14 DAY TRIAL // Synergy is one of the older, better known iTunes enhancers. It used to be the best, but other similar applications are starting to hit the scene, the new blood. So just how good has Synergy managed to remain over the years? Let's find out.
To me, these iTunes enhancers have features that are split up into three separate categories: keyboard control, floater, and other features. Let's take a look at these in turn.
Keyboard control Apart from the usual play/pause, next/previous track that is present everywhere, and the more advanced set of rating commands, Synergy offers a few keyboard shortcuts that you don't see in too many other similar products.
The first of these is the "toggle shuffle". Many a times, while in shuffle mode, I have come across a song that hit the spot and made me crave for the next song in that album. The normal way of disabling the shuffle consists of using the iTunes dock contextual menu, and I don't like to use dock contextual menus, so I'm glad the keyboard shortcut is there.
Another good one is the set repeat mode command which will save us from yet more dock contextual menus. Both of these shortcuts will display when used the Synergy feedback floater that is different from the current track floater.
The feedback floater is similar to the one you see when you adjust the volume using the volume keys on the keyboard. As far as I know, Synergy is the first to have ever had these, and, while they may have begun to appear in other enhancers, they only look and feel like the standard OS X ones here.
The real gem for those who rate their songs is the increase/decrease rating. Combine with the accompanied feedback floater, you only need two shortcuts instead of six.
The one shortcut that I have seen in others and not here and I would sorely miss is the "Near Mute"
Floater Synergy is the uncontested ruler here, its floaters are not only great looking but also highly customizable. Also, it is the only floater that does not feel intrusive in any way. You can choose to show just about any information present in the ID3 tag, as well as the rating. Furthermore, unlike other floaters you can interact with, this one is 100% insubstantial. You can click, drag and select through it.
I will also touch on the feedback floaters here. They are the closest thing to the floaters the system uses for sound and brightness feedback, except for the little faded Synergy logo in the background. Big, sharp and with contrasting icons, these floaters let you know what you are doing in a natural way.
Other features This is where the competition has the upper hand. Other than the three button menu, Synergy has little else to offer. The menu itself is pretty nice, giving you quick access to recently played tracks, playlists, iTunes commands and the Synergy Preferences.
The recent song list can store a custom number of songs that can be displayed with or without the artist. This is marginally useful to most users in my opinion, except for those people who have lots and lots of music, use the Mac as a media center, and want to know what that great song they were listening to from the kitchen was.
The playlist menu, however, is a fast and convenient way of switching from Library to Party Shuffle and other playlists. You can opt to have iTunes come to front then you change the playlist so that you may make any last minute adjustments.
The Good The best current song floater, the best feedback floater, some very nice shortcuts that are not available in other enhancers, rock solid stability and minimal resource consumption.
The Bad Doesn't have all the keyboard shortcuts out there, and is very limited in the "other features' department
The Truth If looks are more important to you, this is definitely the enhancer you should go for. If you like to go all keyboard with maximum control of iTunes from outside it, you might like SizzlingKeys better.
Here are some screenshots, click to enlarge:
