Sizzling Keys: Best Application Ever?

Sizzling Keys is an iTunes controlling application which I use everyday without even realizing it; It is that well integrated. It is not until I use a friend’s computer which does not have it that I realize how brilliant it is. In fact, it feels so natural, I wonder why Apple hasn’t incorporated it directly into the OS

What Sizzling Keys does is it assigns different functions of iTunes to certain customizable keystrokes which are accessible from anywhere on your computer, not just within iTunes. Typing an essay and want to listen to music? Just hit option+command+space, and get a song playing (default settings). If iTunes isn’t already open, it will open itself automatically. Hear a song you dislike? Then skip it with option+command+right arrow. Alternatively, if you decide to go back, hit left arrow instead of right.

It also has a little floater (above picture) which displays all the vital song information including album art and rating (which I don’t use so it’s not displayed)

Furthermore, it has a fully customizable interface that can be tweaked to your settings through its own preference panel on the bottom row of System Preferences.

Although its main purpose is to control iTunes, it is capable of even more. Under the Extras tab, you can assign functions such as “Lock computer” or “Put computer to sleep” to other key combinations

Ever since my friend first introduced me to Sizzling Keys over three years ago, it has become a part of my everyday life and I cannot imagine iTunes without it. It is a marvelous application that I strongly recommend to anyone with iTunes. Give it a try, you’ll never know how you lived without it.

Product Page: Yellow Mug

Note: I realize that with some tweaking, most of this can be done with Quicksilver but the selling point of this application is the floater. It pops up and shows the info of the current song then goes away… like magic!