Powerless lets you schedule automatic, unattended system shutdowns. This allows you to leave your computer running so that it can complete a task, then shutdown (or restart) after a period of time you specify.
Powerless is useful if you:
･ Do unattended disk backups
･ Use automatic disk compression utilities
･ Use a disk optimizer
･ Maintain data communications access
･ Upload and download files with information services
･ Use a battery-powered Macintosh
･ . . . and more!
It is most useful if your computer provides software-controlled shutoff (that is, the computer turns itself off completely when you choose Shutdown from the Finder's Special menu). Powerless is easily accessible when placed into your Apple Menu Items folder or on the Desktop.
Powerless Features
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
･ It's an application, not an INIT
･ Works on any Macintosh with System 7
･ Small and efficient
･ Cool 3-D color interface (but supports B/W Mac's, too)
･ Displays time in 12 hour or 24 hour format
･ Displays time relative to the present time
･ Notifies you 5 minutes before shutdown
･ Warns you during the final seconds with your choice of sound
･ Let's you choose Shutdown or Restart
･ Remembers your desired display mode and time settings
･ Can run as a Startup Item
･ Easily confirgurable through its Preferences dialog box
Using Powerless
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you first open Powerless, it displays a splash screen. Click the mouse to continue.
Next, a small, movable dialog box is shown with three main parts:
ﾊ
The first part is the display mode icon. Clicking on it selects the time display format, from 12 hour (AP/PM) to 24 hour (military) to count down modes, indicated by these icons:
ﾊ
12 hour (AM and PM) mode:ﾊ
ﾊ
24 hour mode:
ﾊ
Count down mode:
The second part consists of the time specification controls. You select the event time by clicking on the triangle icons for the hours, minutes, and seconds. The up triangle increases the numbers and the down triangle to decreases them. They'll repeat if you hold the mouse button down.
If you're using the 12 or 24 hour modes, the time you set is the time the event will occur. If you set the shutdown time to a value that is earlier than the present time, the shutdown will occur on the next day.
If you're using the count down mode, the time you select is relative to the time when you click the Start button (discussed next). For example, if you you select 03:00:00, the Mac will shutdown three hours after you click the Start button.
The third part of the dialog is an icon that starts or stops the shutdown process:
ﾊ
Start timing icon:
ﾊ
Stop timing icon:
Scheduling Steps
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Choose a mode (12 hour, 24 hour, or count down).
2. Use the triangle buttons to select a time.
3. Click the Start icon to initiate the count down.
WARNING: Unlike choosing Shutdown from the Finder, you will not be notified of documents that require saving. This would defeat the purpose of an unattended shutdown. It is up to you to make sure everything is saved before starting a scheduled shutdown.
When you click on the Start icon, it changes to the Stop icon. Powerless switches to the count down display mode. While timing is in progress, you can click on the mode icon to view the other display modes at any time.
To stop the timing, click the Stop icon.
Preferences
~~~~~~~~~~
You can customize the behavior of Powerless to suit your needs. Select Preferences from the File menu. The following dialog box is shown:
ﾊ
Startup Action
~~~~~~~~~~~~
These settings affect Powerless when it is first launched:
･ Show Splash Screen. When set, Powerless shows the top half of its About dialog box. Choose ﾒAbout Powerlessﾉﾓ from the apple menu to see all the details.
･ Switch To Finder. When set, Powerless effectively switches to the Finder, bringing it to the front. This is useful when you place Powerless in the Startup Items Folder.
･ Start Countdown. When set, Powerless acts as though you clicked on the Start icon. This is useful when Powerless is a Startup Item and is configured to shutdown at a particular time each day.
Event Action
~~~~~~~~~~
These settings control what Powerless when the scheduled time arrives:
･ Shutdown (or Restart). Use these radio buttons to choose a full power shutdown or a simple restart.
･ Notification dialog. When fewer than five minutes remain (and Powerless is not the frontmost application) you will receive a notification reminding you to save any changes made to documents that might be open.
･ (Play Sound). The final checkbox and pop-menu allow you to choose a sound that is played during the final 10 seconds.
Fabulous, but not Free!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Powerless is a commercial product ($19.95 plus $4 shipping and handling). A time-limited demo is being distributed through information services for evaluation purposes. Customer support is available for registered users only. Support software developersﾑdon't pirate.
