       _.each @highlightViews, (highlightView) =>
         values = highlightView.values()
         if values.start <= progress <= values.end
-          highlightView.setActive true
+          if @options.popupHighlights
+            highlightView.setActive true
         else
           highlightView.setActive false
 

      offset = highlightView.$el.offset().left
      width = highlightView.$el.width()
      if offset <= event.clientX <= (offset + width)
        highlightView.showNote()
      else
        highlightView.hideNote()


  defaults: => _.extend super,
    # subshell will announce when ready, forward event
    readyOnRender: false

    # option whether to show highlights or not. can be turned off externally.
    popupHighlights: true


  events: => _.extend super,
