r/DesktopIdeas

Hey everyone 👋

I'm the solo developer behind Mac+ (macplus.pro). Up front: this is my own app, and I'd really like your honest feedback.

The itch I was scratching: I was tired of staring at the same frozen wallpaper all day. The macOS desktop feels kind of… static. So I built the thing I actually wanted a native, lightweight app that makes the desktop feel alive withoutturning my Mac into a space heater.

What it does:

• 15 animated scenes rendered on the GPU with Metal (aurora, plasma, waves, rain, snow, fog…) 
• 44 color palettes + a custom palette creator recolor any scene live 
• Use your own video or image as a living background 
• 52 folder-icon patterns stamped onto the real macOS folder shape or import your own image, and apply it to many folders at once 
• 12 desktop widgets (clock, date, focus timer, season, year progress…) you can drag anywhere 
• Little companions that wander across your screen 
• Multi-display, and it now speaks 4 languages (EN / FR / DE / ES)

 

Why it won't wreck your Mac:

• 100% GPU rendering (no CPU video decoding), 30 FPS by default, capped resolution 
• Auto-pauses when the screen sleeps or when a fullscreen app covers the desktop 
• Driven entirely from a tiny menu-bar item

 

Honest about pricing: there's a free tier (a handful of scenes, palettes, icons and widgets) so you can try it for real before paying. Pro unlocks everything 7-day free trial, then €1.99/month, or €9.99 once (lifetime, no subscription).

Here is a promo code : « LAUNCH30 » :)

^(Credit to the original owner/creator of this setup image.)

^(DM for credit or removal if needed.)

I spend long hours working in front of two monitors every day, and for years, I used a traditional desk lamp. While it was bright enough for reading and focused tasks, I often ended up with tired, dry eyes.

Recently, I realized the issue wasn't simply brightness, but changing the way I light the room. When the desk is brightly lit while the rest of the room remains dark, my eyes constantly have to adjust between the bright screens, the illuminated desk, and the dim surroundings. I also noticed reflections and glare on my monitors.

A few months ago, I switched to an upward-facing indirect lighting desk lamp that bounces light off the ceiling and illuminates the entire room instead of just my desk. The difference has been noticeable: there's less glare and reflection on my monitors, the lighting is much more even, and overall, my workspace feels significantly more comfortable.

I still think direct lighting is excellent for tasks that require precision, such as reading or crafting. But for a dual-monitor setup and long hours at the computer, the improvements indirect lighting has brought to my workspace have been hard to ignore.

I'm curious if anyone else here has started using indirect lighting instead. Did it make a difference for you? I'd also love to see photos of your setup.

Credit to the original owner/creator of this setup image.
DM for credit or removal if needed.

GTA 6 Desk Setup
Cozy Setup
Minimal Setup

Credit to the original owner/creator of this setup image.
DM for credit or removal if needed.

I change my WFH setup to a southpaw keyboard

The warm wood tones, soft ambient lighting, and subtle orange details make this workspace look super modern without feeling overwhelming. That slat wall design completely ties the whole setup together.

Credit to the original owner/creator of this setup image.
DM for credit or removal if needed.

I used to have RGB lighting around my desk setup because it looked nice, but over time it started feeling a bit harsh for long working hours. My astigmatism has gotten so much worse lately.

My optometrist told me that if I’m staring at screens for hours a day, I need to keep the ambient lighting matching the screen brightness. So today I finally ripped all the RGB lights off.

It looks pretty clean anyway. With brighter ambient light, the wooden desk surface looks a lot more natural and less contrast-heavy compared to the RGB setup.

Want to help test multi display setups?

SilentOverlay is continuing to push forward and we’ve just hit a major stability milestone. Finally comfortable to granting access to wider groups. All PC setups are highly encouraged to join us for a test drive.

Now that the foundation/core is stable, the goal is to optimize for multiple display variants:

• Second screens
• Touchscreens
• Ultra-wides
• Mini displays

Still to come/future roadmap:

• Customizations/choice of panels to display varying content
• Launch Pad - drag, drop organize apps/quick launch buttons easily
• Themes/styles
• Telemetry/Monitoring/FPS
• and more!

Your screen. Your setup. Your command.

Come test drive your rig with us here: Beta Intake Form