14 DAY TRIAL // "Invaluable Utilities" is the name of a great new selection of apps in the Mac App Store, and as the name suggests, these are the little things that will help you hit the ground running.
They are described as indispensable tools made specifically to assist you with the countless tasks you do on your computer. With these apps you can create a master password, free up space on your hard drive, track a package's delivery, and much more.
There are only 20 apps that made it on the list and they come from the Productivity or Utilities categories. First one up is the best password manager around – 1Password version 4. This is the kind of app that we recommend to anyone using a computer for more than watching movies. 1Password creates strong unique passwords for every site you visit and remembers them, so all you have to do is click a single button. Everything is locked behind one master password.
But 1Password is also a secure wallet. You can actually store serial numbers for your applications bought outside the App Store, put in your credit card information to have it handy, or hide passport, bank accounts, and secure notes. The app works on a Mac, but you can sync it with its counterpart on the iPhone or iPad, Windows, and even on the web, via Dropbox.
If you think this is too expensive at $49.99 (€37.22), then you might want to try the free "Keeper." The app offers limited functionality, but you can unlock its full potential with a monthly subscription of $9.99 (€7.44)
Talking about private information, another great utility is "Hider 2." It lets you hide, encrypt, and password protect private data on your Mac and everything you put in there will not be available via Finder or Spotlight.
Gemini is the gold standard for finding duplicates on your Mac. It has powerful scanning algorithms that will help you clean iTunes, iPhoto, and Photo Booth libraries. Besides that, it makes it easier to auto-select duplicates and remove the unwanted ones. Gemini is also one of the most beautifully designed apps for your Mac and you can get it now for $9.99 (€7.44)
The Unarchiver is one of the few free apps on this list and there is no catch with in-app purchases or monthly subscriptions. This is the app that Apple forgot to include in the operating system and you really need to own it. The Unarchiver is just a small and easy to use program that can unarchive and open any common archive files.