Finding Free Resources for the MAC

by Steve Hemphill (Summer MACE 2008)

http://opensource.usd348.com

NeoOffice

• OSX native application similar to MS Office
• Opens Word documents saved with docx extensions
• Different from Open Offic

Open Office

• Version 3.0 will be OSX native
• Older versions require X11 to be installed (available as extra tool on installation CD)

Google Docs / Calendar

• Allows collaboration
• Allows jointly managed calendar
• Technology plan development
• Issue – not on local computer; actual possession may belong to Google

Text Wrangler

• Open documents not visible in other programs
• Good for writing code — indents / color-coded text

Tofu

• Opens documents to show text when other programs won’t open it

Gimpshop

• Can do most tasks that Photoshop can
• specialized version of Gimp but Gimp requires X11 running

Nvu

• Windows and MAC
• Can replace Dreamweaver and/or Frontpage

Blender

• 3D drawing program
• Similar to Sketchup (Google Tool)

Adium

• Allows use of multiple accounts
• Opens all messenger accounts in one window

XMeeting

• uses H323
• May allow conferencing in conjunction with IDL equipment

senuti

• allows download of files from iPod into desktop iTunes

Formulate Pro

• allows adding text to PDF documents
• May replace Adobe Acrobat Pro

ClamXav

• anti-virus
• Finds macro virus

smcfancontrol

• alllows control of fan
• Helps MacBook Pro — which seems to get warm

KisMac

• Wireless network locator

iRed Lite

• allows use of Apple remote with computer / for projector control

Handbrake

• Rips/converts movies
• Great for getting older home videos into iMovie

Switch

• Converts between audio formats

Celestia

• Views universe from different perspectives
• YouTube Video – A Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan
• Zooms out from earth seeing planets go by

Stellarium

• Planetarium software
• Can “turn off” the sun to see what the stars would look like at that time of day