Corner Time

Product Introduction

1. Corner Time is a macOS utility application designed to maintain persistent time visibility in screen corners during fullscreen activities or when the menu bar is hidden. It operates as a native-like overlay that remains visible at the "Over Apps" window level, ensuring uninterrupted time access without requiring menu bar interactions. The app supports macOS 13.0 and later, with a focus on seamless integration into the operating system’s visual hierarchy.
2. The core value lies in enabling digital minimalism by eliminating the need to reveal the menu bar for time checks, thereby reducing distractions during focused workflows. It addresses the conflict between maintaining a clean workspace and retaining quick access to essential information. By prioritizing low energy consumption and retina display optimization, it ensures minimal system impact while delivering reliable functionality.

Main Features

1. Corner Time remains visible even during fullscreen applications or when the menu bar is hidden, using macOS-native window level prioritization to overlay the clock above other content. Users can customize its position across multiple displays through per-screen toggles in the settings. The app automatically adapts to display resolutions, including built-in Retina and external monitors.
2. Customizable time formats include 24-hour notation, seconds display, date visibility, and weekday indicators, with advanced options for user-defined formatting patterns like "Week w, EEEE HH:mm". Pre-configured style presets allow quick adjustments, while font selection supports SF Pro, SF Mono, and SF Rounded for visual consistency with macOS design language. Local font integration is planned for future updates.
3. Multi-display synchronization detects connected monitors dynamically, enabling independent activation/deactivation per screen via a system preferences panel. The app optimizes rendering for both primary and secondary displays, ensuring consistent readability across varying resolutions. Energy efficiency is maintained through lightweight processes that consume less than 1% CPU under typical usage.

Problems Solved

1. The app eliminates the need to repeatedly hover or swipe to reveal the menu bar for time checks, which disrupts concentration during fullscreen tasks like video editing, coding, or media consumption. This solves the accessibility gap created by macOS’s default hidden menu bar behavior. It specifically targets scenarios where users prioritize screen real estate over persistent UI elements.
2. Primary users include professionals utilizing fullscreen workflows (developers, designers, writers), digital minimalists who hide dock and menu bar elements, and multi-display workstation operators requiring consistent time visibility across monitors. The app also serves non-technical users seeking a streamlined macOS experience without complex configuration.
3. Typical use cases involve checking time during video conferencing in fullscreen mode, monitoring deadlines while writing or coding in distraction-free environments, and maintaining productivity during presentation design on external projectors. Gamers and media consumers benefit from time visibility without exiting fullscreen applications.

Unique Advantages

1. Unlike menu bar clock alternatives, Corner Time maintains visibility at the "Over Apps" window level, ensuring compatibility with fullscreen games, video players, and design tools that override standard menu bar layers. This distinguishes it from widgets that require Dashboard activation or third-party overlays with higher system resource usage.
2. The app introduces automated multi-display detection with per-screen controls, a feature absent in most basic time utilities. Its system language localization supports 10 languages, including Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese, with automatic adaptation to regional date/time formats. Future roadmap items include local font integration and expanded format templates.
3. Competitive advantages include native macOS menu bar interaction compatibility—the clock automatically hides when users intentionally reveal the menu bar—preventing visual overlap. Energy consumption is optimized to 0.3% CPU usage during testing, outperforming similar overlay tools. Direct Mac App Store distribution ensures automatic updates and Sandbox security compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why hide the menu bar if Corner Time requires similar functionality? Hiding the menu bar reduces visual clutter while retaining critical time visibility through Corner Time’s persistent overlay. The app eliminates the need to trigger menu bar animations, which cause 1-2 second delays when hovering. This balances minimalism with functionality, as other menu bar items are rarely accessed during focused work sessions.
2. Does Corner Time work with Macs lacking a notch? Yes, the app functions identically on all macOS 13.0+ devices regardless of physical design features. The clock positions itself in the top-right corner by default but adapts to avoid sensor housing areas on notched displays. Users can manually adjust horizontal offsets in 10-pixel increments if needed.
3. Can I test Corner Time before purchasing? The app is exclusively available through the Mac App Store, which offers a 14-day refund policy for digital purchases. While no dedicated trial exists, the low file size (525 KB) and instant download enable quick evaluation. Users can test core functionality immediately after installation without system restarts.