Now, Ricci Adams has found a way to virtually stop the nagging for specific apps. (I found out about this from Jeff Johnson’s Desolation of Blog blog).
First things first: Please use your own discretion when trying this. Consider if you’re savvy enough to work with the Terminal, and if you really want to remove the permission reminder for an app.
Apparently, there is a TCC (Transparency, Consent and Control) – protected file that keeps track of when to show the next nag screen for specific screen capturing apps, located at
Using Terminal (which first needs to be granted Full Disk Access in System Settings > Privacy & Security), you can set that date far into the future so you won’t ever see the nag again.
For example, I wanted to make absolutely sure it never bothers me again for my own app ScreenFloat, so I just set it to my retirement date: January 1st, 4321.
Long story short, I done goofed: A bug snuck into my trial time code and ended it early for some users. If you experienced this, please feel free to re-download the trial from the website (direct download here) for another, full 28-day trial. My apologies for the inconvenience!
Just a quick note that since the betas (!) of macOS Ventura 13.0, configuration of 3rd-party widgets is broken, which, of course, means that Yoink’s widget’s configuration does currently not work, and I cannot do anything about it. Let’s hope Apple fixes it soon, macOS 13.0.1 didn’t bring any improvement in this regard.
Here’s a quick video of what I mean:
Again, in my testing, this not only was the case for Yoink’s widget, but a widespread issue over all sorts of 3rd-party widgets, although I do believe that dynamically app-supplied values work. It might only be static values that are affected by this.
At some point in iPadOS 16’s beta, this same bug occurred, but that was fixed before release. I guess the fix didn’t make it into macOS. Maybe it’s time for another “Back to the Mac” event.
UPDATE (Dec 14th, 2022)
This is still an issue on macOS 13.1 (22C65). Quite embarrassing for Apple.
UPDATE (Jan 24th, 2023)
macOS 13.2 (22D49) seems to have finally fixed the issue – although it *did* take an initial
killall Notification\ Centre
to kickstart the widgets after adding and configuring them. But after that, it seems to work reliably.
When I revamped my setup early this year, I struggled with getting a lamp for it. For one, the desk is rather large, and I wanted something that could illuminate it all pretty well, without having to get two lamps, which would have been overkill. Secondly, I wasn’t sure I really needed any additional light in the first place. With a glassy double-door, the office gets a lot of natural light, and in the evenings, I do have the “normal” lights I can turn on. I even looked into some options and was close to purchasing the BenQ ScreenBar, but decided not to in the end – just because I wasn’t sure I really needed it. But now that I’ve been using the BenQ ScreenBar for more than a week and a half, I do know better.
BenQ approached me on Twitter (via @BenQBeleuchtung) a while ago, asking if I was interested in receiving a free BenQ ScreenBar in exchange for giving my honest opinion about it on my social channels. They had me at free, so here we are.
Disclaimer
Unpacking
The packaging is pretty simple and instructive. There’s three parts: the ScreenBar (the light source), the clip (which holds it up on your monitor), and the USB cable. Each item is annotated with useful information, so there’s really no need for a manual – which, if you still need it, you can get via the printed-on QR code.
Assembly
All I had to do was push the ScreenBar into the clip, and connect the USB cable – fairly easy.
Setting it up
My external monitor is an LG 27UN880-B, which I’m able to pivot, rotate, tilt and elevate. I was a little worried that the monitor’s ergonomic arm wouldn’t be able to handle the additional weight (the ScreenBar’s specifications say it’s just shy of 1 kg total (bar and clip), but I worried for naught.
You really just have to place the ScreenBar on top of your monitor, plug in the USB cable and you’re done. Speaking of which, that is one long USB cable for something you probably plug into the monitor it sits on top of (1,5 meters).
I decided to use the thing the cable came wrapped up in to tie a bit of it up, because I don’t like loose cables hanging behind my screen – problem solved. The good thing about the length of it is that I don’t *have* to plug it in to my monitor’s USB port. I could also plug it in to my Thunderbolt hub, and leave the monitor’s plug free for quick access when I need it. I prefer a cable that’s too long over one that’s too short, anyway.
Using the ScreenBar
I’ve been using the ScreenBar mostly with the Auto Dimmer running. It automatically adjusts the brightness and color temperature using its light sensor. And here’s the only minor “issue” (if you can call it that) I discovered using it: the automatic adjustment doesn’t happen smoothly, but changes to the new temperature and brightness right away, which can be a bit jarring. On a cloudy day, where the light outside changes all the time, it becomes especially noticeable. But there’s a solution for those cases: turn off the automatic adjustment – which is done with a single tap.
With the buttons on top, I can quickly adjust the brightness and color temperature myself, which disables the Auto Dimmer.
Brightness and Color TemperatureAuto Dimmer and On/Off
The ScreenBar, according to the documents, was designed to avoid screen glare, and it does that very well. What I find particularly nice is that you can “roll” the ScreenBar further to or farther from your screen:
And even though I have it turned all the way towards me, it doesn’t blind me. I’d have to lean in pretty far and down to be able to see the LEDs.
To give you an impression of the “power” of the ScreenBar, here are four stages of lighting in my office (during daytime, with the blinds closed):
All lights off
ScreenBar only
Room lights only
ScreenBar and room lights
Even with the room lights on, the ScreenBar very noticeably illuminates my work area.
Adjusting the ScreenBar’s color temperature (from 6500K – cool light – to 2700K – warm light, and back)
Conclusion
Again, I received the ScreenBar for free from BenQ, in “exchange” for my honest opinion about it. I seriously doubt I’d like it any less if I had had to pay for it – which, now, I wish I purchased it earlier.
It’s a great addition to my setup. It rests on top of my screen without taking up unnecessary desk space (my desk is crammed as it is, even though it’s huge) and gives me light exactly where I need it – and beyond – when I need it. The very minor, nit-picky “gripe” with the jumpy automatic brightness/temperature adjustment aside, I really couldn’t ask for more. It’s exactly what I want in a desk lamp.
I’m particularly looking forward to using this in the winter. It’s summer when I’m reviewing this, so, as I said, there’s lots of natural light, all the way into the evening, but come winter time, this thing will really shine. It’s already proven a fine companion during late-night coding sessions.
Be sure to check it out (see the links below), I do find it very useful.
I usually don’t leave comments open for my posts on my blog in fear of spam & co, but for this, I’m making an exception, in case you’d like to ask any questions about it. You can also ping me on twitter, or by mail.
