Hi,

One toy that I like and is actually quite handy at times and annoying at others. It is called Saytime. It appears in some of the scripts that I have cluttered up the forum with lately so it may not be a new word to some.

If one were to do a search of the web and had an idea of what to look for then great however, some being a little new might get a bit lost. I went looking just to help out some folks and was glad that I did as since my first download things have changed and saytime isn't quite the same for all hits.

So the best I can do for those that are interested and are using the Debian flavor as does KnoppMyth, is do it the easy way
as root

#<code>
apt-get install saytime
#<end code>

Some things are just plain trying to the nerves when there is much work to a process... Never fear, it is a small collection of files that loads into the /usr/bin/saytime, /usr/share/saytime, and the /usr/share/doc/saytime. May take a whole minute to complete. Now if at a prompt you enter
#<code>
/usr/bin/saytime --help
#<end code>
it will spill the beans (where is that bean footage?) with a list of switches.

/usr/bin/saytime: invalid option -- -
Usage: saytime [-ch] [-v lvl] [-r sec] [-d dir] [-f fmt] [-o dev]
Speak the current time through the computer's sound device. (and more info follows)

If you enter just the command without the help you should hear the time announced.
#<code>
/usr/bin/saytime
#<end code>
I will continue to browse for the version that I have as personnally I like the voice much better.

Taking it one step further, You may add a command to the crontab and have the computer help you watch the clock. The following is a copy of mine. Again as root, enter
#<code>
crontab -e
#<code>
copy and paste the following
#<code>
#clock talk schedule
#min 0-59 * hr 0-23 * day 1-31 * month 1-12 * day of week 0-6(Su-Sa) * /cmd

0,30 * * * * /usr/bin/saytime &

#run mythlink.sh to make /myth/pretty .mpg tv links
5,35 * * * * /usr/local/bin/mythlink.sh

#<end code>
control x y saves and installs the file
and now at the top and half hour you will be reminded.

I use R5A16 and those that don't should consider at least trying it. One feature that I noticed with R5A16 is that if your sound is capable of mixing, you will hear the announcement with your music. How cool is that?

Enjoy and stay on time with # ntpdate pool.ntp.org
Mike

Nice post, but off topic here, it probably belongs under "usage/how to" or "hints & tips".

Don't be surprised if Cecil makes it vanish like his sticky posts promise...

Hi tjc,

Thanks for the compliment and sorry about putting it in the wrong spot. It just seemed to fit under this catagory based on the discription.

'Installing and configuration of addition software not included in KnoppMyth'

It's more than just linux, it isn't mythtv and it is a feature I put in KnoppMyth but not included... If it needs to be moved or deleted, that's ok. You are probably correct with the alternate locations.

Thanks for the 'tip & hints'
Mike

I was reading this from the "new postings" search and thought it was under KnoppMyth installl... Still probably better in one of those other places, but not as off topic as it would have been there...

Hi tjc,

No problem, lord knows I made my share errors, hopfully most are small, last one is five now but she is a cutie However, I do agree that maybe would have been better in the hints area.

Wonder if anyone has tried the new toy?

Thanks again,
Mike

MJL

Thanks a lot for letting us know about saytime, excellent little program. I have it set to announce the time on the hour, and also on a remote button, and if you are watching TV or a recording a message scrolls along the screen displaying the date and time, as well as the announcement !!!!!

As repayment for this, I am willing to offer you a script that I have very nearly finished, which I will put in a HOW-TO. It will enable printing to a shared printer on your Windows PC. I did notice on one of your other postst that you would like to get CUPS going. My script will keep you going, after that I will also look at getting cups going.

Contact me off list if you like.

Regards

Matt Shaw
matt@shagshaw.com

Hi mattshaw,

Fun little app, helps the kids learn the time also. There are a bunch of switches and settings so you can customise it also. You could replace the voice file with your own. Lots of fun stuff.

Yes, I have a lot of things I still want to add to my KnoppMyth box. It is too good of a system to have just wasting cpu cycles till the next entertainment request.

Very much interested in your enhancments.
Thanks
Mike

I've been thinking that.
I was wondering about putting Folding@home on mine, as it's doing nothing for most of the day, I may as well use those cycles for somethign useful.

Has anyone tried using a distributed computing app on their myth box?

Mephi