Perth, Western Australia - 22 Feb 2010 - Stairways Software Pty Ltd is pleased to announce Keyboard Maestro 4.1, the new version of its powerful productivity enhancer for Mac OS X.
Version 4.1 adds an in-app tutorial the likes of which haven't been seen since Apple introduced and then dropped Apple Guide. The tutorial runs you through the steps of creating a simple macro, helping you get started very quickly - especially useful for people wishing to abandon other macro programs in favor of the modern look and continued development of Keyboard Maestro.
Version 4.1 also adds in-app documentation, as well as in-app help for configuring macro groups, and a new welcome page showing you the various options for getting even more help. Never before has it been so easy to get started enhancing your efficiency.
Version 4.1 all brings back the ability to sort by trigger, helpful for when trying to find a free hot key, as well as enhancing the Select Menu Item action editor so you can simply select a menu item from a popup of all running application menus. Speaking of selecting menus, you can now select toggle menus by using names like Show|Hide.
Since Keyboard Maestro tends to be used by keyboard junkies, we were a bit remis in not having menus and keyboard shortcuts for toggling Edit mode, showing and hiding the action list and recording. This is resolved in 4.1.
For control freaks, you can now prepend a code like "01)" to the start of macro and macro group names to control the sorting order in the Status Menu and Floating Palette (the codes are removed before display). And speaking of the floating palette, the icons in the floating palette are now the right way up! How no one noticed or reported this to me for two months I have no idea.
Version 4 has an entirely new and modernized user interface fit for Snow Leopard (while retaining compatibility with Leopard). The new interface draws on familiar Mac OS X applications to get you quickly devising your own macros.
Try it out and find out why John Gruber calls Keyboard Maestro his "Secret Weapon".
Using Keyboard Maestro's macros you can control and enhance applications; control windows or menus; insert text; open documents, applications or URLs; execute scripts; control the system, iTunes or QuickTime Player; and more, all with the touch of a key, click of the mouse, periodically or at specific times, when an application is launched or running, or even from your iPhone or over the Internet using Keyboard Maestro's built in web server.
Using Keyboard Maestro's Program Switcher and Window Switcher you can cycle through applications or windows, closing, hiding, launching, and more. Keyboard Maestro can help you regain control of your crowded screen by letting you close or hide multiple windows or applications.
Using Keyboard Maestro's Clipboard Switcher, you can select from a number of named clipboards, storing information away for later retrieval. Store the details you are working on and access them by name again and again.
Using Keyboard Maestro's Clipboard History Switcher, you can access past clipboards, so you will never lose your clipboard again. It also makes it easy to copy and paste multiple items such as username and password or serial number without having to switch back and forth between applications for each item.
Changes in 4.1:
New in Keyboard Maestro 4.0:
Enhanced Actions:
Simplified in Keyboard Maestro 4.0:
Keyboard Maestro 4.0 requires Mac OS X 10.5 or greater, including 10.6 and is native PowerPC, Intel and Intel 64-bit.
Keyboard Maestro is engineered by Stairways Software Pty Ltd and distributed by Kagi. Keyboard Maestro is licensed on a per workstation basis (individuals can choose to license it on a per user basis).
New customers can purchase Keyboard Maestro from <http://purchase.keyboardmaestro.com/> for US$36. A volume discount of 50% is available for purchases of 5 or more copies.
Keyboard Maestro 4.0 is a paid upgrade from previous versions. Customers who purchased Keyboard Maestro after 1 April 2009 have been issued a free upgrade to Keyboard Maestro 4. If you have not received your free license, you can claim your free upgrade by looking up your previous Keyboard Maestro purchase at <http://enquiry.stairways.com/>.
Customers who purchased Keyboard Maestro 3 between April 2008 and March 2009 can upgrade to Keyboard Maestro 4 for US$18 until 31 January 2010. If you have not received your instructions on how to upgrade, you can find details by looking up your previous Keyboard Maestro purchase at <http://enquiry.stairways.com/>. Customers upgrading from older versions or after January 2010 can upgrade to Keyboard Maestro 4 for US$25.
Customers who have not disabled upgrade emails have been emailed with new license or upgrade instructions as appropriate. If you have not received your upgrade license or purchase instructions, let us know and we will look into why you did not receive your email.
A fully-functional unlicensed trial version of Keyboard Maestro can be downloaded from <http://download.stairways.com/>.
For sales enquires, customer service, technical support, or to contact project management, our current contact information is listed at <http://contact.stairways.com/>.
Extensive online documentation on Keyboard Maestro can be found at <http://documentation.keyboardmaestro.com/>.
A brief taste of Keyboard Maestro in action can be found at <http://screenshots.keyboardmaestro.com/>.
A more detailed tour to give you a better idea of Keyboard Maestro's power and versatility is available at <http://tour.keyboardmaestro.com/>.
Video examples and tutorials of Keyboard Maestro can be found at <http://movies.keyboardmaestro.com/>.
For more information about anything to do with Keyboard Maestro visit <http://www.keyboardmaestro.com/>.