While I don't use a Mac as my primary anymore, I'm surprised I like the look of this! It actually looks quite Mac-like as well.
Subscription is a big nope here, though. Especially for Mac software, I'd expect something where you pay for one major version, that is guaranteed to works on specific macOS versions, and gets minor bugfix updates too. But maybe the next macOS version requires a newer major version update to run, in which case you pay an upgrade fee to buy the next major version - or maybe the next major version has new features you might want to upgrade to as well.
My old Macs are stuck on 10.13, and I see Ubar mentioned elsewhere in this thread and that it's still compatible with 10.13. I might consider the $30 one off price to buy Ubar and keep it forever, but I wouldn't do a $10 subscription.
sonofhans 21 minutes ago [-]
I am the target audience for this, from a UX and tech perspective. It addresses a problem I have and for which I periodically audition solutions.
A subscription for a menu bar, though, kills it for me. I have apps on Macs that are over 20 years old. Some of those companies don’t exist anymore. I’m not going to risk paying $100 for a decade of your app and hope that your company, or your goodwill, stays around that long.
a-ve 2 minutes ago [-]
I think that’s a fair question.
My thinking is pretty simple: most people will probably choose the basic 2-device plan, which works out to about $0.85 per month. For an app like this, I think that is a reasonable price.
Another reason is that a lot of Mac apps charge a one-time fee upfront, but then require paid upgrades later. In practice, that often ends up being similar to paying for a few years of ongoing support anyway.
I also think a low-cost subscription sets a clearer expectation that the app will continue to be maintained and kept working as macOS changes. For software like this, where OS updates can easily break things, that felt like the more honest model.
cactusplant7374 14 minutes ago [-]
It's a tiny market. Why would they bother if only 10 people will give them $10?
SyneRyder 9 minutes ago [-]
Apparently not that tiny, if a competitor has the same product priced at $30 and is currently on to version 4 after 12+ years in business!
fii 2 minutes ago [-]
Subscription on something like this is goofy, and extra subscription per seat even for personal is goofier. For free, I can use Alfred/Raycast, Aerospace, and either sketchybar or zebar and have all this functionality executed even more skillfully and ergonomically. If you want to throw money into it, Alfred power pack is £34 and supports a great company with a lifetime purchase.
But I also understand I’m not the target audience for this, and some of my coworkers that wanted a Mac because “it’s a Mac” and now compare everything to Windows would probably use it. I’ll just have to feel bad for their wallets.
reacharavindh 4 minutes ago [-]
+1 to amplify the voice that hates a subscription to a taskbar. If it was €15 one time I would’ve instantly bought it.
genbugenbu 13 minutes ago [-]
I love that you've made this, but in a world of never ending subscriptions, a subscription to a taskbar is just not something I (or many I imagine) can justify - no matter how low the price.
We really have entered the age of everything being a subscription.
oa335 20 minutes ago [-]
I would pay $10 one time for this; a subscription seems excessive to me.
dd8601fn 5 minutes ago [-]
100%. A subscription is instant death for this.
The good news is someone definitely will (or perhaps already has) done this without one.
amarant 4 minutes ago [-]
Ah, good old Apple, where for only $9.99 a month, you can experience what Linux offered for free 15+ years ago.
mynameisvlad 28 minutes ago [-]
I use uBar for this: https://ubarapp.com but this looks like a nice lightweight alternative!
Both have one-time/lifetime purchase options. Taskbar is $25 one-time with a free but expiring older version. ActiveDock's one-time prices are $15 (1 year of updates, but usable forever) and $60 (lifetime updates).
hmokiguess 16 minutes ago [-]
uBar looks amazing as well, and it’s not a subscription, I really like boringBar but can’t justify a subscription tho
nguyenkien 8 minutes ago [-]
Both are under 10MB, So I don't think there would be much difference.
bradley_taunt 22 minutes ago [-]
Looks excellent but I can’t wrap my head around how this is a subscription. Pricing the app even at a higher range ($40-50), one—time payment makes way more sense.
You could even require paying for “upgrades” for major updates in the future. (Similar to that of Sketch or some apps made by Panic)
applfanboysbgon 44 seconds ago [-]
Remember when we bought software, and owned the right to use it in perpetuity? Good times those were. Now fucking taskbars are SaaS. There is no end to rent-seeking behaviour. In a decade or two, I suppose we will not only be renting the right to use our computers, but also the mouse and keyboard will be time-gated rentals as well. Mousewheel and numpad only available on the Pro subscription, of course.
APock 16 minutes ago [-]
Of coarse its a subscription...
selfawareMammal 24 minutes ago [-]
Cant see how this app would fit into a subscription.
ssenssei 5 minutes ago [-]
it looks great, looks clean, seems like people want it.
nobody's paying a subscription for a taskbar. The business model here is a one time sale.
alsetmusic 21 minutes ago [-]
Wow, this looks very clean. I'm not the target audience, but if I was looking for a tool in this category, this would be highly attractive to me. Very subtle design that isn't distracting or busy. Well done!
aftergibson 5 minutes ago [-]
Looks nice, I'm forced to use OSX at work, but it's a hard no for another subscription.
nxpnsv 19 minutes ago [-]
I am using BoringNotch, which is great. Is this somehow related?
blueaquilae 13 minutes ago [-]
Is there some more expensive tiers to change the color or do I need to pay a premium?
Contexting 27 minutes ago [-]
Was looking for this exact solution.
temp0826 28 minutes ago [-]
Looks great. Subscription? Big ol nope.
eric-p7 22 minutes ago [-]
Imagine paying a subscription for your task bar.
johng 37 minutes ago [-]
Wow this looks really neat. I am going to have to give it a try.
35 minutes ago [-]
Rendered at 18:27:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) with Vercel.
Subscription is a big nope here, though. Especially for Mac software, I'd expect something where you pay for one major version, that is guaranteed to works on specific macOS versions, and gets minor bugfix updates too. But maybe the next macOS version requires a newer major version update to run, in which case you pay an upgrade fee to buy the next major version - or maybe the next major version has new features you might want to upgrade to as well.
My old Macs are stuck on 10.13, and I see Ubar mentioned elsewhere in this thread and that it's still compatible with 10.13. I might consider the $30 one off price to buy Ubar and keep it forever, but I wouldn't do a $10 subscription.
A subscription for a menu bar, though, kills it for me. I have apps on Macs that are over 20 years old. Some of those companies don’t exist anymore. I’m not going to risk paying $100 for a decade of your app and hope that your company, or your goodwill, stays around that long.
My thinking is pretty simple: most people will probably choose the basic 2-device plan, which works out to about $0.85 per month. For an app like this, I think that is a reasonable price.
Another reason is that a lot of Mac apps charge a one-time fee upfront, but then require paid upgrades later. In practice, that often ends up being similar to paying for a few years of ongoing support anyway.
I also think a low-cost subscription sets a clearer expectation that the app will continue to be maintained and kept working as macOS changes. For software like this, where OS updates can easily break things, that felt like the more honest model.
But I also understand I’m not the target audience for this, and some of my coworkers that wanted a Mac because “it’s a Mac” and now compare everything to Windows would probably use it. I’ll just have to feel bad for their wallets.
We really have entered the age of everything being a subscription.
The good news is someone definitely will (or perhaps already has) done this without one.
and https://noteifyapp.com/activedock/, which is less extreme but has a start menu-like launcher option
Both have one-time/lifetime purchase options. Taskbar is $25 one-time with a free but expiring older version. ActiveDock's one-time prices are $15 (1 year of updates, but usable forever) and $60 (lifetime updates).
You could even require paying for “upgrades” for major updates in the future. (Similar to that of Sketch or some apps made by Panic)
nobody's paying a subscription for a taskbar. The business model here is a one time sale.