Cool tool for simplifying

One problem with using a Mac is that often the desktop can end up looking very cluttered. Especially when using programs like Dreamweaver and Fireworks, which have many small panes, the experience of using a Mac can be rather like reading a newspaper where someone’s cut out many of the articles: it gets distracting because of all the “show-through” from other programs.

One solution is to use Command+Option+H, which hides all programs except the one that’s in the foreground. It’s a nice way of simplifying the view, and you can use the dock or Command+Tab to cycle through the programs you’re using. That doesn’t work in all applications, however.

Another solution that I found today is a free application called Isolator, which masks out what’s in the background, but allow you to click on it when needed, bringing that application into focus.

It’s very customizable so that you can have different degrees of transparency, and can select from different filtering options. The one illustrated is “blur,” which makes the background look like you’re viewing it through darkened and frosted glass. So far I’m enjoying the program, even though I’ve only been using it for an hour or so.

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