Growl

knightjp · knightjp #1 (**permalink**)

09-09-2007, 08:29 AM

Hey guys...

A friends suggested Growl to me as a nice application to have installed...
Considering I'm new to the Mac scene and do not know much about the mac applications, could someone tell me exactly what is growl and how does it work??? Is it of any use to any of you???

dtownley1 · dtownley1 #2 (**permalink**)

09-09-2007, 08:43 AM

growl is basically a notification program. Applications such as iTunes and Adium will work with it - so when certain events occur, growl displays a message of that event. A new track for iTunes starts, it'll show the track info and cover art. A friend signs on to Adium (in case you don't know, this is a superior alternative to MSN for mac) and a little message pops up letting you know. There are a number of themes to choose from for growl appearance. It's a great little app that really helps you keep an eye on what's going on on your mac.

From system preferences, you can turn growl on and off for certain applications, and I think you can even choose which events to set it for. If it starts to get annoying for a message to pop up when a friend signs off, I think you can turn that event notification off.

It's a very useful app. Not really for everyone, but I highly recommend it, especially if you don't want to be constantly switching apps to check what's happening. Considering it's free, contains no bugs or flaws I've ever encountered or heard of, it's definitely worth trying.

eric · eric #3 (**permalink**)

09-09-2007, 08:48 AM

completely agreed with dtownley.

works nicely with cog too (audio player app).

tobywuk · tobywuk #4 (**permalink**)

09-09-2007, 08:49 AM

when i installed adium it automatically downloaded growel. I never really touch the program myself but adium uses it and i find its a good little tool

Kash · Kash #5 (**permalink**)

09-09-2007, 01:19 PM

I love Growl!

I use VirtueDesktops, so having Growl notifications is really useful, especially with Adium as I don't have to switch desktops just to read my IMs. My Mac experience has been greatly improved due to Growl, and the many people who I have recommended it to will agree.

PowerBookG4 · PowerBookG4 #6 (**permalink**)

09-09-2007, 01:24 PM

I use growl too, i also love it.

christm · christm #7 (**permalink**)

09-09-2007, 02:18 PM

i like it. Although it would be even better if anyone knows how to get it to tell u when you have mail.

thanks

knightjp · knightjp #8 (**permalink**)

09-11-2007, 09:19 AM

I would like to make Microsoft Messenger work with Growl.... Any idea how I add it to the applications list??

christm · christm #9 (**permalink**)

09-11-2007, 11:25 AM

im not sure but have you tried the latest version of aMSN - very good program

RiDE · RiDE #10 (**permalink**)

09-11-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christm

i like it. Although it would be even better if anyone knows how to get it to tell u when you have mail.

thanks

Easy.... Install GrowlMail...

knightjp · knightjp #11 (**permalink**)

09-11-2007, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christm

im not sure but have you tried the latest version of aMSN - very good program

Is that better than Adium???

Capt Crunch · Capt Crunch #12 (**permalink**)

09-11-2007, 06:24 PM

I don't like it for itunes notification because (I guess) iTunes doesn't broadcast the song/title often enough, so when I switch songs using the keys combo I set it doesn't pop up the message right away. It's annoying because I'll switch the song and 5 seconds later a box will pop up. I went back to using synergy, which polls iTunes.

irwjc · irwjc #13 (**permalink**)

06-08-2008, 04:13 PM

Thanks for everyones input! This is a perfect example of why I love this site/forums. I was wondering what Growl was on my computer and I knew if I popped on here and searched, you'd all have all the info I need! Yay Mac-Forums!

Thanks!

kmkl · kmkl #14 (**permalink**)

06-08-2008, 07:18 PM

I dunno, I don;t really see the point of growl here, maybe I don't have a real use for it...

Bahja · Bahja #15 (**permalink**)

03-25-2010, 06:16 PM

I noticed i had this app too on my MBP.

I don’t use my laptop for much other than browsing the web and the odd download. I only use MSN for chatting and use google mail and hotmail as my Email.

I have just updated growl and switched it on.

What can a simple laptop user like me expect???

View Poll Results: Growl... Is it cool??
Sub-zero	7	38.89%
Cool	8	44.44%
Average	1	5.56%
Uncool	2	11.11%
Voters: 18. You may not vote on this poll

Kash #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 03, 2006 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 9,385 Mac Specs: Black Macbook C2D 2GHz 3GB RAM 250GB HD iPhone 4 iPad 3G	09-09-2007, 01:19 PM I love Growl! I use VirtueDesktops, so having Growl notifications is really useful, especially with Adium as I don't have to switch desktops just to read my IMs. My Mac experience has been greatly improved due to Growl, and the many people who I have recommended it to will agree. June 2007 July 2009
	QUOTE Thanks

PowerBookG4 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 08, 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,190 Mac Specs: Mac Pro 8x3.0ghz 12gb ram 8800GT , MBP 2.16 2GB Ram 17 inch.	09-09-2007, 01:24 PM I use growl too, i also love it. My Website Blog I love my hosting company! I was on the M-F honor roll for Febuary:2006
	QUOTE Thanks

christm #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 18, 2005 Location: Devon, England Posts: 2,295 Mac Specs: ibook g4, imac 2ghz c2d, mbp 2.4ghz c2d - 10.5.1	09-09-2007, 02:18 PM i like it. Although it would be even better if anyone knows how to get it to tell u when you have mail. thanks my website-templemurray.com professional event photography updated daily http://www.last.fm/user/christm3 mac tips n tricks - http://uk.youtube.com/christm3
	QUOTE Thanks

christm #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 18, 2005 Location: Devon, England Posts: 2,295 Mac Specs: ibook g4, imac 2ghz c2d, mbp 2.4ghz c2d - 10.5.1	09-11-2007, 11:25 AM im not sure but have you tried the latest version of aMSN - very good program my website-templemurray.com professional event photography updated daily http://www.last.fm/user/christm3 mac tips n tricks - http://uk.youtube.com/christm3
	QUOTE Thanks

Growl

Internet Services

Web Development

Digital Marketing

Consumer Tech

knightjp #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 22, 2007 Posts: 262 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Core 2 Duo w/ 4GB ram running OS X Lion	09-09-2007, 08:29 AM Hey guys... A friends suggested Growl to me as a nice application to have installed... Considering I'm new to the Mac scene and do not know much about the mac applications, could someone tell me exactly what is growl and how does it work??? Is it of any use to any of you???
	QUOTE Thanks

dtownley1 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 09, 2006 Posts: 690 Mac Specs: macbook	09-09-2007, 08:43 AM growl is basically a notification program. Applications such as iTunes and Adium will work with it - so when certain events occur, growl displays a message of that event. A new track for iTunes starts, it'll show the track info and cover art. A friend signs on to Adium (in case you don't know, this is a superior alternative to MSN for mac) and a little message pops up letting you know. There are a number of themes to choose from for growl appearance. It's a great little app that really helps you keep an eye on what's going on on your mac. From system preferences, you can turn growl on and off for certain applications, and I think you can even choose which events to set it for. If it starts to get annoying for a message to pop up when a friend signs off, I think you can turn that event notification off. It's a very useful app. Not really for everyone, but I highly recommend it, especially if you don't want to be constantly switching apps to check what's happening. Considering it's free, contains no bugs or flaws I've ever encountered or heard of, it's definitely worth trying.
	QUOTE Thanks

tobywuk #4 (permalink)
Member Since: May 15, 2007 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 470 Mac Specs: Black macbook 2.16ghz 2GB Ram 160GB hdd \| 8Gb Ipod Nano	09-09-2007, 08:49 AM when i installed adium it automatically downloaded growel. I never really touch the program myself but adium uses it and i find its a good little tool
	QUOTE Thanks

knightjp #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 22, 2007 Posts: 262 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Core 2 Duo w/ 4GB ram running OS X Lion	09-11-2007, 09:19 AM I would like to make Microsoft Messenger work with Growl.... Any idea how I add it to the applications list??
	QUOTE Thanks

Capt Crunch #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 07, 2007 Posts: 51 Mac Specs: bottom-of-the-line MacBook	09-11-2007, 06:24 PM I don't like it for itunes notification because (I guess) iTunes doesn't broadcast the song/title often enough, so when I switch songs using the keys combo I set it doesn't pop up the message right away. It's annoying because I'll switch the song and 5 seconds later a box will pop up. I went back to using synergy, which polls iTunes.
	QUOTE Thanks

irwjc #13 (permalink)
Member Since: May 01, 2008 Location: Albany, Oregon Posts: 17 Mac Specs: 24" iMac. 15" MacBookPro. 13" MacBookPro. iPhone 3G	06-08-2008, 04:13 PM Thanks for everyones input! This is a perfect example of why I love this site/forums. I was wondering what Growl was on my computer and I knew if I popped on here and searched, you'd all have all the info I need! Yay Mac-Forums! Thanks!
	QUOTE Thanks

kmkl #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 11, 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 305 Mac Specs: iMac 24" 2.4GHz 2GB RAM 320GB HD	06-08-2008, 07:18 PM I dunno, I don;t really see the point of growl here, maybe I don't have a real use for it...
	QUOTE Thanks

Bahja #15 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 12, 2009 Posts: 147	03-25-2010, 06:16 PM I noticed i had this app too on my MBP. I don’t use my laptop for much other than browsing the web and the odd download. I only use MSN for chatting and use google mail and hotmail as my Email. I have just updated growl and switched it on. What can a simple laptop user like me expect??? A new MacBook Pro user as of oct 09 and loving it!! Sorry for the stupid questions i am asking as i know you will have been asked them a million times before
	QUOTE Thanks

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