Buchen, the bookmark manager for Apple Vision Pro, is a refreshingly straightforward tool designed to streamline the organization and management of bookmarks across multiple browsers. Pronounced like “bookin'” this app is geared towards users who need to save, share, and organize links effortlessly.
One of the standout features of Buchen is its tagging interface, which allows users to easily add new tags and suggests existing ones, making the organization process intuitive and efficient. The app also supports the organization of bookmarks into folders and sub-folders, providing a hierarchical structure that can cater to even the most complex bookmarking needs. Users can add notes to their bookmarks, further enhancing the ability to categorize and recall specific information associated with each link.
Buchen supports both import and export of bookmarks in JSON or HTML formats. This feature is particularly handy for users migrating from other platforms or needing to back up their data. If the imported bookmarks come with additional fields such as the added date, tags, or notes, Buchen integrates this information seamlessly, ensuring no data is lost during the migration process.
For those who frequently add bookmarks, the app offers shortcuts for adding or searching bookmarks, making the process quicker and more convenient. The “Add Bookmark” action in the Share Sheet allows users to save links directly from Safari and other apps, further streamlining the process of bookmark management.
The app is equipped with a variety of keyboard shortcuts, particularly beneficial for iPad users, enhancing the overall efficiency and ease of use. Another innovative feature is the ability to create QR Codes in various colors for bookmarks, which can be viewed or shared directly from the bookmark detail view or through a left swipe or long press on a bookmark.
Users can choose between different bookmark styles in the Bookmarks and Tags sections, and navigating to a tag from any bookmark is straightforward if the chosen style displays its tags. Customization options extend to the app and widgets’ color scheme, allowing users to personalize their experience.
Buchen also offers the ability to select which browser will open a bookmark, provided the browser is installed on the device. This flexibility is a significant advantage for users who prefer browsers other than Safari. To maintain security, Buchen can be locked with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. Users can opt for full lockdown or allow widgets and shortcuts to display data for convenience.
Search functionality within Buchen is robust, allowing users to search bookmarks by name, URL, notes, browser, tags, or creation date in the YY-MM-DD format. This feature ensures that users can quickly locate specific bookmarks without hassle.
The app also features widgets in multiple sizes – Medium, Large, and Extra Large – enabling users to open links directly from the widget. Lock screen widgets offer quick access to bookmarks, tags, and folders, thus enhancing accessibility.
Import and export features are comprehensive, supporting Buchen JSON format, Firefox JSON backup files, and standard bookmark HTML files. Notes from HTML imports require the Delicious/Pinboard HTML format. The flexibility in data handling ensures that Buchen can adapt to different user preferences and needs.
Developed by William Baer, Buchen is available for free, offering a cost-effective solution for bookmark management. While the app receives positive feedback for its core functionalities, some users have noted areas for improvement. For instance, there are requests for the ability to import folders of bookmarks and better ways to rearrange bookmarks. The current search/add section is also mentioned as taking up too much space on small phone screens. Despite these minor setbacks, users appreciate the app for managing browsing among frequently visited sites. Adding folders and improving bookmark rearrangement features could elevate Buchen to a “must-have” status.
Buchen is a promising tool for managing bookmarks on Apple Vision Pro. It combines ease of use with powerful features, making it suitable for users who value organization and efficiency in their digital life. With a few tweaks and updates, it has the potential to become an indispensable app for bookmark management.
