Observed arrival · 2026-09-24
Yowl, the MacBook alarm that catches the approach
A free, open-source macOS menu-bar app that sounds an alarm, locks the screen, and takes photos when a MacBook is disturbed.
○Open
⊠Login
$Paid
†Ads
✦Pretty
●Pro
◎Niche
◉Human
⚑Risk
ƒJS
- For
- MacBook owners leaving laptops unattended
- Worth noticing
- Its live demo contrasts a 0.0009 quiet reading with a 0.0050 trigger threshold and distinguishes camera movement from passersby.
Field notes
The live motion readout shows 0.0009 in a quiet scene and a 0.0050 firing threshold; the demo contrasts a passerby with a moved laptop. Camera-based movement and lid-close triggers are opt-in, while charger removal is enabled by default. For continued screaming with the lid shut, the page discloses a root helper limited to two sleep-control commands that releases its hold after 60 seconds or when the alarm stops.
Observed signals
Read the marks
Editorial observations of this landing page, not a rating.
○OpenPublic substance visible
✦PrettyNotable craft visible
●ProPolished or operationally mature
◎NicheUnusually specific use
One card from the complete issue