1722 VitaminSEE is an image viewer that focuses on interface responsiveness and speed and is claimed to be the fastest image viewer available for the Mac. After using it for a few days, I would be inclined to agree that it probably is in some respects, although in others the also freeware ToyViewer gives it a run for its money.

The program also has sorting features and the ability to add IPTC keywords to JPEG files. It generates thumbnails for all supported image files (these thumbnails are stored in the file's resource fork so the image file isn't modified and so the Finder will use them.)

Features
• VitaminSEE is quick. intended to be the fastest image viewer available for the Mac.
• VitaminSEE automatically thumbnails your images. These thumbnails are used not only by VitaminSEE, but also by the Finder.
• VitaminSEE allows you to quickly organize your pictures into different directories with it's integrated Sort Manager.
• VitaminSEE allows you to quickly tag your pictures with keywords.

The VitaminSEE interface window's left panel is used for navigating through your filesystem, with the currently selected file displayed in the image viewing pane. At the top is a pulldown menu which allows you to navgate the directory heirarchy.

VitaminSEE Supports dragging and image document to its icon in the Dock, but a problem that I encountered is that when dragging an item from the desktop to VitaminSEE for a quick looksee, the program then proceeded to begin indexing every image file in every folder on the desktop, which would amount to hundreds if not thousands of images, which essentially locked up the application for what would have been a very long time. I resorted to Force Quit.

However, there is a solution. By default, when you enter a directory, thumbnails will automatically be generated for images. These thumbnails will also show up in the Finder. You can disable this behavior by unchecking "Generate Thumbnails" in the General Preferences. Doing this allowed me to view a single image file from the desktop without incurring a long indexing routine. The other files and folders still show up without the thumbnail view.

You can use the mouse to select files or use the arrow keys. You can also go up, back, and forward as in the Finder.

New in this version:
• Fixed crash in the optimized thumbnailing code I wrote for 0.6.4

New in version 0.7:
• Move to a multi-window interface.
• Windows now zoom and obey the positioning of the dock correctly.
• Work on UI responsiveness
• Remove "reload" option; instead monitor the filesystem like the Finder does
• Move the "rename" option from the Keywords window to its own menu item under File.
• Fix modification of keywords so that the creation date of a file isn't modified when keywords are added or removed.
• First Universal Binary release.

System requirements:
Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

There is also a a compatibility build for people who still use Panther (10.3).

System support:
PPC/Intel

VitaminSEE is freeware

For more information, visit:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~glaysher/VitaminSEE.html

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