PicArrange — Major update to our free visual image search and sorting tool for Mac
Hey r/MacApps! 👋
Some of you might remember **PicArrange** from when we first shared it here a while back. Since then, we've rolled out a ton of major improvements, performance enhancements, and new features based on community feedback (developed as a project at HTW Berlin).
[On-device AI image search and visual management for Mac—100% private, zero remote server tracking.](https://preview.redd.it/4v2xxn55dmuh1.jpg?width=1008&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cb20a02280e1b12b6d0184c4234d5b9a23433765)
For anyone new to it or checking out what's changed, here is what PicArrange does:
# Problem
Standard macOS file browsing in Finder limits you to searching images by file names, dates, or tags. As photo libraries grow across folders, finding specific images without knowing exact file names or endlessly scrolling becomes tedious. Furthermore, finding duplicate or visually similar images, sorting photos by color, or querying local photo content with text descriptions is difficult using native system tools.
# Comparison
Unlike **Apple Photos** (which forces you to import files into a proprietary database) or traditional file managers like **Finder** and **Adobe Bridge** (which rely primarily on folder structures and file metadata), PicArrange works directly on your existing folder system and features:
* **Visual & Color Sorting:** Displays images on a multi-column visual grid sorted by similarity.
* **On-Device AI Search:** Search images using natural language text descriptions, visual example drops, or color selection—all processed locally on your Mac for complete privacy.
* **Dedicated Duplicate Finder:** Easily detect and manage duplicate images across selected directories.
* **Data Prep & Metadata Tools:** Filter and export arrangements or duplicate lists, manage tags, view GPS/IPTC metadata, and prepare datasets.
# Pricing
* **Price:** 100% Free (No ads, no subscriptions, no locked tiers).
* **Official Mac App Store Link:**[Download PicArrange on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/picarrange/id1530678223?mt=12)
* **Project Page:**[HTW Berlin Visual Computing Group](https://visual-computing.com/projects/picarrange)
*Disclosure: I am part of the research and development team at HTW Berlin.*
https://redd.it/1x2cbpk
@macappsbackup
Hey r/MacApps! 👋
Some of you might remember **PicArrange** from when we first shared it here a while back. Since then, we've rolled out a ton of major improvements, performance enhancements, and new features based on community feedback (developed as a project at HTW Berlin).
[On-device AI image search and visual management for Mac—100% private, zero remote server tracking.](https://preview.redd.it/4v2xxn55dmuh1.jpg?width=1008&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cb20a02280e1b12b6d0184c4234d5b9a23433765)
For anyone new to it or checking out what's changed, here is what PicArrange does:
# Problem
Standard macOS file browsing in Finder limits you to searching images by file names, dates, or tags. As photo libraries grow across folders, finding specific images without knowing exact file names or endlessly scrolling becomes tedious. Furthermore, finding duplicate or visually similar images, sorting photos by color, or querying local photo content with text descriptions is difficult using native system tools.
# Comparison
Unlike **Apple Photos** (which forces you to import files into a proprietary database) or traditional file managers like **Finder** and **Adobe Bridge** (which rely primarily on folder structures and file metadata), PicArrange works directly on your existing folder system and features:
* **Visual & Color Sorting:** Displays images on a multi-column visual grid sorted by similarity.
* **On-Device AI Search:** Search images using natural language text descriptions, visual example drops, or color selection—all processed locally on your Mac for complete privacy.
* **Dedicated Duplicate Finder:** Easily detect and manage duplicate images across selected directories.
* **Data Prep & Metadata Tools:** Filter and export arrangements or duplicate lists, manage tags, view GPS/IPTC metadata, and prepare datasets.
# Pricing
* **Price:** 100% Free (No ads, no subscriptions, no locked tiers).
* **Official Mac App Store Link:**[Download PicArrange on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/picarrange/id1530678223?mt=12)
* **Project Page:**[HTW Berlin Visual Computing Group](https://visual-computing.com/projects/picarrange)
*Disclosure: I am part of the research and development team at HTW Berlin.*
https://redd.it/1x2cbpk
@macappsbackup
PicArrange — Visually sort, search, and manage your image library on Mac
https://redd.it/1x3153y
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https://redd.it/1x3153y
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Tinycast developer accuses Droppy developer of blatantly ripping off Tinycast code
https://x.com/abue_ammar/status/2109257990041981248
https://redd.it/1x39uuw
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https://x.com/abue_ammar/status/2109257990041981248
https://redd.it/1x39uuw
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X (formerly Twitter)
kuro (@abue_ammar) on X
I thought I will never post about it but looks like I have to now. @Droppyformac aka "Droppy" just ripped of my entire Tinycast code base and feed it to AI built Thunderstorm and selling it as a P…
OS Virtual machines that live in your menu bar
SwiftVM
I'm the developer. SwiftVM is a native Mac app, written in Swift on Apple's Virtualization framework, that runs macOS and Linux virtual machines from the menu bar. Version 1.0 just came out.
Problem:
Getting a new VM to the point where you can actually use it takes too many steps. You find an ISO, click through an installer, create a user, look up the IP address and copy your SSH key over. SwiftVM does that part itself. A Linux machine starts from an Ubuntu or Debian cloud image and is ready in seconds once the image is downloaded, with your account and SSH key already in it. A macOS machine installs from Apple and creates the account on its own, so there is no setup assistant to click through. After that, `ssh web-server` works from your Mac using the machine's name.
The rest is what you would expect:
snapshots (also of a running machine, memory included), instant duplicates, suspend and resume, shared folders and clipboard, port forwarding, USB devices, Rosetta for x86-64 Linux programs, and a `swiftvm` command that does from a terminal what the app does from the menu bar.
Comparison:
UTM is the one most people know, and it covers more ground. It runs Windows, it can emulate other CPU architectures through QEMU, and it works on older versions of macOS. SwiftVM does none of that today. Where I think SwiftVM is better is setup and daily use: machines that configure themselves, SSH by name, and a command line that drives the same app you see in the menu bar. VirtualBuddy is the closest in spirit, also native and also built on the Virtualization framework, and it is very good for testing macOS betas. SwiftVM leans more toward VMs as development machines, with ready-made Linux images, port forwarding and scripting.
Limits you should know about:
It needs macOS 27 on Apple silicon, the automatic macOS setup needs macOS 27 in the guest too, and there are no Windows guests yet.
Pricing:
Free and open source under Apache-2.0. There is no paid tier. Releases are signed and notarized.
Website: https://swiftvm.app
Source: https://github.com/swiftvm-app/swiftvm
About me:
I'm Saeed Vaziry. I also make VitoDeploy, Muxy and TweakPHP, all open source.
GitHub: https://github.com/saeedvaziry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saeedvaziry/
Feedback and bug reports are very welcome.
https://redd.it/1x3k6ic
@macappsbackup
SwiftVM
I'm the developer. SwiftVM is a native Mac app, written in Swift on Apple's Virtualization framework, that runs macOS and Linux virtual machines from the menu bar. Version 1.0 just came out.
Problem:
Getting a new VM to the point where you can actually use it takes too many steps. You find an ISO, click through an installer, create a user, look up the IP address and copy your SSH key over. SwiftVM does that part itself. A Linux machine starts from an Ubuntu or Debian cloud image and is ready in seconds once the image is downloaded, with your account and SSH key already in it. A macOS machine installs from Apple and creates the account on its own, so there is no setup assistant to click through. After that, `ssh web-server` works from your Mac using the machine's name.
The rest is what you would expect:
snapshots (also of a running machine, memory included), instant duplicates, suspend and resume, shared folders and clipboard, port forwarding, USB devices, Rosetta for x86-64 Linux programs, and a `swiftvm` command that does from a terminal what the app does from the menu bar.
Comparison:
UTM is the one most people know, and it covers more ground. It runs Windows, it can emulate other CPU architectures through QEMU, and it works on older versions of macOS. SwiftVM does none of that today. Where I think SwiftVM is better is setup and daily use: machines that configure themselves, SSH by name, and a command line that drives the same app you see in the menu bar. VirtualBuddy is the closest in spirit, also native and also built on the Virtualization framework, and it is very good for testing macOS betas. SwiftVM leans more toward VMs as development machines, with ready-made Linux images, port forwarding and scripting.
Limits you should know about:
It needs macOS 27 on Apple silicon, the automatic macOS setup needs macOS 27 in the guest too, and there are no Windows guests yet.
Pricing:
Free and open source under Apache-2.0. There is no paid tier. Releases are signed and notarized.
Website: https://swiftvm.app
Source: https://github.com/swiftvm-app/swiftvm
About me:
I'm Saeed Vaziry. I also make VitoDeploy, Muxy and TweakPHP, all open source.
GitHub: https://github.com/saeedvaziry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saeedvaziry/
Feedback and bug reports are very welcome.
https://redd.it/1x3k6ic
@macappsbackup
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[OS] 3,000 of you tried Sentient OS in July. 2.0 is here! An on-device LLM understands your life overnight, so Sentient can take over tasks with its own mouse cursor and write replies in 2 taps. Open source + 1,000 free lifetime codes :D
https://redd.it/1x3sg0a
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https://redd.it/1x3sg0a
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PaneDrop: capture a screenshot and drop it straight into the right Claude Code or Codex session (free public beta)
https://redd.it/1x3o1ou
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1x3o1ou
@macappsbackup
Ploca: offline dictation for Mac that keeps up when you switch between English and Hindi or Tamil
Hi, I am Aasif, the developer of Ploca
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/aasifiqbalj
Contact: hey[at\] ploca[dot\]app
Problem
1. Most dictation apps don't handle the way many Indians actually talk, switching languages mid-sentence: "Kal ki meeting shift kar do, I'll send the deck tonight."
2. In cloud dictation tools, privacy is a setting, not the default. Your voice goes to a server, and you may have to opt out of it being used for training.
Ploca solves both. It transcribes on your Mac and writes clean text at your cursor in any app. Your audio is never stored, not even on your Mac. Hold a key, speak, let go.
Comparison
\- Wispr Flow: polished, but cloud-based. Your voice is sent to their servers, and on individual plans model training is a setting you turn off. Ploca has no cloud path at all, works offline, and doesn't ask for Screen Recording or Input Monitoring (Microphone and Accessibility only). It's tuned for Hinglish and Tanglish, and it leaves your words as you said them instead of rewriting them.
\- Superwhisper: a great app with local and cloud models, $8.50/mo or $250 lifetime. Ploca is local only, with no cloud option at all, and costs $15 once, or $30 lifetime at launch. There's no AI rewriting step either: what you say is what appears. And it's tuned for English mixed with Hindi or Tamil in the same sentence. Privacy: audio is held in memory and never written to disk. No analytics, no crash reporter. The only network calls are a launch check, a daily update check, licence validation if you buy, and the one-time model download.
Pricing
7-day free trial, no email or card. Launch prices for the first licences of each plan:
\- Monthly $3 (then $6)
\- Standard $15 once, a year of updates, two Macs (then $30)
\- Lifetime $30 once, two Macs (then $60)
Website: https://ploca.app
Privacy: https://ploca.app/privacy.html
Terms: https://ploca.app/terms.html
Requirements: Apple Silicon, macOS 26 or later.
https://redd.it/1x3v7ae
@macappsbackup
Hi, I am Aasif, the developer of Ploca
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/aasifiqbalj
Contact: hey[at\] ploca[dot\]app
Problem
1. Most dictation apps don't handle the way many Indians actually talk, switching languages mid-sentence: "Kal ki meeting shift kar do, I'll send the deck tonight."
2. In cloud dictation tools, privacy is a setting, not the default. Your voice goes to a server, and you may have to opt out of it being used for training.
Ploca solves both. It transcribes on your Mac and writes clean text at your cursor in any app. Your audio is never stored, not even on your Mac. Hold a key, speak, let go.
Comparison
\- Wispr Flow: polished, but cloud-based. Your voice is sent to their servers, and on individual plans model training is a setting you turn off. Ploca has no cloud path at all, works offline, and doesn't ask for Screen Recording or Input Monitoring (Microphone and Accessibility only). It's tuned for Hinglish and Tanglish, and it leaves your words as you said them instead of rewriting them.
\- Superwhisper: a great app with local and cloud models, $8.50/mo or $250 lifetime. Ploca is local only, with no cloud option at all, and costs $15 once, or $30 lifetime at launch. There's no AI rewriting step either: what you say is what appears. And it's tuned for English mixed with Hindi or Tamil in the same sentence. Privacy: audio is held in memory and never written to disk. No analytics, no crash reporter. The only network calls are a launch check, a daily update check, licence validation if you buy, and the one-time model download.
Pricing
7-day free trial, no email or card. Launch prices for the first licences of each plan:
\- Monthly $3 (then $6)
\- Standard $15 once, a year of updates, two Macs (then $30)
\- Lifetime $30 once, two Macs (then $60)
Website: https://ploca.app
Privacy: https://ploca.app/privacy.html
Terms: https://ploca.app/terms.html
Requirements: Apple Silicon, macOS 26 or later.
https://redd.it/1x3v7ae
@macappsbackup
Linkedin
Aasif Iqbal J - Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India | Professional Profile | LinkedIn
15 years in IT consulting and Edutech.
My career has been driven by two forces: a… · Experience: iamneo - An NIIT Venture · Education: Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Technology · Location: Coimbatore · 500+ connections on LinkedIn. View Aasif Iqbal J’s profile…
My career has been driven by two forces: a… · Experience: iamneo - An NIIT Venture · Education: Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Technology · Location: Coimbatore · 500+ connections on LinkedIn. View Aasif Iqbal J’s profile…
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[OS] SpeakoFlow: dictation, a voice assistant and meeting notes in one free Mac app
https://redd.it/1x3qsev
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https://redd.it/1x3qsev
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[OS] Neon Vision Editor: improvements since 1.5.6, shaped by your feedback — Free
https://redd.it/1x3xol3
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https://redd.it/1x3xol3
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Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit: [OS] Neon Vision Editor: improvements since 1.5.6, shaped by your feedback — Free
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[Update] Chronoid: automatic time tracking for Mac, now with daily recaps and a manual timer + giveaway
https://redd.it/1x41mn2
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https://redd.it/1x41mn2
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[FREEMIUM] BetterMacWidgets: Live/Animated Widgets on your Lockscreen too with complete Custom Widgets. I'd say it's a slap in the face to other Overpriced Widgets apps :D
https://redd.it/1x42neh
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https://redd.it/1x42neh
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I got tired of Markdown preview panes, so I built a native Mac editor that formats as you type (and runs Obsidian themes)
https://redd.it/1x4cqcz
@macappsbackup
https://redd.it/1x4cqcz
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[Update] BattOpt v1.2.8 - Now supports macOS 27 battery charge limit. Prevent occasional charging to 100%.
https://redd.it/1x49zae
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https://redd.it/1x49zae
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Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit: [Update] BattOpt v1.2.8 - Now supports macOS 27 battery charge limit. Prevent occasional…
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Here Wallpaper: design minimalist map wallpapers for Mac, iPhone & iPad + 1 month of Pro free
https://redd.it/1x4387j
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https://redd.it/1x4387j
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Reddit
From the macapps community on Reddit: Here Wallpaper: design minimalist map wallpapers for Mac, iPhone & iPad + 1 month of Pro…
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