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Shut Down a Mac with a Text Message
Posted by Kevin Purdy at 1:00 AM on April 22, 2008
Blogger and remote-control enthusiast Tim Matheson, who previously showed us how to shut down Windows using a text message, posts a script and easy-to-follow guide for doing the same on a Mac. Everything needed for the hack comes included with OS X Leopard, except the cell phone, of course. Matheson suggests setting up a "super-secret" email address that you only use for shutdown messages, but there are other ways of remote-controlling a Mac using keywords. Hit the link to download a safe shutdown script, and post your own remote-control computing tricks in the comments.
Tags: how to | mac os x | mac os x leopard | mac os x tip | remote control | text messaging | top
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
alexp2_ad
Posted 1:28 AM 22/4/08
Unless I'm missing something, there is no mention of text messages in the actual how-to, just e-mails...
alexp2_ad
tnoetz01
Posted 1:54 AM 22/4/08
I'd assume you'd also have to leave outlook open all the time...not to mention, run outlook on your mac at all!
Of course, I'd assume you could do this with Mail as well.
tnoetz01
Tim Matheson
Posted 1:54 AM 22/4/08
@alexp2_ad
You send an email to your system using your cellphone. If you have a data phone then you can setup an email account on it. If you don't have an email compatible phone you must use your cellphone sms email address. Ask your provider.
Best.
TM
Tim Matheson
GBMax
Posted 2:31 AM 22/4/08
This works, although the fact that Matheson refers to OS X's mail application as iMail instead of Mail does not inspire confidence. This could explain why tnoetz01 is confused about the need to run Outlook on a Mac. But yes, you do need to keep Mail running (and not asleep) all the time, and it is only marginally useful to be able to shut down your Mac remotely.
BUT... the basic idea of doing things with mail-triggered AppleScripts is a good one. I use this to add events to iCal (and other things) via a Mac Mini that acts as the majordomo for my household. And text messaging (with the extra 10 cents aniruddha23 worries about) is not necessary if you use Jott.
GBMax
aniruddha23
Posted 2:11 AM 22/4/08
Cool. but whats the point. How often would someone really need this? and it now costs me 10 cents to shutdown my mac.
aniruddha23
nad
Posted 3:49 AM 22/4/08
@aniruddha23:
You don't have to take it so literally. I think the point is that you can control your computer by sending it emails and texts.
Furthermore - you can have it do different things based on the content of the email. Maybe the shutdown sleep thing doesn't apply to you. But these kinds of tips open up all kinds of options. Sometimes sending an email is a lot more convenient than opening up an ssh session.
I have to laugh when people imply that some specific tip doesn't apply to them so it must be useless. Or they don't want to use any of their brain to imagine how a tip might be altered to work for them.
nad
teehoi
Posted 4:42 AM 22/4/08
The script didn't work for me. For whatever reason the applescript didn't recognize the shutdown command for finder. After 30 seconds of trying to fix the problem I realized this isn't worth anything other than a quick "hey, check this out" to a buddy.
teehoi
alexp2_ad
Posted 6:35 AM 22/4/08
@Tim Matheson:
That's what I thought it must be, but then it's just controlling your mac via e-mail, making it the same as the past article linked in this one surely... :/
I'm not taking a dig at anyone, just slightly confused as to why this is called controlling via Text Message...
alexp2_ad
msbcyberdude
Posted 2:42 AM 22/4/08
This script doesn't work with Leopard. I get an error that the variable shutdown is not defined.
msbcyberdude
msbcyberdude
Posted 2:33 AM 22/4/08
Anyone else getting an applescript error that the "variable shutdown is not defined"?
msbcyberdude
wikwam
Posted 1:36 PM 22/4/08
Does anyone know of something similar for vista? I'd actually prefer to have a way to start it up this way than shut it down, so that when I get back from class I don't have to waste time waiting for my computer to boot up...
wikwam