Black Pixel's Comparison App 'Kaleidoscope 2' Goes Live on Mac App Store - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Black Pixel's Comparison App 'Kaleidoscope 2' Goes Live on Mac App Store

by

NewImageBlack Pixel today released its first major in-house app, Kaleidoscope 2. The app that helps coders, writers and others to compare the differences in folders, images, text, and more. The app was released as a beta back in November.

At the time, The Next Web spoke with former Apple employee Michael Jurewitz and the rest of the Black Pixel team about Kaleidoscope 2:

Kaleidoscope 2 is a lovely comparison app that allows you to take two or more files, folders or images and compare them to one another. The applications are broad, with benefits that swing from developers on one end to those simply looking to compare two images side-by-side. It has full integration with Git, Subversion, Mercurial, and Bazaar. The app can be used as the default conflict resolver for code with its command line integration or simply to check the changed passages in a collaborative word document. It’s beautifully designed, fast and wonderful to use. It’s become an essential part of my toolkit already.

Kaleidoscope
Black Pixel acquired Kaleidoscope and Versions last year, as well as the popular RSS reader NetNewsWire. Version 2 of Kaleidoscope is the first major bit of software that Black Pixel has put its own name on -- previously, the company focused on developing apps for outside clients.

Kaleidoscope 2 is currently available on the Mac App Store [Direct Link], directly from Black Pixel or as a 15-day trial. It's available for $35 through January 30th, after which it will be $70.

Top Rated Comments

Stella Avatar
173 months ago
For developers,Beyond Compare is being released for the Mac - when v4 comes out for windows and Linux. With any luck, sooner rather than later.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mdriftmeyer Avatar
173 months ago
After trying this, my favourite visual diff app remains to be DiffMerge, which is available for OS X, Windows and Linux.

Image (http://i.imgur.com/UaVWm.png)

Now, as nice as DiffMerge is, unfortunately it is very poorly maintained and updated. It's just missing a few easy-to-implement (IMO) features that'd make it so much better, and its developers don't seem to care much about it. It's really too bad, because it is lightyears ahead in some of the core functionality. :(

Talk about myopia. Kaleidoscope is a lot more than a Diff app.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wetrix Avatar
173 months ago
Why does macrumors give this app the time of day? Is there really that much of an appeal to the readership?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
173 months ago
After trying this, my favourite visual diff app remains to be DiffMerge, which is available for OS X, Windows and Linux.



Now, as nice as DiffMerge is, unfortunately it is very poorly maintained and updated. It's just missing a few easy-to-implement (IMO) features that'd make it so much better, and its developers don't seem to care much about it. It's really too bad, because it is lightyears ahead in some of the core functionality. :(
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0098386 Avatar
173 months ago
This article brought to you by Black Pixel.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
173 months ago
how can this be so much better than free to justify such a price?

I agree... it is graphical diff... and all the code repository applications have diff built right in. It seems a little bit unnecessary, but if command line tools are not your thing sure it could be nice... but even the $35 intro price seems pretty high.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

macOS 27 on MacBook Pro

macOS 27 Will Mark the End of an Era

Saturday April 18, 2026 6:45 am PDT by
During its Platforms State of the Union segment at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that macOS 26 Tahoe is the final major macOS version for Intel-based Macs. The upcoming macOS 27 release will be compatible with Apple silicon Macs only, meaning that you will need a Mac with an M-series chip or a MacBook Neo with an A18 Pro chip in order to install the software update. macOS 27 should be available...
macworld iphone 18 pro colors

iPhone 18 Pro's Four Rumored Colors Revealed, Including 'Dark Cherry'

Friday April 17, 2026 3:50 am PDT by
A source said to be familiar with Apple's supply chain today revealed the color options Apple is planning for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the upcoming foldable iPhone. Image via Macworld. The information comes from Macworld, which says the signature new color for this year's Pro models will be Dark Cherry, a deep wine-like red. While other sources had previously reported on a...
Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple Says CarPlay Ultra is Coming to These Vehicle Brands

Saturday April 18, 2026 5:59 am PDT by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly a year later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. CarPlay Ultra...