f.lux (pronounced "flux") is a simple, cross-platform window manager software that adjusts the color temperature of a screen based on time and place of day, providing immediate respite to the eyes, and helping to prevent eye fatigue. A number of free applications provide similar functions and are commonly used to ease eye strain, such as the free program Fluxbox, but none offer such an extensive range of functionality. The original Mac version of f.lux was not very popular in the beginning and required a series of hacks that involved connecting a monitor to your computer through the use of a USB cord. When using this software to its full potential, you need to be able to adjust the screen's brightness with relative ease, and have a way to save custom settings between sessions. This software also comes with a free trial, but has a poor rating. The most updated version of this software will require a subscription fee but the trial will allow you to test out its basic functionality before deciding whether it is right for you or not.
The Mac version of f.lux is still relatively new, so the official community is rather small, but it has proved to be incredibly popular, especially in the UK. Many users report significant performance improvements, including a dramatic decrease in eye strain. However, the best way to find out if this application is for you is to try it out for yourself. If you have any questions you can visit the official website or forum. You'll quickly find that there are a large number of users of the software and that you will quickly find yourself chatting with others who share similar interests as yours. You can also download a free trial of the application and try it out before committing to buying.
Even though f.lux is one of the more popular software applications on the Mac platform, you should never just go and download it straight away without trying it first. If you don't like what you see and feel it might be worth spending a little extra on a higher quality program. There are many free versions available, but remember that the most popular programs tend to have a lot more features, and if you want to make sure you are downloading a highly effective version of the application then you can always sign up for a subscription to use the application for a set amount of time or a monthly fee.
