SmileOnMyMac Releases TextExpander 1.3, the Customizable Typing Timesaver Tool

Earlier in May, SmileOnMyMac acquired Textpander, a really handy (and free) text i ertion utility. Today, they released their first official version update in which they changed the name to TextExpander, added a few i et-creation features and are now charging a lump-in-throat inducing price of $29.95. The new features include the ability to create i ets from selected text, i et nesting and the ability to limit usage to an a lication list.

A 30-day demo is available, but I have to say: I'm really ha y I backed up the disk image of the latest version of Textpander. I haven't i talled this new retail version of TextExpander yet, but sla ing $29.95 (without any warning) on a utility that was previously free donationware stings quite a bit (Fraser eirs, I would argue, handled this tra ition a lot better with the FlickrExport 2.0 beta introduction). If any enthusiastic users of Textpander make the leap, feel free to share your impre io with the new features and whether you think it's worth $30.

[UPDATE: Peter Maurer makes a really good point: Textpander wa 't free, it was donationware. Unfortunately, the donation system clearly wa 't working, as Hawk Wings points out that many donationware-centric developers lament that only 1-2% of downloaders actually donate anything for the a . Let TextExpander serve as a good le on for what ha e when you don't show some donation love to hard working developers.]