Handpicked Software

Like Objective Development’s $19.95 LaunchBar and Apple’s forthcoming Spotlight (a new feature in OS X 10.4, Tiger), QuickSilver is an elegantly designed launcher, but with some added features.

The launcher lets you access anything on your hard drive—files, folders, bookmarks, email addresses, applications—by typing a few keystrokes. As you type, a Command Window pops up and shows you files matching those keys, along with possible actions (such as opening the file or emailing it to someone in your Address Book; pressing the Space bar scrolls through the available options).

You can also drag icons from the Command Window to the Finder or an application window. For example, you can drag an application to a different folder, or drag a document into a message window to send as an attachment.

There are several interface options for the Command Window including a Window and Mini Window, a Menu Bar that replaces the Apple Menu Bar, the Bezel style pictured above, and a Flashlight style that looks like Spotlight’s search field.

Launcher is an invaluable timesaver, but QuickSilver also includes a Clipboard with a virtually unlimited history (actually, you can set the number of items, but the limit can be as large as your available memory). You can invoke the Clipboard from QuickSilver’s menu, or have it slip in and out of site by the side of the screen.

There’s also a Shelf, which behaves like the Clipboard, sliding unobtrusively offscreen when not in use. Store frequently used files in the Self and perform a multitute of actions on them by selecting the item’s contextual menu.

Though still in beta, QuickSilver gives you the option of running in Stable or Beta mode. There are a number of additional features documented on the Blacktree Web site.

Bottom Line: QuickSilver will save you an enormous amount of time. It’s well-designed and it just keeps getting better. Once you get into the habit of using it, it’s hard to imagine the Mac without it.
From: Blacktree
Price: Free