Time Out 2.5Time Out 2.5
Break reminder tool with micro-breaks

1.7.1
(2012-11-25, R 1036)

  • Fixed issue that prevented the timers from starting when auto-launched until Time Out is brought to the front the first time.
  • Now sets the state of the auto-launch preference checkbox from whether or not it'll actually be launched, rather than just what was previously chosen (a subtle difference).
  • Fixed the minimum OS requirement, so trying to launch it on an OS version before 10.7 will give an alert instead of unexpected behavior.

1.7
(2012-07-25, R 1035)

  • Added a Volume slider to the Sound break preferences, enabling sounds to be played quieter if desired.
  • Added a checkbox to enable repeating the start sound until the end of the break; useful to loop short sounds as an audio cue of the break.
  • Reimplemented the auto-launch preference to work with Mountain Lion and sandboxing.
  • Removed the quit confirmation preference.
  • Removed the in-app purchase options, since not compatible with 64-bit, and rarely used. (Standard edition only)
  • Fixed display of license entry date in the Licenses editor. (Standard edition only)
  • Fixed drafting an email if a license couldn't be found. (Standard edition only)
  • The standard edition of the app is now signed with a Developer ID to support Gatekeeper on Mountain Lion. (Standard edition only)
  • Time Out now requires a 64-bit Mac and a minimum of macOS 10.7 (Lion).
  • Many other behind-the-scenes improvements made possible by dropping older OS versions, PowerPC and 32-bit support.

1.6.5
(2012-04-22, R 1032)

  • Fixed incorrect display of when the next normal break is due.

1.6.4
(2012-02-21, R 1031)

  • Improved compatibility with macOS 10.7.3.
  • The donation button in the Preferences window now shows the Licenses window instead of going to the Dejal Store web page. (Standard edition only)

1.6.3
(2011-11-11, R 1030)

  • Idle detection didn't work for a few people, so now tries a different approach if the idle interval appears invalid (let us know if it doesn't work for you!).

1.6.2
(2011-09-29, R 1028)

  • The break timers are now reset when idle for the specified interval, even while still idle (it used to only reset when no longer idle).
  • Breaks can now occur when idle, to avoid missing breaks when the computer is left alone for a few minutes, but less than the reset interval.
  • Updated the Start Speech Automator workflow, and added a Speak Time script that does just that.

1.6.16
(2011-08-30, R 1027)

  • Fixed a bug that could prevent the breaks and/or menu items from working properly for some people.

1.6
(2011-08-29, R 1026)

  • Added a new Exclusions preference page, which is only available on macOS 10.7 (Lion). It enables you to automatically skip breaks if specified applications are frontmost, e.g. DVD Player, FaceTime, or similar.
  • Added a sub-menu on the Pause Breaks command in the Break menu, to enable pausing for a specified interval. When that interval has elapsed, breaks will automatically resume. Useful when you don't want to be interrupted for a while.
  • On first launch (or first in a while), Time Out now displays the Preferences window, to make it more obvious how to configure the breaks.
  • Added a Licenses window in the standard edition, so people who have donated for version 2 can enter their license now. Time Out 1 remains freeware; you're welcome to continue using it forever at no cost.
  • Moved the break display into a helper agent, so it works for Lion's full-screen apps.
  • Plus other fixes for macOS 10.7 (Lion) compatibility.
  • The standard edition of Time Out now requires a minimum of macOS 10.5 (Leopard).
  • Many other behind-the-scenes improvements made possible by dropping Tiger support.
  • Note: this version (and any 1.6.x bug fix releases) will be the last to support PowerPC (PPC) and macOS 10.5 and 10.6 (Leopard and Snow Leopard). Version 2.0 will require a 64-bit Intel-based Mac and macOS 10.7 (Lion) or later.

1.5.7
(2011-01-06, R 1024)

  • Changes to be compatible with the Mac App Store.
  • Time Out Free for the App Store requires macOS 10.6 or later, and omits the built-in update mechanism, since updates are done via the App Store.

1.5.6
(2010-02-15, R 1023)

  • The break screen now isn't hidden if the Time Out application is hidden.

1.5.5
(2009-09-10, R 1022)

  • Enhanced Snow Leopard compatibility.

1.5.4
(2009-05-04, R 1021)

  • Replaced the use of an undocumented routine to check the idle time with an approved one, to fix compatibility with Snow Leopard.
  • Updated the bundled Adium scripts to support the current versions of the Adium instant messaging client, thanks to Nic Munroe. Note: if you used a previous version of Time Out, the scripts won't be replaced, in case you've customized them. You can download the updated scripts from the Time Out Extras site.
  • Fixed an issue with the Preferences window, where edits might not be saved when quitting with the window still open (specifically when an edit is still active).
  • Removed the old crash reporter, since it doesn't support Leopard crash logs.
  • Now requires a minimum of macOS 10.4 (Tiger).

1.5.3
(2008-06-19, R 1020)

  • Improved the idle detection when the computer was sleeping.
  • Added a hidden preference to output debug information about scheduling and idle detection to the Console log. It can be activated by entering defaults write com.dejal.timeout DebugScheduler YES in Terminal. You shouldn't turn this on unless you think Time Out isn't working properly, as it outputs quite a lot of information.
  • Fixed a cosmetic bug with the Check for Updates feature when using a general release and wanting only general releases, and a beta release is available.

1.5.2
(2008-02-04, R 1019)

  • Added support for Spaces in Leopard; the break now appears on all Spaces, even if you switch Spaces mid-break.
  • Enhanced the URLs for the Help menu to better support localization.
  • Switched the distribution method to ZIP archives instead of disk images, as it's simpler for everyone. Feedback welcome!

1.5.1
(2007-08-06, R 1018)

  • Fixed a bug that caused the Pause Breaks and Reset Breaks commands to remain disabled.
  • Changed the Begin Micro Break command to work if you postponed a Normal break and the Normal break is due very soon; the overlap avoidance feature is inappropriate for manually started breaks.

1.5
(2007-07-30, R 1017)

  • Introduced a much nicer application icon, professionally designed by Emily Pfeifer.
  • Rearranged the break contents: the progress bar and buttons are now in a box, and the icon is bigger... and prettier. :)
  • Added options to the Appearance page to individually show or hide the Postpone and Skip buttons, and to change the number of minutes for the two Postpone ones.
  • Added direct support for running Python scripts.
  • Fixed some issues with scheduling breaks after postponing.
  • The Dejal logo was also redesigned by Emily Pfeifer, so all places it occurred have been updated.
  • Renamed the application to remove the exclamation point.
  • Added improved exception logging, to help with diagnosing any future issues.
  • Added the Dejal Blog and Forums to Help menu.
  • Fixed an error that a few people experienced when checking for updates.
  • Minor tweaks for Leopard (10.5) compatibility.

1.4.1
(2006-04-22, R 1015)

  • Fixed an issue where sounds occasionally caused crashes for some users. If you experienced these crashes, please let me know whether or not this fix works for you.

1.4
(2006-02-28, R 1014)

  • Added new Scripts preferences that allows using Automator workflows, AppleScripts, or applications at the start and end of breaks.
  • Added the ability to specify a sound or music file to play at the start of a break. It is stopped at the end of the break if it is still playing. This allows it to be silenced if you skip the break, plus you could play a long MP3 music file during the break, and it'll be stopped when the break is over.
  • Added a menu command to manually reset the break timers.
  • Added a menu command to pause and resume breaks; the timers continue, but the breaks are automatically skipped until resumed.
  • Reorganized the Preferences window. The timer, appearance, sound and script options are now all within tabs on the Normal and Micro preference pages.
  • Each kind of break can now have their own idle reset interval, appearance (color and transparency), start and end sounds, and start and end scripts.
  • Removed the menu items for postponing and skipping breaks, since they didn't work anyway.
  • Renamed the File menu as Break, and moved to after Edit, since it really has nothing to do with files.
  • Fixed a minor issue where the position and current page of the Preferences window might not be remembered if quitting with that window open.
  • Made the break pages of the Preferences window resizable, in case a long sound or script path is used.
  • Added a confirmation sheet for the Restore Defaults function in the Preferences window. The confirmation can be disabled or enabled via the General page.
  • Enhanced the preference to automatically start the app on login to remove any other copies of the app, in case you set it when the app was in a different location.
  • Enhanced the Check for Updates feature to include the release notes of new versions, among other improvements.
  • Tidied the About window.
  • Made the break fading in and out more smooth.

1.3.2
(2005-09-29, R 1010)

  • Fixed a bug that sneaked into the previous release, where it could crash in some situations after the license agreement window is displayed (i.e. only occurred after the initial update).

1.3.1
(2005-09-28, R 1009)

  • Improved idle handling to detect sleep. Now sleeping your computer will be treated the same as leaving it idle: after the interval you specify in the General preferences, the Normal and Micro breaks will be reset.
  • Fixed a bug where Time Out! would switch you back to the application you were using at the start of the break, even if you changed to another app during the break or while fading out.
  • Fixed a cosmetic issue where the fields in the Normal preferences weren't disabled when the Use Normal Time Outs checkbox is unchecked.
  • Improved the coloring of the application icon, thanks to user Sergey Eremin.

1.3
(2005-06-28, R 1008)

  • If you click a break button (or elsewhere during a break), making Time Out! the active application, the previous application will now be restored after the break.
  • Reimplemented the Preferences window to simplify it. Removed the [Show All], [Prev] and [Next] buttons, plus the Show All page. Also rearranged the page layout to move the Help button to the right, to conform with Apple's conventions. Plus many behind-the-scenes improvements.
  • Added Notify preferences, allowing playing a sound or music at the end of the breaks. This is useful to allow you to close your eyes or move away from the computer during the break. Several sounds are provided built-in, plus the system sounds are available, and you can choose any other sound or music file.
  • Merged the Special preference page into the General one.
  • Added a field to the General preferences next to the idle slider, to allow entering a precise number of minutes instead of using the slider (or view the number when dragging).
  • Enhanced the Updates feature to tell you about a beta release if you check for updates manually when you prefer general releases and there isn't a new one, but there is a beta available.
  • Fixed a bug with the Updates feature where it might not handle general candidate releases correctly.
  • Renamed the Restore Factory Settings buttons on the Preferences pages to simply Restore Defaults.
  • Fixed the help button URLs for the Normal, Micro, and Notify preference pages.
  • Fixed a memory leak.
  • Updated the crash reporter framework to the latest version. It now includes fields to allow providing your name and email address.
  • Updated the online User Guide.
  • Built as a Universal Binary for PowerPC and Intel architectures.

1.2
(2005-03-28, R 1004)

  • Added a frequently-requested feature: fields in the Micro and Normal preferences to allow viewing and adjusting the break intervals more accurately. You can drag the sliders and see the exact times, or enter the times in the fields and see them in the sliders.
  • Added support for a crash reporter, so in the hopefully unlikely event that the app crashes, you can provide information that may be very helpful in tracing the cause. The information is sent anonymously, and only if you choose to send it.
  • Tweaked the URL for the Time Out! Feedback item in the Help menu.
  • Several other minor performance improvements.

1.1
(2004-11-08, R 1003)

  • Much-requested feature: added preferences to allow disabling Normal and/or Micro breaks, for those who only want one kind.
  • Another popular request: Time Out! now checks if the computer has been idle, and avoids starting a break if you're away from the computer (so you don't come back to find it in a break).
  • Also added a preference to the General pane, allowing resetting the break schedule if idle for more than a specified period of minutes. So, for example, if idle over lunchtime, when you come back the Normal and Micro breaks will start again from then.
  • If both kinds of break are active, Time Out! will now avoid starting a break if one recently occurred. Recently is within half the work time for Micro breaks.
  • Added support for highlighting the selected preference pane icon in the Preferences toolbar.
  • Moved the start on login and quit confirmation preferences onto a new Special preference pane.
  • Fixed a bug where Micro break timers sometimes weren't being reset properly after a Normal break.
  • Fixed a cosmetic bug where the next Normal break due time display during Normal breaks didn't include the time of the current break.
  • Plus many behind-the-scenes improvements.

1.0
(2003-08-18, R 1002)

  • Enhanced to support multiple screens. Each screen fades and displays the Time Out progress and buttons.
  • Added a display of the time till the next normal Time Out during a Time Out break.
  • Now resets the micro break timer when a normal break finishes, so the first micro break after a normal break is always a uniform amount of time after the normal break.
  • Fixed a bug where the Time Out for slider was not reset by the Restore Factory Settings button in the Normal and Micro preference panes.
New in 2.5:
  • Mojave dark mode and compatibility
  • All of the app content has been updated to support …
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New in 2.4:
  • Added a Statistics page under Activity
  • Added page buttons to the Activity page of the preferences, …
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New in 2.3:
  • Optional postpone and skip display and limits
  • Added an option to the Break Appearance preferences page to …
[More …]
System Require­ments:
macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) or higher