Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Steam Controller VS Touch Bar Simulator

Compare Steam Controller VS Touch Bar Simulator and see what are their differences

Steam Controller logo Steam Controller

The precision of a mouse, the comfort of a controller

Touch Bar Simulator logo Touch Bar Simulator

The macOS Touch Bar Simulator as a standalone app
  • Steam Controller Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-03
  • Touch Bar Simulator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-24

Steam Controller features and specs

  • Customizability
    The Steam Controller offers extensive customization options, allowing users to remap buttons and create personalized configurations for different games.
  • Compatibility
    It is compatible with the vast majority of Steam games, including those that traditionally require a keyboard and mouse.
  • Dual Trackpads
    The inclusion of dual trackpads offers greater precision and control, similar to using a mouse, which is beneficial for playing shooting or strategy games.
  • Haptic Feedback
    Haptic feedback provides a tactile response, improving the gaming experience by making interactions more immersive.
  • Gyroscopic Control
    Motion controls via a built-in gyroscope can enhance gameplay, providing more intuitive aiming and movement for certain games.

Possible disadvantages of Steam Controller

  • Learning Curve
    The unique design and control options require time to get used to, which can be a hindrance for some players.
  • Button Layout
    The button layout may feel unconventional or awkward to users accustomed to traditional game controllers.
  • Battery Life
    The battery life is relatively short compared to other controllers, which can be inconvenient for extended gaming sessions.
  • Material Quality
    Some users have reported that the build quality and materials feel less premium compared to other high-end controllers.
  • Limited Support
    As a product that has been discontinued, there may be limited support and updates available.

Touch Bar Simulator features and specs

  • Accessibility
    Allows users without a MacBook Pro to experience and test out the Touch Bar functionality on their Apple devices using a simulator.
  • Development Tool
    Provides developers with a tool to test and refine Touch Bar integrations in their applications without needing physical hardware.
  • Ease of Use
    Offers an intuitive and straightforward interface that is easy for users and developers to set up and use.
  • Cost-Effective
    Free to use, making it a cost-effective way for users and developers to experiment with the Touch Bar feature.

Possible disadvantages of Touch Bar Simulator

  • Limited Functionality
    Might not fully replicate all the specific features and integrations of a real Touch Bar on a MacBook Pro.
  • Dependency on macOS
    Requires macOS to run, limiting its use to those who have access to Apple computers.
  • Potential Performance Issues
    Running a simulated version can sometimes lead to performance lags that would not be present on the actual hardware.
  • Less Immersive Experience
    Interacting with a simulated Touch Bar may not provide the same tactile and seamless experience as using the actual Touch Bar on supported devices.

Steam Controller videos

Steam Controller Long Term Review - Is it terrible?

More videos:

  • Review - Steam Controller Review
  • Review - Reflecting On My Experience With The Steam Controller | Was It As Bad As I Remember? [2020 Review]

Touch Bar Simulator videos

Overview of the touch bar simulator

More videos:

  • Review - MacVoices #16196: Daniel Jalkut of Red Sweater Discusses The Touch Bar Simulator, Touché

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Steam Controller and Touch Bar Simulator)
Mac
40 40%
60% 60
Virtual Keyboard
50 50%
50% 50
Utilities
100 100%
0% 0
Mac Tools
39 39%
61% 61

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Touch Bar Simulator seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 4 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Steam Controller mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Steam Controller yet. Tracking of Steam Controller recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Touch Bar Simulator mentions (4)

  • Mimic Touch Bar screenshot functionality on non-touch bar M1 MacBook Pro
    If you want a fake (yet fully functional) touchbar on your screen, you could use something like: https://github.com/sindresorhus/touch-bar-simulator (I used that for a while on my 2017 mbp). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Picture-in-picture for all videos that works on Safari 15 / Monterey?
    Baking soda or Fulifier would on most sites but not iPlayer apparently. However (without any need for an extension) I can use PIP on any compatible website via the button on my touchbar. Perhaps until you find an extension, use touch-bar-simulator? Source: over 2 years ago
  • Why does my new M1 Pro MacBook think it has a touch bar?
    Did you try a restart? It’s bizarre that’s it’s using so much virtual memory too. Only thing I could think of it virtual Touch Bar simulator, but I think you would probably know if you were using that lol. Is it possible there’s an app doing something similar? Also, side note, what do you use to rearrange your menu bar? It looks great. Source: over 3 years ago
  • TouchBar Simulator
    I use this one.. Works fine.. Https://github.com/sindresorhus/touch-bar-simulator. Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Steam Controller and Touch Bar Simulator, you can also consider the following products

Remote Mouse - Turn your smartphone into a wireless touchpad and keyboard now!

TouchBar for your old MacBook - Use Touch Bar on an iPad through USB connection

Haptic Touch Bar - The missing haptic feedback for Touch Bar keys

My TouchBar My Rules (MTMR) - Customize your touch bar as you want it

KeyMouse - Re-inventing the keyboard with a built-in mouse

HapticKey - Trigger haptic feedback when tapping Touch Bar