How to get the CPU type on Mac?
For those (like me) missing /proc/cpuinfo badly:
slimac:~ czajnik$ sysctl -n machdep.cpu.brand_string Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3210M CPU @ 2.50GHz
Sure, it only gives a CPU model, but well... It's still better than System Information level of details 
More detailed info can be obtained by printing all sysctl variables with names starting with machdep.cpu. Not as human readable as /proc/cpuinfo, but still very useful:
slimac:~ czajnik$ sysctl -a | grep '^machdep\.cpu' machdep.cpu.max_basic: 13 machdep.cpu.max_ext: 2147483656 machdep.cpu.vendor: GenuineIntel machdep.cpu.brand_string: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3210M CPU @ 2.50GHz machdep.cpu.family: 6 machdep.cpu.model: 58 machdep.cpu.extmodel: 3 machdep.cpu.extfamily: 0 machdep.cpu.stepping: 9 machdep.cpu.feature_bits: 3219913727 2142954431 machdep.cpu.leaf7_feature_bits: 641 machdep.cpu.extfeature_bits: 672139520 1 machdep.cpu.signature: 198313 machdep.cpu.brand: 0 machdep.cpu.features: FPU VME DE PSE TSC MSR PAE MCE CX8 APIC SEP MTRR PGE MCA CMOV PAT PSE36 CLFSH DS ACPI MMX FXSR SSE SSE2 SS HTT TM PBE SSE3 PCLMULQDQ DTES64 MON DSCPL VMX EST TM2 SSSE3 CX16 TPR PDCM SSE4.1 SSE4.2 xAPIC POPCNT AES PCID XSAVE OSXSAVE TSCTMR AVX1.0 RDRAND F16C machdep.cpu.leaf7_features: RDWRFSGS SMEP ENFSTRG machdep.cpu.extfeatures: SYSCALL XD EM64T LAHF RDTSCP TSCI machdep.cpu.logical_per_package: 16 machdep.cpu.cores_per_package: 8 machdep.cpu.microcode_version: 21 machdep.cpu.processor_flag: 0 machdep.cpu.mwait.linesize_min: 64 machdep.cpu.mwait.linesize_max: 64 machdep.cpu.mwait.extensions: 3 machdep.cpu.mwait.sub_Cstates: 135456 machdep.cpu.thermal.sensor: 1 machdep.cpu.thermal.dynamic_acceleration: 1 machdep.cpu.thermal.invariant_APIC_timer: 1 machdep.cpu.thermal.thresholds: 2 machdep.cpu.thermal.ACNT_MCNT: 1 machdep.cpu.thermal.core_power_limits: 0 machdep.cpu.thermal.fine_grain_clock_mod: 1 machdep.cpu.thermal.package_thermal_intr: 1 machdep.cpu.thermal.hardware_feedback: 0 machdep.cpu.thermal.energy_policy: 0 machdep.cpu.xsave.extended_state: 7 832 832 0 machdep.cpu.arch_perf.version: 3 machdep.cpu.arch_perf.number: 4 machdep.cpu.arch_perf.width: 48 machdep.cpu.arch_perf.events_number: 7 machdep.cpu.arch_perf.events: 0 machdep.cpu.arch_perf.fixed_number: 3 machdep.cpu.arch_perf.fixed_width: 48 machdep.cpu.cache.linesize: 64 machdep.cpu.cache.L2_associativity: 8 machdep.cpu.cache.size: 256 machdep.cpu.tlb.inst.small: 64 machdep.cpu.tlb.data.small: 64 machdep.cpu.tlb.data.large: 32 machdep.cpu.tlb.shared: 512 machdep.cpu.address_bits.physical: 36 machdep.cpu.address_bits.virtual: 48 machdep.cpu.core_count: 2 machdep.cpu.thread_count: 4
Mac OS hint – color picker
Mac OS X is equipped with a decent color picker dialog, but unfortunately it can be used only from within some host graphic application - there's no standalone color picker. This ColorPicker utility comes to the rescue. Next thing to install is Hex Color Picker, which displays the current color as a hexadecimal number, ready for copy & paste into HTML or CSS file. Now it's perfect, isn't it?
Mac OS X must-have applications, part II
This time I'd like to present TimeLog, a time-tracking application for Mac OS X. Looking for a good time logging tool, I've found this one having the exact set of features I need:
- it integrates with iCal, so exact time interval spent on particular task is added to the calendar, not only the total time spent (which is what a few competitive applications do). It actually works both ways - if I add an event to the calendar, it is included in all the time reports.
- it integrates with Growl, reminding me whenever I forget to select the task I'm working on (remind interval is configurable). Very useful, given how scatterbrained I get occasionally .
- it creates nice reports with per-task grouping.
Try it yourself, there is an evaluation version limited to 50 entries.
Mac OS X must-have applications, part I
Is there a set of applications that you install right after the operating system? Applications, that you feel are absolutely needed for your daily tasks? Here are a few of my favorites:
- JollysFastVNC - absolutely outstanding VNC client for Mac OS X. As the name implies, it is fast. And its SmartZoom feature is way cool, when you have to work remotely on a desktop screen which is much bigger than your Mac's (I usually use VNC to connect from my MacBook to a desktop PC running Linux).
- Thunderbird - built-in Mail application doesn't work too well with my multiple IMAP accounts, full of nested folders. For the moment Thunderbird is my choice then, even though it's far from perfect.
- iChm - for the moment my favorite .chm file reader. Not much to say about it, it just does its tasks well. Export to PDF file is a nice feature (however, I can't see it possible to select a range of pages).
- Adium - well known and appreciated instant messaging application for Mac, nothing more to say.
- Cyberduck - my favorite SFTP client. It can also do regular FTP and WebDAV, yet I don't use those protocols too often. It supports Bonjour, as well as Growl.
- MacVim - Mac OS port of my favourite editor.
- MacPorts - speaking of ports, this is a must-have for anyone doing serious work on the console. I usually install a2ps, wget, ghostscript, and a few other utilities.
More to come...