Thoughts on r/MacApps Negativity

There is a repeated pattern of bad manners on this sub - unfounded accusations.

1) Post a positive take an on app - get accused of shilling
2) Post a new app - get accused of vibe coding
3) Write a comprehensive and detailed post - get accused of using AI generated content

I'd like there to be less of that and more good manners and respect.

Why do people start throwing accusations around when someone posts a positive take on an app? This is a sub for exposing and discussing Mac software. I find it personally offensive when anyone accuses me of "shilling" or being "affiliated with the developer" based on absolutely nothing more than my posting something non-critical. There's never any proof because it's an imaginary belief from someone's fever-dream, not a reality based conclusion. Also, the same doesn't hold true in reverse. When someone posts a critical take, seldom is anyone there there to accuse them of being affiliated with the competitor. There is enough negativity in the world. Can't people have space free from that to talk about things they enjoy.

Based on interaction with dozens of devs, it's a rarity these days for there to be absolutely no use of some type of AI in the process of creating and developing new apps. I don't like it when someone posts a derivative, poorly supported, never upgraded v1.0 and asks for a subscription any more than you do, but no one is forcing me to download or pay for anything. There are some pretty cool and original apps that have been created with the help of AI and it's reductive and kind of lame to assign an automatic negative connotation to it.

When it comes to AI generated content, I appreciate honesty, but if the information is valid, why does it matter where it comes from? I don't think many people have an appreciation for just how International the community is here and I see non-English speakers who aren't doing anything more than trying to effectively communicate get insulted on the regular because they use AI. I write a lot and since I'm just one old guy with a laptop, I don't have a copy editor in the next room to do spelling and grammar checks, so I use software to do it. If that software puts an em dash in what I've written, some amateur detectives think they've uncovered a conspiracy. Give it a rest.



https://redd.it/1sth67g
@macappsbackup

Poolsuite FM for Mac - The ultra-summer music player (100% free, no sign-up)

https://redd.it/1stil9n
@macappsbackup

Poolsuite FM for Mac - The ultra-summer music player (100% free, no sign-up)

https://redd.it/1stjj8t
@macappsbackup

Are there any free video editors for commercial use?

I was planning to use Cap, but the free version license does not allow commercial use.


Thanks

https://redd.it/1stjew0
@macappsbackup

AI is flooding the App Store with new apps - and it shows

Please describe your AI use in poll

AI and vibe-coded apps... again...

Yesterday I came across a TechCrunch article (https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/18/the-app-store-is-booming-again-and-ai-may-be-why/) about the boom in new apps on the App Store and Google Play. It references Appfigures data: new app releases in Q1 2026 grew 60% year-over-year across the iOS App Store and Google Play, and in April the growth hit 104%. AI tools like Claude Code, Codex, Replit, etc. are clearly lowering the barrier to publishing apps

On one hand, solo devs and non-technical people can finally ship their ideas. On the other hand, Apple's review process seems overwhelmed and can't keep up with the volume. The article even mentions real examples – Freecash violating store rules and a fake Ledger Live clone that scammed users out of 9.5M bucks. And that's probably just the top of the iceberg

My impression is that the Mac App Store is seeing a similar surge, but maybe with slightly stricter review than iOS. Hard to tell...

What do you think about all this?



View Poll

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

I tested color accuracy across several macOS video players
https://redd.it/1stnktc
@macappsbackup

Apps I am not uninstalling. part 7

Whyfi:- I stumbled across an app called OnlineIndicator in the group, and the idea of seeing my internet connection in real time was right up my street. It’s free too, which always earns points. I had spent hours trying to find something like this and only ended up with a 7-day demo of an App Store app that was far too expensive to be useful.

Then, like all good internet rabbit holes, I had barely started using OnlineIndicator when WHY-FI appeared, and within minutes I had bought it. Honestly, it’s a fantastic app. If OnlineIndicator sounds interesting, Why-fi is the glow-up version, with a visually rich menu bar icon that changes colour in real time depending on line speed.

You also get lines and graphs for real-time performance, plus an onboard speed test. The Radar feature is one of the best parts, especially if you have a few hotspots around the house or regularly use public Wi-Fi. It tells you which hotspot is best as you move around. Slightly less fun was discovering that my neighbour’s internet is faster than the router in my office. So annoying.

DITCH \- Every true Mac owner seems to have a passion for finding the next great uninstaller, and I fully accept that we are a very committed bunch. We want complete removal with nothing left behind. With Appcleaner and Pear Cleaner both free, there is already strong competition, but I still had to try DITCH.

It sits in your notch and appears the moment you drag an app to the top of the screen, which is a very neat idea. The developer says it was built on the strength of CleanMyMac, and from what I have seen so far, apps removed with it have not left any leftovers behind. That said, uninstalling is serious business in Mac circles, so I would still love to hear what the experts think.

For now, though, Ditch feels like a great free app and a very convenient way to remove apps without messing around in right-click menus.

AllMyBatteries \- This is another app I’d wanted for ages and only found much later. It’s an App Store app, and the first three devices are free, which works perfectly for me with an Apple Watch, MacBook, and iPhone. At last, I can check battery levels in real time from my Mac.

Setup is straightforward, and the battery percentages appear in the menu bar. So no more walking from the office to the kitchen just to see whether the watch is charged. One glance, problem solved, dignity preserved.

DockDoorPro \- Can I make a post without talking about dock customisation? Absolutely not. Just as I was starting to think 2026 was not exactly a thrilling year for dock apps, I saw a comment on my previous post praising DockDoor Pro. What made it more annoying was that there was no sign of a Pro version on the DockDoor site, and I had already mentioned DockDoor plenty of times.

Eventually I found DockDoorPro on a less-than-saintly app distributor’s site and installed it, partly because I wanted to track down the developer or at least find out what was going on. And I’m glad I did, because this app is brilliant.

It’s quietly being developed in the background, but it already feels polished, stable, and packed with features. Installation is easy, the instructions are well animated, and before long you are deep in the world of dock customisation again. The dock moves like the default Mac dock, which I really like, and overall it feels lively.

If dock customisation is your thing, I highly recommend giving DockDoorPro a look. I’ll be doing a full review in my next dock customisation post in two months. The developer, who seems like a genuinely great guy, asked me to mention that it is still in development, so some features will be added and others may disappear. So far, though, it has behaved really well for me.

At the moment I have it set as an invisible animated dock

on the right side of the screen, which gives me a bit of that old cDock feeling again. So no, this does not mean I am done reviewing dock customisation apps. ExtraDock is still lurking at the bottom of my screen, and the poor DockDoorPro developer has already received a ten-page document from me about what should be added, changed, and politely removed.

The bigger problem now is that there are actually some amazing dock apps around, so it is less about finding something good and more about deciding which direction and price point suits you. I’m very excited about DockDoorPro, and if you are already a DockDoor user, supporting it would be a nice way to reward a developer whose app many of us have enjoyed for free for a long time. At this point it is becoming a bit like window shopping, because the dock app scene is genuinely full of very good options, all with very different appeals.

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

1000 downloads in 1 hour?!
https://redd.it/1stlngw
@macappsbackup

Morpho Converter 3.0 major update + 10 lifetime codes

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

Create Custom Symbols v2.18 – Convert Any SVG into a Custom SF Symbol for Xcode (Now with Multi-language Support)

https://redd.it/1sucj0z
@macappsbackup