QuicKeys X3 (Mac) review:5 stars (A fantastic time-saving marvel!) - Quickeys 3 by Startly Technologies is a powerful utility to help the computer user create an endless variety of shortcuts that automate everyday, repetitive tasks, resulting in increased productivity.

Quickeys can:

*Launch and manage files, folders, servers and applications (ex. launch your documents folder, switch hard drives, copy or move a file automatically to another location for quick on-the-fly backups)
*Launch web addresses and automatically enter passwords (ex. Check e-mail accounts, review bank statements, pay bills online)
*Write automatic e-mails, documents and any other application requiring text entries (ex. Send an automatic reply to an e-mail, write an invoice,, automatically write your grocery list each month)
*Calculate formulas and mathematical data
*Select menu items including context-sensitive items
*Select items based on single, double, triple and right mouse clicks
*Launch apple script and UNIX commands
*Combine shortcuts you have created into single click power shortcuts.

Quickeys builds these shortcuts into the system interface and allows the user to:
*Create hot keys and key combinations to launch shortcuts
*Select shortcuts from a drop down menu on the menu bar
*Enable shortcuts by speech commands
*Launch shortcuts from the finder or only in specified applications (scope)
*Launch shortcuts based on a specified day or time
*Map any function or application to a key, dater, time or device.


The program does for the Operating System what the actions palette can do to automate steps in Photoshop.


Installing the program was as easy as dragging the icon into the Applications folder and launching the program. Quickeys comes with an indispensable 216 page user guide which requires some careful study before mastering the program, but if you give it some time at the beginning it will be worth your while. And if you are truly stuck, Startly Technologies offers a variety of support options including phone numbers, e-mail addresses and best of all, an online forum called "Quickeys Community" which is compromised of Quickeys users throughout the world. Best of all a link to the Community is built right into the Quickeys interface.

The Quickeys 3 interface operates similarly to that of the finder. Customizable icons are available on a special menu to help the user become comfortable with the variety of tasks.

I began the Quickeys learning process by creating a list of desired shortcuts I wanted to have automated and then approached the software to determine if they could be done. The first item I selected was to create a single shortcut that would launch Entourage, check for new e-mail, apply rules and spam filters, and move unwanted e-mail to the trash. I also wanted QuicKeys to log into my instant messaging accounts, and go online to check my bank balance... all with a simple one-time keyboard combination.

This is where I really became impressed with Quickeys. Not only did Quickeys launch Entourage, but the built-in added options of selecting drop down menu items allowed QuicKeys to retrieve new mail, apply the filters and dump my spam into the trash.

Quickeys also launched Yahoo Instant Messenger, logged into my account and hit the ok button and in a flash I was chatting with mom in Texas.

Finally Quickeys launched my Internet browser, typed in the address for my bank institution, added my user name and password in the proper fields and logged me into my bank account.

I was able to combine all three of these shortcuts together into a final single masterstroke. So now when I wake up in the morning, I hit a single key on my keyboard and have my morning coffee while Quickeys performs my morning computer ritual for me... and mom waits for me to wash the dishes and get back to my computer.


As I began to write this review I had noted that the more shortcuts I created the greater the number of keystrokes - and resulting key combinations - I had to memorize. I was going to suggest that the software developers create a way to have the list of shortcuts available in a drop down menu on the Finder's menu bar. But last night as I was digging deeper into this program, I discovered exactly that feature. You beat me to the punch guys.


Quickeys requires

Mac OS X v10.3 or later
128 MB RAM
20 MB of free disk space
Certain features require an Internet connection
QuicKeys X3 (Mac) Features:
Computer software (programs)
Utilities
Maintenance
Diagnostics (Diagnostic)
Mac Macintosh Machintosh Apple
CD
Automation utility specifically designed for Mac OS X
Turns daily time-consuming tasks into simple one-step shortcuts
Newly redesigned interface; new triggers; better accuracy and recording hints
Administrators can publish shortcuts users can easily subscribe to
Option of subscopes for different parts of a selected application

QuicKeys X3 (Mac) is the CD-ROM version. The full version can be purchased by clicking on the "CLICK HERE TO ORDER" button below for around 99.99USD.