DonationCoder.com Forum
Other Software => Announce Your Software/Service/Product => Topic started by: musetips on May 08, 2011, 03:58 AM
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FadeTop is a free, portable and extremely simple break reminder software that fades your desktop into a bluish color at regular intervals.
At minute 0, 15, 30 and 45 of each hour, the fader gets activated. (Fader won't become active unless the program has been running for at least 15 minutes.)
If you want to know what the fading looks like, just start FadeTop and click the program icon in system tray.
To quit, right click the icon and choose Exit from the shortcut menu.
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Updates (May 21, 2011 UTC):
FadeTop v2.5 or later supports below options (configurable via the Options dialog):
1) auto fade interval: interval between alarms (1..60 in minutes)
2) fade duration: interval between alarms (1..300 in seconds)
3) max opacity: the maximum opacity for the overlay color (1..100 in percentage)
3) overlay color: color for fading the desktop
4) text color: color for time digits
5) text size: font size for the time digits (10..900 in pixels)
6) block fader when a full-screen program is running
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Website:
http://www.fadetop.com (http://www.fadetop.com)
FadeTop in Action: (animated GIF)
[attachimg=#1][/attachimg]
FadeTop in System Tray:
[attachimg=#2][/attachimg]
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TimeClue is designed to help you develop a habit of resting your eyes every 15 minutes (recommended for heavy computer users).
Alerts are raised at fixed time, as otherwise that habit will never stick, according to my own experience.
All that experience boils down to this: reminder software is useless for eye-resting unless it helps you nurture a good habit.
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Giving it a try. Thanks for sharing :)
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Nice idea. I'd love to see this with some configurable options:
- adjustable color/saturation/
- adjustable max opaqueness
- audible chime
- duration of fade
- choose your own time periods
- bonus: configurable settings for specific events/times
Configurable in a textfile or a dialog, it'd be all the same to me.
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TimeClue is designed to help you develop a habit of resting your eyes every 15 minutes (recommended for heavy computer users).-musetips
Rest them how? Whenever my dad said he was resting his eyes that meant he was taking a nap.
A nap every 15 minutes seems like a good way to live a stress-free life of unemployment. :P
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Nice idea. I'd love to see this with some configurable options:
- adjustable color/saturation/
- adjustable max opaqueness
- audible chime
- duration of fade
- choose your own time periods
- bonus: configurable settings for specific events/times
Configurable in a textfile or a dialog, it'd be all the same to me.
-doctorfrog
I'm considering to add more customizable options.
Currently, colors can be set in the settings.xml file (in the same folder as the exe file).
To change these colors, quit TimeClue, open settings.xml with any text editor, then make below changes:
1) set fg_color for time numbers (white as default);
2) set bg_color for the overlaying color (blue as default).
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TimeClue is designed to help you develop a habit of resting your eyes every 15 minutes (recommended for heavy computer users).-musetips
Rest them how? Whenever my dad said he was resting his eyes that meant he was taking a nap.
A nap every 15 minutes seems like a good way to live a stress-free life of unemployment. :P
-Deozaan
Eye-resting for computer users normally includes:
1) Close your eyes;
2) Move eyeballs up and down;
3) Move eyeballs from side to side;
4) Move eyeballs in clockwise and counter-clockwise direction.
So the movement is: UP->DOWN->LEFT->RIGHT->CW->CCW. Try this for about 10 times and your eyes become relaxed, more or less.
Resting the neck (by tilting the head) follows similar steps.
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Thanks for the concrete steps!
Any chance this info could be made readily available via the application? Or perhaps it is already and I haven't found it :-[
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TimeClue is designed to help you develop a habit of resting your eyes every 15 minutes (recommended for heavy computer users).-musetips
Rest them how? Whenever my dad said he was resting his eyes that meant he was taking a nap.
A nap every 15 minutes seems like a good way to live a stress-free life of unemployment. :P
-Deozaan
But not when you are a tester in a mattress factory :P
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TimeClue is designed to help you develop a habit of resting your eyes every 15 minutes (recommended for heavy computer users).-musetips
Rest them how? Whenever my dad said he was resting his eyes that meant he was taking a nap.
A nap every 15 minutes seems like a good way to live a stress-free life of unemployment. :P
-Deozaan
But not when you are a tester in a mattress factory :P
-Shades
Ah! Not so my friend ... It's a 5 minute nap at 2 minute intervals. QC has got to make rate too Ya know... ;)
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Thanks for the concrete steps!
Any chance this info could be made readily available via the application? Or perhaps it is already and I haven't found it :-[
-ewemoa
That's not included in the app for now.
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Warning, this is a thread hijack but I just could not resist :D
@musetips
What's the deal with the incremental updates of your Text Filter application? The only things that changed every 3-4 days since November last year are the version number and date. Also, you seem to hide the portable version... hope it has got nothing to do with the crap that is included in the installer.
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Warning, this is a thread hijack but I just could not resist :D
@musetips
What's the deal with the incremental updates of your Text Filter application? The only things that changed every 3-4 days since November last year are the version number and date. Also, you seem to hide the portable version... hope it has got nothing to do with the crap that is included in the installer.
-PhilB66
Thank you for the interest.
That's not an "incremental updates". All the applications on that site (musetips.com) share a common library with some other software products (in scores). There's a dedicated server that rebuilds the library nightly.
So if you see the version number changes from 1.0.0.X to 1.0.0.Y, that's a rebuild. See below:
[attachimg=#1][/attachimg]
If you see the version number changes from 1.A.0.X to 1.B.0.Y, that's a feature update.
When you see the sponsor's program appears in the installer, just reject it or uninstall it if a mis-click occurs. Admittedly the email support for TF has been overwhelming, too much for a freeware I work with on my spare time only.
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One thing that I find works very well is to have your monitor slightly angled -- just a few degrees (say 10 or so). It forces your eyes to change focus.
I've not had any eye strain problems since working like that.
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One thing that I find works very well is to have your monitor slightly angled -- just a few degrees (say 10 or so). It forces your eyes to change focus.
I've not had any eye strain problems since working like that.
-Renegade
I tried and gave it up. Not that comfortable to me. :o
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One thing that I find works very well is to have your monitor slightly angled -- just a few degrees (say 10 or so). It forces your eyes to change focus.-Renegade
You sure about that? It's been awhile since I worked in optical so I can't put number to it of the top of my head. But a 10deg tip of a typical monitor isn't going to impact the focal distance enough to matter. Nor will sitting forward and/or backward in your chair (a considerably longer distance). The problem is the intense fixed gaze that is being maintained for hours at a time. That's what needs to be broken by letting you eyes unfocus and relax for a bit now and then.
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One thing that I find works very well is to have your monitor slightly angled -- just a few degrees (say 10 or so). It forces your eyes to change focus.-Renegade
You sure about that? It's been awhile since I worked in optical so I can't put number to it of the top of my head. But a 10deg tip of a typical monitor isn't going to impact the focal distance enough to matter. Nor will sitting forward and/or backward in your chair (a considerably longer distance). The problem is the intense fixed gaze that is being maintained for hours at a time. That's what needs to be broken by letting you eyes unfocus and relax for a bit now and then.
-Stoic Joker
It could be entirely coincidence. (Maybe 15 degrees -- haven't measured.)
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TimeClue can be configured via a dialog now. Just right click the app icon in system tray and choose "Options..." from the shortcut menu.
[attachimg=#1][/attachimg]
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Thanks for adding this :Thmbsup:
I really appreciate being able to adjust the auto fade interval.
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TimeClue can be configured via a dialog now. Just right click the app icon in system tray and choose "Options..." from the shortcut menu.
(see attachment in previous post (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=26686.msg248575#msg248575))
-musetips
You've got my attention. :D :up:
I know it ain't much, but *clink*
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Trying your program out today to see how it works for me.
I have dual screen setup, and only my primary monitor fades... is this something you could rectify in the next version?
Thanks for sharing your work :)
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TimeClue can be configured via a dialog now. Just right click the app icon in system tray and choose "Options..." from the shortcut menu.
(see attachment in previous post (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=26686.msg248575#msg248575))
-musetips
You've got my attention. :D :up:
I know it ain't much, but *clink*
-doctorfrog
Thank you! :D
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Trying your program out today to see how it works for me.
I have dual screen setup, and only my primary monitor fades... is this something you could rectify in the next version?
Thanks for sharing your work :)
-Ampa
Working on the problem now.
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TimeClue is designed to help you develop a habit of resting your eyes every 15 minutes (recommended for heavy computer users).-musetips
Rest them how? Whenever my dad said he was resting his eyes that meant he was taking a nap.
A nap every 15 minutes seems like a good way to live a stress-free life of unemployment. :P
-Deozaan
I thing he means:
- Focusing on objects in the distance. Otherwise the tiny mucle in the Ciliary muscle in the eye will become atrophic over time.
- Taking your focus from an emisive screen (harmful to your eyes btw) to a something non emisive (like paper).
- Blinking your eyes. Dry eyes are common on people that do not blink enough (which is usually the ones that spend a long time looking at an emmitive screen).
All overall a good idea, but difficult to remember when you are concentrated on something.
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Any chance of a x mins before fade warning (e.g. play a custom sound or some other notification) feature?
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Any chance of a x mins before fade warning ...
-ewemoa
I'd go for the x seconds before fade warning, 15 seconds should be enough to press Ctrl-S once more 8)
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Ah, I think I finally get it. A reference to saving, perhaps?
My request may have been inspired by memories of the "5 minute warning" we used to get in elementary school shortly before recess time was due to be up :)
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Very nice app :up:
Notes:
I can only test the fader (via the tray icon) once - it doesnt work after the first go - this makes it difficult to test custom colours etc.
My taskbar autohides - you say I can right click the tray icon and choose "Exit" from the shortcut menu to get out of "fade" mode -
my taskbar menu does not show though while Time Clue is dimming the screen.
Edit/ just in case: OS is XP SP3
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I realize this isn't it's purpose, but I could see something like this being particularly useful to parents and gamers to fade in the middle of a game or whatever. The only thing needed to make this work would be to be able to set a specific time for it. Perhaps a different color so one, the other, or both features could be used together? Just some other peripheral ideas to throw out there.
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Any chance of a x mins before fade warning (e.g. play a custom sound or some other notification) feature?
-ewemoa
Alarm before "warning"? Why bother?
I did consider to support sound.
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Any chance of a x mins before fade warning ...
-ewemoa
I'd go for the x seconds before fade warning, 15 seconds should be enough to press Ctrl-S once more 8)
-Ath
Why should we need those additional seconds? The fader does not interfere with the ongoing work.
We can still do anything when the desktop is fading (before it becomes too illegible, of course).
BTW, you may consider below options:
1) choose a bigger value for fade duration: then you don't have to press Ctrl-S in a haste
2) choose a smaller value for maximum opacity: then you can simply ignore the fader when it's shown
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Alarm before "warning"? Why bother?
-musetips
I'm not confident I explained very well so I'll make another attempt.
With a notification/warning [1] of some small number of minutes before fading occurs, I think I can prepare to pull away and have an easier time at halting work once fading begins. If I'm in the midst of something that I'm concentrating on, not really aware of the time, and I suddenly have to stop, I find that can be difficult. My guess is that this type of thing is not entirely uncommon, but perhaps not...
BTW, thanks for the "Block fader when a full-screen program is running" option :Thmbsup:
[1] I'm not sure just sound would always work out here due to not having sound on all of the time...
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Very nice app :up:
Notes:
I can only test the fader (via the tray icon) once - it doesnt work after the first go - this makes it difficult to test custom colours etc.
My taskbar autohides - you say I can right click the tray icon and choose "Exit" from the shortcut menu to get out of "fade" mode -
my taskbar menu does not show though while Time Clue is dimming the screen.
Edit/ just in case: OS is XP SP3
-tomos
Thank you for the feedback. I'll look into this problem shortly.
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I realize this isn't it's purpose, but I could see something like this being particularly useful to parents and gamers to fade in the middle of a game or whatever. The only thing needed to make this work would be to be able to set a specific time for it. Perhaps a different color so one, the other, or both features could be used together? Just some other peripheral ideas to throw out there.
-steeladept
The options dialog allows you to set the "auto fade interval" and "overlay color". Maybe that's what you need?
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Alarm before "warning"? Why bother?
-musetips
I'm not confident I explained very well so I'll make another attempt.
With a notification/warning [1] of some small number of minutes before fading occurs, I think I can prepare to pull away and have an easier time at halting work once fading begins. If I'm in the midst of something that I'm concentrating on, not really aware of the time, and I suddenly have to stop, I find that can be difficult. My guess is that this type of thing is not entirely uncommon, but perhaps not...
BTW, thanks for the "Block fader when a full-screen program is running" option :Thmbsup:
[1] I'm not sure just sound would always work out here due to not having sound on all of the time...
-ewemoa
The program is so designed that you never "suddenly have to stop".
Try this:
First set a low Max opacity value (say 40) via Options dialog, then click the program icon to invoke the fader. Now do anything as if the fader is not there.
As to sound alarm: according to my own experience, it can quickly become an annoyance, especially when we're at work. Note that the program is supposed to raise alerts somewhat frequently (for eye resting).
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The options dialog allows you to set the "auto fade interval" and "overlay color". Maybe that's what you need?
-musetips
I was thinking more along the lines of setting a set time of day, such as bedtime, or time to start work. Essentially it becomes an alarm you can't just say "okay, just one more minute" and 30 minutes later "Oh *hit, I am late!". Having the fade interval allows it to recover so you can close down, but the fade, especially during a game, can be killer and make it pointless to the "one more minute" idea. Of course I suppose a valid work around could be to set up a higher frequency fade interval (ever 30 seconds for example) and use a scheduled task to start it up...
Again, I realize this is completely outside of the purpose of this software, I am just thinking outside the box on one way I can see myself using something like this for my kids.
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Try this:
First set a low Max opacity value (say 40) via Options dialog, then click the program icon to invoke the fader. Now do anything as if the fader is not there.
-musetips
Thanks for the suggestion.
I have been trying with mixed results. I find that I often don't stop -- will keep trying though.
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An application with the same purpose I was once using had the following nice feature: the tray icon visually showed how much interval time had passed (or was left, can't remember). Can't remember the resolution either, maybe steps of 10 to 20% interval time (i.e. 5 to 10 different tray images).
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Try this:
First set a low Max opacity value (say 40) via Options dialog, then click the program icon to invoke the fader. Now do anything as if the fader is not there.
-musetips
Thanks for the suggestion.
I have been trying with mixed results. I find that I often don't stop -- will keep trying though.-ewemoa
Now I haven't actually tried the program, so bear with my if I'm off base...
But it occurs to me that you're asking for a feature that will allow you to continue the very behavior that the program is designed to break you of.
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Try this:
First set a low Max opacity value (say 40) via Options dialog, then click the program icon to invoke the fader. Now do anything as if the fader is not there.
-musetips
Thanks for the suggestion.
I have been trying with mixed results. I find that I often don't stop -- will keep trying though.
-ewemoa
You'll have to set up a higher value for Max opacity if you want to be forced to stop.
Or, let's just follow the design guideline: develop the habit of taking breaks. When reminded, try to take action asap.
I've found the best choice for Max opacity is: when it doesn't fully dims the screen, while making it hard enough to continue to work.
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An application with the same purpose I was once using had the following nice feature: the tray icon visually showed how much interval time had passed (or was left, can't remember). Can't remember the resolution either, maybe steps of 10 to 20% interval time (i.e. 5 to 10 different tray images).
-phitsc
Thank you for this info. I'm considering to add this feature.
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But it occurs to me that you're asking for a feature that will allow you to continue the very behavior that the program is designed to break you of.
-Stoic Joker
You got it.
Taking breaks away from the computer is all about habit. The program turns useless when we try to ignore the reminding.
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Notes:
[1] I can only test the fader (via the tray icon) once - it doesnt work after the first go - this makes it difficult to test custom colours etc.
[2] My taskbar autohides - you say I can right click the tray icon and choose "Exit" from the shortcut menu to get out of "fade" mode -
my taskbar menu does not show though while Time Clue is dimming the screen.-tomos
this was sorted per PM, but just in case anyone else was wondering about them:
[1] is now fixed
[2] is actually only a problem when doing a test fade - click anywhere on the screen, move cursor to the bottom of screen - the taskbar gets shown
Tip: left-click tray icon to do a test fade
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But the multi-monitor option is still being worked on (as it currently only fades my main monitor...)? :huh:
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Another little bug -
if I change focus to Firefox during a fade (using alt+tab or clicking on minimised window on taskbar), the fade process will stop.
Changing focus to FF during a fade, also reintroduces the bug where you cannot do a test-fade afterwards.
XP SP3 / FF 4.0.1
edit/ added FF version