Filed under: Software
Embraceware releases Awaken 4
When it comes to alarm-clock applications for the Mac, we've got two very fine choices -- Alarm Clock Pro from Koingo Software, and Awaken from Embraceware. For most people, using your Mac as an alarm clock may seem a little unusual, but at the time I happened to be at University I lived in fear of my regular alarm clock's tone. So, with my Mac on the desk a few feet away, I set about finding a suitable Mac alarm clock application. I eventually settled with Awaken, and since then it's interrupted plentiful hours of slumber with music of my choosing.You can imagine my joy then, to discover that Awaken was updated on Sunday to a whole new version: version 4. A significant re-write under-the-hood and a new UI cap a feature list that now includes: the ability to run scripts with alarms; the ability to select specific podcasts (not just music as with prior versions); better Apple Remote support and an improved full-screen mode.
Best of all, the update from version 3.x to 4 is free for registered users (though, you will need to re-enter your registration information and alarms after updating), and costs just $12.95.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Andrew said 6:03PM on 1-29-2008
I got Awaken in the MacHeist bundle and am really loving it. Beats the pants off any other alarm clock I've used before.
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Tdot said 6:07PM on 1-29-2008
I'll take the donationware Aurora.
http://metaquark.de/aurora/
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Dasutin said 6:15PM on 1-29-2008
Running scripts is so powerful with Awaken. I was playing around with it and I was able to send emails and set up skype calls at certain times, very awesome! Oh and by the way it wakes me up in the morning too!
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FoundInTheFlood said 6:33PM on 1-29-2008
Just 2 very important questions : Is the upgrade Free for macheist buyers, AND
can it wake up SHUT DOWN macs to do the alarm? If not, it's totally useless, cause i might leave my imac on for some file transfers from time to time, but not the whole night just for a few seconds of awakening .....
PS and off topic : Can eyeTV wake up a SHUTDOWN mac? I know it can power up a sleeing mac, and i know that the EPG causes some macs to boot at night which disturbts people, so if the EPG can do that, the way more important feature of recording should also be able to do that?
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mentalsticks said 7:03PM on 1-29-2008
>can it wake up SHUT DOWN macs to do the alarm? If not, it's totally useless,
You mean: it's totally useless for you. Good for you. We all care. Very much.
but yes, it can. And MacHeist user got v.4 already, so no need to upgrade.
But really, you should work on your writing.
Katanna said 7:22PM on 1-29-2008
Yes, No, and Yes.
If you received the MacHeist version, you bought the full version of every piece of software, so for Awaken, you have free upgrades for life!
From what I understand, Awaken cannot start a shut down computer. I know that Jerry has worked on this for a while, but he has not been able to get it to work yet. However, you can put your computer to sleep. If you are looking at power consumption, sleep does not take any more power than a shut down computer.
And EyeTV has had the ability to start your computer for a while now.
Matthew
DJCarbon43 said 11:00PM on 1-29-2008
Well, you can also set your mac to boot at a certain time, and have Awaken kick from there... course what would be awesome (though tricky no doubt) is if the totally rockin dev could tie into that boot functionality....
void said 6:40PM on 1-29-2008
Alarm Clock 2 does a good job.
And it's free.
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Brian said 6:43PM on 1-29-2008
I second that
http://www.robbiehanson.com/alarmclock/index.html
Simple and effective....perfect
rfaulder said 7:43PM on 1-29-2008
I also concur. I trust Alarm Clock 2 with my life, it has never failed me.
mukelarvin said 6:52PM on 1-29-2008
I got Awaken with the Macheist bundle too.
But I just use Quicksilver and the and the
"Run after Delay" or "Run at Time" function.
It'll play iTunes or do pretty much anything.
Actually, whenever a friend gets me to set up their new Mac for them I always install Quicksilver and then put the word "Virus" on a "Large Type" delay.
My friends who are unfamiliar with Macs are always terrified to see their screen filled with the dreaded word.
Then I just laugh and tell them that it's just a joke and that this is the only time they'll ever see that word on their computer.
L.M.
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jonas.wisser said 7:00PM on 1-29-2008
Personally, I go for Robbie Hanson's (freeware) Alarm Clock, but I'll give Awaken 4 a try since I got it in the MacHeist bundle.
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Jerry Brace said 8:59PM on 1-29-2008
Hey guys - Jerry here from Embraceware.com. I just wanted to clarify a couple points on Awaken. Anyone who purchases Awaken gets free updates for life, whether its version 4.1 or 10.0. Awaken can wake your Mac from sleep mode. Support for powering on your Mac from being completely off will be coming in an update during the next week or so. Awaken will notify you when an update is available and update itself. We love interacting with users. Send us an email at support@embraceware.com anytime. Cheers.
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Browzilla said 10:28PM on 1-29-2008
I'm a fan of Aurora myself.
I got this through the MacHeist bundle, but keep coming back to Aurora. Not as pretty looking, but it does the trick. Actually, there's really not a difference in features, and the current version of Aurora is free. Aurora 4 is supposed to cost something though..
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FoundInTheFlood said 3:34AM on 1-30-2008
@ mentalsticks.
First of all, if you criticize my "writing", plz tell me what you mean in detail. I'm no native speaker, so if you mean my grammar or my selection of words for a certain topic, say it. If you are talking about the fact that i really pointed out an important issue that YOU are not interersted in, then tell me that.
The ability to boot a shut-down mac is ... well i guess THE most important feature for a alarm-clock app!
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mentalsticks said 2:09PM on 1-30-2008
Sorry, I was a bit grumpy when I wrote that. Please disregard. I'm better now.
Genius Jones said 12:22PM on 1-30-2008
Why hasn't anyone mentioned the Awesome iRooster? My favorite thing is that it works with the Apple Remote, which I keep on my nightstand.
http://www.chimpsoftware.com/
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FoundInTheFlood said 4:46PM on 1-30-2008
@ mentalsticks
it's ok, i'm happy to see that your non-violent social skills came back to the daylight ;D I myself will try to formulate my frustration about software less centered around the unimportant being that i am ;)
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