Editorial - DR. Mac 

Dr. Mac Announces Finalists for 2002 Mac OS X Shareware, Freeware, and Otherware Awards (The "Dockies")

By Bob LeVitus

Bob "Dr. Mac" LeVitus is presenting a unique session for the first time at Macworld Expo and Conference 2003 in San Francisco. Entitled, "Dr. Mac Presents the 2002 OS X Shareware, Freeware, and Otherware Awards," he'll be honoring the best and brightest alternatively distributed software of the year. Come early -- it's sure to be yet another standing-room-only session.

Where:

Somewhere in the Moscone Center

When:

Thursday January 09, 2003, from 4:30 PM - 5:45 PM

What:

Shareware, freeware, and otherware (e.g., beerware, postcardware, e-mailware) are different flavors of what is loosely termed "freely distributed" software. Most of it isn't sold in stores, isn't packed in shrink-wrapped boxes, and doesn't include printed documentation. And mostly, very low prices...Bob "Dr. Mac" LeVitus has collected and evaluated thousands of freely-distributed OS X programs. In this session he'll demonstrate his favorites--the best and brightest non-commercial software available today and award "Shiny Silver Disc Awards" to what he deems the top programs in categories like: best productivity enhancers, best free productivity enhancers, best low-cost games, best free games, best Web sites to find and download all this fabulous stuff and lots of other best-of-breed shareware, freeware, and otherware demonstrations. You'll get all this delivered in Dr. Mac's trademark style (a mix of encyclopedic knowledge of Mac OS X's inner workings, bad jokes, and worse puns). Come early; seats fill up fast.

Rules:

Ha. Are you kidding? The only rule is... there are no rules. I made this whole thing up . The categories, finalists, and winners have been picked based entirely on my personal preferences and usage.

Here are this year¹s categories and finalists:

Audio/Video/Graphics

• Curator
• GraphicConverter
• PixelNhance
• Slick Transitions & Effects
• Sound Studio

Backup/Sync

• Carbon Copy Cloner
• ChronoSync
• ExecutiveSync
• OmniDiskSweeper
• Synchronize! Pro

Finder Enhancement

• DragThing
• Drop Drawers
• LaunchBar
• LiteSwitch
• MaxMenus
• Snard

Game

• Goban
• iColumns
• iPoker
• JewelToy
• WingNuts

Internet

• Acquisition
• MacReporter
• NetNewsWire Lite
• Transmit 2
• URL Manager Pro
• Watson

Productivity

• OmniGraffle
• OmniOutliner
• StickyBrain
• textSOAP

System Utility

• Cee Pee You
• File Buddy
• Grafboard
• Memory Usage Getter
• MemoryStick
• Pseudo
• System Manager
• TinkerTool
• USB Overdrive

Screen Saver/Effect

• Bumps
• illumineX Screen Saver Pack
• Marine Aquarium
• Mister Hankey
• StonerView

System Enhancement

• Default Folder
• FruitMenu
• PTHPasteboard
• Snapz Pro
• Visage
• Windowshade

And the Dockie goes to...

To find out, you'll have to be there on Thursday, January 9th at 4:30 PM.

For more info (actually, the same info as above on the official Web page):

Bob LeVitus is a leading authority on Mac OS X and the author of 40 books, including Mac OS X For Dummies and Dr. Mac - The OS X Files, (or, "How to Become a Mac OS X Power User").