Easy macOS and iOS Tips and Fixes
Brett Terpstra reviews Bartender Pro, a macOS utility that organizes and manages crowded menu bars by moving icons to secondary bars and allowing quick access via search or hotkeys. The new Bartender Pro version introduces “Top Shelf,” a notch dock featuring widgets, clipboard management, and notifications, enhancing usability and stability. It is available via subscription or one-time purchase.
Knock is an app that allows users to control their Mac by tapping their MacBook, trackpad, or even their desk via iPhone, triggering shortcuts, apps, and actions instantly. It supports various tap patterns and can perform tasks like muting audio, launching apps, running shortcuts, and executing terminal commands, working on all Macs through trackpad or iPhone input, with native MacBook tapping available on select models.
SuperIsland is a free, open-source app that brings iOS-style Dynamic Island live activities to macOS, integrating notifications, music playback, battery status, calendar events, weather, file transfers, and system controls into the Mac's notch area. It also offers a JavaScript SDK for users to create custom modules easily without requiring compilation or Xcode, enhancing functionality and interactivity on any Mac.
The article explains how the author improved their use of the AI chatbot Claude by adopting the RCCF method, which structures prompts by defining a Role, providing Context, giving a Command, and specifying a Format for responses. This approach leads to clearer, more focused, and useful outputs from Claude compared to vague or generic prompts, enhancing productivity and reducing wasted effort.
https://www.makeuseof.com/rccf-method-completely-changed-how-i-use-claude/
Lounge is a macOS menu bar manager designed to help users organize, hide, and reveal menu bar items efficiently, addressing clutter and accessibility issues caused by app icons and the MacBook's notch. It offers features like drag-and-drop icon arrangement, a notch-aware panel for hidden items, customizable appearance, and keyboard shortcuts, all managed through a single preference panel. Available via an annual subscription, Lounge aims to streamline the menu bar experience for Mac users running macOS 26.0 or later.
Paperweight is a local-first, open-source application that scans your email inbox to map and manage your digital footprint by helping you identify accounts, get breach alerts, bulk unsubscribe from mailing lists, and generate GDPR data deletion requests. It supports any IMAP email provider and keeps all data processing on your device to ensure privacy, offering a free trial with optional paid upgrades for extended features.