New Affinity Announcement
https://youtu.be/UP_TBaKODlw

https://redd.it/1ok61zz
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Choosing the Right AI Dictation App
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKU9CABtnOw

https://redd.it/1ok56lk
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Any Mac app that allows for looping the mouse across multiple monitors?

So I have 2 monitors on my laptop (2017 MacBook Air) I’d like for the mouse to loop across screens like in Pac-Man. If my cursor goes to the bottom of one monitor I want it to pop up on the top of the other monitor. Same with right to left. The default behavior doesn’t warp the cursor when it hits an edge of the monitor setup on all four sides

https://redd.it/1ok7nyf
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Don't delete Affinity Photo Just Yet. Affinity Canva isn't totally free...

https://redd.it/1okb7w0
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What do we need more of?

-Dock replacements / fixers

-Focus apps / pomodoro timers

-trannoscription apps

-ai chat wrappers

-file organizers

-clipboard managers

-window managers

-launchpad replacements



https://redd.it/1okd86n
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Bartender 6.1.1

Any feedback on the Bartender 6.1.1 update? I'm hesitant to install it.

https://redd.it/1okciok
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Free app for viewing and merging duplicate contacts?

Hello everyone,

I'm trying to merge duplicate contacts on my Mac. However, the Look for Duplicates feature in the Contacts app doesn't list the duplicates it detects. I found a third party app called Contactsmate, which shows me the duplicate contacts it finds and lets me view them before merging. But it's a paid app. I'm looking for a free alternative. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Thanks.

https://redd.it/1okjfir
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App that can share a external screen of my iPad?

I was wondering if there’s a way to do something like this on my monitor. I’d like to share my iPad screen on the same display that my Mac is connected to, so I don’t have to keep switching between screens. That way, I can have everything on one screen, which would make it easier to, for example, take a screenshot of a question from my iPad notes or multitask more efficiently?

Thanks a lot (I don't mind if it's a paid app)

https://preview.redd.it/9410j3eu9fyf1.png?width=1745&format=png&auto=webp&s=77b2ccdcdbebe2c38420ada019aea6a7e6fa7395



https://redd.it/1okqoyb
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Forgot password to a note on apple notes.

Hi, as the Title says, I have forgotten a password I had set to one of my note a couple of years back. That note basically consisted a few passwords to services that I used rarely. Is there any way I can reset it's password or view the note? I do have my apple ID and Password if that can help.

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

What’s a reliable PDF ANNOTATOR?

I am looking for a reliable pdf annotator for mac, currently using PDF Expert with temporary emails which expire every 7 days. Is there any free alternative that can match it’s quality and functionality?

https://redd.it/1oktx5w
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Dory just got featured on the App Store!
https://redd.it/1okv23z
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Fuse Caption Studio v2.0 now available - Giveaway!

https://redd.it/1okwoge
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My updated list of MacOS apps, because people love these lists. Super extended director's cut editon v3

Heya, since people enjoyed my "old" lists of Mac apps that I actually use, I wanted to update you on the stuff I've changed, added, removed, or used for a short time, and the noteworthy updates to app. My old list is here on [reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1jea4ua/my_list_of_macos_apps_because_people_love_these/) and also [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/1k630zp/my_updated_list_of_macos_apps_because_people_love/) for my first update. My (almost) always up to date list on [Github](https://github.com/WrkX/MacAppsDirectorsCut/tree/main).

# Added

# General

* [AlDente](https://apphousekitchen.com/) (*Paid*): I used [AlBattery](https://github.com/whuan132/AIBattery-Charge-Limiter) (**Free, open source**) before, but I had problems with it completely blocking any charging on my mac (dunno if that was a general problem or i fixed, has been like 4 months since then). So I bought the lifetime AlDente thing for like 24€. Maybe it helps with the battery life, maybe it wont. So far it did not drop further, but its a M1 Mac with 88% capacity and I read a study that capping charging at 80 does not do anything. Meh, already spent the money, so who cares.
* [Instapaper](https://www.instapaper.com/u) (**Free** or *subnoscription*): I love [GoodLinks](https://apps.apple.com/de/app/goodlinks/id1474335294?l=en-GB) (*Paid*) but I am more and more working outside the apple ecosystem. Instapaper works for me. I used [raindrop.io](http://raindrop.io) before, if i find something bothering me in Instapaper I might switch to that again, but for now I use mostly Instapaper.



# Productivity & Utilities

* [Spokenly](https://spokenly.app/) (**Free**): Voice-to-text. My replacement for [VoiceInk](https://github.com/Beingpax/VoiceInk). VoiceInk is great, but Spokenly somehow works better for me. It is not open source... however, you can use local models, so I am fine with this. Also, it’s free and on the App Store, which is great. If you’re looking for something open source, give VoiceInk a try. Love Spokenly tho, and I guess almost everyone here knows it.
* [Thoht](https://www.miniwhisper.app/) (**Free** or *subnoscription*): Formerly known as MiniWhisper. Another voice-to-text app. Really like it, still trying it out. But I think i prefer Spokenly.
* [Updatest](https://updatest.app/) (*Paid*): Was posted here a few days ago. I really like it so far, but I am not sure if I am gonna buy it. I still have [Latest](https://max.codes/latest/) (**Free, open source**), [Applite](https://aerolite.dev/applite) (**Free, open source**) and [MacUpdater](https://www.corecode.io/macupdater/) (*Paid*) installed, so I am not sure. I like that Updatest allowed me to adopt all my apps (that support it) to homebrew. Let's see what will happen to MacUpdater and if Updatest maybe will catch up to that. Will keep you posted about my choice.



# Browsers

* [Helium](https://github.com/imputnet/helium-macos) (**Free, open source**): At first, I thought there weren’t any features that would make me use this over Ungoogled Chromium (which Helium is based on), but it has split view, the password integration works (the system-wide one), more customization options, and bangs. It’s very nice. The only thing I am really, really missing is vertical tabs. Oh, and of course the pinned tabs, which only get unloaded instead of being completely closed. Also, it doesn’t drain my Macbook like crazy. Without this, I would have gone back to [Chrome](https://www.google.com/chrome/) or [Ungoogled Chromium](https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium) (**Free, open source**). BUT... I have been working on a chromium fork myself for a few months. So far I integrated a lot of useful features from Arc and Dia while removing google stuff. It looks as minimal as Dia while being cross platform... but ye, still in development, so only I use it.
* [Dia](http://diabrowser.com) and [Arc](https://arc.net/) (**Free** or *subnoscription*): Only have them

installed again to copy features. I check what I am interested in, but do not use them otherwise anymore.



# Gaming

* [VirtualHere](https://www.virtualhere.com/) (**Freemium**): Allows you to forward one device to another pc for free, otherwise you will have to pay. So what I do with it is forward my mouse to my gaming rig, since I find more and more problems that have problems with the emulated mouse from Moonlight. E.g. in Oblivion/Skyrim windows I cannot scroll, in Dune I cannot use quick menus, side mouse buttons dont work in general, etc. VirtualHere makes it so I connect my mouse to the other PC without having to physically connect it. While that is the case I can of course only move the mouse in Moonlight, not outside of it. I set up 2 hotkeys to quickly connect/disconnect, so that is no problem for me.



# Development & Coding

* [Cursor](https://cursor.com/) (*Subnoscription*): Even tough I am not like 100% vibe coding stuff, cursor made it possible to start changing chromium for me. I had it explain how stuff works, and even though it was not always correct, for someone who never saw the chromium code before, AI helped me get over the first hill of understanding the basics of it. By now i understand it a little better and don't need it to explain how to change the backdrop of buttons anymore. Actually I only paid for 1 month of it, that was enough. Now the free tokens you get are enough for me.
* [Fork](https://fork.dev/) (**Freemium**): Git GUI, you can test it for free for as long as you want (afaik). Simply awesome, I was struggling with the Xcode GitHub for the longest time, so I picked this up and it's great so far. Xcode always had problems with rebasing/merging for me, Fork worked immediately. Before I already tried [Tower](https://www.git-tower.com/mac) (*Subscrption*), but it's a subnoscription, and I don't need that in my life. Also, I don't really see any big difference between the two, so I prefer to pay once and get everything instead of paying every month. I also prefer this over my editors graphs.
* [Geany](https://www.geany.org/) (**Free, open source**): Useful for .patch files. That's all I use it for. It simply makes them easier to read by "splitting" it into the files they edit. If you don't use patch files... I do not see any reason to use it.
* [Nova](https://nova.app/) (*Paid*): A macOS native code editor. I bought it "long" before and installed it because I actually enjoy using it (most of the time). I prefer it for a few thing, but tbh I dont think it is worth it.



# Media & Entertainment

* [](https://github.com/WrkX/MacAppsDirectorsCut#media--entertainment)[IINA](https://iina.io/) (**Free, open source**): Known by everyone. While on vacation I was mostly off grid, so I had a few movies and shows downloaded. I tried IINA and [VLC Media Player](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html) (**Free, open source**). I had IINA first, but randomly, while watching movies, my Macbook froze with the rainbow spin… like every 30 minutes. I was guessing it’s IINA because it never happened before. Well, turns out it also happens while watching with VLC. Stayed with IINA.



[](https://apphousekitchen.com/)

# Removed

* [AlBattery](https://github.com/whuan132/AIBattery-Charge-Limiter) (**Free, open source**): Already explained why I removed it, basically [AlDente](https://apphousekitchen.com/), just as FOSS. But I had problems with it.
* [Day One](https://apps.apple.com/de/app/day-one/id1055511498?l=en-GB&mt=12) (**Free** or *Subnoscription*): A journal app. I don't journal. Despite receiving reminders, I consistently forget to keep up with it. That's why I've uninstalled Day One and [Everlog](https://everlog.app/). This happened some time ago, and now there is the journal app from apple. I didnt update yet, so dunno how good it is tho.
* [Mountain Duck](https://mountainduck.io/help/) (*Paid*): Allows mounting cloud storage. Koofr is my “main” storage and the app does what I need. If I upload to my Gdrives/Dropbox I use the websites. Again, paid for it, useful app if you need to mount

multiple cloud storage providers, but I was using it less than before, so I removed it. I am happy to have supported the developers
* [Swift Shift](https://www.swiftshift.app/) (**Free**, **open source**): Allows resizing and moving windows while holding keys instead of relying on the small zones you usually need. Very useful. But I still stopped using it so I deleted it.
* [Orion](https://kagi.com/orion/) (**Free**): Could be cool browser. But it's so buggy and breaks constantly. The "feature" of being able to use chrome and firefox extensions mostly doesnt work. I would rather use Safari.
* [Onit](https://www.getonit.ai/) (**Free, open source**): I am trying to remove as much AI as possible. Also, the context never worked how I expected it to, so not very useful for me.
* [Hyprnote](https://hyprnote.com/en) (**Free, open source**): Same here, I try to remove AI from my life.

# Noteworthy updates to apps

[](https://github.com/WrkX/MacAppsDirectorsCut/blob/main/Updates-old-2.md#noteworthy-updates-to-apps)

* [Alcove](https://tryalcove.com/) (*Paid*): The developer is back aand he is pushing out updates like crazy. So yeah, very happy about this.
* [RewriteBar](https://rewritebar.com/) (*Paid* or *Subnoscription*): The app was updated a ton, visual changes etc., very great! Like, so many updates and so many new features. If you tried it before but something was missing, maybe try it again. (I know this is AI and I said I am trying to get rid of it, but sometimes I need a local model to check for spelling mistakes)
* [Barbee](https://apps.apple.com/de/app/barbee-hide-menu-bar-items/id1548711022?l=en-GB&mt=12) (*Paid*): Price was increased, it is now 2x as much. so 7,99€.

# Apps I have tried that did not stay

[](https://github.com/WrkX/MacAppsDirectorsCut/blob/main/Updates-old-2.md#apps-i-have-tried-that-did-not-stay)

* [Pause](https://apps.apple.com/de/app/pause-take-a-break/id1599313358?l=en-GB&mt=12) (**Free**): Alternative to [LookAway](https://lookaway.app/) (*Paid*). Has the barebones feature of “forcing” a break after your specified time has passed. I tested LookAway, but it was constantly breaking my focus and I dont really need this kind of app, but so far Pause seems fine to remind me to take breaks. I do them on my own, so I don’t need a reminder.
* [Alter](https://alterhq.com/) (**Freemium**): It was great while I was on the test period. As soon as I was out I got the request to subscribe... a lot. I had it like 10 times in 15 minutes. For a one-time fee (not 720$) to get rid of that and BYOK and it would be great. I am not gonna sub to use my own api keys and local llms. Other than that, great app. My test was like 4 months ago, so things could have changed.
* [Parsec](https://parsec.app/) (**Free** or *Subnoscription*): I only used Parsec because I had a problem with Moonlight. But that was fixed.



https://redd.it/1okw2v0
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