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DESCRIPTION
ScreenShade is a tool for further dimming a screen (or screens) past the capabilities of the OS X brightness display settings. This utility is especially useful for people who find themselves using their computer in a low-lighting situation.
Please donate if you like it!
WHAT'S NEW
Version 1.3:
- New: Added a welcome screen and mini tutorial
- Fix: Tweaked automatic update reporting to not always open the release notes URL
- Fix: The option-plus and option-minus hotkeys are no longer backwards
- Fix: ScreenShade no longer starts at 100% dark on the first launch
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.5 or later.
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| ScreenShade User Reviews (16 posts) | Write A Review |
 | Sep 2 2009 |
A DUDE Still failing to launch on login. Tried deleting prefs, repairing permissions, even redownloading the app and installing on a fresh copy of the OS. A lot times just opening the prefs takes a minute of two of spinning beachballness. While I like the features and love the app when it works, it doesn't work as it should often enough to warrant more than 3 stars.
(Version 1.3) | |
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| May 10 2009 |
A DUDE I really like this app, more than Brightness even. My only complaints are that there's no keyboard command for toggling ScreenShad, which means you have to hit opt-plus/minus multiple times, and quite often the program does not launch automatically at login despite repeated attempts to troubleshoot the issue. For some reason the option becomes deselected on its own.
(Version 1.3) | |
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| Apr 24 2009 |
IMAGE_CTRL very simple, elegant and quite useful as well...
(Version 1.3) | |
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 | Nov 17 2008 |
GREGMLR Doesn't support Tiger! I guess it's "Shades" for me!
(Version 1.3) | |
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| Nov 1 2008 |
GCOGHILL Free and does just what it says. Perfect.
(Version 1.3) | |
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| Jul 11 2008 |
DCX Thanks for a very useful program. It has made my new Mac much more joyful to use. My first question is why does the installed program create a alias to the applications folder and can this alias folder be deleted? Second, is it possible to have the option +/- change the shade in a finer increment or to make the size of the "steps" set by the user? And lastly, I notice that when playing the apple chess program, the pieces do not appear to move when screenshade app is running. Toggling screenshade on and off does not provide the same effect as quiting screenshade.
(Version 1.3) | |
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| Jun 6 2008 |
MOOG MODULAR I was using an app called Brightness because my Imac was blinding me at night even at OSX' lowest brightness setting. I installed Screenshade 1.3 and it works well, but using Expose will result in a full brightness background, which Brightness wouldn't do. Otherwise, nice app. :)
(Version 1.3) | |
| [ 3 Replies - Reply ] | |
Replies:
 | Jun 7 2008 |
JOELLEVIN Hello, this is a known issue - I'm working to figure out a fix for this. Thanks :)
(Version 1.3) | |
| Jun 27 2008 |
JROX Same here. It's the only thing I miss from Brightness Control. Other than that I enjoy using this app.
(Version 1.3) | |
| Jul 12 2008 |
Fwiw, SS1.3 is "forgotten" when told to be a login item. Maybe it's my Mac or where I placed SS, but it means I have to manually launch it after every boot. It disappears from the login items list.
(Version 1.3) | |
| Jun 4 2008 |
ADITYA MOORTHY Hi, First of all, thank you for making this software available. It has made a huge difference to me working on the computer. I have a question as to how this works - The reduction in brightness does not seem to affect the mouse pointer which is still bright as before. Secondly, does this software result in the monitor consuming less electricity than before? Thanks for answering,
(Version 1.3) | |
| [ 4 Replies - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Jun 4 2008 |
The mouse pointer not being covered is a bit of an issue currently - but a known one at that. I'm looking into how to fix that. As to your question about if this reduces power usage, unfortunately it doesn't. It is physically impossible to dim a monitor below its lowest native dimness setting (which I'm pretty sure is what the apple brightness controls let you do). ScreenShade works by overlaying and managing a semi-transparent black window over your monitor (or monitors) that effectively dims the screen further. If you have any more questions, don't be afraid to email me at info@trutwo.com, or chat me up on aim at trutwosw. Hope this helps answer your questions.
(Version 1.3) | |
| Jun 4 2008 |
ADITYA MOORTHY Hi... thanks a bunch for your reply. If I have any feedback I shall surely let you know. On the topic of power saving, can you let me know what is the difference between the brightness control provided by Apple and the overlay you provide. As I understand, the display details are processed by the video card and then loaded on to the memory where each bits of data is processed including the luminescence. If I am talking nonsense here then please correct me. But if this understanding is correct then you adding the overlay should bring down the overall luminescence right? Thanks for your reply.
(Version 1.3) | |
| Jun 4 2008 |
JOELLEVIN So I've done a bit of research on this topic, and I believe you are correct - darker screens require less power to display, simple as that. My only comment is that I'm not sure that the consumption level change will be big enough to make a practical difference, but there will definitely be one. Good thinking, I hadn't actually thought about if power consumption would change. | |
| Jun 4 2008 |
ADITYA MOORTHY Thanks... Guess it can also be a selling point for you :-) Once again, congrats on building such a wonderful application and best wishes to you. If you are developing any other application do let me know and I would like to try that as well.
(Version 1.3) | |
| Jun 1 2008 |
JROX Ah, nice to see the spaces bug fixed. SS has a space on my dock now. Thanks!
(Version 1.2) | |
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| May 31 2008 |
JOELLEVIN Just as a note: It appears the option-plus and option-minus keys are backwards. In my rush to get 1.2 out late last night I messed that up. It will be fixed in 1.3. What are some other features you want to see in 1.3? So far I have localization on the table and that's about it. Tell me how I can make ScreenShade better!
(Version 1.2) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Jun 1 2008 |
DOUG S. The one issue I have is it takes too may clicks to change the brightness on the fly. What might be better is if clicking on the icon in the menu bar you get a slider to easily adjust the brightness and darkness of the displays. Then you can do settings and stuff with a CTRL+click/right-click such as is done by apps like CoverSutra.
(Version 1.2) | |
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