#pop out timer

Decided to put out one more quick update of Pop Out Timer before WWDC.

Version 4.3.1 adds the ability to control the Overtime option for timers. It is enabled by default. Overtime allows the timer to continue counting up past 0:00 to see how far overtime you have gone. Disable this option if you would prefer for the timer to stop at 0:00.

Download Pop Out Timer on the App Store.

Another small update to Pop Out Timer is available in the App Store.

Reset shortcut action. This new action allows you to restart your timer or stopwatch from the beginning. It respects your current playing state, so if the stopwatch is currently running it will be reset to 0:00 and continue playing.

Add Lap shortcut action. This action works specifically on the stopwatch to add a lap and reset to 0:00.

Start and Pause shortcut actions can now be run without opening the app. Previously, calling one of these actions would bring Pop Out Timer to the foreground. Not ideal. This is much better.

Fixed issue where laps may not respect tenths of a second setting until app is restarted.

Fixed issue where Manage Subscription would incorrectly appear for users without a subscription.

The latest version of Pop Out Timer (& Stopwatch & Clock) is out today and it has a couple of big additions.

Aspect Ratio

One of our most requested features is to make the picture-in-picture window even smaller. Unfortunately, iOS sets the limitations on how small the window can go based on its aspect ratio. You can now choose between Regular, Wide and Ultra Wide aspect ratios.

Regular: the aspect ratio we've used for a long time now. Looks best with 4 digits.

Wide: if you'll be spending more time with larger values (a stopwatch that runs for hours) then this may be a better fit.

Ultra Wide: if you absolutely must have the shortest picture-in-picture window to keep the time from covering other UI elements, choose Ultra Wide. It's too wide, really, but allows the window to be presented with minimal height used.

Colors

Another highly requested feature is to allow customization through color selection. You can choose the background color and text color, as well as the warning and overtime colors for timers. Colors are customizable per tab, so you can make your stopwatch distinct from your timer or clock.

Languages

Pop Out Timer is now available in 29 additional languages. Let us know if you find any issues with translation in your language.

In-App Subscription Management

We've implemented Apple's support for in-app subscription management, accessible from the More tab and sidebar.

Shortcut Fix

We have also fixed a bug where the Configure Timer shortcut would not work unless you were on the main timer screen. You still cannot be actively running a timer when you use this shortcut action, but as long as the timer is stopped you can reconfigure the timer as need be.

Hope you enjoy the update! We'd love to hear your feedback by email or on Mastodon.

We released the latest version of Pop Out Timer over the weekend and it's a good one. There are a number of new options available for timer and stopwatch.

Timer

These new options can be found in the top-right menu on the Timer screen.

Reset

Let's start with what has probably been our most requested feature. The ability to restart the timer while popped out. The system limits us somewhat in what we can do from the Picture-in-Picture window, but we've made this work just like Lap Mode for Stopwatch. If you enable this setting (it's off by default), you can restart your timer simply by tapping stop and then play from the PiP window. Your timer will start at the beginning.

Show Tenths of a Second

If you need a bit more accurate timing, enable "Show Tenths of a Second".

Alarm Volume

Choose to make the alarm tone quieter or louder. Of course, muting entirely is still available directly from the timer screen.

Alarm Duration

There's more flexibility on the duration of the end of timer alarm. You can now make it shorter or longer. Choose "Continuous" if you would like the alarm to keep sounding until you respond to it, either by stopping or resetting the timer.

Clear Recent Timers

We've restored this pre-4.0 feature to clear recent timers if you feel the need to tidy up.

Stopwatch

The Stopwatch screen also now features a top-right menu to quickly change options.

Lap Mode

This feature has moved to the menu, but it works just like before. Stop and then play from the Picture-in-Picture window to mark a lap and restart from 0:00.

Show Tenths of a Second

Use this option to get more precise timing. Tenths of a second will also be reflected in lap times.

We've also fixed a crashing bug that occur when moving the timer to the background. We hope you enjoy the update. We love to hear how you're using Pop Out Timer and any suggestion you might have. Get in touch by email or on Mastodon.

We're excited to release Pop Out Timer & Stopwatch version 4.0 today. This update is a long time in the making.

History

Pop Out Timer was the first novel use of picture-in-picture in the App Store, using PiP for information rather than watching videos. This update almost made it on the 6-year anniversary of its original release.

Back in 2020 we had big plans for a 4.0 release but got shut down by Apple. After months of back and forth a reaching out to a certain C-level employee we were reinstated and the floodgates opened for using picture-in-picture in this way. We ended up with a big release, but only 3.2. The whole thing killed a lot of our momentum.

4.0

But today we release 4.0, re-written from the ground up in SwiftUI. We made big under-the-hood changes that greatly improve performance and reliability. Gone are the days of waiting for "Creating Video". Everything is instant, more reliable, and even more accurate.

There are a few other features we want to mention, but the main thing is regaining momentum and laying a new foundation that we can build upon.

Clock

You can now display the current time in the popped out window. This is great if you need to monitor the time but the status bar time is either too small or hidden by whichever app you're using.

Sizing

Perhaps the biggest request we've received is simply: I want to make the timer smaller. While iOS does impose limits on how small the window can go, you can now make it smaller than ever. This is especially notable (and needed) on iPhone where screen space is at a premium.

Laps

Laps now display in descending order. As they should.

Max Time

Timers can now be set up to 5 hours. Why 5 hours? Not sure, we'll probably increase this again.

Shortcuts

4.0 features more in-depth Shortcuts support. You can now trigger specific actions from within the app:

Configure Timer with custom duration

Pop Out or Pop In

Start or Pause

Switch Screen

Pricing Change

For an app to continue existing on the App Store, it needs to continue evolving as the platform evolves. To better enable us to keep Pop Out Timer up to date and continue adding new features, we've decided to make a pricing change. The app is now free to download with a 5 minute restriction on timers and stopwatches. This allows people to try it out and understand how it works before they commit to making a payment. Afterwards they can choose to remove all restrictions by either subscribing, to provide ongoing support, or by making a one-time purchase. Subs go for either $0.49/month or $3.99/year and a one-time purchase is $11.99.

If you've already purchased the app, no worries. It will automatically unlock everything. No need to subscribe or make any further purchases.

We hope you enjoy the update and are happy to hear any feedback by email or at @thinktapwork on Mastodon.

We’re very excited for this latest update to Pop Out Timer. It only changes one thing, but it’s a very important thing.

One major point of frustration with the app has always been the way that it interacts with other audio and video sources. Really the frustration was that it interacted at all: whenever starting music or another video your timer or stopwatch would pause. Which is terrible. We know. But it was the trade-off we had at the time and still made the app worth it for certain use cases like presentations where you probably aren’t listening to music.

This frustration is no more. As of version 3.2 you can now safely listen to music and play videos without any ill affects. It just keeps on rolling.

This opens up more use cases for Pop Out Timer that may not have worked well before.

Workouts is one that comes to mind. You could use the Stopwatch with Lap Mode turned on (for easy resetting), have your playlist going in the background, while you have your screen showing your workout routine. 

Timing your web browsing/Twitter session is another use case that has been mentioned to us in the past but of course would have been hampered by this issue. Here’s a shortcut that opens a 10:00 minute timer and then opens Twitter for you:

https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/85407ecee04d41f2b1a54c23906ca9b7

Back on August 17th, Apple rejected our beta for an iOS 14 version of Pop Out Timer. After back and forth with Beta App Review, attempting to appease them as best we could, another rejection, a lot of back and forth with App Review (and a blog post), a crashing bug caused by iOS 14.2 (with all the emails and negative reviews that go along with that), an official appeal, a few phone calls, an official “suggested change to an App Review guideline”, an email, and finally a voicemail with the good news: Pop Out Timer 3.1.4 is now live in the App Store. It’s a relief after a stressful 4 months.

Here’s what’s new.

iPhone Support

When Apple announced that the iPhone would get Picture in Picture support it took about half a second to figure out we’d try to get Pop Out Timer running it. Our UI already supported multitasking so it only took a few minor tweaks to ensure it properly fit the small screen. If you’ve used Pop Out Timer on iPad you know exactly what to expect.

Set up your timer or stopwatch, tap Pop Out, and hit play. The timer will follow you around as you navigate other apps. Use a pinch gesture to change the size of the window or flick it off screen momentarily if it gets in your way.

Widgets

Pop Out Timer already had a widget but with the introduction of iOS 14′s new widget system we took the opportunity to re-write and come up with something better.

There is a small widget just for the stopwatch. One tap will open the app, navigate to the stopwatch, pop it out, and start it.

Our medium widget gives you that same stopwatch functionality, but it also includes up to your 9 most recent timers. Tap a timer to open the app, create your timer, and pop it out.

Sound

Pop Out Timer primary focus has always been as a silent presentation timer, but we’ve added the flexibility to have a subtle chime at the end of your timer. You must tap the speaker icon on the timer to unmute and make sure you have alerts enabled on your device if you would like to hear the sound. Please keep in mind that it is a single chime; it will not keep pestering you until it is addressed. Please use accordingly.

Updated Icon

I’m very happy with our updated icon. It’s like a cleaner version of the original, with better margins, clearer text, and a better representation of the timer in action.

App Privacy

Apple’s app privacy report is really easy to fill out when you don’t collect a single thing.