The functionality of a Mac is far ranging. From keyboard shortcuts to terminal customizations, you can pretty much adjust a Mac to flow seamlessly with your setup. One of the easier steps to morph the Mac into a jack of all trades is through apps, and we’ve found four that will take your Mac game to the next level.
Parallels 12 – $49.99 – $79.99
Running Windows on a Mac is not a new concept; it’s been around for many years now, but with the caveat of having to reboot the computer to access the new operating system. With Parallels, you can access Windows apps and the core functions without having to reboot or any funny business. It’s the easiest way to use Windows programs and apps without the hassle of running two operating systems on your Mac.
Younity – Free – $2.99 per month
There is a wonderful convenience in having the freedom of using iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and other operating systems of your preference. The problem is switching or cross-using two of these platforms and still accessing important files without the instability of cloud services. Younity lets you store files across many platforms, including Mac, in the hard drive and flash drive of any given device, and still use these files (documents, movies, pictures). No more needing to download files from the cloud; just download the app and you’re ready to go.
PIA (Private Internet Access) – $6.95 – $39.95
Privacy has never been more important. And if you lean on the paranoid side, it’s probably best you start looking at a VPN service like PIA, or Private Internet Access. This lets you mask your IP address, thus hiding your location when you are connected to an internet connection. No more looking over your shoulder when you turn on your Mac. The service also works across multiple platforms including iOS. This makes a subscription to the service a lot more useful given it will work not only with a Mac but also with an iPhone.
Radiant Player – Free
There are four big players in the streaming world: Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Google Play, but only three of those have a Mac app. The lone exception is Google Play Music. Fortunately, Radiant Player has you covered with a fantastic app that mirrors the functionality of the mobile Google Play Music app to your Mac. The app itself features the same design aesthetic from the mobile app into a beautiful full desktop player that also boasts a dark mode that looks fantastic. It also utilizes the media keys atop any Mac keyboard and offers a Mini Player in the menu bar that lets you easily control the music and see what’s playing.
For a more in-depth breakdown, check out the video above.
