We continue to show you possibilities of being able to hide the icons you have on your desktop at a time when, due to the activity you are going to carry out or for the public to which you are going to direct it, you are not interested in them seeing your files on the screen.
We had told you how to do the action of two different ways with commands entered in Terminal, but thanks to the contribution of a reader named Santiago who recommended us the Mac application Camouflage 1.25.
Indeed, as the reader says, it is a very simple application that hides the desktop icons with a single click. The fact is that the latest version through the Mac App Store is not free and has a price of 5,49 euros, which at first makes it prohibitive. However, Santiago is right that version 1.25 that we can find on the web is free and does the job we are looking for.
To lower the Camouflage version 1.25 click on this link and you can download it for free.
It is clear that version 1.25 will not have all the configuration options of the current version that is Camouflage 3.1, but to test and use it from time to time is very good.
Once you download it, just open the .dmg file after which you will be presented with a window in which you will be able to drag the application to the downloads folder, installing itself automatically.
When you open it for the first time, an icon will appear on the top bar of the desktop that allows you to configure the application. Keep in mind that when you click on "Hide icons" what the application does is place a black screen in front of them, so that if at any given moment you drag a new file to the desktop it will not be seen anyway. If you want to modify the image shown, select its location and the black color will change to the image you want.
Thanks Pedro and congratulations for the very good explanation you make of the operation of this humble application. I'm curious about the new version, but the old one, as you well say, does the job perfectly. I discovered it a few years ago, and the truth is that I use it mainly because seeing the desktop full of messy folders makes me feel uneasy, and the double click to make them appear ordered in the finder, I think it is a great success.
The way of hiding the icons that you explained above has the advantage that it is more difficult for someone who approaches the computer to do something to us, since Camouflage from the menu bar is totally manageable.
And taking the opportunity, I would like to make an inquiry. I have read that Apple abandons Snow Leopard, apparently 25% of Mac users use it, the fact is that I have an Imac from 2006 so I cannot install Mavericks, and I don't like Lion at all, I don't know to what extent I It can harm having Snow installed, especially for security reasons.
My Imac is one of the white ones with a matte screen, and I have never had problems of any kind, in addition to the use that I give it, it goes perfectly, even friends with new Imacs, when they see mine they find it more pleasant to the eye.
The people of Apple tell me that I should be happy, that I have already amortized my investment and that I buy a new one (blatant programmed obsolescence) I answer them, that 1st I love my computer and 2nd that Planet Earth cannot bear so much to throw away things that they work perfectly.
Thank you again.
Hello Santiago, if your iMac is from 2006, I advise you to leave it with that system, otherwise it will turn you into a very slow computer. As you say, for the things you do with it, it goes fancy. Regarding security, keep in mind that, of course, this system already has its years.
All the best