Second, if you get into setting up a lot of automations with the Stream Deck, you’ll find yourself returning to its app over and over, unlike other accessories’ apps. I solved that problem by adding a button to the Stream Deck dedicated to surfacing its own app, but I shouldn’t have to waste a button with that. First, the app doesn’t show up when you Command-Tab between apps, which I do a lot. It’s not unusual for cross-platform accessories like the Stream Deck to use solutions like this for their setup apps, and I usually don’t mind because once they’re set up, you don’t need to use the app anymore, but two things bother me.

It’s built with something called Qt Toolkit, a cross-platform development tool I haven’t come across before. The software used to set up the device isn’t great either. This app certainly isn’t going to win any design awards. The device has a USB-C port on the back but ships with a USB-C to USB-A cable, requiring an adapter or replacement cable if you’re using it with many recent Macs. The Stream Deck sits firmly on a desk, but it feels cheap for a relatively expensive accessory. Overall, the Stream Deck works well, but I’m not a fan of its design compared to similar devices. That said, I’ve had the 32-button Stream Deck XL for the past two years and appreciate the expansive interface, which requires less action management and navigation than a smaller model would.īefore digging in further, it’s worth examining the Stream Deck’s hardware and software a little more closely. As I’ll cover more below, the Stream Deck supports folders, pages, and profiles, which means that even a smaller model can support more actions than it has buttons.

There are four Stream Deck models, one with 6 buttons, two with 15 buttons, and a 32-button model for prices ranging from $80 to $250. The app is straightforward, too, but powerful in the variety of actions it allows you to connect to the Stream Deck’s buttons. The device connects to your Mac via USB and serves as a push-button controller for your apps and automations, which you set up using the Stream Deck’s app. It’s just a panel of physical buttons, each of which has a tiny customizable LCD display.

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