5 app recommendations in July 2024 (2024)

For the month of July, I have again selected five Mac apps that I would like to introduce and recommend. As always, reviews and alternative offers are welcome in the comments. Because I don't always have the time and use cases to test the apps mentioned in detail. So it is not impossible that there are better alternatives. Be that as it may, today there are solutions for extensive media playback, office tasks, using the music app or Spotify, using text, QR and barcodes from image files and for extensive research with a wide variety of sources.

1. QMPlay2

The QMPlay2 app is a free open source software that can be used to play various media. This includes local audio and video files as well as web content. The QMPlay2 media player can play YouTube videos, among other things. The user interface is a bit old-fashioned, but once you get used to it, you can use the various functions and options to practically adapt your media consumption on a Mac, Windows or Linux PC, as well as on Android. The app is also suitable for listening to the radio over the Internet. So if you are looking for a comprehensive alternative to QuickTime Player and VLC Player looking for, you can take a look there.

• Name: QMPlay2
• Category: Media Player
• Price: Free
• Info and download: GitHub

2. FreeOffice 2024

Even if (or precisely because) the market leader Microsoft can continue to hold its own on the market with its Office offerings, it is still worth taking a look at certain alternative program packages for office tasks. In addition to Pages, Numbers and Keynote from Apple, there is a package called FreeOffice for the Mac (as well as for Windows, Linux, iOS and Android) with a combination of Word, Excel and PowerPoint alternatives. The three programs are offered free of charge by SoftMaker for both private and commercial use. It is also worth scrolling down on the website. There is a free PDF editor as an additional offer.

• Name: FreeOffice 2024
• Category: Office software (word processing, spreadsheets, presentations)
• Price: Free
• Info and download: Website

3. Mac Media Key Forwarder

With Mac Media Key Forwarder, the keys for controlling the Apple Mac's media can be used more reliably. The app, which sits quite unobtrusively in the menu bar, reliably redirects the commands of the F7, F8 and F9 keys to the desired app. You can choose between iTunes or the Music app and the Spotify app. I have been using the Mac Media Key Forwarder for some time because I kept having the problem that the Apple Music app did not respond when I pressed the keys in question. I have linked my test report with installation instructions in the following detailed list.

• Name: Mac Media Key Forwarder
• Category: System extension / User assistance
• Price: Free
• Info: Review
• Download: GitHub

4. Viz

The meaningless name Viz stands for an app that helps with the use of QR codes on the Apple Mac. The Viz app ensures that QR codes can be used even if they are only available as image files and therefore cannot be scanned with a camera. In addition to QR codes, Viz can also be used to transfer barcodes and text to the clipboard. A separate keyboard shortcut can be defined for the virtual scanning of text and for the virtual scanning of QR and barcodes. So if you often have to deal with this type of content, you can put together a quick workflow. The download is free from GitHub.

• Name: Viz
• Category: Text, Barcode and QR Code Scanners
• Price: Free
• Info and download: GitHub

5. Hookmark

Hookmark is an app that is designed to help those who juggle numerous different sources when doing research and who need to keep an eye on different files, websites, emails and documents. In Hookmark, all sources can be brought together using individual links. Links can be set not only to websites, but also to individual emails, files, documents and the like. In addition, the links can be transferred to PDFs so that a widely usable collection of ideas, scripts, sources and all other necessary information can be created. Hookmark can be used as part of the Setapp-Program package with over 240 other full app versions.

• Name: Hookmark
• Category: Productivity
• Price: Setapp subscription for €9,99/month (single license) or €19,99/month (family subscription)
• Info and download: Setapp

Setapp offers 240+ full app versions at a low subscription price

The Setapp software subscription brings you over 9,99 apps as a full version with all updates and no advertising to your Mac starting at €240 per month. An interesting app package for iPhone and iPad is also included. For families there is the family subscription for just €19,99 per month, which can be shared between four people. Everyone gets their own account and can use the offers for macOS, iOS and iPadOS.

On the offer's website you will already find all app titles from the categories Maintenance, Lifestyle, Productivity, Mac Hacks, Developer Tools, Task Management, Writing & Blogging, Education, Creativity and Personal Finance listed. New apps are regularly added to further fill the package. Included are other MacPaw apps, a VPN and so on. Here are the individual booking options: Setapp Single License / Setapp family subscription.

All previous app recommendations since June 2021

Since mid-2021, you have been receiving five app recommendations for the Mac every month here in the Sir Apfelot Blog. Most of the programs introduced since then are free, and some are even open source. If you want to get an overview of the previous software tips for the Apple Mac, then I recommend these articles:

• All app recommendations from June 2021 to December 2022 – The best Mac apps for 2023: App recommendations for all areas of application
• All app recommendations from January to December 2023 – The best Mac apps for 2024: app recommendations for all areas
• 5 app recommendations in January 2024
• 5 app recommendations in February 2024
• 5 app recommendations in March 2024
• 5 app recommendations in April 2024
• 5 app recommendations in May 2024
• 5 app recommendations in June 2024