FocusedOS Brings Multiple Focus-Enhancing Apps Into One
There are a lot of productivity apps out there, and FocusedOS tries to bring several of them together. The app, available for all Apple devices, can block distracting apps and websites, dim the entire screen except the window you’re currently looking at, and play ambient sounds. The idea is that you’ll be able to turn all of these features on at the touch of a button, get some work done, and then turn them off again when you’re done.
To get started, simply download the app and decide which features you want to enable. The first Behavior tab lets you darken all windows except the currently active one— similar to the HazeOver ($4.99) app . You can also limit the number of apps that can be displayed on the screen and add custom text to the menu bar. Finally, there’s a feature that lets you hide menu bar icons, similar to the Bartender app ($22). You can also hide your wallpaper or even turn off Wi-Fi completely. Note that none of these features are offered in the iPhone or iPad version of the app (mostly because they don’t make sense there).
In the Ambience tab, you can choose between different background sounds—meaning you won’t need a dedicated background sound app .
There are also tools to block distracting apps and websites. You can choose which apps to block or only allow certain apps to open. With websites, things are a little simpler: you can add pre-made categories or add URLs yourself.
Finally, if that’s not enough, you can activate any Apple shortcut when you turn Focus Mode on or off. You can use this to turn off notifications, start a timer, or anything else you can imagine.
The free version only allows you to create one “environment”, meaning you set everything up the way you like and that’s how the app works. The paid version, which costs $20 per year, allows you to create multiple environments, meaning you can configure them differently for different tasks. The paid version also lets you sync your current environment between your Mac, iPhone, and iPad, unlocks more ambient sounds, and lets you launch a shortcut when you launch the environment.
I don’t think this combination of tools will suit everyone. However, if you constantly switch between focus tools every time you need to focus, FocusedOS may be just what you need. Try the free version to find out.