The August 2010 Disc of the Month, Toolbox Essentials II, is a collection of essential utilities and applications all Mac OS X users are recommended to have.

There are tools to reduce spam; decode and extract compressed files; convert audio files; browse the internet; open and convert graphics and images; open and manipulate text and encode and watch video.

And perhaps most importantly, there are a couple of essential games so you can play the Macintosh versions of the “two most used Windows applications”

Toolbox Essentials II contains the following;

• Anti-Virus Essentials
• ClamXav
• SpamSieve

• Archiving Essentials
• Pacifist
• StuffIt Expander
• The Unarchiver
• UnRarX

• Audio Essentials
• MP3 Trimmer
• SoundConverter
• SoundGrinder
• Switch

• Comms Essentials
• FireFox
• Transmission

• Gaming Essentials
• Mine Swept
• Solitaire XL

• Graphics Essentials
• FileJuicer
• GraphicConverter
• ImageVacuum

• Text Essentials
• Adobe Reader
• CombinePDFs
• docXConverter
• icExcel
• icWord
• TextExpander
• TextLightning
• textsoap
• TextWrangler

• Video Essentials
• Flip4Mac WMV
• Handbrake
• MPlayer
• Perian
• RealPlayer
• Video Lan Client (VLC)

The applications supplied on this Disc are supplied as is and we make no representations regarding the applications nor any information related thereto. Any questions, complaints or claims regarding the applications must be directed to the appropriate software vendor.

Various different license types apply. Some titles require further payment direct to the application publisher to enable the full feature sets and functions.

Obtaining Toolbox Essentials II

User Group Leaders can download a copy of the Disc Image and support files from the DotM Archive. If you need the User ID and Password, just contact Nicholas.

Toolbox Essentials II is available as a CD for $10 from participating Apple User Groups, including;

• AMUG Sydney
• Apple-MAQ/Lions Club
• AUSOM Incorporated
• BEAUT
• Bundy Mac User Group
• Byron Shire Mac User Group
• Central Victorian Macintosh Users Inc
• ClubMac
• Coffs Harbour Mac Users Group
• Geraldton Macintosh User Group
• Gold Coast Apple Users Group
• iMug
• MacTalk Hunter
• South Australian Apple Users Club

Many of these User Groups allow you to purchase the Discs of the Month from their meetings – often at a discount; or to order via the web, postal mail, fax or telephone.

Toolbox Essentials (May 2008’s DotM)

If any User Group still has the original Toolbox Essentials CD listed in their Sales Catalogues or in their Online Stores, we recommend you retire that title and replace it with the Toolbox Essentials II disc.

Changes to the DotM Archive Server @ Niche

Recent re-organisation of the Niche FTP Server, which houses the Disc of the Month Archive Server, has allowed us the opportunity to make some changes to the way we operate the Archive.

First of all, users can no longer see the “!Uploads” folder. This should avoid confusion of some groups ‘jumping the gun’ and prematurely downloading DotM material. Once the upload has been completed, it’ll moved out into the main DotM Archive directory, and become available to all participating Apple User Groups.

Next, we have changed the User ID and Password required to access the DotM Archive Server. To obtain the new User ID and Password, duck over to our Mailing Lists page and complete the webform there, specifying your position as “Disc of the Month Producer”. We’ll then verify your request and email you the new User ID and Password.

We take this opportunity to remind you all that only ONE AUTHORIZED member of your User Group should download the actual Disc Image files (normally this would be the person who physically burns the discs). Niche Media, the publishers of Australian Macworld, generously provide the disc space and traffic allowance for the Disc of the Month Archive to us free of charge. Please don’t abuse the traffic by downloading multiple copies of the Disc Images (remember that downloading over a dozen copies of a 700MB Disc Image by the legitimate downloaders quickly chews through traffic! Let alone adding a few ‘extra’ downloaders each month) That said, you may want others like your President, Webmaster and Newsletter Editor to be able to download the Promotional Flyers and Disc Labels direct from the DotM Archive for use at your Main Meetings, Websites, and Newsletters, so you may inform them of the new User ID and Password when you get them – but please remind them that they should only download the Flyer and Label and NOT the Disc Image!

September’s Disc of the Month

Just a reminder that September’s Disc of the Month will be a 4.3GB DVD Disc Image and will focus on Free and Open Source Software to tie in with Software Freedom Day, which will be held globally on Saturday, September 18, 2010.

We’ll endeavour to have the Disc prepared a little earlier than normal to give you all a chance to download it in plenty of time for your September meetings and SFD.

Promotional Material

view flyer »