The advent of Apple’s M-series processors has precipitated an abrupt surge in the popularity of MacBooks, at least in part due to their improved performance. Nevertheless, Windows users who wish to transition to macOS may find it somewhat difficult to feel at home, given Apple’s attempt to exert control over virtually every aspect, including note-taking, video editing, and word processing. Fortunately, rather than being obligated to utilise the default applications, the following five free macOS applications will significantly enhance your MacBook.
Spark Mail 1.
Let’s begin by addressing the elephant in the room: The Apple Mail application is far from ideal. It routinely overlooks critical emails and occasionally neglects to deliver responses. Moreover, the lack of the Gmail application in the App Store compels users to depend on third-party clients, which frequently require payment in the form of a subscription.
Spark Desktop macOS Application Image
In this case, Spark comes into play. It is a comprehensive email application that organises messages automatically according to their importance, guaranteeing that no significant information is overlooked. Although the free version of the application is adequate for the majority of users, a premium tier grants access to Spark AI, which enables email templates and message replies generated by artificial intelligence.
Onyx
Apple, in contrast to Windows, implements stringent measures to restrict access to impermanent files and caches. Although this strategy enables the company to maintain an operating system that is easy to use for the average user, it leaves tech-savvy users with no choice but to delete these files. Utilise Onyx, a no-cost utility application, to perform tasks such as reestablishing databases, rearranging file structures, and verifying storage.
However, due to the fact that this application is primarily designed for professionals, it may be difficult to comprehend all the available options. To provide context, suppose you are an ordinary Mac user seeking to eliminate unnecessary files. Upon initial launch, the application will request complete disc access, which is required. Once bestowed:
Proceed to the section labelled “Mostoration.” If you believe that the Spotlight search or email are not operating optimally, you can enable those toggles in the rebuild section, even though the options that are by default should be sufficient.
An image of the Onyx application
Select “Execute Tasks.”
It is essential to note, however, that your Mac will restart following the procedure.
Browser Arc
Following years of intense competition, it is widely acknowledged that Google, Microsoft, and Apple have largely captured the browser market. Despite the ongoing competition among these companies for a larger portion of the market, the browser layout has remained uniform across all of these platforms. This convention is challenged by the Arc browser, which presents an entirely new approach to the browsing experience. Yet, what distinguishes it?
An image of the Arc browser (1)
The labels are initially situated on the page’s left-hand side, which signifies a substantial transition. Furthermore, by concealing the sidebar, users are granted the ability to browse in full-screen mode. While these modifications may initially appear daunting, the user experience is enhanced in comparison to Chrome due to the ability to bookmark preferred websites in the sidebar, which expedites access. Furthermore, multiplexing is the defining characteristic of Arc; the split-screen mode permits users to simultaneously load two distinct websites.
An image displaying the Arc browser 2
Arc ultimately incorporates a picture-in-picture mode that allows users to continue viewing their preferred videos while utilising other applications.
Rectangle 4.
Despite the implementation of the stage manager, the window management in macOS continues to exhibit deficiencies, as users encounter difficulties in efficiently resizing windows. Users migrating from Windows, which arguably has the finest window administration, can exacerbate this issue. Users may install Rectangle to resolve this issue; it essentially enables access to all window management shortcuts in Windows, including the ability to clip a window into position by dragging it to a corner.
Amphetamine (5)
Your Mac enters slumber mode after a brief period of inactivity in order to conserve battery life. There are, however, circumstances in which this is undesirable, such as when downloading a massive file or finishing a massive render. Here, amphetamine enters the picture. After installation, it becomes a menu bar entry that enables you to rapidly configure a time interval in which the MacBook will not enter slumber mode. Additionally, users may select from a variety of additional configurations according to their preferences.