Universal Palette Converter v4 is out: new formats, redesigned UI, free trial, 70% launch discount + promo codes

Hey everyone,

I’ve just released **Universal Palette Converter v4** for iOS and macOS.

If you haven’t seen it before, UPC is a tool for importing, converting, and managing color palettes across a wide range of formats. It’s built for designers, developers, and anyone who works with colors and needs a simple way to convert between palette formats and apps.

**What UPC does:**

* Import palettes from files (Adobe, CorelDraw, Procreate, Sketch, etc.) or extract colors from any text
* Export to popular apps and formats like GIMP, Photoshop, and more, or code (CSS, JS, Swift, Kotlin, etc.)
* Check the app store description for a full list of supported importing and exporting formats
* Generate palette images for sharing
* Works fully offline, no accounts, no tracking

**What’s new in version 4:**

* New file format support: Import from Affinity Designer, ColorSchemer Studio, and Rebelle. Export to ColorSchemer Studio and Rebelle
* Better experience on all devices: The layout now adapts automatically to phones, tablets, and desktop screens
* Redesigned color details view: Cleaner and more organized color information
* Fresh new icon: A more modern look
* Try for free: Full access with a 7-day free trial

**App Store link (iOS and macOS):**

* https://apps.apple.com/us/app/color-palette-conversion-upc/id6480113031

**Launch offer:**

To celebrate the release, the lifetime license is **70% off until the end of April**.

I’m also giving away **10 coupon codes**. I’ll share them with people who actually try the app (or carefully review the store listing) and send thoughtful, detailed, and original feedback, anything insightful about the app or its presentation. You can comment or send me a private message.

If you want to take part, upvote and comment.

If you have suggestions or run into issues, I’d genuinely appreciate hearing about it.


https://redd.it/1skcasg
@macappsbackup

Steermouse Tips, Official Support

Looking into steer mouse and wondering what the official download spot is. I see two websites. Plentycom .jp and Steermouse. com but steer mouse. com has a gmail account as a contact - even though it references Plentycom as the creator...

Also if you use steer mouse - any tips? Looking into Logi Options replacements and I had a poor interaction with another one of the devs of another mouse app

https://redd.it/1skca36
@macappsbackup

Lightweight always-on-top app

I'm looking for a lightweight app which I can use to set an app as showing always-on-top.

https://redd.it/1skntmh
@macappsbackup

PureMac - Free, open-source macOS cleaner with zero telemetry (CleanMyMac alternative)

Every macOS cleaning tool I tried either costs $40+/year or sends usage analytics. CleanMyMac X is good but the subscription for what is fundamentally "delete cache files" always bothered me.

So I built PureMac - does the same job for free with no telemetry.

What it cleans (9 categories):
- System caches, logs, temp files
- User app caches and browser data
- Mail attachments
- Trash bins
- Large and old files (>100MB or >1 year)
- Purgeable APFS snapshots
- Xcode junk (derived data, archives, simulator caches)
- Homebrew cache

What makes it different:
- Zero network calls. No analytics. No telemetry. Runs completely offline.
- Native SwiftUI - lightweight, fast, looks like a real Mac app
- Scheduled auto-cleaning (hourly to monthly)
- Click-to-inspect: see exactly what gets deleted
- Large files never auto-selected (safety first)
- Apple signed and notarized

Install: brew install --cask puremac

MIT licensed: https://github.com/momenbasel/PureMac

https://redd.it/1skox4s
@macappsbackup

Learning and Using GitHub As a Non-Developer with Tower

[Tower](https://preview.redd.it/57bzqom432vg1.png?width=1740&format=png&auto=webp&s=5a72b34c5d788d92686c335f9dba67463f109baf)

For years I assumed GitHub was only useful if you were a developer.

Turns out it's actually one of the best tools I've found for managing **text-heavy Mac workflows**.

I now use Git repositories to version and back up things like:

* my 13K-file Obsidian vault (private)
* \~700 Keyboard Maestro macros (public)
* Hazel and BetterTouchTool configs (public)
* writing projects and scripts (private)
* \~500 Markdown documents with my quotes collection (public)

No coding required.

I recently switched from GitHub Desktop to [Tower](https://www.git-tower.com/), which exposes a lot more of Git's capabilities without forcing you into the command line.

If you're a Mac power user managing large folders of Markdown, scripts, or automation configs, Git is basically **Time Machine for specific folders** \-- and Tower makes it easy to use.

# Why This Matters for Mac Power Users

If you work with text-heavy workflows on macOS -- Markdown notes, scripts, automation configs, or documentation -- Git gives you something Time Machine doesn't:

• version history for individual files
• the ability to roll back one specific edit
• an off-site backup of critical working folders
• synchronization between multiple Macs

For people managing large Obsidian vaults, automation libraries, or documentation projects, that combination becomes extremely useful.

# Let's Speak the Same Language

Here's a quick translation of common Git terminology:

* **Repository**

A folder tracked by Git that contains files and their complete change history.

* **Commit**

A saved snapshot of the repository at a specific moment, along with a message describing the change.

* **History**

The chronological record of all commits.

* **Branch**

A parallel line of development that lets you experiment without affecting the main version.

* **Merge**

Combining changes from one branch into another.

* **Remote**

A copy of the repository stored somewhere else; typically GitHub.

* **Push**

Send your local commits to the remote repository.

* **Pull**

Fetch changes from the remote repository and integrate them into your local copy.

* **Clone**

Download a complete copy of a repository, including its history.

* **Diff**

A comparison showing exactly what changed between two versions of a file.

# Why I Use Tower

Tower provides a graphical interface for Git repositories and remote services such as GitHub. Instead of memorizing commands, you interact with commits, branches, and history visually.

For developers this manages source code. For everyone else it manages **collections of important files**.

Git tracks the complete history of a folder. Every time you make a commit, Git records a snapshot of the repository. Tower simply exposes that system visually. Instead of typing commands like:

git add
git commit
git push

Tower gives you:

• checkboxes to stage files

• a commit message box

• push / pull buttons

• a visual timeline of changes

The idea is so simple it's easy to miss how powerful it is.

**Every commit becomes a permanent historical snapshot.**

For writers, note-takers, and automation nerds, Git effectively becomes **Time Machine for specific folders**; but with far more precision. Instead of restoring an entire folder, you can restore a **single edit inside a single file**. That capability becomes extremely valuable once your knowledge base grows large.

**I regularly use Tower to manage:**

* Markdown notes
* scripts
* documentation
* configuration files
* knowledge bases
* writing projects

**Using Tower with GitHub adds a few major benefits:**

* complete version history
* off-site backup
* synchronization between machines
* detailed change tracking

# Tower Features Worth Highlighting

# Rebase

Tower includes a visual interface for **rebasing**, which allows you to reorganize commit history. The GUI makes operations that are intimidating on

the command line much easier:

* reordering commits
* editing commit messages
* combining commits

# Stashing

Suppose you're halfway through editing files but need to switch branches. You don't want to commit unfinished work. **Stashing** temporarily saves those changes so you can switch contexts and return later.

# Conflict Resolution

I'll admit I tend to use more computers than I should. That occasionally creates conflicts. When multiple versions of a file diverge, Git produces a **merge conflict**. Tower provides a visual interface for resolving these conflicts instead of forcing you to edit raw conflict markers. For non-developers, this feature alone removes a lot of confusion.

# Getting Started in Five Minutes

You can realistically start using Tower on macOS in about five minutes.**Create a repository**

1. Pick a folder; your Obsidian vault is a good candidate. Initialize it as a Git repository in

Make the first commit

Tower will show all files in the folder. Select them and create the first commit.

2. **Connect to GitHub**

Create a repository on GitHub and link it to your local repository. Push the file**.**

**3. Adopt a simple daily workflow**

Open Tower; review the files that changed; write a short commit message; push to GitHub.

That's really all most non-developers need.

# Details

**Tower Website**

[https://www.git-tower.com](https://www.git-tower.com/)

**Privacy Policy**

[https://www.git-tower.com/legal/privacy-policy](https://www.git-tower.com/legal/privacy-policy)

**Price**

$5.75/month billed annually

https://redd.it/1sku2lf
@macappsbackup

Looking for a Minimal Scratchpad Notes App (AntiNote Style) for Mac and iOS
https://redd.it/1skuu49
@macappsbackup

Built a native Apple Silicon dictation app with zero subscriptions. Giving away 5 keys to anyone who wants to try it and tell me what to improve.

https://redd.it/1sky63k
@macappsbackup

Hush - I rebuilt it around focus mode and here`s what changed

https://redd.it/1sl1c8g
@macappsbackup

there was an app to catalogue your apps, right?

Hi folks. Am I remembering correctly, or just having an elder moment... that I saw an app listed here not too long ago that would scan your apps folder and give you a quick summary that included things like the purpose of each app (which I'd be keen to have), where it came from, other important details, etc?

https://redd.it/1sl4ssf
@macappsbackup

ProcessSpy - native macOS process monitor

ProcessSpy UI on macOS 26 Tahoe

Problem: The built-in Activity Monitor is a great tool, but power users often need a lot more information without resorting to complex Terminal commands. ProcessSpy aims to fill this gap.

Comparison: ProcessSpy vs. Activity Monitor: Compared to Activity Monitor, the free version of ProcessSpy includes:

More detailed information, such as Version, Command Line, and Start Time.
Advanced filtering using JavaScript filters.
Multi-property and regex quick-search.
Hierarchy mode with aggregate values (CPU, Resident Memory, Threads).
A mini CPU graph next to each process.
Point-and-click process discovery.
Pause/Resume process and other signals in the context menu
Reveal process and it's open files in Finder
export currently visible processes to JSON

(There are also several other useful features available in the paid tier! See the home page below for more info.)

Pricing: Freemium. Download the feature-rich free version here: [https://process-spy.app](https://process-spy.app/) and use it for as long as you want. You can optionally unlock premium features by purchasing a license ($24.99 lifetime).

What's New:

The UI has evolved to feel more native. Bottom pane content has been moved to the inspector on the right to better utilize vertical screen real estate.
Improved hierarchy view that matches processes using also "Responsible PID" in addition to unix parent.
Process Origin: See exactly which process launched a given app ("Launched By") [Paid feature\].
Auto-expand launchd on startup.
Identification of apps that are not responding.
Ability to change the background style, font size and padding in the main table.
Numerous performance improvements and bug fixes.

Happy monitoring!

— Robert

https://redd.it/1sl63p8
@macappsbackup

I built a window manager that saves your whole desktop, which browser tabs are open, what terminal directories you're in, which editor projects are loaded, and puts it all back with one shortcut. $7.99 one time payment

https://redd.it/1sl8fwt
@macappsbackup

What apps have you replaced with native macOS alternatives?

I’ve been trying to gradually replace some of the apps I use daily with more native macOS alternatives.

Not that web apps are bad, but I’ve noticed I personally work better with tools that feel more “at home” on macOS — faster to launch, better keyboard shortcuts, less overhead.

For example, I’ve made a few switches recently:

\- Moved away from Obsidian after running into some rendering inconsistencies that started to bother me over time(switching to bear)

\- Using Safari instead of Chrome/Edge for better performance and system integration

\- Recently tried Zed instead of VSCode — not fully native, but surprisingly fast and lightweight

Still trying to reduce reliance on heavier or browser-based tools where it makes sense.

Curious what others here have replaced — especially for writing, research, or productivity workflows.

https://redd.it/1slaftp
@macappsbackup

File Arbor — Rule-based file organizer | Free + $24.99 USD Lifetime | macOS & Windows

https://redd.it/1sleqpw
@macappsbackup