Powerless lets you schedule automatic, unattended system shutdowns. This allows you to leave your computer running so that it can complete a lengthy, boring task, only to be shut off later after a period of time you specify.
Powerless is useful if you:
• Do unattended disk backups
• Use an automatic file compression utility
• 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 complete 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.
Why Powerless?
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There are other shutdown programs available, so why is Powerless better?
• It's an application, not an INIT
• Works on any Macintosh with System 7
• Small and efficient (occupies just 16K of disk space)
• Cool 3-D color interface (supports B/W Mac's, too)
• Uses internationally-recognized icons
• Displays time in 12 hour or 24 hour format
• Displays time relative to the present time
• Notifies you 5 minutes before shutdown
• Beeps during the final 10 seconds for additional warning
• Remembers your desired display mode and time settings
Using Powerless
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When you open Powerless, it displays a small, movable dialog box with three main parts:
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:
12 hour (AM/PM) mode:
24 hour mode:
Count down mode:
The second part consists of the time specification controls. You select the shutdown 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.
NOTE: If you set the shutdown time to a value that is earlier than the present time, the shutdown will occur on the next day. For example, if the mode is in 12 hour format, the current time is 10 AM, and you set the shutdown time to 03:00:00 AM, Powerless will shutdown the computer at 3 AM the next day.
The third part of the dialog is an icon that starts or stops the shutdown process:
Start timing icon:
(International “Play” symbol)
Stop timing icon:
(International “Stop” symbol)
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.
Click on the Start icon to begin the shutdown timing process (the icon changes to the Stop icon). Powerless switches to the count down display mode, but you can click on the mode icon to view the other display modes at any time.
After clicking the Start icon, Powerless records the position of its dialog box, the display mode, and the time setting you've specified.
When there are fewer than five minutes remaining (and if Powerless is not the front-most application) you will receive a notification reminding you to save any changes made to documents that might be open. During the final 10 seconds, the computer will beep once each second until the system finally shuts off.
To cancel a scheduled shutdown in progress, click the Stop icon.
Fabulous, but not Free!
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Powerless is a commercial product ($19.95), but is being distributed as shareware through information services. Customer support is available for registered, paying users only.
The Morgan Davis Group is a successful software company, with most of its energy directed at Apple's other computer, the Apple IIGS. We would like to bring our high-quality products and exceptional customer service to the Macintosh world. Let us know that you're interested in seeing more top-quality work from the Morgan Davis Group.
Over the last ten years, Apple II programming has taught us to design small, fast, and extremely efficient software. In the Mac world, this kind of mindset is the exception rather than the rule. You shouldn't have to own a Quadra 950 with 128MB of RAM to get adequate performance. Please support us in making the Macintosh better than ever by sending your appreciation for our work. You'll become a registered Powerless customer and will be eligible for updates. Thank you.
