The most frustrating thing about meeting apps is that each app has different shortcuts for muting the microphone or turning off the webcam. When you’re trying to explain a point or ask a question during a meeting, it’s hard to remember which keys do what. I’ve always wanted physical universal buttons for mute and camera controls. It was a button you could press without thinking. Project Mirage’s Dune, a tiny three-key aluminum keypad about the size of a gum stick that plugs into your MacBook’s USB-C port, does just that.
The $119 gadget has three buttons, each of which changes depending on which app you’re looking at. For example, meeting apps and sites allow you to switch microphones, switch videos, and bring windows to the front. In Excel or spreadsheets, you can copy, paste, and undo. For Chrome, you can refresh, go to the URL bar, and paste. You get the point. Developers can also use it with apps like VS Code or GitHub to merge, approve, or terminate pull requests.
The startup builds each device to fit a specific Mac model, so it sits flush with the laptop without any gaps underneath. If the port is already in use, you can connect via a dongle instead. Dune has no batteries or requires a separate charger. Powered directly from your MacBook.
Currently, the startup supports M2 Air and later and M1 Pro and later models of MacBook running macOS 15 Sequoia and later versions.
The look and feel of the device is good, but we felt the keys needed more resistance. Now it’s easy to accidentally press a key. There have been a few times where I accidentally unmuted or turned off the camera because my hand brushed against the device while picking up a water bottle or coffee mug. Pressing a key shouldn’t be this easy.
Dune comes with a companion app for organizing shortcuts on a per-app or system-wide basis. Within a specific app, you can assign the Dune key to a keyboard shortcut, command, or link that opens an app or URL.
Dune syncs with your calendar through the app and displays upcoming meetings minutes before they start, so you can join, cancel, or send a “I’m late” message with a tap.
If you want more in-depth customization, you can write and run your own Python script. Dune integrates easily with Claude Desktop without any coding required. Describe the shortcut you want in plain language, and Claude will write it and assign it to a key for that app. No manual setup required.
I created a shortcut that whenever I accessed the startup’s website, it would bring up a brief overview of the company (competitors, investors, questions I could ask if I scheduled a meeting). Whether you’re an investor, founder, operator, or anyone working on quickly scaling a company, Dune is tailor-made for you. We’ve also created a tool to convert your images to JPEG so you can quickly upload them to WordPress or social platforms. Both were easy to build and required no manual configuration, but getting the shortcuts fully functional required a bit of work with Claude, including debugging once they were actually running.
The app also has a marketplace where you can explore techniques created by other Dune owners. If the market is successful, this could become a key part of Dune’s growth and retention strategy. Hardware is a thin front end for the Claude-based technology ecosystem, with each new technology giving owners another reason to stick around.
However, there is only limited technology available at the moment. Additionally, there is no way to test a skill without assigning it to a hardware button. Ideally, you can preview the technology through an app before putting it into hardware. Additionally, startups must actively add their own proposed technologies to users for various apps.
Project Mirage’s device will retail for $149 after its introductory price expires, making it a solid choice for anyone who values productivity. While MuteMe only deals with mute/unmute and Stream Deck offers business-focused macros, Dune is easier to customize in both hardware and software.
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