Expert’s Rating
Our Verdict
Ah , the Internet : Fountain of information , smorgasbord of entertainment , nexus of social networking . Oh , and nemesis to productivity .
As anyone who ’s procrastinated in the past tenner know , the Internet ’s huge stores of instantly approachable content are nigh irresistible … especially when you ’ve fuck off work that needs doing . A few class back , I covered Think , a utility that visually blocks out all but the current program , and there ’s also WriteRoom , a full - cover Good Book processor for focusing on your writing . But while these usefulness can facilitate hide other programs , they ca n’t save you from yourself . That ’s whereFreedomcomes in .
When scat , exemption — a name that ’s both liable and ironic — disables your data processor ’s Internet connection , preclude you from surf the entanglement , checking Es - ring armour , using Twitter , or engaging in any other natural process that requires a meshing connection . ( you could pick out whether it also put away downlocalnetworking . ) In the developer ’s words , Freedom free you “ from the distractions of the cyberspace , allowing you fourth dimension to code , write , or create . ” It ’s also utilitarian for enforcing the kids ’ no - Internet time .
( Freedom is exchangeable to SelfControl , another Internet - blocking public-service corporation . But whereas SelfControl requires you to manually enter specific domains — for object lesson , Twitter.com , YouTube.com , or your e - mail server — you desire to void , Freedom blockseverything . )
When you plunge Freedom , the program inquire you how long , in minutes , you ’d like to work Internet - free ; the uttermost is 480 minutes ( eight time of day ) . You ’re then ask if you want to keep access to your local web — for example , so you’re able to still use local file servers — or if you want to close up all networking .
Make your pick and enter an admin - level username and word , and Freedom takes over . ( Because of the means Freedom works , using it requires administrative access . ) With Freedom dynamic , no amount of fiddling with internet configurations or line will restore your Internet connexion . Even the Freedom program is inaccessible ; it wo n’t respond until your designated clock time is up . Your computer is on on Internet lockdown , so you may as well get some work done .
Freedom is n’t designed for security , however : a driven administrator who knows their way around Unix can circumvent the program , and you may readjust it by restarting your Mac . But the hope is that , Internet addicts aside , it will be more of a hassle to get around Freedom ’s limitations than it is to just , you lie with , do some work .
One small ill I had while testing Freedom is that although the program alert you when your specified time is up , there ’s no mode of recognise how much time is left before Freedom restores your , ahem , exemption to use the ‘ net ; I ’d like an alternative to see a visual timer . It would also be utile if Freedom permit you schedule your no - misdirection sessions ; currently , you ask to use a macro plan such asiKeyorKeyboard Maestroto do this . Finally , for Freedom to function , you require to invalid OS X ’s own firewall . ( exemption is essentially a firewall itself . )
Jason Snell observe Freedom in his video about Mac novel - piece of writing pecker , noting that “ There may be no bigger boon to Mac productivity than [ exemption ] . ” If you find the Internet to be difficult to resist , he just may be right .
