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Lifehacker on Macbook theft protection with iAlertU, FTP and Applescript
Adam Pash has a detailed How-To up today for using Slapping Turtle's iAlertU (still in beta since we last mentioned it) along with some Applescript, an FTP server and the built-in iSight camera on your MacBook or MacBook Pro to find the punk who clipped your gear - if you're ever unfortunate enough to have your gear clipped, that is. iAlertU normally sounds an alarm when your 'book's motion sensor is triggered, which in itself is a deterrent, and snaps a picture of the thief - but the picture is just stored in your home directory making it useless if the thief takes off with you 'book. By scripting that snapshot to be uploaded to an FTP site (or even emailed to you), you have a mug shot to bring to the cops or post on the cafeteria bulletin board and may stand a better chance of catching the creep. Check out the full article for all the details. While Adam himself points out that there are probably slicker ways to accomplish this, his method is fairly simple and he does a good job explaining it all.On a related note, the developer of iAlertU is currently seeking donations, by way of a random drawing contest to win $100, in order to buy a new Macbook since some of the features of iAlertU work fine on his MacBook Pro, but seem to break on a MacBook, which he explains is the reason for the slowdown in the development cycle. You can enter the drawing for a buck and if you want to see the app progress, it might be a worthwhile investment.
"Undercover" software helps recover your stolen MacBook
So you coughed up some dough for that iAlertU program to protect your MacBook, but wouldn't you know it, your laptop got jacked anyway by a clever thief who simply removed the battery before taking off. Luckily for you, all is not lost, at least not if you'd installed another program called Undercover on your machine, which not only sends out an IP-address-containing SOS if it's reported stolen, but actually uses your machine's built-in iSight to snap a photo of the perp before simulating a screen failure that makes the Mac unusable. Every six minutes, Undercover pings a database maintained by developer Orbicule to check if the machine it's installed on has been stolen; a positive reply from the server initiates a sequence of events that hopefully ends with law enforcement officials breaking down the door of the nefarious Macjacker's pad and recovering your beloved notebook. In case the crook was smart enough to never reconnect to the Internet after the heist, however, you'll still need to file an insurance claim and head down to the old Apple store -- looks like they still haven't found a software solution that beats the trusty Kensington Lock.
MultiAlarm for Powerbook/iBook
You may remember iAlertU, the "theft alarm" that you can configure to go off when your MacBook Pro is moved (by unauthorized hands, that is), by making use of the Mac's motion detector. It's a pretty nice idea, but it leaves Powerbook users out in the cold. Enter MultiAlarm.It works in a similar way, but isn't limited to the MacBook Pro. The developer has promised some Salling Clicker scripts for it as well, so you can arm/disarm your Mac from your phone, Palm device, etc. For some reason, the thought of a Starbucks full of wailing Apple laptops makes me happy.[Via FreeMacWare]
iAlertU demo
I had my doubts about iAlertU, but I am big enough to admit that I was wrong (though I waited a few days just to be sure). iAlertU does, in fact, work and there is a free beta so you can protect your MacBook Pro.The developer is hard at work on another version of the software, so be sure to keep your eyes out for it.
iAlertU MacBook alarm software available in beta
We've been seeing posts and vids (and getting tips) on a program called iAlertU all week, but were a little skeptical of software that claims to use the tilt sensors and camera in your MacBook Pro for triggering an alarm if someone tries to snatch your lappie. Skeptical, that is, until a beta version of the application was released today,. While feedback so far indicates that the code is still pretty buggy, the program seems to actually work, with users generally pleased about the overall operation (for the five minute usage limitation of the beta, anyway). Developer Slapping Turtle says that once all the kinks are worked out, a non-time limited version will be available for $10, which seems like a good deal once key features are implemented -- most importantly, headphone jack and other overrides, because even the most dim-witted thief may somehow stumble upon the "force restart" key combo in mid-heist.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Found Footage: iAlertU
This video purports to be a demo of an early Alpha of iAlertU, the only way to make sure your Mac doesn't get 'jacked,' as the kids say. It might be real (though I am skeptical) but it certainly is an amusing idea. Thanks, Brandon Hays.
