VirtualBox allows you to install an alternative operating system on your Mac such as Windows, Linux, Solaris and just about any other OS you can think of. VirtualBox is considerably lighter than more well known packages such as Parallels and setting up a new OS is very simple and straightforward. VirtualBox guides you through the whole process step-by-step.

Integration with your native environment is straightforward although not as slick as Parallels. VirtualBox allows you to define 'shared folders', which can then be accessed from within the operating system you're running in VirtualBox. However, you have to install a "Guest" add-on first (which only takes a few seconds) and it's not made very clear how you actually access the shared folders once you've set them up. There is no drag-and-drop function from your native desktop into VirtualBox but considering it's free, you really can't complain.

When it comes to USB devices, VirtualBox automatically detects new ones and asks you if you wish to use them. Internet connections should work instantly after installation as VirtualBox automatically configures it for net access.

If you don't want to pay for Parallels or VMWare, and only need a virtual environment for ocassional use, VirtualBox is an excellent solution.

Download VirtualBox 4.2.12 in Softonic

It has to be said though it can be a little confusing when switching regularly between different spaces and there aren't many customization options. Hyperspaces is designed to solve this problem by creating a far more intuitive Spaces experience. Among its many benefits, Hyperspaces allows you to set different wallpapers on different desktops, give names to your desktops (excellent for dividing work and leisure) and create keyboard shortcuts to spaces.

Hyperspaces instantly integrates with Spaces so you're ready to go as soon as you've unpacked it. You'll need to click on your spaces icon in your menu bar to start configuring the various options available to you. I added two new labels - Work and Leisure - and tried to apply a new desktop picture to the leisure space. However, the desktop background would not appear, although if you right click on the spaces icon it shows you a thumbnail of each space where it did appear for some strange reason. I then changed the images to one of a smaller resolution and it worked fine, so be aware that trying to use backgrounds of a very high resolution may not work properly.

Hyperspaces is an excellent extension to Spaces and great for those that often get confused switching between spaces or want multiple desktop backgrounds.

Download Hyperspaces 1.0.5 in Softonic

Afloat ensures that your windows remain afloat on top of all others, or allows you to add transparency to them. It's a great alternative to managing windows for those who don't use, or simply don't like Spaces. You can do everything from changing the transparency level to turning windows into an overlay. You can even resize windows by dragging the edges of them - not just the corners.

You can use hotkeys to control all operations but most users will probably find it easier to use the mouse. To access Afloat, go to the 'Window' option of any window that you're using and select the option you want - such as 'Keep Transparency', 'Turn Overlays Back Into Normal' and 'Show Window's File in Finder'. At first, it can be tricky to get used to especially if you've got multiple windows open. Making several of them a little transparent isn't exactly very helpful.

However, if you just want to keep an eye on one particular window - such as a video player for example - then it's an ideal tool to keep the video screen floating on top. The same goes for instant messaging clients that you don't want to hide while working.

Afloat adds a whole host of new windows-management features to OS X that any user who gets deluged by windows should appreciate.

Download Afloat 2.2 in Softonic

That's what LiquidMac attempts to do as it uses any Mac equipped with a sudden motion sensor to simulate liquid sloshing around inside your Mac when you move it. There's not much point to it other than to have a good old slosh around and impress your friends. You can tilt it from side to side and get the genuine effect that there's liquid inside.

In reality, you might notice that it's not quite as sensitive as it should be. You have to shake, rather than tilt your machine and even then the results are not great. In the end, the liquid might move either too slow or too fast or not react at all to tilting.

As far as gimmicks for the Mac go, LiquidMac is a surefire way to end up throwing your mac around so much it ends up breaking - use with extreme caution.

Download LiquidMac 1.5 in Softonic

Secrets is a free system preference pane for Leopard only, that allows you to change and customize hidden settings for your system and most applications. It allows you to make all kinds of tweaks and modifications, many of which are useless really, including using a circular progress indicator for Safari instead of a bar and changing the arrows on your scroll bar. Note that Secrets should be used with extreme caution because it is in beta stage and any wrongly made adjustments could affect the stability of your Mac.

The number of options available in Secrets is really overwhelming and half of the modifications and tweaks are hard to even understand. Changing them is a matter of trial and error but since it could affect the stability of your Mac, this is quite a worrying process. In the right hands however, it's probably a far more powerful tool than something like Onyx for customizing your Mac.

Secrets is packed with tweaks, changes and optimizations that will unveil hidden features within Leopard. Just use it with care.

Download Secrets 1.0.6 in Softonic

Bible Widget allows you to look-up any Bible verse on your Mac instantly simply by typing or pasting any scripture reference into Bible Widget instantly revealing the entire verse. You have to put-up with an advert for Logos Bible Software if the search field is blank but you can easily avoid this by leaving your favorite verse displayed on there when you hide and reveal your dashboard.

There is only one option and that is to change the bible from the English Standard Edition to the King James Edition. It would have been nice to have seen other translations of the Bible included in this - such as Hebrew - and to have been able to search by keyword rather than verse but for a free widget, you can't complain.

Logos Bible widget is the perfect accompaniment for anyone who studies Bible notes or needs some spiritual inspiration while working on their Mac.

Download Logos Bible Widget 2.3 in Softonic

Snowplane renders some beautifully intricate and delicate snowflakes that continuously fall on your desktop to give you that wintery, Christmas feeling. It doesn't require any fancy 3D graphics cards and looks stunningly realistic - not just like a swarm of dandruff falling across your screen, like some snowy screensavers.

There's not much you can do to configure Snowplane except you can choose whether to activate it automatically when you log in, or manually. You can't change the speed of the flakes falling either and it can be a little distracting as you try to find folders on your desktop and get deluged in snow.

Snowplane is a simple and free snowfall effect for your desktop that's at least more realistic than most.

Download Snowplane 1.5 in Softonic

However, they don't work for when connecting hardware to your Mac which is where Hardware Growler comes in. Hardware Growler simply adds Growl alerts for when you connect any kind of device to your Mac whether it is a hard drive, keyboard, mouse etc. Hardware Growler supports FireWire, USB, Bluetooth, FileSystem Volumes and Network Interfaces.

Simple double click on the installer and it automatically installs Growl alerts for anything you connect or disconnect to your Mac. It works instantly with no further configuration required. It's nice to know that whenever I connect or disconnect a device, I now receive a notification with exact name of the device.

Hardware Growler isn't exactly an essential add-on for Growl but it's useful for those that constantly connect and disconnect devices.

Download Hardware Growler 1.1.4 in Softonic