Some of the under-appreciated Mac options is the companies menu, which you could find by right-clicking absolutely anything—highlighted textual content, say, or any picture. Hover over the “Companies” part and you will see a bunch of fast actions. You’ll find this identical assortment within the menu bar: simply click on the title of the applying that is at the moment open and hover over Companies.
Credit score: Justin Pot
There are all types of helpful choices right here. You’ll be able to, for instance, lookup a phrase within the dictionary, or add a little bit of textual content to your to-do checklist. You’ll be able to open a URL utilizing IINA, an incredible video participant for Mac. You get the concept: you’ll be able to automate no matter it’s that’s chosen. You’ll be able to take management of which issues do, and don’t, present up by open System Settings and heading to Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Companies. From right here you’ll be able to test or uncheck gadgets. You too can set customized keyboard shortcuts for these companies.
Credit score: Justin Pot
The place issues get actually enjoyable, although, is whenever you look into the customized companies you’ll be able to obtain. Listed below are just a few of the perfect apps I may discover that add cool options to the companies menu in your Mac.
Dictater reads textual content to you out loud
Credit score: Justin Pot
The Mac comes with a built-in service for studying textual content, however I do not actually prefer it very a lot. Dictater, in my expertise, works rather a lot higher. With this utility you’ll be able to spotlight any textual content, in any app, and have it learn out loud. There is a pop-up window with buttons to play and leap ahead and backward, and an elective window you’ll be able to open to see the textual content on display as it’s learn. You’ll be able to change the voice utilized in System Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content material, in the event you like—I want to make use of one of many high-quality Siri voices.
CalcService does math
CalcService is a free obtain that allows you to do math in any textual content area. With the app put in you’ll be able to spotlight any mathematical formulation in any app—for instance, (62*7)/4, and get a solution proper in place, like this: (62*7)/4 = 108.5. It is magic, and even higher when you create a keyboard shortcut for the characteristic.
WordService
Credit score: Justin Pot
WordService comes as a free obtain from Devon Applied sciences, the identical firm that made CalcService. This one presents all types of instruments for working with textual content, essentially the most clearly helpful of which lets you get a phrase rely and character rely for any textual content you spotlight. That is helpful for all types of issues, from composing social media posts to long-form writing. However there’s a lot extra right here to dig into. There are actions for changing textual content that is in all caps to lowercase, and vice versa. There are actions for inserting the present time, or the present date. And there are actions for including or eradicating sensible quotes from a block of textual content. If you happen to publish issues on-line often, this can be a good assortment of instruments to have round.
SearchLink rapidly seems for a hyperlink and provides it
SearchLink is a little bit tougher to clarify however I like it. Mainly, you’ll be able to spotlight any textual content, set off the service, and the software will mechanically search the online for the time period and add a markdown-formatted hyperlink. So, for instance, this is a textual content doc with my title in it:
Credit score: Justin Pot
If I run SearchLink on the highlighted textual content, which is my title, the doc seems like this:
|](https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-6.fill.size_2000x686.v1714593097.png)
Credit score: Justin Pot
The hyperlink has been added, with out me having to open a browser. This will prevent a number of time whereas writing, assuming that you just do this writing in markdown. And there are extra superior options you’ll be able to dig into, together with one that can fill in all of the hyperlinks in a doc. It is an incredible software to have round.
Shortcuts can work this fashion too
Credit score: Justin Pot
Did not fairly discover the app you need? You may strive constructing one your self. Any shortcut you construct in Apple Shortcuts can perform as a service. Simply be sure Use as Fast Motion and Companies Menu are highlighted within the Shortcut particulars pane. Take a look at our checklist of essentially the most useful Shortcuts on macOS in the event you want just a few concepts of tips on how to put this to work.
