Our Verdict
When Ifirst brush up Alfred , the app- and file - launch utility , back in other 2011 , I praised it for its simpleness : You ’d raise the utility with a shortcut key - combining , type the first few missive of an program or file ’s name , and Alfred would find what you want and open it . It did more thanOS X ’s built - in Spotlight feature — if not quite as much as other launcher such as Butler , Launchbar , orQuicksilver — without a lot of monkeying around .
But almost as soon as I wrote that review , run With Crayons , the usefulness ’s developer , start potter around with Alfred , bring powerful new features such as global hotkeys ( which let you attribute permanent keyboard cutoff to files , apps , WWW lookup , and other things ) and extension ( which countenance you quickly lean AppleScripts , Automator workflows , complex file hunt , and more ) to the essentially simple app . WithAlfred 2 , that movement remain . Thisrecent major updateintroduces a feature calledworkflowsfor perform more - complex serial of actions .
gratefully , this tally exponent does n’t compromise Alfred ’s appeal simplicity . you may still utilize Alfred to reliably find and launch files , apps , and Web hunt without any complex configuration . But if you ’re unforced to dig deeply , you might be pleasantly surprise by just how brawny this easy - to - use launcher can be .
When you activate Alfred using your chosen shortcut ( I practice Control+Space ) , you get a basic text - entry box seat . You pop typing what you desire there , and Alfred returns a list of potential hits . Scroll down that list ( or use one of the display Command - number keyboard shortcuts ) and select an item to open up it . So far , this sounds just like Spotlight , right ? But like other third - company catapult service program , Alfred learns which apps you plunge most frequently and puts the most - used ones at the top of the results list . ( I wish it did so more reliably with files . )
Using keywords , you’re able to find more than just apps and files . For example , typinggfollowed by a lookup terminal figure , for deterrent example , initiate a Google hunting for that string of text . There are similar cutoff for Bing , Yahoo , Gmail , Twitter , Amazon , and more . Alfred can also search your contact lens , clipboard story , and dictionary ; it can perform standard and advanced math reckoning ; and it offers a library of keywords for control your Mac ( logoutandemptytrash , for illustration ) . Alfred also has an iTunes controller and text - snippet capableness , a laTextExpander .
Since my old reexamination , Alfred 1.x extend its nub functionality in some really utile means . A file buffer , for example , lets you find multiple files in sequence , add each to the buffer with a flying keyboard cutoff , then perform the same activity ( written matter , move , whatever ) on all of the files at once .
All of that is still there in Alfred 2.0 , but one thing is missing : Alfred 1.x had a disjoined penchant tab for creating orbicular hotkeys . That hotkey functionality is still uncommitted , but it ’s subsume by version 2 ’s marquee young characteristic , workflows .
Workflows
Workflows are bit like the extension that were precede in Alfred 0.99 , providing customizable actions to which you’re able to attach hotkeys or keywords . So , for example , you may now set up a workflow that will search for lately used text file in your Dropbox folder whenever , and you may assign to that workflow the keyworddropbox . workflow can be simple ( launch a single filing cabinet via a hotkey ) or complex ( use a keyword to initiate multiple World Wide Web hunting for a given search term ) . Workflows can include a variety of scripted and programmed constituent — there ’s even support for Perl , PHP , Python , and Ruby , as well as casing scripting and AppleScript .
Alfred 2.0 come with a pocket-size selection of sample workflow , as well as templates you’re able to use as the basis of your own . you’re able to construct your own workflow from cacography , by conflate initiation ( hotkeys , for example ) , input ( such as keywords ) , and actions ( undefended file , reveal file , trial book , and so on ) , and you’re able to output final result into processes that can be as simple or complex as you wish . you may also download and installworkflows that other Alfred drug user have already build up .
Themes and other improvements
Alfred 2.0 ’s other noteworthy change is the addition of themes . Several built - in base allow you alter the utility ’s colors , fonts , and the size of it of the search - results windowpane . It ’s also elementary to make your own : After clicking a positive - sign ( + ) button , you could tweak the current circumstance by check down modifer Key ( Command , Option , and so off ) and clicking on the various interface component . The color , font , and sizing choice are modified , but they do provide a reasonable degree of customization .
The developer also says that Alfred 2 has been rewritten from the ground - up to improve performance . I personally could n’t detect any change in speeding , but I never had problems with its performance in the first space . Running With Crayons also says its better the way Alfred exercise with liaison , but , again , I never saw any issues with Alfred 1 in that regard , so I ca n’t vouch for the changes .
As before , Alfred itself is free , but to get the most out of it , you require to corrupt thePowerpack(currently £ 15 — about $ 23 — for a exclusive - user license ) . That purchase get you workflows , themes , clipboard history and saved text snipping , iTunes controls , keyboard - base single file navigation and file activity , contact and email integration , lists of late documents for specific apps , Dropbox synchronize for scope , and more .
Like its predecessor , Alfred 2 supply more found superpower than Spotlight with short or no interference on your part . And if you ’re uncoerced to place the time require to set up Alfred ’s more - advanced option , as well as to take advantage of the new workflow feature , Alfred provides telling power and flexibleness . However , if youarewilling to seat that form of time in a launcher public-service corporation , it ’s worth asking what you really need in return : Butler offers its incredibly extensive form concealment , Launchbar its seemingly bottomless index , Quicksilver its catalog , trigger , and plug - Indiana . Each offer more build - in actions and customizability than Alfred does . But in each case , tapping into that power need considerable time and effort . If its relative simplicity or its new work flow appeal to you , Alfred is still a great choice . But if you ’re after the most muscular , most infinitely configurable launcher you’re able to obtain , I recommend see out the other three before resolve .
Want to remain up - to - date with the in vogue precious stone ? You canfollow Mac Gems on Twitter .
