Punakea has previously been mentioned here in MacRecon, but the file tagger app for the Mac has finally reached 1.0 status. The basic idea remains the same, but the end product has the shine of an app that seeks to bring some order to chaotic files within the Mac — this is the review. By the way, a screencast of the app’s functionality can be found in the developer’s website for in case you’re interested or unfamiliar with the app.
Design. Punakea has a simple interface that suits its task quite well. Its main window has the necessary sidebar for easy navigation, while the main area is usually divided between showing the tags and then the files under those tags. There was not a single moment where something felt out of place when using Punakea. It even has a nifty sidebar that resides in the desktop for some fast file dropping and tagging. And in the end, in-app Quick View support only completes the experience.
Functionality. If you’ve previously read about Punakea, you’ll know that it accomplishes a simple task: adding tags to the files inside your Mac. But just because the task sounds simple in theory, it does not mean it lacks power; Punakea has a lot of it. Drag and drop files to the app, add the desired tag(s), and they’re immediately sorted. By clicking a tag inside the app, it quickly displays all files associated to it, as well as displaying the other tags shared by the files under the initial tag. My favorite feature was being able to drag a tag into the desktop, where a smart folder containing the tagged files is created. And these tags work in Spotlight too: type one in, and the associated files are shown without the need of having Punakea open.
Limitations. None significant.
Final thoughts. Virtually any user that has the interest of adding an extra layer of order to their files can benefit from Punakea. However, the interest for the app may end there, as more casual users will find little to nothing interesting in it. But in true GTD style, tags describing the files, their progress, and/or due dates are now a reality. Punakea is indeed a great ally to have on your Mac’s side. A single license costs $25, but anyone interested can try it out before buying.
by Justin Bracken
30 Jul 2009 at 08:11
I like the idea of tagging files and having it appear in multiple search folders. My first experience with this was with outlook’s categories. I thought of implementing the same thing with aliases. But this looks like it is much cleaner and easier to maintain.