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Software Review: T-Minus 10 (Shareware)
Written by Mark Krenek, T-Minus Ten is an application/extension combination that lets you open an document, application, or AppleScript based on six different types of system events.
In addition to being able to schedule the events at specific times, you can also run items at Shutdown, shortly after Startup, or with a particular key stroke. (This feature can allow you to finally get some value from those under used function keys!)
T-Minus Ten can also trigger an event when the cursor is placed on a Hot Spot, or after the computer has been idle for a specified time.
 In this example, I want to trigger an AppleScript at a specific time.
From the main window (shown above), select the Task tab and click the the New Task button.
In the window on the left, you assign a name to the task and select whether you will be triggering an AppleScript or opening an application or document.
Use the Change button to assign the program to be launched.
 Selecting the Trigger tab allows you to assign the system event that will start the task.
You can see from the picture that you have a wide range of options for scheduling the task.
 In addition to the scheduling shown above, this popup menu shows the additional options.
The Key Combination option shown here, includes the Caps Lock key.
If this program could also make a menu selection, it might replace Quickeys and KeyQuencer for a majority of people.
Since Conflict Catcher reports that T-Minus Ten is not patching any System traps, I don't see any harm in leaving the extension installed at all times - even if you only plan to use only the time scheduling features.
The Preferences Tab allows you to set the various levels of alert when a Task is initiated. While I left the Logging feature disabled, you can select which of the six event types you want tracked.
As shown in Sherlock and the Energy Saver control panel, with every update of the MacOS, more items appear with built in scheduling. Until a System-wide solution is in place, T-Minus Ten fills the gap nicely without any serious hits to system performance.
If you're not into scripting, and feel Quickeys and KeyQuencer have a steep learning curve, T-Minus Ten may be just the utility you need. |
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