X-Assist

If you're a Mac user who misses the behaviors of Mac OS 9, you'll definitely want to give X-Assist a try. This software adds several functions, including the Application Switcher Menu and Recent Applications Menu with no limit, so you can quickly switch between your most-used programs. Additionally, X-Assist allows you to add personal hierarchies of items in an OS 9-like "apple" menu, making it easy to access oft-used folders or files.

You'll also love X-Assist's extensible "Control Strip" like plugin architecture, which supports Objective-C plugins. These are easy to write, and the distribution comes with example plugins, such as the "SetVolume" and "MP3 Player" tools. The plugin system also enables users to add any hierarchy into a "Shortcuts" submenu, providing quick access to your most-used files and folders.

Another key feature of X-Assist is its OS 9 window behavior, which displays all windows for an application when you switch to it. This behavior has changed in OS X, and can be a bit annoying for users who prefer the old way of doing things. X-Assist brings back the OS 9 windowing functionality and also allows you to toggle between modes.

Finally, X-Assist offers easy access to System Preferences (Control Panels), a feature Mac users will appreciate. All in all, if you're looking to add some old-school Mac functionality to your modern Mac computer, X-Assist is definitely worth the download.