Chronos - Stopwatch Software for the PalmPilot®
Copyright ® 1997 Andrew Ball
Register Chronos Send e-mail to Andrew BallRegister Chronos
All Rights Reserved
last updated November 21, 1997 

.gif screenshot of the Chronos Stopwatch and Clock screens.
Hey...welcome back!  I moved because of the untimely demise of my ISP, but Chronos has a new home.  Glad you found me.  Chronos received 4-1/2 out of 5 Cows/Planes from PilotZone!

Download Chronos Now!
Chronos v0.0.62 (unregistered version) in .ZIP format
Chronos v0.0.62 (unregistered version) in .PRC format.

You should delete any version of Chronos prior to v0.0.62 before installing this release.



New Features
What is Chronos?
Chronos is a large digit stopwatch, clock and timer application for the 3Com Pilot, PalmPilot®, and the IBM WorkPad. Chronos was written because I needed a precision stopwatch with a large digit display.  I program for fun.  I don't take it seriously. Please remember that when engaging in correspondence about this software. You may re-distribute the unregistered version of Chronos without restriction as long as you include this .html file with it.


Which Pilots / PalmPilots® Will Run Chronos?
Chronos runs on all Pilot (1000 & 5000) and PalmPilot® (Personal and Pro) devices and the IBM WorkPad.  Chronos is tested on a PalmPilot® Pro.


Why are there no operating instructions for Chronos?
I figure that if I've done my job, you shouldn't need any instructions.  If I've taken a wrong turn, or if something is difficult to figure out, please drop me a note.  In short, the whole thing should be easy to use.


What the heck are these things? Stopwatch Gadget imageTimer Gadget image
Okay...one exception to the "no instructions" rule.  These are gadgets that show up when either Chronos Stopwatch or Chronos Timer are running.  The round one means that the Stopwatch is running and it shows up in the Timer and Clock views.  The square one means that the Timer is running and it shows up in the Clock and Stopwatch views.  You'll find them in the upper right corner of the Chronos screens.


Daylight Savings Time Support

When you use Chronos for the first time, set the Daylight Savings Time preferences, exit Chronos and then check that your Pilot's clock is correctly set for the current time.  Once you have made the necessary corrections, Chronos will automatically correct for Daylight Savings Time each time you use it.

How it works
Chronos now supports true Daylight Savings Time.  To view the current Daylight Savings Time settings, choose Menu|Preferences.  Chronos needs a Daylight Savings Time start and end date.  Once those are set, Chronos checks the current date each time it starts.  If it's time for Daylight Savings Time, one hour is added to the Pilot system clock.  If it's time for Daylight Savings Time to end, Chronos subtracts one hour from the system clock.

Technical Notes on Daylight Savings Time Support
You must start Chronos in order for your Pilot's clock to be updated.  When the system clock is updated, there may be a short pause while Chronos tells the other applications on your Pilot that the Pilot's clock has been adjusted.  Be careful about using Chronos with other utilities that adjust your Pilot's clock  for Daylight Savings Time as your Pilot may get "adjusted" twice, once by the other application and once by Chronos.

Please note that Chronos only corrects your Pilot's clock when you start Chronos.  It does not update the system time unless you start Chronos.



Registration

Chronos is shareware.

The fee I'm asking is modest ($7.00 in US or Canadian funds) and considerably less expensive that other comparable products.

Now that it is shareware, you may try Chronos for 30 days. Then you are honour bound to register it. I know that honour is an old-fashioned concept, but it's one I believe in quite sincerely. Call me gullible, but I still believe that a person's word is his or her bond. Consequently, I've not disabled any features in the unregistered version of Chronos; there is simply a short delay before Chronos starts up. Please help me keep my faith in the essential honesty of people by registering Chronos.

Send your registration fee along with your e-mail address to:

Postal Strike Update - November 21, 1997
As of this date, there is a Postal Service strike in Canada.  Do not mail registration fees directly to me until further notice.  Instead, please register using PilotGear H.Q. as described below.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

Andrew Ball
Box 520,
Stratford, Ontario
Canada N5A 6V2
 
You can also register Chronos over the web at PilotGear H.Q., by phoning them at (817) 461-3480 or by fax at (817) 461-3482.

I'll e-mail you a registered copy of the software which removes the five second delay on startup. Payment of the registration fee indicates your acceptance of the terms of the support and warranty terms listed below.



So I register…how does the license work?
When you register, I grant you a license to install Chronos on your PalmPilot®. The license agreement works the way the old Borland software license works: treat Chronos like you'd treat a book. You may use it in one place at one time. If you are somehow using your registered copy of Chronos in more than one place at one time, you are violating this license and, more importantly, you are breaking your word to me.


Beta Testing
Please don't send me e-mail about beta testing. I have a small but elite group of really cranky acquaintances (you can't call them friends) on whom I inflict the occasional beta release (as Charles Dewar put it "Taste this mayonnaise, I think it's gone bad"!).


Bugs & Propeller-Head Stuff
Auto Off Enabled.

Chronos Stopwatch cannot continue timing if your PalmPilot® shuts off in order to maintain 1/100th of a second accuracy. This is a limitation of the Pilot's operating system and my brain. If you want to time a long event, uncheck the Auto Off Enabled box on the Preferences box or find a utility like FPSUtil and set your Pilot so that it doesn't turn off. Please note that this can be very hard on your batteries. Chronos will happily continue timing if you switch to another application, as long as your Pilot doesn't turn off while using that app.

Chronos & Alarms

The Pilot has a problem handling alarms. If you are in Chronos and you shut your Pilot off or the Pilot times out you may experience delays of a minute or more before a scheduled Timer alarm "wakes up" the Pilot and sounds the alarm. This is a problem with the Pilot and not with Chronos. You should not experience this problem if your Pilot is awake and running when the alarm triggers.

I have had this bug confirmed by the 3Com Developer Support Team.  The Pilot only polls for alarms when "sleeping" once every 60 seconds.

Known Bugs and Deficiencies


Installation
You should delete any version of Chronos prior to v0.0.62 before installing this release.  Then use the standard Pilot installer to install Chronos to your Pilot.


Support
Chronos is written by one person. Me. Not Microsoft, not Corel. Me. I will support registered users to the best of my ability. If you are not comfortable with that idea, please use one of the other fine timer/stopwatch programs available for the PalmPilot®.

If you send me e-mail about a bug, I'll try to fix it. Understand, however, that this C thing is new to me and I'm learning as I go, so prepare to wait a long time for a fix. I make improvements when I feel like it, usually when my overwhelming sense of ennui is at a low ebb.



Warranty
There is no warranty expressed or implied with this software.

The author shall not be responsible for any reason arising from the use, direct or indirect, of this software for any purposes whatsoever, whether personal, private or commercial, whether due to defects in the software, or the originating libraries. In other words, if you're using Chronos to time the Olympics and you lose the gold because my stopwatch made a mistake or you miss a plane because of the clock, you're on your own. Also, you are entirely responsible if Chronos clubs your other data or applications to death. Simply put, if you install Chronos, you agree that you hold the author free and clear of any claim whatsoever arising from its use. If you don't agree with the terms of this warranty, please choose one of the other fine stopwatch/clock packages available for the PalmPilot®.

I hate having to say that, but the times they are litigious.



Disclaimer
This software is in no way connected to my employer. Any attempt to implicate my employer in any actions arising from the use of this software will cause an immediate revocation of the license to use this software. Plus, you'll spoil my fun.

Chronos is the proud recipient of  from PilotZone!
View Chronos' Revision History

Send e-mail to Andrew Ball