Online Help

Abuzz Alarm Clock Talking Edition Pro Online Help

The same info provided below is also available in the Abuzz Alarm Clock app under the "About" tab, but is also provided here in this larger format for convenience.

 Note on abbreviations - Anywhere in the app where you see the TTS abbreviation it stands for "Text To Speech"

GENERAL INFORMATION

• App's Purpose

• Functioning Modes

• Precautions When Using With a Docking Station

CLOCK TAB

• Time Display

• Next Alarm Indicator

• Automatic Volume Changes Disabled

• Music Button

• Play Button and Timer Button

• Mode Button

• Volume Controls

ALARMS TAB

• Adding a New Alarm

• Editing an Alarm

• Deleting an Alarm

TEXT TAB

• Add New Text Messages To Text Library

• Editing a Text Library Entry

• Deleting a Text Library Entry

OCCASIONS TAB

• Adding a New Occasion

• Editing a Yearly Occasion Entry

• Deleting a Yearly Occasion Entry

WORKING WITH TAGS

• Sound Tags

• Time and Date Sensitive Tags

• Pre-Wake Text To Speech Message Examples

• Final Text To Speech Message Examples

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General Information

App’s Purpose

The Abuzz Alarm Clock app’s main purpose is not just to wake the person using it, but to get the person out of bed and ready to face the day by using personally supplied motivational text that will be converted to speech. It is also great to verbally remind you of things to do or remember shortly after you’ve waked up. Many times there are things that you think of in the evening that you should do the next morning, but the next morning it’s the last thing you think about. No snooze functionality is supplied to help you get rid of the bad habit of snoozing that eventually leads to running late and start the day in a stressful way. The snooze functionality is replaced with pre-wake functionality that allows you to gradually wake up before the alarm sounds.

 Functioning Modes

Abuzz Alarm Clock is fully functional while running in the foreground even while the iPhone or iPod Touch screen is locked. When Abuzz Alarm Clock is not running or is suspended in the background, basic alarm functionality take over by means of a 30 second alarm sound that will be activated at the time an alarm is set for. The app accomplishes this by using local notifications synchronized to all its alarms.

 Precautions When Using With a Docking Station

When the iPhone or iPod Touch device is connected to a docking station Text To Speech pre-wake messages will not be functional if it is not enveloped within a music pre-wake period. This means that music pre-wake should start before text to speech or embedded sound pre-wake entries. As an example, if music pre-wake is set to start 30 minutes before the alarm sounds then all text to speech messages | embedded sounds should start less than 30 minutes before the alarm sounds. Also make sure that the music selection can cover the complete music pre-wake period. If you do not want to listen to the music, just set the music volume to zero if automatic volume changes is enabled while the device is in the docking station.

Another precaution is to set the volume levels of the different types of audio for SnoozeBuster Alarm to moderate levels if automatic volume changes is enabled and the device is in docking station with speakers. Be sure to run adequate tests with the volume settings before using the app to wake you up when the device is in a docking station. The volume level precaution also apply when using the app while having headphones or a headset connected. While using headphones or a headset the text to speech pre-wake messages do not have to be enveloped in a music pre-wake period.

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Clock Tab

Time Display

At the top of the Clock screen the current time and day is displayed. Abuzz Alarm Clock automatically detects the user's time format preference and will format all internally displayed times according to this preference. Should your device not be set to the 24 Hour Time system, AM or PM will be indicated next to the time display.

Next Alarm Indicator

Just below the time display is the “Next Alarm Indicator”. I there is no active alarm set or switched on it will display “Not set” otherwise it will show the day and time when the next alarm will sound. This allows you to easily see when the next alarm sounds without resorting to look at the different alarms in the Alarms Tab.

Automatic Volume Changes Disabled

Should automatic (pre-set) volume changes be disabled a speaker with a lock next to it will appear to the right of the Next Alarm Indicator. If automatic volume changes is disabled all the volume controls and mute buttons will also be disabled. The app will only prompt you to disable automatic volume settings if a docking station, headphones or a headset is connected to the device. Once the device is disconnected from any of these external audio routes, automatic (pre-set) volume changes will be enabled again. This option is offered to prevent any abrupt volume changes while using any of these external audio routes. If not disabling automatic volume changes while external audio routes is in effect it is recommended to set all volume control sliders to a moderate level.

Music Button

Press the “Music” button and then press the “Select Sleep Music” button to select music for the sleep function. You may select multiple albums, songs or playlists. The app will remember your selection and it can be used on future days. Every time a new selection is made from the start it replaces the previous selection. A total of 600 songs may be selected for the music sleep function. To cancel out a previous selection completely and have no music selected for the sleep function press the “Music” button and then press the “Select Sleep Music” button.  Immediately press the “Done” button and the music selection will be completely cancelled out. The total number of songs selected for the music sleep function will be displayed just below the music button.

 To set the shuffle mode for music played by the Abuzz Alarm Clock app. Press the music button and choose the required shuffle mode. The currently active shuffle mode will be appended to the quantity songs selected for the music sleep function. 

 Shuffle mode abbreviations is al follow:

 SD = Shuffle Mode Default

SO = Shuffle Mode Off

SS = Shuffle Mode Songs

SA = Shuffle Mode Albums

 When set to the Default Shuffle Mode the music will be shuffled according the shuffle settings of the ipod player.

Play Button and Timer Button

To start playing the music selected for the sleep function press the “Play” button.  To set the sleep timer press the “Timer” button. If music is playing while the sleep timing is selected the sleep timer will immediately start with counting down to stop the music playback at the end of the timing period. If the “Play” button is pressed while the sleep timer is set to a non-zero value, the sleep timer will immediately start countdown to stop music playback. The countdown value of the sleep timer is displayed below the “Timer” button.  The value to the left is the total sleep timer value in minutes and the value to the right are the remaining minutes before music playback will be stopped.

 The sleep timer may also be used to lock onto the external iPod app. To do this exit Abuzz Alarm Clock by pressing the Home button on your device. Now start your favourite music selection and then launch the Abuzz Alarm Clock app again.  Press the “Timer” button and select the preferred sleep time. Note that even if there is already a sleep timer value set you must go through this step to lock the sleep timer onto the external iPod player.

Mode Button

To set a reminder to yourself for setting Abuzz Alarm Clock as the foreground app press the “Mode” button. Select and appropriate time and switch the reminder on. You will now be reminded with a local notification to launch Abuzz Alarm Clock as the foreground app before you go to sleep. Should you completely forget to set Abuzz Alarm Clock to the foreground the basic alarm functionality that works with local notifications and is synchronized to the Abuzz Alarm Clock active alarms will still sound for 30 seconds at the time an alarm is set to sound. The time the “set to foreground” reminder is set for will be displayed just below the mode button.

You can also use this reminder as a "going to sleep" reminder to ensure you get adequate sleep and will feel fresh and awake the next morning.

The “Clear All Notifications” button should only be used if the alarms and local notifications get out of sync, which should not happen under normal circumstances. When using this function all alarms will be switched of and should be switched on again as required to get synchronization between alarms and notifications back. 

Volume Controls

A very powerful feature of Abuzz Alarm Clock is that it has different volume controls for different sound types. All the volume controls except that of the Alarm also have mute buttons. 

• Alarm - Control and preset the volume of the final alarm.

• Sound - Control and preset the volume of sounds embedded into text to speech messages.

• Voice - Control and preset the volume of the text to speech voice.

• Music (S) - Control the volume for the sleep music function and the volume of the iPod player if it is started externally from the app.

• Music (P) - Control and preset the volume for pre-wake music.

 This means that the music you fall asleep to and the music you wake up with can be at completely different volume levels as well as the alarm, sounds and voice volumes can be set independently to suite your taste. 

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Alarms Tab

Please take note of the following: If no repeating days is selected an alarm will sound at the selected time and switch it self off. (If the Abuzz Alarm Clock app is not running in the foreground the alarm cannot switch itself off and will repeat again the following day if not switched off manually).

A maximum of 9 alarms may be set and each can have its own music pre-wake selection, text to speech pre-wake and final text to speech messages. A maximum of 800 songs may be selected for pre-wake music among all 9 alarms.  By using different repeating days you can set up alarms that wake you with different types of music selections on different days of the week.

Adding a New Alarm

Abuzz Alarm Clock Alarms can vary from very simple to advanced. A list is given below that correspond with different functions of the alarm, but by no means feel restricted to this as you may mix and match settings as you like. As you change various settings, dynamic explanations is also given as how this will affect the setting.

• Alarm with very basic functionality (1 to 3 and 28)
• Alarm with all functions enabled (1 to 28)
• Alarm with pre-wake music (1 to 12; 20; 21 and 28)
• Alarm with pre-wake text to speech (1 to 4; 13 to 21 and 28)
• Alarm with a text to speech message just before alarm sounds (1 to 3; 22 to 26 and 28)
• Alarm with Alert Booster activated (1 to 3; 27 and 28)

1. Make sure the "Alarms" tab is selected.

2. Press the "+" button on the right-hand side of the navigation bar.

3. If repeating days required select the "Days" cell and then select repeating days as required.

4.  If pre-wake music or pre-wake text to speech messages is required select the "Pre-Wake" cell.

5. To set pre-wake music for the alarm select the cell just below the "Music" heading and follow steps 6 to 11.

6. Select the Playlists, Artists, Songs or Albums tab.

7. If you have selected the Songs tab choose songs as required and then jump to step 11.

8. Select the Playlist, Artist or Album you want and then select individual songs or select "Add All Songs".

9. To choose more navigate back to Playlists, Artists or Albums with the button on the left side of the navigation bar.

10. Continue this process in step 7 and 8 until all music for this alarm is selected.

11. Press the "Done" button on the navigation bar.

12. Select how many minutes before the alarm sound the music must start playing.

13. To set up pre-wake text to speech messages select any of the cells below the "Text To Speech" heading.

14. It is recommended to insert a "Sound Tag" in front of a text to speech message, but sound tags can be embedded at any position within a text to speech message.

15. Type the text to speech message in the text field and insert tags as required. For more info on tags refer to the tags section.

16. If there is any text messages in the "Text Library" you can insert it by pressing the "Text Lib" button and select the message from available text.

17. Select the Cell with "Speak text 0 minutes before alarm". and choose the time in minutes before the alarm sounds that the text must be spoken.

18. Press the "Done" button on the "TTS Pre-Wake Time Set" screen.

19. Press the "Done" button on the "Speech Pre-Wake" screen.

20. Should you want to delete the music pre-wake or any of the text to speech pre-wake messages press the "Delete" button on the right-hand side of the navigation bar and then press the red "Delete" button next to the item you want to delete. When finish deleting items press the "Done" button on the right-hand side of the navigation bar.

21. When all pre-wake settings completed press the "Done" button on the left-hand side of the navigation bar.

22. To set the alarm sound and final text to speech message select the "TTS: Off / Alarm" cell.

23. Select the "Sound" cell at the top of the screen and then select the sound for the alarm as required.

24. Select the "Done" button on the navigation bar after choosing a sound.

25. Now you may enter a text to speech message. It is recommended to insert a sound tag in front of this text to speech message. This text to speech message will be spoken immediately before the alarm sounds. You can put some motivational text here and give reasons why you should get up immediately and the consequences if you do no get up immediately. This is also the ideal place to place reminders of things to remember or do shortly after you wake up. You may also insert different tags within the text to speech message as requited. For more info on tags refer to the tags section.

26. When finished press the "Done" button on the navigation bar.

27. To help you get awake and more alert, enable the optional Alert Booster by selecting the "Alert Booster" cell from the Alarm Settings screen. Alert Booster questions will be asked immediately after the alarm sounds and you press the button to stop the alarm from sounding. To disable Alert Booster set the number of questions to zero.

28. Select the time the alarm must sound and then press the "Save" button on the navigation bar.

There is not any limitations on alarms overlapping, so keep in mind if you set more than one alarm and have similar repeating days for them, their pre-wake messages may overlap depending on chosen settings.

Editing an Alarm

To edit an alarm press the "Edit" button on the navigation bar of the "Alarms" screen and then select the alarm you wish to edit. Any of the settings may be changed as required. Note that if you edit an alarm and change its time all its pre-wake settings will automatically move along as they are relative to the time the alarm is set for.

Deleting an Alarm

To delete an alarm press the "Edit" button on the navigation bar and then press the "Delete Control" button for the alarm you want to delete. Finally press the "Delete" button for that alarm.

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Text Tab 

The text library make it easy to set up frequently used text and store it in a library for later use. This is the ideal place to store reminders that can at a later stage quickly be inserted into a text to speech message.

Add New Text To Text Library

1. Select the "Text" tab.

2. Press the "+" button on the navigation bar.

3. Type the required text into the text field. Make use of tags if required.

4. Press the "Save" button on the navigation bar.

When you select a Text Library entry it will be displayed in the preview area at the top of the screen. This helps to quickly view entries that does not fit in a cell.

Editing a Text Library Entry

To edit a text entry press the "Edit" button on the navigation bar and then select the cell of the required entry you want to edit. Change the text and press the "Save" button.

Deleting a Text Library Entry

To delete a text entry press the "Edit" button on the navigation bar and then press the "Delete Control" button for the text entry you want to delete. Finally press the "Delete" button.

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Occasions Tab

Use Abuzz Alarm Clock's Yearly Occasion functionality to set yearly reminders of anniversaries, birthdays, etc. When you enter text here for a reminder it will be spoken immediately before the alarm sounds on the specific date. If there is already a text to speech message set to be spoken before the alarm sounds, this text will be appended to that message.

Adding a New Occasion

1. Select the "Occasions" tab.

2. Press the "+" button on the navigation bar.

3. Insert a "sound tag" so that you will be waked before the text is spoken.

4. Type the birthday or anniversary reminder text in the text field.

5. Select the date for the occasion.

6. Press the "Save" button on the navigation bar.

7. Repeat above steps to add more occasions.

When you select an occasion entry it will be displayed in the preview area at the top of the screen. This helps to quickly view entries that does not fit in a cell.

Once you have set up all the occasions you never have to worry about them as Abuzz Alarm Clock will automatically increment an occasion to the next year when its date pass. All upcoming occasions will automatically rise to the top so its easy to see who's birthday is next.

Should an occasion occur on a leap year date, set the occasion to a future year that contains the leap year date.  Abuzz Alarm Clock will automatically reset the date to the next occurrence of the occasion. In non-leap years the reminder will be spoken on 28 February, but in leap years the reminder will be spoken on 29 February.

Editing a Yearly Occasion Entry

To edit a Yearly Occasion entry press the "Edit" button on the navigation bar and then select the cell of the required entry you want to edit. Change the text or date and press the "Save" button.

Deleting a Yearly Occasion Entry

To delete a Yearly Occasion entry press the "Edit" button on the navigation bar and then press the "Delete Control" button for the Yearly Occasion entry you want to delete. Finally press the "Delete" button. 

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Working With Tags

Tags can be used at any position in your custom text to speech messages. This allow the app to make announcements as required by the user's entered text as well as dynamically incorporating time or date sensitive non static words. To insert tags press the "Insert Tag" button above the text field.

(Note - If any music is playing it will be temporarily paused while the text to speech messages and its embedded sounds is performed. Remember if you use your iPhone or iPod Touch in a docking station that all text to speech messages must be enveloped between a music pre-wake session. Also take care to set the volume to a moderate level when using this app while the device is docked or using headphones or a headset. You can find more info on this precaution here).

Sound Tags

Sound tags is ideally suited to be inserted right at the beginning of a text to speech message, but there is no limitations as to where the sound tags may appear in a text to speech message. The idea of inserting a sound tag at the beginning of a text to speech message is to alert you or wake you before the text is spoken, otherwise you may miss part of or the complete text to speech message. Any of the alarm sounds can be chosen as a sound tag and it may be set to repeat from 1 to 5 times. Should you want it to repeat more, insert an additional sound tag right after the previous one. Setting the sound tag repetitions manually to higher that 5 will have no effect.

Time and Date Sensitive Tags

• <time-of-day> - Will be converted to "morning, afternoon or evening" depending on the current time.

• <time> - Will be converted to current time.

• <day> - Will be converted to current day

• <date> - Will be converted to current date.

• <duration> - Will be converted to the time remaining before alarm sounds

Pre-Wake Text To Speech Message Examples

1. Example 1

   • <sound><Crickets><3> It is now <time>

2. Example 2

   • <sound><Duck><2> Good <time-of-day> Sandra, It is now <time> on <day> <date>. You have <duration> then you must get up.

Final Text To Speech Message Examples

1. Example 1

   • <sound><Sonar><4> Hi Amanda it is <time>. Get up immediately or you will be late. Just think of how nice it will be when you are on time and don't put unnecessary stress on yourself.

2. Example 2

   • <sound><Cuckoo><5> Hi Peter it is <time> on <day> <date>. Get up now.  <sound><Dog Bark><2> This sleeping late is nonsense. You must attend a meeting early today. Remember to phone your sister.