SnapTimer 0.1
A SnapMagic Software product
Written by Dan Hersam
License: Freeware

Description and features
SnapTimer is a simple, free, portable countdown timer for Windows.

All the timers I tested were too complex for my taste.  I decided to write one that was dead simple, so you could run it, type in a time and hit enter.  The aim of SnapTimer is to get out of the way and help you be productive.  It's fast, lightweight and simple to use, but powerful too.

A popular productivity strategy is to use a timer to do mini-sprints of work.  Using SnapTimer I've increased my productivity and reduced procrastination.  It's easier to get yourself to work on a difficult task for 5 minutes because there's a known end point.

* Simple, clean interface
* Displays time in the taskbar, as a hint in the tray and even in the right-click menu of the tray icon.
* Tray icons indicate the mode of the timer (running, paused, completed)
* Multiple alert types - message box, tray icon popup, audio file and any application
* Stopwatch mode when you set minutes to 0
* Play an optional ticking sound while the timer is running
* Countdown can be paused and restarted, or reset
* Portable (runs from your USB flash drive)
* Can stay on top of other windows
* No install required
* Low RAM usage
* Can automatically start counting down immediately
* Includes over 20 loop-friendly alarm sounds (Meaning they'll play over and over until you reset the timer)
* Can automatically restart timer when it finishes
* Lets you quickly and easily change the countdown time with mouse or keyboard shortcuts
* Automatically saves all settings (optional)
* Accepts time as command line argument, so you can create preset timer shortcuts or run the timer from a launcher (FARR, Launchy).
* Can be minimized to tray
* Supports multiple instances (You should disable always on top and probably autosave settings as well)
* Can be docked to a corner, in the center or restore the last screen location
* No internet access required
* Doesn't write to your registry
* No ads, spyware or malware
* 100% free

Download / Install
Download from here: http://dan.hersam.com/software/snaptimer/
Unzip SnapTimer.zip and run SnapTimer.exe

Tips
* When the program starts, type the number of minutes (or leave the default),
    then press Enter to start the countdown
* To pause / reset the countdown:
    Click the start / pause button
    Click the tray icon
    Click on the timer numerals
* Double-click on the timer numerals to reset the countdown
* Use the arrow keys to increase or decrease the number of minutes by multiples of 5
* Use the Escape (Esc) key to exit the program
* Set the minutes to 0 to count up

Known issues
* When window is maximized and a dialog (about or options), is opened and closed, the window is un-maximized
* On Windows XP the font color in the font chooser is set to black if the font is using a custom color.
* Always on top mode isn't entirely foolproof, sometimes windows can get above SnapTimer.
* When automatically restart timer and the display message alarm settings are both enabled, the timer is restarted only after the message dialog is dismissed.
* On Windows 7 or Vista, if you get the error, "An error occurred trying to write to the .ini file" run SnapTimer in Administrator mode (right click and select "Run as administrator")

Contact
dan@hersam.com

Attribution
Wav files from
    http://www.freesound.org/index.php
    http://www.a1freesoundeffects.com/

Icons from http://www.fatcow.com/free-icons/

Release history
0.2 - 
Fixed relative paths when started from another directory
Startup position dropdown is now read only
Looping audio is stopped when the message dialog is closed.
Set default tray popup menu to start/stop


0.1 - 8/2010
Initial release