Jeremy's Battery Time CSM 1.2.1

What is it?

Jeremy's Battery Time CSM displays an estimate of the remaining battery time, or the elapsed time on battery.

If you are using a newer model PowerBook with intelligent batteries, you can display Apple's estimate of remaining battery time.  You can also display a historical estimate of battery time, which "learns" your battery discharge patterns.  It also keeps track of your elapsed battery time, so you can see how long you've been on batteries.

Compatibility

The Battery Time CSM requires a Macintosh PowerBook.

Installing the Battery Time CSM

If you are using Mac OS 8.5 or earlier, you must drag the Control Strip Module to the Control Strip folder inside your System folder.  If you are using Mac OS 8.6 or later, the Mac OS will recognize the Control Strip - merely drag it to your System Folder, and the Mac OS will move it automatically for you.

With Mac OS 8.5 or earlier:

1)  Open your System folder.
2)  Copy the Control Strip Module to the Control Strip Folder in your System folder.
3)  Restart your computer.

Configuring the Battery Time CSM

When the Control Strip first appears after restarting, the Battery Time module should be displayed.  The icon on the left side of the module indicates the current display, and could be one of the following:

You can select the displays by using the popup menu associated with this module.  To make the menu appear, click down anywhere on the time portion of the Control Strip, and it will pop up.

Show Apple estimates
On a late model PowerBook, the intelligent batteries provided by Apple can give a calculated estimate of how much time is remaining.  If your PowerBook does not support this feature, then the option will be dimmed.

Show historical estimates
On any PowerBook model, you can display a historical estimate.  This estimate will be more accurate, because it "learns" your battery discharge pattern, and updates itself accordingly.

Note that when you first start using this module, the estimate will initially be 00:00, because the module has no historical data to use.  After a couple discharge cycles, however, an accurate estimate will be presented.

The historical estimate display is also very stable - Apple's method for estimating the battery time calculates the remaining time "on the fly", and as conditions change (for example, the backlight dimming), Apple's estimate changes very dramatically and quickly.

Show elapsed time
When you select this, the module will show the amount of time you have been running on batteries.  The elapsed time resets automatically when the charger is attached, or can be manually reset (described below).

Reset elapsed time
When you select this, the module will reset the elapsed battery time.  The elapsed time is automatically reset whenever the charger is attached.

Reset historical estimate
When you select this, the module will reset the historical data used to generate the estimate of remaining battery time.

Revision History

1.2.1 - 6 February 2000

- Minor cosmetic changes.

1.2.0b1 - 18 January 1999
   
- Enhanced historical estimate for PowerBook G3 Series.
   
- Added charging time estimate.

1.1.5 - 4 November 1998

- Eliminate beep when module quits.

1.1.4
- 11 June 1996
 
- Check appropriate traps to prevent crashes on incompatible Mac's.

1.1.3 - 21 March 1996
   - Converted to Metrowerks Codewarrior.

1.1.2 - 29 March 1995
   - Prevent module from interfering with screen savers.
    - Corrected preservation of elapsed time over shutdowns.

1.1.1 - 4 October 1994
    - Optimized code size.

1.1.0 - 25 August 1994
   - Enhanced method of writing historical data to minimize disk accesses.
    - Added ability to reset historical data from popup menu.
    - Added ability to generate historical estimate with data from a partial discharge.

1.0.0 - 20 June 1994
   - First release.