00. [Tutorial] iTunes Alarm
In this tutorial, make a task to start up Macintosh and play music with iTunes as an alarm closk. Then add a function to speak the time each 5 minutes from 7:00 AM till 8:00 AM.

→Original Article(Japanese)


At first, create a new task by clicking "+" button at the lower left corner of the window. Then set a name like "iTunes Alarm 7:00AM".



To keep the task active, turn on the "On" checkbox.
Folder can be created to classify multiple tasks by clicking "Folder" icon.


(Trigger)
Choose the newly created task and choose "Trigger" tab.
① Create a new trigger by clicking "+" button at the lower right corner.
② Choose "Schedule" from popup menu.
③ Turn on from Mon to Fri and set "7:00".
The time should be set in 24-hour clock, for example 7:00 PM should be 19:00.



With this trigger, the task will be run at 7:00 AM on every Monday to Friday. Trigger also can be set active / inactivate with check box one by one.
Multiple trigger can be created in 1 task.



(Action)
Choose "Action" tab to determine the action of this task.
① Create a new action.
② Choose "Start up / Shut down" from popup menu.
③ Choose "Start up / awake" from lower popup menu.



This action makes Mac start up or awake from sleep. Each action can be set active / inactive too.
Multiple action can be created in 1 task. When the task is run, every action in the task will be executed.


Then create one more action.
④ Create new action.
⑤ Choose "Run AppleScript" from popup menu.
⑥ Set following script.
tell application "iTunes" to play




This action launches iTunes and play a music.


The task was set now. At last save the task from menu.
File > Save and Install Schedule. (shift+command+S)
!! Please note that the created task doesn't work until the data is saved.
!! If "Start up / Shut down" of "Schedule" trigger is chosen, "Save and Install Schedule" should be executed. (Not "Save")


To install or update the "Schedule", root password is required.





The start up schedule will be installed until 4 weeks later. The installed schedule can be shown with "Power Event Browser" of "File" menu.






When the installed schedule is less than 1 week, Task3 asks to re-install the schedule via an alert dialog.




Now the task "iTunes Alarm 7:00AM" has been set. Mac will start up at 7:00 AM every Monday to Friday and play a music with iTunes automatically.
To start up and run any program, "Automatic login" should be set at "System preference > Accounts > Login Options".


Just playing a music on iTunes is boring? The script can be changed like this.
tell application "iTunes"
    play
    activate
    set full screen to true
    set visuals enabled to true
end tell

The iTunes Visualizer will be run in full screen.



＜Task2＞
Let's add one more gimmick as an alarm. Make a new task to speak time each 5 minutes.
Create a new task and set following trigger, action and condition.

(Trigger)
1. Repeat
Set every "5" "minutes".

(Action)
1. Run AppleScript
Set following script.
set theDate to current date
set theHour to (time of (theDate)) div hours
set theMinute to ((time of (theDate)) mod hours) div minutes

if theMinute is 0 then
    set theMinute to "O'clock"
end if

if theHour > 12 then
    set theHour to theHour - 12
end if
if theHour = 0 then
    set theHour to 12
end if

say "It's " & theHour & " " & theMinute & " now." using "Alex"
delay 0.5
say "It's " & theHour & " " & theMinute & " now." using "Alex"
-- "Alex" is only available on MacOSX10.5 or higher.


(Condition)
1. Time and Day
Create a new condition like trigger or action, then choose "Time and Day".
Check Mon to Fri and set from "7":"00" until "8":"00".



With this task, the iTunes alarm must be more useful.

　

To Top and Map