 | Nov 7 2009 |
PHLOEM This supports multiple screens separately! I have an older Apple ADC cabled 20" Cinema Display connected to my MacBook. Now I can control dimming the extra display! Since having to use the ADC-DVI adapter, the dimming feature was lost. Shades give you simple customizable settings separately for each display (menu icon or not, floating bezel or not, optional hot keys. All for free. The only feature I would add is the ability to put the display to sleep (and sleep only one display).
(Version 1.2b3) | |
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 | Oct 23 2009 |
BESTAUCKLANDESCORT Shades is a utility for controlling the brightness of your screen. It runs in the background providing easy control over the brightness of your display via a slick Mac-like interface, with greater dynamic range and finer granularity than the built-in controls. Auckland High Class Escort
(Version 1.2b3) | |
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| Sep 26 2009 |
GRIZZLY19 My eyes "say" thank to this program! Really useful
(Version 1.2b3) | |
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| Sep 26 2009 |
SHK747 perfect with 10.6.1
(Version 1.2b3) | |
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| Sep 3 2009 |
BERNARD SOFFER Needs Leopard update to make it functional again. 1 Star now 'till its done, then back to 5 Stars no doubt.
(Version 1.2b2) | |
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Replies:
| Sep 10 2009 |
ST00P!D M0NK3Y It functions fine for me. No problems whatsoever in Leopard.
(Version 1.2b2) | |
| Sep 10 2009 |
ST00P!D M0NK3Y To make that more clear, function just fine in Snow Leopard... I used it with Leopard as well.
(Version 1.2b2) | |
 | Aug 17 2009 |
PROKOS_J I have been using Shades and recently discovered that it is interfering with the custom screen calibration on my iMac. Shades switches my custom calibration off even though it is selected in the Monitor Preferences. The only way to get my custom calibration to stick is to open Shades preferences and cycle it off. I am guessing it has something to do with the position Shades is loaded at system startup because this wasn't happening before.
(Version 1.2b2) | |
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| Apr 25 2009 |
UKNOWWHO I followed discussion from apple.com and downloaded shades 1.2b, and boom my new iMac 24" is no longer that tiring bright. Good work!
(Version 1.2b2) | |
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| Feb 16 2009 |
ST00P!D M0NK3Y This hasn't been updated in a year and is still in Beta. Did you guys drop the ball on this project?
(Version 1.2b2) | |
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| Dec 22 2007 |
OCHYMING Do not know why or if it was the program. But after running it, my keyboard started acting funny! So I re-installed the previous version.
(Version 1.2b2) | |
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| Nov 24 2007 |
BILLY RAY VALENTINE >> You have to admit, these guys have attended to pretty much every feature request or problem people have addressed. And they offer this for free. It's hard to top that. thanks dev!
(Version 1.2b1) | |
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| Nov 22 2007 |
KZX72 Tint looks and feels a bit different than the last version when I adjust the brightness (more bluish). Like how it's now a pref panel.
(Version 1.2b1) | |
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| Nov 21 2007 |
EASER You have to admit, these guys have attended to pretty much every feature request or problem people have addressed. And they offer this for free. It's hard to top that.
(Version 1.2b1) | |
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| Mar 6 2007 |
LIKOS I really would like an application that would change everything onscreen to a shade of red. That way I could use my laptop at night without compromising my night vision. Soldiers might also like a blue option since blue light doesn't travel as far at night.
(Version 1.1.5r1) | |
| [ 10 Replies - Reply ] | |
Replies:
 | Mar 6 2007 |
DEMOSTHENES Hi Likos, I don't normally announce features in advance to avoid disappointment, however since you've brought it up, I thought you'd like to know that this is a planned feature for 1.1.6.
(Version 1.1.5r1) | |
| Mar 6 2007 |
MACUPDATE ADMIN You've definitely got my interest up... I think it would be a very cool feature: red/blue overall screentint.
(Version 1.1.5r1) | |
| Mar 7 2007 |
LIKOS That is awesome. I am usually hesitant in making requests from freeware writers. I don't feel I have a right to ask for upgrades. (unless the developer specifically asks for ideas.) I appreciate the work. I was about to start messing around with color profiles to see if I could get an acceptable red picture that way. Even if I did get a picture I like that way its a bit of a chore to switch back and forth. Thanks.
(Version 1.1.5r1) | |
| Mar 10 2007 |
HOLYPOLY Check out Dark Adapted which comes in a free version also.
(Version 1.1.5r1) | |
| Nov 21 2007 |
DEMOSTHENES Heh, well it took a bit longer than I planned, but colour tinting is now an option in Shades 1.2b1
(Version 1.2b1) | |
| Nov 21 2007 |
BEN_MARKO Actually all light regardless of color can be seen easily at night. I've been to Afghanistan and Iraq and no one uses Macs at all in a tactical environment. Marines and soldiers alike aren't even allowed to smoke because that tiny red light can be seen far away!
(Version 1.2b1) | |
| Nov 23 2007 |
LIKOS yes any light can be seen at night. I'm sorry if my previous post led someone to believe that. As a matter of fact soldiers on special opps missions cover anything reflective and do not wear (or cover) watches that have illuminated dials. Any light at close distances can reveal your location. That said red light travels the shortest distance. So if a device is set to maximum dim, red, and only on for a short time it MINIMIZES the risk of exposure. It does NOT eliminate the risk. On a battlefield it would still be a huge risk. Also red light does not affect night vision so you will be able to see normally without the need to readjust to darkness. Pilots in WWII wore red goggles at night if they were up and about in order to preserve their night vision. If they were called in to defend the airstrip or into a sortie they were able to hop into a cockpit and fly out. In my case it will prevent me from stubbing my toe on the bedpost. Not quite so glamorous but at least I don't wake the wife or kids to cursing:) I hope that sorts its out. I don't want a soldier cranking up a laptop and thinking no one can see him because its set to red.
(Version 1.2b1) | |
| Nov 23 2007 |
LIKOS Well in my attempt to find a link proving my point I disproved much of it. It turns out blue/green is best for preserving night vision. (like the light used in night vision goggles.) Also what you intend to do at night will dictate the color you want. (I guess this is where user defined presets come in :) http://stlplaces.com/night_vision_red_myth/
(Version 1.2b1) | |
| Dec 15 2007 |
INFRAMAN Try Noctorne by Blacktree, the same author as Quicksilver. http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/24898/nocturne
(Version 1.2b2) | |
| Dec 15 2007 |
MACUPDATE ADMIN You mean 'Nocturne', right here at MacUpdate of course. :)
(Version 1.2b2) | |
| Mar 6 2007 |
DEMOSTHENES A few users are experiencing an issue with Shades 1.5 crashing when they upgrade. The fix appears to be to delete your preferences file. You'll find it in your users folder under library/preferences/com.charcoaldesign.shades.plist. Sorry for any inconvenience.
(Version 1.1.5) | |
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| Jan 11 2007 |
When I use it with VirtueDesktops it only shades the screen that it is run from. All the other VD screens are full brightness. Any chance this can be fixed?
(Version 1.1.4r2) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
 | Jan 11 2007 |
ZEETOO My bad. I just figured out if you tell VirtueDesktops to show Shades on all screens then it works perfectly, so please disregard the previous comment.
(Version 1.1.4r2) | |
| Dec 28 2006 |
FFASS Developer is very responsive to user's input, and this is a very helpful app, so kudos to him. This version really pushes the CPU on my Mac Pro (using Universal version 1.1.3), averaging in the mid 20 to mid 30 %, but can spike to above 50%. The prior version I was using, 1.1.1, didn't have this issue, so I sent a note to the developer. Anyone else experiencing high CPU usage with this version of Shades?
(Version 1.1.3) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Jan 5 2007 |
DEMOSTHENES The CPU usage issue was fixed in version 1.1.4, in case anyone missed the update.
(Version 1.1.4r2) | |
| Dec 27 2006 |
Extremely usefull and done very well! And as mentioned before, but here's my version ; )respect to Nick (the developer) for his kind and fast response towards thoughts and updates! Thank you!
(Version 1.1.3) | |
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| Dec 27 2006 |
TAPIOCA Very responsive developper. Shades gives me everything i need with great ease of use and makes my Intel iMac usable at night (how come Apple didn't think of this ?). Scrollwheel control for the menu extra is a good idea, too
(Version 1.1.3) | |
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| Dec 24 2006 |
JMGRIFF This is just what I needed for using my C2D iMac at night - much more adjustment than is possible in system preferences. Thanks to the developer for making it.
(Version 1.1.1) | |
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| Dec 20 2006 |
ORION MK. V Perfect. Just what I needed when doing less color-vital stuff in the nighttime on my Intel iMac -- which has an awesomely bright screen, but almost no brightness control.
(Version 1.1.1) | |
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| Dec 19 2006 |
AMBERV Brilliant! --Or the sweet lack of brilliance, in this case. I am extremely photosensitive, but I dislike using the controls on the LCD because I also am a photographer (I suppose that is only fitting; perhaps I have 3200 ISO retinas) and need the full power of my screen when messing with pictures. This lets me flip to comfortable levels with the mouse wheel. Love it. One thing that might be neat is to have a second setting which it uses whenever the computer wakes from sleep. That way I do not have to remember to set it nice and dim before I go off to bed.
(Version 1.1.1) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Dec 19 2006 |
AMBERV I really meant to give it five stars, oh my. I forgot to mention two other things that would be nice -- but maybe impossible. Some menus, such as those in Firefox, come up impossibly bright. And I think this is possible to fix because I've seen applications get around it, like DragThing -- but making the shading element not fly off the screen when using Expose would be fantastic.
(Version 1.1.1) | |
| Dec 19 2006 |
DARTH BROOKS EEK! Seventeen and a half megabytes for a brightness control?
(Version 1.1) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Dec 19 2006 |
DEMOSTHENES If it bothers you that much, you can reduce it to half the size by downloading the Intel or PPC specific versions from the web site.
(Version 1.1) | |
| Dec 18 2006 |
TAPIOCA just a little thing
when using the menu extra only, it is possible to to put the brightness to zero. A good point. But it's getting a little annoying when your screen is dark and all you can see is your pointer. Where do you click then ? The only way is to quit the app and delete preferences. Apart of this, thank you for Shades. My eyes are grateful and i stilll consider my imac 24' as a friend.
(Version 1.1) | |
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| Dec 8 2006 |
FLASH1296 Eureka ! I have no explanation as to why my problems using this OUTSTANDING application have evaporated -- but I love it (now) !
(Version 1.0.1r1) | |
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| Dec 6 2006 |
FLASH1296 I was hoping that, as stated, this new version would work. It simply does NOT display anything at all. In the dock, the indication is that it is running. MacBook OS X 10.4.8
(Version 1.0.1r1) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Dec 7 2006 |
DEMOSTHENES FLASH1296, the issue that was resolved in this release does not relate to the bug you reported - apologies for any confusion. I have not yet been able to determine what is causing your issue, and without being able to reproduce it, I am not certain that I will be able to fix it at this time.
(Version 1.0.1r1) | |
| Nov 29 2006 |
CLOUDNINER I love this program. My 24in iMac is way to bright. Shades let me back it way down compared to the pref pane.
(Version 1.0.1) | |
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| Nov 26 2006 |
PSEUDOPROMETHEUS This is a great app, I've been wanting something like it for a long time. One thing I've noticed though, is that the dimming doesn't take effect on iTunes movies played in full-screen mode. I'm sure it only means that the movie itself plays over the 'layer' that Shades makes. I wonder if it's possible to work around this ... Otherwise, I give this app a big thumbs-up. Slick interface, and a much-needed solution to the iMac's somewhat limited range in brightness settings. Love it.
(Version 1.0.1) | |
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| Nov 26 2006 |
VEGGIEDUDE Shades is great and I love it, but I have a couple things I wished it featured: 1) to exclude (or hide) itself from certain programs. For example, in Parallels Desktop it becomes a nuisance. 2) the choice for it to be vertical as well as horizontal.
(Version 1.0.1) | |
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| Nov 25 2006 |
FFASS Decided that I should follow up my previous posts since dual monitor support was added (thank you). I discovered that the competing app I mentioned in my previous post has a real flaw: it doesn't hold it's setting after waking up from my screensaver. Very annoying. Shades retains its setting, so it gets a thumbs up. One suggestion to the developer: currently I'm not allowed to drag the adjustment slider to my 2nd monitor, which is my preference.
(Version 1.0.1) | |
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| Nov 24 2006 |
FLASH1296 I reset the rosetta cache and set it to run under rosetta (in the get info window). It is running now and I like it just fine.
(Version 1.0) | |
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Replies:
| Nov 24 2006 |
DEMOSTHENES Can you clarify your comment? If you have been experiencing a problem I would very much appreciate a bug report so I can fix it.
(Version 1.0) | |
| Nov 24 2006 |
FFASS Try "Brightness Control" for a screen dimmer with dual monitor support. Also, Shades is a wopping 15MB app (what gives with that??).
(Version 1.0) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Nov 24 2006 |
DEMOSTHENES I had exactly the same thought - I suggest you take it up with REAL software :-\ If 15MB seems a bit much, you can get a version half the size if you download the standalone PPC or Intel version from the site: http://www.charcoaldesign.co.uk/shades
(Version 1.0) | |
| Nov 24 2006 |
FFASS Works, but dual monitor set-up not supported.
(Version 1.0) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Nov 24 2006 |
DEMOSTHENES Dual monitor support is planned for the next version. I've got a few ideas for how this could work, but please submit a feature request detailing your requirements so I can make sure that they're met. Click the link below to submit a request. http://www.charcoaldesign.co.uk/support?product=Shades&severity=Feature%20Request
(Version 1.0) | |
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