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uBar 3

uBar is a system utility that puts more power in the default System Dock. Boost your productivity with the most advanced and versatile app and window manager for the Mac.

u Bar Demo

Yes you do have choices when it comes to the System Doc.

Some users have switched from Apple's Dock to uBar because they want more control of their taskbar. Some users find the Dock to be boring and want the ability to customize the dock.

While there are some visual similarities with Windows Start Menu, uBar offers a lot more functionality and power features. However, if you are migrating from a Microsoft system, you may find uBar to help navigate around the computer.

Features of uBar 3

  • Hover over the Date Time to see the Month Calendar and a cool looking Clock
  • Easy Access to Terminal
  • Windows at a Glance - Know how many windows an application has open
  • App Title Flashes when it needs your attention
  • Activity Mode - See what percent of CPU usage each application is using
  • Custom Themes - Make the uBar dark or light or any color you want.
  • Application Progress Indicator - See the tack positions of multimedia apps like iTunes and VLC
  • Much More

Some Notes

  • It does take some time to get use to the difference between uBar and the Apple Doc
  • I found that removing the application title helps keeps the uBar
  • Having a monthly calendar is very handy.
  • uBar's application favorites is how you can drag and drop files to open in an application.
  • You can exclude application from appearing in the uBar
  • I couldn't find an explanation between the Taskbar and Dock.

Overall Assessment

I actually had an old license copy of uBar from the MacHeist Bundle in 2015. I haven't used it much over the years and decided to check it out again.

It was fun playing around with the toolbar. It does change the look and feel of the computer. Before you would see a bunch of icons on the bottom of the screen, now you see a nice bar at the bottom. It does feel like a new computer system.

I don't think I'll keep using it on regular bases. Over the past year, I have learned to work with the dock hidden. While you can certainly keep the uBar hidden, I just don't think it's something worth upgrading to.

I have also gotten use to opening and navigating applications via LaunchBar.

Don't take my word for it, download the application and play with it yourself. Spend some time playing with the settings and setting favorites.

 

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As someone who has worked on Macs since 1989, I will use my experience to share tips and tricks with you on Fridays. As a Mac user since 1989, I have seen the evolution of Mac software and hardware, and I know how Mac computers work. I also know how to troubleshoot and fix Mac problems that can arise.

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