Revolutionize Your Meetings with the Multifunctional Dune Keypad Device

One of my key annoyances with meeting apps is the inconsistent shortcuts for muting microphones or turning off webcams. It can be challenging to remember which keys to hit during a meeting when you want to speak up or ask a question. I’ve always wished for a universal physical button for microphone and camera controls—something I could press without thinking. Project Mirage’s Dune, a compact aluminum keypad with three keys—about the size of a stick of gum—that connects to your MacBook’s USB-C port, delivers just that.

This $119 device includes three buttons that adapt depending on the active application. For example, in meeting software, it can toggle the microphone, toggle video, and bring the window to the foreground. In Excel or Sheets, it might handle copy, paste, and undo functions. In Chrome, it could refresh a page, navigate to the URL bar, and paste content. Developers can also integrate it with tools like VS Code or GitHub for tasks like merging, approving, or closing pull requests.

The startup customizes each unit for your specific Mac model, ensuring it fits snugly against the laptop with no gaps. If all your ports are occupied, it can connect via a dongle. Dune operates without a battery and doesn’t need a separate charger, drawing power directly from the MacBook.

Currently, the device works with M2 Air or later and M1 Pro or later MacBook models running macOS 15 Sequoia or newer.

Though the device is visually appealing, I found the keys to have too much resistance. At times, it was too easy to accidentally press a button. There were moments where I unintentionally unmuted myself or turned off my camera just because my hand brushed against the device while reaching for my water bottle or coffee mug. It shouldn’t be that simple to activate a key.

Dune comes with a companion app that enables you to set up shortcuts, whether for specific applications or system-wide. In any app, you can assign a Dune key to a keyboard shortcut, a command, or a link to open an application or website.

Through the app, Dune also syncs with your calendar, sending reminders for upcoming meetings a few minutes ahead of time. This allows you to join, dismiss, or send a quick “I’m running late” message with just a tap.

For more advanced customization, you can create and execute your own Python scripts. If you’re not a programmer, Dune integrates seamlessly with Claude Desktop: simply describe the shortcut you need in natural language, and Claude will generate it and assign it to a key for that app—no manual setup needed.

I created a shortcut that quickly briefs me on a startup’s website, including details about its competitors, investors, and questions I might have if I were to arrange a meeting with them. For anyone responsible for rapidly evaluating companies—like investors, founders, or operators—this is an excellent application for Dune. I also developed a shortcut that converts images to JPG for easy uploads to WordPress or social media. Both shortcuts were straightforward to create and didn’t require manual configuration, although fully operationalizing them necessitated some interaction with Claude, including troubleshooting post-creation.

The app includes a marketplace where you can discover skills crafted by other Dune users. If this marketplace gains momentum, it could be pivotal for Dune’s growth strategy—transforming hardware into a sleek interface for a Claude-powered skill ecosystem, providing more motivation for users to stay engaged.

However, at the moment, the selection of skills is somewhat limited. Moreover, the app doesn’t allow you to test a skill without assigning it to a hardware button; ideally, it would provide a preview of a skill before committing. The startup should actively expand the recommended skills tailored for various applications to enhance user experience.

Project Mirage’s device costs $149 after its initial promotional offer, making it a solid choice for anyone focused on productivity. While MuteMe only handles mute/unmute functions and Stream Deck provides macros suited for business, Dune excels in its ease of customization in both hardware and software.