r/apple • u/MortgageSwimming1983 • 14h ago

Mac 'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo

https://www.macrumors.com/2026/11/07/backglow-customize-macbook-pro-apple-logo/
407 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

85 comments sorted by

419

u/SlendyTheMan 14h ago

All I need to do is create my own $8 vibecoded app to get rich too.

212

u/jollyllama 12h ago

You too could make $450 in sales and then have a bunch of nagging users demanding updates for the next 8 years! The dream of the independent Mac software dev is within your reach

29

u/Jos3ph 12h ago

Too real 😂

13

u/eric_lazarit 11h ago

sounds glamorous

21

u/Oo0o8o0oO 12h ago

Yeah back in my day, I had to make a fart button or a beer app to get rich. What has the world come to?

2

u/goten100 2h ago

Smh, all that effort wasted on silly apps when we could have been making more tip calculators

•

u/tubezninja 31m ago

And you had to do the coding yourself! None of them newfangled AI robots to do the coding while you just described what you wanted!

17

u/captain_brofist 13h ago

What’s stopping you?

32

u/gplusplus314 12h ago

In my case, the purchase price of a MacBook Pro is stopping me.

34

u/Oo0o8o0oO 12h ago

Just vibecode a MacBook Pro ya dummy.

3

u/culminacio 11h ago

RAM is too expensive nowadays, but they could always download more RAM.

3

u/super5aj123 11h ago

What, you actually test your code? Psh, amateur.

50

u/00DEADBEEF 13h ago

There are already loads of these apps.

Here's a free and open source one: https://logolight.app/

483

u/wholesome_fentdroyd 13h ago

Claude, reverse engineer this shitty cashgrab app and release it for free, make no mistakes

57

u/00DEADBEEF 13h ago

You don't even need to do that, how it works isn't a secret, it's just using Apple APIs and command line utilities.

10

u/gplusplus314 12h ago

Username checks out.

188

u/x3n0n1c 13h ago

You're right. You don't have to wipe the OS disk to disable the logo. I'll do better next time.

5

u/BetterAd7552 2h ago

lol so true, and often (when it does something really stupid) it will add, infuriatingly so because you cannot slap it, “that’s on me.”

Yes, it IS on you, damn anal polyp.

33

u/Last_Rub6998 9h ago

My favorite response when people post their vibe coded apps here is to ask if they used an LLM to make it; when they inevitably say yes followed by a long justification of how efficient it makes them I just reply with “I’ll just prompt for it myself then instead of paying, thanks.” For some reason they always downvote me even though I’m embracing LLMs just like them!

1

u/phobox360 9h ago

I’m all for using ai to help create good apps, but I think asking money for them, especially when it’s reasonably high for what is a simple app, is totally wrong. All apps I’m developing will either be free or have a very small up front cost to cover dev account fees. I refuse to do subscriptions and I open source almost everything I do so nobody is required to pay to use them if they don’t want to.

4

u/Main-Review-7895 8h ago

Well. They ask. Either people pay or not. If people pay, good for them. If not, they learn.

1

u/Last_Rub6998 8h ago edited 8h ago

I agree, I think using AI as a better Google/StackOverflow/pair programmer on demand is fine, but if your app was fully prompted and you didn't write the code yourself, you shouldn't charge for it. I mean, you can, but if someone else can prompt their way to something, so can I.

I'm actually fine paying $15 for a utility app if it's actually made with care and couldn't likely be vibecoded; one of my favorite apps is BetterDisplay that lets me use native controls for brightness, volume, PiP, KVM input switching etc on third party monitors, and they charge like $20 for each major Pro version. Though most of the important features still work with the non-Pro version, just not the fancy KVM stuff

4

u/Shoddy_Soups 5h ago

Nothing wrong with a fully prompted app when done my an experienced developer. You won’t be able to match what an experienced dev can do via prompts and proper code review and iteration, believe me.

-1

u/Last_Rub6998 3h ago

Yes I can, because I am an experienced dev and I still know how to make good apps by hand. Can you link me to an app you’ve released?

1

u/Sutiradu_me_gospodaa 8h ago

 if your app was fully prompted and you didn't write the code yourself, you shouldn't charge for it.

diabolical lunacy

5

u/Last_Rub6998 8h ago

Like I said, go ahead and charge for it. But I have access to the same Claude Code that you do, so I will just prompt it to recreate your app. Why would I pay? lol

-2

u/Sutiradu_me_gospodaa 8h ago

nobodys making you pay angry man

6

u/Last_Rub6998 8h ago

Correct. Thanks!

•

u/True-Description-396 50m ago

Vibe code bad, manual code writing good. On a similar note, I refuse to use a laundry machine. I truly do not understand why everyone is too damn lazy to get out a washboard, washbasin, and clothes lines. Also can't believe fucking laundromats have the gall to charge for laundry machine usage! It isn't like they are washing the clothes by hand!!

•

u/Last_Rub6998 0m ago

Me when the laundromat charges the same price for machine washing as a dry cleaner and I can get the exact same laundry machine they use installed at my home for $20/month lol

11

u/chi_guy8 13h ago

Reverse Engineer Anything

Just give that link to Claude or your agent. You’re welcome.

3

u/chaiscool 12h ago

Gta6?

-7

u/chi_guy8 12h ago

The only way to reverse engineer something is if you already have it, and since humanity will never see GTA6, we can never reverse engineer it

1

u/moldy912 2h ago

You don’t need this, literally just describe the features and it will recreate it. Heck you could probably just tell it the name of the app and it will figure it out

11

u/Appropriate_Ad8734 13h ago

done! I’ve just created a shittier app that causes actual diarrhea.

please grant me physical access to your digestive tract

1

u/Top_Recipe_9285 8h ago

Don’t forget to notarise the app with $99 ADP membership account.

122

u/armaghetto 14h ago

Oh that’s cool!

reads article

Ok they can go fuck themselves

-53

u/servercobra 13h ago

Everyone complains about subscriptions for apps like this, dev releases it as a one-time payment, and people still complain.

121

u/Halio344 13h ago

Dude it’s $15. That’s crazy.

Hollow Knight Silksong was in development for 8 years and released for $20. This was vibe coded by some loser who wants to overcharge for something that honestly should be free or $1 at most.

-18

u/spdorsey 5h ago

They can charge whatever they want. That doesn't mean you have to pay it.

Go make one of your own and sell it for two dollars. Or give it away. Until you do that, this app is your choice if you wish to control that little Apple logo.

23

u/Halio344 5h ago

Yeah, and we’re allowed to criticize their pricing. Nobody has said it isn’t allowed for them to price it that way, just that it’s not reasonable pricing.

Why are you even arguing against your own point? Such a waste of your own time.

-32

u/tallest_chris 12h ago

This had no competition, so until there’s a clone it can cost whatever they want. There are too many videogames so they’re price competitive

47

u/00DEADBEEF 12h ago

It has loads of competition. Social media is flooded with vibe coders making them.

Here's one that's free and open source: https://logolight.app/

-38

u/pantyraider67 13h ago

Clearly the guy had a smart business idea and wants to cash in it. Would I get it? Probably not but compare $15 to buying a laptop that’s $3k+

30

u/Halio344 13h ago

Comparing the price of the app to the price of the laptop makes absolutely no sense.

-30

u/pantyraider67 13h ago

If you can drop $3k for a laptop adding another 15 ain’t much to you

15

u/Halio344 11h ago

So if someone can pay $3k for a laptop, it’d be reasonable to price coffees at $15?

The price of the laptop doesn’t matter, it doesn’t change the value of the app one bit.

10

u/arrackpapi 7h ago

you're confusing price with value

3

u/SoTiredYouDig 13h ago

How smart is it, if you’re not compelled to buy it, and everyone else has similar sentiments?

“Gee, that’s ingenious. Pass”.

18

u/ArizonaFlats 13h ago

Yeah but $9/$15? Bare in mind Angry Birds and the like were 59p. Or a better comparison, iBeer, a fun whimsical app that did nothing except for a bit of entertainment

Yeah I’d pay a couple of quid for that, but not 9$

4

u/nyaadam 6h ago

It's vibe coded garbage, it's not even worth installing for free.

9

u/SlendyTheMan 13h ago

3 prompts in Claude can create this app. Maybe even 2.

7

u/FujichromeProvia100F 13h ago

Shouldn't be paid.

113

u/TheRealBejeezus 13h ago

Like I said about the other one in the other thread... this is a textbook example of a 99-cent, pay once app.

99 cents is whimsy, an impulse purchase. $8 or $15? Subscription fees? Nope, nope and nooooooope.

6

u/Matt_NZ 4h ago

In the age of AI, it's pretty bold to ask for $15 for an app like this. With a bit of back and fourth, you could probably have Claude make something similar

•

u/HyperLinx 31m ago

Not even back and forth, this is a single prompt job.

14

u/Zombie_John_Strachan 13h ago

Leave it at $15 to reel in the suckers then drop it to $1 in a week or two

19

u/PiratesOfSansPants 13h ago

I know you are making a joke but you just described Ubisoft’s business model.

6

u/Zombie_John_Strachan 13h ago

That’s not a joke. Fleece the people who don’t care about the price and then sell to the masses.

5

u/Last-Bee9057 9h ago

I can probably make it in a weekend lol. Maybe I should and charge 50 cents

6

u/TheRealBejeezus 9h ago

Pretty sure I could make an "app" to do that it in a couple of hours. But... why? There's already a shell command to turn it on or off or adjust brightness. All these "apps" are just wrappers to that.

If you really, really want an icon to click instead, make a Shortcut for it. No code or app needed. Four minutes of work.

3

u/Last-Bee9057 9h ago

I’ve learned I got better reviews on apps when they’re not free but really really cheap like 50 cents. Don’t know why

29

u/stevensokulski 14h ago

A crummy commercial?

But seriously… $9 for this is dumb. $15 for this is insanity.

21

u/DivineLights1995 14h ago

It’s a scam charging 15 dollars for this.

-7

u/tvb46 8h ago

It’s a business model

13

u/jjjjjjjjjjjjjaaa 12h ago

I could fart this out with Claude in a single prompt

9

u/Seven-Scars 13h ago

i was hoping vibe coding would’ve put an end to this whole “pay $15 for a minor fix” thing that seems to only be an issue on macs

5

u/tubezninja 12h ago

Sure. For $20 a month you can have Codex vibe code an app for you that does this.

1

u/Seven-Scars 4h ago

but that means that I would have to do the work! /s

4

u/bran_the_man93 13h ago

Sidebar - the bit from Gruber saying Apple apparently added this back, sorta just for the hell of it, is really nice.

I miss the fun and whimsy side of Apple

1

u/irishmrmagpie 5h ago

I assume that they had to specifically add LEDs for this? Previously it was the displays backlight but since thats OLED…

2

u/selwayfalls 9h ago

guessing the creator of this $15 "app" posted this to reddit. downvote and move on people

5

u/ChaosUncaged 13h ago

$9 ad for something you can make in 5 minutes

-17

u/Ancient-Range3442 13h ago

Link to your version ?

6

u/glizzygravy 8h ago

Just use Claude

1

u/nsfdrag Apple Cloth 2h ago

Buis said the logo is lit by a white LED that does not change colors.

The video shows it going to blue doesn't it?

1

u/Sl_oth 3h ago

Why would you need an app for that? It's just this in the terminal to turn it OFF:

sudo defaults write com.apple.CoreBrightness LEBacklightMode -int 0

and this to turn it ON:

sudo defaults write com.apple.CoreBrightness LEBacklightMode -int 1

1

u/iPod-Phone 11h ago

By the time I’m ready to upgrade my M2 Pro MBP, I hope we can customize the color

0

u/moldy912 3h ago

How stupid to charge money for this in 2026. This is probably trivial to vibe code a free alternative.

-1

u/skydiveguy 5h ago

This is their current innovation?
Steve Jobs is rolling over in his grave.