If you've got money burning a hole in your pocket, you're on the wrong website. You won't need it for today's journey, as we tour through a Queen Mary-sized boatload of free stuff just for you and yours (your Mac, that is). We've set up our links so that each item opens a new browser window or tab, so click away and check out each and every item that sparks your interest. Strap in, buckle down, and enjoy.
SOFTWARE
One of the best things about the Mac is the quantity - and quality - of free software available. Indeed, it's possible to make it through your day using software that won't set you back a dime.
Before you dig into these free goodies, however, it's good to know a few things. First and foremost, free often means more than just "cost-free"; it usually means "free from support" as well. And then there's freeware that's actually donationware, which comes from a developer who's continuing to improve it and requests that happy users make a donation to support that effort. If you're looking for support, a donation is an excellent way of getting a developer's attention.
We've compiled a list of our favorite freeware apps, but there are thousands more where these came from - check out VersionTracker and MacUpdate to find more.
Productivity
If you can't be productive with your Mac, you can't justify buying a new one. Use these nuggets when you need to quit wasting time and get stuff done.
Quicksilver b51 - Launcher on steroids ... and acid
You need: Mac OS 10.4 or later
Forget what you know about finding and launching documents and apps. Once you grok the way Quicksilver does its magic, you'll amaze yourself with how you can simply type a few quick keystrokes to magically make your Mac do your bidding.
Use Quicksilver to launch any app or open any file on your Mac.
More...
NeoOffice 2.1 - Free replacement for Microsoft Office
You need: Mac OS 10.3 or later Based on the OpenOffice.org code base, this package includes replacements for Microsoft's Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Draw. NeoOffice takes it all one step further and makes a fully Mac-ified experience, so you don't need X11 or anything else to make it work - and yes, it reads and writes MS Office file formats natively. Dude, it's free - go get it.
NeoOffice works so well that we wrote parts of this article with it.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TextWrangler 2.2.1 - BBEdit's (mature) little brother
You need: Mac OS 10.4 or later (version for Mac OS 10.3.5 through 10.3.9 also available)
Need to edit text files on an FTP server, rewrap a busted-up email, sort a list of names, or even write some HTML, Perl, or PHP? Go get TextWrangler - we did, and we use it every day on MacLife.com. Based on Bare Bones Software's BBEdit engine, TextWrangler is one of the most valuable pieces of freeware you'll ever leech down to your computer. It's not often you get software this good for free, folks.
TextWrangler lets you edit and manipulate text in many different ways.
More...
Utilities
We all need to keep our Macs running smoothly, and these free utilities are the key to getting - and staying - there.
MenuMeters - Compact, thorough system-activity monitor
You need: Mac OS 10.2 or later
Something that should simply be included with Mac OS X, MenuMeters is an excellent way to monitor your system's health and status. This System Preference pane allows you to put disk, CPU, memory, and network usage graphs and readouts in your Mac's menubar, giving you at-a-glance access to vital system stats.
With MenuMeters, you can easily see what your Mac is up to.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
OnyX 1.7.8 - Multifunctional Mac OS X maintenance utility
You need: Mac OS 10.4 or later (version for Mac OS 10.1.5 through 10.3.x also available)
OnyX is a must-have utility for any Mac OS X user. Allowing you to run all of the standard (and some not-so-standard) system maintenance tasks, clean your Mac's caches, and even customize your Mac-using experience, OnyX will help keep your Mac running smoothly.
Use OnyX to help keep your Mac clean and running well.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mactracker 4.2 - Details about every Mac (and clone) ever released
You need: Mac OS 10.3.9 or later (versions for Mac OS 10.2 through 10.2.8, Windows 2000/XP/Vista, and iPod also available)
The next time your old college roommate calls and asks you what kind of memory she needs to upgrade her Power Computing PowerCenter Pro, you'll have the answer right at your fingertips, thanks to Mactracker. You could even use this to host a Mac geek party and play all the startup chimes from every Mac ever made. The fun never stops!
A whopping 16MHz in 1989 - how did we ever survive?
More...
Internet
Having a Mac that's not connected to the Internet is like running a three-legged race with only two legs. Er ... um ... well, it's just not as fun.
Firefox 2.0 - Customizable, standards-compliant Web browser
You need: Mac OS 10.2 or later
If you want to trick out your browser, get Firefox - it's so hip and customizable, it can be your low-rider and monster truck at the same time. From weather status to Web-design help to themes that customize the look of your browser, there are thousands of add-ons to make Firefox more fun and more useful - check out p78 for some of our favorites.
Firefox gives you ultimate browsing flexibility.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Cyberduck 2.7.3 - Mac-savvy FTP utility
You need: Mac OS 10.3.9 or later
Certainly, Mac OS X has a few built-in ways of using FTP, but none of them are as easy to use as Cyberduck. From Bonjour support to Spotlight integration, this app speaks fluent Mac. It'll even hand text files back and forth with TextWrangler - that's a can't-miss freebie twofer!
Use Cyberduck to manage all of your FTP connections.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Chicken of the VNC 2.0b4 - Remote desktop control
You need: Mac OS 10.3.9 or later
Ever need to control another Mac across the country (or even across the room) but you're too cheap to pop the $299 (10 systems) or $499 (unlimited systems) for Apple's Remote Desktop? Well, by enabling VNC support in Mac OS X Tiger and downloading Chicken of the VNC, you can do it all without spending one thin dime.
Use VNC to see and control the desktop on other Macs - or even Windows or Linux machines.
More...
Audio & Video
The Mac rocks when it comes to audio and video stuff, and these apps will make sure that you rock right along with it.
VLC Media Player 0.8.6b - Multiformat movie and audio player
You need: Mac OS 10.3.9 or later
VLC picks up where QuickTime Player leaves off. There are plenty of video formats that just don't play properly in QuickTime, and for those (and others), VLC is your go-to app.
VLC plays movies that QuickTime Player wouln't touch.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
HandBrake 0.8.5b1 - Rip DVDs to your Mac or iPod
You need: Mac OS 10.3.9 or later
Just pop your DVD into your Mac, and HandBrake will convert it to a file playable by QuickTime or on your iPod. Just make sure you're not breaking the law when you do it, OK?
Handbrake's interface doesn't look pretty, but the movies it creates sure do.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Audacity 1.3.2 beta - Full-featured audio editor
You need: Mac OS 10.3 or later
With Audacity, you can easily take audio files, edit them, cut them up, stitch them together, and even record them from scratch. Audacity now supports Audio Units plug-ins, as well.
Support for multiple file types makes Audacity a real workhorse.
More...
Flip4Mac - Play Windows Media (WMV) files in QuickTime Player
You need: Mac OS 10.3.9 or later, QuickTime 6.5 or later
This great piece of software allows you to easily play Windows Media files right inside of QuickTime Player. Note that Flip4Mac doesn't support protected files - those are only playable inside Windows itself.
Use this to play those pesky Windows Media files on your Mac.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crystal 2.4.9d - Software synthesizer
You need: Mac OS 10.3.9 or later
The next time you get a hankering to create that perfect synth sound for your space odyssey, there's a good bet Crystal can help. This multitimbral synth provides almost limitless possibilities from which you can create the perfect soundtrack for when the Ewoks are being eaten by Mothra.
Tweak to your ear's content.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
MDA Free AU Effects, Sept. 2005 Edition - Free effects for GarageBand and more
You need: Mac OS 10.3.9 or later
Whether you want to be Jan Hammer with a ring modulator, Joe Walsh with a great talk box, or Jimmy Smith with a Leslie, this free bundle of effects is an awesome place to start.
Set it, forget it, and just jam, man.
BONUS TIP: GarageBand Plug-ins
One of the cool things about GarageBand is that you can customize it with additional plug-ins and instruments. We've provided a couple of our favorites here, but if you want more, visit sites such as MacMusic or Hitsquad Musician Network and customize your own GarageBand library.
More...
SUPPORT
Though the Mac is clearly the most stable computing platform around, that doesn't mean it's perfect, nor does it mean that we - as Mac owners - always know how to do everything with our machines. Luckily, you can get good support for free if you know where to look.
Genius Bar
If an Apple Store happens to have sprouted up near your house, you can take advantage of the Genius Bar. And the name is accurate - these folks can be of help with everything from fixing your malfunctioning Mac to showing you the ins and outs of GarageBand. Go online to www.apple.com/retail to make an appointment (or simply call the store directly if your Mac is too sick to get online) and then head on in. Regular Joe customers can reserve appointments the day of, but a $100 ProCare card gets you 14-day advance access to appointments. In hella-busy markets such as New York or San Francisco, that may be the best 100 bucks you'll ever spend.
MUGs
MUGs - Mac User Groups - are great resources. Your local MUG is a network of fellow Mac users with whom you can share tips and all sorts of Mac geekery. If you're not sure what's available near you, visit www.apple.com/usergroups to find your closest MUG.
Help on the Web
There are a ton of Web sites where you can tap some knowledgeable Mac gurus and get answers to your questions.
Mac Owners Support Group. You'll find an Apple-endorsed online user group full of some exceptionally knowledgeable, helpful, and active members.
MacFixIt Forums. You'll find another great site full of thousands of devoted geeks ready to share their wisdom with you.
Apple Discussion Groups. Though the quality has diminished since Apple eighty-sixed all of its paid moderators, you'll still find some active volunteers answering questions and keeping things moving.
Podcasts
There are many podcasts dedicated to helping you get the most out of your Mac. Most of these shows will take questions by email as well as voice mail, allowing you to phone in a question that might get answered on the air.
MacCast. Though this show definitely includes quite a bit of news, it has a healthy support aspect to it as well.
The Mac Observer's Mac Geek Gab. Hosted by two longtime Mac geeks (including your humble author), this show often focuses on addressing questions sent in by listeners.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
VOICE CALLING
Apple opened Pandora's box when it let us start audio- and video-chatting with other Mac users via iChat AV - but the conversation doesn't stop there. A few other apps and platforms have cropped up, letting you chat not just with other Mac users, but with folks on all sorts of computers.
Skype 2.5 - Free (or very cheap) phone calls
You need: Mac OS 10.3.9 or later
If you haven't already heard of Skype, you must not get out much. Simply put, Skype not only lets you place free voice and video calls to other computer users (including people using Windows and Linux), but also includes a link to the "real" world, letting you call U.S.-based landlines, as well, for a small fee. The quality of the sound is many times better than that of iChat AV, though Skype basically requires you to use headphones while making calls - it doesn't hold a candle to iChat's near-perfect speakerphone capabilities. That said, Skype is way better at dealing with firewalls and routers than iChat, and it can be a real thing of beauty if you're in an office or hotel that has a funky network. Pay options include voice mail, SMS messaging, and international calling.
Gab away - for free - with Skype 2.5.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Gizmo Project - Not quiiiiite as good as Skype, but cheaper calling landlines
You need: Mac OS 10.3.9 or later
Similar to Skype, Gizmo is a crossplatform (Mac, Windows, Linux) chat client, though currently it only supports audio, not video. Calls to other Gizmo users (including to their landlines and cell phones) are free, but outgoing calls to anyone else's landline or cell will cost you a few cents - a penny per minute in the U.S. Gizmo does have echo cancellation to make for a more natural speakerphone-type experience, and it also includes a way of recording your calls, which can be quite handy when talking to absent-minded coworkers or family members.
More...
GOOGLE STUFF
The Google dudes and dudettes know their interactive Web stuff. Docs & Spreadsheets lets you edit files right in your Web browser. You can start from scratch or simply upload your existing Word or Excel files. You can also collaborate with other folks on a single document, and it tracks revisions better than Word itself.
Edit text and spreadsheets right in your Web browser from any computer, Mac or PC.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Yes, .Mac Mail has a spiffy new interface, but it ain't free, and it ain't as slick as Gmail. With the best Web interface around, nearly 3GB of storage per account, and Google Search to pore through it all, Gmail is one of the true gems of the free-stuff-on-the-Web world.
Free Web mail has never been so tasty.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Perhaps one of the coolest time-wasters in history, Google Earth lets you take yourself on a tour of basically anywhere on the planet. Just type in an address or even the name of your favorite restaurant, and though the combined power of Google's search engine, satellite images, and maps, you'll be taken there. Then you can float around, rotate your view, zoom in and out, and really suss things out. You can even plan routes and let Google Earth "fly" them while you watch.
Not much escapes Google Earth - including the Apple campus.
More...
MUSIC
Tell Pandora about music you like, and it will create a custom Internet radio station for you. Continue rating songs as you listen to them, and soon you'll be in musical bliss.
A ton of free music is available on the Web, and the kind folks at FreeMacMusic.com can help you find a tasty, steaming heap of it.
Even though eMusic isn't free forever, you can still get 25 free tunes from them, and the MP3s will work fine on your iPod. Get 'em while they're hot!
Which 25 of the available 2 million songs do you want?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Music Downloads
Though the RIAA and MPAA have done their part to make sure that most everyone even thinking about downloading music or movies from the Web rots away in a cold, dark cell (or, at the very least, is threatened with such), there are plenty of places on the Web where you can still get free, quality tunes. There are lots of artists who'll happily share their music with you for free, in hopes of furthering their art and expanding their fan base.
Internet Archive. Literally hundreds of thousands of audio files - including more than 30,000 concerts - are freely available.
CNET Music. Find free streaming music from some of your favorite artists.
FreeMacMusic. Pop on over to find reviews of and links to music, all categorized by genre.
GoingWare. Check out to find links to thousands of sites that offer free music downloads.
Artist Direct. Music and videos from top stars are available for your edification and enjoyment.
Get free music and videos from big-name folks.
