Another TestFlight of Time Out 3.0: now with a theme editor

Hot on the heels of the previous TestFlight of Time Out 3.0, here’s another build, with a major new feature: an editor for custom themes! Not only that, it now supports image and text theme kinds, and updates several built-in themes; keep reading for the details.

Version 3.0 includes:

macOS Tahoe support

Exclusions are now Rules, and more powerful

A new theme editor, and image and text theme types

Added a Duplicate Break command

Enhanced the postpone/skip control limits option to per break, hour, or day

But wait, there’s more!

This pre-release build is available via Apple’s TestFlight. Want to help test it? Install the TestFlight. It is open to all — but note that it requires macOS Tahoe (26.0 or later).

I would appreciate any help in testing this update. If you experience any issues, or have any suggestions for improvements, please contact me.

The data format has changed, but updating will leave the old data intact, so you can freely switch back to the general release if you wish; any changes you make in version 3 won’t affect version 2.

Read on for details of the updates in this build.

Added a theme editor

Added an Options menu button before Preview on the Break Appearance page.

This menu includes commands to add a new theme, duplicate the selected theme, edit it, reveal it in the Finder, or delete it.

Built-in themes can’t be edited or deleted; duplicate them first to make changes.

The theme editor sheet includes fields for the theme name and comments, author information, credits information, and a pop-up menu to choose the type of theme (see below).

At the bottom is some info text, and buttons to Contribute, Preview, Cancel, or Save the theme.

The Contribute button will attach the theme to an email; you can review the email before sending it to Dejal for consideration to bundle with a future version of the app, and/or list on the Time Out Extras page.

The editor sheet can be resized if desired.

Edit local themes

In the new Theme Editor, choose Local HTML to add or edit a theme that uses HTML within the theme folder. This kind of theme works offline.

It includes a field for the root document name (the main HTML file to display.

It also includes buttons to open the HTML file in an editor of your choosing (which is remembered), or reveal it in the Finder.

Edit website themes

In the new editor, choose Website to add or edit remote themes, that simply show a web page.

It includes a field for the website URL.

Edit YouTube themes

Themes that play YouTube videos can be added or edited via the YouTube Video option in the editor.

It includes fields for the video ID and playlist ID.

To add a YouTube video, simply copy the URL from your browser and paste it into the URL field, and it’ll extract the video ID and playlist ID (if any).

It also includes a field for the video title.

A slider controls the playback volume; drag to zero to mute.

A checkbox lets you start at a random point in the video or a random video in the playlist; if unchecked, there’s a field for the start offset.

Edit image themes

A new kind of theme is Images; you can add any number of images or photos to show during a break.

You can choose to show the images in sequential order or randomly.

Also choose the transition between images.

Specify how many seconds to show each image; set to zero to have only one image per break.

Scale options include Fit to display each full image, with space on sides as necessary, Fill to fill the screen, cutting off edges as needed, or Percent to use a specified percentage of the screen.

Buttons enable adding images from files, or from your photo library (note that the photo library picker may take a long time to load if you have a lot of photos).

The app won’t see any photos other than the ones you choose to add.

Thumbnails of the chosen images are listed; drag to change the order if showing sequentially.

Trash buttons next to each image will remove them from the collection.

Edit text themes

Another new kind of theme is Text; you can add any number of text to show during a break.

Like for Images, you can choose sequential or random order, and how many seconds to show each one (or enter zero to show one per break).

Choose the text font and color.

Scale the text to use a percentage of the screen (the text will resize to fit).

A vertical offset slider lets you position the text to avoid the control panel.

A button enables adding text.

Enter the text to display; drag the rows to change the order, or remove via the trash button.

New and updated themes

The Sinclair Trails, Dejus Chickens, Dejus Ducks & Fish, and Tropical Rain themes now use the new YouTube theme type.

Added new Coral World and Fireplace YouTube themes.

Added a new Checklist theme, that enables you to add things to remember and check them off.

Added a new Desk Exercises theme, that uses the new Text theme kind, with some simple exercises that you can do while sitting or standing near your desk.

Other changes

Fixed unintended duplicate themes (a bug in the previous TestFlight).

And lots more

DId you miss the list of changes in the first TestFlights? Check out this previous blog post.

Want to help test it?

This pre-release build is available via Apple’s TestFlight. Install the TestFlight. Remember that it requires macOS Tahoe (26.0 or later).

Once it is in general release, it will be available via the Mac App Store, Setapp, and directly from the Dejal website, as usual.

Again if you experience any issues, or have any suggestions for improvements, please contact me.