Changelog
What’s new in Ember.
- 0.3.16iOSOctober 11, 2026
Ember can now offer a few ways to continue a conversation, and the chat shows what Ember will read before you send.
Ember can ask which way
When a conversation has a few threads going, Ember can end its reply with two or three ways to continue, written the way you'd say them. They sit just above the text box: tap one to send it, or just type your own. The suggestions for a new conversation work the same way, with your last question from the day first.
Your last question is no longer sent for you when you open the chat. It's the first suggestion instead.
See what Ember will read
Before you send, the entries Ember will read with your next message sit as cards above the text box. An edited entry shows one sentence about what changed. Swipe a card away to leave it out, and Undo brings it back. These cards replace the today card and the "words shared" line.
Usage counts can now include when Ember offers a choice and which one you picked. Never what the options said.
Also: the journal and chat load right away, even while syncing.
What to test
- Start a chat with a few things going on and tap one of Ember's suggestions.
- Start typing while suggestions show: they fold away, and come back when you clear the text.
- Open the chat after writing an entry: its card sits above the text box. Swipe it away, then Undo.
- Edit an entry mid-conversation and check its one-sentence summary.
- 0.3.21DesktopOctober 11, 2026
Ember can now offer a few ways to continue a conversation, and the chat shows what Ember will read before you send.
Ember can ask which way
When a conversation has a few threads going, Ember can end its reply with two or three ways to continue, written the way you'd say them. They sit inside the message box: click one to send it, or just type your own. The suggestions for a new conversation work the same way, with your last question from the day first.
Your last question is no longer sent for you when you open the chat. It's the first suggestion instead.
See what Ember will read
Before you send, the entries Ember will read with your next message sit as cards above the message box. An edited entry shows one sentence about what changed. Leave a card out of the conversation, and Undo brings it back. These cards replace the today card and the "words shared" line.
The chat uses the whole window again.
Usage counts can now include when Ember offers a choice and which one you picked. Never what the options said.
- 0.3.15iOSSeptember 29, 2026
Chat is now one continuous conversation you can scroll back through, and insights you like can be saved to a Library.
Update Ember on your Mac too. Until you do, it pauses syncing, and nothing is lost.
One continuous chat
Chat no longer starts over each day. It's one stream you can scroll back through, split into conversations that Ember names in a short sentence. Tap the header to see them by day, search titles and jump back to one. A new conversation starts after an hour's quiet, from a card, or with New.
Save insights to a Library
When Ember spots something worth keeping, it shows it as a card in the chat. Tap Save to library, then find it under the book icon on the Journal.
Long-press your message to Edit or Retry it. Try again appears when a reply fails. The text box now rides the keyboard so the newest message stays in view.
Usage counts can now include which chat and Library screens get opened. Never their content.
Also: sheets slide up and close with a drag · Write, Speak and Scan sit side by side · a clearer message when your AI key stops working.
What to test
- Scroll back through old conversations, open the list, search, and jump to one.
- Type with the keyboard open: the newest message should stay visible.
- Long-press your message and try Edit and Retry.
- Save an insight from chat and open it from the Library.
- 0.3.20DesktopSeptember 29, 2026
Chat is now one continuous conversation you can scroll back through, split into titled conversations.
Update Ember on your iPhone too. Until you do, it pauses syncing, and nothing is lost.
One continuous chat
Chat no longer starts over each day. It's one stream you can scroll back through, split into conversations that Ember names in a short sentence. The sidebar button opens the list of conversations by day, where you can search titles and jump back to one. Back to now takes you to the latest.
A new conversation starts after an hour's quiet, from a card, or when you press New. When you're about to start one, a card shows today's entries and the day's summary.
If your AI key stops working, the chat now says so, and Ember pauses its background AI work until the key changes.
Usage counts can now include whether a chat was opened from the list or from search. Never the search text or a title.
Also: Retry and Edit never remove messages your other device just added · day labels read Today and Yesterday · a saved insight only says Saved once it really is.
- 0.3.14iOSSeptember 27, 2026
When AI can't answer, Ember now tells you why instead of telling you to check your connection.
The chat now says what's actually wrong when it can't reply:
- No AI key yet: it says so, with links to redeem an invite or add your own key.
- Out of AI credits: it says you've used this month's allowance or, on your own OpenRouter key, that you can add credits there.
What to test
- Without an invite code, send a chat message: you should see the AI key message, and both links should work.
- If you have a key that's out of credits, send a message and check the chat says so and doesn't blame your connection.
- 0.3.19DesktopSeptember 27, 2026
When AI can't answer, Ember now tells you why, including when this month's AI allowance has run out.
If you've used up this month's included AI, or your own OpenRouter account is out of credits, the chat now says so instead of telling you to check your connection.
- 0.3.13iOSSeptember 27, 2026
Ember now asks before it uses AI on your iPhone, and only uses AI providers that agree not to keep what you send.
You'll see the AI screen once more, even if you agreed before, because it now covers more.
AI is off until you turn it on
Ember asks before using AI on this iPhone, and says what gets sent, where it goes, and what runs in the background once you say yes. Turning it off in Settings stops everything at once, including requests already on their way. AI requests go only to providers that have agreed not to store your words or train on them, and speech-to-text always happens on your phone.
Usage counts and crash reports, if you choose
Ember can share simple counts of which features get used, plus crash reports, but never your entries, voice or chats. It asks once, and turning it off on one device turns it off on all of them. Settings ▸ Your Data can delete everything shared and links to a list of every field that is sent.
Also: Claude Opus 5.5 replaces Opus 5 in the model picker.
What to test
- After updating, answer the AI screen. With AI on, chat and cards work; with "Not now", nothing AI runs.
- Answer the one-time "Help make Ember better" screen, once with the switch on and on another install with it off.
- In Settings ▸ Your Data, turn sharing off and on, and try Delete my usage data.
- 0.3.18DesktopSeptember 27, 2026
Ember now asks before it uses AI on this Mac, and chat, cards, summaries and letters only use providers that agree not to keep them.
AI is off until you turn it on
The first time Ember needs AI on this Mac, it asks, and says what gets sent, where it goes, and what runs in the background once you say yes. Until then nothing leaves your Mac for an AI model. Turning it off in Settings ▸ AI stops everything at once, including requests already on their way.
Chat, cards, summaries and letters now go only to AI providers that have agreed not to store your words or train on them. Cloud transcription, if you turn it on, is the one exception, and the AI screen says so.
Usage counts and crash reports, if you choose
Ember can share simple counts of which features get used, plus crash reports, but never your entries, voice notes or chats. It asks once, and turning it off on one device turns it off on all of them. Settings ▸ Privacy can delete everything shared and links to a list of every field that is sent.
Meeting summaries now start off. Turn them on in Settings ▸ Recording.
Also: Claude Opus 5.5 replaces Opus 5 in the model picker · leaving a day's page no longer loses what you just typed.
- 0.3.12iOSSeptember 8, 2026
You can now chat with Ember about any card, and the daily chat keeps separate conversations apart.
Talk about a card
Every card now has a chat button next to the mic and the pencil. Tap it and the chat opens with that card in it, so what you say next is about the card. It works on cards you've already answered too.
Separate conversations in one day
When you come back after an hour, switch to another card, or start fresh, the chat marks where the new conversation begins, with the time. Earlier messages stay where they are, and Ember remembers what you talked about before.
Starting fresh no longer clears the chat: it starts a new conversation and deletes nothing.
Also: openers come back for each new conversation, in one row you can swipe · card buttons are smaller and sit on the left.
What to test
- Tap the chat button on a card: the chat opens with the card in it, and Ember answers about it.
- Chat, leave for an hour, then write again: the time appears above your new message, and earlier messages are still there.
- Ask "what did we talk about earlier today?" and check that Ember knows.
- 0.3.17DesktopSeptember 8, 2026
You can now chat with Ember about any card, and the daily chat keeps separate conversations apart.
Talk about a card
Every card now has a chat button next to the mic and the pencil. Click it and the chat opens with that card in it, so what you say next is about the card. It works on cards you've already answered too.
Separate conversations in one day
When you come back after an hour, switch to another card, or press Start fresh, the chat marks where the new conversation begins, with the time. Earlier messages stay where they are, and Ember remembers what you talked about before.
Start fresh replaces Clear: it starts a new conversation and deletes nothing.
Also: a reply is never cut off when the day turns over · the message box keeps what you typed while sending · openers come back for each new conversation · card buttons are smaller and sit on the left · long drafts stay inside the chat card.
- 0.3.11iOSAugust 21, 2026
Ember now writes you a short letter at the end of each week you've written in.
A weekly letter
After a week with enough writing, Ember writes a short letter about it and keeps it in your journal at that week's end. Anything in quotation marks is something you wrote, with the day you wrote it, and it ends with a question to carry into next week. An unread letter glows softly until you open it, and reading it on one device marks it read on the others.
Also: the glow holds still if your phone is set to reduce motion.
What to test
- After a week with a few entries, find the glowing letter at that week's end in your journal and open it.
- Check that its quotes are really yours, from the days it says.
- Read it here and check the glow goes away on your Mac too.
- 0.3.16DesktopAugust 21, 2026
Ember now writes you a short letter at the end of each week you've written in.
A weekly letter
After a week with enough writing, Ember writes a short letter about it and keeps it in your timeline at that week's end. Anything in quotation marks is something you wrote, with the day you wrote it, and it ends with a question to carry into next week. An unread letter glows softly until you open it, and reading it on one device marks it read on the others.
Also: a weekly letter model picker in Settings ▸ Debug · the timeline no longer goes blank on Macs that can't draw its background · smoother scrolling when new content arrives.
- 0.3.10iOSAugust 12, 2026
Your journal day now ends at 4 AM instead of midnight, and you can change when it turns over.
Late nights count as the same day
Writing at 12:30 AM now stays with the evening: the chat keeps going, your cards stay put, and entries, voice notes and card answers are dated the day before. A new day starts at 4 AM by default; pick anything from midnight to 6 AM in Settings ▸ Appearance. The setting syncs, and past entries keep their dates.
After the day turns, the new day's chat starts with your next message, never in the middle of a conversation.
Also: the assistant knows today's date in your time zone.
What to test
- In Settings ▸ Appearance, set when a new day starts and check it matches on your Mac.
- Write after midnight (before the new day starts) and check the entry is dated the evening before.
- 0.3.15DesktopAugust 12, 2026
Your journal day now ends at 4 AM instead of midnight, and you can change when it turns over.
Late nights count as the same day
Writing at 12:30 AM now stays with the evening it belongs to: the chat keeps going, your cards stay put, and the entry is dated the day before. A new day starts at 4 AM by default; pick anything from midnight to 6 AM in Settings ▸ Appearance. The setting syncs, and entries you've already written keep their dates.
Also: the daily chat moves to the new day without a restart · the assistant knows today's date in your time zone · the calendar opens to the right month late at night.
- 0.3.9iOSAugust 9, 2026
Speak doesn't crash anymore, and your transcript keeps going when you switch headphones.
That holds even if you start talking the moment you tap it. Switching AirPods mid-sentence no longer cuts off the live transcript, and what you see while you speak is what gets saved.
Also: voice notes stop asking to be transcribed again · a recovered recording becomes one entry · the chat box stays above the keyboard.
What to test
- Tap Speak and start talking right away; check your first words are in the transcript.
- Connect or disconnect AirPods mid-sentence and check the transcript keeps going.
- 0.3.8iOSAugust 8, 2026
Voice notes now save as you speak, so a recording survives the app closing, and the recording screen is new.
Recordings that survive
Ember now saves your recording as you talk. If a call comes in, the battery dies, or the app closes, the recording finishes itself the next time you open Ember: transcribed, saved as an entry, audio attached. Older voice notes also find their audio again after app updates.
A new recording screen
The top shows LISTENING with a live word count and the time. A prompt can stay on screen while you answer it, and the fire at the bottom grows livelier as you speak.
Starting and stopping a recording now gives a small vibration instead of a chime.
Also: smoother card swipes, screen changes and scrolling · sync catches up faster when you open the app · lighter sync in the background.
What to test
- Start a recording, then force-quit the app; reopen it and check the recording became an entry with its audio.
- Record while talking and check the word count, the time, and the fire respond.
- Check starting and stopping gives a small vibration and no chime.
- 0.3.14DesktopAugust 8, 2026
Sync catches up as soon as you come back to your Mac, and checks in less while you're away.
When you return to your Mac after a while, Ember fetches new entries from your phone right away instead of waiting for the next check. In the background it checks far less often, which is easier on your battery and network.
Also: one slow step no longer holds up the rest of a sync · with sync storage full, changes from other devices still come in.
- 0.3.7iOSAugust 7, 2026
You can now dismiss a card, and the daily cards pick what to show from your whole journal.
Cards that know your journal
The cards now draw on everything you've written: a line from months ago that fits today, a pattern, an open thread you never came back to, a win worth noting. On a hard day, a card may just sit with it.
Each open card has a small ✕ to set it aside. It stays in the deck marked "Dismissed" and stops asking, and the day then shows "All done" instead of "All answered".
Also: Settings ▸ Debug can regenerate today's cards and pick which model writes them · long entries fade out cleanly in the reading view · day summaries refresh right after you write.
What to test
- Dismiss a card with the ✕ and check it stays in the deck, marked "Dismissed".
- Look at a few days of cards and check they draw on older entries, not just today.
- 0.3.13DesktopAugust 7, 2026
You can now dismiss a card, and the daily cards pick what to show from your whole journal.
Cards that know your journal
The cards now draw on everything you've written: a line from months ago that fits today, a pattern, an open thread you never came back to, a win worth noting. On a hard day, a card may just sit with it.
Each open card has a small ✕ to set it aside. It stays in the deck marked "Dismissed" and stops asking, and the day then shows "All done" instead of "All answered".
Also: Settings ▸ Debug can regenerate today's cards and pick which model writes them.
- 0.3.6iOSAugust 6, 2026
A small deck of cards now shows up at the top of your journal each day.
Update Ember on your Mac too. Until you do, your Mac pauses syncing.
Daily cards
Once a day Ember puts a few cards at the top of your journal: a question, a line you wrote months ago, a pattern it noticed, sometimes a mantra. Swipe through them and answer by speaking or typing; each answer becomes its own entry. The deck replaces the inbox and is the same on all your devices.
Read a whole day
Tapping a day in your journal now opens it on its own page, card answers included. Swipe sideways to move between days.
If today's last entry ends with a question, opening the chat asks Ember that question for you.
Also: summaries refresh after you write · chat openers refresh as your day changes · spoken card answers keep their audio.
What to test
- Open today's cards, answer one by speaking and one by typing, and check each becomes an entry.
- Tap a day in your journal and check it opens on its own page, with card answers.
- End an entry with a question, open the chat, and check Ember answers it.
- 0.3.12DesktopAugust 6, 2026
A small deck of cards now shows up at the top of your journal each day.
Update Ember on your iPhone too. Until you do, your iPhone pauses syncing.
Daily cards
Once a day Ember puts a few cards at the top of your journal: a question, a line you wrote months ago, a pattern it noticed, sometimes a mantra. Answer by typing or speaking, and each answer becomes its own entry. Arrow keys or a swipe move between cards, and ⌘E turns an answer into a full entry. It replaces the inbox and is the same on every device.
Some things work differently now:
- If today's last entry ends with a question, opening the chat asks Ember that question for you.
- The calendar on Home is hidden until you turn it on in Settings ▸ Appearance.
- Record and New entry are now one button. Its menu adds Speak, which starts a voice note right away.
Also: each day on Home shows its summary, cards answered and words written · summaries refresh after you write · chat openers refresh as your day changes · easier-to-read chat replies.
- 0.3.5iOSAugust 4, 2026
Opening an empty chat now shows your day at a glance and a few ways to start, and the chat is easier to read.
A better start to a chat
Before you've said anything, the chat shows a short title for your day, your daily summary, and how much you've written. Below it are three openers based on what you wrote today; tap one to start. They go away once you start typing.
The date now appears once, on the day card, and a menu button there takes you to any other day's chat.
Also: Ember's replies are easier to read, and your messages have a new typeface · the composer fits on one row · when AI can't reply, the chat says so.
What to test
- Open today's chat before writing anything in it: check the day card and the three openers.
- Tap an opener and check the conversation starts.
- Use the day card's menu button to open another day's chat.
- 0.3.11DesktopAugust 4, 2026
Opening an empty chat now shows your day at a glance and a few ways to start.
A better start to a chat
Before you've said anything, the chat shows a short title for your day, your daily summary, and how much you've written. Below it are three openers based on what you wrote today; click one to start. They go away once you start typing.
Also: when AI can't reply, the chat says so right away instead of going quiet.
- 0.3.10DesktopAugust 3, 2026
Connected AI apps can now search your journal by meaning, not just exact words.
With Settings ▸ MCP on, compatible AI apps can find related passages even when the words don't match, and narrow results by date, category or keyword. The connection stays private to your Mac, and it still can't change anything you've written.
- 0.3.9DesktopAugust 3, 2026
AI apps on your Mac can now search and read your journal, if you turn it on in Settings ▸ MCP.
Connect AI apps on your Mac
Settings ▸ MCP opens a private connection that compatible AI apps on this Mac can use to search and read your journal, add new entries, and organize your library. It starts off, shows when it's on, and switches off instantly. Connected apps can't edit or delete anything you've already written.
The small recording window now appears only when Ember is in the background. Voice notes keep their transcript in the entry, without an audio player.
Also: recording controls, borders and badges follow your theme · empty entries invite you to type or speak.
- 0.3.4iOSJuly 29, 2026
You can now set up Ember with an invite code: one code turns on sync and includes AI, with no key to paste.
Set up with an invite code
The welcome screen now takes your invite code. Enter it and sync is on and AI works, with no key to find or paste. Settings shows how much of this month's included AI you've used, and it resets each month.
If your sync storage fills up, Settings now says so. Your journal stays complete on this phone, and new changes sync again once there's room.
Also: anywhere Ember asked for a key, it now offers the invite code · a plain note when this month's included AI runs out.
What to test
- On a fresh install, enter an invite code on the welcome screen and check sync and AI both work.
- Check Settings shows how much of this month's AI you've used.
- 0.3.8DesktopJuly 29, 2026
You can now set up Ember with an invite code: one code turns on sync and includes AI, with no key to paste.
Set up with an invite code
When you first open Ember, enter your invite code and you're done: sync is on and AI works, with nothing to sign up for or paste in. Settings ▸ AI shows how much of this month's included AI you've used, and it resets each month.
If your sync storage fills up, Settings ▸ Sync now says so. Your journal stays complete on this Mac, and new changes sync again once there's room.
Also: a plain note when this month's included AI runs out, instead of an error.
- 0.3.3iOSJuly 28, 2026
Settings now lists every device on your journal, with when each one last synced.
Update Ember on your Mac too. Until you do, your Mac pauses syncing.
Settings shows each Mac and iPhone connected to your journal by name, like "MacBook Pro", with when it last synced.
Letters you've read on your Mac are now marked read here too.
Also: a soft shimmer while your daily summary is being written · pairing with your Mac is quicker.
What to test
- Open Settings and check each device and when it last synced.
- Read a letter on your Mac and check it shows as read here.
- 0.3.7DesktopJuly 28, 2026
Settings ▸ Sync now lists every device on your journal, with when each one last synced.
Update Ember on your iPhone too. Until you do, your iPhone pauses syncing.
Each Mac and iPhone on your journal is listed by name, like "MacBook Pro", with when it last synced. New devices appear as soon as they're paired.
Letters you've read on your phone are now marked read here too.
Also: a soft shimmer while your daily summary is being written · the Settings sidebar stays in place.
- 0.3.6DesktopJuly 27, 2026
Release notes read properly now, and the update pill moved to the bottom-left corner.
The "Restart to update" pill now sits in the bottom-left corner, and takes the what's-new note's place when an update is ready.
Also: release notes no longer break mid-sentence.
- 0.3.5DesktopJuly 27, 2026
Entering your phone's pairing code is quicker.
The code box appears as soon as your phone connects, and pairing finishes as soon as you type the last digit.
- 0.3.2iOSJuly 27, 2026
Pairing now shows a code to confirm on your Mac, and turning on sync is one button.
After you scan your Mac's code, your phone shows a short code to type on the Mac, so only your own devices can connect. Turning on sync is now a single button.
Also: pairing and sync connect more reliably on networks that gave them trouble.
What to test
- Pair with your Mac: after scanning, type the code your phone shows on the Mac.
- Turn on sync with the single button and check entries arrive.
- 0.3.4DesktopJuly 27, 2026
Pairing your phone now shows a code to confirm, and turning on sync is one button.
When you pair your phone, it shows a short code that you type on your Mac, so only your own devices can connect. Turning on sync no longer needs a code pasted in; it's a single button in Settings ▸ Sync.
Also: sync and pairing connect more reliably on networks that gave them trouble.
- 0.3.3DesktopJuly 27, 2026
Settings has a new layout, with an About page where you can check for updates.
Settings now has a sidebar on the left and roomier sections on the right, in both light and dark. The new About page shows your version, has a "Check for updates" button, lets you read what's new, and is where you send feedback.
Also: a device that isn't syncing yet tells you what to do · advanced sync options stay tucked away until you want them.
- 0.3.1iOSJuly 27, 2026
Pairing with your Mac works more reliably, and sync explains problems in plain words.
Scanning your Mac's pairing code now completes reliably, and if something interrupts it, the message says what to do next. A dropped connection or an already-used code now gets its own clear message instead of a generic error.
What to test
- Pair with your Mac by scanning its code, and check it finishes.
- Turn off Wi-Fi during a sync and check the message says what happened.
- 0.3.2DesktopJuly 27, 2026
When sync needs something from you, it now says what in plain words.
A dropped connection, a pairing code that was already used, or another device that needs updating now each get their own clear message instead of a generic error.
- 0.3.1DesktopJuly 27, 2026
Ember now always opens straight into your journal.
On some setups Ember could open to an empty window instead of your journal. It now finds your journal every time.
- 0.3.0iOSJuly 27, 2026
Sync and search are faster, and release notes now show up in TestFlight.
The part of Ember that handles sync and search is now a faster, smaller build. Notes like these now come with each TestFlight build, so you can see what changed.
What to test
- Sync with your Mac and search your journal, and check both feel at least as quick as before.
- Check that these notes show up with the build in TestFlight.
- 0.3.0DesktopJuly 27, 2026
Ember now updates itself in the background and shows you what changed.
Automatic updates
Ember checks for a new version when it opens and every few hours, downloads it in the background, and shows a small "Restart to update" pill when it's ready. No more downloading a new DMG by hand.
After an update, a small pill shows what's new in that version. Click it to read the notes; it won't come back for that version.
Before an update changes how your journal is stored, Ember now saves a backup copy of it first.
Also: old AI activity logs clear out after 14 days, keeping the journal file small.