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Full release notes for 3.0.0

Enhancements

• Added support for Apple Silicon
• Updated application icon.
• Replaced menu bar slider titles with icons (only on macOS Big Sur and above).
• New Big Sur style menu on Big Sur and above
• Added an "About" tab.
• New "Displays" tab in preferences (this combines the functions of the old "Display" and "Advanced" tab).
• Enable software dimming if required, this is enabled by default.
• Hide OSD function hides the mac volume OSD instead of trying to suppress LG display overlay.
• Show an OSD lock symbol when keyboard change is not allowed for a few seconds after sleep or display reconfiguration.
• Keyboard controls now works when menu is open.
• Active screen is now determined solely by the location of the mouse cursor (no need to click or anything). This also solves the issue regarding full screen apps which in the past resulted in the wrong screen being detected as active.
• Added "Enable Mute DDC command" to handle displays that do or do not support this command (Thanks to @robertbressi)
• In Settings/Display the 'DDC' checkbox can now be unchecked - this combined with 'Enable software control...' will let misbehaving displays be controlled via software dimming. This might also be a better alternative for OLED or microLED displays.
• Full compatibility with custom expert ColorSync Display Calibration Profiles.
• Subtle OSD effect when using 'Further lower brightness via software shading'
• Upon configuration change, when previously saved software dimming values are restored, a subtle OSD effect will give a hint to the user that MonitorControl is doing this.
• Upon configuration change, restoring software dimming is smoothed out to be less disruptive.
• Moved "Change Brightness/Volume for all screens" under Keyboard in Settings.
• Added software darkening option in place of ‘lower contrast after brightness’.
• Added software brightness control as a fallback if DDC is not available.
• Added Hide Menu Icon option.
• Displays that has mirrored screens are controlled along with mirror master.
• OSD is shown on the mirror master screen when a controllable display is shadowed by an uncontrollable display.
• Display naming reflects mirroring better.
• Better handling of rapid configuration changes (when user closes/opens lid or plugs in and out displays rapidly).
• Submenu mode looks better now and is activated only with 3 or more displays.
• Proper support for (future) Apple Silicon Macs with multiple external display support.
• Better handling of runtime changes in display configuration.
• Added option to disable volume slider.
• DisplayServices framework bridging instead of existing Swift workaround.
• Major refactoring, moved most arm64 related stuff to a single self-contained utility class.
• Lazy display update (upon configuration changes the OS sent 4-8 notifications to the app which made updating the display configuration costly - the app now waits 2 seconds until things settle).
• Better handling of mirrors (displays that are mirror targets are now detected by the app).
• Fixed Display and system sleep issues.
• MonitorControl now disengages from media keys when there is no external display connected.
• Better handling of virtual screens (AirPlay, Sidecar).
• Display naming changes (now consistent with System Preferences).
• Detection and blocking of M1 Mac Mini (Macmini9,1) HDMI port to prevent issues.
• Updated/Added Russian, Chinese-Simplified, Chinese-Taiwan, Dutch, German, Polish, Spanish, Turkish, Polish, Hungarian and Korean localisations (Thanks to everyone helping to translate!)

Bug Fixes

• Fixed Intel DDC Swift optimisation issue (#562)
• Fixed not working after sleep mode for some on Apple Silicon (#530)
• Fixed some LG and Samsung displays having problems with Mute (improved 'Enable Mute DDC command') - (#170)
• Fixed app not working with multiple identical monitors on Intel (#49)
• Fix to make sure DDC communications don't happen in parallel when both slider menu and keyboard is used (this might have caused problems with some docks with multiple display outputs).
• Fixed volume control feedback audio (clicking sound) during key repeat (it should play on keyup only as this is the macOS standard).
• Fixed duplication of volume control feedback audio if there are multiple external displays and 'Change... for all screens' is enabled.

Notes

• We're still looking for some updated translations, if you can help out, please do!
• Thanks to everyone who helped testing, contributed and donated! It really helps a lot!
• Special thanks to @waydabber for making this absolutely amazing release happen! 🔥 🔥 🚀

Changes over RC 1

Enhancements

• Added 'Safe Mode' option - pressing the Shift key during startup resets preferences and disables DDC read.
• Upon first start if DDC is unreadable, default brightness/volume/contrast values are now set to a sensible 75% instead of 0%
• DDC write commands are issued twice on Intel (as it already was on Arm64) to improve stability on some setups.
• Internal DDC library for Intel (based on the work of @reitermarkus)
• Updated/Added Chinese-Simplified, Chinese-Taiwan, Dutch, German, Polish, Spanish, Turkish localisations (Thanks to everyone helping to translate!)

Bug Fixes

• Fixed not working after sleep mode for some on Apple Silicon (#530)
• Fixed some LG and Samsung displays having problems with Mute (improved 'Enable Mute DDC command') - (#170)
• Fixed app not working with multiple identical monitors on Intel (#49)
• Fix to make sure DDC communications don't happen in parallel when both slider menu and keyboard is used (this might have caused problems with some docks with multiple display outputs).
• Fixed volume control feedback audio (clicking sound) during key repeat (it should play on keyup only as this is the macOS standard).
• Fixed duplication of volume control feedback audio if there are multiple external displays and 'Change... for all screens' is enabled.
• Fixed 'Disable Volume OSD' being not disabled on Software Only displays

Notes

• This is a Release Candidate, meaning everything should be stable, please let us know how it's working for you in the linked Release discussion.
• If you encounter serious issues, you can use the previous RCs or stable releases.
• We're still looking for some updated translations, if you can help out, please do!
• Thanks to everyone who reported and helped testing these issues and to @waydabber for fixing them!

Enhancements

• Added support for Apple Silicon
• Updated application icon.
• Replaced menu bar slider titles with icons (only on macOS Big Sur and above).
• New Big Sur style menu on Big Sur and above
• Added an "About" tab.
• New "Displays" tab in preferences (this combines the functions of the old "Display" and "Advanced" tab).
• Enable software dimming if required, this is enabled by default.
• Hide OSD function hides the mac volume OSD instead of trying to suppress LG display overlay.
• Show an OSD lock symbol when keyboard change is not allowed for a few seconds after sleep or display reconfiguration.
• Keyboard controls now works when menu is open.
• Active screen is now determined solely by the location of the mouse cursor (no need to click or anything). This also solves the issue regarding full screen apps which in the past resulted in the wrong screen being detected as active.
• Added "Enable Mute DDC command" to handle displays that do or do not support this command (Thanks to @robertbressi)
• In Settings/Display the 'DDC' checkbox can now be unchecked - this combined with 'Enable software control...' will let misbehaving displays be controlled via software dimming. This might also be a better alternative for OLED or microLED displays.
• Full compatibility with custom expert ColorSync Display Calibration Profiles.
• Subtle OSD effect when using 'Further lower brightness via software shading'
• Upon configuration change, when previously saved software dimming values are restored, a subtle OSD effect will give a hint to the user that MonitorControl is doing this.
• Upon configuration change, restoring software dimming is smoothed out to be less disruptive.
• Moved "Change Brightness/Volume for all screens" under Keyboard in Settings.
• Added software darkening option in place of ‘lower contrast after brightness’.
• Added software brightness control as a fallback if DDC is not available.
• Added Hide Menu Icon option.
• Displays that has mirrored screens are controlled along with mirror master.
• OSD is shown on the mirror master screen when a controllable display is shadowed by an uncontrollable display.
• Display naming reflects mirroring better.
• Better handling of rapid configuration changes (when user closes/opens lid or plugs in and out displays rapidly).
• Submenu mode looks better now and is activated only with 3 or more displays.
• Proper support for (future) Apple Silicon Macs with multiple external display support.
• Better handling of runtime changes in display configuration.
• Added option to disable volume slider.
• DisplayServices framework bridging instead of existing Swift workaround.
• Major refactoring, moved most arm64 related stuff to a single self-contained utility class.
• Lazy display update (upon configuration changes the OS sent 4-8 notifications to the app which made updating the display configuration costly - the app now waits 2 seconds until things settle).
• Added Hungarian translation.
• Added Polish translation (Thanks to @rodkiewicz, @nazgu1)
• Better handling of mirrors (displays that are mirror targets are now detected by the app).
• Fixed Display and system sleep issues.
• MonitorControl now disengages from media keys when there is no external display connected.
• Better handling of virtual screens (AirPlay, Sidecar).
• Display naming changes (now consistent with System Preferences).
• Detection and blocking of M1 Mac Mini (Macmini9,1) HDMI port to prevent issues.
• General stability improvements & bug fixes

Notes

• This is a Release Candidate, meaning everything should be stable, please let us know how it's working for you in the linked Release discussion.
• If you encounter serious issues, you can use the previous beta or stable releases.
• Big shoutout to @waydabber for making this all possible!

This build is an experimental version with Apple Silicon/M1 Support!

Enhancements

• In Settings/Display the 'DDC' checkbox can now be unchecked - this combined with 'Fallback to software control...' will let misbehaving displays be controlled via software dimming - this might also be a better alternative for OLED or microLED displays.
• Full compatibility with custom expert ColorSync Display Calibration Profiles.
• Subtle OSD effect when using 'Further lower brightness via software shading'
• Upon configuration change, when previously saved software dimming values are restored, a sublte OSD effect will give a hint to the user that MonitorControl is doing this.
• Upon configuration change, restoring software dimming is smoothed out to be less disruptive.
• Moved "Change Brightness/Volume for all screens" under Keyboard in Settings.

Fixes

• Fixed choppiness on some Macs when using 'Further lower brightness via software shading'.

Known issues

• Changing the volume/brightness on Intel devices might be a bit choppy/laggy. 
The reason for this issue has been identified and will be fixed in one of the next beta releases.

Known general incompatibilities

• Displays that are attached via the the M1 or 2018 Intel Mac mini's HDMI port can be controlled via software dimming only.
• Displays connected via DisplayLink docks or dongles cannot be controlled via DDC or software dimming.

Notes

• We really appreciate your feedback! If you encounter serious issues, you can use the previous beta or stable releases.
• Please let us know how it's working for you in the linked Beta Discussion.

This build is an experimental version with Apple Silicon/M1 Support!

Enhancements

• Added an "About" tab.

Fixes

• Display goes unexpectedly dark after first start or after resetting preferences.
• DDC contrast and volume sliders are not working.
• Missing display list in Advanced Settings after any display reconfiguration.
• 'Fallback to software control' is not working properly in conjunction with 'Change Brightness/Volume for all screens'.
• Fixed various issues regarding mirrors and virtual displays.

Known issues

• Changing the volume/brightness on Intel devices might be a bit choppy/laggy. 
The reason for this issue has been identified and will be fixed in one of the next beta releases.
• This version disregards custom ColorSync configurations which might affect pro-users who use this feature. This will be addressed in a future release.
• This version disregards custom ColorSync configurations which might affect pro-users who use this feature. This is addressed in the upcoming beta release.
• On some Macs changing software brightness results in a choppy experience (the screen is not being refreshed when there is no other sceen activity as a power conservation method). This is fixed in the upcoming beta.

Known incompatibilities

• Displays that are attached via the the M1 Mac mini's HDMI port can be controlled via software dimming only.
• Displays that are attached via the 2018 Intel mini's HDMI port are not controllable. These don't fall back to software dimming while DDC communication will fail.
• USB-C dongles that use the rare HDMI Alt Mode internally might not work on Intel or M1 minis. These don't fall back to software dimming while DDC communication will fail.
• Displays connected via docks that are using DisplayLink cannot be controlled via DDC. DisplayLink connections won't fall back to software control (but are totally uncontrollable), HDMI Alt Mode dongles will not fall back either but still attempt DDC communication and will fail.

Notes

• We really appreciate your feedback! If you encounter serious issues, you can use the previous beta or stable releases.
• Please let us know how it's working for you in the linked Q&A discussion.

This build is an experimental version with Apple Silicon/M1 Support!

Enhancements

• Added software darkening option in place of ‘lower contrast after brightness’.
• Added software brightness control as a fallback if DDC is not available.
• Added Hide Menu Icon option.
• Updated appearance for Settings.
• Fix display and system sleep issues.
• Displays that has mirrored screens are controlled along with mirror master.
• OSD is shown on the mirror master screen when a controllable display is shadowed by an uncontrollable display.
• Display naming reflects mirroring better.

Other under the hood changes and fixes

• Updated display matching logic for more reliability.
• Improvements in ‘Reset Preferences’.
• Better handling of rapid configuration changes (when user closes/opens lid or plugs in and out displays rapidly).
• Fixed crash on 10.14 (hopefully)
• macOS Mojave (10.14) is now the oldest supported version.

Known issues

• Software brightness control is not replicated to mirrored displays.
• When a software controllable display is mirrored to a hardware controllable display and ‘Fallback to software control…’ is enabled, the app behaves unexpectedly.
• Changing the volume/brightness on Intel devices might be a bit choppy/laggy. 
The reason for this issue has been identified and will be fixed in one of the next beta releases.
• 'Fallback to software control' is not working properly in conjunction with 'Change Brightness/Volume for all screens'.
• DDC contrast and volume sliders are not working
• Missing display list in Advanced Settings after clicking 'Reset Preferences'.

Notes

• Again, a lot has changed in this release. We really appreciate your feedback! If you encounter serious issues, you can use the previous beta or stable releases.
• Please let us know how it's working for you in the linked Q&A discussion.
• We're aiming for this to be the last beta release with major feature changes. Future releases should be more focussed towards stability.

This build is an experimental version with Apple Silicon/M1 Support!

Enhancements

• Updated application icon.
• Added "MonitorControl" name to the version in General Preferences.
• Submenu mode looks better now and is activated only with 3 or more displays.
• Improved "Lower contrast after brightness" function - smooth decrease of contrast up/down when brightness reached zero + various other fixes.
• Proper support for (future) Apple Silicon Macs with multiple external display support.
• Detection and blocking of M1 Mac Mini (Macmini9,1) HDMI port to prevent issues.
• Better handling of runtime changes in display configuration.
• Added option to disable volume slider.
• General stability improvements and bug fixes.

Other under the hood improvements

• DisplayServices framework bridging instead of existing Swift workaround.
• Major refactoring, moved most arm64 related stuff to a single self-contained utility class.
• Lazy display update (upon configuration changes the OS sent 4-8 notifications to the app which made updating the display configuration costly - the app now waits 2 seconds until things settle).

Known issues

• On the Mac Mini, when two perfectly identical displays are connected, the app may match them in the wrong order on M1.
• In mirrored display setups, when the primary display cannot be controlled on the M1 mini, the app does not gracefully fall back to controlling the shadowed.
• Sleep stability issues on M1 Mac Mini.

Notes

• A lot has changed in this version under the hood. Feedback is appreciated. If you encounter serious issues, please use the previous beta instead.
• Please let us know how it's working for you in the linked Q&A discussion.
• Extra readme for Apple Silicon early builds

Thanks to everyone who is testing and providing feedback! Special thanks to @waydabber for all the great work on these beta versions!

This build is an experimental version with Apple Silicon/M1 Support!

Bug fixes

• Fixes a crash on Big Sur when the contrast slider was enabled.

Notes

• We do not recommend trying this beta of MonitorControl if you have a HDMI display attached to your M1 Mac Mini. Control through the HDMI port does not currently work and might cause issues with the display.

• Please let us know how it's working for you in the linked Q&A discussion.

Thanks to everyone who is testing and providing feedback!

Extra readme for Apple Silicon early builds

This build is an experimental version with Apple Silicon/M1 Support!

What's new

• Big Sur style app icon.
• Replaced menu bar slider titles with icons (only on macOS Big Sur and above).
• Display naming changes (now consistent with System Preferences).
• Added Hungarian translations.

Bug fixes

• Intel should now work in this version (it might still be a bit laggy, a proper fix will be implemented before final release)
• Better handling of mirrors (displays that are mirror targets are now detected by the app).
• Better handling of virtual screens (AirPlay, Sidecar).

Notes

• We do not recommend trying this beta of MonitorControl if you have a HDMI display attached to your M1 Mac Mini. Control through the HDMI port does not currently work and might cause issues with the display.

• Please let us know how it's working for you in the linked Q&A discussion.

Thanks to everyone who is testing and providing feedback!

Extra readme for Apple Silicon early builds

This build is an experimental version with Apple Silicon/M1 Support!

Bug fixes

• Fixed error in i2c checksum calculation. Changed communication wait and repeat times.

Notes

• We do not recommend trying this beta of MonitorControl if you have a HDMI display attached to your M1 Mac Mini. Control through the HDMI port does not currently work and might cause issues with the display.

• The Intel version still has some issues for some people(#478), 2.1.0 should be stable.

• Please let us know how it's working for you in the linked Q&A discussion.

Thanks to everyone who is testing and providing feedback!

Extra readme for Apple Silicon early builds