Potential workaround for the lack of automatic backlight adjustment

[Marconelly]

I was just thinking - I usually set backlight twice a day. In the morning/day, I increase it because there's lots of ambient light around, and then in the evening I put it back down when it gets darker. I suppose many other users have similar usage pattern for this, so I was wondering if there's a software that would let you pre-program several backlight settings to 'fire' during several times of the day?

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

That sounds a bit lazy imho. You're only pressing a button a few times a day.

 

[SR71]

That sounds a bit lazy imho. You're only pressing a button a few times a day.

I agree.

There's probably an app in the Mac App Store that does this.

 

[sraber]

This is what you need. Works great and totally automatic.
http://stereopsis.com/flux/

 

[major7]

Automatic Backlight adjustment would be great....i use brightness control everyday as well....on the top during the day and one single bar during the night. any feedback on f.lux and the MBA?

 

[Over Achiever]

Haven't had any problems using Flux and the MBA if that's what you're asking. Takes some adjustment to the yellowish hue at night since they adjust the kelvin of the screen.

Not quite sure I notice the brightness adjustment though.

 

[alan111]

I was just thinking - I usually set backlight twice a day. In the morning/day, I increase it because there's lots of ambient light around, and then in the evening I put it back down when it gets darker. I suppose many other users have similar usage pattern for this, so I was wondering if there's a software that would let you pre-program several backlight settings to 'fire' during several times of the day?

The lack of an ambient light sensor is quite annoying, especially if one came from a previous notebook that did have it.

With that being said, you must be joking. You would rather spend a half hour tinkering with settings of when to have the backlight automatically adjust, as opposed to just pressing the buttons for 2 seconds each time you'd like to adjust it? I just don't understand.

 

[fs454]

The ambient sensor sucked in my opinion. Always getting brighter and darker randomly based on the angle you were sitting and the position of your hands? i'm not sure how anyone could handle that.

 

[SR71]

The ambient sensor sucked in my opinion. Always getting brighter and darker randomly based on the angle you were sitting and the position of your hands? i'm not sure how anyone could handle that.

This. The ambient sensor was so friggin' annoying.

 

[Marconelly]

The lack of an ambient light sensor is quite annoying, especially if one came from a previous notebook that did have it.

With that being said, you must be joking. You would rather spend a half hour tinkering with settings of when to have the backlight automatically adjust, as opposed to just pressing the buttons for 2 seconds each time you'd like to adjust it? I just don't understand.

Well, when set once, which would probably take a whole of one minute if not less, I would probably not touch it again. It's not the laziness, it's just that I often forget to do it right away, and only remember to drop the brightness when my eyes start hurting from too much light during the night.

This is what you need. Works great and totally automatic.
http://stereopsis.com/flux/

Thanks. This shows how easy it would be to implement something like this. F.lux only seem to be adjusting the color temperature though, not the backlight, at least not on my MBA.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

It takes much less than a minute. Maybe a second or two at most. Whatever floats your boat I guess.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

It takes much less than a minute. Maybe a second or two at most. Whatever floats your boat I guess.

There's no reason to be so argumentative when someone doesn't like exactly how Apple implements a feature. Just because you believe Apple can do no wrong doesn't mean everyone needs to do things the Apple way.

 

[Marconelly]

It takes much less than a minute. Maybe a second or two at most. Whatever floats your boat I guess.

No, I meant it would take me no more than one minute to set up the kind of software I described above, and then I wouldn't have to touch it again. I was replying to someone who was saying that it would take me half an hour to set up something like this. The f.lux software already almost does what I want, only it seems to adjust color temperature instead of backlight level. Took me maybe 20 second to set it up and try it out.

The biggest problem to me really is that I don't always remember to adjust the backlight immediately, and only realize I should do so when my eyes start being irritated.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

There's no reason to be so argumentative when someone doesn't like exactly how Apple implements a feature. Just because you believe Apple can do no wrong doesn't mean everyone needs to do things the Apple way.

How is that argumentative? It literally does take a few seconds at most. That's not refuting anyone's statement or claims. It's just fact unless you have horrible arthritis, which in case, I retract my statement.

I'm actually irked by the lack of a non-backlit keyboard and the removal of the ambient light sensor in the MBA. The off-center placement of the mic is also very odd. But it's not something that I'm going to bother finding an app and configuring it for. But that's me, not you or the OP.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

No, I meant it would take me no more than one minute to set up the kind of software I described above, and then I wouldn't have to touch it again. I was replying to someone who was saying that it would take me half an hour to set up something like this. The f.lux software already almost does what I want, only it seems to adjust color temperature instead of backlight level. Took me maybe 20 second to set it up and try it out.

The biggest problem to me really is that I don't always remember to adjust the backlight immediately, and only realize I should do so when my eyes start being irritated.

Yea, that makes sense. I was thinking that it's a bit permanent. For example, one day you happen to use your MBA in a different light setting. Then the brightness setting may not be what you want. That's where the ambient light sensor is quite useful, it's dynamic. I'm glad you found a solution though, I had no idea that app even existed.