Search Mac Software Downloads
|
EDITOR NOTES
This is a beta release. See Related Links below for the last stable release.
DESCRIPTION

Isolator is a small menubar application that helps you concentrate. When you're working on a document, and don't want to be distracted, turn on Isolator. It will cover up your desktop and all the icons on it, as well as the windows of all your other applications, so you can concentrate on the task in hand.

Isolator is similar to, but not the same as Think and Backdrop. The difference is that it works exactly how I want it to. Maybe you'll like it too.

WHAT'S NEW
Version 4.5b:
  • Reenable 10.4 (Tiger) support.
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.4 or later
RELATED LINKS

    Download the last stable version for Leopard and Snow Leopard (v.4.4). Fixes auto-update issue, but will not run under Tiger!

    Download the last stable version for Tiger (v.4.0).

Bookmark and Share

SCREENSHOT

Developer:Ben Willmore
Downloads:14,536
  - Version d/l:1,072
Utilities:Desktop
License:Free
Date:17 Sep 2009
Platform:PPC/Intel
OTHER PEOPLE SUGGEST
Suggest something else:
Isolator User Reviews (28 posts)Write A Review
sort: smiles | time
Oct 15 2009

MATHIAS RHEIN  I am wondering what the advantage of all these concentration and focussign apps is to single application mode?

Honestly, this never got me into even spaces, since single app mode and an intelligent app switcher like with do the job for me...

Can someone convince me of the opposite?  
(Version 4.5b)

praisebury
0
[ Reply ]
Sep 17 2009

ALEXIUSCA  4.0: Added blur and other effects to background windows; suspend Isolator when Finder is frontmost; multiple bug fixes.

4.02beta: Update for Snow Leopard; add desaturate effect

4.03beta: Fix glitch with selection of desaturate filter

4.04beta: unreleased

4.1beta: Snow Leopard support, desaturate filter

4.2: Snow Leopard support, desaturate filter

4.3: Fix Sparkle problems. NB This version is not compatible with OS X 10.4 -- I hope the next version will be.

4.4: Fix auto-update problems. NB This version is not compatible with 10.4 -- hopefully the next version will be.  
(Version 4.4)

praisebury
+3
[ Reply ]
Sep 12 2009
*****

LEMERLOT  Wow, after years of using Think I discovered Isolator now - and it does nearly all I liked to have with Think. It even hides the dock! If it could hide the menu bar too it would be perfect for me.

Nevertheless I'm very impressed.  
(Version 4.03b)

praisebury
+2
[ Reply ]
Jul 10 2009
*****

PJOT  Indeed, a wonderful app, thanks Ben!  
(Version 4.0)

praisebury
+1
[ Reply ]
May 14 2009
*****

BUMBLEB  Thank you, dear developer

Just what I need. Such niceness;-)  
(Version 4.0)

praisebury
+1
[ Reply ]
Apr 24 2009
*****

HARRISTYPE  This has already become an indispensable item in my menu bar. The app works flawlessly and, unlike other utilities that try to do similar tasks, handles multiple apps and Apple's Spaces intelligently. The only feature that I can see that I'd like to have added is an applications exception area in the prefs. That way when I bring up calculator while looking at an Excel spreadsheet, I can have it so that calculator doesn't trigger Isolator, and I can still see the spreadsheet info in the background.

Other than that small feature request, this utility rocks!  
(Version 4.0)

praisebury
+1
[ Reply ]
Mar 25 2009
*****

MR AMNESIA  It is a remarkably simple app, that instantly shows its use and benefits. It is perfect if you want a screen shot of a broken app but have something that you do not want seen. You can use it to block out everything else so can concentrate.

Features 5 simple does what it says and well.

Ease of use 5 on or off simple as that.

Value 5 free enough said.

Stability 5 never crashed in all the time I have used it.  
(Version 4.0)

praisebury
+1
[ Reply ]
Jan 22 2009
*****

GCOGHILL  Excellent utility! great for not only concentration, but also screenshots and screencasts to keep the background private and/or non-distracting.  
(Version 3.40b)

praisebury
+1
[ Reply ]
Jun 12 2008
*****

DNEM41  i already posted comments on this, but forgot to rate it.

its not exaggeration that i gave this all 5's. this is a simple little app that lets you focus on the front window. i have used DooDim, Backdrop, and Think 1.2.

DooDim was my first love, but dumped it when i accidentally crossed paths with Isolator's arsenal of features. Isolator did everything DooDim did, but was sold on the one-button dim.

Didn't like backdrop because the icon shows up in my command+tab window. plus i feel like my machine ran a little slower.

Think 1.2, was going the wrong direction because i dont want another window when im trying to focus on the task at hand.

One last thing about this app (and other like these) is that i love using it in conjunction with Menu Eclipse. menueclipse is a small app that dims out your menu bar (the last frontier of Mac screen real estate). menu eclipse is good enough for now, but i would like something with a few more options and MenuShade doesnt work yet for Intel iMacs.

furthermore, (and maybe this is a little too much to ask, but) i would like the ability to have windows occupy the top where the menu bar would be. it would be neat if i could have something that would auto-hide the menu bar (just like I can autohide the dock). i have a lot of things going on (like iStat) so the menu bar's distracting, and its good that i got a little app that covers it up. but i would like to be able to have windows where the menu bar would be. does anyone have any suggestions?

Isolator developers - you rock!  
(Version 3.39b)

praisebury
+1
[ Reply ]
Jun 10 2008

CHARLESBKK  Isolator 3.38b doesn't run on my PPC 10.5.3, tired to restart,but no luck. It seems a good stuffs. Any idea for this issue?  
(Version 3.38b)

praisebury
0
[ 2 Replies - Reply ]
Replies:
Jun 10 2008

BENW  Yup, this PPC issue is fixed in 3.39beta.  
(Version 3.38b)

praisebury
0
Jun 12 2008

DESIGN-Q  Yes, 3.39b solved the problem with appl. not running on PPC 10.5.3  
(Version 3.39b)

praisebury
0

View all 28 posts >>