All articles tagged with #mac app
WhatsApp is rolling out its Liquid Glass redesign to the Mac app, bringing a UI that mirrors iPhone and iPad with a redesigned sidebar, chat bar, and attachment menu, plus new Locked Chats (requiring authentication) and Communities sections in the sidebar. The desktop update closes the design gap with mobile versions, but the rollout is limited and will reach more accounts over the coming weeks.
OpenAI updated the redesigned ChatGPT Mac app to restore direct access to chats and Projects, adding a prominent Chat/Work toggle and a sidebar to switch between ChatGPT, Codex, and Work, addressing user confusion from the Electron-based overhaul and promising to bring back key chat features.
Perplexity launches a Mac app that extends its hybrid local-cloud AI, Personal Computer, to Pro and Enterprise users, enabling workflow automation across local files and native Mac apps while running tasks on Perplexity’s servers; it requires a subscription, works on macOS 14 Sonoma+ (best on a Mac mini for continuous use), and can operate web tools via the Comet browser with text or voice commands.
Google released a dedicated Gemini Mac app for macOS 15+ that lets you summon Gemini with a keyboard shortcut (Option + Space) or from the menu bar, and ask it questions about on-screen content using a shared window. It can answer context-based questions about your Mac but cannot automate tasks or take control of your computer. The app also supports Gemini’s Nano Banana and Veo AI models and is free for Gemini users on Macs.
An experienced developer uses Claude Code to port an iPhone-based filament-management app to macOS, delivering a working Mac app after iterative back-and-forth work and about 8 hours of project time spread over a month. The process highlights AI as a powerful force multiplier that still requires clear guidance, constant testing, and manual fixes. Mac-specific gaps (no NFC/camera, window resizing) and UI performance tweaks (thumbnail caching) demanded careful iteration. The result is a functional cross‑platform tool that boosts productivity, but it confirms AI isn’t magic and must be steered and tested by a human.
The popular Mac app 'Bartender' has been acquired by an unknown developer, raising concerns among users due to the lack of transparency and communication about the change. Users were alerted to the acquisition by MacUpdater, leading to skepticism and some uninstalling the app. The new developers have since introduced themselves and promised to continue improving the app, but trust issues remain.
The popular Mac app Bartender has been quietly sold to new owners, raising concerns due to a lack of transparency about the transaction. Users were alerted by MacUpdater about potential security risks with updates from version 5.0.52. The new owners confirmed the acquisition but did not provide detailed information or notify customers properly, leading to red flags among the user community.
Limitless, an AI-powered Mac app, aims to be a personal assistant by listening in on meetings, making notes, and allowing users to ask questions about previous meetings. It securely saves information to the cloud and offers a free plan with limited AI interactions or a $20/month subscription for more. The app plans to integrate with notes apps and introduce a wearable pendant device to record and eventually listen to conversations. This comes ahead of Apple's expected AI upgrades at WWDC 2024.
Proton Mail has released a beta version of its Mac app, offering end-to-end encrypted communication. However, access to the beta is currently limited to Proton Visionary subscribers, who pay $40 per month. The company has also introduced new features, including auto-forwarding rules and support for unencrypted auto-forwarding. Proton Mail aims to make privacy and security accessible by providing dedicated apps for all major platforms. The Mac app will be available to all subscribers in early 2022, with the exact date yet to be announced.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has launched a Mac app that includes group audio and video calls for up to 8 people. The app aims to compete with video calling giants like Zoom and Teams. It offers end-to-end encryption and new features such as receiving call notifications while the app is closed and the ability to drag and drop files into chats. Meta has been focused on expanding WhatsApp's features in recent months, including screen sharing, instant video messages, and the ability to use WhatsApp across multiple devices.
WhatsApp has released a redesigned native Mac app that supports group calls, dragging and dropping files, and offers better performance. The app is optimized for large displays and allows users to join group calls, view call history, and receive incoming call notifications even when the app is closed. The new WhatsApp experience is now available for download from whatsapp.com and will soon be released on the Mac App Store.
Poe, the AI chatbot platform developed by Quora, has introduced a Mac app and several updates, allowing users to have multiple simultaneous conversations with the same AI bot and access Meta's Llama 2 model. The platform is also planning to launch an enterprise tier for companies to manage the platform for their employees. Poe aims to be the central hub for AI chatbots, offering unlimited access to all bots on its platform for a subscription fee of $19.99 per month or $200 per year.