VoiceCount
Available from the iPhone App Store. US$0.99 (Click here to buy now)
Solnet Solutions has been providing consultancy in mobile application development for a number of years, assisting a range of clients with a variety of application types.
VoiceCount is part of a series of iPhone applications under development by Solnet Solutions. These provide a set of important building blocks for the rapid construction of a range of applications.
VoiceCount is an easy to use talking countdown timer for your iPhone or iPod Touch (2nd generation). It comes with a set of British English voice clips and a selection of useful alarm sounds.
Version 1.2 includes an auto-restart feature that allows the counter to loop. This is particularly useful for boardgames.
VoiceCount will make spoken announcements at configurable intervals during the countdown and whenever you tap the timer display.
You can choose:
- The style of the spoken announcements
- How frequently announcements are made. (Announcements can become more frequent as the countdown progresses).
- The alarm sound that plays when the countdown is complete
- To keep the device awake during all or part of the countdown.
Although iPhone applications cannot run in background. VoiceCount keeps track of the target time rather than the amount of time remaining, so it's no problem if you have to stop and start VoiceCount for any reason.
Instructions
To use VoiceCount, just tap its icon and set the duration using the familiar minute and hour wheels then click the Start button. VoiceCount will make spoken announcements at various points during the countdown. These announcements occur more frequently as the countdown progresses until the final ten-second countdown and alarm sound. You can listen to a spoken announcement at any time by tapping the timer display or pause the countdown by pressing the Pause button.
VoiceCount's announcements and other features can be configured using the iPhone Settings program, just go to your home screen and tap the Settings icon then scroll down to the applications section and tap VoiceCount.
The VoiceCount settings page allows you to configure the program in the following ways:
Announcement style : Choose between "<Time> remaining", "T minus <time>" and other styles.
Delay auto-sleep: If you want to prevent your iPhone or iPod touch from going to sleep during all or part of the countdown then you can set that here. A value of 10 minutes will keep the program running for most short countdowns while preserving battery life. Normal sleep behaviour will apply once the countdown completes or while the countdown is paused.
When countdown completes: You can choose between a number of different sound clips and specify the number of times the chosen sound should repeat when the countdown completes. Options include: saying "zero", saying "the countdown is complete, a bell, an airhorn and an alarm clock among others. (The airhorn is a popular choice).
Every second, every five seconds... every minute... every hour : You can turn on announcements for nine different intervals and specify what part of the countdown they apply to. This allows announcements to be made more frequently as the countdown progresses.
Support
We hope you enjoy using VoiceCount. If you have any questions or comments please contact us via email at voicecount@solnetsolutions.co.nz.
Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that VoiceCount is free from defects. Occasionally faults may get through our testing process and we will do our best to rectify these as quickly as possible after they are brought to our attention.
The software and any related materials are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including, without limitation, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or noninfringement. You use the software entirely at your own risk. In no event shall authors be liable for any special, incidental, indirect, or consequential damage, data loss, loss of profits or any other kind of loss arising from use (or misuse) of the software.
