@jfeldstein personally I prefer to maximize windows instead of full screen. I have Dock to the left, always at hand that way. I feel uncomfortable when I don't see the Dock. I wonder if there's a name for that.
@jfeldstein I used to. But with the Retina MBP, I'm able to run a bigger desktop (1920x1200 on my 15") which makes running full-screen app a waste of space.
I didn't know I needed this til I downloaded it!
HazeOver runs in the background and adds a translucent dark screen behind a window you’re using at the moment. When you switch to a different window, HazeOver automatically fades the previously used window. You can select between instant switch or a smooth animation. The application is energy-efficient and unobtrusive.
Well done @pointum!
@bramk ditto! I would never have thought that this would be useful until I tried it. Wow it's fantastic. The only question is how long until Apple co-opts this feature?
Looks like an idea that's been around for a while... nice to see it updated.
There are several free competitors: Doodim, Hocus Focus, Backdrop, and Isolator.
@chrismessina Yup. HazeOver is definitely not a lone warrior in the noble battle with distractions.
This might be a good place to tell a bit of the story behind HazeOver. Sit back. It was year 2007. I first got the idea for the app and the name back when I was developing apps for Windows. Here's the very first page of the Great Book of HazeOver story: http://web.archive.org/web/20070...
Eventually the idea got shelved and I switched to developing Mac software instead. Few years down the road, when I gained enough experience and free time, HazeOver for Mac was finally brought into this world in 2011. It had had it's 15 minutes of glory on LifeHacker.com only to be completely forgotten a few short months later for the lack of any promotion and incentive.
Fast forward to 2015. HazeOver is revived out of curiosity. And I'm happy it has pleased the product hunters.
@_benmerrill there's "vibrancy" blur effect in Yosemite, but Apple encourages using it sparingly. Constantly using it full screen would drain battery like crazy. I've specifically profiled HazeOver to use less CPU/GPU.
@pointum@_benmerrill yes, we implemented blur in Look Up and it's a memory hog, had to build an option into the new update to disable it. Older Macs have an especially hard time with it. Good choice keeping it out.
"Vibrancy" isn't quite as bad as doing gaussian blur I think in terms of memory, but it's very heavy handed and hard to get a light blur with it that doesn't just obscure everything behind it.
looks nice: clean and simple. Now this is a problem I wasn't aware of having. So I don't think I really need this. I struggle way more with chrome tabs :)
Anyway, congratulations on a great execution!
Looks really great! One problem I've noticed is that in a multi-monitor setup, HazeOver no longer works if 1 of 2 screens has a full-screen app (on either screen, obviously it shouldn't do anything to the full-screen app itself).
@goldfirestudios Actually, that seems to be an issue when using it with Duet Display. With a real monitor it doesn't do that. However, if I have 2 full-screen apps open on each monitor, it would be nice to have a setting to allow disabling automatically in that case (I like to have code on one screen and the browser preview on the other screen).
@goldfirestudios more options for multi-monitor setup is one of the most requested features. I'm looking for a way to let HazeOver highlight each display separately.
This has been a standard app on my machine. It is one of those utilities that does its work day in and day out making my experience a much more pleasant one. I have wrestled from time to time with how strong to set the opaqueness of my Haze in order to give me a good workspace. I have also not toyed much with changing the color of the haze, but expect this could make for a fresh workspace, if needed.
Pros:
Keeps me focused on the task as hand. I appreciate the keyboard shortcut to quick toggle when I need to reference an unfocused window.
I'd like to thank all product hunters and specially @bramk. HazeOver reached #4 Top Paid app in the US (and #2 Productivity) with 5 star rating. That's exciting.
I'm pretty big on staying focused in general. Always very spartan on keeping my physical desk and the OS X Desktop tidy. I downloaded HazeOver today, and this is the best $2.99 I've spent this year. I also tried Hocus Focus, but it doesn't always hide the right window and for me it ended up being a pretty confusing UX. For example, I launched Calculator thru Alfred for a quick calculation, and all in sudden my Chrome window becomes hidden. I think HazeOver is less dramatic and worked out better for me. (I do change the Haze to almost the darkest setting.)
I also find it helpful to hide the Dock once I start using HazeOver.
One complaint: it doesn't work outside of the main screen. I usually leave my Macbook open on the side as a second screen, but HazeOver doesn't darken anything in that screen. But I guess the point is to stay focus so this isn't a deal breaker for me.
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This has been a standard app on my machine. It is one of those utilities that does its work day in and day out making my experience a much more pleasant one. I have wrestled from time to time with how strong to set the opaqueness of my Haze in order to give me a good workspace. I have also not toyed much with changing the color of the haze, but expect this could make for a fresh workspace, if needed.
Pros:Keeps me focused on the task as hand. I appreciate the keyboard shortcut to quick toggle when I need to reference an unfocused window.
Cons:I know of no alternative.
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