Maintain, as some of you may know, makes "tailored applications for Mac users." The company has recently updated its general purpose utility for Mac OS X, Cocktail, to version 4.1.1. The new release fixes a bug causing Mac OS X 10.5.3 to freeze during clearing of the system caches, but also addresses some compatibility issues with Automator 2.0.1. Cocktail costs $14.95. The software is available for free right HERE for registered users.

Cocktail is a digital toolset that helps you get the most out of your computer as a general purpose utility. The application is basically aimed at simplifying the use of advanced UNIX functions. It gives you access to hidden Mac OS X settings and it lets you tweak them more thoroughly. For instance, you can enable or disable journaling for disks, repair disk permissions or set disk spindown time using Cocktail.

The software also makes it a lot easier to prebind and re-prebind entire system or selected folder, run cron scripts, change startup mode and language, force empty trash, update "whatis" and locate databases and so on. You can even delete locked or inaccessible items with much more ease, as well as access and delete invisible DS Store files.

As far as networking goes, Cocktail will aid you in changing the speed, duplex and MTU or, if you want, tweak up network settings for eight common types of connections. If you get confused, there's always the "apply custom optimization" option.

If you're always looking to have your own, personalized interface, or simply put it to your benefit, Cocktail lets you customize the look and feel of Finder, Dock and login window. All major features are arranged in five main categories, while the "Pilot" lets you maintain your system.

"The (4.1.1.) update is strongly recommended for all users of Cocktail (Leopard Edition)," Maintain notes.