Tutorials

GeoWatch shows a live 3D Earth with recent earthquakes from the last 24 hours.

You can rotate the globe, see day and night regions, and receive notifications

for significant events.

 

Requirements

- macOS 13 or later.

- Internet connection for earthquake data.

 

Install and First Launch

1. Drag the GeoWatch app to Applications.

2. Open GeoWatch from Applications or Launchpad.

3. If prompted, grant notification permission so you can be alerted about

   significant earthquakes.

 

First Screen and Window Basics

- The main window shows a 3D Earth.

- Move the window by dragging its title bar.

- Resize the window by dragging any edge or corner.

- Use the green full screen button to enter or exit full screen.

 

Interacting with the Globe

- Click and drag to rotate the Earth.

- Use the trackpad pinch gesture or a mouse with scroll wheel to zoom.

- Hold Option while dragging to rotate around a different axis (if supported

  by your device).

 

Earthquakes on the Map

- Recent earthquakes are plotted as points on the globe.

- Larger magnitude quakes appear more prominent.

- Hover or click (if enabled) to view details like magnitude, time, and

  location.

 

Menu Overview

GeoWatch integrates with the standard macOS menu bar. Common items:

- GeoWatch > About GeoWatch: App version and credits.

- GeoWatch > Settings: Open the settings window.

- File > Close Window: Close the current window.

- Window > Minimize, Zoom, Bring All to Front: Standard macOS window actions.

- Help: Search menu items.

 

Settings

Open Settings from the GeoWatch menu. Typical options include:

- Appearance: Choose lighting or visual preferences.

- Earthquakes: Configure update interval or notification preferences.

- Data: Select sources or filters if available.

Note: The exact options may vary by version.

 

Notifications

- When enabled, GeoWatch can notify you about significant new earthquakes.

- You can change notification settings in GeoWatch > Settings or in

  System Settings > Notifications.

 

Keyboard and Trackpad Shortcuts

- Command-Q: Quit GeoWatch.

- Command-W: Close the current window.

- Command-,: Open Settings.

- Command-M: Minimize window.

- Space or mouse click: Interact with the globe (rotate, select), depending

  on your device and configuration.

 

Tips for Best Results

- Keep the app running to receive the latest earthquake updates.

- Ensure your Mac has network access; the feed requires the internet.

- If performance seems low on older hardware, reduce other heavy apps running

  at the same time.

 

Troubleshooting

- I do not see any earthquakes:

  - Check your internet connection.

  - Wait a minute for the first data fetch after launch.

  - Ensure any filters in Settings are not hiding events.

- The globe looks frozen:

  - Try resizing the window.

  - Close and reopen GeoWatch.

  - If the problem persists, restart your Mac.

- I do not receive notifications:

  - Open System Settings > Notifications and allow GeoWatch notifications.

  - Confirm notifications are enabled in GeoWatch Settings.

 

Privacy

GeoWatch fetches public earthquake data and does not access your personal

files. Network access is used only to update earthquake information.

 

Getting Help

- Use the Help menu to search menu items.

- Check the README included with the app for updates.

- Contact support with your macOS version and any screenshots if problems

  continue.

 

Thank You

We hope GeoWatch helps you keep an eye on our dynamic planet.