AVOW Desktop
You said you worked for four hours. AVOW proves how long you actually stayed focused. AVOW Desktop verifies computer work in the background (presence by webcam, idle time, and the apps and sites you call distracting) while your phone stays free.
Desktop builds are being finalized. The mobile app is available now, and this page will host the installers the moment they ship.
How it verifies
- Presence. Your webcam answers one yes/no question on your computer: are you there? Verified time only counts while you are.
- Idle time. Long keyboard and mouse silence counts as not working, even if you're sitting there.
- Phone in hand. Visibly using your phone pauses verified time (optional, detected on your device).
- Distracting apps & sites. You choose which apps count as distractions; with the optional browser extension, the active tab's address is checked against your list too.
Phone vs. computer
| AVOW on iPhone | AVOW Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| Verifies with | Front camera | Webcam + keyboard/mouse activity |
| While you work | Session screen stays open; the phone is the referee | Runs in the background from the menu bar / tray while you use other apps |
| Distractions | Phone already in the stand; picking it up is the distraction | Distracting apps, sites, idle time, and a phone in hand |
| Best for | Reading, writing by hand, problem sets, studying | Coding, writing, design, any screen work |
Same rules, same honesty. One verifies from the desk stand, the other from the menu bar.
Privacy, plainly
Everything runs locally on your computer. The webcam feed is analyzed in memory and discarded; never recorded, never uploaded. App awareness checks only the frontmost app's name; the extension checks only the active tab's address. AVOW Desktop does not record your screen, does not log keystrokes, has no remote access, and does no hidden monitoring. It does nothing at all unless you start a session.
System requirements
- Mac. macOS 10.15 or later, with an internal or external webcam.
- Windows. Windows 10 or later, with a webcam.
- The optional browser extension supports Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc).
Install
Mac: open the downloaded .dmg and drag AVOW into Applications. On first launch, grant camera access when asked. If macOS warns about an unidentified developer during the beta, right-click the app and choose Open.
Windows: run the downloaded installer and follow the prompts. On first launch, allow camera access. If SmartScreen warns during the beta, choose "More info" → "Run anyway".
The browser extension (optional)
Browsers don't tell apps which site you're on. The extension's only job is to pass the active tab's address to AVOW Desktop on your machine so your distraction list can include sites, not just apps. It sends nothing anywhere else, keeps no history, and works only while a session is running.