Alfred vs. Launchbar

Carl

Alfred vs. Launchbar



What are your thoughts?

thightower

Nah QuickSilver all the way. There has been renewed work on it by a new team of developers. http://www.qsapp.com

cornelius

Love Alfred; seldom ever use Launcher. Tried QS for a while, but I prefer Alfred. Both a good and preferable to Launcher.

Carl

[quote name='thightower' timestamp='1324923841' post='56266']

Nah QuickSilver all the way. There has been renewed work on it by a new team of developers. [url="http://www.qsapp.com"]http://www.qsapp.com[/url]

[/quote]



I used QS for quite some time before switching to Launchbar. Frankly, it's just not an option for me. I would stay with Launchbar before going back to QS. <img src='http://forum.agilebits.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

thightower

Ah man.... don't talk that way thats just wrong. <img src='http://forum.agilebits.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> Several close friends use Alfred and I do have a license key for it tucked away in some app somewhere. <img src='http://forum.agilebits.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

cornelius

[quote name='Carl' timestamp='1325017174' post='56313']

I used QS for quite some time before switching to Launchbar. Frankly, it's just not an option for me. I would stay with Launchbar before going back to QS. <img src='http://forum.agilebits.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

[/quote]

Care to say what you find more functional or appealing in Launchbar?

charlie98

Combine QS with BetterTouchTool and you really have something

thightower

@Charlie98



Thanks for reminding me i downloaded it (BTT) the other day and never got around to setting it up. Much appreciate that reminder. <img src='http://forum.agilebits.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

Carl

[quote name='cornelius' timestamp='1325033363' post='56323'] Care to say what you find more functional or appealing in Launchbar? [/quote]



When I switched from Quicksilver it was at a time where it still had some bugs (albeit none that were really biting me directly) and future development was dropped by the original author. I was interested in the commercial solution as at least there would be ongoing development, etc. Overall, I mainly use LaunchBar as pure application launcher, but it can do a lot more. Frankly, I haven't taken the time to sit down and learn all the functionality.



On the surface, Alfred looks like something that might be more intuitive and not require as much "learning", but I haven't even downloaded and looked at it yet. I was hoping to get some good feedback here before doing so.

cornelius

[quote name='Carl' timestamp='1325185714' post='56420']

On the surface, Alfred looks like something that might be more intuitive and not require as much "learning", but I haven't even downloaded and looked at it yet. I was hoping to get some good feedback here before doing so.

[/quote]

I have used both QS and Alfred and there are lot of similarities. I like the simple interface of Alfred. It is fast and effective, and it learns as you use it, so it becomes better customized to your personal preferences. I am by no means a power user, but I like that is there when I need it.



I have tried out Launchpad a bit and it has possibilities, but I find it a bit unwieldy. Even though I have customized it a bit by arranging most used apps on front pages, one still has to hunt. With Alfred I hit the default Call Alfred keys and he is there. I type one two or three letters and the apps either comes to the top, or I can select it or Command + numeral if I am in a hurry.



I would like to make better use of Launchpad, since it is natively there, but I have not encountered anyone who has showed me the most effective way to use it.

khad

Am I allowed to vote for Spotlight? <img src='http://forum.agilebits.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />



I constantly use it for app launching, dictionary, calculations, contacts, and more. I've never felt like I needed anything else. It used to be slow when it first debuted, but I have upgraded both hardware and OS since then. It is lightning fast on my machine.



Command-Space, type, done. Nothing to install. Nothing to configure.



Works For Me™



<img src='http://forum.agilebits.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

LosInvalidos

Hey khad. Spotlight's not allowed <img src='http://forum.agilebits.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />



But seiously: I'm using Launchbar and once you've tried it and found your setup, you'll never go back to spotlight - even if apple payed you money to use it.



Spotlight is just too slow. Interesting thread btw.

cornelius

[quote name='khad' timestamp='1325208928' post='56436']

Am I allowed to vote for Spotlight? <img src='http://forum.agilebits.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />



Command-Space, type, done. Nothing to install. Nothing to configure.

<img src='http://forum.agilebits.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

[/quote]



Too much. Spotlight offers too many choices and becomes less useful if I have to scan a list for what I really want. It's a really useful tool, and I do use it when I need it, but as a quick "launcher" it's not practical for me.

Ben

I used to use QuickSilver, then tried Alfred, and found both of them were just more product than I needed. All I was really looking for was an app launcher, and Spotlight works fine for that. I no longer use any of the products mentioned, though I do still believe they are great products for those who are looking for the power behind them.

om3ga777

There is an extension for Alfred to search 1Password: [url="http://blog.oozou.com/post/13503001092/1password-extension-for-alfred"]http://blog.oozou.co...sion-for-alfred[/url]



Actually it's just an Apple Script, but unfortunately I'm somehow not able to use it with Launchbar (error: Error Number:System Events got an error: Can’t get menu bar item "Window" of menu bar 1 of process "1Password". -1728).



Maybe someone finds this useful or even got an idea how to make it play nice with Launchbar.



Here is the (complete) script:





[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]on alfred_script(q)[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] -- your script here[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] set searchText to item 1 of q[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]tell application "System Events"[/size][/font]



[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] tell application "System Events"[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] if UI elements enabled is false then[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] tell application "System Preferences"[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] activate[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] set current pane to pane id "com.apple.preference.[/size][/font][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]universalaccess"[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] display dialog "This script requires 'Access for Assistive Devices' to be enabled." & return & return & "To enable it, click 'OK' then enter your password in the security dialogue." with icon 1[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] end tell[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] set UI elements enabled to true[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] if UI elements enabled is false then return "user cancelled"[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] delay 1[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] end if[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] end tell[/size][/font]



[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] tell application "1Password" to activate[/size][/font]



[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] tell process "1Password"[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] click menu item "Main Window" of menu 1 of menu bar item "Window" of menu bar 1[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] end tell[/size][/font]



[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] delay 0.2[/size][/font]



[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] keystroke "F" using {command down, option down}[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] key code 53[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] keystroke searchText[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]end tell[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]end alfred_script[/size][/font]

Xe997

Quicksilver of course. Why? There is a great 1password extension, but most of all because of the User Interface Access plugin. Once you start use it you can't live without it...