DockPops 4 – iPhone folders right on your dock. Lower price, bigger folders, menu bar mode and tons more requested features
Hey r/macapps! I’m back with the latest version of DockPops full of changes thanks to your feedback. Seems like the category is heating up since last I posted, so first of all I’m happy to announce two major changes to the app: First, DockPops Premium price has dropped $1.99! Still just a one time purchase. Second, you can now buy DockPops directly from the website, with the added benefit that the direct version doesn’t need a companion app to unlock full functionality! Problem: The Dock is great, but it tends to become either a mile long or missing half the apps you actually use. macOS Stacks helps, but it is tied to real folders on disk and can get large and inflexible fast. DockPops solves this by adding iPhone-style app folders to the Mac Dock. Click the DockPops icon and a popover grid appears above the Dock. You can organize apps, files, folders, and Shortcuts into groups called Pops, swipe between them like pages, launch items instantly, launch an entire Pop at once, or pop a group out as a floating panel. What’s New in DockPops 4? Menu Bar Mode. You can set the main DockPops app to run in the menu bar so you can have all the individual Pop Icons in the dock without the main app taking up space. You can also access the carousel from the menu bar if you want. Improved Dock Icons. Individual dock icons no longer take up space on the CMD+Tab menu. You can also drag and drop new items directly onto the dock icon or hold for a second to open the pop and position directly wherever you want. More customization options. You can now fine tune things like the grid density, the on-hover highlight and even how far away from your Dock pops appear Improved file browsing + Quick Look support. If you add files or folders to your pops, you can drill into folders just like with native Dock Folders. Press Space Bar to open a quick look window Improved UX/UI. I cleaned up a lot in global settings and in the per-pop settings sidebar. It should make it easier to customize DockPops to your liking. Keyboard Navigation. Expanded keyboard navigation throughout. Use the arrow keys to highlight, enter to launch and space bar to Quick Look items Help Section. Added an extensive help section with How-Tos and feature explanations German and Spanish localizations. Comparison: Compared with macOS Stacks, DockPops is not tied to Finder folders. You can group apps, files, folders, and Shortcuts together without creating aliases or reorganizing anything on disk. You can also have multiple flexible groups and launch all items in a group with one click. Compared with keyboard-first launchers like Raycast or Alfred, DockPops is built for people who prefer visual, Dock-based launching. Those tools are great for command-driven workflows; DockPops keeps app groups in the place many Mac users already go to launch things: the Dock. Compared with other dock folder alternatives like FolderDock, DockPops has many more power user features and customization options like file browsing, Quick Look support, grid size and icon customization options. Pricing: DockPops has a free tier with 2 Pops and 6 items each. Premium is a one-time $1.99 unlock for up to 20 Pops, 25 items each, and the expanded customization/features. No subscription. Download for free in the App Store or a direct download here. Check out dockpops.com for more info, and check my comment below for some promo codes.
Collected discussion
Here's a promo code for the direct download version (first 10 people will get it for free): GWNTUZNA And here are some Mac App Store promo codes MHT3HRA8PPMM3EXMRX 8LMHLA67J6E7XEWJJP AA6L7PM88ENE8E66EH 7YHPXHM77ATYPYNLMN 3Y44FLRR666YYJHEEA WRTXR766TKHXL3FJXX K3WTAM7AYP6H78F4EA L6WRPJFRYXH7PRTPHH 386NWNAM7EKTERY7TF EPL7M68HH6HPPPT4TW
I guess when Activation does not work, the codes have been used already? How should it work in the App Store version btw?
You have to go through the purchase and enter as a discount code, it’s not a license code in itself. App Store instructions are here https://support.apple.com/guide/app-store/redeem-a-gift-card-or-download-code-fir075860b0c/mac
What is the Privacy Policy? The link on your website does not link to anywhere.
Thanks for the catch! I just overhauled the website so it must've gotten lost in the shuffle. Should be up momentarily but in a nutshell: Everything DockPops knows about you stays on your Mac. There are no analytics, no tracking, no cloud sync, and no telemetry. We don't run a server, and we never see your data.
You charged $9.99 when it was first released. Then, you ran a launch promotion for $6.99. And now it costs $1.99. Are you scamming early supporters?
Definitely not my intention. There weren’t other apps doing what DockPops did when I launched, so I priced it based on other apps of similar scope I surveyed the market. Since then, at least three other apps have taken their own take on the idea, and I’m pricing match the market. You can request a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com as I’d rather you do that than feel burned.
Yeah it’s a total mess. Even in the post he’s still talking about $4.99 and $1.99. What’s correct now? That looks more and more like a knee-jerk reaction on the developer's part. I mean, how can you cut the price in half twice in just a few minutes?
I guess it makes sense to be researched and solid in your initial proposition and stand by it. I’ve honestly never thought about how dramatically dropping price can impact the overall marketability negatively before.
I use https://apps.apple.com/us/app/folderdock/id6764864120?mt=12 which is cheaper and the difference I see is that your version supports folders and shortcuts?
So I paid $10 as an early buyer while your competitor had the correct $2 price from day one, and now you quietly drop yours to match it? Thanks for making early supporters look like idiots.
I do apologize and making anyone look like an idiot was definitely not my intention. There weren’t other apps doing what DockPops did when I launched, so I priced it based on other apps of similar scope I surveyed the market. Since then, at least three other apps have taken their own take on the idea, and I’m pricing match the market. You can request a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com as I’d rather you do that than feel burned.
Can I switch from the MAS version to the direct download version without losing my license?
The settings and pops will carry over but I currently don’t have a way to cross license.
Does it support hover instead of clicks? Then it would be awesome!
That’s probably one of the major features I got left, but I haven’t found a way to do it yet.
Both the menu bar mode and price drop feel smart after the last round of feedback. Does the menu bar version keep the system Dock untouched, and how does it handle multiple Spaces or Stage Manager with the iPhone-style folders?
The ideal use case for menu bar mode is alongside multiple dock icons. In that case, the main DockPops icon goes away (you might have to manually remove it if you had it pinned already) and you access your pops from each of their icons. However you can still access the carousel with all your pops through the menu bar, and you can choose whether the right or left click opens it
Thanks for the code for direct download version.
The iPhone folder interaction for dock groups is the right design choice. The default macOS Dock folder views, fan and grid, are unusably cramped for anyone with more than 5 items. Curious how DockPops handles apps in the folder that are not installed on this Mac, like when you share a dock configuration across machines or restore from backup. That edge case breaks most dock folder apps silently and you only find out when something that should be there is not.
I’m torn between DockPops and DockFolder. Currently using DockFolder it seems similar and bit simpler. Not exactly sure where the differences are between the two.
Great!!!
great improvement mate!!
Is it possible to change the icon of the folder?
Slow down!