Top Apps to have for the Mac
Technology has advanced hugely in the last couple of decades, offering a wide range of different options for consumers. Individuals can choose their device of choice based on a number of factors, such as their budget, what they want to use it for, and how portable they want it to be.
Someone wanting to play light games on to go may benefit from a tablet or smartphone, or even a very light laptop, whereas someone looking to complete work on word documents and spreadsheets will need something able to do a bit more heavy lifting. An individual looking to play MMORPGs and other graphics-heavy games will need something equally advanced. It is important to get the right device for the purpose, and there is a huge range of macs and apple products and security software that fit the bill.
Mac Computers
Macs are one of the most popular computers on the market. They tend to be easier to buy than PCs and are often more cost-effective in the long run. Developers have started creating software that is compatible across all devices and Microsoft Office has been designed to have a Mac-specific version.
Macs also generally have better anti-virus protection already built-in, and automatic back-up to the Cloud. Also, Apple really does understand design, as Macs are really rather stylish and easy on the eye.
Recently, the new M1 iMac was released, and quickly went out of stock across the board, and getting hold of one becoming tricky, if not altogether impossible. A new MacBook Pro 14-inch is set to replace the current 13-inch model and will come with Apple’s high-end M1X or M2 chip. This will be a more powerful machine, and Apple will be bringing back some old features like the MagSafe and HDMI port.
Must-Have Mac Apps
- 888 Poker
888 Poker offers a unique casino and poker experience to players. With something on offer for all players, novices, and experienced players alike, this mac poker app has everything from live dealer games, to tournaments, from beginner tables to high stakes tables.
888 Poker has developed mac-compatible software which makes for a thrilling and immersive experience for players, utilising new technology to make it fun and exciting. There is a huge variety of games available, including Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha Hi-Low, and 7-Card Stud in both cash game format and tournaments. Snap Poker offers speed for those who prefer a fast game, and the new Blast Off offers a random prize draw with a pool of up to US$3 million.
- Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop dates all the way back to the late 1980s and has become the industry standard for graphics editing and digital art as a whole. The word ‘photoshop’ has become common parlance and a verb despite being a trading name, and many may know the name without knowing the product.
Though there is limited scope for video and 3D graphics, there are a number of plug-ins that have been created to support additional functionality. Initially, Photoshop 1.0 was released for Mac only in 1990, and it was not until 1993 that it was released for Microsoft. In 2019, Photoshop has been released for iPad compatibility.
Photoshop can be used for a variety of things, including web development, graphics, photo manipulation and to create mock-ups of documents. It is used by professionals and amateurs alike and its prominence in the market and plug-ins makes it hugely versatile.
- Spotify
Spotify is one of the world’s largest streaming providers which offers a free version and a paid version. Listeners can access music, podcasts, and even some audiobooks. Paid subscribers can download to listen offline, and benefit from an ad-free experience, and all can share playlists and search for music based on genre, artist or album.
Spotify operates in Europe, the Americas, as well as Asia, Oceania and parts of Africa; by the end of 2021 it is expected that Spotify will operate in 178 countries. The service operates on Macs, Windows, Linux, as well as Apple and Android Smartphones. Whilst listeners can use the web-based version, there is reduced functionality, so it is worth getting the app to listen to music whilst working or gaming.
- Roller Coaster Tycoon 3
The App store also has a huge number of gaming apps, to suit all players. An unlikely success story, the Roller Coaster Tycoon franchise started life in the late 1990s as a Microsoft game that was then ported over to the Xbox. By 2014, an open-source project rewrote the second installment of the game in C++ so that it could run on a Mac, and the latest installment of the franchise (and spin-offs) was released ready to run on a Mac in 2004.
This strategy game is in the App Store and is a favourite for fans of strategy games and roller coaster enthusiasts. The latest bit of technology includes the ability for players to ride their rollercoasters, change camera angles, and have more freedom with the layout of tracks.
- Microsoft 365
Whilst this is a Microsoft product, and we are talking about Mac, it is clear that the universal work processing and document creation software lies with Microsoft. It is now possible to easily download Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and so on to a Mac, and ensure compatibility between Macs and PCs.
This is hugely important to ensure that people are able to move from one to the other in the world of (predominantly) work, but also for those writing creatively for their own benefit, or using spreadsheets to organize things like household finances or even planning holidays!
There is a huge variety of different options out there to make the life of a Mac user easier. No longer having to choose between the looks and security of a Mac, and the functionality of a PC, the Mac is now able to do it all.
