I can't say enough great things about this service.
Google Notifier:
You do have a Gmail account, don't you? Please tell me that you aren't still using Yahoo or anything else when Google is offering you an e-mail account that also grants you access to amazing extras like these. If you have a Gmail account then Google Notifier is for you, and if you don't have a Gmail account then you ought to go sign up.
Google Notifier will show you how many unread messages you have in your Gmail inbox via a simple icon on your desktop menu bar. From there, it allows you to go straight to any of the first few unread messages or your inbox in general. Additionally, you can go from your desktop to composing a message in just two clicks.
Download the application by clicking here and following Google's instructions for the install. Enter your Gmail account name and password. I won't go into more details here because it is relatively straightforward, but if you have any problems you can contact me on twitter, or leave a message here.
Some of you may be content to leave it here, but I certainly wasn't. Without further work, Google Notifier will use its own notification system. This isn't a problem in and of itself, but if you are like me (you will be by the end of this blog entry) and use multiple programs that need to leave notifications then you will want a unified notification system (and that's Growl). If any of this gets too complicated, nothing will be ruined by leaving Google Notifier as it is and moving on to the next program I have highlighted in this blog entry.
In order to get Google Notifier to use Growl, we need to use another very tiny program which can be found here. Once you visit the site, click on the button that reads 'Download Google+Growl 3.0.' Once the zip file finishes downloading, open it and run the program 'Google+Growl Utility' found in the folder (there is no need to move this file into your Applications folder, it will be removed when we are done). It will tell you to quit Google Notifier momentarily before install, which you should do. Once the program is installed you will open Google Notifier again (you may need to locate and launch it in your Applications folder) and go to the Google Notifier Preferences from its menu. Uncheck 'Display new message pop-up' under the 'Gmail' tab, and if you will be using this program for Google Calendar as well then uncheck 'Display upcoming event reminder pop-up' under the 'Calendar' tab. From here it is very easy to use 'Google+Growl Utility' to change the way the messages will be displayed. Once they are displayed to your liking, you can close and, if you want, delete 'Google+Growl Utility.'
Now you should have Google Notifier using the same Growl notifications that all of your other applications will use. You won't have to worry about one popping up and obscuring the other, or interfering with the others in any other way.
Twitterrific:
Twitterrific is a desktop application for viewing and sending tweets via Twitter. You do need a Twitter account in order to use Twitterrific, so if you don't already have one and you want to give it a shot, then head over there and sign up. The main advantage of Twitterrific over all of it's competition is visual. It is a stunningly simple, elegant looking program.
Download the installer by clicking here. This installation is yet another simple one, and so I'll let the installer lead you through it. Enter your Twitter name and password to get started. Note that this is ad supported, so you will see relatively unobtrusive advertisements worked in every once in a while. Trust me, it won't bother you that much. Twitterrific will use Growl to notify you of new tweets by default.
Facebook Notifications:
This application will give you quick access to various aspects of your Facebook profile. In addition it will use Growl to update you when you have any notifications on Facebook. It's very simple. Just in case you miss the Growl notification, the icon will turn dark blue in your tray (usually it is black) to indicate that you have new activity.
Download the application here, and follow all of the instructions. You will need to click through a series of Facebook pages in order to allow the program proper access to your information. Approve it for everything. This is another simple installation, so after running the program and entering your Facebook login and password, it should work without a hitch.
That's it. You now have four new applications that will keep you social while using Mac OS X. If you have any other applications that you like to use, or that you think deserve a mention here, feel free to leave a comment.
EDIT: The graphic I was using from Twitterrific's website stopped displaying for one reason or another. Maybe they didn't want the free publicity. I've replaced it with my own. Additionally, note that any obscuring of images was done by me after the fact in order to preserve peoples' privacy.
Though you'll likely have to click on the image above in order to see properly, this image shows you (in the upper right hand corner) the icons for four programs that will help you stay social online: Dropbox, Google Notifier, Twitterrific and Facebook Notifications.
All four of these programs can take advantage of Growl (though one won't immediately out of the box), a unified system for subtle notifications. Growl is an amazing, very understated piece of software. Since it is the link between these minimalistic programs and you, I will first give a step-by-step on how to get Growl. (If you have a reason to hate Growl, it certainly isn't required for any of these applications -- but I think it improves their worth by a great deal.)
Growl:
For Mac OS 10.4 or 10.5 - http://perian.cachefly.net/growl/Growl-1.1.6.dmg
For Mac OS 10.6 - http://growl.info/files/beta/Growl-1.2b3.dmg
(Do note that for 10.6 users this install is a BETA, though I have not run into any problems yet.)
After Growl is installed by following the easy onscreen directions, you are ready to install the other applications.
Dropbox:
Dropbox is an online storage and sharing service with a desktop application add-on. The add-on allows you to move files from this online service to your computer and back again as if you were moving files between any two regular folders on your computer. In other words, you won't even know that the Dropbox folder hosts all of its files online. This is an amazing service for keeping files up to date across multiple computers of any operating system. You can also access the files online through their website without installing any software. In the event that your computer crashes, any of the files you had in your Dropbox will still be waiting for you, safely stored on their servers. You won't have to worry about using USB drives or e-mail to move files around from work, school, and home.
In the name of fair disclosure, I'll tell you that Dropbox allows for inviting other users and in doing so the one doing the inviting benefits from it. Signing up for Dropbox using this URL will let the Dropbox team know that I referred you and will get me an extra 250MB of storage space (something I will love you for). That being said, if you are uncomfortable with that for any reason then you can use this URL to sign up without giving me this bonus.
I won't post links directly to the application installer because their website is so well-tuned and straightforward. Just head over to Dropbox, make an account, and follow their instructions to get started. I can't say enough great things about this service.
Google Notifier:
You do have a Gmail account, don't you? Please tell me that you aren't still using Yahoo or anything else when Google is offering you an e-mail account that also grants you access to amazing extras like these. If you have a Gmail account then Google Notifier is for you, and if you don't have a Gmail account then you ought to go sign up.
Google Notifier will show you how many unread messages you have in your Gmail inbox via a simple icon on your desktop menu bar. From there, it allows you to go straight to any of the first few unread messages or your inbox in general. Additionally, you can go from your desktop to composing a message in just two clicks.
Download the application by clicking here and following Google's instructions for the install. Enter your Gmail account name and password. I won't go into more details here because it is relatively straightforward, but if you have any problems you can contact me on twitter, or leave a message here.
Some of you may be content to leave it here, but I certainly wasn't. Without further work, Google Notifier will use its own notification system. This isn't a problem in and of itself, but if you are like me (you will be by the end of this blog entry) and use multiple programs that need to leave notifications then you will want a unified notification system (and that's Growl). If any of this gets too complicated, nothing will be ruined by leaving Google Notifier as it is and moving on to the next program I have highlighted in this blog entry.
In order to get Google Notifier to use Growl, we need to use another very tiny program which can be found here. Once you visit the site, click on the button that reads 'Download Google+Growl 3.0.' Once the zip file finishes downloading, open it and run the program 'Google+Growl Utility' found in the folder (there is no need to move this file into your Applications folder, it will be removed when we are done). It will tell you to quit Google Notifier momentarily before install, which you should do. Once the program is installed you will open Google Notifier again (you may need to locate and launch it in your Applications folder) and go to the Google Notifier Preferences from its menu. Uncheck 'Display new message pop-up' under the 'Gmail' tab, and if you will be using this program for Google Calendar as well then uncheck 'Display upcoming event reminder pop-up' under the 'Calendar' tab. From here it is very easy to use 'Google+Growl Utility' to change the way the messages will be displayed. Once they are displayed to your liking, you can close and, if you want, delete 'Google+Growl Utility.'
Now you should have Google Notifier using the same Growl notifications that all of your other applications will use. You won't have to worry about one popping up and obscuring the other, or interfering with the others in any other way.
Twitterrific:
Twitterrific is a desktop application for viewing and sending tweets via Twitter. You do need a Twitter account in order to use Twitterrific, so if you don't already have one and you want to give it a shot, then head over there and sign up. The main advantage of Twitterrific over all of it's competition is visual. It is a stunningly simple, elegant looking program.
Download the installer by clicking here. This installation is yet another simple one, and so I'll let the installer lead you through it. Enter your Twitter name and password to get started. Note that this is ad supported, so you will see relatively unobtrusive advertisements worked in every once in a while. Trust me, it won't bother you that much. Twitterrific will use Growl to notify you of new tweets by default.
Facebook Notifications:
This application will give you quick access to various aspects of your Facebook profile. In addition it will use Growl to update you when you have any notifications on Facebook. It's very simple. Just in case you miss the Growl notification, the icon will turn dark blue in your tray (usually it is black) to indicate that you have new activity.
Download the application here, and follow all of the instructions. You will need to click through a series of Facebook pages in order to allow the program proper access to your information. Approve it for everything. This is another simple installation, so after running the program and entering your Facebook login and password, it should work without a hitch.
That's it. You now have four new applications that will keep you social while using Mac OS X. If you have any other applications that you like to use, or that you think deserve a mention here, feel free to leave a comment.
EDIT: The graphic I was using from Twitterrific's website stopped displaying for one reason or another. Maybe they didn't want the free publicity. I've replaced it with my own. Additionally, note that any obscuring of images was done by me after the fact in order to preserve peoples' privacy.
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