Alter: The Real Basics - What It Does and How to Use It

Quick Start

Alter is an AI assistant that tries to make using your computer easier. This guide covers the core features and how to actually use them.

1. Open Alter: Hover over the notch or press Option + Space
2. Ask a question: Type something about what’s on your screen
3. Choose an action: Select text and use Alter’s actions to change it

Setting It Up

Opening Alter

• Mouse: Hover over the notch
• Keyboard (Better): Set up a shortcut in Settings (try Option + Space)

Changing the Language

• Open Alter
• Go to Settings > Profile
• Pick your language

Keyboard Shortcuts (Worth It)

• Go to Settings > Keyboard
• Set shortcuts for:
  • Opening Alter
  • Starting voice dictation
  • Quick actions with selected text

The Interface Explained

The Prompt Box

• Type questions or commands here
• It shows your active app automatically
• Alter can see and interact with what’s on your screen

Default View

1: The prompt box 2: Current active windows - Not loaded 3: Additional options

With Context

1: The prompt box 2: Loaded context 3: Additional options

What You Can Actually Do

Working with Text

Action	What It’s For	How To
Explain	Understand code or technical stuff	Select text → click “A” → choose “Explain”
Extract	Get contact info or key points from text	Select text → click “A” → choose “Extract”
Format	Organize messy notes	Select text → click “A” → choose “Format”
Draft	Write emails or expand on ideas	Select text → click “A” → choose “Draft”
Summarize	Get the main idea from long text	Select text → click “A” → choose “Summarize”
Translate	Translate text	Select text → click “A” → choose “Translate”
Correct errors	Fix grammar and spelling	Select text → click “A” → choose “Correct errors”

Example:

• Before: Jumbled meeting notes with typos
• After: Action items in a bulleted list, ready to share

Screen Awareness

Alter can see what’s on your screen:

• It processes the active window
• Ask “What do you see?” to test it
• Get help with anything on screen without extra explanation

Example: Looking at a spreadsheet? Ask “How do I calculate the growth rate between these columns?”

Web Page Help

• Open a webpage
• Open Alter
• Ask “Summarize this article” or “What are the key takeaways?”

Advanced (Maybe Useful) Features

Favorites

• Select text, click the “A” icon, and choose an action
• Click the pin icon to add it to favorites
• Pinned actions appear at the top of the list

Talking to Alter

Two voice modes:

1. Speech-to-prompt:

   • Click and hold the microphone icon
   • Speak
   • Release to submit

2. Dictation:

   • Click the microphone icon once to start
   • Speak
   • Click again to stop
   • Text appears in the prompt box

Things to Try

• Chain commands: Ask Alter to “summarize this then translate to Spanish”
• It remembers: Alter remembers the conversation, so you can ask follow-up questions
• Copy and paste: Use Alter to move and change content between apps with Smart Clipboard

Ready to try it? Download now, it’s free, no credit card required.