Time

Product Introduction

1. Definition: Time is a native macOS menu bar application (built with SwiftUI) designed for real-time global time zone tracking and meeting management. It operates as a lightweight utility that displays customizable time zones directly in the system menu bar, integrating with calendar services and video conferencing platforms.
2. Core Value Proposition: Time eliminates scheduling errors for distributed teams by providing instant visibility into global time differences, automating meeting join workflows, and preventing off-hour communications. Its core function is synchronizing remote collaboration across time zones while minimizing manual calculations.

Main Features

1. Multi-Time Zone Magic:

   • How it works: The app fetches time data from macOS system APIs and syncs with global time servers. Users add unlimited locations via searchable city/time zone database (powered by geolocation APIs). Custom labels (e.g., "Tokyo Office") and drag-and-drop reordering (⌘ + drag) enable personalized setups.
   • Tech: SwiftUI for rendering, CoreLocation for city mapping, NSTimeZone for conversions.

2. Smart Calendar Integration:

   • How it works: Scans macOS Calendar events using EventKit framework, auto-detects Zoom/Google Meet/Teams links via regex pattern matching. Triggers system-level notifications 10 minutes pre-meeting (customizable). One-click join launches native apps via deep linking.
   • Tech: EventKit for calendar access, URL schemes for video app integration, progress bars for live meeting tracking.

3. Time Scroller:

   • How it works: Allows temporal simulation (24hr past/future) via interactive slider. Dynamically updates all time zones with color-coded day/night segments (light/dark themes) using solar position algorithms. Visualizes overlapping working hours for scheduling.
   • Tech: Core Animation for smooth transitions, solar calculator for daylight logic.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: Prevents accidental off-hour pings and missed meetings by automating time-zone awareness and calendar alerts. Solves "time-zone math" fatigue for remote teams.
2. Target Audience:
   • Global tech teams (developers, DevOps, product managers)
   • Remote-first companies and hybrid workplaces
   • Freelancers coordinating with international clients
3. Use Cases:
   • Scheduling deadlines across San Francisco, Berlin, and Sydney time zones
   • Joining a last-minute Zoom call without calendar tab-switching
   • Verifying if European colleagues are awake before sending Slack messages

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation: Unlike web-based tools (World Time Buddy) or bloated calendar apps, Time offers zero-latency menu bar access, native performance, and no subscriptions. Competitors lack integrated meeting join and time-scrolling.
2. Key Innovation: Patented "Time Scroller" for visual scheduling and privacy-first architecture (no data leaves macOS; unlike cloud-based alternatives).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Does Time support Microsoft Teams meeting links?
   Yes, Time auto-detects and enables one-click joins for Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams links directly from macOS Calendar events.
2. Can I customize how time zones appear in the menu bar?
   Absolutely. Time offers 12/24-hour formats, UTC offsets, custom separators, font weights, and alignment tweaks for pixel-perfect menu bar displays.
3. Is Time compatible with macOS Sonoma or Ventura?
   Time requires macOS Tahoe 26 or later (Apple’s next-gen OS). It’s optimized for SwiftUI and Metal-powered rendering on modern Macs.
4. How does Time handle user privacy?
   All data (calendars, time zones) stays locally on your device. No cloud servers, tracking, or accounts—unlike SaaS alternatives.
5. Does Time offer team collaboration features?
   While focused on individual scheduling, its shared calendar integration indirectly syncs team meetings via macOS system apps.