Ondrej Holzman Users access the upper menu bar in macOS, or its right part, in different ways. Some don't want to see anything in it other than a few basic icons and data, while others can't fit in it at all because they have a lot of apps in there. If you belong more to the latter case or simply like order, the Bartender application may be for you.
Everyone has different applications or icons in the top menu bar. Individual applications behave differently - some are dependent on this position, with others you can choose between the dock and the top bar, and sometimes you don't need an icon at all. But usually you'll have at least a few apps in the menu bar whether you like it or not.
The most important thing about the icon of each application is whether its position in the menu bar is really necessary. This means, for example, if you regularly click on it, transfer files or indicate something to you, so you need to have it as easily accessible as possible. I currently have eight icons in the top bar, if I don't count system Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Time Machine and others, and I don't need to see at least half of them.
These include Fantastical, Dropbox, CloudApp, 1Password, magnet, f.lux, Tooth Fairy a Rocket. I've only recently started using a few of the named apps, which is why I've also started considering deploying the Bartender app, which I've known for a few years but haven't had much reason to use. However, as the line of offers filled up, I immediately reached for the Bartender and did well.
Bartender works as another application in the top bar, but you can easily hide all other items in the menu bar under its icon, so it serves as a folder where you can clean up everything you don't need. Of the applications I mentioned, 1Password, Magnet, Tooth Fairy, Rocket (I control everything via keyboard shortcuts) and f.lux, which operates automatically, went there immediately.
That left Fantastical, Dropbox and CloudApp. The Fantastical icon constantly shows me the current date and at the same time I don't even access the calendar other than through the top bar. I constantly drag and drop files onto the CloudApp icon, which are then automatically uploaded, and I also use Dropbox frequently. Each user's setup will certainly be different, but at least to give you an idea, I'll outline how it works.
Others will certainly welcome the fact that with Bartender they can arrange all the icons according to their preferences, both in the menu bar and in the Bartender folder, just press CMD and drag the icon to the selected position. Applications even inside the folder work exactly the same, they are just hidden. Bartender can have different forms: a bartender icon, but maybe just a simple bow tie, three dots, a star, or you can choose your own image.
In short, the user settings are very broad and you always choose how Bartender should behave in each specific application. For example, it can also make it appear in the main bar outside of the folder for a certain amount of time when an app is updated so that you know about it.
If you're interested in Bartender, you can have it at macbartender.com to download and try it for free for a whole month. In case you like it, you can buy a full license for less than 400 crowns, which is a fair price.
why f.lux when apple has its own night mode?
Because f.lux has more setting options (turn it off for a certain application, interrupt it for an hour, etc.).
Is the weather on his mind a fantastical, or will he appear there differently?
It's definitely a different app, but unfortunately I don't know which one.
I use free meteorologist for the weather in the bar https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4c25421b34937291cbf628db75ef28c1b7e928beb314d1fc00b3d2d9c3ed8b87.png
https://sourceforge.net/projects/heat-meteo/
Weird, I wonder where my Bartender app review went on this site
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d6a63fa4ef651b996725a17d3fdf89faafa8c9389acfdd8f15ac2bb6222a7dc0.png
'Sent in seconds' is also magical
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7d104252e102cd98a0f055d21439f84d72298aec55b543884ba12c2449c2207.gif
That's okay Mr. Holzman. You don't have to answer me.
I'll be happy to answer, I just didn't click on this thread over the weekend and only found the posts now. I've been trying to find out where the review went because I wasn't even aware it had been on here before, but I couldn't find it.
um um um, carrots in winter…
"Many users will certainly welcome it when Time Machine, Bluetooth or even the clock and battery status disappear from their eyes. Bartender can also hide these system items.”
Bluetooth can be hidden in the settings, Time Machine can also be hidden, the clock can be shrunk to a few pixels, and I have the impression that the battery status can normally be hidden too without having to have another application. If I don't use the icon, I hide it, if I use it often, I keep it there. Having it in the menu but at the same time covered is such a confident hybrid.
"Others will certainly appreciate that with Bartender they can arrange all the icons according to their preferences, both in the menu bar and in the Bartender folder, just press CMD and drag the icon to the selected position."
Yes, it works like this even without the application, the system can do it basically, so at least it worked that way with most of the icons. I would also like to point out that when the alto is pressed (I think?)
after clicking, you will see more information. For wifi, it's signal strength, for example,
IP addresses, wifi channel, etc. Which strikes me as much more important and useful advice than the whole bartending thing, and I don't remember the editors ever writing about it.
I don't use f.lux anymore, it's quite silly for me, but I understand that some people find it more pleasant as a system function. But otherwise, I don't really understand this style in people. The overview menu is clear and concise only as long as there are not too many items and functions. Just like in a car, I wouldn't want to have 200 icons and 179 buttons on the dashboard, but only the most used and most frequent ones, so I practice it on the computer as well.
In other words, against taste...just using it goes against the original meaning, and I think that if a person needs to have a lot of shortcuts and icons "at hand" at all costs, there are certainly better options than forced editing of the menu bar :-)
Today, in my opinion, it's also pointless, I don't see any real use for it. I once got a license for the application at my former job, so I tried it and I know that it was the only option to hide some system icons on the list (I think it was mainly about hours). Today, I think they all go native.
Yes, I have the impression that today they can all be hidden (that is, I didn't try it, I didn't have the need)... all the more I don't understand that the author wants such money for the app, if the app has minimal functionality today. No wonder they have to pay for advertising.
Personally, I have it mainly due to the fact that X applications have their icons in the top bar and I am not able to get rid of them other than by clicking them into Bartender... I don't solve the order and I don't let it hide the standard system icons, which I can hide through the settings...
These are DropBox, NextCloud, F.Lux (I tried NightShift but it's not the same), Magnet, SnagIt, OverSight…
As soon as these applications are able to disappear from the "menu bar", I will throw Bartender away, until then, for better clarity, I will use Bartender, because instead of X icons, I only have one and I can see what I really need...
It's just that they can't all be hidden. You can't hide Magnet, Tooth Fairy or f.lux, but they uselessly fill the menu bar, even though I definitely don't need to see them. But at the same time, I need to have them active. Hence Bartender. It is really possible to hide most of the system things in other ways, but at least before I thought that it was not possible to drag and drop all icons, but that has finally changed. But even if Bartender was to serve me only to cover icons that I don't need to see, but must be in the bar menu, then let it serve. But definitely not everyone needs it, that's clear.
I don't understand the argument that we should look for a free alternative at all costs. Especially when he's not here. The main function of Bartender (= hiding icons of third-party applications) cannot be replaced by the system. Otherwise, Bartender's developer doesn't even communicate with us, so he didn't pay for anything.
So you see, we are talking about a wolf and suddenly the free application Vanilla appeared. We are already testing it. http://matthewpalmer.net/vanilla/
It's not just vanilla, out of curiosity I googled "bartender free alternative" and there are quite a few. The very first search result offers 4 other options. You just have to search. Anyway, I didn't know about this website and will definitely check it out.
I will go through them, I found some, but the question is how current they are and if the developers still support them.
Just today I came across the Vanilla application from Matt Palmer - a much cheaper alternative (basically free, for versions for about 100 CZK) to download: http://bit.ly/2pFlo1V :-)
She is really hot news, I also came across her today and am already testing her. Review coming soon.