Cloud Battery 4+

The developer has done a great job reflecting what information is available, but it is unfortunately of limited utility due to Apple severely limiting when background status apps like this can run.

The main thing I wanted this app to do was to tell me when my apple watch and airpods are charged. Unfortunately (A) airpods support is not possible due to artificial limitations imposed by Apple and (B) Apple Watches can only update when paired, and I have an old backup apple watch 4 that I wear while I'm waiting for the 8 to charge, which means the one that is charging can never update. In the rare case where I want to charge my mac quickly and know about *its* battery, it's closed in a laptop bag which precludes the app from running and updating too. So in every scenario where I *actually* care about it, it doesn't work.

I hope the developer can figure out some kind of end-run around these restrictions because this app is so frustratingly close to being amazing, and it has been for so long.

MacOs needs a widget. The menu bar drop down menu does not overlay when in a fullscreen application so you caanot see the menu at all unless you are on the desktop page. This can be solved if there was a simple control panel widget instead. There are already quite a few other battery applications mac owners use that have a menu bar icon as well; tracking significant battery usage, charge cycles, battery health, etc. I would give five stars if a simple ring widget is made for the slide out control center panel.

I am writing this review on a laptop with 100% battery and this app installed (according to the instructions provided). Right next to this laptop are an iPhone and an iPad with this app installed (according to their instructions). All three devices are connected to the same 1GB WiFi network (and my devices are the only devices on the network). However, ALL of Cloud Battery apps report this laptop's battery is 55%—even the app on this laptop! This kind of innacuracy if very common in my first week of experience.

The major innacuracies seems to be the result of delays in updates between the devices. Sometimes it can take hours for the apps to update, which defeats the purpose of the app. Even if these delays are not the developer's faulty (e.g., because the delays trace back to Apple's iCloud), I cannot recommend the app.

If the app weren't a great idea, it'd be 1 star, but at least the idea is good, hence 2 stars.