OU Online Applications for Mac

macgenWhen you start a new course with the Open University, you are sent all the documentation and media you need for the course by mail. As well as course-specific software, every student is sent the latest version of the OU Online Applications CD. This CD contains a number of apps designed to assist your studies online. Some applications are essential, other applications you are likely to have, some you will not need for your course. The CD performs a very helpful service by giving the student a single convenient place to find essential software without trawling the net for it.

Mac users do not enjoy this advantage. All the Online Application software is Windows-only. However, most of this software - with the exceptions noted below - can be sourced online for the mac at no cost. This page therefore mimics the convenience of the OU Online Applications CD by providing mac users with a single portal for the same or similar software to that which occurs on the OU CD. Every application that appears on the CD is listed below, with a link to where the equivalent Mac software can be found.

Essential Software

Software
Description
Comments
Link
Adobe Reader
The de facto standard for viewing Portable Document Format (PDF) files, which allow viewing and printing of many OU document materials delivered online or by CD. Details here.
Totally mac compatible. Can be downloaded for free. In fact the modern Mac is highly PDF compatible, with core support for printing, viewing and even composing PDFs built in. Note - the 'Preview' application supplied with all new macs can be used as an alternative to Adobe Reader.
Download
here
FirstClass Client
The essential tool for online computer conferencing and communication via the OU's 'virtual campus'. Provides access to forums, tutorial groups, student conferences and course email.
Details here.
Totally mac compatible. Can be downloaded for free. For full details of how to install and set up OU Firstclass for the Mac, go here.
Download here
Lyceum
The Open University's own audio and visual conferencing system software, often used on some courses for real-time communication. Details here.
This software is unfortunately not mac compatible,  as its development was institution-specific, and Windows-centric. However, the software may be useable on a mac via Boot Camp or virtualisation.
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StarOffice
An alternative word processing and Office suite provided by the Open University to those students lacking a Microsoft Office-compatible solution of their own. Details here.
StarOffice is not mac compatible. However, there are two free solutions for mac evolved from StarOffice, which provide comparable functionality. They are OpenOffice and NeoOffice. There are many other Mac apps that provide a StarOffice alternative - see here.
Download
OpenOffice
NeoOffice

Additional Utility Software

Software
Description
Comments
Link
DirectX
Windows software that provides Multimedia functionality for PCs. Details here.
PC only - not needed for Macs.
N/A
Info-ZIP WiZ
A free ZIP utility for Windows that provides a means to compress and decompress files for transport to the OU eTMA online assessment system.
There are many Mac alternatives to this software. ZIP archiving is provided as a free system-level function in OS X. Details for use can be found here. A good free alternative application is YemuZIP.
download
YemuZip
Java
The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and the Java Media Framework (JMF) are provided to run programs written in the Java Programming language. NOTE - this should only be installed if your course specifically requests it. Details here.
The modern Mac OS - unlike Windows - has Java functionality built into its core, which makes much Java installation unnecessary. Java version numbers can differ however, so to download the right version for mac, you may need to visit the Apple web site.
Download
here
Java Access Bridge
Provides Windows computers with the ability to use accessibility features of the Java Language - for instance, allowing screen readers to work with Java software. Details here.
Unnecessary for Mac, as this functionality is built into the system. For details see here.
N/A
Macromedia Shockwave and
Flash
Ubiquitous web applications suite that allows you to view animations and interactive content on the web. Details here.
Totally Mac compatible.
Download
Shockwave
Flash
Microsoft Text-To-Speech
Accessibility software that allows Windows computers to read computer text out loud.
Not necessary. This function is provided on the Mac by default. Select 'Speech' in Applications/Preferences for more information, or see here.
N/A
Firefox Web Browser
The now-famous Open Source web browser, providing world-class features, functions, security and speed. Details here.
Totally Mac compatible.
Download
here

Other Software

Software
Description
Comments
Link
KAZ Typing Tutor
Touch-typing tutorial software.
You can buy a Mac compatible version of KAZ here, (CD version by post) but many equivalent freeware and shareware programs exist for Mac. See here for details.
Details
here
Profile
CV and personal development software provided by the Open University, allowing the student to maintain personal performance records and build a printable CV and work experience report. Details here.
Not Mac compatible, as development is closed and Windows-only. This software is useful but non-essential - with many of its functions easily duplicated in other word processing applications via templates.
N/A
Sesame Screensaver
Proprietary third-party screensaver software, which presents the user with news and information from the OU on their Windows computers. It also features advertising. Details here.
Windows only but entirely non-essential, as all presented information (without advertising) can be sourced by browsing the OU web site. It is also resource-hungry for slower machines.
N/A