Banshee Screamer is an alarm clock designed with one purpose in mind: To wake you up. Is your clock radio broken? You never had a clock radio? You can't be bothered to go out and buy a clock radio? Do you sleep at your desk?
Good! Because Banshee Screamer was designed for you.
Large Display The program window can display in normal, large, or tiny modes. Import over 500 Beatnik and QuickClock skins to change the appearance. Easy to use interface Operate it the same way as a standard clock radio. Click on Wake light to activate the alarm. In alarm set mode, click the mouse over the numbers to scroll them up and down. (Or just type in the time) Right click on the little number to add or remove alarms. Test your alarm by pressing 't'. Alarm Actions
- Extra-annoying default alarm beep.
- Play WAV, AU, or MP3 playlists.
- Schedule programs, documents, or URLs to be executed.
- Shut down the system at the time you set.
Snooze Button The snooze mode is automatically activated when you stop the alarm by pressing a mouse button or bashing your hand down on the keyboard. When the snooze light is flashing, the alarm will sound again in a few minutes. You can stop snoozing by clicking on the flashing light. Complete Timing Device More than just an alarm clock, Banshee Screamer now includes a timer and counter. It allows up to 99 separate alarms, which can be configured to go off on any day of the week. Keep your clock accurate by setting the time from the Internet. Failsafe Banshee Screamer is designed to wake you up, no matter what. If the alarm action that you choose can not be done for some reason, (such as no CD in the drive) some sound will still be made. If all else fails, it will default all the way down to your computer's hardware beep.
Banshee Screamer was designed to run on Windows 95 or above. To function properly, the program requires a display capable of displaying more than 256 colours, and a sound card or a PC-speaker.
What is the "Onflow" installer?
Onflow is a company that asked me to include their installer program with mine on a cash per download agreement. It needs to contact the internet when it is installed so that they can include the download in their counting. Onflow is a small plug-in for Internet Explorer and Netscape that lets you view animations on the web (Similar to "flash"). The zipped version does not include the plug-in.
Is it available in my language?
If there is no package for your language, then just use the language editor in the options window to create one. Translate all of the english words, save the file (as a *.language file), and send it to me. I will include it in the next version, so other people will be able to use it.
It says the file is corrupted!
Most people are able to download the file without any problems. The maker of the installation software has told me that the corrupted file message usually means you have a virus on your machine, or that you are out of disk space. Please scan your computer for viruses, free some disk space, or download the zipped version above.
The alarm doesn't work!
Reliability is my highest priority. If the alarm doesn't work properly, please tell me. Use the mail forum, or email me.
'i' - Set time from Internet.
't' - Test alarm.
SPACE - Toggle set mode.
'n' - Next mode (clock-alarm-timer-counter)
'h' - (in set mode) change hours.
'm' - (in set mode) change minutes.
'w' - Toggle wake.
'o' - Show options dialog.
'd' - Make window smaller.
'D' - Make window larger. '/' - Move window.
'>' - Next skin.
F8 - SkinScript debug window. ESC - Minimize.
'v' - Show version.
'q' - Quit.
Because it can take up to a month to get on major download sites, I have decided on an unusual system for minor updates. The link on this web site will always point to the latest version. Don't trust the file name; all versions downloaded from www.student.math.uwaterloo.ca are the same file. Starting with version 1.02, you can see the version number by pressing 'v'.
Version 1.01 - October 1, 1999
- Fixed AM/PM bug - The hour of 12 pm displayed as 12 am.
Version 1.02 - October 9, 1999
- Fixed memory leak: After days of operation, the program would consume memory and slow down the system.
- Menu/Minimize/Close buttons now flash when the mouse is over them.
- Keyboard Shortcuts - All functionality is now accessible using the keyboard -- no mouse required!
Version 1.03 - October 18, 1999
- Alarm pops to front when the alarm sounds on Windows 98 and 2000. It has always worked correctly in NT 4.0 and 95.
- Power Management is disabled - When wake mode is set, your computer will not go on stand-by, and the alarm will be able to sound on time.
- Clock digits no longer flicker when they are re-drawn.
Version 1.04 - November 7, 1999
- ws2_32.dll - This file was required, but is not included with the original release of Windows 95. Banshee Screamer no longer requires this file.
Version 1.05 - March 24, 2000
- Set time from Internet feature activated.
- Better handling of Screen Savers.
- The computers hardware beep will sound if the sound card is in use.
Version 2.00 - Released March 24, 2000
Version 2.01 - Released April 3, 2000
- Skins are now zipped. Folder-style skins are still supported.
- Added small tube style skin. (for a total of three)
- Options dialog - I think I fixed it this time. (Microsoft's fault)
- Add audio files button should now work all the time.
- Fixed bug: - Alarm wouldn't sound after setting the time from the internet.
- Fixed bug: - You can no longer change the skin when minimized.
- Counter no longer skips numbers.
Version 2.02 - Released August 17, 2000
- Fixed bug: Alarm ignored wake setting.
- Alarm now pops up on Windows 2000.
- When typing in a 24 hour time in options dialog, it defaults to AM. (Thanks go to Avik Dey for the bug report.)
Version 2.50 - Released December 1, 2000
- Uses built-in Xaudio mp3 player for greater reliability.
- Use Beatnik or Quickclock skins in addition to SkinScript.
- Set the time from the internet hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly.
- Use gif files in the skins.
Version 2.53 - Released December 8, 2000
- Added multiple language support. French, German, Portuguese modules are included. Or make your own with the language editor.
- Added option to use PC Speaker for the default alarm beep.
- Statically linking to libraries eliminates problems with msvcp60.dll
- Fixed bug - MP3s now loop instead of crashing if you let them play.
- Fixed bug that caused crash in the skin filters for other clocks. Sorry!
Suggest a feature!
- Volume managment - Set a specific volume for the alarm, or have it gradually increase.
Banshee Screamer was written late at night by Steve Hanov, who often sleeps at his desk. E-mail him if you have any questions, comments, or job offers.
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Banshee Screamer is Copyright 2000 by Steve Hanov, and is freeware. You may distribute it without penalty.