(The website is also the only way to edit snippets with the current Windows beta, which lacks a front-end interface, and can only expand snippets defined elsewhere.) When logged into an account at, you have the same access to groups of snippets and individual entries, and can even edit and add snippets using all the tools available in the native apps. This new ecosystem adds an ok, but slightly awkward web app to the mix. TextExpander now includes a Team tier for sharing snippets across an organization, managed via its web app. The Team version adds administrator-level features for showing group members, managing permissions, automatically pushing groups of snippets to people joining an organization or already part of it and consolidated billing. The Life Hacker flavor lets subscribers share with any other user by email address. (That option remains available.) Further, anyone with permissions to edit a shared snippet can make changes, and those revisions are in turn pushed to everyone that’s part of the shared group. Previously, TextExpander required exporting a snippet group (a folder that collects items), sending that or loading it on a shared local or cloud server, and importing it in another copy of the app. (Owners of previous releases receive a lifetime discount on the Life Hacker tier’s yearly rate.)īoth tiers allow something previously unavailable in TextExpander: publishing snippets to others that push out updates whenever the source snippet is changed. Smile offers a 30-day trial for both flavors of its service. The two subscription levels are labeled Life Hacker (for consumers) at $5 billed monthly or $47.50 per year and Team (for businesses) at $10 billed monthly or $95.50 pear year. The new app versions comprise TextExpander 6 for OS X, TextExpander 4 for iOS, and TextExpander 1 for Windows (in beta). When your subscription is inactive, TextExpander empties all the snippets. (They can be exported from the OS X version to retain copies.) If you’re logged out or the subscription lapses, snippets disappear. You’re required to set up an account and it has to be in good standing-currently paid for and active-to use snippets on any copy of the app you have, as well as to access sharing features on the website. The new set of TextExpander apps revolve around and connect to Smile’s servers. But we review the software and service in front of us, not a future version we can’t test. Smile says it plans to add additional features and sophistication, which may ultimately make it worth the price to some users in the future, including those upgrading from the previous standalone releases. In this review, I’ll point out changes in the snippet editor, but will be focused on the ecosystem of apps: First, how it all works next, security decisions and tradeoffs and finally, how existing users should approach the new arrangement.īut I can start with the conclusion: This first iteration is overpriced for most users’ needs, and removing the ability to use TextExpander on a standalone basis with a less efficient personal sync doesn’t give existing customers any advantage. The web app manages sharing snippets, which are organized by type and use icons to identify additional characteristics, like globally shared.įor details about core features in TextExpander, consult
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