Mac Alert
25/03/08 12:25 Filed in: Tech
Now this one is a must for all you Macbook \ pro
owners.
while a bit old, i just learned about it recently, when checking
on the 'Newton Virus'.
What do you do when you are sitting with your laptop in a cafe,
and suddenly nature calls? do you close everything and take it with you?
do you ask the waiter to keep an eye on you laptop? or do you simply
hold on to your nozzle?
No more! iAlertU (oh what a macky name
) to the rescue.
some serious protection here.
iAlertU, application review:
download and install, as always on the Mac platform, a breeze.
major installation bugs? none.
application features:
1. using the SMS (sudden motion sensor) to detect movment.
2. device removal triggers the alarm.
3. keystroke, mouse triggers the alarm.
4. mute\volume key disabled.
5. cover close triggers the alarm.
6. ac disconnect triggers the alarm.
a would be thief, captured and emailed by iAlertU, later confessed to be just passing by.
additional features:
1. isight to capture an image of the perpetrator, then emails that to a predefined address.
2. arm / disarm the system using apple remote (how cool is that? just like a car alarm).
3. screen flashes when alarm sounds.
4. you can adjust the sensetivety of the SMS.
all in all, this is a very nice additional protection, but i would not trust my MBP solely
on it. i would still be fearfull to leave it, sirens or not, on a starbucks table.
a thief can either insert a pair of 2$ headphones in the headphone jack, and no more siren,
or remove the battery altoghther (even better, since then the thief would be confronted with
my user login and drive encryption when he powers on again).
here is an idea for the developer; get Belkin or Kensington to make some metal strip, that locks in the
security latch on the left side, and covers the head phone jack on the other side, while covering the
battery removal latches on the bottom. this way, your mac is safe, protected and this shouldnt be disruptive
for working or traveling with it. have belkin bundle the application with the device and you are good to go.
hmm, you know how the MBP's aluminum case give a small shock when you touch it and stand bare-foot
on the floor? can you program the battery to give a Serious shock? some south-african car alarms do that.
application rating: 7 out of 10, good idea, good features that cover allmost every scenario, but still lacking
'seriousness'. 1 bonus point for being open source, so the final mark is 8/10.
download iAlertU
while a bit old, i just learned about it recently, when checking
on the 'Newton Virus'.
What do you do when you are sitting with your laptop in a cafe,
and suddenly nature calls? do you close everything and take it with you?
do you ask the waiter to keep an eye on you laptop? or do you simply
hold on to your nozzle?
No more! iAlertU (oh what a macky name
) to the rescue.
some serious protection here.
iAlertU, application review:
download and install, as always on the Mac platform, a breeze.
major installation bugs? none.
application features:
1. using the SMS (sudden motion sensor) to detect movment.
2. device removal triggers the alarm.
3. keystroke, mouse triggers the alarm.
4. mute\volume key disabled.
5. cover close triggers the alarm.
6. ac disconnect triggers the alarm.
a would be thief, captured and emailed by iAlertU, later confessed to be just passing by.
additional features:
1. isight to capture an image of the perpetrator, then emails that to a predefined address.
2. arm / disarm the system using apple remote (how cool is that? just like a car alarm).
3. screen flashes when alarm sounds.
4. you can adjust the sensetivety of the SMS.
all in all, this is a very nice additional protection, but i would not trust my MBP solely
on it. i would still be fearfull to leave it, sirens or not, on a starbucks table.
a thief can either insert a pair of 2$ headphones in the headphone jack, and no more siren,
or remove the battery altoghther (even better, since then the thief would be confronted with
my user login and drive encryption when he powers on again).
here is an idea for the developer; get Belkin or Kensington to make some metal strip, that locks in the
security latch on the left side, and covers the head phone jack on the other side, while covering the
battery removal latches on the bottom. this way, your mac is safe, protected and this shouldnt be disruptive
for working or traveling with it. have belkin bundle the application with the device and you are good to go.
hmm, you know how the MBP's aluminum case give a small shock when you touch it and stand bare-foot
on the floor? can you program the battery to give a Serious shock? some south-african car alarms do that.
application rating: 7 out of 10, good idea, good features that cover allmost every scenario, but still lacking
'seriousness'. 1 bonus point for being open source, so the final mark is 8/10.
download iAlertU