Mac Software Find: Automatic

This week I would like to share with you an application which has made a huge improvement in my Usenet workflow. The application I’m talking about is Automatic, an automatic RSS downloader for any feed that makes use of enclosures or links to downloadable files.

What is an automatic RSS downloader?

You may have heard the term torrentcasting or the realtively new term NZBcasting before. Basically, both terms refer to using an RSS feed to push out torrent or NZB files for downloading. When using a torrentcast or NZBcast, within a relatively short time of release of a new vidcast, podcast, or whatever feed you’re following, the new file is downloaded automatically and ready for consumption. This saves time finding the file, starting the download, and then waiting for it to finish.

Torrentcasts and NZBcasts are nothing new to Windows users, but they’re relatively new to Macs. Sure, there was an open-source application a few years ago, but that project was abandoned and eventually the software stopped working. Thankfully a replacement has found its way to Mac, and that replacement is Automatic.

Why is automatic useful?

Automatic is the software that makes torrentcasts and NZBcasts work. After installing Automatic, you simply configure it for whatever feeds you wish to follow, add some filters to the feeds (specify what vidcasts or podcasts you wish to download), and then forget about it. Automatic then handles the rest. Here’s what I like about Automatic:

• Only runs when checking for feed updates (a cron job, for you programmers), so it uses no background resources.
• Includes built-in options to prevent downloading duplicate episodes.
• Allows feeds to be configured on a per-folder basis, so both torrentcasts and NZBcasts can be used at the same time.
• The interface is extremely easy to use, making setting up new subscriptions a breeze.

Overall, Automatic is an excellent piece of software that fills the torrentcasting and NZBcasting niche. Combine Automatic with my NZB folder action and your Mac instantly transforms into a Usenet downloading machine. Best part of this all? Automatic is free. Let me know what you think in the comments.