Auto Brightness

[mtnDewFTW]

Hey guys, for those of you who own cell phones that have the 'Auto Brightness' setting know what I'm talking about, but those who don't, auto brightness basically adjusts the brightness of your screen depending on what light setting you're in.

Does anyone know if this is possible to do on an iMac? I think it'd be pretty useful for the screen to adjust the brightness itself depending on what time of the day it is/the environment you're in. Like right now, my screen is 100% bright and it's almost pitch dark in this room. I think adjusting it myself every time is pretty annoying.

 

[pt0016]

Reach up to the keyboard, press the brightness down button. How hard can it be?

iMac's don't have this feature, although MacBook Pro's do.

 

[PhelpsiPhan]

I am sure it is in System preferences.... display i think? someone correct me if i am wrong

 

[sentros]

I'm pretty sure the iMacs lack the light sensor that is present in the laptop line of macs. The reason why it's in MacBooks is that power consumption is a pressing issue because of the fact that it is designed to run on a battery.

Now that in mind it's pretty important that you don't blast with full brightness unless it's absolutely necessary. I'm pretty sure that the display is the most power hungry component of the machine. I remember seeing on some forums that when the iMac screen is put to sleep the power consumption gets halved. On the other hand on a desktop computer it doesn't really matter how much power you are wasting since there's always more coming from the electrical socket.

 

[Spike88]

iMac tend to be in a fixed positon (re: stationary desk) much more then a portable cell phone, or portable MBP. Thus, I can understand why Apple Corp didn't want to put this feature into their iMac models. iMacs do have a System Preference - Display - Brightness slider. This helps.

Do keep in mind that iMacs have LED displays (which are by default "brighter" then LCDs). And, I find Apple tends to "over drive" their LEDs. Much like watching Super HD TV screen instead of a normal HD TV screen. To me, the iMac Display Brightness Slider only turns down its contrast - not its overall LED "driving" power. re: Darker bright lighting compard to softening the lighting...

IMO, the iMac Display - Brightness Slider will help but it doesn't give the same effect as the brightness slider on an LCD screen - of same physical size.

Hope this helps as well...

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[spinnerlys]

The G5 iMac in 2005 had an Ambient Light Sensor, though it was used to dim the sleeping light indicator for bedroom usage.

The current 27" ACD has an ALS and it is stationary.

 

[Warbitrary]

Do keep in mind that iMacs have LED displays (which are by default "brighter" then LCDs). […]

IMO, the iMac Display - Brightness Slider will help but it doesn't give the same effect as the brightness slider on an LCD screen - of same physical size.

LED refers to the backlighting technology of LCD screens. So a "LED screen" is an LCD screen. Before LEDs, Apple used CCFLs for the LCD backlight.

 

[Spike88]

Interesting read within: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/led-tv-vs-lcd-tv.html

Based on this info, I get the impression the LCD screens (TV or computer screens) can be build with traditional LCD technology or with LED technology. Or as they put it, "with or without an LED back-light."

I've seen both LED used in several different screens. IMO, Apple "over drives" their LED to create brighter colors and whiter whites. Great for 1st impressions are many graphics. But for general home user, I find their LED is "over driven". The white are at the edge of throbbing white - instead of soft white and their other colors are too bright as well. At times, its like watching Miami Vice in Super HD - instead of normal HD (which is much less eye strain).

In thinking of this "with LED" technology behind their LCD screens, IMO it would be much better if future screen designs had another display control. Keep the brightness control and rename to contrast control (instead of having it within its calibrate settings). And, add another variable control called brightness - to adjust how hard their LED (back lighting) is pushed.

To me, the above URL is a good read...

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[Spike88]

I read the many posts within: http://macmatte.wordpress.com/

Perhaps matte display (or matte covering over existing "over bright" LCD with LED technology) would reduce the over whites and the over driven colors? re: Put much less eye strain on one's eyes?

Does anyone know where a universal matte can be applied to the existing glass display? Perhaps that's what I need to apply on my iMac?

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[Warbitrary]

Maybe the strain you are experiencing is related to glossy displays. You can apply 3rd party antiglare films, but from the reviews I read they seem to reduce the sharpness of the display. You should try going to an Apple Store and playing with the anti-glare MBP (it has an aluminium bezel). See if it makes a difference for you.

Also, I'm not sure how it's possible to "over-drive" a LED, because if the electrical current feeding a LED is not exactly right, it fails or doesn't light up. Maybe your display's white point is too cold for you (cold = blueish white, the color of sunlight).