Two photos of a screen stitched together, f.lux disabled (on the left), and f.lux's default settings (on the right) | |
| Original author(s) | Michael Herf, Lorna Herf |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | F.lux Software LLC |
| Initial release | February 2009; 12 years ago |
| Stable release | |
| Operating system | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Available in | English |
| License | Freeware |
| Website | justgetflux.com |
F.lux is an application designed based on the medical viewpoint that “blue light causes serious damage to the retina”, and is intended to prevent eye strain. (“Dark mode” and “Night mode” of the Windows function are simply “dimming” functions and cannot attenuate blue light). F.lux fixes this: it makes the color of your computer's display adapt to the time of day, warm at night and like sunlight during the day. It's even possible that you're staying up too late because. Perhaps the most popular choice at the moment is a free software called f.lux (Visit f.lux online). F.lux allows you to not only turn down the amount of blue light on your screen, it actually takes your geographical location and automatically adjusts the color balance on your screen according to the time of day. Fixes broken color artifacts on macOS when using full screen html5 video with f.lux enabled.
f.lux (pronounced 'flux') is a cross-platformcomputer program that adjusts a display'scolor temperature according to location and time of day, offering functional respite for the eyes. The program is designed to reduce eye strain during night-time use, helping to reduce disruption of sleep patterns.[2][3]
Functionality[edit]
Upon installation, the user can choose a location based on geographic coordinates, a ZIP code, or the name of a location. The program then automatically calibrates the device display's color temperature to account for time of day, based on sunrise and sunset at the chosen location. At sunset, it will gradually change the color temperature to a warmer color and restore the original color at sunrise.[2][3]
f.lux offers a variety of color profiles and pre-defined temperature values, modifying program behaviour for specific programs or activities; including a mode for film watching, decreasing red tinge (for 2.5 hours), and a darkroom mode that does not affect night-adapted vision.[2][3] Times can be inverted on f.lux for PC to provide warm lighting during the daytime (for people who work at night).[4] The program can control Philips HueLED lighting, so that the color temperature of house lights follows f.lux's settings.[5]
Platforms[edit]
The program is available for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux (except for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS). It is also available for iOS devices, although it requires the device to be jailbroken.[6]Apple has not allowed the application in its App Store due to its use of restricted developer tools.[7] The developer briefly hosted an Xcode project on GitHub, allowing iOS 9 users to sideload the application onto their devices, but retracted it at the request of Apple.[8] Following Apple's announcement of a similar function, called Night Shift, in iOS 9.3, the developer called upon Apple to provide developer tools and to allow their application into the App Store.[9] A preview version for Google's Android system is available.[10]
Efficacy[edit]
f.lux proponents hypothesise that altering the color temperature of a display to reduce the prominence of white–blue light at night will improve the effectiveness of sleep. Reducing exposure to blue light at night time has been linked to increased melatonin secretion.[11] Although the developer provides a list of relevant research on their website, the program itself has not been scientifically tested to determine its efficacy. In spite of this, f.lux has been widely and positively reviewed by technology journalists, bloggers, and users.[2][3][6]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'f.lux for iOS'. f.lux. Retrieved October 13, 2018.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ abcdZukerman, Erez (October 31, 2013). 'Review: f.lux makes your computer usable at night'. PC World. Retrieved 3 March 2015.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ abcdTanous, Jim (October 15, 2014). 'Save Your Eyes and Improve Your Sleep with f.lux for OS X and Windows'. TekRevue. Retrieved January 15, 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^'f.lux: F.A.Q. - I work nights. How do I flip the day and night settings?'. justgetflux.com. Retrieved 31 October 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^'f.lux has been updated to a new version'. justgetflux.com. Retrieved 31 October 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ abHoffman, Chris (October 23, 2014). 'Reduce Eye Strain and Get Better Sleep by Using f.lux on Your Computer'. How-To Geek. Retrieved January 15, 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^Hern, Alex (January 12, 2016). 'Apple promises a good night's sleep with new iPhone feature'. The Guardian. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
- ^Tepper, Fitz (November 12, 2015). 'F.uxd: Apple Says Screen Brightness App Violates Developer Agreement'. TechCrunch. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
- ^Perez, Sarah (January 15, 2016). 'F.lux Asks Apple To Let Its Screen Color Adjustment App Back Into App Store'. TechCrunch. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
- ^'f.lux Home Page'. f.lux. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
- ^Takeshi, Morita; Hiromi, Tokura (1996). 'Effects of Lights of Different Colour Temperature on the Nocturnal Changes in Core Temperature and Melatonin in Humans'. Journal of Physiological Anthropology. 15 (5): 243–6. doi:10.2114/jpa.15.243. PMID8979406.
External links[edit]
- The Benefits of Avoiding Blue Light Before Bedtime: how filtering out blue light from screens improves sleep quality.
F.lux Chrome Extension