Blog
From the notch.
Guides for sizing the notch, volume and brightness, now playing, the timer, the module library, Noggin Lock, Canvas, install, Pocket, saves, updates, the arcade, voice memos, speed test, compress, and mic check. Changelogs live in their own list below.
Pinned
Install
How to install a DMG Apple hasn’t notarized
Drag Noggin to Applications, then Open Anyway in Privacy & Security. Gatekeeper will warn you. That’s the unsigned beta, not malware.
Modules
Install a module from the library
Five tiles plus Games and Pocket as notch icons ship with Noggin. Calculator, Canvas, and the rest install from Settings → Library.
Updates
How to update Noggin
Settings → General. Check for Updates at the top downloads the latest disk image. The notch also offers it after launch.
Guides
Notch
How to size the notch on your display
Edit on screen is the only way. Notch and expanded are two steps. The red line is on Noggin.
Notch
Volume and brightness, in the notch
Turn the bars on in Settings → Notch. Noggin hides the MacOS overlay.
Music Player
Now playing follows the source
Spotify, Music, or a YouTube tab. Pause in Noggin talks to whatever is actually playing.
Timer
A timer that stays in the notch
5, 15, or 25. Start it, leave home, Noggin keeps the countdown.
Voice memos
Record in the notch. Keep the take.
The coral mic is a notch icon. Record, rename, note, star, or save an MP3 to Downloads.
Speed test
Ping, down, and up, in the notch
A library tile. Run measures ping, download, and upload against Cloudflare in about twenty seconds.
Compress
Drop a file. Get a zip.
Drop onto the teal card, or Pick. Noggin writes a zip to Downloads.
Mic check
Hear yourself before the call
Tone plays Funk. Record a second, then play it back. A sanity check, not a saved memo.
Noggin Lock
Keep the notch closed while you work
Hover usually opens home. Noggin Lock stops that. Tap the lock on Noggin, or press ⌃⌥G from any app.
Saves
yt-dlp and ffmpeg, in the notch
YouTube save and Spotify save need two MacOS tools. yt-dlp fetches the file. ffmpeg writes MP3 and MOV. Install once, paste a link.
Arcade
How to play the games in the notch
Thirteen titles, each with a how-to. Pointer, a few keys, Esc back to the hub.
How to hold files in the notch
Drop a file onto Noggin. Drag it out later. Pocket is the coral tray icon.
Modules
How to add and remove modules in the notch
Tap + , jiggle, minus to take a tile off. Games, Pocket, and Calculator notch icons use − on the icon. Add modules puts it back.
Canvas
How to connect Canvas and use it in Noggin
A personal token from your school’s Canvas site, pasted once in Settings. Then double-click the notch for overdue work, due today, and what’s coming.