OrbitRing for Mac: Circular App Launcher Organizes Apps by Workflow
OrbitRing is a new macOS launcher that displays your apps in a circular menu around the cursor for faster switching and launching. It groups apps by category (e.g., Work, Creative, Communication) and lets you flip between those rings using trackpad gestures or the mouse scroll wheel. The aim is to cut Dock hunting and make context switching feel quick and natural.
The interface is lightweight and customizable. You can tailor which apps appear in each ring and how they’re ordered, so frequently used tools are always just a quick gesture away. Early listings indicate it can also launch files, folders, and URLs, keeping common resources one gesture from launch.
- Key features: Radial app layout centered on the cursor; category-based rings; switch rings via trackpad or scroll wheel.
- Customization: Choose included apps and shortcuts, reorder items, and adapt categories to your workflows.
- Platform: Requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later.
- Pricing: Free download with an optional in-app purchase (regional pricing may vary).
- Privacy: App Store privacy label indicates no data collection by the developer.
- Availability: Mac App Store and the official website.
Context: Pie/radial menus have long appealed to power users for quick tool selection. OrbitRing brings that idea to macOS app launching with a gesture-first design aimed at reducing friction when moving between tasks. If you already use Spotlight, Alfred, or Raycast for keyboard-driven launching, OrbitRing offers a complementary, cursor-centric approach.
Discussion: Would a circular launcher like OrbitRing speed up your daily app switching, or do you stick with Spotlight/Raycast and the Dock?
