HoudahSpot, a Spotlight Replacement, Doesn't Quite Shine · 297 words posted 06/16/2006 05:58 PM
MacZOT has a cool way of bringing Mac software to your attention: periodically encourage bloggers to write about a given piece of software. Each blog that mentions the software drives the price down by several cents until the software is eventually given away. Last time, MacZOT featured SubEthaEdit, a lightweight, collaborative text editor. As a longtime user I didn’t have any problem recommending SubEthaEdit to my readers.
Today’s featured program is HoudahSpot, a Spotlight replacement tool from Houdah Software. I hadn’t tried HoudahSpot before the MacZOT promotion, so I thought I’d download it and kick the tires. According to the developers, “HoudahSpot leverages Apple’s Spotlight engine to bring you a powerful, fast and easy to use desktop search tool.”
Unfortunately HoudahSpot still has the feel of beta software. For example, on first run a dialog box with only one button (“never show this warning again”) pops up. The windows appears to be modal, and the only way to close it is to click the button. Hey, maybe I wanted to see that warning again.
Unlike Spotlight, HoudahSpot doesn’t allow you to modify search parameters on the fly. First you enter your parameters, and then you click start. Once you get your results, you’ll have to click stop before adjusting your search.
HoudahSpot is on to something we all know: Spotlight is far from perfect. I use a blend of Spotlight and Quicksilver to search on my Mac. But speaking of Quicksilver: while running HoudahSpot, Quicksilver gave me the dreaded spinning beachball for the first time ever. In fact, Quicksilver is still locked up as a I write this post.
I don’t suggest buying it, yet, but with a few improvements HoudahSpot might be worth your time. Download the program from MacZOT and give the developers your feedback.
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