If it was upgradable, then yes, spending more on top of it every year would make it future proof, but that's not the point. It's that spending 10 grand doesn't get you a future proof computer today.
Appreciate the feedback! I am currently working on figuring out how to reliably detect deep focus patterns (less idle stretches, low app switching etc) and not annoy during those moments to make LookAway even less annoying. For now, the idea behind break reminders before the break was to inform you subtly about the upcoming break without disrupting your flow and give you actions whether to take a break now or snooze it in case you're working on something important.
Custom wellness reminders is already on the roadmap and it's the most requested feature so you can expect it in the next few updates.
Hi, I am sorry for not explaining it correctly on the website but it's strictly not a subscription.
The license gives you lifetime access to LookAway - you can keep using it forever. You only pay for updates after a year if there's something new you may want to use.
I think this is totally a fair way to do this. I know HN sometimes grumbles about this type of pricing, but totally get it. You’re not taking anything away, you’re just charging for new features after 1 year they paid. They don’t lose access.
(It’s like back when we had Photoshop 5 and then Photoshop 6 came out).
As long as you mention that security updates will be free, I think this is a good plan. It’s how you get indie devs paid to keep working on products.
Thank you for reporting these. Which version of firefox are you on? I tried reproducing but for me it's not laggy and the animation plays automatically
Firefox 152.0.2, try scrolling to the bottom and back up at different speeds, keep the page open for a few minutes, try again... Dunno if it's the case with yours but many similar looking websites use a lot of resource-heavy gradient/shadow calculations.
LookAway does pause if you're in the middle of typing or dictating when a break is due (during the last 10s). It's off by default and you can enable it in Settings → Smart Pause → Don't show breaks while I'm typing, dragging, or dictating.
I'm working on LookAway, a Mac app that reminds you to take breaks from the screen at the right moment instead of interrupting you at random. https://lookaway.com
Right now I'm focused on the stats side. It already shows how much time you spend in each app, and I'm adding website tracking too, which should make the picture much more useful.
I'm also working on better break timing for dictation. LookAway already delays a due break if you're in the middle of typing, so it does not interrupt at a bad time. Now I'm trying to extend that same behavior to dictation as well, which turns out to be a pretty interesting detection problem because it overlaps with some of the other context signals I already use.
Most of the challenge is making it smarter without making it feel more intrusive.
From the FAQ in the "about" section of the website:
- You can try to find Wally (Waldo), as in the well-known game Where's Wally. He is partially visible, but if you click on him, he will appear in full and wave at you.
- Quest #1 - Mafia Treasures. To start the quest, go to the room where the Mafia is holding the annual meeting and click on the suitcase.
- Quest #2 - Subspace Tuner: To start this quest, click on the large advertising screen that says 'Bad Signal' next to the pirate ship.
- Payphone - you can call different subscribers on the 796th floor. Subscriber numbers are constantly being added and can be found in various places on the floor.
- In the Police Station click on the big screen to see the project statistics: current online, visits by country, number on interactions with all elements on the floor, etc.
- One of the arcade machines has a real game - Racer796.
- In the park zone there is Change My Mind guy. Click on him to add your own phrase to the rotation.
- You can compose a 10-second melody and add it to rotation by clicking on the guy in the hospital with the pink synthesizer.
- You can draw small pixel animation and add it to rotation by clicking on the Fun Drawing Screen near the Police Station.
- Click on the Chunk Norris in the park zone.
- Click on the JAWS 19 ad screen in the block with Back to the Future references.
- Click on Naruto near the pirate ship.
- There is Free Ads Board next to the pirate ship. You can draw your own advertising screen and specify which URL it links to.
- There are also many small interactive elements on the floor, clicking on which will show an additional picture, play a sound or cause some action to occur.
I’ve been indie for about four years now. I wouldn’t trade it for anything else, but it does come with its own kind of hell. The lack of security and the fear that everything could disappear overnight is always there. Some days feel euphoric, and some days everything feels dark.
At one point I even built a live sales dashboard[1] to keep my dopamine in check, but a year later I realized it was a mistake. It started shaping my motivation instead of supporting it.
I guess the main lesson is that the ups and downs are normal, and you get better at riding them over the years.
> the fear that everything could disappear overnight is
I feel the opposite. I was more fearful of losing my regular job because that could be taken away from me overnight at the whim of a bad manager. However it would take a lot longer for everything I've built up to crumble away.
Can you talk more about how it started "shaping my motivation instead of supporting it?" I was starting to aggregate my own sales data for a dashboard, but maybe it's unwise.
Border radius has been one of the best things to happen to CSS. If you've done web development during the Internet Explorer 6 era, you'd know what I mean.
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