Alfred application tries to up your productivity

Alfred, a productivity app for the Mac meant to help you search and optimize your computer,

may prove indispensable as your computer's right-hand man. The program launched a year ago

and as with the (rarely updated) Quicksilver launcher, the app pulls up a menu bar from which

you can launch programs, control iTunes, conduct Web searches, log into e-mail services and,

of course, search your computer for key phrases.

Mac users know that Alfred shares many of its key functions with the Spotlight feature built

into Mac's OS. Why would you need a launcher? Alfred learns what applications and commands

you use most often and adapts its actions over time.

All that, plus seeing its delightful bowler hat icon sitting in your Mac's menu bar can be

oddly comforting. Alfred is a free download from the Mac App Store.