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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 4.0 provides experimental support for new ways to obscure background windows -- crystals, dots and bloom -- and allows you to suspend Isolator when the Finder is the frontmost application (so you can see your desktop icons). It also works better with Exposé and Spaces, and fixes bugs relating to greyed-out menus and dock hiding.
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.4 or later.


SCREENSHOT

Developer:Ben Willmore
Downloads:12,238
  - Version d/l:903
Utilities:Desktop
License:Free
Date:25 Mar 2009
Platform:PPC/Intel
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Isolator User Reviews (24 posts)Write A Review
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May 14 2009
*****

BUMBLEB  Thank you, dear developer

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

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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)

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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)

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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
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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)

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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)

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Jun 10 2008

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

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0
Jun 12 2008

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

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0

Jun 5 2008
****.

FRANKFX  Version 3.3 is running fine again on Tiger 10.4 Thanks for the quick update, Isolator is back on my menubar.  
(Version 3.3)

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Jun 4 2008

BENW  3.2 was incompatible with 10.4 (Tiger), hence the freezing problem. Hopefully this is fixed in 3.3. If not, please let me know (email on website).  
(Version 3.3)

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0
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Jun 4 2008

PROGRAMHAPPY  The "Check for updates" feature does not work.

Also, does 3.3 fix the system freeze?  
(Version 3.3)

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Jun 4 2008

BENW  It does work fine for me. But please do send a more detailed bug report (my email is on the Isolator website) if you are consistently experiencing problems with it.  
(Version 3.3)

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Jun 5 2008

BENW  OK, I can now reproduce this bug in 3.3, and I have fixed it in 3.31beta.  
(Version 3.3)

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0
Jun 10 2008

PROGRAMHAPPY  The "Check for updates" feature DOES work. However, the popup notification appears BEHIND all other open windows from other applications, which I why I thought that nothing happened. I think the popup window should appear on top of all other open windows.  
(Version 3.38b)

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Jun 10 2008

BENW  The window didn't always come to the front in older versions. I believe it should (and does) always come to the front in 3.39beta. If you still have trouble with this version, please email me.  
(Version 3.38b)

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Jun 4 2008

GUNTIS  Oh, I still prefer much cheaper Command+Option+H …  
(Version 3.3)

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Jul 30 2008

VERYVITO  Cheaper than free? That's hard to beat.

But true, CMD-OPT-H works just as well... as long as you delete all your desktop icons, hide your dock and spend a few minutes cropping your final screenshot. Enjoy that.  
(Version 3.40b)

praisebury
+1
Jul 30 2008

GUNTIS  You can always place neutral desktop background and keep your desktop clean. Or move document window to the right side, over the few icons there... Anyway, there are several options.   
(Version 3.40b)

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