Ultimate simplicity and focus in a writing word processor. A very handy and free application for writers who want to write, not learn to use a word processor. The latest version has a few more highly desirable features, including tabs, a zoom slider, date-stamped backups, autosaving, and a page layout mode.

Bean is lean, fast, and uncluttered. If you get depressed at the thought of firing up MS Word or OpenOffice, try Bean. If you use Text Edit but have to jump through hoops just to get a word count or change the margins, try Bean.

9WR – Bean: Simple writer’s word processor—word count, inspector panel, auto-save.

Bean 3.0.7

Inspired update of the excellent notebook metaphor outliner organizer. Manages clippings, tasks, projects, notes, media, photos, links, schedules, all in a notebook metaphor using a simple outline structure. Not easy to master but worthwhile to try, even better when accomplished. Now with diagramming, sketching, PDF annotation, and more.

Circus Ponies NoteBook helps you keep track of photos, e-mails, graphics, documents. Create project journals, directories, or portfolios. Clip images, e-mails, and news stories. Add formatted, searchable notes. Find anything using NoteBook’s patented indexing technology.

9WR – Circus Ponies Notebook: Organizer for notes, tasks, projects, in onscreen outliner notebook.

Circus Ponies Notebook 3.1.2

The best password manager for Mac users. Works with all major Mac browsers; uses OS X’s keychain or a 1Password keychain and Dropbox sync. Easy to use, handles multiple login ID’s and passwords with ease. An iPhone version is available.

Have you ever forgotten a password? 1Password keeps track of all web passwords, automates sign-in, guards from identity theft.

9WR – 1Password: Essential for password management, extra security,  easy, automated log-in.

1Password 3.8.17

Major update to the popular general purpose maintenance utility. Checks disks, runs system maintenance, clears caches, optimizes network, clears logs, keeps things tidy under the hood.

A scrumptious mix of maintenance tools and interface tweaks, all accessible via a comprehensive graphical interface. Most of Cocktail’s major features are arranged in five basic categories. In addition, a Pilot lets you clean, repair and optimize your system with one click of the button.

9WR – Cocktail: Maintenance utility, Leopard interface tweaks, Pilot for repair, optimization.

Cocktail 5.1.2

Our favorite Mac screen-capture-to-movie utilities now with more power. iShowU HD Pro makes capturing your Mac onscreen actions a breeze. Save your captures as QuickTime movies using one of many presets, as does iShow U (regular) but with fewer features. Both powerful, easy to use.

iShowU allows you to capture and record anything you can see on your screen, along with audio from any compatible source.

9WR – iShowU: Screen recorder, many preset options, easy setup, instant recording.

iShowU HD Pro 2.2.4 – iShowU 1.91.4

iTunes controller which displays album artwork. Controls iTunes, adds customizable keyboard shortcuts. Very attractive. Despite the developer’s insistence to the contrary, highly distracting.

CoverSutra gives you a handy and attractive way to control iTunes without having to leave your current application. See what’s currently playing or enjoy your album artwork. Don’t let yourself be distracted from your work.

9WR – CoverSutra: iTunes controller, floating window, shortcuts, displays album cover art.

CoverSutra 3.3.1

Free utility to run OS X system maintenance, configure hidden features, muck around and customize your Mac. A more detailed review.

Configure some hidden parameters of the Finder, Dock, Dashboard, Exposé, Safari, Login window and of some of Apple’s own applications, to delete caches, to remove a certain number of files.

9WR – OnyX: Enables hidden Mac features probably hidden for a reason.

OnyX 2.4.4

Yes, you can create and manage multiple iPhoto libraries by holding the Option key and starting iPhoto, but iPhoto Library Manager is waaaay cooler. Multiple libraries, quick view, sharing, sync with iPod, copy photos between libraries, split libraries, merge libraries.

iPhoto Library Manager adds an additional level of control over your iPhoto collection by allowing you to keep your photos in multiple libraries and transfer them back and forth without losing your keywords, ratings, and all the other information you’ve worked to assign to your photos.

9WR – iPhoto Library Manager: Manage, switch, merge, copy photos, sync, share multiple libraries.

iPhoto Library Manager 3.7.3