Hookmark 7 product road map: better bookmarking, recommendations, AI and more

We’re hard at work on Hookmark 7, which will bring several exciting improvements. We’d like to get your feedback on this, so are sharing some highlights of this series, including:

  • Bookmark syncing with Anybox and DEVONthink. If/when Raindrop.io becomes link-friendly, we will sync with it too.
  • Tag syncing between Hookmark and other apps (Finder and bookmarking apps).
  • Support manually adding and editing bookmarks with additional fields: URL + name + description + tags.
  • The RELATED section of Hookmark’s Context window is backed by a recommendation system. Hookmark7+ will provide smarter recommendations. These won’t just draw from Hookmark’s own database — for example, when you invoke Hookmark on an item in DEVONthink, you’ll also see DEVONthink’s recommendations alongside Hookmark’s. Another example: invoke Hookmark on a contact in Apple contacts, and Hookmark will show you the links in that Contact. If a web-page corresponds to a Contact’s URL (such as their LinkedIn, company or X.com profile), when you invoke Hookmark on that web page, Hookmark will show you that web page. Invoke Hookmark on a Mail message, and you will see a link to the source email and/or some of the destination email addresses that are in your Contacts. Many new recommendation rules are planned. If the context item is an academic PDF that has a DOI embedded in it, Hookmark will show you the web page corresponding that DOI.
  • If Hookmark is invoked on a PDF that has a DOI, you will be able to use a command to show the paper in a scholarly information retrieval and bibliographic management services (such as arXiv, bioRxiv, Dimensions, Google, Scholar, Ingenta, JSTOR, Library of Congress, Gateway, OpenAlex, PubMed, Web of Science or WorldCat). Which ones do you want us to implement first?
  • Optional AI integration, such as `Summarize This`, Hook to New Chat and recommended links drawn from AI. By the way, hooking a chat to something else is already possible and a very useful thing to do! We’re open to suggestions about AI integration (and all the rest).
  • A new option to remove URL cruft (like UTM parameters) from links you copy and add to Hookmark — our cross-platform take on “Copy Clean Link.” For instance copying a link to this ugly URL, ANNAPRO Head Strap for Apple Vision Pro 2, Pressure-Reducing Comfort Head Strap Compatible with Vision Pro Accessories, Enhance Comfort, Suitable for Different Head Shapes : Amazon.ca: Video Games , will yield this clean and simple URL: ANNAPRO Head Strap for Apple Vision Pro 2, Pressure-Reducing Comfort Head Strap Compatible with Vision Pro Accessories, Enhance Comfort, Suitable for Different Head Shapes : Amazon.ca: Video Games . Shorter, more beautiful and more private. Also, it will mean when you invoke Hookmark on one long form of the URL you will see links to the shorter form of the URL.
  • Multi-select items in the Context window
  • Wen you select items in the Bookmarks window, more commands will be available.
  • The context window will finally be able to work on a multiple selection of items in the Finder.
  • And much more!

Want to help shape the roadmap? What recommendation rules would you like Hookmark to implement. Please join the discussion below.

4 Likes

I would recommend logging capabilities that we can send to support when troubles arise. It is very hard to replicate issues that arise when using Hookmark due to difference in configuration, utilized tools, and workflows.

2 Likes

Thank you, @atdnorth .

You can turn on logging by running the following command in Terminal:

defaults write com.cogsciapps.hook output.log.to.file 1

The logging files are in /Users/YOUR_USER_NAME/Library/Logs/com.cogsciapps.hook.

3 Likes

It’s great to hear that Hookmark 7 is under development.

One thing I’d love to see is the ability to map custom keyboard shortcuts directly to apps in the “Hook to New…” list. Right now, I use ⌘N for my default app, which is OmniFocus, but I often need to hook to both OmniFocus and Drafts. At the moment, that means mousing through the menu whenever I want the one that isn’t set as default.

If Hookmark allowed users to assign their own shortcuts (say, ⌘⇧1 for Drafts, ⌘⇧2 for OmniFocus, ⌘N for the default) to apps in the “Hook to New…” list, it would speed up workflows for anyone juggling multiple apps.

5 Likes

Great suggestion! This is now on our list

5 Likes

@bchend would enabling logging help resolve the duplicate file issue as mentioned in post 6.1 - Bookmarks Window Shows Duplicate Entries ? If not, can improvements be made in logging to assist with troubleshooting?

The ability to specify in Hookmark which application to use to open a link. Specifically, in case of pdf file, when a deep link is present in the hook reference use alternate app (I.e. Skim) instead of default app (I.e. Preview). This feature would let users use default application for everything but not “miss out” on being able to use Deep Link when user deems necessary.

2 Likes

Please, for the love of all that is private, keep any AI integration optional and (if not chosen) separate from my data.

Hookmark is a bookmarking app. Basically a list of URLs. There is zero upside to upload my private links, notes or any of it to Palantir’s servers.

2 Likes

I use OpenIn to do this

Yes, it will be private, and optional.

The AI integration will involve a local LLM, like Cotypist – AI Autocomplete for Mac | Type Faster, Write Better, an app by Daniel Gräfe, developer of Timing, which I highly recommend.

2 Likes

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

This would be super useful

2 Likes

Perhaps Apple’s on device models now that those are available for developers?

1 Like

I spend a lot of time jumping into the Bookmarks section and find the process to be a real source of friction. If there is one thing I would recommend, it’s to take the functionality of Trickster – which shows latest files via various custom filters – and Hookmark’s Recents/Bookmarks etc and merge them as one window that can be invoked via a shortcut. From there, you would then action and connect files as necessary, and otherwise build the great functionality of the app on that foundation.

3 Likes

Hitting “enter” when a bookmark is highlighted = rename, not open. ⌘O = open.

I think Finder shortcuts are pretty baked into people’s brains at this point. I don’t remind having to remember a different shortcut to rename in Hookmark, but I do mind when I keep accidentally opening things as I’m trying to rename them.

I’d also like to see:

  • More sorting and view options for better accessibility — I have difficulty using the list view because it’s very busy and can’t be sorted, and table view is constantly shifting or needs shifting to see full paths or names. More focus on accessibility in general would be great!
  • Seeing hooked bookmarks in the bookmarks window, maybe in a toggle?
  • Merge bookmarks or replace a file without creating a new bookmark for it (e.g., when replacing a scan of a hard copy with an updated version)
  • Imports not resetting tags; adding tags not overwriting existing ones
  • Easier renaming and link updating, especially for web URLs
  • Quick Look
  • Not hiding universal link options in a submenu and/or allowing users to set universal links as a preference. I use Notion, so I almost always need universal links.
  • Apple Shortcut options for converting links to different types (not too hard to DIY, but it would be nice).
  • Option to choose a default panel when opening the app and/or not reverting to the “pinned” tab after a while.
  • Option to keep the context window open while working on something, copy/pasting for name changes, etc.
  • Ability to set custom icons or have different icons for web domains and file types (e.g., PDF and JPEG not having the same Preview icon, not all web URLs having the default browser icon).
  • Undo/redo, please!
2 Likes

I agree with this. I get the impression that the bookmarks window isn’t meant to get a lot of use, but I spend a lot of time there.

2 Likes

excellent suggestions -— thank you !