Alfred: Using the keyboard Mac, as the king

There is quite an impressive layer of users, is considered part of an appeal to the mouse or trackpad detrimental to the overall efficiency and productivity. Simply put, these people like to do things on your keyboard. They know most of the function keys and combinations to the operating system and applications, enabling them to carry out urgent actions objectively faster. All of us in varying degrees, use the keys. At least, it is difficult to find someone who would not use canonicity "copy / paste".

OS X, as well as Windows, perfectly realizes the work with the keys. Any experienced Mac user will also add that the combination of OS X is much more convenient and intuitive, however, seasoned Windows-user immediately objected. But the point is not about who is more convenient - it only confirms that the work of the keyboard is well presented and there and there. Good, but not perfect.

Today we tell you about OS X application called Alfred. All in all, the initial understanding, this tool is a tool for fast handling applications, but its ability, in fact, much broader. Alfred - not the only one of its kind tool. He has few peers, including,

LaunchBar, Quicksilver and Butler. Choose among them the most optimal product - try all means, finding a way most appropriate solution specifically for themselves. At the same time Alfred there are objective advantages - the vast majority of features from basic functionality to it is available for free. You can without any risk for the purse and try to install in Alfred, then either get acquainted with premium chips and buy them, or to demolish the annex and then forget about it.

application management

One of the main functions of Alfred - replacing the usual ways to run, hide, and exit the application. The only problem here is that you have to retrain your brain to perform other means so frequent operations, but in the long term, this will give the result.

After installation Alfred called user selected combination of keys. As you type in the search box, his rise to the name of the desired application, will appear a list of possible suitable applications. Almost like in a live Google search. A regular user will hardly keep on your computer hundreds of applications, which makes it possible to find the right from the very first entered character.

When forming the outputted list, each application is assigned to a combination of keyboard shortcuts. The first option in the list is called through the Return, and the rest a combination Command + number in the list. This numbering can instantly call up any application from the list without having to go by the arrows on unnecessary items. In the process, Alfred remembers user selection, displaying the most frequently used applications on the first line of the list.

After the work is completed with a specific application, you can quickly shut down by the addition of Alfred «quit» team after the application name. «Hide» hide command interface desired application from the user's eyes, while continuing the work of the software. You can close all running applications with the help of «quitall» command or kill stale app via «forcequit»

Search the web

Alfred competence goes far beyond the applications installed on the computer. Rather than run a browser and drive through your preferred search engine another search you will have to drive + keyword query in Alfred. To access the google writing «google [request]."

Relevant keywords are provided for other services of good Corporation: «maps» card and «images» for pictures. Any of these operations entail opening the default browser and opening it to the page calls the Web service with the results of the query.

In this case, as in the case of applications, by Alfred learns, and after a couple of trips to the search for future reference Google will be sufficient to enter one letter «g».

When you enter a search query without the keyword, by Alfred offers options for search engine list is user-configurable.

As the search areas are available Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn and others. Services in which you want to search, set by the user through the application settings.

Gmail and Google Drive

Google services are extremely popular, including among Mac users. It is likely that you're using Google Mail in conjunction with the Drive for more convenient work with the files. In this case, Alfred implements basic functionality, allowing you to access the web-version of the mailer. Work in the user's preferred e-mail client, he can not. Entering «gmail» automatically redirect the user to the inbox, and the addition of a specific request further searches for the letters.

Google Drive and search its contents for an instruction «drive».

As a side effect, the user can feel the strengthening of attachment is to Guglovomu cloud as the tight integration with the more popular Dropbox, as well as with SkyDrive, in Alfred is not provided.

user requests

Each of us have our favorite places on the Web. Alfred charm is that it allows you to set your own keywords, which will cause the input user-defined actions. The example below shows a way to quickly jump to the TNW site, where he was placed original given instructions on the use of Alfred.

By analogy with this example, you can create a query «LH», linking it to your favorite Lifehacker.ru, then come to us will be even easier and faster :)

The addition of a custom query is performed in the application settings via «Add Custom Search» option. Similarly, you can ask a deeper path to a specific page of the site, simply add it to the full reference in the field «Search URL».

In addition to creating a user request, Alfred makes it possible to add a unique visual identifier for the request - this is a simple website icons that you can drag to the appropriate field in the you create a query.

It so happens that it is necessary to create not a particular transition to a particular page, and simulate a search query directly within a given site. It will have to go to a site through a browser, enter a search query (for example, the withdrawal of all posts on Layfhakere relating to the iPhone, will look like «//lifehacker.ru/?s=iPhone»), then copy the link in the Alfred and ask for it on your key word.

Files and folders

Despite the growing popularity of cloud storage, many of us still prefer to keep important files locally on the computer. Fast access to files through Alfred carried out by direct input of the file name, without any keywords. Adding to the command name «open» will open the selected file, and «find» indicates to him the full path.

If you know a word or a set of symbols in the correct file, but can not remember the name and location of the file, it is necessary to refer to the «in» team. Entered her text will be searched for within the document on your computer.

Buffer exchange and blank

You know that wonderful feeling when you copy something to the clipboard, and then copied something else, and the previous piece of important information, which is so necessary now lost?

Alfred automatically stores the whole history of copying to the clipboard and open access to it ⌥⌘C combination of keys that can be reassigned to your liking.

After the call history of copying, the user is also equipped with a search tool to quickly find the need to copy once piece.

Templates - is a simple text blank with a call on a particular keyword. For example, such a pattern may be any commonly used reference, terms or phrase in the electronic correspondence.

integrated team

If you look at all of our work as a whole, it is absolutely all the action can be linked to certain sequence of operations.

You're looking for a movie? Your search may consist of entering the name of the movie + the word "trailer" on YouTube, view details about the movie on IMDb, and familiarization with reviews. The Alfred this combination of actions can be assigned to one keyword (for example, «movie»), And the most relevant combinations in it is already pre-installed. The above sequence is called «Should I watch this movie?» And is available in the application settings.

If desired, any actions and their combinations can be easily changed, or you can create your own complex instructions. Also specified and a trigger for which team starts. This may be a keyword, the search query, and so on. It turns a simple analogue IFTTT.

iTunes, etc.

Alfred supports iTunes through a tiny player with a text control (team play, pause, next, prev, random).

Some users will consider quite convenient to use short query for system commands. Fast shutdown and restart the Mac is carried out accordingly «shutdown» teams and «restart». It added «eject» for safe disconnection of peripheral devices, as well as «emptytrash» - cleaning basket.

Unfortunately, the sweetest features such as integrated command and control of iTunes, available in the free version of Alfred. However, not every user wants so deeply absorb the product, and the most simple and basic functions work fine with the free version of Alfred.