First Look: MacPilot, Mac OS X tweaking utility
updated 12:20 pm EST, Thu December 18, 2008
First Look: MacPilot
You can customize any good operating system, and Mac OS X is no exception. While the System Preferences window lets you tweak components like the desktop or audio output, many more customizable features of the OS are hidden away. To get at these buried settings the most immediate solution is to enter cryptic commands into Terminal, but if you’d rather modify a Mac using a familiar point-and-click interface, take a look at MacPilot.
The interface displays icons in a left-hand panel, which lets you select components to modify such as Dashboard, Finder or Time Machine. In addition to modifying common Mac OS X elements, the app also lets you adjust separate software including BBEdit, CyberDuck, Pages, Numbers and iPhoto.
To edit a setting, users click on an icon in the left-hand panel, and select an item to change in the main panel at right. Many of these can only be altered through an app like MacPilot, such as adding a Cut command when using the Finder, or disabling the translucent Menu Bar in Leopard.
Besides letting you customize various programs, the utility also provides a convenient list of startup items. Here you can see which programs are running in the background, gobbling up memory while slowing your computer down at the same time. The purpose of course is to turn a startup program off, or prevent it from starting up at all.
Another feature is the ability to extract Intel or PowerPC code from a Universal Binary file. This can trim down your apps without affecting functionality, although you do need to be aware that many programs can’t update themselves in the future once you strip away a portion of the program.
Power users should find that MacPilot will help customize Macs to work exactly the way they want. Novices may also find the program handy for tweaking, perhaps in a way that makes using a standard Mac suddenly seem foreign and limiting. If you’re looking for wizards or other tools to make the program easier, though, you won’t find them. As a result, the sheer number of options available may overwhelm a beginner. When faced with a screen full of buttons, choosing the right option can be more difficult than necessary.
Still, if you like the idea of modifying your Mac without the pain of typing commands into Terminal, a 15-day trial of MacPilot is available. Once you see the hidden features the app can open up, you may find its $19.95 pricetag a good deal.
Looks scary
12/18, 01:38pm reply
Maybe this'll be useful to people who already know how to navigate around the inner-workings of the OS, but despite the familiar interface and friendly buttons, NO THANKS.
I'll be satisfied with whatever options Apple gives me, and express my creativity through Photoshop and GarageBand!
bredlo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
Easily pleased
12/18, 01:51pm reply
If only more Mac customers were like Bredlo.
Photoshop users - embrace glossy screens. Garageband users - celebrate the removal of Firewire. Be satisfied with whatever Apple gives you!
miawj
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2005
Plist
12/18, 02:11pm reply
most of these are accessible through a decent plist editor, correct? Or does this program provide access to other aspects of the the program that go beyond property list?
dynsight
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2005
MacPilot bundle discount
12/18, 02:17pm reply
This deal ends today (the 18th) but you can get MacPilot and over $400 of other software (Like Drive Genius) for $49.99 over at:
http://www.mupromo.com/
macupdate
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 1999
Secrets
12/18, 03:01pm reply
A huge percentage of what this $20 thing does are also done by the excellent free Secrets from http://secrets.blacktree.com
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
Tinkertool, too.
12/18, 03:54pm reply
Most of these are already editable via Tinkertool, too. There's a plethora of tweaker utilities for OSX.
resuna
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2005