The Unofficial Apple Weblog reported their Best of 2011, and Agile Bits Solutions’ 1Password took the prize for Best iPhone App. Easily beating out the competition by taking 49.7% of the votes, 1Password is an invaluable utility for anyone who surfs the web on their Mac or iOS device.
Back in 2006 when I switched from an Alienware PC to a MacBook Pro, I scoured the Googlewebs to replace all my favorite Windows utilities with OS X versions. I used to rely heavily on a password storage program called RoboForm; when I checked around for a replacement, the majority of recommendations were for 1Password. I’ve never regretted that investment.
We’ve all had this happen: you go to a web site, which wants you to log in. Three weeks later, you go back to that site, and can’t remember the password you chose. Not only is this one of dozens of sites you frequent, but they all require secure passwords, which means the password can’t be fewer than 14 characters, it must include capitals, lower case, numbers, at least 4 of the characters have to be one of those symbols on the number keys, no two characters can be the same, and it can in no way resemble any word found in the dictionary. How is any normal human supposed to keep track of them all?
The answer is 1Password. It tracks the website you’re on, and recognizes login and password fields. When you enter that data and hit Submit, it prompts you to save this information for the next time. When you later return to that site, 1Password will fill in that data for you. All you have to remember is (wait for it) one password—a master password that unlocks the rest of them.
1Password can also keep track of multiple identities, so if you use a laptop for home and work, you can switch locations so as not to confuse your personal links with corporate ones.
1Password for Mac can wirelessly sync with 1Password for iPhone, so you can still stay productive when you’re not at your desk. It is definitely worth a try.
Download the 1Password app for your needs:
1Password for Mac, $49.99: Agile Bits’ website or the Mac App Store
1Password for iPhone, $9.99: iTunes link
1Password Pro for iPhone, $14.99: iTunes link
1Password for iPad, $9.99: iTunes link
1Password Pro for iPad, $14.99: iTunes link