02-Mac Software Operations

Some operations and configurations for my Mac software.

I. Common Software & Useful Tools

Alfred

Alfred is a global search tool. It's not exaggerating to say that Alfred should be the first software you install on Mac.

You can use Alfred as a replacement for the system's default Spotlight search. Basic features include:

• Launch any application quickly
• Calculator
• File search
• Web search

These basic features are free. With the paid Powerpack, you can save clipboard history and run any script program. It’s extremely powerful and can greatly improve Mac operation efficiency.

Chrome Browser

Although Safari is quite good on Mac, Chrome is also essential.

Official offline installer download link:
https://www.google.com/chrome/thank-you.html?standalone=1&platform=mac&installdataindex=defaultbrowser#

Screenshot Tool: Snipaste

F1 for screenshot, F3 for paste. Remember to use this super handy trick.

Official download link: https://zh.snipaste.com/

Input Method: Sogou Input Method

The best third-party input method in terms of experience.

Compression/Decompression Software: The Unarchiver

Free decompression/compression software, available on the Mac App Store (MAS).

Scientific Internet Access: Clash

To achieve scientific internet access, you need both "tools + service" — neither can be missing. Clash is just the tool; you must separately purchase the internet access service.

Other similar software:

• ShadowsocksX-NG-R8

After using ShadowSocks, enable proxy for Dropbox, Telegram, etc.:

By default, after setting up ShadowSocks, apps like Dropbox and Telegram won’t route through the proxy. You need to configure them manually:

• In Dropbox's proxy settings, select SOCKS5, and enter server: 127.0.0.1:1080.
• In Telegram’s network settings, choose “Use custom proxy”, then select SOCKS5, server: 127.0.0.1, port: 1080.

Reference: Configure Telegram’s SS Proxy

Calendar App: Itsycal

Free software. Download link: https://www.mowglii.com/itsycal/

Function: This small calendar app is very useful and can fully replace the system’s default date display. It shows today’s date directly in the menu bar. Clicking it automatically highlights the current month’s date range.

Benefit: Allows you to quickly view and discuss project schedules.

As shown above, using the format YYYY年MM月dd日 E H:mm can replace the system’s default time display.

How to remove the system time from the menu bar? Answer: Hold Command and drag to delete. If you want to restore it later, you can find it in settings.

Screen Color Temperature Adjustment: f.lux

Function: Reduces blue light and lowers screen color temperature.

Free cross-platform software. Official download link: https://justgetflux.com/

Window Management: Magnet

Paid software. A window tiling tool.

Menu Bar Management: Vanilla

As Mac usage increases, the once-clean menu bar naturally becomes cluttered — like this:

Mac’s design philosophy emphasizes simplicity, but installing many apps leads to icon clutter in the menu bar. Vanilla effectively solves the problem of too many icons occupying space, restoring a clean menu bar. Download link: https://matthewpalmer.net/vanilla/

Other similar software:

• Bartender (paid software)

Bartender is a practical menu bar management tool. It allows you to selectively place many icons into Bartender’s secondary menu, making the menu bar look tidier and solving the issue of space exhaustion.

Password Manager: 1Password

An expensive paid app, available on all platforms. I purchased the official version from the App Store.

This software involves privacy and security, so if you use it, please buy the official version from the official website — avoid third-party pirated versions.

Official website: https://agilebits.com/downloads

Magic Mouse Enhancement: BetterTouchTool

BetterTouchTool enables “tap instead of click” for Magic Mouse.

Magic Mouse is great, but it has one drawback: clicking is harder than on regular mice, feeling stiff. If it could work like the Mac trackpad — detecting taps without pressing — it would be perfect. BetterTouchTool achieves this perfectly.

20200417_2220.png

Other similar software:

• Jitouch
• MagicPrefs
• better touch

Read/Write NTFS-formatted External Hard Drives: Paragon NTFS for Mac

Paid software. I bought the official version from the website in 2019 for 149 CNY. I’ve used it a few times with no issues.

Official website: https://china.paragon-software.com/

Since it involves data security, third-party cracked versions are unreliable — it’s recommended to purchase the official version.

I previously used a cracked version of another software called “Mounty,” which caused data corruption on my hard drive. I’m not sure if it was the cracked software or Mounty itself.

Note:

Western Digital and Seagate provide “Paragon NTFS for Mac” free on their official websites. If you own a WD or Seagate external hard drive, you can download it directly:

Western Digital:

• Installer link: https://downloads.wdc.com/wdapp/Paragon_NTFS_Driver_for_Mac_15_04_20.dmg
• Official download page

Seagate:

• Official download link: https://www.seagate.com/cn/zh/support/software/paragon/

II. Office Software

Office

Evernote

For note-taking and knowledge management.

WizNote

Markdown notes in WizNote are rendered beautifully.

Cloud Storage: Baidu Cloud

For unimportant but space-consuming files, you can “backup” them to Baidu Cloud.

Cloud Sync: Dropbox

“Backup” and “sync” are two different concepts. Dropbox is the best cloud sync software, though it requires scientific internet access.

Dropbox is a foreign service; storing important files on it is relatively safer — at least much safer than domestic services like Baidu Cloud.

Dropbox official download link: https://db.tt/F9KWEMRt

If you don’t want to use Dropbox, consider “Jianguoyun” (坚果云) as an alternative. Again, don’t store important and private files on domestic cloud services.

PDF Reader: PDF Expert

Paid software.

Remote Assistance: TeamViewer

Free for personal use.

Mind Mapping Software: XMind

Produces visually appealing mind maps.

Other similar software:

• MindNode

III. Image Processing & Design

Photoshop 2020

Other similar software:

• Pixelmator Pro: A professional image editor for general users. Paid software.

Photoshop 2017

In Photoshop 2017, the password for all shared .dmg and .zip files is xclient.info.

Software Download Links:

Adobe Photoshop CC 2017_18.0.0 (with Chinese language pack):

• Download link: http://xclient.info/s/adobe-photoshop-cc.html
• Baidu Cloud link: https://pan.baidu.com/s/1slSwXwL, password: 6g4v

Adobe CC 2017 Universal Activation:

• Download link: http://xclient.info/a/620a06ef-0013-a719-81f9-de029e27b9ae.html
• Baidu Cloud link: https://pan.baidu.com/s/1c2eI18W, password: q72q

Chinese Language Pack:

• Baidu Cloud link: https://pan.baidu.com/s/1jHCfU4m, password: i9ud

Activation Steps:

(1) Disconnect from the internet.
(2) Install: Extract the package, then double-click build/instll.pkg to install.
(3) Run activation tool: Open Adobe Zii.app, click “PATCH OR DRAG.”
(4) Install Chinese language pack: Copy the extracted language pack folder to Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017/Locales.
Open Photoshop