FlashFrozen

FlashFrozen for Mac

CNET Editors' review

by: Paul Hughes on March 24, 2010

BashFlash is a free, low-profile utility that can identify and terminate Flash video processes in Safari, which can help you improve CPU performance and (on a laptop) conserve battery power--and it can even help keep your computer from heating up and running its fans excessively because of Flash overload.

BashFlash only works in 64-bit Safari (i.e., Safari 4 in Snow Leopard), since earlier versions don't run Flash as a standalone process that can be easily terminated. The app sits in your menu bar, and a small BashFlash icon shows your current Flash use (gray for none, black for low, and red for high). When Flash is in use, a drop-down menu gives you the option to "Kill Flash Plug-in," which will stop all current Flash processes, across all windows and tabs, which are then replaced by Safari's "missing plug-in" icon.

Of course, if you're using Flash on purpose--say, if you're watching YouTube--you can leave Flash running. But if your computer is getting sluggish or hot because of too many Flash-based advertisements or some other unwanted Flash process (even running in a hidden tab), BashFlash makes it easy to instantly shut it down. If you want to view the Flash content later, just reload the individual page or tab.

BashFlash is especially useful for laptop users, since it can help save battery life (both short-term and over the limited long-term lifespan of a battery), but it's a worthwhile utility for any Snow Leopard user who gets frustrated with CPU-intensive Flash content.

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Publisher's Description

From Tyler Loch:

We all love YouTube videos. We all love Homestar Runner. But we don't love it when Flash ads or other Flash-related junk forces our processors to run hot and leech our precious battery fluids. Flash animations and videos are among the top processor hogs on Mac OS X. A single poorly-designed Flash banner - even in an inactive window or tab - can suck up an entire processor core with its shady mortgage offers. Your 5-hour battery life gets cut in half, your laptop runs hotter, and your legs cook to medium-rare. That's where FlashFrozen comes into play. FlashFrozen lets you stop the Flash plug-in dead in its tracks, letting your new-fangled Mac cool down, use less power, and give you more time to do whatever it is you do. Probably blog or tweet or something.

What's new in this version: By popular demand: AutoKill Mode now available! You can now set FlashFrozen to automatically and immediately stop the Flash Player plugin whenever a webpage tries to load it. If you eventually need to watch Flash content, simply turn off AutoKill Mode and FlashFrozen will behave normally again.