{
  "id": 1521772,
  "title": "AirBuddy 3 now available with new Action HUD, widgets, Now Playing, deeper automation, more",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/airbuddy-3-now-available-with-new-action-hud-widgets-now-playing",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-17T17:00:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "9to5Mac",
    "slug": "9to5mac",
    "url": "https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/17/airbuddy-3-now-available-with-new-action-hud-widgets-now-playing-deeper-automation-more/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "AirBuddy 3 arrives with over 150 enhancements, available for Mac. This update surpasses its predecessor by adding a redesigned Action HUD, widgets, Now Playing, and enhanced automation. Upon launching, users encounter a revamped Action HUD, customizable to display specific data like battery alerts. This can be placed anywhere along the top of the screen, in large or small layouts. The Dashboard has also been redesigned, now supporting Liquid Glass on macOS Tahoe and beyond. The Action HUD integrates supported events directly with the camera housing on MacBook models featuring a notch. AirBuddy 3 introduces a set of custom widgets, accessible anywhere on the desktop for battery levels, AirPods controls, and media playback. A major addition is Now Playing, offering artwork, playback info, and media control across the desktop, Lock Screen, Action HUD, or macOS widgets. This widget showcases artwork and current playback details, activated via a global keyboard shortcut. Expanded automation capabilities see AppleScript inspecting device and battery status, audio routes, listening modes, and executing actions like device connection or disconnection, toggling Audio Input Lock, and initiating Magic Handoff. Shortcuts have been broadened to control system features such as Dark Mode, True Tone, Night Shift, display brightness, Spatial Audio, Bluetooth connections, and Magic Handoff. Users can also prevent AirPods, Now Playing, and Battery Alert HUDs from appearing during selected Focus periods. Audio Input Lock, a new feature, ensures consistent microphone or input device usage by selecting up to two preferred inputs. It can be toggled via keyboard shortcut or Shortcuts action, with notifications for device changes. Underneath, AirBuddy 3 hosts a mobile-device engine improving battery and charging info accuracy for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch while cutting background CPU and power usage. Compatible with macOS 14 or later, AirBuddy 3 costs $20, with free or reduced upgrades for existing users. Availability on Setapp is imminent.",
  "summary": "Packing more than 150 new features and improvements, AirBuddy 3 is now available for Mac, further expanding the app’s utility beyond managing AirPods and other nearby Apple devices. Here’s what’s new.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}