Pocket Screen

Pocket Screen is a utility designed to enhance productivity for Mac users, particularly those working with a single display. It allows users to select any active window on their Mac and display it as a compact, floating, always-on-top Picture-in-Picture (PiP) style window. This enables users to keep important information, such as documents, chat applications, videos, or reference materials, visible at all times while they are actively working in another application, thereby eliminating the need for frequent window switching. The primary problem Pocket Screen addresses is the loss of focus and efficiency that occurs when users are forced to constantly switch between multiple applications or windows on a single screen. This is especially prevalent for developers, writers, designers, or anyone who needs to reference information while performing a primary task. The constant context switching can disrupt workflow and reduce overall productivity. Pocket Screen provides a solution by allowing users to maintain a persistent view of secondary information without it obstructing their main work area. One of the key features of Pocket Screen is its ability to turn any frontmost window into a floating, always-on-top view. This means that whether you are viewing a document, a video tutorial, a chat conversation, or a dashboard, you can pin it to remain visible. The floating window is designed to be unobtrusive, allowing users to continue working in other applications seamlessly. The captured content is processed locally on the user's Mac, ensuring privacy and security as no data is uploaded. Users have control over the appearance and behavior of the floating window. It can be easily moved around the screen, resized to fit specific needs, and its opacity can be adjusted. A particularly useful feature is the click-through option, which allows mouse clicks to pass through the floating window to the application underneath it. This prevents the floating window from interfering with user interaction with the primary application, making it a truly integrated part of the workflow. Pocket Screen is controlled via the menu bar or a customizable global shortcut, providing quick and easy access to its features. This allows users to activate, manage, and dismiss the floating window without interrupting their current task. The app is designed to be lightweight and efficient, ensuring it does not consume excessive system resources. The overall functionality of Pocket Screen revolves around its ability to create a persistent, non-intrusive visual overlay of any selected application window. It acts as a digital sticky note or a personal assistant, keeping crucial information within sight without demanding full attention. The app's design prioritizes simplicity and effectiveness, focusing on the core task of maintaining visibility of secondary content. The benefits for users include improved focus, reduced context switching, and enhanced productivity, especially on single-monitor setups. By keeping relevant information readily accessible, users can work more efficiently and with less mental overhead. The privacy aspect, with all processing done locally, adds an extra layer of trust and security. Concrete use cases for Pocket Screen include keeping a Slack or Discord chat visible while coding, referencing a design specification while working in a design tool, following along with a video tutorial while performing the steps, or monitoring a dashboard while managing other tasks. It's also useful for keeping a document open for reference while writing or editing in another application. Pocket Screen is a Mac application, available as a menu bar app. It is free to try with 10-minute session limits, with a one-time in-app purchase required for unlimited use. The app is built using Xcode and has been developed by Masaki Iino of Toybird Labs. In summary, Pocket Screen is an indispensable tool for Mac users seeking to optimize their workflow by keeping essential information perpetually visible in a customizable, floating window, thereby boosting productivity and reducing distractions.