A little bit for work, a little bit for fun: That’s the mix you’ll strive for when seeking your starter kit of must-have Mac Apps. These Apple Mac Store apps will not only boost your productivity, but they’ll also make life easier, regardless of whether you’re at work or at play. On our list of top picks includes a tool to store all of your passwords, a robust photo editing app, and immersive games. Now get downloading.
OnePassword ($49.99)
1Password by AgileBits, in addition to tracking and maintaining passwords, lets you easily create new, strong, and unique passwords whenever you need them. 1Password can also store all your wallet items such as credit card numbers, license info, and more. I haven't remembered a password in years simply because 1Password does everything for me. With extensions for every major desktop browser on Mac and Windows, a built-in browser on iOS, and a simple Android app, auto-filling passwords and information can be done with a simple unlock and a few taps. 1Password can also sync with iCloud for iOS-only, or with Dropbox for cross-platform. 1Password for iOS is now a universal app for iPhone and iPad, so one purchase gets you both versions.
If you're looking for an all-in-one password management solution with amazing cross-platfrom support, look no further than 1Password.
1Password - Password Manager and Secure Wallet - AgileBits Inc.1Password by AgileBits, in addition to tracking and maintaining passwords, lets you easily create new, strong, and unique passwords whenever you need them. 1Password can also store all your wallet items such as credit card numbers, license info, and more. I haven't remembered a password in years simply because 1Password does everything for me. With extensions for every major desktop browser on Mac and Windows, a built-in browser on iOS, and a simple Android app, auto-filling passwords and information can be done with a simple unlock and a few taps. 1Password can also sync with iCloud for iOS-only, or with Dropbox for cross-platform. 1Password for iOS is now a universal app for iPhone and iPad, so one purchase gets you both versions.
If you're looking for an all-in-one password management solution with amazing cross-platfrom support, look no further than 1Password.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 ($149)
Got lots of images and have a passion for editing them? Lightroom 5 is an indispensable tool for the pro and enthusiast photographer alike. And for those who share a machine with a more casual snappers with big libraries of images, this is still the end-all-be-all of editing apps. Lightroom helps you organize and find your images — and it lets you do whatever edits (cropping, white balance, levels and more) you need to perform from within the app. It may cost a hefty $149, but it's worth it.
Buy Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 ($149)
iBank 5
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Time to take your money to the bank--the iBank, that is. This personal money manager from IGG Software makes it simple to get your financial house in order and keep it that way. The setup assistant can import data from competing apps (such as Intuit's Quicken), and iBank can tap into your bank accounts using its optional Direct Access service ($39.99 per year). Attractive graphics help you track all of your financial activity, and make it simple to implement a budget and manage your portfoilio, too. Additional mobile apps are sold separately, but your data will sync across devices.
Wunderlist (Free, $50 for Pro version)
Wunderlist for Mac, signed by 6Wunderkinder, has all the best features of a great to-do-list app, all packed into a very well-designed, uncluttered, intuitive interface boosted with continuous on-screen help. In other words, despite a couple of limitations, Wunderlist helps users keep themselves organized while having fun playing around with the app.
Wunderlist is as easy to set up as it is to use: after users create an account in one easy step, the superbly designed to-do list app opens the default list -- the Inbox. This is where users can start adding their tasks by simply following the on-screen Help, which makes creating tasks a no-brainer. We were able to set up tasks for a couple of days in just minutes, which makes the app very handy. When creating a task, users can use the built-in calendar to choose a date, yet an hourly deadline isn't available, and neither are repeat tasks. These are the only two features we missed while using Wunderlist. We loved how intuitive and easy-to-use the app was; users can prioritize tasks simply by clicking on the star and clear the task by clicking on the checkbox. All the great features of Wunderlist come to the surface if the user has an Android or iOS mobile device, so the tasks can follow them all day long. Wunderlist automatically syncs the devices, so users can browse and edit all their to-dos while on the go, and the update will appear in their Wunderlist inbox on every device.
Wunderlist: To-Do List & Tasks - 6 Wunderkinder
MindNode Pro
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Mind-mapping software provides a visual representation for the sprawling thought processes that define any given project. MindNode Pro, from IdeasOnCanvas, is a flexible idea organizer. It lets you create a visual representation of thought “nodes,” which you can interconnect. Add in images, files or Web links to flesh out nodes and reorganize your ideas by dragging nodes about. You can also add highlights to nodes and even change font attributions. Once you’re done, share your mind maps via iCloud, so you can access them via your iPhone or iPad.
MindNode Pro - IdeasOnCanvas GmbH
Fiplab Disk Doctor
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I’ve recently started toying with the idea of upgrading my MacBook Pro’s stock 500 GB hard drive with a new SSD. The cost of an SSD that comes anywhere close to 500 gigs is terrifying, so I’ve been shopping around for a drive that has less than half of that capacity. In order to determine if I could survive with a comparatively diminutive drive, I’ve begun some serious spring cleaning.
There are a ton of great apps out there for keeping your Mac’s hard drive clean. FIPLAB joins this crowded market with a very simple utility called Disk Doctor. I’ve employed it in my quest to squeeze my disk usage down to SSD capacity. Read on to find out how it fared in my tests.
Disk Doctor - FIPLAB Ltd
Evernote free
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This Retina-display optimized app provides a front-face for accessing Evernote's popular note-taking and storage service. While the app's design lacks some finesse, it does simplify taking notes, capturing quick tasks and saving documents as Web pages. Searching among notes is now simplified, so all you need to do is tell it what you want in plain language, i.e. tell the app you want to search for “notes with PDF.” All of this info is then synced to the cloud, so all of your devices have access to the same data. Step up to the premium version to add annotations and markup ($45 per year).
Evernote - Evernote
Kindle (Free)
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Not only is it a dead-simple interface, but with the Kindle app for Mac you can keep your e-books synced across devices. It's tough to be a selection of more than 1 million books with the least expensive new releases around, and tons of free books as well. Plus, if you're an Amazon Prime member ($99 per year), you'll get access to the Amazon lending library.
Kindle - AMZN Mobile LLC
Steam (Free)
With games priced and sold individually, Valve's online game distribution and management platform, Steam, opens up a world of gaming options to Mac users. Download this app, and then browse through the myriad of single-player and multiplayer games available (3,000 and counting). Valve provides not just the Steam gaming platform, but also a robust interactive gaming community, too.
Bad Piggies
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Bad Piggies is a spin-off of the popular Angry Birdsgame. This time the pigs take center stage in a physics-based puzzle game that plays out very differently to Angry Birds.
The swines in Bad Piggies are on the hunt for eggs again. This time they're on a desert island and must construct vehicles to help them negotiate the mountains, caves and other hostile terrain. It's your job to help the piggies piece together their makeshift craft to guide them through each level.
Bad Piggies - Rovio Entertainment Ltd
Real Myst Masterpiece Edition
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One of the classic games gets a refresh in this 20th anniversary edition. Updated graphics and realtime 3D interface in "Real Myst Masterpiece Edition" makes wandering around the world of the Ages so much more engrossing. Want to go retro? You can still opt to play the game as you would with the original, by pointing and clicking your way through the world. The visuals look rich and detailed, and the music remains as haunting as ever. No time to get lost and immersed as you wander through Myst's beguiling world? No problem — bookmark your progress and return at your convenience.
realMyst: Masterpiece Edition - Cyan Worlds
Pocket (Free)
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See something cool while you're surfing the Web? Don't worry about finding the content later — just throw it into your Pocket account and start building your own personal library of articles, videos and Web pages, all ripped from your browser or from any of more than 300 apps. Content saved to Pocket syncs across multiple devices. The best part? Both the app and the service from Idea Shower are free.
Pocket - Idea Shower
Autodesk Sketchbook
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Optimized for serious artists trying to design things with a pen-operated tablet, Sketchbook Pro 6 is the digital canvas for professionals. But there's enough here that more casual sketch artists will find appealing, too. The interface has enough detail to satisfy pros who appreciate such things as a Brush Library with more than 100 presets; but it also can appeal to the more casual user, one who's eager to unleash his or her inner artist.
Autodesk SketchBook - Autodesk Inc.
Retinizer (Free)
Often, a simple app makes our radar because it's simple: It does one thing and does it well. The Retinizer fits that bill perfectly: Developer Mikelpr sought to make non-Retina-optimized apps look tolerable and less pixelated on the new Retina display Macs. The premise is similar to what Apple's iOS does with pixel doubling. Retinizer will display interface widgets at 2X, so it's not a complete salve, but it can help improve the presentation of some apps.
Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac
You've got a Macbook, but miss your favorite apps in the Windows universe. Parallels Desktop 9 remains the best way to run Windows on your Mac, allowing both environments to be live concurrently. The latest version of Parallels supports connecting Thunderbolt and Firewire devices to your Mac or your Windows virtual machine; and the app extends Mavericks Finder Tabs and Multiple Display support to Windows, too.
Wunderlist for Mac, signed by 6Wunderkinder, has all the best features of a great to-do-list app, all packed into a very well-designed, uncluttered, intuitive interface boosted with continuous on-screen help. In other words, despite a couple of limitations, Wunderlist helps users keep themselves organized while having fun playing around with the app.
Wunderlist is as easy to set up as it is to use: after users create an account in one easy step, the superbly designed to-do list app opens the default list -- the Inbox. This is where users can start adding their tasks by simply following the on-screen Help, which makes creating tasks a no-brainer. We were able to set up tasks for a couple of days in just minutes, which makes the app very handy. When creating a task, users can use the built-in calendar to choose a date, yet an hourly deadline isn't available, and neither are repeat tasks. These are the only two features we missed while using Wunderlist. We loved how intuitive and easy-to-use the app was; users can prioritize tasks simply by clicking on the star and clear the task by clicking on the checkbox. All the great features of Wunderlist come to the surface if the user has an Android or iOS mobile device, so the tasks can follow them all day long. Wunderlist automatically syncs the devices, so users can browse and edit all their to-dos while on the go, and the update will appear in their Wunderlist inbox on every device.
Wunderlist: To-Do List & Tasks - 6 Wunderkinder
MindNode Pro
Mind-mapping software provides a visual representation for the sprawling thought processes that define any given project. MindNode Pro, from IdeasOnCanvas, is a flexible idea organizer. It lets you create a visual representation of thought “nodes,” which you can interconnect. Add in images, files or Web links to flesh out nodes and reorganize your ideas by dragging nodes about. You can also add highlights to nodes and even change font attributions. Once you’re done, share your mind maps via iCloud, so you can access them via your iPhone or iPad.
MindNode Pro - IdeasOnCanvas GmbH
Fiplab Disk Doctor
I’ve recently started toying with the idea of upgrading my MacBook Pro’s stock 500 GB hard drive with a new SSD. The cost of an SSD that comes anywhere close to 500 gigs is terrifying, so I’ve been shopping around for a drive that has less than half of that capacity. In order to determine if I could survive with a comparatively diminutive drive, I’ve begun some serious spring cleaning.
There are a ton of great apps out there for keeping your Mac’s hard drive clean. FIPLAB joins this crowded market with a very simple utility called Disk Doctor. I’ve employed it in my quest to squeeze my disk usage down to SSD capacity. Read on to find out how it fared in my tests.
Disk Doctor - FIPLAB Ltd
Evernote free
This Retina-display optimized app provides a front-face for accessing Evernote's popular note-taking and storage service. While the app's design lacks some finesse, it does simplify taking notes, capturing quick tasks and saving documents as Web pages. Searching among notes is now simplified, so all you need to do is tell it what you want in plain language, i.e. tell the app you want to search for “notes with PDF.” All of this info is then synced to the cloud, so all of your devices have access to the same data. Step up to the premium version to add annotations and markup ($45 per year).
Evernote - Evernote
Kindle (Free)
Not only is it a dead-simple interface, but with the Kindle app for Mac you can keep your e-books synced across devices. It's tough to be a selection of more than 1 million books with the least expensive new releases around, and tons of free books as well. Plus, if you're an Amazon Prime member ($99 per year), you'll get access to the Amazon lending library.
Kindle - AMZN Mobile LLC
Steam (Free)
With games priced and sold individually, Valve's online game distribution and management platform, Steam, opens up a world of gaming options to Mac users. Download this app, and then browse through the myriad of single-player and multiplayer games available (3,000 and counting). Valve provides not just the Steam gaming platform, but also a robust interactive gaming community, too.
Bad Piggies
Bad Piggies is a spin-off of the popular Angry Birdsgame. This time the pigs take center stage in a physics-based puzzle game that plays out very differently to Angry Birds.
The swines in Bad Piggies are on the hunt for eggs again. This time they're on a desert island and must construct vehicles to help them negotiate the mountains, caves and other hostile terrain. It's your job to help the piggies piece together their makeshift craft to guide them through each level.
Bad Piggies - Rovio Entertainment Ltd
Real Myst Masterpiece Edition
One of the classic games gets a refresh in this 20th anniversary edition. Updated graphics and realtime 3D interface in "Real Myst Masterpiece Edition" makes wandering around the world of the Ages so much more engrossing. Want to go retro? You can still opt to play the game as you would with the original, by pointing and clicking your way through the world. The visuals look rich and detailed, and the music remains as haunting as ever. No time to get lost and immersed as you wander through Myst's beguiling world? No problem — bookmark your progress and return at your convenience.
realMyst: Masterpiece Edition - Cyan Worlds
Pocket (Free)
See something cool while you're surfing the Web? Don't worry about finding the content later — just throw it into your Pocket account and start building your own personal library of articles, videos and Web pages, all ripped from your browser or from any of more than 300 apps. Content saved to Pocket syncs across multiple devices. The best part? Both the app and the service from Idea Shower are free.
Pocket - Idea Shower
Autodesk Sketchbook
Optimized for serious artists trying to design things with a pen-operated tablet, Sketchbook Pro 6 is the digital canvas for professionals. But there's enough here that more casual sketch artists will find appealing, too. The interface has enough detail to satisfy pros who appreciate such things as a Brush Library with more than 100 presets; but it also can appeal to the more casual user, one who's eager to unleash his or her inner artist.
Autodesk SketchBook - Autodesk Inc.
Retinizer (Free)
Often, a simple app makes our radar because it's simple: It does one thing and does it well. The Retinizer fits that bill perfectly: Developer Mikelpr sought to make non-Retina-optimized apps look tolerable and less pixelated on the new Retina display Macs. The premise is similar to what Apple's iOS does with pixel doubling. Retinizer will display interface widgets at 2X, so it's not a complete salve, but it can help improve the presentation of some apps.
Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac
You've got a Macbook, but miss your favorite apps in the Windows universe. Parallels Desktop 9 remains the best way to run Windows on your Mac, allowing both environments to be live concurrently. The latest version of Parallels supports connecting Thunderbolt and Firewire devices to your Mac or your Windows virtual machine; and the app extends Mavericks Finder Tabs and Multiple Display support to Windows, too.
