TextPander
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TypeIt4Me 4 adds Autocue and automatic spelling correction
I've been a fan of TextPander for a while, but way back in the day I used to use TypeIt4Me for my auto-expanding text snippets needs. The developer, Riccardo Ettore, has been writing Mac software since before OS X and he's got a new version of TypeIt4Me out that adds a couple of particularly interesting new features. First TypeIt4Me can now automatically correct spelling typos using the built-in OS X dictionary (you can also use other typo databases). In addition, Autocue allows you to define templates containing variables or "cues." So for instance you can define a template that includes variables for first and last names in separate fields. When you expand the template it will automatically highlight the variable text and allow you to start typing the names. This could come in extremely handy if you're in the habit of typing boilerplate text that nonetheless needs to be tailored to specific purposes (answering support emails, for example).TypeIt4Me is $27 ($14 academic); upgrades (for purchases before Aug 1, 2006) are $9 and a demo is available.
TUAW Tip: TextExpander can subscribe to text snippets
This isn't quite so much a killer trick or hack you can perform on TextExpander - an indispensable time-saving text abbreviation and expansion utility - as much as it's a neat feature that I just recently discovered. TextExpander can export a list of all your text snippets and corresponding abbreviations, and it can subscribe to such a list if you keep it somewhere, say, like your iDisk or an FTP/WebDAV space. If you have a desktop and lappy for working on the go like me, this can more or less enable rudimentary syncing for your snippets between Macs. Of course, it would rock if SmileOnMyMac would make this an official feature, with bonus points awarded for baking in both .Mac and FTP/WebDAV syncing (like Mr. Simmons did with NetNewsWire). For now though, this might be a decent solution for keeping your snippets n'sync.
SmileOnMyMac Releases TextExpander 1.3, the Customizable Typing Timesaver Tool
Earlier in May, SmileOnMyMac acquired Textpander, a really handy (and free) text insertion utility. Today, they released their first official version update in which they changed the name to TextExpander, added a few snippet-creation features and are now charging a lump-in-throat inducing price of $29.95. The new features include the ability to create snippets from selected text, snippet nesting and the ability to limit usage to an application list.A 30-day demo is available, but I have to say: I'm really happy I backed up the disk image of the latest version of Textpander. I haven't installed this new retail version of TextExpander yet, but slapping $29.95 (without any warning) on a utility that was previously free donationware stings quite a bit (Fraser Speirs, I would argue, handled this transition a lot better with the FlickrExport 2.0 beta introduction). If any enthusiastic users of Textpander make the leap, feel free to share your impressions with the new features and whether you think it's worth $30.[UPDATE: Peter Maurer makes a really good point: Textpander wasn't free, it was donationware. Unfortunately, the donation system clearly wasn't working, as Hawk Wings points out that many donationware-centric developers lament that only 1-2% of downloaders actually donate anything for the app. Let TextExpander serve as a good lesson for what happens when you don't show some donation love to hard working developers.]
SmileOnMyMac acquires Textpander
Textpander, an application we have blogged about before, has been acquired by SmileOnMyMac. SmileOnMyMac plans an update for the application that will add features to this program that let's you save time by typing in a kind of short hand. They will also be renaming the application TextExpander (just so people get what it does, I suppose).[via MacTech]
