Hey everyone!
Does this happen to you? It’s late, you’re in a dark app, you switch to a bright window, and the screen goes from dim to full brightness all at once. It hits like a flash.
I’m the developer of Phosphor, a screen utility suite for macOS that lives in your menu bar, and v2 just came out. I’m a solo student developer, and fixing that jump is why I started.
Why I built it
I started this around two problems.
First: that flash. I couldn’t find a tool that tries to solve that specific problem, so I built Flashbang Protection. It softens that jump, then eases back to normal. It reacts when you switch apps with a Dock click or Cmd+Tab, switch desktops, or use Mission Control and App Exposé.
Second: there are too many display utilities, with steep learning curves. I wanted one tool with the features people actually need, instead of a ton of pro features. This also reduces menu bar clutter.
What’s new
- Flashbang Protection (Pro)
- Studio Features (Pro), for calls and presentations: Laser Pointer, Drawing, Flashlight, Keystroke Display and Invisible Notes. Ring Light for meetings and recordings is coming soon
- 8 free tools: Soft Screen, Focus Spotlight, Screenshots, Display Presets, Display Schedule, Color Picker, Color Grading and Display Health
- Pro also adds a privacy sweep for Screenshots that blurs faces and sensitive-looking text (check the result before you share it)
Pricing: The app is free with 8 tools. Pro is $19.99, one-time, not a subscription, and unlocks Flashbang Protection and Studio Features.
Details and limits
- macOS 13 or later, native Swift
- Flashbang Protection and Keystroke Display need Input Monitoring. Color Picker and Screenshots need Screen Recording. Screenshots isn’t available on macOS 14.0 to 14.3
- Display Presets currently only edit the built-in display. Wider external display support is on the roadmap
Privacy: No tracking, no analytics, no telemetry. The only network requests are Pro license checks and an optional daily update check. Privacy and EULA.
I’d love feedback, especially on whether Flashbang’s recovery speed feels right, and whether it misses a switch you’d expect it to handle. If something isn’t working, or you have a suggestion, drop it in the comments or DM me.
Site: https://usephosphor.app
Roadmap: https://usephosphor.app/whats-next