PK Timer Topics
PK Timer Overview
Simple Duration Timing Example
Advanced "Start By" Timing Example
Clearing Settings
Item Selection Tabs
Text
Pause/Set View
Duration/Done By Time Selector Buttons
Duration
Done By Time
Hours and Minutes + - Buttons
CL Clear Button
OK Button
Slider and Zero Button
Pocket Kitchen Timer (PK Timer) for Pocket PC 2003 supports timing for 5 different items which you can label with a short description, such as "Turkey", "Pie", "Yams", "Corn", "Bread". While particularly useful in the kitchen, it can be used for general purpose timing, such as to remind you the parking meter is expiring!
Timing can be a very simple duration countdown: Enter the hours and minutes duration, start the timer, and it counts down, showing time remaining and sounding an alarm when ready.
Timing can also be a more advanced "Start By" time calculation. You can set a future time you want an item to be "Done By", and the duration is used to compute a "Start By" time. PK Timer will notify you when it's time to start the item.
After timing has been started, you can "tweak" the settings, such as adding 10 more minutes for the big bird.
PK Timer will save your current settings when the the application is closed so you can plan in advance.
This example shows how to set a simple duration and start the timing.
1) Clear
First, select menu Tools/Clear Settings for ALL Items. Tap "Yes" to the prompts. This menu selection is available in the Pause/Set View, when the HR/MIN + - buttons are visible.
2) Select Item
Select the tab labeled # 1 at the top.
3) Set Duration
Duration is not labeled, but it is fairly obvious, as these are the large numbers, like "00:00:00", immediately below the text.
Tap the round button next to the Duration to make sure Duration is selected.
Tap the + button next to the MIN label to increment the minutes Duration. Leave it set for one minute, 00:01:00
4) Start
Tap the OK button. The timing will start immediately. The "Start By" time will display the time started, and the "Done By" time will be computed based on the "Start By" time and Duration.
5) Pause
Tap the "Pause/Set" button. Tap the MIN + button to add another minute. Tap the "OK" button to resume timing.
Wait for the Duration to count down to 00:00:00. An alarm will sound. Tap the STOP button to stop the alarm.
This example shows how to find a "Start By" time, based on a duration and a future time when you want an item to be ready. This is useful when you want various items to be ready at specific times to orchestrate a multi-stage meal or other type of event.
For instance, if the turkey is going to take 2 hours and 47 minutes to cook, and you want it ready at 5:00 PM, what time do you have to start it?
1) Clear
First, select menu Tools/Clear Settings for ALL Items. Tap "Yes" to the prompts. This menu selection is available in the Pause/Set View, when the HR/MIN + - buttons are visible.
2) Select Item
Select the tab labeled # 1 at the top.
3) Text
Tap the text box under the tabs. The Soft Input Panel should open. Type "turkey" and tap the Enter key on the SIP.
4) Set Duration
Tap the round button next to the Duration to make sure Duration is selected (Duration is not labeled, but it is fairly obvious, as these are the large numbers, like "00:00:00", immediately below the text).
Hours
Tap the + button next to the HR label to increment the hours Duration. Tap it again and it will display "02:00:00", or 2 hours.
Minutes
Drag the slider on the right and adjust it so the minutes show "47" or close to 47. Tap the MIN + or - buttons to "find tune" the value to 47 if the slider value is not exactly 47. The Duration should read "02:47:00"
5) Set the Start time/Done By time
Tap the round button next to the "Done By" label.
A default "Done By" time will be computed. The value will be the nearest whole hour by which this item can be done, such as 5:00 PM. The "Start By" time required to achieve the "Done By" time will be computed and show under the label "Start By".
The label "Start By" will be underlined to indicate the "Start By" time was based on a required "Done By" time.
You can adjust the "Done By" time with the HR/MIN buttons + -. Tap the HR + button at add an hour to the default Done By time. Note that the "Start By" time is adjusted accordingly.
6) Start
Tap the "OK" button and the item will going into a WAITING state, until the "Start By" time is reached.
The item selection tab and the text box should now display "Turkey (WAITING)". While WAITING, the Duration counter does not change.
An alarm will sound when the "Start By" time is reached.
The WAITING message will change to "START-> Turkey". Tap the Start button again to acknowledge the alarm and start the countdown. The text will then change to "Turkey (STARTED)".
You can "force" the timer to start at any time, to override WAITING. Just tap the START button and you will be prompted to confirm.
Other Items
OK! Do the same for a "Pie". Select tab "#2" and repeat the steps above. However, set the Duration to 1:30, then tap the round button next to "Done By". PK Timer will use the Turkey "Done By" time and compute a "Start By" time for the Pie.
If you do not want to compute a "Start By" time based on the "Done By" time, tap the "CL" button while the "Done By" is selected. The "Start By" time will assume the current time and compute a "Done By" time based on the Duration.
The tabs at the top show text for the 5 available timings.
The current status, such as WAITING, STARTED, PAUSED, DONE, START->, -> ENDED, will also be displayed in the tab and text box.
Tap a tab to select an item, or use the menu "< Previous" or "Next >" to navigate from one item to another.
The selected item will be displayed in the last view it was left in. The Pause/Set View is the default view, allowing timing values to be changed with the HR/MIN + - buttons.
The Start/Stop View allows timing to be started, stopped, or paused to change settings.
Changing the tab selection does not interrupt timing in progress for other items.
When an item becomes ready to start or is done, the tab selector autmatically selects the item.
Text can be entered as follows. Tap an Item Selection Tab, initially displaying text such as "#1", "#2". The text for this item will appear in the black text box below the Item Selection Tab. Tap the black text box to select and change the text. After changing the text, tap the Enter key on the Soft Input Panel to complete the edit and update the tab text.
It is recommended that text be entered BEFORE timings are started, although you can change the text at any time, even after starting timing.
Keep the text as SHORT as possible. The text size is limited to 28 characters, to insure the text and status (such as "STARTED") can be viewed in the item selection tabs at the top.
In this view, the HR and MIN + - buttons are visible. This view can be used to change settings for an item before or even after starting timing for an item.
In the Start/Stop View, tap the Pause/Set button to return to this view.
If an item has been started, timing will be PAUSED; the seconds countdown will be frozen. It is recommended that you make your changes (such as adding 5 more minutes to the big bird) quickly, and tap OK to resume timing.
Duration/Done By Time Selector Buttons
The round buttons next to the Duration and the Done By time are visible only in the Pause/Set View.
Selecting the Duration button underlines the current Duration hours and minutes. The HR and MIN + - buttons, CL, and other controls will affect the Duration value.
Selecting the "Done By" button allows you to set Done By time to a future value. Changing the "Done By" time will cause the "Start By" time to be computed, based on the Duration. The label "Start By" will be underlined, indicating the value will be computed automatically.
If you accidentally tap the "Done By" button and do not want a "Start By" time computed, tap the CL button while the "Done By" button is selected. The "Start By" time will then default to the current time of day.
The large numbers below the black text box are the "Duration" hours, minutes, and seconds. When the round button to the right of the Duration is selected, the HR and MIN + - buttons will change the duration required for some activity (to cook, prepare, or whatever).
The Duration seconds can be zeroed out by the CL button. Seconds are normally zero, except when a timing is PAUSED or STOPPED prematurely. You can also use the menu Tools/Clear Duration Seconds.
Menu Tools/Calculator opens a simple calculator to compute a Duration based on a weight and number of minutes to cook for unit of weight, such as a 15 lb turkey to be cooked for 20 minutes/lb. Tap the "Set" button on the calculator to set the Duration from the computed value.
When "Done By" time is selected, the HR and MIN buttons adjust the "Done By" time causing "Start By" time to be updated based on the current value of the Duration. For instance, if the Duration is 2 hours (02:47:00) and the "Done By" time is 5:00 PM, the "Start By" time will be computed as 2:13 PM.
When "Done By" is selected, you can tap the CL button and "Done By" will be reset to use the current time as the starting time.
Each item can be set to its own target time. The last "Done By" time set is re-used in subsequent items.
HR and MIN can be set with the + and - buttons. The slider and the "0" button affect only the Minutes.
The HR and MIN can be adjusted for either the Duration time or the Done By time, depending on the which one is selected.
The CL button zeroes the Duration time if the Duration button is selected.
It clears and resets "Done By" time if the "Done By" time is selected. When cleared, the "Start By" time defaults to the current time, and the "Done By" time is computed based on the current time and the Duration.
The OK Button closes the Pause/Set View and opens the Start/Stop View.
The item will either start immediately or go into a waiting state until the "Start By" time is reached.
If timing was "PAUSED", the timing will resume immediately after you tap OK.
The slider control can be used to quickly adjust minutes from 0 to 59. Tap the vertical bar above or below the slider knob to increment or decrement 5 minutes at a time. The Zero button zeroes out the minutes. The slider and Zero button affect either the Duration or the "Done By" time, depending on which is selected.
In this view, the Start, Stop, Pause/Set buttons are visible.
This button is enabled if you have Stopped an item, or are WAITING for a "Start By" time, or the "Start By" time has arrived and the timer text contains "START ->" item.
If you have set the timing to use a computed "Start By" time, and the "Start By" time has not yet arrived, tapping the Start button will prompt you if you really want to start the item now. If yes, the timer will stop WAITING and start the item immediately.
When the "Start By" time is reached, another alarm will sound, different from the "Done" alarm, and the message "START->" will appear with this item's text (such as "START-> Turkey"). Tap the Start button to acknowledge the "START->" message and begin the actual timing for the item.
If required, adjustments are automatically made to the "Start By" and "Done By" times when timing is started. For instance, if you are several minutes late in acknowledging the "START->" message, the Start by and Target done times are adjusted by several minutes.
The Stop button stops timing of an item which has been "STARTED:. The Duration remains at its current value, and timing can restarted with the Start button.
When an item is "DONE", tap the STOP button to acknowledge the "DONE" alarm. The text will changed to show "-> ENDED", indicating you have acknowledged the item's being Done.
Note, if several items are "DONE" at the same time, the Donealarm will continue until all "DONE" items are acknowledged. Select the tab for each item displaying "DONE" and tap the Stop button for each of these.
This opens the Pause/Set View to allow changes in the settings.
An item that shows "STARTED " or "WAITING" is placed in " PAUSED" condition while settings are modified and will automatically be restarted when you tap OK.
The Tools Menu allows you to Clear Settings for either the selected item or all items. Timing in progress for item/s cleared will be cancelled.
Duration seconds can be cleared through the menu Tools/Clear Duration Settings. This affects only the currently selected item. Seconds may be non-zero as a result of Stopping a timing.
The CL Button on the Pause/Set View clears either the Duration or the "Done By" time. Clearing the "Done By" time sets the Start By time to assume the current time.
Connect your AC power adapter to your PDA while using PK Timer, as kitchen events may exceed battery life.
New in Version 1.1.2, if you manually power off or your power saving option turns the PDA off, PK Timer will automatically turn on the device to sound an alarm. So, you can start a timing and power the PDA off to conserve battery, and it will turn turn itself on automatically. However, you should make sure you can hear the alarm before the PDA turns itself back off!
It's OK to have the PDA's backlight turned off if not used for a period of time. To relight the display, tap the an area of the PK Timer screen such as the top center, where there are no buttons, to avoid disturbing a timing event in progress.
While timing is active for any item, whether timing is started, waiting to start, or done, a little green "light" in the lower right hand corner will flash in the Start/Stop view.
When you close the applicaton, settings are saved but all timing is stopped. Settings will be restored the next time you open Pocket Kitchen Timer, but timings will not automatically "Start".
When an item is Started or restarted from a Pause, the "Start By" and "Done By" times are updated, but only the hh:mm for these times are shown. Internally, the exact start and done times are computed to the second. The duration shows the exact amount of time remaining, to the second.
So, if the PDA system time shows that the time is current 9:15 and the "Done by" time shows 9:15 but the Duration countdown shows 45 seconds left to go, the item is not yet "Done". It will not necessarily be "Done" when the system time first shows 9:15. This item, assume a Duration of 1 hour, might have been started at 8:15:45. It will be done when the Duration counter reaches 00:00:00 and that will be at 9:15:45.
If you notice the seconds countdown "skip", this may be due to activity on the PDA, such as opening another application or another application's running. PK Timer does not rely on a 1-by-1 countdown; it always recomputes the difference between the start time and the current time. Any "skip" you may see reflects a process of catching up to the new time difference.