A few weeks ago, Be My Eyes was launched for Windows, and since then I've been wondering: Is there a version available for macOS? Or is there something similar? What can you tell me about this?
Hi Hugo and others.
We are still working hard on the Mac version, and want to take extra care to ensure that it's the best it can possibly be. It's currently in internal testing for this and other reasons, but will be available soon.
We hear you loud and clear and know how important this is to the community. We're currently exploring the best ways to support the Mac experience and appreciate your patience!
We appreciate the time and effort you invest in testing and ensuring that the app meets the required standards. However, we would like to know the possible release time.
I have been wondering about this to. When I use my windows computer it's very handy. I apriciate the time and effort put on this project however I'm also wondering about a release date. Thanks
Signed in with my apple ID, granted all the permissions and it managed to describe an inaccessible app to me using the screenshot feature. I was a little confused the first time (what's new) as I wasn't sure how I was supposed to tell it to take a screenshot. I think it maybe just hides BME so takes whatever is behind it, but probably the first time it didn't work as I hadn't restarted after applying the permissions as I had been warned.
Anyway this is what it said:
A dark window with the text “welcome to air” in white, pixel-style letters near the top center.
Below that, smaller white text says:
“Open local folder or clone Git repository to start working”
Two large dark gray buttons are centered horizontally:
Left button has a folder icon on the left and the label:
“Open...”
Right button has a key icon on the left and the label:
“Clone from Git...”
There are no error messages visible.
So it's great to be able to do this now and I will definitely be playing with it some more. I should say the above description appeared in a chat window so I could have spent more time querying it.
I think the only problem it has really is that maybe some other tech is beginning to overtake this. For example I set up codex with computer use and was able to open up the same app and go through the totally inaccessible region select, login screen and onboarding just by asking it. But then my codex account is not free, so I think this will be a valuable addition and it's great to finally have it on the Mac.
No, I take that moment of clarity back. I don't know which app the screenshot button will select.
I had PyCharm open but it wasn't responding properly so I went to BME and asked it to take a screenshot. It then described a tab I had open in Safari instead. This was unfortunate as it happened to be a medical questionnaire I was filling in. I think I was lucky that it didn't have anything too sensitive on it at the time but it could easily have been given the nature of the questions it was asking. I repeated that in case it was user error but it did the same.
So instead I used Shift+Ctrl+Cmd+3 to screenshot to clipboard and used that and it worked much better.
It then occurred to me that BME has a global shortcut of Cmd+Option+S to take the screenshot. That seems to work much more reliably than the button as it will screenshot whatever app you are looking at.
If anyone else understands which window the screenshot button is supposed to be capturing I would be interested, but for now I will instead use the shortcut and avoid the temptation to be lazy. I think there are also some Siri shortcuts so I might have to explore those too.
Anyway sorry I seem to be just brain dumping. I think this app is going to be incredibly useful.
I realize that macOS is different from Windows, but bear with me here...
When I am using the PC version of BME, I typically will have the window or tab open in the foreground, and then I will alt plus tab to make sure that BME is in front of that particular object. Then I will use the hotkey, control plus alt plus S. This will take a screenshot immediately of the item behind the BME GUI.
I do windows shift s and can choose the window option, then it will show all the windows open so I just press space and it's copied to clipboard. Even better, as virtual desktop actually hides the other windows with alt tab this can give clean workspaces.
I don't think it's that hard on the Mac as long as you use the shortcut. So Cmd+Tab to the app you want to look at, then Cmd+Option+S to take the screenshot.
My problem was that I was trying to use the Screenshot button in the app (ie using vo+space on it) and I think it's quite unclear as to what window that is going to capture. I am a little annoyed that my name and NHS number were sent up to ChatGPT though.
Like in Windows, at the moment the screenshot feature in the new Mac version of Be My Eyes for desktop captures a full screenshot, not just the active window. I usually minimize the app with Command + H and go on with my workday. When I need a visual description, I place the Voiceover cursor in the area I'm interested in, and press the global shortcut Command + Option + S. It helps to configure Voiceover to have a visible cursor so that we can later ask the app questions about it. To do that, under Voiceover Utility / Visuals, make sure the checkbox “Show voiceover cursor is checked". Unless we decide to keep a chat, the app retains each conversation in the history for 30 days, but it is always possible to delete a chat manually by selecting the Delete chat button inside any chat.
Thanks for the info. I did delete those messages as soon as I realised what they had done - does that mean my NHS number isn't going to be a permanent fixture in ChatGPT's brain?
Regarding the screenshot button - I think using the keyboard shortcut is fine, but just out of curiosity - what I did was I used cmd+tab to get to PyCharm which, as far as I know, takes up the whole screen. Then I used cmd+tab to go to BME. I then clicked Screenshot and it seemed to take a screenshot of Safari instead. Whereas doing the same thing and using the shortcut directly from PyCharm did what I expected.
I don't think I quite realised that the shortcuts would work if BME didn't have focus to start with.
From your description - is BME just taking a screenshot of whatever it sees at the point I click the button, and the prompt just knows not to bother to include the BME GUI, or does it hide itself, switch windows or do anything else?
Anyway sorry to be dwelling on a small thing. The app is fantastic and I am incredibly grateful to be able to use it now. Thanks to all of you for all the work that has gone into bringing this to us.
Comments
I have been wondering the same
I have been keeping an eye out for over a year now hoping there will be a Mac version...
I really hope there is one.
Does anyone have an update?
Not yet
I use the ChatGPT WhatsApp bot and it works for me.
Working on it
Hi Hugo and others.
We are still working hard on the Mac version, and want to take extra care to ensure that it's the best it can possibly be. It's currently in internal testing for this and other reasons, but will be available soon.
/ Jessica - Be My Eyes
Still looking forward to this
Hope it won't be too much longer now. Will there be a beta?
Any Updates?
Still in internal testing?
Me too
Waiting :)
Quick note from the Be My Eyes team
We hear you loud and clear and know how important this is to the community. We're currently exploring the best ways to support the Mac experience and appreciate your patience!
Shani, Head of Design, Be My Eyes
Appreciate that ... BUT!
We appreciate the time and effort you invest in testing and ensuring that the app meets the required standards. However, we would like to know the possible release time.
Be My Eyes For Mac
I have been wondering about this to. When I use my windows computer it's very handy. I apriciate the time and effort put on this project however I'm also wondering about a release date. Thanks
I don't care about release date
Just result. IMO giving even a temptative date would be a mistake. Take all the time you need but come up with something very good.
It's available now
I've installed it but not yet set it up. The download link can be found here: https://www.bemyeyes.com/download-app/
Seems to work
Signed in with my apple ID, granted all the permissions and it managed to describe an inaccessible app to me using the screenshot feature. I was a little confused the first time (what's new) as I wasn't sure how I was supposed to tell it to take a screenshot. I think it maybe just hides BME so takes whatever is behind it, but probably the first time it didn't work as I hadn't restarted after applying the permissions as I had been warned.
Anyway this is what it said:
A dark window with the text “welcome to air” in white, pixel-style letters near the top center.
Below that, smaller white text says:
“Open local folder or clone Git repository to start working”
Two large dark gray buttons are centered horizontally:
Left button has a folder icon on the left and the label:
“Open...”
Right button has a key icon on the left and the label:
“Clone from Git...”
There are no error messages visible.
So it's great to be able to do this now and I will definitely be playing with it some more. I should say the above description appeared in a chat window so I could have spent more time querying it.
I think the only problem it has really is that maybe some other tech is beginning to overtake this. For example I set up codex with computer use and was able to open up the same app and go through the totally inaccessible region select, login screen and onboarding just by asking it. But then my codex account is not free, so I think this will be a valuable addition and it's great to finally have it on the Mac.
Re: screenshot
No, I take that moment of clarity back. I don't know which app the screenshot button will select.
I had PyCharm open but it wasn't responding properly so I went to BME and asked it to take a screenshot. It then described a tab I had open in Safari instead. This was unfortunate as it happened to be a medical questionnaire I was filling in. I think I was lucky that it didn't have anything too sensitive on it at the time but it could easily have been given the nature of the questions it was asking. I repeated that in case it was user error but it did the same.
So instead I used Shift+Ctrl+Cmd+3 to screenshot to clipboard and used that and it worked much better.
It then occurred to me that BME has a global shortcut of Cmd+Option+S to take the screenshot. That seems to work much more reliably than the button as it will screenshot whatever app you are looking at.
If anyone else understands which window the screenshot button is supposed to be capturing I would be interested, but for now I will instead use the shortcut and avoid the temptation to be lazy. I think there are also some Siri shortcuts so I might have to explore those too.
Anyway sorry I seem to be just brain dumping. I think this app is going to be incredibly useful.
mr grieves
I realize that macOS is different from Windows, but bear with me here...
When I am using the PC version of BME, I typically will have the window or tab open in the foreground, and then I will alt plus tab to make sure that BME is in front of that particular object. Then I will use the hotkey, control plus alt plus S. This will take a screenshot immediately of the item behind the BME GUI.
HTH.
Yeah no screen shot is easier on windows
I do windows shift s and can choose the window option, then it will show all the windows open so I just press space and it's copied to clipboard. Even better, as virtual desktop actually hides the other windows with alt tab this can give clean workspaces.
Not that hard on Mac
I don't think it's that hard on the Mac as long as you use the shortcut. So Cmd+Tab to the app you want to look at, then Cmd+Option+S to take the screenshot.
My problem was that I was trying to use the Screenshot button in the app (ie using vo+space on it) and I think it's quite unclear as to what window that is going to capture. I am a little annoyed that my name and NHS number were sent up to ChatGPT though.
@TheBlindGuy07
I don't understand your subject line, but your steps are so overly complicated. If I had to do all of that every time I would never use BME on PC. 🙄
@mr grieves
It's the same on PC. Apologies if my steps were convoluted. 😇
screenshots in Be my Eyes for desktop (macoS)
Hello AppleVis community.
Like in Windows, at the moment the screenshot feature in the new Mac version of Be My Eyes for desktop captures a full screenshot, not just the active window. I usually minimize the app with Command + H and go on with my workday. When I need a visual description, I place the Voiceover cursor in the area I'm interested in, and press the global shortcut Command + Option + S. It helps to configure Voiceover to have a visible cursor so that we can later ask the app questions about it. To do that, under Voiceover Utility / Visuals, make sure the checkbox “Show voiceover cursor is checked". Unless we decide to keep a chat, the app retains each conversation in the history for 30 days, but it is always possible to delete a chat manually by selecting the Delete chat button inside any chat.
Re: screenshot
Thanks for the info. I did delete those messages as soon as I realised what they had done - does that mean my NHS number isn't going to be a permanent fixture in ChatGPT's brain?
Regarding the screenshot button - I think using the keyboard shortcut is fine, but just out of curiosity - what I did was I used cmd+tab to get to PyCharm which, as far as I know, takes up the whole screen. Then I used cmd+tab to go to BME. I then clicked Screenshot and it seemed to take a screenshot of Safari instead. Whereas doing the same thing and using the shortcut directly from PyCharm did what I expected.
I don't think I quite realised that the shortcuts would work if BME didn't have focus to start with.
From your description - is BME just taking a screenshot of whatever it sees at the point I click the button, and the prompt just knows not to bother to include the BME GUI, or does it hide itself, switch windows or do anything else?
Anyway sorry to be dwelling on a small thing. The app is fantastic and I am incredibly grateful to be able to use it now. Thanks to all of you for all the work that has gone into bringing this to us.
Re: screenshot
@mr grieves- Shani from Be My Eyes here. OpenAI does not train on our BMAI data. when you delete the session, it's gone. so you did the right thing!
@shani
Great, thanks for clarifying - that's good to know.