# Phosphor: A CRT TV-like Video Player for Mac Watch old videos with an authentic CRT experience. - **Source:** [Hacker News: Show HN](https://news.ycombinator.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-19 - **Topic:** [Product Management](https://brifing.si/c/product) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/77695482-2993-4e12-8b32-d149f84ab10e ## Nostalgic CRT Experience Phosphor delivers a genuine CRT television experience on your Mac. It displays videos just like on old CRT screens, meticulously mimicking details from electron beams to phosphor dots. This is a unique tool for retro video enthusiasts. ## Realistic Simulation The software simulates 240p and 480i raster modes, phosphor persistence, light bloom, and screen curvature. You can switch between different signal types like RGB and S-Video. The CRT-Guest-Advanced HD-based renderer is optimized for Apple Silicon. ## Technical Details Phosphor is built using Swift and Metal. Video frames stay on the GPU, and CRT simulation runs only when a new frame arrives. Different phosphor types like aperture grille and slot mask are selectable. This enhances performance while reducing energy consumption. ## User-Friendly Interface The software features a simple interface for easy video playback. Users can switch between different CRT profiles like Trinitron and studio-monitor. HDR output and direct video playback enrich the user experience. ## Open Source Advantage Phosphor is completely free and open-source. This community-supported project continuously evolves with user feedback, especially from CRT experts. ## Why It Matters Phosphor brings retro video viewing to modern devices, ensuring old videos are watched as originally intended. This is a significant step for film archivists and retro tech enthusiasts. ## Sources covering this story - https://github.com/JoAz111/Phosphor — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._