When I started my Mac this morning I launched Calendar. Or, I tried to. Its icon bounced briefly in the Dock, my calendar appeared for a second, and The fact that Apple went to the trouble to create an entire folder for one of its applications tells you that magic may lie within. And how do we separate. Prior to its release, Mac OS X 10.0 was code named 'Cheetah' internally at Apple, and Mac OS X 10.1 was code named internally as 'Puma'. After the immense buzz surrounding Mac OS X 10.2, codenamed 'Jaguar', Apple's product marketing began openly using the code names to promote the operating system.

• Open Automator, located at /Applications. • Select Application in the window that pops up when you first open Automator. In some versions of Mac OS, you might need to first select New Document and then Application as the template type.

• Click the Choose button. • In the Library list on the left of Automator, select Files & Folders.

• Locate Get Specified Finder Items in the middle panel and drag it to the panel on the right-hand side of Automator. You can also double-click it in place of dragging it.

• Click the Add. button to add an application or folder to the list of Finder items. Keep doing this until all the items you need for your workflow are present. Don't include your default browser (in my case, Safari) in the list of Finder items—we'll choose another workflow step to launch the browser to a specific. • From the Library pane, drag the Open Finder Items to the workflow pane, below the previous action.

Looking to make the most of the robust? We’ve got you covered. There are literally hundreds of thousands of great software programs compatible with MacOS in the App Store — not to mention the thousands more that are scattered across the web.

Because of this, we’ve compiled some of the best Mac apps available. Since there are so many apps, we pared our list down to only include programs that are most likely to be useful to the average Mac user, whether you’re looking to quickly access an abundance of RSS feeds or automatically upload your photos to the proverbial cloud. Interface Alfred 3 Think of Alfred as Spotlight with a dash of Siri. It’s an application launcher, but it can do a lot more than just that. With Alfred, you can quickly perform calculations, execute web searches, and quickly find word definitions, among many other functions. It fills the gap between Siri and your Spotlight search, by allowing you to automate tasks and perform advanced functions that, frankly, Siri should be able to handle without voice input. Download now: Bartender 3 ($15) Bartender 3 is an app made for when you’re utilizing too many apps.

It’s a subtle tool that’s specifically designed with organization in mind, and as such, it lets you better systematize various aspects of your interface. With Bartender 3, you choose which apps appear in the menu bar and rearrange their position to your liking. You can also search for specific items, or move them into the optional Bartender Bar if you’re in dire need of additional space. The latest version added support for MacOS, an interface that leverages the new operating system, and the ability to navigate via your keyboard. You can choose a 4-week free trial before purchasing if you want. Purchase now: Amphetamine Always a favorite, Amphetamine keeps your computer from going into sleep mode, starting the screensaver, or performing the auto-dim function.

It’s ideal for watching streams, videos, or any other activity in which you don’t touch the keyboard or mouse for an extended period of time. Download now from: Dropzone 3 ($10) Once installed, Dropzone 3 feels like an integral part of MacOS. The bare-bones application functions as a shortcut tool, meaning you can use it to quickly copy and move files, launch applications, and share content through popular services such as Facebook and Flickr. You can also upload files via FTP and Amazon S3, or shorten URLs using the newly-added Goo.gl shortener. It’s all housed within a tiny icon that sits in the menu bar.

Purchase now from: Google Chrome Safari will never boast the kind of intuitive integration afforded by Google’s proprietary browser. Chrome is for desktop platforms, one that also features the ability to automatically sync all your information — bookmarks, open tabs, recent searches, etc.

— across multiple computers and mobile devices. That, combined with its robust customization and instant search capabilities, make it worthwhile. Download now from: Magnet ($1) It’s not always easy to view multiple windows side by side, at least, not without Magnet. The app is made for the multitasker inside all of us, and thus presents a quick way to arrange your desktop. With Magnet, you can drag and snap windows to the edges and corners of your screen, which will then lock into place.