Edit It seems that Apple has now revoked the app’s signing certificate, meaning that the application can no longer be launched.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/2919904

The NightOwl application has existed since 2018 and is used to automatically switch between light/dark modes on the operating system. It is an alternative to the built in macOS automatic mode which only switches when the user steps away from the computer.

However, the application has been bought out by “TPE.FYI LLC” in late 2022 that forcibly joins your devices into a botnet for use of market research, without your knowledge (other than the TOS in small text on the download page) or express consent (this feature cannot be turned off, even when the app is quit). This is documented in their terms of service.

    • kratoz29English
      1·
      1 year ago

      Thanks for the alternative, I’m gonna check it out, as stock implementation from Apple sucks, as many other stuff.

      • weedwhacking@lemmy.worldEnglish
        22·
        1 year ago

        I disagree that the stock implementation sucks. For a “average Joe” user having light/dark mode change on you in the middle of use would be very jarring and not a good experience, and having it change many times throughout the day would also be a jarring experience especially if you don’t really know why. But that’s why the Mac is great - well thought out, simple built in options, and a wonderful ecosystem of great little apps like these for us power users that want more control :)

        • kratoz29English
          11·
          1 year ago

          Multiple times per day?

          Eh no, only when the sun goes down or up…

          What about implementing a notification with a counter like 5 seconds saying, triggering dark/light mode, accept decline?

          I’d prefer that whole lot more.

          • weedwhacking@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            1 year ago

            Implementing a featureset like dark mode buddy would result in switching many times a day (as you go between various lighting conditions)

            Apples implementation does it at sun rise/sun set, but waits for the user to sleep the computer so it only happens when you’re not actively trying to read something, which is the best for most people using macs as that would be jarring otherwise.

            • kratoz29English
              1·
              1 year ago

              Damn, you are correct, I totally missed it was ambient light based, I thought it was like Nightowl…

              Yeah I wouldn’t like that either.

    • hatter@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I’ve never been entirely happy with automated switching so I just use a keyboard shortcut to switch manually between light and dark when I feel like it but this looks good.

  • asteriskeverything@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    F.lux and twilight are both great options for red light filters. Been ages since I’ve used a desktop so idk how f.lux is with dark mode switching but twilight has a ton of features. Unfortunately I think it’s only for Android. I’m sorry if this isn’t actually on topic I am just excited at the chance to talk about these since so many people say the default red light filter is good. Its crap. Twilight let’s you adjust the brightness even further (even darker than the minimum default settings) and profiles for different settings, times, etc.

    • weedwhacking@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      All apple products have a built in blue light filter feature called night shift which runs on the driver level, calculated specifically for apple made displays by adjusting the built in color profile and is able to preserve much more of the original color than a simple orange filter like f.lix or twilight.