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Guides

Practical fixes for things the Mac doesn't do on its own, each with the free way first. Written while building Halo.

• Know when Codex is done
  Codex's own notifications and notify command, or every Codex session in the notch.
• Check your AirPods battery on a Mac
  The Bluetooth menu, System Settings, a widget, one Terminal line, or every device in the notch.
• A Dynamic Island on an external monitor
  Why notch apps go blank on a monitor, and an island on every display with Halo.
• Best Mac notch apps in 2026
  Seven notch apps compared on price, screens without a notch, notifications and AI agents, plus what 1,744 bug reports say goes wrong.
• A Now Playing widget on your Mac
  macOS's own controls in the menu bar, or the song, artwork and lyrics in the notch.
• Know when Cursor's agent is done
  A sound with Cursor's own hooks, or every agent in the notch.
• Dictate into any app on a Mac
  macOS's Dictation, and hold-a-key dictation on your Mac or with Whisper.
• Notifications in the notch
  Tame macOS banners, or show them in the notch instead of the corner.
• Know when Claude Code is done
  Three ways to hear or see when Claude Code finishes or needs you.
• External monitor brightness on a Mac
  Why the keys don't work on your monitor, and how to fix it over DDC.