Mac Apps

I don't normally recommend expensive app downloads for your smartphone or otherwise, but I'm making an exception for Fantastical ($15). Yes, you read that right, the app is $15, but in my world, this app is magic.

Fantastical is a "natural language event creator" that allows you to type out event details as you would say them, then the app automatically populates your calendar details. Working seamlessly with iCal, Entourage, or Outlook, you can create events, color code them, add alarms and reminders, and quickly be on your way. Best part, your calendars don't even have to be running since Fantastical syncs on its own. If you live and die by your calendar events and reminders like I do, this is the app you want to splurge on. It's saved me so much time!

Many of us spend all day sitting at an office desk, and we know how unhealthy that can potentially be. If you find yourself forgetting to do those important desk exercises or even getting out of your office chair altogether, you'll want to check out the Time Out download from the Mac App Store.

Time Out is a free app for your Mac computer that fades out your screen after a specified interval so you can stretch, rest your eyes, or grab a glass of water. Time Out offers two types of breaks: a micro break to remind you to quickly combat tension and a normal break so you can relax and get moving. The time limits come preset at every 10 minutes for a 15-second micro break and every 50 minutes for a normal 10-minute break. If you find these are too intrusive, too frequent, or not long enough, changing preferences, from opacity and color of the screen lockout to length and frequency of breaks, is simple to do.

Find out what I thought about the app and if it helped me during my daily office grind after the break.

Earlier, I told you about five Mac Apps that you should download now, but for every one of those, there are hundreds more to check out. Some of you may have been thinking that the Mac App store would be just like the iTunes store — fun and cheap apps — but it's like a high-end department store where some major cash can be dropped. For example, all of the iLife apps have been split up to purchase alone (iPhoto will run you $15), and there are other apps that act more like software you'd buy for serious work or productivity. Check out these five apps I'd love to buy, but will be adding to my wish list for now.

• TapeDeck ($25) — This cool audio recorder looks like a mixed tape and seems super easy to use. Just click "record" and your tape starts rolling (or, recording). Once you record more than one "tape," they'll start to pile up and look just like your old music tower.
• Debt Quencher ($15) — I may go into debt by buying this app, but it seems helpful enough. Just enter in three numbers, and Debt Quencher will tell you how to pay down your debt fast.

See the rest of the list after the break.