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Last post Author Topic: DONE: IdleMute - Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the PC!  (Read 117914 times)

LuckMan212

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okay, I know there is a program called NoiseNak ( http://www.nakware.com/noisenak ) that does this but I have found it to be a little to bloated for my taste and I was looking for something a little "lighter"  (less memory, less cpu usage, simpler feature set)

Here is the basic idea:
-the computer is in the den/study/wherever
-you forget to shut it off or turn down the volume
-you climb into bed on a cold night and are about to fall asleep
-all of a sudden your computer is beeping and making sounds (new email alarms, winamp, media player, web pages etc)
-now you have to wake up and get disturbed (or your kids, wife, etc)

And here is the Solution (if someone can code it!):
-program loads at startup, sits in system tray
-program is small (low memory/cpu) and unobtrusive
-after XX minutes of inactivity (XX should be configurable by user) the master mixer volume is muted
-when user returns and moves the mouse/keybd, sound will return to its previous state
   (notice I said previous state and not necessarily un-muted-- for example if the speaker
   was already muted BEFORE the user went idle, then it should remain muted even after they return)
-the mixer state will be preserved between reboots -- by this I mean that if the computer reboots for some reason in the middle of the night, the user will not be disturbed by loud beeps and noises, so if speaker was muted, then it will still be muted even after next startup.  Example of this is sometimes Defrag program needs to reboot computer to do its work, and this may happen at 5am on Saturday morning etc, this way user does not have to be disturbed...

-the tray icon will have several functions also:
   1) double-left click -- toggle program enable/disable (meaning if you disable it, then automatic muting will no longer happen)
         ( if program is disabled, tray icon should indicate this by dimming or changing color, etc)
   2) right click will present a simple menu, like this:
                Configure
                About
                Exit
   3) "Configure" box should have the following settings:
            auto-mute speaker after __XX__ minutes of inactivity
            only un-mute after mouse moves __NN__ pixels  (useful for preventing accidental unmuting by cat bumping the mouse when crawling on desk!  ;D )
            [  ] (checkbox) do not mute speaker if any of the following programs are running:
                 wmplayer.exe
                 vlc.exe
                 mplayerc.exe
                 winamp.exe
                 itunes.exe
            ...etc....  (user can type their own .exe processes in a box?)

That's about it.............  I actually hired someone to write a program like this for me a few years ago but I lost the program and the source code  :'( and I was not able to contact the developer........  I have really missed this program ever since!!

what do you think?
« Last Edit: February 12, 2006, 05:29 AM by brotherS »

skrommel

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IdleMute - Mutes the speaker when the computer has been idle for a while.

Features:
- User defined idle time.
- Remembers previous mute state on boot up.
- Force mute or umnute on startup.
- Muting can be disabled when your music programs run.
- Doubleclick the tray icon to mute/unmute.

You'll find the downloads and more info at Skrommel Software.

I didn't implement the cat sensor, but if you really want it, I'll look at it.

Skrommel
« Last Edit: November 23, 2005, 09:53 AM by skrommel »

brotherS

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Great and helpful :) Thanks!

Two suggestions for the/a next version:

- allow to set a time frame in which it should work only. I'd love to be able to run this 24/7 but to only let it mute between 23:00 and 07:00

- add fade out/fade in option: I'd like it to use like 5 to 7 seconds to fade out and maybe 2 or 3 seconds to fade back in

skrommel

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 :) Try IdleMute v1.1!

Remember to delete the old ini-file before downloading the new version!

Skrommel

brotherS

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:) Try IdleMute v1.1!

Remember to delete the old ini-file before downloading the new version!
Awesome work!! Really, really great, a must-have for every music lover!  :-*

(hint: https://www.donation.../Skrommel/index.html still says "1.0")

brotherS

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@skrommel: Maybe you should put this on http://fileforum.betanews.com/ - I'd rate it 5/5 for sure and having it on such a site (which has many users and allows ratings and reviews) would get the word out faster and would also help to let more guys know about this great site!

mouser

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may i just note that it's always nice when someone submits a request like this which is well thought out and presented in detail; makes it easier to implement.  nice work luckman and skrommel.

brotherS

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-program is small (low memory/cpu) and unobtrusive
@skrommel: I just saw that IdleMute.exe uses 6 MB RAM and 3 to 8% CPU all the time here - huh?  :huh:
Would be great if you could reduce that.

Your wonderful script Ghoster.exe is using less than 3 MB RAM and almost 0% CPU.

skrommel

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 :) Try IdleMute v1.2. I've reduced the CPU usage and added my first proper Settings dialog!

The memory usage displayed by TaskManager is unreliable, here's what Chris, the author of AutoHotkey writes: http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2363

Skrommel

brotherS

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:) Try IdleMute v1.2. I've reduced the CPU usage and added my first proper Settings dialog!
Wow, what a great dialog!  :up:

Might I suggest a tiny addition for version 2.0? (the dialog is so great it needs a higher version :) ) Put an example in the text for the "What programs should prevent idle muting?" box, so that it would say "What programs should prevent idle muting? (Example: winamp.exe,vlc.exe" instead. That way people would know what the correct syntax is even when they delete what's in there when they start to use IdleTime (like I did) - if they want to add programs there 9 weeks later they probably won't remember.

At least I wouldn't ;)

Oh yeah, and I request another important GUI change: switch the "Cancel" and "OK" buttons - 99% of all apps show the "OK" button on the left hand.

CPU load is mostly at 0% now, jumps to 3% every now and then - I can live with that :)
« Last Edit: November 27, 2005, 04:22 AM by brotherS »

skrommel

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #10 on: November 27, 2005, 05:58 PM »
 :) Just uploaded IdleMute v1.3.

Reduced the CPU load even more, added a better About dialog and some more tray icons.

Skrommel

brotherS

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #11 on: November 28, 2005, 02:23 AM »
:) Just uploaded IdleMute v1.3.

Reduced the CPU load even more, added a better About dialog and some more tray icons.

Skrommel
Thanks! :)

"some more"? Do you mean the alternative icon when muted? That brings up another request: I'd like if you would use the red (warning) color only if the muting kicked in already, so the tray icon would just be grey (or grey and green?) until muting is actived.

When I click the URL in the "About" window an error pops up, point to
--> 199: Run,www.donationcoder.com/Software/Skrommel

Do I have bad Windows settings?


skrommel

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #12 on: November 28, 2005, 02:52 AM »
 :-[ Just forgot to add http:// in the Run command... Try it now.

I don't know if I agree with you about the tray icons. The grey is used when IdleMute is diabled, and the red line when the speaker is muted. Anyone else care to comment?

Skrommel

brotherS

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #13 on: November 28, 2005, 03:04 AM »
I don't know if I agree with you about the tray icons. The grey is used when IdleMute is diabled, and the red line when the speaker is muted. Anyone else care to comment?
You are right, I was not clear enough, it's just the lower right part that's always red:
http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/5040/sc051128ver0016al.png
DONE: IdleMute - Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the PC!

When using high resolutions you won't recognize the added red line easily, and what's more important: I prefer to see red in the tray only if there's a problem or something important going on.

LuckMan212

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2005, 12:36 PM »
wow!! I was gone for the holidays and it looks like skrommel was a busy beaver!!  :D
this is awesome I am going to download it and try right away!

thanks always skrommel for your amazing dedication and work!  :Thmbsup:

LuckMan212

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #15 on: November 28, 2005, 12:48 PM »
ok just tested it out--- really like the interface and seems to be 99% perfect   ;D

just a few comments, suggestions:

1. tray icon is kind of hard to see and "fuzzy" around edges on my XP box running @ 1280x1024.  can you maybe simplify it a bit --- maybe just a nicely colored/shaded green/red box?  this would make it easier to tell the difference between IdleMute and the "normal" XP speaker icon.

2. the setting "how long should the PC be idle before muting?" -- why does this have a timestamp selector on it? I am not sure what to set this to...... is it minutes/seconds elapsed since midnight?  so if you want 10 minutes then you set to 12:10:00 AM?  not sure why you have chosen this type of control but a simple text box with "# of minutes" would be more intuitive I think.

3. on the right-click tray menu, if the user picks "IdleMute" (the bolded top item) then it actually toggles the status of the "Mute" option which is the next one down.  This is not intuitive, either selecting "IdleMute" should open the About box or it should be removed completely.  No need to have two menu options right next to each other that both do the same thing!  :)

well thats it for now, thanks skrommel !!!   :Thmbsup:

brotherS

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #16 on: November 28, 2005, 02:02 PM »
2. the setting "how long should the PC be idle before muting?" -- why does this have a timestamp selector on it? I am not sure what to set this to...... is it minutes/seconds elapsed since midnight?  so if you want 10 minutes then you set to 12:10:00 AM?  not sure why you have chosen this type of control but a simple text box with "# of minutes" would be more intuitive I think.
I find it very intuitive and also very easy to use the way it is now - you did see the "How long..." words above it I hope? ;)

LuckMan212

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #17 on: November 28, 2005, 02:07 PM »
yes I did, but I guess I still dont understand.. its like putting a square peg in a round hole...

question:  "how long should the PC be idle before muting?"
answer:  "1:00 PM"

that makes no sense............ ??

brotherS

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #18 on: November 28, 2005, 02:15 PM »
yes I did, but I guess I still dont understand.. its like putting a square peg in a round hole...

question:  "how long should the PC be idle before muting?"
answer:  "1:00 PM"

that makes no sense............ ??

Hehe, maybe you need to live in a country with a real (24 hour) time schedule to appreciate IdleMute like it is now? ;)

I do - and I don't get to see AM here:
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9190/scidlemutesettings0511283ob.png
DONE: IdleMute - Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the PC!


LuckMan212

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #19 on: November 28, 2005, 02:21 PM »
ahhhhhhhh well you got me there  ;D  ;D
ok so maybe skrommel can fix it, for us feeble minded americans   :-[

skrommel

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #20 on: November 28, 2005, 03:51 PM »
 :o Big error there!

Please try IdleMute v1.4!

@LuckMan212:
In 2. I used the TimeDate control, and never considered the regional settings!

About 1. and 3.: There are a few limitations in AutoHotkey, and this is the best I can do, so far. Some of the icons are 16 colors only, and to have both a doubleclick action and a bold text in the menu, they have to perform the same action. Hope you can live with it!  :)

Skrommel

brotherS

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #21 on: November 28, 2005, 04:00 PM »
There are a few limitations in AutoHotkey, and this is the best I can do, so far. Some of the icons are 16 colors only
No problem, I'd just like to have http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/5040/sc051128ver0016al.png
DONE: IdleMute - Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the PC!
display green or blue instead of red until it is actually muting something :)

LuckMan212 may like that too?

skrommel

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #22 on: November 28, 2005, 04:08 PM »
 :tellme: What version is that icon from? That one should be full color!

Skrommel

brotherS

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #23 on: November 28, 2005, 04:12 PM »
:tellme: What version is that icon from? That one should be full color!
I made the snapshot when using 1.3, but 1.4 does show the same... Windows 2000 here.

LuckMan212

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Re: IDEA: Tray utility to mute speaker when you are away from the computer!
« Reply #24 on: November 28, 2005, 10:51 PM »
here's an enlarged shot of how the icon looks on my XP box... you can see  the problem I think
this is using v1.4