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Unplugged - Useless or useful battery status app? Pick of the Week
The macosxhints Rating:

[Score: 10 out of 10]
[This is the Pick of the Week for December 25th, 2006]

This week's pick is a simple app that provides a service that some may find useless while others, like me, find it invaluable. Unplugged simply tells you the status of your portable Mac's power cord. And why might this be useful? Well, if you've ever used your laptop for a few hours, thinking it was plugged in, then moved it to another location only to have it die relatively quickly, you'll know why.

But instead of talking about it myself, I'll let you read what Dan Frakes wrote about it (including some screen shots of Unplugged in action) in his Macworld Gems column.

When I first heard about this app, I shrugged it off, too -- heck, the battery status is right there in the menu bar. But when you're involved in something, you don't tend to notice such details. Unplugged makes sure you don't wind up powerless, as its alerts really can't be ignored. I've now got it installed on both our laptops, and love its simplicity. While I undertsand how many may view this as a worthless app, I definitely don't think that's the case.
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Unplugged - Useless or useful battery status app? | 9 comments | Create New Account
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Unplugged - Useless or useful battery status app?
Authored by: jctull on Jan 08, '07 08:53:56AM

I do not see what all the fuss is about on the magnetic power plugs on Macbooks and MBPs. Mine works great, never comes out on accident, and is readily visible with a green light indicating that it is making contact. (My older TiBook plug was really no problem to see either.)

So why would I want an application to do what my eyes already can? Also, why not use the menubar power indicator. Seems like a waste to me, but you probably have very different use habits than I do. What am I missing?



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Unplugged - Useless or useful battery status app?
Authored by: sfgecko on Jan 08, '07 10:10:45AM

i agree with jctull. is this app meant to be used when the LED on the power plug doesn't work? i understand what it does, but don't get what purpose it serves.



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Unplugged - Useless or useful battery status app?
Authored by: earthsaver on Jan 08, '07 10:42:36AM

I agree completely. Between the Battery menu extra up there and the green/amber ring over there, any more notification is too much—almost as bad as the notification bubbles in Windows that require a click to dismiss.

---
- Ben Rosenthal
Q16 1.25 - Tiger



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I would have one use ...
Authored by: hamarkus on Jan 08, '07 01:02:34PM

I know, I might be overdoing it but I always unplug the power supply from the mains when I leave my appartment or my office in order to save electricity.
It often enough happens that I get home, plug the MagSafe connector into my MBP and only realise after some time that I forgot to plug the power supply itself into the wall.
What I would need therefore, is a warning that says 'MagSafe connector plugged-in but no power coming through'.



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Unplugged - Useless or useful battery status app?
Authored by: DanFrakes on Jan 08, '07 11:42:06AM
Keep in mind that using Unplugged lets you remove Apple's battery status item from the menu bar -- my MacBook Pro's menu bar is crowded enough, so this way I gain another "slot" without losing the functionality.

Plus Unplugged's display is much more noticeable than the menu-bar item (and unlike Windows' annoying messages, Unplugged's message is one you generally want to see).

Finally, with Growl installed, Unplugged can display useful messages about battery life; I have mine set to fade a message in and out every 10%. This helps me keep track of how much juice I have left without having to remember to check Apple's meter.

When I originally wrote about Unplugged, I figured it was going to be a love/hate utility, and that's turned out to be true. Some people rave about it, others rag on it ;-)

---
Dan Frakes / Senior Editor, Macworld / Senior Reviews Editor, Playlist

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Unplugged - Useless or useful battery status app?
Authored by: mcamou on Jan 08, '07 11:59:32AM
It really depends on how you use your laptop and where your power source is. In several cases I've had the MagSafe connector unplug without noticing; while the resistance to horizontal pulling is quite good, the connector can easily come off with a little vertical pressure. I usually use ChargerChecker which uses Growl for notification.

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Unplugged - Useless or useful battery status app?
Authored by: ravedog on Jan 08, '07 01:11:51PM

I'll give an example where it is a godsend: My MOM! Here Powerbook has the powercord on the back (so she can't see it) and she's constantly moving the lappy around and undoes the powercord sometimes. Also, she's NEVER looking at the menu bar for a "plugged-in" symbol buried in with a ton of other menu bar items... until it's too late.



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Unplugged - Useless or useful battery status app?
Authored by: starwxrwx on Jan 10, '07 11:41:23PM

This sounds really helpful to me, as my power brick is faulty and tends to cut out and stop charging. Often I don't notice and my battery goes dead :/

I should get it fixed but I just can't be bothered, esp since it's no longer under AppleCare...



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replacement brick
Authored by: joelseph on Feb 13, '07 10:02:28PM

starwxrwx-
How about looking on eBay for another power adapter? I bought a compatible one for my G4. Not as pretty, but it works great, and made specifically for my model.



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