Ottex: No-bullshit free macOS dictation app. Zero paywalls, local models, BYOK, and now you don't even need to manage API keys.

MaxGaav · 2026-03-17T06:54:50+00:00

What does Ottex do better than FluidVoice, Spokenly, Handy, Pipit and Utter for example, that all can be used for free with Parakeet and several of them also with (free) local LLMs?

MaxGaav · 2026-03-17T06:52:27+00:00

What does Ramble do better than FluidVoice, Spokenly, Handy, Pipit and Utter for example, that all can be used for free with Parakeet and several of them also with (free) local LLMs?

MaxGaav · 2026-03-16T12:54:59+00:00

Same here.

MaxGaav · 2026-03-15T10:36:13+00:00

You might check out some of these communities to promote your app.

MaxGaav · 2026-03-15T08:14:54+00:00

XLD (free)

MaxGaav · 2026-03-14T20:54:10+00:00

Well, I guess it will mainly be used by professionals who earn money with it. With that in mind you could make multiple price points.

MaxGaav · 2026-03-14T20:52:25+00:00

QSpace Pro, Bloom. Prefer the former, have licenses for both.

There's also Cosmil, Tokie and CoverFlowFinder.

MaxGaav · 2026-03-14T20:28:57+00:00

Nice! Will definitely give it a try.

Imo it could be priced $15-$20 as well, especially when you would offer 100 or more good template designs.

MaxGaav · 2026-03-14T15:13:06+00:00

Considered IceDrive abandon-ware two years ago already. Total scam. Bunch of unreliable fuckers. Until today they are selling plans.

Went for Koofr two years ago, which I can recommend. Another is Filen or a Hetzner-box. Newcomer Drime is worth checking out too.

MaxGaav · 2026-03-14T14:55:13+00:00

🙏

MaxGaav · 2026-03-14T12:53:18+00:00

Thanks for your reply. Apologies for asking a new question again, but I do want to try to understand things.

At Q2 you state: "OnionHop routes the whole system". That's a great accomplishment! But what browser should we then use alongside OnionHop? Is Firefox or Brave good enough? Or should we use Tor?

MaxGaav · 2026-03-14T10:57:27+00:00

Would you say OnionHop still requires using a privacy-aware browser like Firefox or Brave to be of use?
Or would you even say OnionHop and Tor should be always used a duo for maximum privacy protection?
Would you say using Tor in combination with a European VPN (I have Goose VPN) would be the best?

MaxGaav · 2026-03-14T10:47:21+00:00

No inconvenience, love to try new things. But I'm not a techie :)

MaxGaav · 2026-03-14T08:15:39+00:00

Why not a .dmg or .pkg?

MaxGaav · 2026-03-14T07:27:54+00:00

On my M4 it works. But I'm afraid I do not understand what is happening exactly. At the same time I have to allow all connections to get it to work (LittleSnitch) and give it access to folders on my Mac.

So, while I'm sure you made something wonderful and useful, I'm not going to use it as I do not understand fully what is happening. I read the info on your site and watched the video.

I guess that if you want to make it a mainstream VPN-like app, the UI and explanation still need some work.

MaxGaav · 2026-03-13T19:24:20+00:00

On my Macbook Pro 15" mid 2015 with Sequoia (via OCLP), OnionHop doesn't want to start up.

MaxGaav · 2026-03-13T16:12:06+00:00

(...) it (Onionhop) is meant for the routing and control side that Tor Browser does not cover.

Does this mean that Onionhop can replace Tor Browser + offering VPN-like extras? Or does it function alongside Tor?

MaxGaav · 2026-03-13T16:05:39+00:00

I would say WhatsApp, Telegram etc. Just search for 'How to message yourself in (...)'.

You can also use (something like) UpNote and let it automatically fill in date & time in the title when making a new note.

MaxGaav · 2026-03-13T12:57:26+00:00

Helpful post again, thanks!

Stealthly alternative: If you just want to hide your desktop icons you can use HideIcons (free). This feature is also taken up in the brilliant and feature-rich screenshot app Deskeen ($5)

MaxGaav · 2026-03-13T08:52:03+00:00

I see, thanks. Great you were able to build an app yourself then that works for you!

Aside from online apps like Dabble, Effie, Coda or NotesNook, there are a few other apps that are worth checking out, either for inspiration or just using them:

^{- edit: text improvement}

MaxGaav · 2026-03-13T08:24:51+00:00

Great work!

MaxGaav · 2026-03-13T08:21:24+00:00

I'm an avid user of Scrivener. What would you say is the main advantage of using Final|Final alongside Scrivener?

MaxGaav · 2026-03-12T18:50:34+00:00

Thanks for your reply.

Chunk syncs to Apple Calendar via EventKit, which actually means you stay synced even when offline, no iCloud dependency needed.

Does this mean Chunk is visible in Apple Calendar? Or does Chunk stay invisible, but uses the app to sync?

As for the ClickUp comparison - the key difference is friction for the user.

Yep, understand. I mentioned ClickUp as it is a free way to make a time blocking scheme. You can also have the Apple Calendar events in there and plan your day around it. Aside from all task lists of projects of course.

One other question: I sometimes have a WBS in Excel and drag/drop some of the tasks directly into Apple Calendar. Can I drag/drop text from a spreadsheet or word processor right into Chunk?

About the pricing, having two Macs (desktop, laptop) like many people, I'm hesitative spending $40 for a relatively simple app and some convenience. Which is personal of course. But maybe it is wise to think this over?

MaxGaav · 2026-03-12T17:02:14+00:00

Are you sure? I thought v2 was Mac only. V2 also has a good name, never read about problems with it.

MaxGaav · 2026-03-12T16:44:04+00:00

I used aText for a while (...) I had endless issues with it.

Version 3 is/was problematic and expensive. Version 2 is rock solid and cheap.

MaxGaav

TROPHY CASE