Ever because the iPhone obtained a Dynamic Island, Mac customers have needed one. The brand new MacBook Execs with the notch and the large menu bar do find yourself losing plenty of display real-estate up there. Would not or not it’s cool to get a few of the identical interactive options from the Dynamic Island on the Mac? An interactive music participant, a spot to set off shortcuts, or some nifty utility? NotchNook is an app that makes all of that attainable.
Media, calendar, and shortcuts
Credit score: Khamosh Pathak
NotchNook has an interactive media participant very harking back to the Dynamic Island. On the left of the notch, you see the album artwork, and on the suitable, an animated waveform. Because the observe modifications, the notch additionally animates. There are additionally gestures. You may swipe left or proper on the notch to rapidly change tracks.
Issues get much more fascinating while you click on the notch, although. The app expands to point out three sections. There is a extra detailed media participant that additionally reveals media taking part in in browser, not simply your apps. Then there is a Mirror choice. Click on it to get a small, reside digicam view that you should use to rapidly verify your self out earlier than you hop on a name.
The part within the center is kind of fascinating in the event you’re a Shortcuts consumer. Right here, you possibly can add as much as 4 Shortcuts for straightforward entry. This could be a good solution to set off your regularly used Shortcuts, with out going into the menu bar.
You may leap into the Settings to allow your Calendar view within the Nook as effectively. Options like notes and to-dos are coming quickly.
Tray for smoother file administration
Credit score: NotchNook
Personally, I discover the Tray characteristic fairly helpful. It serves as a spot to briefly acquire recordsdata from completely different locations, earlier than sharing them out.
Drag any file from Finder as much as the notch and you may see the Tray. Drop the recordsdata on the left facet of the notch to avoid wasting them in a group for later use.
Should you drag recordsdata to the suitable facet of the tray, it should immediately open the AirDrop menu so you possibly can rapidly share them to your iPhone, or every other Apple system close by. I discover myself utilizing NotchNook for this usually, as I share recordsdata to my iPad usually, and this protects me two right-clicks.
Because it stands although, the Tray characteristic is kind of primary. The one solution to take away recordsdata from the Tray is to pull them out, and you’ll’t actually do the rest with them, like set off any automation and even create a shareable hyperlink (these options can be found in drag and drop apps like Dropover).
General although, NotchNook is a rather well designed piece of software program, and whereas there are a lot of methods to combine media gamers, a calendar and Shortcuts into the Menu bar, no app does it with this stage of finesse and elegance. The app is on the market as a two-day free trial, however then prices both $3 a month, or $25 to purchase outright. A subscription for a utility would not make a lot sense, so we might advocate shopping for the app outright. You can too get 35% off by tweeting in regards to the app.
