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HazeOver: Distraction Dimmer

Focus on one app by dimming all the background windows

#3 Product of the DayJune 01, 2015

Around the web

HazeOver 1.6 review: Dim those background windows so you can focus on the task at handThere are lots of ways you can manage windows in OS X. You can use Spaces, or you could use multiple displays, and sort your windows on different virtual or physical desktops. But if you don't use either of these methods, you may find that when you have a lot of windows visible on your display, it can be hard to focus.
MacworldKirk McElhearn
HazeOver Dims Distractions by Fading Background Windows on Your MacOS X: HazeOver makes it easy to focus on the task at hand, even if you have multiple windows open on your Mac. All it does is dim background windows and your desktop, and keeps the front, active window bright on top of all of them.
LifehackerAlan Henry

Reviews

 
Helpful
  • Ua VandercarIT & eMedia Manager, WMPL
    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.

    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.

    Comments (0)

Discussion

Hunter
Bram Kanstein (@bramk)
Makers
Maxim Ananov
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Jordan Feldstein@jfeldstein · Misc. Growth & User Acquisition
Am I the only one who full-screens every window, every time?
Upvote (20)·
Jared Schnelle@schnelle · Founder, Forge
@jfeldstein I'm curious if you use SizeUp or a different app to make fullscreen / window management easier.
Upvote ·
Maxim Ananov
Maker
@pointum · Distraction Dimmer • HazeOver.com
@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.
Upvote (6)·
Miles Matthias@miles_matthias · CTO @EquityEats
@jfeldstein I had the same thought. I use full screen as well. But there is always room for options - different people like different things.
Upvote ·
Karthik Gowda@_kgowda · Product Manager, Mobiefit
@pointum @jfeldstein OCD :D
Upvote ·
Mike M@polyphonie
@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.
Upvote ·
Bram Kanstein (@bramk)
Hunter
@bramk · Creator of @startupstash
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!
Upvote (9)·
Arlo GilbertHiring@arlogilbert · Founder & Angel
@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?
Upvote (2)·
Yenting Lin@yenting_lin · Campaign manager in Appier
@arlogilbert @bramk agree with the "I didn't know I needed this til I downloaded it!" Just can't leave without this app.
Upvote (1)·
🌟 
Chris Messina@chrismessina · 🏆 PH Community Member of the Year!
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.
Upvote (4)·
Maxim Ananov
Maker
@pointum · Distraction Dimmer • HazeOver.com
@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.
Upvote (5)·
Paul Kemp@paul_s_kemp · The App Guy Podcast
A slick app that helps with my productivity. Nice one! Also, a cool demo video....
Upvote (2)·
Maxim Ananov
Maker
@pointum · Distraction Dimmer • HazeOver.com
@paul_s_kemp thank you. It took a dozen takes to make this video as close to being in sync with the music as I could.
Upvote ·
Jamie Lawrence@ideasasylum · Consultant CTO, Rails developer
I generally full-screen apps but I use HazeOver as a visual cue as to which monitor I'm focusing on. Really great app!
Upvote (2)·