TrufSoft.com | HotApp

HotApp

What's new
What is HotApp
History
System Requirements
Registration
Installation
Download

What's new -
HotApp 1.9.2u is compatible with OS X 10.5 aka Leopard.

HotApp 1.9.2u Beta is now available.
The first universal binary for HotApp is now available. This version is strongly recommended for any users running Tiger on an Intel system. We did almost no code change to have HotApp running on Intel. We had basically to tweak some configuration settings for XCode, and build the new Universal version. Easy job !

11-MAY-2005
HotApp 1.9.1 is now available. HotApp requires OS 10.2.x, or OS 10.3.x, or 10.4 (Tiger)

This minor update fix the following issues :

compatibility with OS 10.2.8,
action to open File or Directory problem working again,
added support to hide dock when activating a file or directory,
added system action to increase/decrease the volume silently (avoid the standard Apple feedback sound),
fix resizing window issue when displaying list of current active HotKeys,
fix some localization strings.

HotApp 1.9 added the following new features:

fully support Tiger,
screensaver system action is now working as expected on Tiger (previosuly broken on Tiger),
checkbox to hide dock when activating application,
improved system item : volume up & down : exact simulation of a pro/extended keyboard,
added backup/restoration settings from HotApp either on a file or on .Mac iDisk,
improved internal data structures

Go directly to the HotApp download section.

What is HotApp
HotApp is a utility application that let you control various elements of Mac OS 10 directly from the keyboard.
For example if you want to :

launch your favorite application by pressing a single key combination
search quickly your address book (require OS 10.2)
open your default browser on a particular URL by pressing a single key combination
execute system action (sleep, restart, logout, shutdown) by pressing a single key combination
start quickly your default screen save by pressing a single key combination
copy/paste repetive text by pressing a single key combination
many others...

then HotApp is your solution.
Go directly to the HotApp download section.

How to use HotApp
Please read the Software License Agreement before using this software.
HotApp main window look as below (when configured on 10.4) :

HotApp will always show the first two items : <Switch To App.> and <Previous Active App.>. Those items can not be removed.

If you want to add new items, use the popup button 'Add...' and select in the list the new kind of item you would like to add. When done, the new item(s) will appear in HotApp main window. For each new item, you need to define the key combination that will activate it; to define the key combination simply press the corresponding 'Set key' button for the item to configure : the button then show 'Waiting...'. Press the key combination you would like to use for this item.

Comments on Key combination
HotApp support fully various Apple keyboards : original iMac keyboard, PowerBook (G3/G4)/iBook keyboards, Pro Keyboard (new iMac/G4). HotApp was tested only with Apple keyboard
HotApp support many key combinations including the function keys (up to F15).

Be aware that some key combination are already reserved by some application, or by Mac OS 10 itself. So if a key combination is not working at all, then it is probably due to OS 10.
For example on a Pro keyboard F14/F15 are already set up by OS 10, and so HotApp will not override the action associated to those key functions, BUT by using a key modifier F14/F15 are available to any HotApp items.

We strongly suggest to use a keyboard modifier like 'Alternate', 'Control', 'Command'/'Apple' to define a key combination.

History
HotApp 1.8.x added the following new features:

Open Safari Bookmarks
new preference to show or hide the visual notification when activating an application. Configurable from the "Preferences" tab.
Mouse movement : move your mouse directly from your keyboard, and simulate the scroll wheel
Open HotKey list : open a window listing all the keyboard shortcut defined in HotApp
Support for OS 10.3 Beta (a.k.a Panther)
Improved software update user interface
Major re-design of the internal architecture for handling hot key (required to support Panther)
Floating Toolbar Palette : define a list of applications or documents you are using often; a floating toolbar palette will appear on your screen when you need it. Clicking the icon will launch the corresponding application/document. The floating palette will automatically become transparent when not used.
New System Action : hide current application.
Improved application launcher user interface feedback : more OS X look & feel
Improved keyboard layout support (like Dvorak layout and others...)
fix a bug where System Preferences application was crashing upon quit.
fix a dragging bug in the Preference pane where the dragged image was drawn upside down
fix a user interface bug in the Preference pane where some items appeared on multiples lines
minor internal improvments

Go directly to the HotApp download section.

In addition feel free to download our freeware HotAlias, which is a perfect addition to HotApp.

HotApp in the press
HotApp is included in the book Handpicked Software for Mac OS X: The Best New Freeware, Shareware, and Commercial Software for Mac OS X by Futurosity.com (author Robert Ellis). Extract from the book (p. 140) :

HotApp has a simple, straightforward interface that really needs no instruction. It's a Preference Pane that's added to your System Preferences, so there is no icon to clutter your Dock. It runs in the background, using little memory, and "listens" for your keyboard

SO WHAT?
There are more expensive keyboard utilities, and a few shareware alternatives, but HotApp does the most critical things simply at a reasonable price.

Go to the download section

System Requirements

Apple Mac OS 10.2.x up to 10.4 (Tiger)
an Apple keyboard : Apple Pro Keyboard (PowerMac G5/iMac G5/iMac G4), original iMac/B&W G3 keyboard (short), PowerBook keyboard, iBook keyboard

Limitation
Unregistered copy of HotApp have the following limitations :

HotApp will authorize a maximum of 10 items in the list and
HotApp key listener daemon will work only for 3 hours (you can restart it from HotApp preference Pane whichever arrives first)
HotApp key listener will only execute 20 activations

HotApp will detect illegal license and will stop working right away. Please don't use illegal license.
Rather support the shareware efforts on Mac OS X by registering your copy.

Registration
HotApp registration is done directly from the Preference Pane that will open your default browser to this page.
HotApp is a shareware and the regular price is $15 US. HotApp can be registered using either Kagi.com or PayPal.com (see below).
By registering your copy of HotApp you will be able to use the application without any limitation.

Installation
After downloading HotApp, just double click on the HotApp Installer application. Then follow the instructions to proceed to the installation. You should at least launch HotApp preference pane once to configure the various items you would like to use.
The first time you configure HotApp, the application will check whether the key listener application is started automatically at login time. The key listener application is a daemon running in background. Answer 'OK' if you want to enjoy HotApp advantages; if you don't you will need to start the key listener application by using HotApp preference pane every time.
Upgrading to 1.9.1
HotApp 1.9.1 has its own installer. Simply double click on the HotApp Installer icon, and follow the instructions. The Installer can install/de-install/upgrade HotApp on your system.
Click the thumbnail below to see a larger picture of the Installer :

Go directly to the download section.

Internationalization
HotApp 1.9.1 supports the following languages:

English,
French,
Japanese *,
Dutch *,
German *,
Spanish *,
Greek *,
Russian *,
Swedish *

* : part of the localization in 1.9.1 is incomplete, please if you want to finish it We are planning to add support other languages. If you want to translate HotApp in your language, please contact us at . We give a free HotApp license as a reward, and access to our futur shareware & freeware.

Technical information
HotApp is written entirely with the Cocoa API.
Developers
If you would like to develop your own plugin to complete HotApp, please don't hesitate to contact us with a detail on your development. HotApp architecture is powerful and really easy to setup (one simple Objective-C protocol to implement). In addition we can license part of the source code if you would like some of the functions from HotApp in your custom application.

Download - compatible with 10.4.4+ or 10.5.x or above
Please choose the file you want to download :
Download release 1.9.1 (.dmg.gz) (2.0 MB)
or Download release 1.9.1 (.dmg) (2.3 MB)

Universal Binary (Intel version - OS 10.4.4+ or 10.5.x Leopard)
Download release 1.9.2u (.dmg.gz) (2.4 MB)


\| Blog \| © 2002-2006 \| TrufSoft.com \| Press Releases web design \| damoncollins.com