LaunchBar: Functional replacement Spotlight on the Mac

Not far off the release of the new operating system from Apple - OS X 10.10 Yosemite, where, in addition to increased productivity and overall system optimization will be available new applications and redefining old ones - for example, Spotlight. From the upper right corner of the screen search bar appears in the center of the stage and will get additional features. But before the release of the new version still have to survive and try to work in action want now, is not bothered with the installation of the beta version of OS X. And thanks to third-party developers the opportunity to have everyone.

LaunchBar - an application that you can replace the standard Spotlight. Looks about the same as the solution from Apple, but at the same time and has almost the same features.

After starting the application you will need to specify a combination of keys, which will be opened on LaunchBar search string. By pressing the keys in the center of the screen will be accessible search bar in which you, as in the Spotlight, you can start typing the name of the application, and then run it instantly. It should be noted that the search in LaunchBar is carried out not only on established applications, but also a folder on your Mac. Moreover, the application is able to find media files from your iTunes library even when the application.

In addition to these features, the application developer from the notorious LittleSnitch can not only open the found documents and folders, but also to make them some additional steps: for example, Video can be opened in a standard player, and any other installed in the system and used for such purposes. You can send files by e-mail in a couple of clicks, without having to go to the Mail client - you just once will open a new window with an empty message and attached file. To send only the addressee will need to specify.

It is also possible to carry out and it is the standard operations on files and folders, for that, you can always immediately run the "Quick View" or to make operation of renaming / deleting documents and data without removing hands from the keyboard. And, of course, LaunchBar can be used as an input string to the browser. Start typing the site name, and then press Enter - the initial page opens in a new tab of your browser.

And for lovers of aesthetics, versatile application options "for themselves" and programming, there is support themes, and the ability to connect various plug-ins to extend the functionality LaunchBar. It supports AppleScript, JavaScript, Ruby, Python, PHP, and others. Various examples and add-ons themselves can be downloaded at community forum application users.

Overall LaunchBar - very interesting and convenient solution, at least until the exit Yosemite from Apple. That will be implemented in the final version of Spotlight, we learn in the fall. In the meantime, all interested can download the package from a trial version for 30 days from the official developer site. The full version will cost 24 euros per person or 39 - for the family.