The shareware developers at Unsanity have updated several of their interface-tweaking utilities.
WindowShade X, which brings the traditional Mac operating system’s WindowShade functionality to Mac OS X, has been updated to version 1.5.1. The update adds Japanese localization by Kaori Saegusa and fixes a potential compatibility issue with other third party system enhancing utilities such as Default Folder X and MaxMenus. The Startup Items check is smarter, and will automatically fix entries pointing to an older version of WindowShade X
With WindowShade, when you double-click a window title or try to minimize a window, it will perform an action that’s different from the default MacOS X behavior (putting the window in the Dock). WindowShade X has three alternative minimize styles: WindowShade, Make Window Transparent, and Hide Application. You can also minimize the window in the Dock like before, if you hold Control button on your keyboard while minimizing.
FruitMenu, which customizes and enhances the Apple Menu, has been tweaked to version 1.5.2, and also fixes compatibility glitches with other third party utilities. FruitMenu lets you customize the Apple Menu. For example, you can assign hotkeys to your favorite files and folders, use Recent Items implementation that’s purportedly faster than Apple’s default, see your IP Address in Apple menu, and more.
Unsanity has updated Xounds, which brings Appearance Manager sounds back to Mac OS X, to version 1.1.2. It, too, resolves compatibility problems with other third party utilities. And the Startup Items check is, like that of the WindowShade update, smarter, automatically fixing entries pointing to an older version of Xounds.
Xounds will convert your existing MacOS 8 or 9 soundsets for use in Mac OS X. Though not all event sounds are being played yet in the current version of Xounds, the folks at Unsanity say they’re working on bringing more of them for the future versions of Xounds.
WindowShade, FruitMenu, and Xounds are US$7 each. Unsanity’s Dock Detox is a freebie.
Dock Detox eliminates application icon bouncing in the Dock when an app is crying for attention. It also includes a development kit for third-party developers to intercept the Dock icon bounce requests and display visual feedback in their applications. Note that it’s possible to disable application launch Dock animations, but not animations when application wants user attention. Dock Detox helps with this problem.