If little snitch can block internet connection of bartender maybe the app would not be able to be updated remotely.
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PSA: Bartender Mac App Under New Ownership, But Lack of Transparency Raises Concerns
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Well, at least there has to be alternatives.
One app I use on windows called Listary, it has no alternative in windows and dev has no interest to bring it to macOS. But that app is incredible. I use The 5.00 all the way until recently when dev comes back after long break to bring Listary 6 with tons of updates.
If something changes with how the MenuBar particulars work on the OS side (could be something very small), you'll get stuck using older macOS though
I wouldn't fight it -- there are other great alternatives as have been mentioned in this thread
Overblown nonsense. The new owners do not owe you their life story. There is zero reason for concern. This is manufactured nonsense.
It really isn't given the amount of permissions the app needs to run. There needs to be transparency from the developers
Thank you so much! I've been searching for an open source alternative for over a year now! I'm excited to try this out!
I last used bartender 3, before notched Macs existed. Do you need all of those menu bar icons? I’d quit apps altogether if it’s unmanageable. That’s up to you though… I also use display scaling, with a side effect of my menu bar icons being further from the notch.
What happened is definitely not how transfers of ownership usually take place, so it makes perfectly sense for users to be concerned.
It's true that the new owner does not owe its users their "life story", but neither said users owe the new owner any trust.
Depends if the next MacOS messes anything up
I just downloaded both. I'm going to run with Ice for now. It does seem to offer more options.
Some app developers have a check box to not use the menu bar, It would help if all of them would. But I imagine they think it's good that people have to see their app all day long.
My favorite part of Bartender is being able to split the menubar up into 2 sections / sides.
Does anyone know of other apps that do the same thing?
Does anyone know of other apps that do the same thing?
Speaking of ObDev, Patrick Wardle (Founder) just posted this-Little Snitch (or Micro Snitch) are owned and operated by Objective Development Software GmbH.
Objective Development — Network Monitoring & Productivity Software for macOS
Discover powerful applications such as Little Snitch Mini, Little Snitch, LaunchBar and Micro Snitch.obdev.at
They've always been VERY open about things on Social Media. I'm almost positive they're NOT selling. Although anything can happen, right?
Bartender app's new owner has burnt years of good-will with a lack of transparency
Popular app Bartender was quietly bought, and a shady certificate replacement, insertion of invasive telemetry, and a lack of transparent responses by the new owners has shaken confidence in the Mac community
Yes, I need them all, unless I'm ok with sacrificing productivity. All of the icons I have are from background processes that provide useful functionality. And I often use the icons to interact with them.
It's completely manageable when I'm docked and using a larger monitor. I only run Bartender when I take my computer to a coffee shop and have the notch problem. I have 18 items in the menubar. I reviewed them just now and I can imagine getting rid of just one without impact (the Siri button).
I'm going to miss Bartender if this situation isn't cleared up. But, it's way too soon to think something is seriously wrong.
For now, I've just turned off "Check for updates automatically". I've also copied the application bundle to another place on disk so that I can easily put it back if something updates the version I'm running.
I've started to found a lot (and I mean a lot) of blocked DNS request to api2.amplitude.com in my Control D dashboard:
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there's a try every 30 seconds, and this started when I upgraded Bartender.
I try to figure out what was that domain (that is blocked by default by the "Ads&Tracker" filter of Control D) and digging around I found that CleanMyMac X reported some "orphan" application leftovers:
![]()
I uninstalled all of them and, obviously they reappeared as soon as Bartender started.
I've also tried to block the domain with Little Snitch (version 6.0) and it stated that it blocked:
![]()
but in my Control D dashboard I keep seeing those request to api2.amplitude.com from my Mac.
so, not only the newer Bartender version contains that pesky tracking SDK, but also Little Snitch doesn't seem to work properly (I don't use iCloud Private Relay, I don't use any VPN, etc).
anyway, I uninstalled Bartender, removed any leftovers and installed "Hidden Bar" from the App Store. less polished, less functionality, but no "record my desktop" permission to work, so I'm fine with it.
And now in my Control D dashboard I'm flooded only by the Philips Hue Bridge trying to contact diag.meethue.com 🤣
there's a try every 30 seconds, and this started when I upgraded Bartender.
I try to figure out what was that domain (that is blocked by default by the "Ads&Tracker" filter of Control D) and digging around I found that CleanMyMac X reported some "orphan" application leftovers:
I uninstalled all of them and, obviously they reappeared as soon as Bartender started.
I've also tried to block the domain with Little Snitch (version 6.0) and it stated that it blocked:
but in my Control D dashboard I keep seeing those request to api2.amplitude.com from my Mac.
so, not only the newer Bartender version contains that pesky tracking SDK, but also Little Snitch doesn't seem to work properly (I don't use iCloud Private Relay, I don't use any VPN, etc).
anyway, I uninstalled Bartender, removed any leftovers and installed "Hidden Bar" from the App Store. less polished, less functionality, but no "record my desktop" permission to work, so I'm fine with it.
And now in my Control D dashboard I'm flooded only by the Philips Hue Bridge trying to contact diag.meethue.com 🤣
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Ands what was so special about the previous owner? They are just like anyone else. The way people are falling over themselves out of faux concern is ridiculous.
Do tell what the previous owner did specifically to engender trust. I'm sure you all researched him thoroughly before buying Bartender, and didn't just download it immediately from the website and try it, like it and buy it. Oh wait, that's exactly what all of you did who are now pretending to care about the owner.
I 100% guarantee you knew nothing about the previous owner. You clicked 1 button on his website years ago.
Whhaaatt you don't want a secret version of Microsoft's Recall on your Mac? Why not? lol
Yeah, I'm thinking the same. I haven't felt good about it ever since the screen recording stuff happened. I think I'm ready to either move on to something else or just live with the icons. Too many icons up there is god's way of telling me I need to curate my damned software.
I found an amplitude folder under ~/Library/Caches that was created May 17 that has some Bartender files in it.
How do you know anything about how he sold his company? Everything could have been done totally above board and adhering to all applicable laws. The original developer is under no obligation to let us know anything...although if he wants to develop some new app in the future and wants us to pay for it - he has some explaining to do before many would buy it.