If you’ve been around the Mac for more than a few years and you’ve begun to collect a few apps, then we have one thing in common. A Dock that’s stuffed with Mac apps. Love it or hate it, the Dock is utilitarian, easy to understand and use, but suffers from a common compression disorder. The more apps in the Dock, the smaller the Dock icons for each app. Here’s a way to get a little more Dock space but keep the applications nearby.
Enter GhostTile, a simple Mac utility which hides applications from the Dock.
Think about the benefits. A much less cluttered Dock of applications, but with app availability. GhostTile even hides the app when you switch from one app to another when using Command-Tab.
GhostTile lets you hide running apps from the Dock three different ways.
First, just drag and drop onto GhostTile any app you want to hide from the Dock. Or, select the app from the Mac’s Application folder. Or, click on the app’s icon while it’s visible in the Dock.
Configuration is straightforward, too. Settings let you configure GhostTile on a per app basis. Plus, there are keyboard shortcuts to bring an app to the front. Switching back to a visible Dock app is equally simple. Click on the Menubar shortcut, use the Quick Switch window, or setup an alias folder on the Dock (my favorite).
The OS X Dock has been around as long as the Finder and has received about as much love from Apple. Yes, it works, but could do much more, including an option to view multiple docks with a click. GhostTile frees up a little Dock space but acts like a utility launcher, too.
STL says
Love the GhostTile(GT) icon.
The video on GT’s site shows several ways to add apps while omitting the way it is used. Since GT resides in the dock you probably just click on it’s icon and a display of the icons of the apps you added are shown.
DIY alternate to GhostTile
o From the Finder select “New Folder”
o Copy an appropriate icon onto the new folder
o Populate the new folder with aliases of the apps you would add to GhostTile
o Install the folder on the TrashCan side of the dock
o Right click on this new folder in the dock and select “Display as Folder”
o Click on the new folder in the dock and select the app you want to launch.
easy buddy says
Even easier is to drag the Applications folder to the Dock. Instant aliases to all the apps in the Applications folder. GhostTile is cleaner and easier to control which apps get visibility, though.