http://www.syfer.nl/beta/
You're at the coffee shop working on your computer, and you feel the need to get up and get a cup of joe... Your table is just out of sight of the counter, and you don't want to pick up your PC and take it with you...what to do?
Well, you can go out and buy a hardware solution and lock your laptop to the table, or buy a hardware based alarm, or...download Laptop Alarm...your own sonic alarm system for your PC.
Laptop Alarm is a small executable which offers a small bit of protection for your laptop while you step away for a minute. Basically, you "lock" your PC with Laptop Alarm, and it will sound an alarm if the configured alert options are triggered.
Laptop Alarm can sound an alert based upon the following criteria:
- Loss of AC power
- Shutdown / Log off
- Unplug of USB Mouse
- Mouse movement
Not that this alone would prevent or deter the most determined laptop thieves, but it could be enough to scare some would-be burglars into leaving your laptop where they found it...if nothing else, it would alert you when someone grabs the PC, giving you time to tackle them or toss a hot coffee in their face!Basically, the executable features a few options for you to configure (including a user-defined lock password), and when you hit the button to lock the PC, you are presented with a screen to enter a password to unlock your system...while this screen is up, Laptop Alarm monitors your specified criteria, and will sound an alarm if any of them are met.
Alternatively, there is the ability to SMS your mobile phone using some sort of sign up service (which I could not see because the sign-up page could not be found!).Just a little problem...
The alarm sound is indeed - - um, "alarming", but one thing I noticed was that my Acer 5520, which has a physical volume control on the left side of the unit, was turned down. So, the Laptop Alarm, when triggered, was not even audible! What would be nice is a bit of programming that kicks up the PC's volume to 100% (or some configurable level) when the alarm was sounded. While this could be a beta issue, it is an issue nonetheless.
What would be really nice is the ability to execute a program or script of your choosing when the alert is sounded. Also, a screensaver function would be useful.
Laptop Alarm seems to work well, aforementioned issues notwithstanding...if the developers can come up with a way of ensuring the volume level is at a configurable level, then I think they'd have a solid app.
Likes
- Nice selection of criteria (obvious, but nevertheless, nice!) - major
- Simple interface - major
- Small size (no installation required) - minor
- Volume control can be defeated (at least with physical volume controls) - major
- SMS alert feature was not working - could be a beta issue? - minor
3 comments:
this could also be defeated by plugging a set of headphones, or at least a headphone adapter into the headphone jack
I wonder how many thieves would think to turn the volume down before doing the grab-and-go?
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