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ORBIT · EARLY BETA

Installation & first use

Free beta · Apple Silicon · macOS 26.0+ · ad-hoc signed and unnotarized.

Install

  1. Quit any running Orbit preview or earlier beta. If replacing the development preview, first disable its Launch at login setting.
  2. Open the DMG. Drag Orbit.app to Applications. Do not run it from the DMG.
  3. Eject the DMG, then open Orbit from Applications and follow the welcome screen.
  4. If macOS blocks it, decide whether you trust the source. Apple explains the per-app approval process. Managed Macs may not permit approval. Do not disable Gatekeeper globally. If it is reported damaged or fails its checksum, stop and report the exact message.

Start with two gestures

Pinch three fingers inward and lift to open the wheel. Pinch again to close it. Menu-bar Show Ring is an alternative. Escape goes back; 1–6 selects a category and 1–4 selects a tool.

Slide one finger along the extreme right trackpad edge to change built-in display brightness. You can pause gestures or turn off individual gestures and haptics in Settings.

Choose optional permissions

Accessibility keeps the pointer still during edge gestures. Automation is needed only for the Music or Spotify player you explicitly connect. Screen Recording is needed for screen capture. Clipboard history starts off, and Launch at login is opt-in.

Local text generation requires an available, ready Apple Intelligence model. Translation may download languages. Image search needs an internet connection.

Media is experimental

Connect Music or Spotify in Settings → Media, then enable the left-edge gesture under Gestures. Slide to preview and lift to apply; leave the edge or add another finger to cancel. Hold Option for fine seeking. Player behavior still needs outside testing.

Keep your results

Next passes a result to a compatible tool. Carry keeps one draggable card. Click its title to restore; close dismisses it. Another Carry replaces the card. Save or copy results before quitting.

Update or remove

There is no automatic updater. Quit Orbit, replace its Applications copy with a newer beta from the same distributor, then reopen. Keep the previous installer for rollback. Ad-hoc updates may ask for permissions or Keychain access again. Saved pins are encrypted; Retry saved pins in Privacy settings if locked. Keep the Keychain key when preserving pins. Version 0.9.0 cannot read the new encrypted format. Removal instructions.

Read all known limitations or use the tester checklist.