Start Menu for Mac 0.8.2 released - Testers Wanted!

A beta release of Start Menu for Mac, the new customizable app launcher for macOS from First Letter Software, is now available for testers and early adopters craving the latest and greatest, and are willing to tolerate a few inevitable bugs.

What's New

• Bug fix: Crash on startup if an app that appeared in the Recent Apps menu was uninstalled
• Bug fix: Sluggish UI responsiveness when launching an app that doesn't open a window by default, e.g. Docker
• Bug fix: In System Settings, the Login Items name for Start Menu for Mac shows the developer name, not app name
• Other fixes and improvements

How to Get It

Head over to the Download page on the First Letter Software website and click the download button for your Mac (Apple Silicon or Intel Mac). Save the DMG file, then double-click it and follow the instructions to install.

Testers who have installed the previous beta, version 0.8.1, will need to uninstall it first before installing this release.

Things You Should Know About

• This beta release is available free of charge, but expires 90 days after installation, after which it will stop working.
• If you installed an older beta release, uninstall it first before installing the latest release.

Help and Support

Questions and comments about Start Menu for Mac should be posted to the discussion forum on GitHub.

If you find a bug, you may file a bug report on GitHub. Please search the issues list first to confirm that your issue has not already been reported.

Future Announcements on First Letter Software Products

To keep this blog focused on Firefox and Thunderbird extensions from AE Creations, news and announcements on Start Menu for Mac will be found in the News section of the First Letter Software website.

Introducing Start Menu for Mac: the app launcher for macOS

As far back as 2012 when I made the switch from PC to Mac as my at-home daily driver, I've missed the Start Menu in Windows, where all the applications on my computer were in one place, neatly organized into folders or pinned to the Start Menu itself. I don't like the Launchpad where I have to wade through rows and rows of icons to find my desired app. I've tried a few app launcher apps for macOS, but none comes close to the experience that I wanted.

So, I finally made my own. 

Start Menu for Mac adds a popup menu to the macOS desktop menu bar, where you can find your apps all in one place. Out of the box, the standard macOS apps are organized by app categories. Organize your apps by selecting an app category from the context menu, or use the Organizer for greater control. Your installed apps are always available to browse in the All Apps menu, or click Search to look for an app by name. No more wading through endless rows of icons to find your desired app.
 

Start Menu for Mac is brought to you by First Letter Software, a new brand that I'm using for standalone software, distinct from my Firefox and Thunderbird extensions currently released under the AE Creations name.

Testers Wanted!

Version 0.8.1 is the first public beta release of Start Menu for Mac, aimed at testers, power users and enthusiasts who crave the latest and greatest! Get it from the First Letter Software website at firstlettersoftware.com/startmenu4mac.

Start Menu for Mac is compatible with macOS 13 Ventura and newer, on Apple Silicon and Intel Mac devices.

Things You Should Know About 

• This beta release is available free of charge, but expires 90 days after installation, after which it will stop working.
• Automatic updating is not yet available. Check back at the First Letter Software website for the latest release.

Help and Support 

Questions and comments about Start Menu for Mac should be posted to the discussion forums over at GitHub which is set up to support beta testing.

If you find a bug, you may file a bug report on GitHub. Please search the issues list first to confirm that your issue has not already been reported.