Apple’s OS X operating system comes so packed full of applications and features that it is easy to miss a few. Aside from iLife and iWork applications, OS X comes with many default applications that perform all sorts of useful tasks from automatic actions to video and photo viewing. Digging around in the applications folder is the way to find some of the hidden gems a Mac has to offer.
Automator
Automator is one of the least promoted, least discussed and most practical applications that comes with OS X. Automator does exactly what its name says - automates repeated tasks and actions to reduce busy work.
Automator actions can be saved as applications, which work with files via drag and drop. Automator action applications can be created to do perform all sorts of useful tasks like resizing photos for the web, creating thumbnails, renaming files in sequence and applying watermarks to images.
Image Capture
Image Capture is an application for transferring images from devices like cameras and phones to a Mac. Image Capture is compatible with almost every camera and portable phone available, including the iPhone (Image Capture can bypass iTunes to access photos), Canon and Nikon cameras. Using Image Capture eliminates the need to install transfer software for cameras and phones.
Grab
Grab captures screen shots - in high resolution. Grab will capture the entire screen, individual windows, selections and even timed delayed selections. Grab can automatically save screen shots as TIFF and JPG files. Grab can capture images from anything on the screen, including embedded flash content. Grab is located under Applications/Utilities.
Applescript
Applescript is a scripting program which uses the Applescript language to control actions of the Mac and applications. Users can write their own scripts for Applescript, but Mac already come with a few that are pre-written. In Applications/Applescript/Example Scripts there are prewritten scripts that do everything from auto-accept instant messages on iChat to insert crazy text into emails. Applescript can also be used to do simple math within other applications.
Front Row
Front Row is a media viewing application that can be opened by using the key command “Command”-“Escape” (the “Command” key is also sometimes called the “Apple” key). Front View organizes movies, TV shows, music videos, photos, podcasts and even iTunes playlists. Front Row can be used as an alternative to iTunes, Quicktime and VLC for watching movies and TV shows. When used as a music player, the screen features flowing album covers. Front Row creates full screen photo slide shows from albums in iPhoto and Aperture and even adds music.
These are just of the few unsung hero applications that come with a Mac out of the box. Taking time to set system and user preferences as well as exploring the hard drive can lead to discoveries that unlock any Mac's full potential.
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Sophie Southern - Sophie Southern is an American freelance writer and English teacher who lives in Paris, France.
