HiddenMe 4+

Does what it says

Thanks to HiddenMe, I now have a clean desktop anytime I want. To see my folders, I simply click on the HiddenMe icon in the menu bar and everthing reappears on my desktop. Very functional and easy to use. I have encountered a problem though: When I have the stuff on my desktop hidden (that is, when HiddenMe is active), my wallpaper refuses to change, and it begins to tamper with the wallpaper on my other desktops. Maybe there’s a way around it, but I'd caution anybody who likes to use the "change picture” option (in System Preferences>Desktop & Screen Saver) to skip this app. As long as I do’t have the "change picture" option selected, however, HiddenMe works fine.

Does what it says with a caveat (Screen Recording prompt)

So, it hides icons. That works just fine. The pro version works with multiple desktops, also works fine.

The implementation probably needs some work or explanation. I'm not a developer, but I'm reminded of John Siracusa talking about his app SwitchGlass (which is awesome btw), and the implementation of grabbing the desktop background for use in the app Preferences window. One of the options was to use Quartz Display Services which can grab an image of your desktop background, but it requires screen recording to do so. It's a messy implementation and the easy way out and without proper notification, causes freak outs and 1-star reviews. I haven't done a deep dive to see if it's sending data out, but it's something worth considering.

So, I assume the developer is using screen recording to grab the current desktop backgorund and then display that image on top of everything, hiding your icons. I'm willing to give the developer the benefit of the doubt, but this is conjecture because as a non-developer, this is how I would do this.

I think the developer needs to respond to this and listen to the Accidental Tech Podcast episode 356 starting at 1:32:17, John Siracusa describes this exact problem.

Hidden Me Pro prompt

I use Hidden Me sevral times a week when I do screen shots for different meetings. Its nice to be able to quickly click on the icon and have blank screeen ready to go with the choice of a couple of different colors.
I don’t like needing to click on “later” everytime I open the app and it detects two screens and asks if I want to purchase the “Pro” HiddenMe. There needs to be a switch for “Don’t ask this again”

Other than that its a great app does what I think it should.

Developer Response ,

Great Point Randy! We'll include an option to let the user avoid that alert.