StopTime Wakes Me Up With a Smile

[Crystal Eitle]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://home.comcast.net/~jonsachs/#StopTime%202.0' target='_blank'>http://home.comcast.net/~jonsachs/#StopTime%202.0</a><br /><br /></div>This program has been around since 2001, so I apologize to those of you who already know about it. However, I love it so much, I just had to write a post about it.<br /><br />StopTime is "a combination stopwatch/lap timer, 4-way configurable up/down timer, alarm clock with calendar display and multiple alarms, voice/memo reminder, and flashlight." And the best part is, it's free.<br /><br />First of all, as a timer, StopTime works better than some commercial apps I've tried. It infallibly "wakes up" the Pocket PC when it's time for the timer to go off. It also works great as an alarm clock. Finally, an alarm clock on my Pocket PC that I can trust.<br /><br />The developer has thoughtfully included on his site a collection of .wav files to use with the program, or you can use your own. I think the developer's collection is great, though. I use the trumpet postillion for my alarm clock; it's a wonderful, bright sound that puts me in a good mood. (Or maybe it's just because the sound is coming from my Pocket PC. I love my Pocket PC that much.)<br /><br />The alarms and timers are highly configurable; for example you can choose to set repeating alarms or have it go off just once. You can also link timers, for example for use in timing a chess game.<br /><br />The only area in which it doesn't shine is graphically. It's not bad-looking, it's just not pretty and jazzy like some commercial timers. But that's okay. The main thing I'm looking for in a timer is that it be reliable, and StopTime definitely is.<br /><br />UPDATE: It has been brought to my attention that the developer is on vacation until July 20th, and StopTime is not currently available from his site. In the meantime, you can get it <a href="http://www.ppc4all.com/appdetail.php?id=418">here</a>.

[karen]

I use the linked timers for running. Since I use a training plan that focuses on mitigating the risk of injury and ensuring that I can finish the race, I train and run in increments - like run 5 minutes, walk one, run 5, walk one, etc. I can even 'program' it to time my 7 minute warmup, then kick into the 5/1 or 9/1 alerts.

The only down side is that I learned to really, really hate the sound I chose that alerted me it is time to run again... :lol:

[dma1965]

I have used this program for over 2 years and have not found any program at any price that does as much as this does for free. It is awesome if you are cooking, and especially baking, for the countdown timer feature alone. The calendar is large and easy to read, and opens up Pocket Informant if you tap on it. I really love this program and is always one of the first ones I install after a hard reset. :mrgreen:

[Tim Jump]

Is this program able to automagically adjust the volume for alarms? That's the one thing I've been looking for in an alarm clock app for my iPAQ - I ALWAYS need another alarm clock (I currently use three different alarms to get up - I'm a rather sound sleeper).

How 'bout any alternative download sources? I'm getting a server error when trying to download from his site. Poop.

[jwf]

>Finally, an alarm clock on my Pocket PC that I can trust.

The irony of this is that something as sophisticated as the Pocket PC can't even function as a reliable alarm clock. My alarm failed this morning because I'd muted the volume on the Pocket PC before I went to bed last night. I've also had times when the alarm just didn't go off, then went off next time I soft reset. Sometimes I think software is getting too smart for it's own good!

My cheap Casio watch wakes me up reliably every morning!

[jeffmd]

I clicked on the download link and it be broken. :/

[Duncan]

Stop Time is quite brilliant (though I'd begun to think I was the only one still using it!).

When I plan my teaching sessions I set the times for each 'task'/lesson unit in Stop Time and it is about the only thing that keeps me under some kind of semi-control...!

[juni]

The irony of this is that something as sophisticated as the Pocket PC can't even function as a reliable alarm clock.

You are right, although I found one solution which has been very reliable so far (been using it for months now):

Spb Pocket Plus ( http://www.softspb.com/products/pocketplus/ ).

The repeating and ascending volume alarms are great, especially if you use your own .wav file. It has other nifty little features too. :)

[Video11]

I have to agree. Stop Time 2.0 is a great program at a great price. I've been using it since v1.0 and find it to be very reliable. No, it won't overcome some of the PPC sound issues, but it does give you a warning when you set an alarm if the volume is muted. Of course, if you mute the volume after you set an alarm you are out of luck, but the screen does flash.

BTW my (current) favourite alarm sound is a rooster wav that I picked up somewhere.

[JimDantin]

Be aware that the developer is on vacation until July 20. The download links for his free PocketPC apps are all broken right now.

[targetdrone]

Here's a link to StopTime (http://www.ppc4all.com/appdetail.php?id=418). The sounds you can get from the original link posted by Crystal.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Can StopTime work with any sound files? I currently use SuperAlert which is a bit quirky on the interface side, but it can trigger off any WMA/MP3/OGG file in the morning when my alarm goes off.

I get a bit worried 'cuz I'm extremely reliant on this program (and have been for the past two years). The developer hasn't updated this program in quite a while and I don't know of any alternative program I can turn to if this fails me in the future due to incompatibilities.

[christheswiss]

I couldn't agree more.... I have used Stop Time for 2 years to wake me up every morning without failure.... :mrgreen:

[guyly]

BTW my (current) favourite alarm sound is a rooster wav that I picked up somewhere.

Where do I find the rooster wav sound? Thanks.

Guy

[JoshB]

Here's a link to StopTime (http://www.ppc4all.com/appdetail.php?id=418). The sounds you can get from the original link posted by Crystal.
I'm getting a timeout at that link. Does anyone have any other alternate download locations? Is anyone willing to mirror the install file?

I'd love to download and install this, but if I have to wait until after the 20th, when the developer gets back, I'll probably forget.

Thanks,

JoshB

[JimDantin]

Here's a mirror:
http://personalpages.bellsouth.net/j/d/jdantin/files/
the file is Zipped -- StopTime20.zip

This version may have some problems with the Axim. It installs OK, but I seem to remember some sort of issue. The version on the author's site is the newer one, I think.

[Trimble]

I actually wrote to the developer a while back to see if a new version would ever be coming out, and he said that he has stopped development on this application. Perhaps if he reads this thread, he might be inspired to resume development. Stoptime is the best time keeping tool I've ever seen, with perhaps the most advanced countdown timer system there is in such a easy to use device.

The stopwatch is good - it has a running log of lap times that shows the lap#, time for the lap, and a cumulative time since the timer was started. It includes time to the tenths of a second. The stopwatch can run independant of the other timers, and will run while the unit is off.

The Clock with calendar view works really great when you cradle the device on your desk. You can set a background image, and the font and colors of the text of the clock and calendar. The clock mode features multiple alarms that you can turn on for certain days of the week, and features REPEATING ALARMS that will chime relentlessly, and display a FULL SCREEN SNOOZE button for your convenience. (plus, you can pre-program the snooze duration for each alarm) clicking anywhere on the calendar will launch your main calendar application to that day.

There is even a scratch pad where you can take notes and set alarms for each note, record sound, draw in colors, etc. I haven't spent much time playing with this feature, and I almost fear getting lost with all the cool options.

An amusing side note is that it includes a "flashlight" mode - just a plain white screen so that you can use the backlight to light your way in the dark - that includes dimming controls to adjust the brightness of either the grey level, or on OLDER iPAQ's, it actually adjusts the brightness of the backlight itself.

The Countdown timers are probably the best part of the program - They are incredible. You can have up to 4 different timers, each running independently, and each will wake up the device to sound if they go off. They have a programmable settings screen where you can configure each of the 4 timers to respond to the following events: 1) the timer starts , 2) the timer stops, 3) the timer gets reset, or 4) the timer expires. These events can be linked to any of these actions for each timer: 1) Timer start, 2) timer stop, 3) timer reset, and 4) timer restart. Each of these 16 possible events are triggered whether an event triggers an action, or if you perform them manually my tapping on the screen. You can link more than one event to an action, and more than one action to an event. As an added bonus, you can save an entire configuration for later use.

When using the timers, they will normally count down from their starting time, reach zero, and then continue to count up from zero (in red numbers), however, using the configure tool, you can program them to automatically stop at zero, automatically reset themselves to their starting time, or even automatically restart themselves. You can also have one timer automatically restart three other timers,and then restart itself.

Here are some of the things I've done with this advanced configuration screen...

When doing laundry at my apartment laundry room, I can time two washers and two dryers at the same time, or I can time when someone else's load should be done.

I When cooking, I can time when something will be done cooking in the oven, while setting a timer for how long until I have to start something in the microwave so that they will be done at the same time.

I play a video game where an event occurs exactly every 10 minutes and 10 seconds, and this cycle starts exactly 3 minutes after another event happens. When I start playing the game, I watch for the starting event, and then start a timer set for 3 minutes, and when it timesout, it starts another timer set for 10:10, and then resets itself. The 10:10 timer is set to automatically restart itself every time it goes off.

I have only found one major bug that bothers me - the countdown timers will get corrupted if they are running at the time of midnight. It seems that when it hits midnight, all running countdown timers at 24:00 hours to their current time values. This is the one reason I was hoping the developer would continue work on this application. Perhaps this thread will wake him up :)

Mic Terpstra

[deo]

This program is cool used it for over a year...i use it weights 30 secs activity 15 secs rest x 3....killer routine also for sprint timing. theres a slight delay playing the audio between rest & activity. also use it at our club sessions for doing 8 minute pushes with intermitant sprints...if ur into training download it now

[Video11]

Where do I find the rooster wav sound? Thanks.
Guy

A Google found this page (http://www.animalden.net/sounds.htm) of animal sounds, including a rooster!

[davidspalding]

I clicked on the download link and it be broken. :/

Works for me.

JS gave me 2.0 several months back when I offered to test it on my MIPS device for him. It has so many uses, it's amazing to me that he isn't charging for it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[guyly]

Where do I find the rooster wav sound? Thanks.
Guy

A Google found this page (http://www.animalden.net/sounds.htm) of animal sounds, including a rooster!

Hi Video11!

Thank you very much for the link. Now, I have rooster wake me up in the morning just like I was back home. Thanks again.

[mhowie]

One issue with StopTime and WM2003 is that it fails to turn on the screen when an alarm is activated...

Thanks,

[sky]

I downloaded the latest version and it works perfectly except the sound recorder makes silent recordings (wav file created but with no sound).

This is installed on Ipaq 1940 (MW2003).

[ctmagnus]

New update:

9-Jan-04

Replaced the inaccurate automatic timer calibration with manual calibration so users can manually adjust the stopwatch and timer speed to correct for timer errors -- please see help file for details.

Link here (http://home.comcast.net/~jonsachs/#StopTime%202.0).