New free app to help with often needed app passwords, looking for early adopters and feedback

Hey guys, started tinkering on this in the summer and happy to have Gecky finally released!

Pitch:
I like Apple's Passwords app just fine, it works great for the web. Where it's failed me is the apps that run on my machine, it always requires a bit of digging to get what you want. This app gives you instantaneously the password (or other text content) that you often need for your app with a global keyboard shortcut.

Tech:
\- Passwords are saved in your personal iCloud Keychain, so no worries about them going to 3rd party servers.
\- When you use the shortcut you'll need to authenticate with Touch ID for safety. You can also configure individual entries to not require authentication for even more convenient insertion for some of those less critical passwords.
\- Native Swift / SwiftUI.
\- Sandboxed. No analytics, telemetry or web connections anywhere (apart from the iCloud Keychain mentioned above).
\- Requires macOS 26.0 or newer.

Pricing:
\- Since we're just kicking off the app is available for free at the moment, would be happy to hear your thoughts. If you like it, support the app by leaving a nice review on the Mac App Store.

Available today in Mac App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gecky/id6749769016
Check out more at: https://urtti.com/gecky

https://redd.it/1pe0rns
@macappsbackup

Need Cmd + tab alternative

I often have 10 to 15 apps open at a given time, so hitting tab each time to get over to the right app is inefficient.

I'm wondering if there's an app that provides a grid that allows you to go up and down in addition to side to side? I'd love to be able to navigate windows too?

I looked at Witch and its not really what I'm looking for. Also tried Hotkey but the commands haven't stuck. Was thinking of trying rcmd next.

Would love any input from someone who thinks they've figured it out

https://redd.it/1pe04pv
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IP adess in Menu

Hi, I am looking for a way that my IP address is showed on the menu up the screen. Can somebody help?

https://redd.it/1pdzls7
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[$2.99 → Free] [42 Hours Only] Timix – Modern Timer App with 15 Actions (Combined)

https://redd.it/1pe55lj
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Program Suggestion: Parallels for one program... Lightweight alternative

I use Parallels for one program. It uses DWGviewer, so it won't work with cross overs.. Trust me I tried everything, including some other wine apps. I just want the absolute lightest program I can run. Cost isn't the issue just want to minimize systems resources.

https://redd.it/1pe6c3y
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WhatsApp from App store or download from website

I noticed that we have two versions of WhatsApp for macOS. One on App store, and one on official website. Which one is better? App from website have higher version number than one from App Store.



https://redd.it/1pe6f57
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A menu bar app to control your LG TV

👋🏻 Hey, so I had a moment of boredom mixed with wisdom on the weekend and decided it was time to replace a clunky Hammerspoon noscript with a more native experience to control my LG C2 that I use as the monitor at my desk.

Has worked flawlessly for me so far and generally just keen to have others try it out and share thoughts!

https://preview.redd.it/qfdhb13yh95g1.png?width=324&format=png&auto=webp&s=30ddd01f8f544e67b49db5ae1fbe1f4c4a4ff567

https://preview.redd.it/wj07hdn1i95g1.png?width=457&format=png&auto=webp&s=3e0dc9f29022ff425e414bc28acabe575ba59d2f


I'm not going to spend time making some fluff piece which goes on about how great my app is, just figured I'd get it out there so I can have some more people have eyes, give it a whirl and provide feedback so I can tune it better (and decide if I get a code signing certificate 😂)

* Turns on/off the TV based on the state of your Mac
* Allows using volume keys (with accessibility permission granted) to adjust volume
* If you're using eARC there's no volume slider just buttons (see screenshot)
* The volume slider is weighted to avoid 0 > 100 accidents
* Stores your authentication certificate in the Keychain
* Can set input on wake and tries to force PC Mode on the HDMI input if supported
* Debug logging that outputs to the desktop if there's any issues.

Take a gander, try it out if you're using an LG TV as your display with a Mac and raise issues on the repo if you find anything 🫡


[https://github.com/thesammykins/LGTVMenuBar](https://github.com/thesammykins/LGTVMenuBar)

https://redd.it/1pedqo8
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Free Lifetime Took your feedback and rebuilt my Mac talk-to-text app: oto

https://reddit.com/link/1pee01h/video/1w72n2ipk95g1/player

Hey everyone, I’m back with some big updates to oto, my 100% local talk-to-text app for macOS.

App Store Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/oto-talk-to-text/id6749171372

Website Link: https://oto-transcribe.github.io/

I posted here a couple months ago and got a ton of helpful feedback. I took a lot of it to heart, and this new version is a huge improvement across the board. Made it free as a thank you.

Here’s what makes it stand out now:

- Free until Jan 1: If you download it now, it stays free forever for you. No subnoscriptions, no hidden charges, no tiers. You’ll keep getting all the same updates as everyone else. Starting in January, new users will see a one-time purchase instead.

\- Apple Silicon and Intel support, runs smoothly on both.

\- The cleanest UI in the talk-to-text space. I’ve spent a lot of time making it feel native, minimal, and invisible until you need it.

\- Feature-complete with the big names: global hotkey, history, auto-paste, 100+ languages, translation to English, and more.

\- Fully offline. Your voice never leaves your Mac unless you explicitly send it somewhere.

\- Actively developed. I’m shipping updates constantly and listening closely to feedback.

For context, I’ve been using oto daily while building it. I’m already at 11 hours of recorded audio, and it has saved me roughly 25 hours of typing. It has become a real workflow booster for me, which is exactly what I want for other Mac users.

If you tried the early version, this one is much better. And if you’re currently paying monthly for trannoscription, this might be an easy switch.

Would love any feedback, good, bad, or brutal.

https://redd.it/1pee01h
@macappsbackup

Speech to Text Apps

I've noticed a lot of clamor for, and development of, speech to text apps.

What I want to know is, why?

What are the major use cases? What is the utility? What problem are they solving?

I can understand meeting trannoscription use cases, and having that done locally.

But otherwise?

I'm not a developer/programmer, so maybe it is a part of that workflow?

Or am I missing a use for it that would change the way I do things?

Just genuinely curious as to what y'all use them for and am looking forward to being enlightened.

Thanks!

https://redd.it/1pehvw2
@macappsbackup

App Review: Meru

This won't be a large review, but I wanted to give a shout out to Meru. I spend my free time looking for little known apps, and this one missed my radar. I was using Kiwi for gmail, but they've recently changed their subnoscription. This is a onetime purchase all the features of kiwi, and then some.

If you use gmail and want some seperation from your browser and use multiple accounts, great program.

https://meru.so/

*I am in no way affiliated with this program.

https://redd.it/1pej8er
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I built SpaceCommand, an open source app that lets you name, search, and jump between your virtual desktops.

https://redd.it/1pek345
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The Cotypist app is fantastic

I came across the Cotypist app in this subreddit a day or two ago. It is fantastic. It took my brain just a few minutes to get used to it, and now I am using it all the time.

If I'm typing, I'm using Cotypist. If I'm dictating, I'm using Superwhisper.

For now, Cotypist is free during the beta. I'm leaning towards buying it when it's released, assuming the price is reasonable. I was a bit leery of downloading an unknown app, but after learning the developer is the same guy as the creator of the Timing app (which I used in the past for a while), I felt better about giving it a try.

Check it out here: https://cotypist.app

https://redd.it/1pekwz6
@macappsbackup

Please suggest some macOS alternatives to these windows apps

I just bought M4 Pro MacBook pro 14-inch 24GB, 512 GB yesterday. I am coming from windows 11. What macOS counterparts exists for these windows apps ? Please suggest, preferably something FOSS.

PowerToys (Command Pelette and other tools)
TwinkleTray to control the brightness of my dual monitors
Windows Advanced Copy handler (Win+V)
Tera copy
FancyWM
AB download manager
UnigetUI (Update Manager)
Nanazip (Modern, Good UI 7zip/WinRAR alternative)
Yt-dlp
EarTrumpet

Thanks.


https://redd.it/1pehm3z
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Hiding desktops / separating work and personal desktops

This might be a weird question. I use my mac for both work and personal stuff, and I use many full screen apps for both, which means I often have many desktops and only need about half of those at any given time. I could un-fullscreen and re-fullscreen apps every time. But is there an app that allows hiding some desktops and showing others ? Kind of how tab groups work for web browsers

https://redd.it/1pen2ra
@macappsbackup

Wins can make no sense, compared to...

Wins make no sense, compared to Dockdoor(free), Supercharge(worthy paid), Raycast(free)

wins

1. Edge Snap and Floating window- make no sense after new mac update

2. Aero Shake- windows os feature, never used (I'm using swish and Raycast)

3. Dock Preview- way laggy, dev is trying for a while to fix it

4. Mission Control Plus- worth if you not have supercharge ( middle click and ⌘ W, ⌘ M, ⌘ Q)

5. Flick Dock- supercharge have it

6. Command Tab- dock door shines on it, they support ⌘ ` to go back, which wins lack at the moment and also dock door have ⌘ A to cycle inside window of app, which is way better than arrow and ⌘ 1..3 navigation as a set of key for navigation

7. Window management- Raycast is way better and even the native mac os one is good and you can customise in keyboard shortcuts

>What I like in DockDoor?

1. Music control + calendar schedule on hovering over app- support Spotify and this can be pinned to screen

2. ⌘ A goes to windows only part of app to cycle into it and come out of it and ⌘ `(its ⌘ ⇧ tab alternative on mac) support in command tab window switcher

(I use Dock Door not for its app window switcher as ⌘ tab is quite sufficient for my use case)

Honestly, wins can make you feel cheated if use DockDoor

DockDoor



https://redd.it/1peoj70
@macappsbackup

Helping my kids memorize their multiplication tables

My father put together an Excel program that I (and my siblings) had to use each day that helped us gradually memorize up to 12x12. Fast forward a generation and I wanted to do something similar for my kids (albeit, without Excel).

My kids helped with a lot of the early usability concerns I had. They also revealed many issues I'd never have considered (as kids can do). MeteorMath makes what is essentially just a memorization process as enjoyable as possible, kid friendly, and certainly more visually interesting than Excel.

MeteorMath is developed as a native Mac app (and for the iPad as well). There's a demo video on the website and you can find it in the App Store.

With a "clean room" project like this, I went ahead and did Swift 6 + SwiftUI + SwiftData (pulling out all the stops). The learning curve was not quite as awful as I had anticipated. I still have mixed feelings on SwiftUI. It does an amazing job of some things....

My kids have happily been using MeteorMath most days, but I've actually been using it quite a bit as well -- I'm finally breaking out beyond my childhood 12x12 limitations (see my progress chart, below).

Hit me up with your thoughts (particularly if your kids get a chance to try it out).

https://preview.redd.it/91mh0jndsd5g1.png?width=1136&format=png&auto=webp&s=6e440258a61fc04872b89587a57450e67e11749c

https://preview.redd.it/q5u7zindsd5g1.png?width=1136&format=png&auto=webp&s=4f41936a349ebf77961dc69b876f454509019aeb

https://preview.redd.it/0fsjrjndsd5g1.png?width=1136&format=png&auto=webp&s=8b9f4f55997648a4faecbab01871d188290bf3f2



https://redd.it/1peu5nb
@macappsbackup

.env files made me nervous, so I built a local secret manager for developers

Hello,

I'm a solo developer, and I've always been concerned about .env file security.
After reading security research about how AI coding agents can be manipulated through prompt injection to leak credentials, I decided to build my own solution.

So I created LocalKeys — a local-based secret manager for Mac (and Windows).

Key Features:
- Stores API keys and secrets in an AES-256-GCM encrypted vault
- Works completely offline — secrets never leave your machine
- Requires user approval for any other process to access secrets
- Supports both GUI and CLI, works with any IDE

What sets it apart:
- No subnoscriptions, no cloud sync
- One-time purchase of $7.99, lifetime updates included
- Designed for indie developers and small teams, not big corporations

I'd love to get feedback from Mac users.
Feel free to ask any questions!

Website: https://localkeys.privatestater.com

https://redd.it/1peugp9
@macappsbackup