- Console - this app shows you messages about everything that's going on in your computer (I won't post a screenshot because I'm not sure what information can be gotten out of it). Actually, I'm not sure how to use the information, but it can be used for troubleshooting etc. I wonder what would be displayed if Windows had such a program?
- Applescript/Automator - these programs are my favourite features of OS X.
Automator is an easy to use program that lets you define a sequence of actions. You can use it to resize, then rename photos etc. I use it to rename files.
Applescript is like Automator, but without the GUI. It's more powerful, like it can do if-then decisions. This example script types some text into Excel, then copies and pastes it. Hopefully it's simple enough to understand. The thing I like about it is you can program by keystrokes instead of commands, which I find more universal - it works with almost every program, including World of Warcraft. Currently I use it to maximise my Safari (the "maximise" button in OS X doesn't maximise), and to open 2 Finder (Windows Explorer) windows side by side, in Tiled order (OS X doesn't have tile/cascade either).
In Windows I was looking for a macro program like this, to do repeated things. I only found Macro Mania and my mouse drivers, which weren't enough. It's nice that OS X comes with these by default.
- Grapher - Windows has no graphing software included. Not only is Grapher included, it's powerful. It can plot in 3D, parametric, polar and log plots, and it can calculate integrals and derivatives. It's come in useful for my Maths classes a few times. This is a Möbius Strip I plotted for a Maths report. I also used Grapher to calculate the integral from 0 to ∞ of a complicated function (but I couldn't figure out how to plot it). It can also make animations.
No comments:
Post a Comment