Mac Shareware Apps to Look Forward To
These days it seems like Mac shareware is all hype and no delivery. The new app comes out with fanfare… as a beta. A few days, weeks, and months later, it finally gets to version 1.0 and everyone is happy. Over the next few weeks 1.0.1 comes out, 1.0.2, and maybe even 1.1.0, but then things go silent. The blog isn’t updated, nagging issues go unfixed, and everyone forgets about it. Then the cycle picks up again, either with a new app or a new version.
Fortunately for us, though, there’s hope. Here are some apps that, if the rumblings are to be believed, may see some solid releases soon:
Delicious Library 2.0
This is the long-awaited update to the library management software first released in 2004, and is easily the most highly anticipated Mac shareware app of all time. AppleInsider posted an exclusive in depth preview of the Leopard-only update to the application that spawned the “Delicious Generation.” The next version includes a brand new Leopard-style interface, as well as some great new features such as publishing your collection as a snazzy website. For more screenshots and details, check out the AppleInsider post.
AppZapper 2.0
This is the drop dead simple app that deletes applications and their related files in one fell swoop. According to developer Austin Sarner, “In all seriousness, AppZapper 2 is coming along well and I’m excited to get it out. Stay tuned.” A teaser page on the AppZapper website suggests a release this summer.
The “I Like Olives” Application
Although there hasn’t been any activity on the website since last summer, in my recent interview with Sophia Teutschler, of Sophiestication, the developer of CoverSutra, she mentioned that she is actively working on it with some Mac shareware legends, saying:
“Right now I’m very busy working on the ILikeOlives app, which I’m doing together with Wolfgang Bartelme, Austin Sarner and John Casasanta. I won’t tell what the app is all about, but I can tell that it will be one of those apps you can’t live without after using it.” (link to full interview)
The My Dream App Apps
No list is complete without these three elusive in-the-works applications.
What apps are you looking forward to?
The title should be “Mac Vaporware Apps to Look Forward To”
Sorry but this does seem like a list of overhyped over substance apps
Sounds exactly like the situation you describe in the first paragraph to me.
It’s a shame, because there are so many others with real substance and without the hype that could be listed.
Sorry you guys didn’t like the apps I listed. I’m sure you’re right that some of them will be delayed and never released, but I tried to list only long-awaited apps with recent info coming out.
I am still waiting for Versions – Mac Subversion Client. Still now release date published. The site has not updated for about an year. A nice TortoiseSVN alternative for Mac is really needed.
I’m most looking forward to spending my money on:
THINGS 1.0
A version of MyNotes that is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch
Home Inventory 2.0
(I think Bento might be overkill for my simple needs)
And it’s free NOW, but it wasn’t when I got on board, and the developer keeps promising that Desktoptopia 2.0 will have all the stuff it should have had a year ago.
And this is free too, but I’d really like a version of Safari that WORKS. Wake up, Apple!
And AppZapper is so great and useful as it is, I’m not sure how they’ll improve it. Different laser gun zapping sound effects!
I don’t get what the hype over AppZapper is. AppTrap is free and automatically offers to delete an application’s files when it’s put in the trash, and Hazel also has this functionality along with its other features.
I would guess that I Like Olives is probably another food recipe app.
Comic Life Magiq!!!!
I also can’t wait to see what the new version of 1Pswrd is gonna be like and Awaken.
The screen casting apps got taken to the next level with the release of Screen Flow, so I can’t wait to find out how the other developers are gonna respond.
One that I miss more than I thought I would is Shapeshifter for Leopard.
I also wish more developers would take advantage of core animation, and integrated in their apps, not only for eye candy, but for ease of use.
How about an OS X version of TASKMENUBAR? One of the best classic apps ever.
How long have we been hearing about Delicious Library 2? All those reviews came out in Feb. saying it was due out in March and we’ve not heard word one about it since, and the blog hasn’t been updated since February.
I’m looking forward to it, but given it’s been dangled for about 9 months or so I’m kind of anxious to see it released or hear something.
The “My Dream App” stuff seems to be, quite solidly, vaporware.
AppZapper is excellent though.
Dean, what is the actual Home Inventory app you’re using ?
* Versions
* TextMate 2
* Things
Well, at least Things might get actually released one day, so it doesn’t really fit into this listing.
Jack,
I’m using Home Inventory from
http://www.binaryformations.com
I like it a lot. 2.0 should be out before the end of 2008, but it’s pretty good today, too. The developer is responsive and polite and seems to have some great ideas for moving the software forward. He also seemed receptive to some of the ideas I proposed. Definitely give the demo a try!
I had money in hand waiting for DL2 to drop, but that date’s come and gone, so I’m not sure if I’ll really go and buy that one now. I don’t really know what to make of Versions, SVN integration into XCode/CLI does the trick for me now. One thing I’ve been waiting for is On The Job 3 from Stunt though, which ought to be coming out fairly soon.
I’m surprised that everyone’s waiting for DL2, I’ve been using CDPedia, BookPedia and DVDPedia forever (I switched from DL and never looked back.) Again, maybe Bento is the smart choice here, but I’ve had very positive experiences with the ‘Pedias. I think they look and function loads better than DL.
I second Dean on the pedias. Already has included for years what people are waiting for with DL2.. Coredata (so it’s faster), smart groups, iTunes sync… the list goes on. Oh, and it’s got a full screen mode and cover flow too.
Well, it depends on what you’re wanting.
I tried Bookpedia (a number of times, actually) and found the scanning apparatus to be absolutely terrible compared to Delicious Library. I’ve about 1000 books, a few hundred DVDs and reliable scanning is damn fast.
I also don’t want to have/buy multiple applications as opposed to one with Delicious Monster.
I like Bento but the “grabbing” that Delicious Monster and the Pedia’s do go a long way for me.
“My Dream App†redefines the term Vaporware…these mac developers think they are creating a “cult of hype” but after a while even that wears off….
@ Mark Milian
I’m not so sure. The “Olives” thing was all for hype really, and the developers are friends with the Cookbook devs.
@ Josh
It’s true that the hype wears off after a while, but as soon as they turn it back on with some new info, everyone comes rushing back.
I don’t know what we can really say about “everyone.” Blogging has created its own incessant news cycle – so news about this stuff is GOING to be reported, heavily.. but that doesn’t mean individuals out there are sitting around thinking “Oh yeah, it must be real now!”
I don’t think DL2 is vaporware…. but the DreamApp stuff seems to absolutely be drek.
As for I Like Olives… I have no idea. I don’t trust things that work to create hype without telling you what it is.
I suppose there’s room for a cookbook app to come in and become the overnight BEST IN CLASS, but I think YummySoup is the winner today, and any improvements they make from here will push it further and further ahead of all this vaporware competition.
You know what software needs a new version? Radioshift. Great idea, lackluster execution. Whereas TOAST didn’t need a new version at all, did it? Roxio hadn’t quite worked all the bugs out of V8, dang it.
Waiting for NoteBook 3 from CircusPonys, a great mac app.
These personal info management programs boil down to taste and how well they help you implement your own personal organizational system.
I love the dirt-simple quality of MyNotes. Brilliant design. Everything you need, nothing you don’t. It’s almost more Mac-like than real Mac software these days!
I like the utility of CircusPony’s Notebook, but found the UI to be overdone and a little corny?
VIJournal is excellent, as is Things and I’m really liking Together, as well. Bring on the new versions!
Acrylic anyone?
AND IT’S COMING IN 7 DAYS!!!
http://www.acrylicapps.com/