For a while, it looked like computers would come with more storage than you could ever need, but some modern Macs are almost heading in the opposite direction. Solid-state drives mean you must now be a little careful about weighty files—the smallest MacBook Air, after all, has only 64GB of precious, precious disk space.
Scanning for and trashing duplicates is a good way to claw back space, and Gemini is a user-friendly app that makes weeding out copies a breeze.
The interface is easy on the eyes, if a tad idiosyncratic and iOS-like. You load a folder, and Gemini whirs away for a bit before presenting a multi-pane, easily navigable results list. Duplicates are determined on the basis of file data, not merely names. Gemini can auto-select the dupes, or you can manually check items to mark them for removal. It takes two subsequent confirmations before the files are virtually shredded (but in reality moved to the Trash), ensuring you’re unlikely to accidentally delete anything important.
The bottom line. We’d like to see options for defining folders that Gemini should always ignore, and a means to compare files across volumes, but otherwise this app is a good investment and, oddly, fun.
64-bit processor (Intel Core Duo or better), Mac OS 10.7 or later
Easy to use. Finds duplicates based on data, not just file name.
Scanning takes a while, or maybe we're just impatient.
