[OS] Photo Batch Importer - import photos from SD card with file naming rules
https://redd.it/1ve5yq5
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1ve5yq5
@macappsbackup
Big Data-Fetchupdate: The Widgets for App Store Connect we never got.But always wanted, so hard.
https://redd.it/1ve7brq
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1ve7brq
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit: Big Data-Fetchupdate: The Widgets for App Store Connect we never got.
But always wanted,…
But always wanted,…
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
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Made a squat coach for desk workers. It lives in your Mac's notch and counts your reps via webcam, all on-device.
https://redd.it/1veev2z
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1veev2z
@macappsbackup
[OS] OpenDisk: a free, open source DaisyDisk alternative for macOS
https://redd.it/1vef3k2
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1vef3k2
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit: [OS] OpenDisk: a free, open source DaisyDisk alternative for macOS
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
OS MagSleep — a native macOS utility to automatically disable the MagSafe LED when your macbook sleeps
https://preview.redd.it/q9984gzdr6hh1.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=8a0f8718f1843ea223ff3ef8c435ae9d5ed56682
I made a tiny macOS app to automatically turn off the MagSafe LED while my MacBook is sleeping
Those MagSafe LEDs are nice, but they're also surprisingly bright.
I prefer sleeping in a completely dark room, so the LED always bothered me a bit. I know there are already ways to deal with it, like using AlDente Pro (which is mostly unnecessary since macOS 26.4) or setting up SleepWatcher with a few shell scripts, but I just wanted a simple app that did one thing well.
So I made one.
MagSleep is a tiny, lightweight menu bar app that turns off the MagSafe LED when your Mac goes to sleep, then immediately hands control back to macOS when it wakes up.
Features
Turns off the MagSafe LED during sleep
Restores normal macOS behavior on wake
Runs as a lightweight menu bar app with a LaunchDaemon
Optional launch at login
Clean uninstall (removes the helper and restores control)
Technical details (for the curious)
Uses the undocumented
A small privileged helper is required because writing to the SMC requires root privileges
On events
On `kIOMessageSystemHasPoweredOn`: write `ACLC = 0`
Apple Silicon only (MagSafe 3)
macOS 14+
Written in native Swift
Completely free and open source.
GitHub:
https://github.com/realAbitbol/MagSleep
Feedback is welcome! I'm also curious whether anyone knows of a better-supported Apple API for controlling the MagSafe LED.
https://redd.it/1vejelg
@macappsbackup
https://preview.redd.it/q9984gzdr6hh1.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=8a0f8718f1843ea223ff3ef8c435ae9d5ed56682
I made a tiny macOS app to automatically turn off the MagSafe LED while my MacBook is sleeping
Those MagSafe LEDs are nice, but they're also surprisingly bright.
I prefer sleeping in a completely dark room, so the LED always bothered me a bit. I know there are already ways to deal with it, like using AlDente Pro (which is mostly unnecessary since macOS 26.4) or setting up SleepWatcher with a few shell scripts, but I just wanted a simple app that did one thing well.
So I made one.
MagSleep is a tiny, lightweight menu bar app that turns off the MagSafe LED when your Mac goes to sleep, then immediately hands control back to macOS when it wakes up.
Features
Turns off the MagSafe LED during sleep
Restores normal macOS behavior on wake
Runs as a lightweight menu bar app with a LaunchDaemon
Optional launch at login
Clean uninstall (removes the helper and restores control)
Technical details (for the curious)
Uses the undocumented
ACLC SMC key to control the LED A small privileged helper is required because writing to the SMC requires root privileges
On events
kIOMessageSystemWillSleep / kIOMessageCanSystemSleep: write ACLC = 1On `kIOMessageSystemHasPoweredOn`: write `ACLC = 0`
Apple Silicon only (MagSafe 3)
macOS 14+
Written in native Swift
Completely free and open source.
GitHub:
https://github.com/realAbitbol/MagSleep
Feedback is welcome! I'm also curious whether anyone knows of a better-supported Apple API for controlling the MagSafe LED.
https://redd.it/1vejelg
@macappsbackup
My Mac Apps Story, Part 4 - More Apps That Made macOS Work My Way
[Part 3](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1v2bhqk/my_mac_apps_story_part_3_apps_that_shaped_my/) ended with four apps that shaped how I worked on my 2014 13-inch MacBook Pro. I was still far from finished with that MacBook or with finding apps that made macOS work the way I wanted.
The apps in this part helped me make better use of its Retina display, work with text faster, get more from a simple mouse selection, and protect some of my privacy on public Wi-Fi.
In interviews exclusive to [Reverse Everything](https://reverseeverything.com/?utm_source=reddit), the people behind Display Menu, PopClip, and WiFiSpoof share how their apps began and what it takes to keep a focused Mac utility alive for more than ten years.
**Series** · [**Part 1**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macbook/comments/1uk4a1x/my_mac_story_part_1_my_first_macbook_and_the_app/) | [**Part 2**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1uygea0/my_mac_apps_story_part_2_coming_back_to_mac_and/) | [**Part 3**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1v2bhqk/my_mac_apps_story_part_3_apps_that_shaped_my/) | [**Part 4**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1vek409/my_mac_apps_story_part_4_more_apps_that_made/) | more parts coming
# Display Menu - Using Every Pixel of the Retina Display
The [MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/111942) has a native resolution of 2560 by 1600 at 227 pixels per inch. The display looked fantastic, but macOS normally presented it with a scaled interface.
At that time, I traveled often and could not carry the multiple displays I used with my Windows PC. I wanted the small MacBook screen to hold as much as possible, so I used [Display Menu](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/display-menu/id549083868?mt=12) to switch it to the full native 2560 by 1600 mode.
https://preview.redd.it/h7xesgmc37hh1.jpg?width=626&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=046853ae3be1051317ed7ea3e378ad6bf11afd4b
Everything became very small. Instead of making the whole interface larger, I changed the fonts inside the apps I used most. Text remained comfortable to read while more windows and interface elements fit on the screen.
It was an unusual way to use a 13-inch MacBook, but it worked for me. This remained my preferred setup until roughly 2018, when I finally returned to a standard scaled mode.
I still think direct access to the native resolution is useful. It gives a small display a surprising amount of working space and can also help when testing how an app behaves at an unusually high resolution.
# An Interview with Thorsten Karrer
**Ighor July**
What motivates you to continue developing and supporting Display Menu after so many years?
**Thorsten Karrer**
>I still use DisplayMenu myself, and I still observe people (in my current line of work) struggling to quickly set up external displays or presentation screens correctly. So for me it still looks like there is a need for this utility.
**Ighor July**
What advice would you give to independent developers who hope to maintain and support their apps for ten years or longer?
**Thorsten Karrer**
>At some point you need to have figured out for yourself, which role such a project should play in your life. This sounds maybe a bit full of it, but I mean it. We started out with tons of time on our hands and it was a really fun project (a hobby really), and at some point we needed to make a decision: Go all-in, write another \~10 tools of that (small) caliber, switch to subscription pricing, and make this our primary focus. Or step back from it completely and then be fair and pull it from the Store. Or keep it working and providing some value, but accept that you will run this as a side gig and probably even lose some money on it.
>
>For us it turned out to be the third option, partially because we are privileged enough to have day jobs that pay the bills and that allows us to keep DisplayMenu alive.
Read the [complete Display Menu
[Part 3](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1v2bhqk/my_mac_apps_story_part_3_apps_that_shaped_my/) ended with four apps that shaped how I worked on my 2014 13-inch MacBook Pro. I was still far from finished with that MacBook or with finding apps that made macOS work the way I wanted.
The apps in this part helped me make better use of its Retina display, work with text faster, get more from a simple mouse selection, and protect some of my privacy on public Wi-Fi.
In interviews exclusive to [Reverse Everything](https://reverseeverything.com/?utm_source=reddit), the people behind Display Menu, PopClip, and WiFiSpoof share how their apps began and what it takes to keep a focused Mac utility alive for more than ten years.
**Series** · [**Part 1**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macbook/comments/1uk4a1x/my_mac_story_part_1_my_first_macbook_and_the_app/) | [**Part 2**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1uygea0/my_mac_apps_story_part_2_coming_back_to_mac_and/) | [**Part 3**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1v2bhqk/my_mac_apps_story_part_3_apps_that_shaped_my/) | [**Part 4**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1vek409/my_mac_apps_story_part_4_more_apps_that_made/) | more parts coming
# Display Menu - Using Every Pixel of the Retina Display
The [MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/111942) has a native resolution of 2560 by 1600 at 227 pixels per inch. The display looked fantastic, but macOS normally presented it with a scaled interface.
At that time, I traveled often and could not carry the multiple displays I used with my Windows PC. I wanted the small MacBook screen to hold as much as possible, so I used [Display Menu](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/display-menu/id549083868?mt=12) to switch it to the full native 2560 by 1600 mode.
https://preview.redd.it/h7xesgmc37hh1.jpg?width=626&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=046853ae3be1051317ed7ea3e378ad6bf11afd4b
Everything became very small. Instead of making the whole interface larger, I changed the fonts inside the apps I used most. Text remained comfortable to read while more windows and interface elements fit on the screen.
It was an unusual way to use a 13-inch MacBook, but it worked for me. This remained my preferred setup until roughly 2018, when I finally returned to a standard scaled mode.
I still think direct access to the native resolution is useful. It gives a small display a surprising amount of working space and can also help when testing how an app behaves at an unusually high resolution.
# An Interview with Thorsten Karrer
**Ighor July**
What motivates you to continue developing and supporting Display Menu after so many years?
**Thorsten Karrer**
>I still use DisplayMenu myself, and I still observe people (in my current line of work) struggling to quickly set up external displays or presentation screens correctly. So for me it still looks like there is a need for this utility.
**Ighor July**
What advice would you give to independent developers who hope to maintain and support their apps for ten years or longer?
**Thorsten Karrer**
>At some point you need to have figured out for yourself, which role such a project should play in your life. This sounds maybe a bit full of it, but I mean it. We started out with tons of time on our hands and it was a really fun project (a hobby really), and at some point we needed to make a decision: Go all-in, write another \~10 tools of that (small) caliber, switch to subscription pricing, and make this our primary focus. Or step back from it completely and then be fair and pull it from the Store. Or keep it working and providing some value, but accept that you will run this as a side gig and probably even lose some money on it.
>
>For us it turned out to be the third option, partially because we are privileged enough to have day jobs that pay the bills and that allows us to keep DisplayMenu alive.
Read the [complete Display Menu
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit: My Mac Apps Story, Part 3 - Apps That Shaped My Workflow and Developer Interviews
Explore this post and more from the macapps community
interview](https://reverseeverything.com/blog/display-menu-interview/?utm_source=reddit).
# PopClip - Making Text Selection More Useful
[PopClip](https://www.popclip.app/) was one of those apps that immediately felt like something new had been added to my workflow.
I found it in 2015. When I selected text with the mouse, a small bar appeared with useful actions. The interface was easy to understand, and extensions could add many more actions without making the basic interaction complicated.
https://preview.redd.it/yfazwxke37hh1.png?width=1130&format=png&auto=webp&s=367ca7091a9ecdee135e1d7a82975beeebb6e65e
What made PopClip especially awesome for me was its huge collection of [downloadable extensions](https://www.popclip.app/extensions/). I added many text-formatting actions and translation tools. There are so many extensions available that I could keep adding useful actions while choosing only the ones that fit my workflow.
It made mouse selection feel more useful. Something as ordinary as highlighting a few words could lead directly to copying them, searching for them, opening a link, checking a definition, or running another action I had added.
The best part was that PopClip did not try to replace how text selection worked. It added one small step in exactly the place where I needed it.
# An Interview with Nick Moore
**Ighor July**
Why do you think PopClip has remained relevant?
**Nick Moore**
>I think the reason it's remained relevant is that, at its heart, it is still the same app as it was when it first came out: you select some text, and a bar pops up with a row of buttons. That's the core proposition. Everything else changes around PopClip, but PopClip tries to stay the same.
**Ighor July**
What advice would you give to independent developers who hope to maintain and support their apps for ten years or longer?
**Nick Moore**
>Work on an app that you want to use yourself. Don't chase trends, don't rush to support the latest thing, or add new features just for the sake of newness. Remember that every feature you add is a feature you have to maintain. And every option you add is now *two* variant features you have to maintain. Focus on reliability, simplicity and the core experience and usefulness of the app. Listen to the users but trust your own judgement and don't be afraid to say no. Patiently build a core user base and keep them on board — word of mouth is worth more than any advertising.
Read the [complete PopClip interview](https://reverseeverything.com/blog/popclip-interview/?utm_source=reddit).
# Sublime Text - Finding My Fast Text Editor
On Windows, I liked [AkelPad](https://akelpad.sourceforge.net/). It could open text in different encodings, but its most important quality for me was speed. I could open a file and immediately work with its contents.
I spent a long time searching for the same feeling on macOS. In my tests, [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/) was the fastest editor I found. I bought it in 2016 and it became the editor I reached for when I wanted to open a file without waiting for a large development environment.
https://preview.redd.it/46rfndeg37hh1.png?width=1996&format=png&auto=webp&s=0b11dadabe5bc63519ac4546e17ef29711e63e3e
I also liked what I saw when monitoring its network activity. In my use, it did not connect to the internet until I performed an action that needed a connection.
I considered Visual Studio Code as an alternative, but two things continued to bother me. It took longer to open, and I saw it making background network connections. VS Code can do much more, but for quickly reading or changing a text file, I preferred the speed and quiet behavior of Sublime Text.
# WiFiSpoof - Changing My Address on Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi was another part of traveling that made me look for a focused utility.
A Wi-Fi network can identify a device by its MAC address. Reusing the same address makes it easier for network operators to recognize and track that device. [WiFiSpoof](https://wifispoof.com/) let me change or randomize the address my Mac presented to
# PopClip - Making Text Selection More Useful
[PopClip](https://www.popclip.app/) was one of those apps that immediately felt like something new had been added to my workflow.
I found it in 2015. When I selected text with the mouse, a small bar appeared with useful actions. The interface was easy to understand, and extensions could add many more actions without making the basic interaction complicated.
https://preview.redd.it/yfazwxke37hh1.png?width=1130&format=png&auto=webp&s=367ca7091a9ecdee135e1d7a82975beeebb6e65e
What made PopClip especially awesome for me was its huge collection of [downloadable extensions](https://www.popclip.app/extensions/). I added many text-formatting actions and translation tools. There are so many extensions available that I could keep adding useful actions while choosing only the ones that fit my workflow.
It made mouse selection feel more useful. Something as ordinary as highlighting a few words could lead directly to copying them, searching for them, opening a link, checking a definition, or running another action I had added.
The best part was that PopClip did not try to replace how text selection worked. It added one small step in exactly the place where I needed it.
# An Interview with Nick Moore
**Ighor July**
Why do you think PopClip has remained relevant?
**Nick Moore**
>I think the reason it's remained relevant is that, at its heart, it is still the same app as it was when it first came out: you select some text, and a bar pops up with a row of buttons. That's the core proposition. Everything else changes around PopClip, but PopClip tries to stay the same.
**Ighor July**
What advice would you give to independent developers who hope to maintain and support their apps for ten years or longer?
**Nick Moore**
>Work on an app that you want to use yourself. Don't chase trends, don't rush to support the latest thing, or add new features just for the sake of newness. Remember that every feature you add is a feature you have to maintain. And every option you add is now *two* variant features you have to maintain. Focus on reliability, simplicity and the core experience and usefulness of the app. Listen to the users but trust your own judgement and don't be afraid to say no. Patiently build a core user base and keep them on board — word of mouth is worth more than any advertising.
Read the [complete PopClip interview](https://reverseeverything.com/blog/popclip-interview/?utm_source=reddit).
# Sublime Text - Finding My Fast Text Editor
On Windows, I liked [AkelPad](https://akelpad.sourceforge.net/). It could open text in different encodings, but its most important quality for me was speed. I could open a file and immediately work with its contents.
I spent a long time searching for the same feeling on macOS. In my tests, [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/) was the fastest editor I found. I bought it in 2016 and it became the editor I reached for when I wanted to open a file without waiting for a large development environment.
https://preview.redd.it/46rfndeg37hh1.png?width=1996&format=png&auto=webp&s=0b11dadabe5bc63519ac4546e17ef29711e63e3e
I also liked what I saw when monitoring its network activity. In my use, it did not connect to the internet until I performed an action that needed a connection.
I considered Visual Studio Code as an alternative, but two things continued to bother me. It took longer to open, and I saw it making background network connections. VS Code can do much more, but for quickly reading or changing a text file, I preferred the speed and quiet behavior of Sublime Text.
# WiFiSpoof - Changing My Address on Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi was another part of traveling that made me look for a focused utility.
A Wi-Fi network can identify a device by its MAC address. Reusing the same address makes it easier for network operators to recognize and track that device. [WiFiSpoof](https://wifispoof.com/) let me change or randomize the address my Mac presented to
Reverseeverything
Display Menu — An Interview with Its Developer | Reverse Everything
The developer of Display Menu explains why the app was created, how Retina support was reverse engineered, and what keeps this focused Mac utility alive.
the network.
https://preview.redd.it/how9s01i37hh1.jpg?width=1735&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c21da0ecff0c83a55bbdad7f430278d924d383a
That made me feel better about connecting to networks I did not trust. It did not make the network itself safe, but it reduced one simple way my Mac could be recognized across connections.
[Current macOS versions can use a private Wi-Fi address](https://support.apple.com/en-euro/102509), so many people no longer need a separate app for this purpose. WiFiSpoof is still maintained, though, and its developer kept it working through years of changes to macOS, App Sandbox, and Apple's rules around privileged operations.
# An Interview with Russell Gray
**Ighor July**
What motivates you to continue developing and supporting WiFiSpoof after so many years?
**Russell Gray**
>I "enjoyed"... the challenge of keeping it working across the various limitations that Apple introduced into macOS and the App Store over the years. Now that Apple's security model seems mature, I am more interested in trying to make it more useful and user friendly without adding too much bloat.
**Ighor July**
What advice would you give to independent developers who hope to maintain and support their apps for ten years or longer?
**Russell Gray**
>Build apps you have a personal need for and enjoy working on.
Read the [complete WiFiSpoof interview](https://reverseeverything.com/blog/wifispoof-interview/?utm_source=reddit).
# Saying Goodbye to My 2014 MacBook
The 2014 MacBook had been my faithful companion while I traveled across Europe, but those journeys are a story for another time. I took its battery past 1,300 cycles, and it still had good battery life when I sold it. I thought the person buying it was simply a random buyer, but he turned out to be a fan of my iDNS Portal project. That was a small surprise, and it made me even happier that the MacBook went to someone who would appreciate it.
That is where the story of my 2014 MacBook ends. Part 5 will begin with my next MacBook, how I bought it directly from Apple with a 20% discount, and more apps and developer interviews.
This article is published on [Reverse Everything](https://reverseeverything.com/blog/my-mac-apps-story-part-4/?utm_source=reddit). Its Reddit edition and discussion are shared exclusively with the r/macapps community.
**Series** · [**Part 1**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macbook/comments/1uk4a1x/my_mac_story_part_1_my_first_macbook_and_the_app/) | [**Part 2**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1uygea0/my_mac_apps_story_part_2_coming_back_to_mac_and/) | [**Part 3**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1v2bhqk/my_mac_apps_story_part_3_apps_that_shaped_my/) | [**Part 4**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1vek409/my_mac_apps_story_part_4_more_apps_that_made/) | more parts coming
https://redd.it/1vek409
@macappsbackup
https://preview.redd.it/how9s01i37hh1.jpg?width=1735&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c21da0ecff0c83a55bbdad7f430278d924d383a
That made me feel better about connecting to networks I did not trust. It did not make the network itself safe, but it reduced one simple way my Mac could be recognized across connections.
[Current macOS versions can use a private Wi-Fi address](https://support.apple.com/en-euro/102509), so many people no longer need a separate app for this purpose. WiFiSpoof is still maintained, though, and its developer kept it working through years of changes to macOS, App Sandbox, and Apple's rules around privileged operations.
# An Interview with Russell Gray
**Ighor July**
What motivates you to continue developing and supporting WiFiSpoof after so many years?
**Russell Gray**
>I "enjoyed"... the challenge of keeping it working across the various limitations that Apple introduced into macOS and the App Store over the years. Now that Apple's security model seems mature, I am more interested in trying to make it more useful and user friendly without adding too much bloat.
**Ighor July**
What advice would you give to independent developers who hope to maintain and support their apps for ten years or longer?
**Russell Gray**
>Build apps you have a personal need for and enjoy working on.
Read the [complete WiFiSpoof interview](https://reverseeverything.com/blog/wifispoof-interview/?utm_source=reddit).
# Saying Goodbye to My 2014 MacBook
The 2014 MacBook had been my faithful companion while I traveled across Europe, but those journeys are a story for another time. I took its battery past 1,300 cycles, and it still had good battery life when I sold it. I thought the person buying it was simply a random buyer, but he turned out to be a fan of my iDNS Portal project. That was a small surprise, and it made me even happier that the MacBook went to someone who would appreciate it.
That is where the story of my 2014 MacBook ends. Part 5 will begin with my next MacBook, how I bought it directly from Apple with a 20% discount, and more apps and developer interviews.
This article is published on [Reverse Everything](https://reverseeverything.com/blog/my-mac-apps-story-part-4/?utm_source=reddit). Its Reddit edition and discussion are shared exclusively with the r/macapps community.
**Series** · [**Part 1**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macbook/comments/1uk4a1x/my_mac_story_part_1_my_first_macbook_and_the_app/) | [**Part 2**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1uygea0/my_mac_apps_story_part_2_coming_back_to_mac_and/) | [**Part 3**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1v2bhqk/my_mac_apps_story_part_3_apps_that_shaped_my/) | [**Part 4**](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1vek409/my_mac_apps_story_part_4_more_apps_that_made/) | more parts coming
https://redd.it/1vek409
@macappsbackup
TextSniper, MacPilot, Unite Pro, PDF Squeezer and Video Paw on Sale from Their Devs Until Friday for %75+ Off
From now until August 7th, these apps are on sale at Bundle Hunt starting at %75 off. I've never seen them cheaper.
---
### Reviews of Apps I Have Personally Tested
- TextSniper - Better Than Native OCR ($7.99- On Sale For $1.99 -%75) Hit a hotkey, drag a box over anything on screen (a locked PDF, a video frame, a screenshot someone sent you), and the text lands on your clipboard; it also reads QR codes and barcodes and can speak the captured text aloud. OCR runs entirely on your Mac. (textsniper.app)
- MacPilot Tweaks Some Hard to Get To Settings in macOS ($29.95 -On Sale For $3.50 -88%) - A GUI over roughly 1,200 hidden macOS settings and
- Unite 5 - Site Specific Browser ($39.99 - On Sale For $5.00 -%87 off) Turns any website into an isolated, native Mac app that runs as a normal window, a menu bar dropdown, or a sidebar; you get per-app cookies, custom icons, ad blocking, userscripts and CSS, keyboard shortcut remapping, and link routing between apps. Extras like Dock badges, Google/Outlook meeting alerts, and a floating AI companion overlay are the part Safari's "Add to Dock" can't touch. (bzgapps.com/unite)
### The two I haven't tried (yet) are:
Video Paw($69.99 - On Sale For $6.50 -%91) - Cisdem's all-in-one media utility: batch convert video and audio across 600+ formats, download clips from supported sites, rip DVD and Blu-ray, compress files, and record screen/webcam with live annotation. Basic editing (trim, crop, merge, watermark, subtitles) is included, so it replaces three or four single-purpose downloads.
PDF Squeezer($19.99 - On Sale For $3.98 -%80)-- Drag in a bloated PDF and it shrinks by recompressing images and stripping unused fonts and resources, with a side-by-side preview so you can see what quality you're giving up. Batch processing, saved presets, and hooks into Finder, Automator, Shortcuts, and the command line make it a good buy IMHO.
https://redd.it/1vemza6
@macappsbackup
From now until August 7th, these apps are on sale at Bundle Hunt starting at %75 off. I've never seen them cheaper.
---
### Reviews of Apps I Have Personally Tested
- TextSniper - Better Than Native OCR ($7.99- On Sale For $1.99 -%75) Hit a hotkey, drag a box over anything on screen (a locked PDF, a video frame, a screenshot someone sent you), and the text lands on your clipboard; it also reads QR codes and barcodes and can speak the captured text aloud. OCR runs entirely on your Mac. (textsniper.app)
- MacPilot Tweaks Some Hard to Get To Settings in macOS ($29.95 -On Sale For $3.50 -88%) - A GUI over roughly 1,200 hidden macOS settings and
defaults write tweaks: show hidden Finder files, kill the startup chime, add Dock spacers, change the screenshot format, run maintenance scripts, all without opening Terminal. koingosw.com- Unite 5 - Site Specific Browser ($39.99 - On Sale For $5.00 -%87 off) Turns any website into an isolated, native Mac app that runs as a normal window, a menu bar dropdown, or a sidebar; you get per-app cookies, custom icons, ad blocking, userscripts and CSS, keyboard shortcut remapping, and link routing between apps. Extras like Dock badges, Google/Outlook meeting alerts, and a floating AI companion overlay are the part Safari's "Add to Dock" can't touch. (bzgapps.com/unite)
### The two I haven't tried (yet) are:
Video Paw($69.99 - On Sale For $6.50 -%91) - Cisdem's all-in-one media utility: batch convert video and audio across 600+ formats, download clips from supported sites, rip DVD and Blu-ray, compress files, and record screen/webcam with live annotation. Basic editing (trim, crop, merge, watermark, subtitles) is included, so it replaces three or four single-purpose downloads.
PDF Squeezer($19.99 - On Sale For $3.98 -%80)-- Drag in a bloated PDF and it shrinks by recompressing images and stripping unused fonts and resources, with a side-by-side preview so you can see what quality you're giving up. Batch processing, saved presets, and hooks into Finder, Automator, Shortcuts, and the command line make it a good buy IMHO.
https://redd.it/1vemza6
@macappsbackup
appaddict.app
TextSniper
On sale at Bundlehunt for $1.99 until 2026-08-07
With the existence of Live Text recognition as a built-in feature of macOS, folks may wonder if there is still functionality to be gained through the use of TextSniper an OCR app for YouTube videos, PDFs,…
With the existence of Live Text recognition as a built-in feature of macOS, folks may wonder if there is still functionality to be gained through the use of TextSniper an OCR app for YouTube videos, PDFs,…
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VidCrop v1.12 is out! A Simple Tool for Video Cropping, Speed Adjustment and Watermarking
https://redd.it/1veopna
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1veopna
@macappsbackup
Mac Apps Roundup: My Picks from July
Heya,
I thought of sharing some apps that I found last month, which are super interesting or useful for me since then. So I decided to share it with you all here.
FOSS - free & open-source software\
OTP - one-time purchase
Fluent (OTP)
- Context-aware AI companion app that integrates well with other apps in use
- I personally find their quick actions like Paraphrase, Summarize as super useful
2Do (OTP)
- 2DO is a nice, good-looking Task manager app with new design, interface with options for images, locations and actions
- I've Things 3 (on iPad, iOS except on Mac) and looked for alternate options to Mac version of Things 3.
- My personal evaluation:
- I struggle a bit to come out of my Things-setup
- 2DO doesn't currently have iOS/iPadOS version since it is being actively developed
- It has some bugs that troubled me but dev (u/2doapp) is actively releasing updates with bug fixes
Projectholic (OTP)
- Beautiful kanban-style project/goal tracker
- has built-in stats dashboard, focus timer and more...
- It has a generous free-tier with 10 projects, 50 tasks per month, and also lifetime purchase option too!
Droppy (OTP)
- I guess it doesn't need any explanation as it is quite popular, well-appreciated apps in this subreddit
- shoutout to u/iordv ❤️
If you want a free alternative, try TheBoringNotch
Aerial (FOSS)
- Wallpaper/Screensaver app
- You can check my post here
Assignee (OTP)
- App switcher using hotkeys
- $2.99 One-time purchase
Just10
- menu bar to-do app to list ONLY 10 tasks
- To add more, you must finish the current tasks
- This helped me to limit myself to prevent overplanning
AutoDockDrive (FOSS)
- shows/hides external drives in Dock when connected/disconnected
- simple but useful utility tool
Taack (FOSS)
- Attach postit to folders and apps (windows)
Consul (OTP)
- Automatic file converter that automatically converts when you rename it to your desired output
- you can even set rules for conversion types
- Though it is bit steep in price, it does its job flawlessly and elegantly
Atheria (OTP)
- I came across it very recently, and immediately loved it
- It has over 55 styles, but only ONE free-to-use style 😠
- $6.99 launch price, until Aug 4
FoldNotes (OTP)
- Obsidian-alternate but in AppKit and UIKit
- I haven't tried this one yet but found it interesting so bookmarked it
vvmac - Blog
- I found many of the apps shared here, from this blog website.
- It covers tutorials, workflows, customizations of Mac
Docky (FOSS)
- It's a dock-replacement app that allows you to customize dock to your flavors with (live) widgets, create groups, smart stacks
- I was kind of surprised to see that it's actually a free app 🫶 while other 147 clipboard managers are charging $9/month 😅
Okay, that's it. These are the apps that I used/found last month and wanted to share with others to spread the word about it.
What apps did you try/add to your arsenal? Please share them with your use case, link, dev if possible
https://redd.it/1veq9pu
@macappsbackup
Heya,
I thought of sharing some apps that I found last month, which are super interesting or useful for me since then. So I decided to share it with you all here.
FOSS - free & open-source software\
OTP - one-time purchase
Fluent (OTP)
- Context-aware AI companion app that integrates well with other apps in use
- I personally find their quick actions like Paraphrase, Summarize as super useful
2Do (OTP)
- 2DO is a nice, good-looking Task manager app with new design, interface with options for images, locations and actions
- I've Things 3 (on iPad, iOS except on Mac) and looked for alternate options to Mac version of Things 3.
- My personal evaluation:
- I struggle a bit to come out of my Things-setup
- 2DO doesn't currently have iOS/iPadOS version since it is being actively developed
- It has some bugs that troubled me but dev (u/2doapp) is actively releasing updates with bug fixes
Projectholic (OTP)
- Beautiful kanban-style project/goal tracker
- has built-in stats dashboard, focus timer and more...
- It has a generous free-tier with 10 projects, 50 tasks per month, and also lifetime purchase option too!
Droppy (OTP)
- I guess it doesn't need any explanation as it is quite popular, well-appreciated apps in this subreddit
- shoutout to u/iordv ❤️
If you want a free alternative, try TheBoringNotch
Aerial (FOSS)
- Wallpaper/Screensaver app
- You can check my post here
Assignee (OTP)
- App switcher using hotkeys
- $2.99 One-time purchase
Just10
- menu bar to-do app to list ONLY 10 tasks
- To add more, you must finish the current tasks
- This helped me to limit myself to prevent overplanning
AutoDockDrive (FOSS)
- shows/hides external drives in Dock when connected/disconnected
- simple but useful utility tool
Taack (FOSS)
- Attach postit to folders and apps (windows)
Consul (OTP)
- Automatic file converter that automatically converts when you rename it to your desired output
- you can even set rules for conversion types
- Though it is bit steep in price, it does its job flawlessly and elegantly
Atheria (OTP)
- I came across it very recently, and immediately loved it
- It has over 55 styles, but only ONE free-to-use style 😠
- $6.99 launch price, until Aug 4
FoldNotes (OTP)
- Obsidian-alternate but in AppKit and UIKit
- I haven't tried this one yet but found it interesting so bookmarked it
vvmac - Blog
- I found many of the apps shared here, from this blog website.
- It covers tutorials, workflows, customizations of Mac
Docky (FOSS)
- It's a dock-replacement app that allows you to customize dock to your flavors with (live) widgets, create groups, smart stacks
- I was kind of surprised to see that it's actually a free app 🫶 while other 147 clipboard managers are charging $9/month 😅
Okay, that's it. These are the apps that I used/found last month and wanted to share with others to spread the word about it.
What apps did you try/add to your arsenal? Please share them with your use case, link, dev if possible
https://redd.it/1veq9pu
@macappsbackup
Fluent
Fluent – AI Assistant for Every Mac App
A native, context-aware AI assistant for macOS that works in every app — with your choice of AI models, MCP integrations, on-device memory (RAG), and multi-model AI Councils.
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Hoy for Mac (pre-release): a "walkie-talkie" for your Mac's menu bar. Drop messages, files, voice, screen recordings. No sign-up, no third-party, just your iCloud (Free + Pro)
https://redd.it/1venqhi
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1venqhi
@macappsbackup
When You Need a Mac, But All You Have is a Phone - The Verdict on Four Free Alternatives to Leaving Work Undone
https://preview.redd.it/0z85mxvfw8hh1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=379e485aa13f62f0f3d5cccfd855d0f63dd9f327
TL;DR: Four free iPhone apps that handle jobs you would normally do on your Mac: API Bot for testing endpoints, View Source Vibe for inspecting a suspicious link, Fiper for algorithm-free RSS, and Owl VIP for sender-level email notifications. Two earn a place on your phone. Fiper loses to NetNewsWire for anyone reading this blog, and Owl VIP charges a subscription for something iOS Focus Modes mostly do free. None has a native Mac app.
Every so often, something breaks and you are nowhere near your computer.
An endpoint starts returning 500 errors while you are sitting in a parking lot. Someone texts you a link and you want to see what trackers it loads before you trust it. You are waiting on one critical email, but your phone keeps buzzing about newsletters.
These are Mac jobs. Your Mac is at home.
The obvious move is to reach for your phone. The obvious problem is that most "mobile versions of desktop tools" are just cramped, feature-starved versions of software you already own. The phone only wins when it does something your Mac cannot: being in your hand when you are away from your desk.
That is the filter I applied to these four apps. Two pass it cleanly. Two do not.
One technical note up front: none of these four has a native Mac app. Some will launch on an Apple silicon Mac, since iOS apps show up there by default unless the developer opts out, but what you get is a fixed, phone-shaped window that will not resize. Treat these as phone tools, full stop.
***API Bot***
If you write or maintain APIs, Postman, Insomnia, and Bruno are likely glued to your workflow. They also assume you have a full keyboard and a large monitor. API Bot takes the opposite approach.
It is Postman built specifically for an iPhone screen. You can construct HTTP requests, set headers and query parameters, inspect JSON responses, and save requests as collections.
The use case is narrow, but real: you are away from your desk, an endpoint is behaving oddly, and you want to fire off a quick GET request to staging. It is not a replacement for Bruno on your desktop. It is the difference between diagnosing an outage immediately and waiting three hours until you get home.
It is free, and runs on iOS and iPadOS 13.0 or later. Confirm the permissions in the App Store yourself before installing, as there is little independent track record yet. As a focused utility for an away-from-the-desk problem, it earns its spot.
A competitior, HTTPBot: API & HTTP Client does what API Bot does and ships on iOS, iPad, *and* macOS.
***View Source Vibe***
Viewing page source on a phone sounds like a gimmick. View Source Vibe turns it into a pocket web inspector.
Beyond raw HTML, it includes a Timeline view, OpenGraph social previews, a Cookie Privacy Lens, a Tracker Radar, Header Intelligence, and a Security Score Card. If someone sends you a link that feels off, this lets you inspect headers and tracking scripts on the spot before handing over your attention.
Also free, and it carries a "Data Not Collected" privacy label.
Here is the catch: the developer explicitly notes the app was "Built with Vibes (and Flutter)," indicating heavy use of AI-assisted coding. I have no issue with vibe-coding, but software that grades other sites on security while being built via LLM prompts demands healthy skepticism. Use its site analysis to satisfy your curiosity; do not rely on its Security Score Card as a formal audit.
***Fiper***
Fiper is an RSS reader designed to look like an Instagram feed rather than a list of text headlines.
It shows a chronological timeline without algorithmic sorting,
https://preview.redd.it/0z85mxvfw8hh1.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=379e485aa13f62f0f3d5cccfd855d0f63dd9f327
TL;DR: Four free iPhone apps that handle jobs you would normally do on your Mac: API Bot for testing endpoints, View Source Vibe for inspecting a suspicious link, Fiper for algorithm-free RSS, and Owl VIP for sender-level email notifications. Two earn a place on your phone. Fiper loses to NetNewsWire for anyone reading this blog, and Owl VIP charges a subscription for something iOS Focus Modes mostly do free. None has a native Mac app.
Every so often, something breaks and you are nowhere near your computer.
An endpoint starts returning 500 errors while you are sitting in a parking lot. Someone texts you a link and you want to see what trackers it loads before you trust it. You are waiting on one critical email, but your phone keeps buzzing about newsletters.
These are Mac jobs. Your Mac is at home.
The obvious move is to reach for your phone. The obvious problem is that most "mobile versions of desktop tools" are just cramped, feature-starved versions of software you already own. The phone only wins when it does something your Mac cannot: being in your hand when you are away from your desk.
That is the filter I applied to these four apps. Two pass it cleanly. Two do not.
One technical note up front: none of these four has a native Mac app. Some will launch on an Apple silicon Mac, since iOS apps show up there by default unless the developer opts out, but what you get is a fixed, phone-shaped window that will not resize. Treat these as phone tools, full stop.
***API Bot***
If you write or maintain APIs, Postman, Insomnia, and Bruno are likely glued to your workflow. They also assume you have a full keyboard and a large monitor. API Bot takes the opposite approach.
It is Postman built specifically for an iPhone screen. You can construct HTTP requests, set headers and query parameters, inspect JSON responses, and save requests as collections.
The use case is narrow, but real: you are away from your desk, an endpoint is behaving oddly, and you want to fire off a quick GET request to staging. It is not a replacement for Bruno on your desktop. It is the difference between diagnosing an outage immediately and waiting three hours until you get home.
It is free, and runs on iOS and iPadOS 13.0 or later. Confirm the permissions in the App Store yourself before installing, as there is little independent track record yet. As a focused utility for an away-from-the-desk problem, it earns its spot.
A competitior, HTTPBot: API & HTTP Client does what API Bot does and ships on iOS, iPad, *and* macOS.
***View Source Vibe***
Viewing page source on a phone sounds like a gimmick. View Source Vibe turns it into a pocket web inspector.
Beyond raw HTML, it includes a Timeline view, OpenGraph social previews, a Cookie Privacy Lens, a Tracker Radar, Header Intelligence, and a Security Score Card. If someone sends you a link that feels off, this lets you inspect headers and tracking scripts on the spot before handing over your attention.
Also free, and it carries a "Data Not Collected" privacy label.
Here is the catch: the developer explicitly notes the app was "Built with Vibes (and Flutter)," indicating heavy use of AI-assisted coding. I have no issue with vibe-coding, but software that grades other sites on security while being built via LLM prompts demands healthy skepticism. Use its site analysis to satisfy your curiosity; do not rely on its Security Score Card as a formal audit.
***Fiper***
Fiper is an RSS reader designed to look like an Instagram feed rather than a list of text headlines.
It shows a chronological timeline without algorithmic sorting,
auto-detects feeds simply by pasting a URL, and pulls in Bluesky, Mastodon, and Pixelfed accounts alongside traditional blogs. That is a thoughtful design position for people who find classic RSS intimidating.
It also has the weakest case for readers of this blog.
If you are reading a Mac utility site, you have almost certainly solved RSS already. NetNewsWire is free, open source, and native on Mac and iOS. Reeder is beautiful. Feedly and Inoreader have a decade of infrastructure behind them.
Fiper is a pleasant, free app. Recommend it to family members who want off algorithmic feeds but will never set up NetNewsWire. For power users, there is no reason to switch.
***Owl VIP Email Alerts***
Owl VIP attempts to fix phone notifications at the sender level.
It hooks into Gmail to give you global notification toggles (VIP-only, All, or None), custom quiet hours, and per-sender audio alerts from a library of 80+ sounds. Being able to triage who emailed you by ear without picking up your phone is a clever idea.
The problem is the business model and the built-in alternatives.
The app is free to download, but requires a paid subscription to connect a Gmail account. Nearly everything it does can be built for free using Gmail's native filters combined with iOS Focus Modes. Paying a recurring subscription strictly for custom notification sounds is a hard sell.
It also only works with Gmail. Spend twenty minutes configuring Focus Modes first.
# My Take
[API Bot](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/api-bot/id1667144207) is an easy download if you deal with APIs and ever need to test an endpoint on the go.
*View Source Vibe* answers a specific question when inspecting suspicious links, provided you treat its security scores as informational.
[Fiper](https://www.fiper.net/en/) is a great recommendation for non-technical friends, but skip it if you already run NetNewsWire or Reeder.
*Owl VIP Email Alerts* has a clever audio trick, but iOS Focus Modes cover most of its feature set without a subscription.
Three of these four apps have virtually no independent review track record. That is normal for early indie software, but it means you are the test case.
Unless otherwise noted, the alternate apps mentioned above are based on research and not individual testing.
https://redd.it/1vetq2w
@macappsbackup
It also has the weakest case for readers of this blog.
If you are reading a Mac utility site, you have almost certainly solved RSS already. NetNewsWire is free, open source, and native on Mac and iOS. Reeder is beautiful. Feedly and Inoreader have a decade of infrastructure behind them.
Fiper is a pleasant, free app. Recommend it to family members who want off algorithmic feeds but will never set up NetNewsWire. For power users, there is no reason to switch.
***Owl VIP Email Alerts***
Owl VIP attempts to fix phone notifications at the sender level.
It hooks into Gmail to give you global notification toggles (VIP-only, All, or None), custom quiet hours, and per-sender audio alerts from a library of 80+ sounds. Being able to triage who emailed you by ear without picking up your phone is a clever idea.
The problem is the business model and the built-in alternatives.
The app is free to download, but requires a paid subscription to connect a Gmail account. Nearly everything it does can be built for free using Gmail's native filters combined with iOS Focus Modes. Paying a recurring subscription strictly for custom notification sounds is a hard sell.
It also only works with Gmail. Spend twenty minutes configuring Focus Modes first.
# My Take
[API Bot](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/api-bot/id1667144207) is an easy download if you deal with APIs and ever need to test an endpoint on the go.
*View Source Vibe* answers a specific question when inspecting suspicious links, provided you treat its security scores as informational.
[Fiper](https://www.fiper.net/en/) is a great recommendation for non-technical friends, but skip it if you already run NetNewsWire or Reeder.
*Owl VIP Email Alerts* has a clever audio trick, but iOS Focus Modes cover most of its feature set without a subscription.
Three of these four apps have virtually no independent review track record. That is normal for early indie software, but it means you are the test case.
Unless otherwise noted, the alternate apps mentioned above are based on research and not individual testing.
https://redd.it/1vetq2w
@macappsbackup
App Store
Owl VIP Email Alerts App - App Store
Download Owl VIP Email Alerts by Sundae Electronics LLC on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like Owl VIP Email…
Seeking AltTab alternatives
I updated AltTab via homebrew the other day and my fav feature (using alt-` to switch between open windows of the current app *across all Spaces*) was moved behind a paywall. I wouldn’t have updated if I’d known.
Usually when devs add a paid version, it includes new premium features while the free version remains the same. But this case, they just yanked the previously free feature without warning. After seeing them do this, I’m *never* going to buy their paid version.
Please suggest alternatives!
https://redd.it/1vexstt
@macappsbackup
I updated AltTab via homebrew the other day and my fav feature (using alt-` to switch between open windows of the current app *across all Spaces*) was moved behind a paywall. I wouldn’t have updated if I’d known.
Usually when devs add a paid version, it includes new premium features while the free version remains the same. But this case, they just yanked the previously free feature without warning. After seeing them do this, I’m *never* going to buy their paid version.
Please suggest alternatives!
https://redd.it/1vexstt
@macappsbackup
Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the macapps community