Mac Alarm Clock & How To Stop Startup Chime On Mac

If you're a little "geeky" like me :) you might like this post.

There are three parts to this:

1. Silents the startup chime on the mac.
2. Get the Mac to come on at a set time.
3. Get iTunes to function as an alarm clock.

Part One: This bit is really easy.

Download Psst click here (http://www.satsumac.com/Psst.php). Once this is downloaded install it and your off. At the minute though not all models are supported. You can tell them weather yours is or isn't using the application.

Part Two: Presuming you've got Psst installed and working.

Head for Applications > System Preferences > Energy Saver. Once in Energy Saver click on the padlock to unlock (if locked) then click on the Schedule button on the right hand side.

In here you can decide weather you want your alarm to be on every day, certain days, just the weekend or just the week days. Here you can also set it to turn off at a certain time too.

Make your choices hit the OK button and then lock the padlock again to save your changes.

Step Three: The slightly “geeky” bit.

Go to Applications > Utilities > AppleScript Editor and open it!

To make iTunes work as an alarm clock I used the following script.

Tell application “iTunes” to play playlist “Your Playlist Name”

Hit complete and then save it as an application.

When saving scripts save them to a place you're going to have to go out of your way to delete them. I've got mine in a subfolder in documents.

Go into iTunes and create a playlist of the same name used in the app you just made. Put the radio stations or tracks you want to hear first thing in it.

So far so good.

Now to make it all come together. Head to System Preferences > User Groups > unlock the padlock > Login Items

Click on the plus symbol on the bottom left and navigate to your application. Set it as the top thing to come on when you turn on. This is probably the point where I should tell you that this application will run every time you start the computer up. So if you don't want everybody knowing your love for Aqua's Barbie Girl probably best not to have that on your playlist first!

Lock the padlock to save the changes making sure your application is checked first.

Restart your computer to see if it's worked.

If it hasn't worked check each step and element out.

It worked for me but if it doesn't work for you or it send your machine into total melt down causing your computer to connect by accident to the CIA/FBI server and delete everything that's not my truck of poop to deal with. i.e. I take no responsibility for anything you do to your computer even if you follow my instruction.