People use Time Out for lots of reasons; to avoid RSI, to get regular exercise, to avoid sore eyes, to remember to eat regularly, to stop work at the end of the day, and more. But one use case that I've seen several people mentioning recently is to help with dry eyes.
A nice comment from one example:
"...my eyes are freakishly dry, way over-the-top compared to the average dry eye patient, and your app has allowed me to use my computer longer without killing my eyes. I can't thank you enough for making it!!"
People who experience dry eyes can sometimes find that blinking more frequently can help keep the eyes lubricated. That can be hard to remember when focused on work, though. Time Out's default Micro break can help with that, but some people prefer even more frequent reminders.
Time Out breaks can currently be configured to occur as much as once per minute, which is a lot for a typical break, but by making the break only last one second, and configuring the other Schedule settings to avoid skipping or delaying it, the break can be a very brief reminder without being too disruptive:
In the next version of Time Out, I am considering enabling using frequency units of seconds, instead of minutes (and hours, etc). It is currently limited to a minimum of 1 minute, as that seemed like a reasonable minimum, but a very quick break like this every few seconds does have merit. But read on for a way this can be achieved even now.
The Appearance options can be set to avoid fading the screen via the None theme, with zero fade-in and fade-out times (set the fade times before changing the theme):
A great way to very quickly remind yourself to blink is to flash the screen. This can be done via the Flash Screen action. The color and duration of the flash can be tweaked as desired.
And if once per minute isn't enough, you can add as many as you want on the Actions page, spaced out by setting the offset After Start, like this to have it flash every 10 seconds:
I hope this is helpful to people suffering from dry eye, or anyone wanting more frequent reminders.
DejalNews 2019-01, issue #74
This is DejalNews, an occasional newsletter from Dejal.
If you want to receive these newsletters in your email inbox, head over to the DejalNews subscribe page to sign up.
The previous issue of DejalNews was a bit over a year ago. I didn't intend to take a year off publishing these newsletters, but sometimes things just happen. I want to get back on that horse, so hopefully will resume publishing a newsletter each month. Usually they will cover recent releases and news, but I've got a bit of catching up to do this time.
Since it's been a while since the previous newsletter, I should mention the updates to my main two apps, Dejal Simon version 4.3.1, and Time Out version 2.5. If you missed them, take a look at the release notes or blog for what changed.
An exciting new Mac app was introduced recently: SheetPlanner. This app was written by me as a consulting project. It is a pro-level outliner, planner, todo, calendar, and more.
Version 1.0 of this app was well-received, and we're working on some great enhancements for version 1.1 and beyond. Check it out!
A great resource to catch up with or review what happened in the past year are my traditional end-of-year blog posts:
But wait, there's more! Blogs, that is. Perhaps one reason for the hiatus of newsletters is that I've been publishing a lot more on my personal blogs, fulfilling that creative outlet. If you want to learn a bit more about the man behind the apps, my non-Dejal projects and interests, check out my other blogs:
- David
There's a recent meme going around called #10YearChallenge, where people post pictures (often of themselves) from 2009 and 2019.
While I usually don't bother with memes, I thought it'd be fun to look at Time Out from 2009 vs 2019.
Here's what a Time Out break looked like back in 2009, plus you can see the old app icon during the break (no other themes!):
Vs 2019:
The Timer preferences in 2009:
Vs the Schedule prefs in 2019:
The Appearance prefs in 2009:
Vs 2019:
Things can certainly change quite a bit in a decade!
Last week I published my annual Dejal year in review post for 2018. This week, let's look ahead for what's in store for 2019.
I am currently working on a complete rewrite of Pack, my simple packing list app. It was originally written in Objective-C, using some legacy techniques and technologies, but I decided to rewrite it from scratch using Swift and modern approaches. It's usually not a good idea to rewrite working code, but this app is small enough, and the code crusty enough, that I deemed it worthwhile. I use this app every time I travel, so I'm keen to keep it fresh and current, and add some great new features... hopefully including iCloud syncing, though we'll see how that goes.
Next up I will start on Time Out version 2.6, with a number of enhancements planned, and several more queued up for future versions. If you have any requests for 2.6 or later, now would be a great time to get in touch.
Fun fact: this week Time Out is the top featured app in the Mac App Store, with a great feature story. (That link will take you to the story in the App Store on a Mac or iOS device.)
I also have a couple of new apps in various states of planning or prototyping; one for macOS, another for iOS. Handy tools to scratch my own itch, which can sometime be a great way to work on an app, though not necessarily a key to commercial success. I hope to get to one or both of those later in the year.
And let's not forget Simon; I have some big enhancements planned for its next release, too.
On the consulting side, I'm continuing to work on SheetPlanner, NewsBlur, and other client projects this year, with some great new releases coming up.
I've noticed that the Dejal blog was a bit neglected last year, with relatively few posts, and I haven't done a DejalNews newsletter for a while, so I want to get back into those; I've set a goal to do one post per week, and one newsletter per month, so please hold me to that! I also want to do some improvements to the website this year. (I guess I satisfied my blogging needs with my personal and homestead blogs, but I don't want to ignore the Dejal one too.)
In terms of conferences, last year I attended AltConf in San Jose and Swift by Northwest in Portland. This year I'm considering entering the lottery for WWDC, since it'll likely have a strong Mac focus, but plan to attend AltConf again if I don't get in. I'd also like to attend other conferences, to be determined.
It's going to be another busy year!
Happy New Year!
As we start a new year, let's review what happened with the Dejal apps in 2018:
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My pro app to monitor websites and servers for changes and failures, Simon, had a couple of updates in 2018, to version 4.3.1, including Mojave dark mode, meta refresh options, pause improvements, refinements to services and filters, and more. It continues to be sold both directly and as one of the foundation apps in the popular Setapp subscription service. |
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My popular break reminder tool, Time Out, had two significant updates in 2018, including version 2.4, adding a useful statistics chart, options to disable buttons for a few seconds, scheduling enhancements, and other improvements, and version 2.5, which included Mojave dark mode, day-of-week availability options, and other improvements. It continues to be available both directly and via the Mac App Store, where it was recently picked as an app they love, and regularly ranked #1 in the Health & Fitness category. |
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Pack, a simple iPhone app to make it easy to pack for trips, didn't have any updates in 2018, but I am working on a big update (more below). I use it for every trip, and have a number of improvements planned. Try it for your next trip! |
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Date Stamp, an iMessage app to provide customizable date stamp stickers, was updated to version 1.0.1. It may or may not be updated again, but works really well as-is. The iMessage store didn't have a very good start, but is more visible in recent iOS releases. Tell your friends if you like this. |
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Chicken GIFs is a sticker pack featuring many fun animated GIFs of my chickens, which can be used as reactions in messages. It may or may not get any future updates, but is fun as-is. |
Dejal also produces macOS and iOS apps for other companies, under the banner of Dejal Consulting. (I do wonder if I should split it into a separate company... but it's been fine for nearly 30 years.)
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The big news in 2018 was the release of SheetPlanner, a pro-level outliner, planner, todo, calendar, and more. I'm really proud of how this app turned out, and it has been fairly popular on the Mac App Store already. I'm continuing to work on this app, so stay tuned for some great enhancements throughout the year. |
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I have also resumed working on the iOS client for NewsBlur, a popular RSS reader, with many great enhancements in version 8, and more to come. |
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I'm also currently working on a macOS project for another client, that I can't mention yet. More about that in the future. |
I am currently fully booked up for the next several months at least, but am always interested in talking with potential new clients. If you have a macOS or iOS project you'd like help with (or a custom Simon enhancement), check out my consulting page for more information.
Thank you and welcome to my new customers, and many thanks to the long-term customers who are still enjoying my apps. I really appreciate your support.
My blog posts often just cover new releases, but sometimes I post general-interest or developer-interest topics. Some highlights from 2018 included:
https://
TLS/SSL.I hope you enjoyed these posts.
I'm pleased to announce the release of a new macOS app: SheetPlanner. This is a powerful new app that combines an outliner, todo, spreadsheet, timeline, calendar, and more, enabling you to easily plan projects, manage tasks, organize information, and many other uses.
It includes support for multiple types of columns, inline notes and links, sorting, an option to focus on a subset of rows, flexible smart filter options, styles, dark mode, and many more features, yet is very simple to get started.
SheetPlanner was written by me over the past 18 months or so, as a Dejal consulting project for SheetPlanner Software LLC.
Start by picking one of the pre-made templates, or an empty document:
Configure columns, the theme, and other options in the Inspector:
You can show any combination of the Outline, Timeline, Month, Year, and Inspector views, in horizontal or vertical orientation:
Show a month view to see dates on a calendar:
And/or a year view for a heat map of tasks:
Include inline notes and/or attachments:
Customize powerful filters to show only matching rows:
Or edit the preferences:
SheetPlanner is available as a free download, and includes a free three-week full-featured trial. The app can be purchased for just $49.99, or continue with a free read-only mode if you're not ready to buy.
Visit the SheetPlanner website to learn more, or download from the Mac App Store to try it for yourself!
On Twitter, Abbey Jackson asked:
@dejal Love TimeOut! Just noticed on the appstore screenshots an example that shows "Lunch". Could you share the set up for a daily lunch break at lunch time (rather than a rolling time frame)
— Abbey Jackson (@earthabbey) November 15, 2018
Sure! Here's the Schedule page for my Time Out preferences, showing my Lunchtime break configuration:
There are two important steps to do this: firstly, set the frequency to Every 1 day, and secondly, use the Available options to set a fixed start time of noon. In my example, I have this break only occur on weekdays. I also have the natural break option set to Continue Countdown, since I want the break to start immediately, not get pushed back due to idle time.
Didn't realize that you can set daily breaks? Yep! Click, arrow, or tab to the units of the duration ("Break for") and frequency ("Every") fields to change between various units: seconds, minutes, hours for the duration, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years for the frequency.
As a bonus, here's my Night break, that tells me to go to bed:
This is similar, but a longer duration. And yes, I go to bed rather early, as I usually get up at 05:30 (but don't get to my Mac till after breakfast).
Hope this helps!
I'm pleased to announce the general release of version 2.5 of Time Out, my popular break reminder tool.
The most obvious change in version 2.5 is dark mode support on Mojave (macOS 10.14):
Isn't that pretty?
In addition to Mojave compatibility, this update also includes a new option on the Break Schedule page of the preferences to choose which days of the week a break is available. Eagle-eyed people may have noticed it in the above screenshot:
Using this option, you could indicate that breaks should only occur on weekdays, as above, or only Fridays, or any other combination. The days of the week can combine with a time range, or apply all day on the indicated days. This new feature is available as a reward for current supporters, or you can try it as often as you like, for an hour at a time.
(Don't worry, the first day of the week will respect your System Preferences; if you consider that the week starts on Sunday, for example, that'll be first in the control.)
Another new supporter option is on the Advanced preferences page: the ability to disable the app switcher, force quit, and shut down panels during a break:
Most people probably don't need this, but if you need a little extra encouragement to avoid skipping breaks, this might be helpful, when combined with existing options to disable the postpone and skip buttons.
There are of course a number of other enhancements and fixes. I recommend everyone update to this version.
Here are the full release notes:
If you are using the Mac App Store edition, you can update via the App Store app.
If you are using the direct edition, you can use the Check for Updates feature in the app to update.
Otherwise, download Time Out 2.5 now!
What's this? Another Time Out beta already? Yep!
This second beta of version 2.5 includes a couple much-requested new features for supporters, improvements for Mojave, and a fix for prior OS versions, among other changes.
Read on for details:
If you are using the direct edition, you can change your Updates preferences to include beta releases, then use the Check for Updates feature in the app to update.
Otherwise, download 2.5b2 now!
I will be attending the Swift by Northwest conference in Portland on October 18-20. This is a sold-out conference for macOS and iOS developers, with a focus on the Swift programming language, and related topics.
I've written a blog post on my personal blog to introduce myself to attendees. Others may also be interested.
Simon version 4.3.1 is now available. This bug-fix update just has a couple of tweaks:
Remember, Simon's price has been temporarily reduced (for the full license and upgrade license), to celebrate version 4.3 (and 4.3.1). Get it while it lasts!
Changes in 4.3 included:
If you are using the direct edition, you can use the Check for Updates feature in the app to update.
If you are using the Setapp edition, the app will automatically update shortly.
Otherwise, download Simon 4.3.1 now.
Hey Time Out fans! Been wondering where Mojave dark mode support is? Wonder no more; it's here!
Version 2.5 is still very much a work-in-progress, but I wanted to get out a beta especially for anyone using it on Mojave (macOS 10.14) and wanting to use dark mode. I plan to make a number of additional changes before the general release, but everyone is welcome to use the beta; it should be safe.
Only a few changes in this first beta:
If you are using the direct edition, you can change your Updates preferences to include beta releases, then use the Check for Updates feature in the app to update.
Otherwise, download 2.5b1 now!
I'm pleased to announce that Simon version 4.3 is now available. An important update to my pro utility app to monitor websites and servers for changes or failures.
If you will be installing Mojave (macOS 10.14) on Monday, or any time soon, this update is essential, to address some compatibility issues. But it is still compatible back to Yosemite (10.10), and has some nice improvements even if you won't be updating yet.
I've also temporarily reduced the price (for the full license and upgrade license), to celebrate this update. Get it while it lasts!
Changes in this release include:
<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0; url=https://www.dejal.com/">
. Meta refreshes to reload the same page are ignored.curl
.ftp
command-line tool.If you are using the direct edition, you can use the Check for Updates feature in the app to update.
If you are using the Setapp edition, the app will automatically update shortly.
Otherwise, download Simon 4.3 now.
It's been a while, but I'm pleased to announce the first beta of an update to Simon, my pro utility app to monitor websites and servers for changes or failures.
Version 4.3 is still a work-in-progress, but I wanted to get out a beta especially for anyone using it on Mojave (macOS 10.14), and also to address some issues that have been reported.
I've also temporarily reduced the price (for the full license and upgrade license), to celebrate this update. Get it while it lasts!
Changes in this first beta include:
curl
.<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0; url=https://www.dejal.com/">
. Meta refreshes to reload the same page are ignored. This option is on by default. It replaces a hidden preference, and makes it test-specific.ftp
command-line tool.If you are using the direct edition, you can change your Updates preferences to include beta releases, then use the Check for Updates feature in the app to update.
Otherwise, download 4.3b1 now!
On my personal blog, I just posted about my adventures in San Jose for WWDC week, with lots of photos.
I will be in San Jose next week, during WWDC. I won't actually be attending WWDC itself, but will be at AltConf and other events that week:
If you see me around San Jose, please feel most welcome to say hi. I am an introvert, so other people coming up to me to introduce themselves makes it easier for me! But one of the main reasons for being there is to network with other macOS and iOS developers, and others in our industry.
I will be wearing one of several Dejal shirt designs, plus may be wearing a Dejal cap. And my long beard is fairly distinctive:
I will give out business cards with my contact details and apps, Dejal stickers, Time Out stickers, and even stickers for a secret new project I've spent the last year working on (which I'd be happy to show you if interested):
I hope to see you there!
There has been a trend in recent years for websites to adopt TLS/SSL for security — where you see a lock icon in the web browser location field. This is definitely a good idea, even when the site doesn't have forms, but even more so when it does.
The Dejal site has supported TLS for a few years via the dejal.net site, which uses the Cloudflare content delivery network (CDN) to provide reliable sites. This is used by the apps to provide secure purchases and updates.
But until today, the main dejal.com site didn't support TLS... mainly through inertia. Now it does.
I'm considering this experimental at present, in case there are any issues, but you are welcome to use https://
with the dejal.com site now. If you get any errors, just remove the "s" to go back to the non-secure edition.
On a related topic, I've been suffering a lot of attempted forum spam recently. Pretty much all of it is caught before appearing, but the evildoers keep trying. So creating accounts now requires manual approval, to try to dry up that flood. Sorry for any inconvenience. As always, if you have an urgent question, you can use the contact form to email me.
I'm pleased to announce the general release of version 2.4 of Time Out, my popular break reminder tool.
Version 2.4 further extends the enhancements to the postpone and skip options introduced in version 2.3, including a new option to disable those buttons for a few seconds at the start of each break. You may find this helpful if you are habitually clicking the Postpone or Skip buttons, without taking a moment to decide if you really need to defer the break. It's common to see the start of the break as an unwelcome interruption — but you installed the app in the first place because you recognized that you need to take regular breaks for your health and wellbeing. You can activate this option to give you a few seconds to make a more mindful decision.
Another much-requested change in this release is the ability to customize the time to detect natural breaks, i.e. how long the computer is idle.
Something that might help in deciding how you're doing in taking breaks is a new Statistics feature. This is within the Activity section, and includes the number of times you've postponed, skipped, or done breaks, and the total time spent in breaks. These amounts will start being calculated in version 2.4, so take a look after a few days. It also includes a fascinating line chart, for a graphical representation (see below).
There are of course a number of other enhancements and fixes. I recommend everyone update to this version.
Read on for details.
Here's what the Statistics page looks like (obviously, your numbers will be different):
This new option is grouped with the option to show the number of times postponed/skipped/done:
Take a look:
If you are using the Mac App Store edition, you can update via the App Store app.
If you are using the direct edition, you can use the Check for Updates feature in the app to update.
Otherwise, download Time Out 2.4 now.
Here's another beta of Time Out version 2.4.
Unless any problems turn up, this will be the last beta release for this version. I'd appreciate it if you could try it and let me know of any issues.
This update just has a couple of changes:
If you are using the direct edition, you can change your Updates preferences to include beta releases (if not already), then use the Check for Updates feature in the app to update.
Otherwise, download 2.4b4 now!