• I'll answer with a question : "Why do we need AppleScript ?"
  For the ability to personalize our personal computers. It's the Mac way.
  
  
• The Audrey has several hidden features that are enabled by making a few changes to its system.
  
  
• Another small reason is that her original software has bugs. The 'Final' software works very well.

• The first thing that must be done if you want to do any mods at all,
  is to do the Update of the Audrey system
  
  
• Next, you will want to be able to archive Audrey's system and your changes.
  So do the 'get root' and 'create Compact Flash' procedures.

• Virtual Network Computing "VNC"
  This is a system much like 'Timbuktu', which lets the 'client' computer, even over the web, to control and monitor your XTension Mac host from Audrey.
  
  The software is available. It works. The problem is that you are limited in the number of Audreys that can monitor at one time, and it does create a serious load on the XTension Mac processor. IE: It slows the processing of all XTension commands...
  
  
• Serve XTension to the web
  The alternative to VNC is to establish a 'web server' that serves pages of information and controls for your XTension system.
  
  So by using the simple 'personal web server' that Apple provides free, or a more specific XTension-Web application, you simply create web pages that communicate with XTension, and thus can be accessed (with secure procedures) from anywhere on the internet.
  
  

• Task/Window Switching
  One thing that really is obvious once you can access the 'unix' system, is
  that switching between 'windows' is almost impossible.
  
  This is because the keyboard needs to be re-mapped slightly, to allow use of the "Control" and "Alt" keys.
  Once you make this change, you can easily press/hold the "Alt" and then the "Snapshot" key,
  and the windows will swap between the Browser, email, 'shell' windows etc.
  
  The best place I've seen for this procedure is at : The Audrey Hacking site
  
  It isn't pretty, but if you use the same skills you learned in the 'get root' procedure, it should be possible.
  Or wait a while, and there will be one on the shed.com site.
  
  
• Timbuktu-like control of XTension from the Audrey
  Add VNC and you can monitor XTension directly from Audrey.
  
  
• More colors on the Audrey Browser
  Change the Browser default 8-bit color to 12-bit color.
  
  If you've already got 'root', then just type into a shell window :
  TYPE : echo 0 > /config/BROWSER_Use256Colors [enter key]
  
  That will change the browser so that it uses 12-bit (thousands) of colors rather than the default 8-bit (256 colors).
  
  
• Enable Audrey's internal 'server'
  Audrey has her own web server! Just a simple text edit change and you can 'browse' her pages from a Mac or PC web browser.
  
  
• Get a better Text Editor !
  There are more mods that can be done with a simple text editor. PEDit is another file editor that's much more friendly than 'vi'.
  
  
• Enable Audrey's FTP and Telnet servers.
  Enable Audrey's FTP daemons and be able to transfer files and open a 'terminal' window. Using free Mac Telnet software, you can do any further 'text edit' procedures using the Mac screen and keyboard. Even sign on as 'root' !.
  
  
• Get an on-screen keyboard
  For a location where you don't need a keyboard very often, here's one that you can 'touch' and enter data into any of Audrey's applications.
  
  
• Get the QNX operating system
  This is a thread on the linux-hacker bbs regarding a web site that offers the entire "QNX" operating system. There are pieces of this 'web-CD', that can be simply added to your Audrey system. Plus, it is reported that using a PC emulator (Virtual PC) on your Mac, you can run this QNX OS and be able to create and compile your own 'C' programs for your Audrey...!
  
  
• Add an Alarm Clock to Audrey's talents
  Here is a tutorial from Brian Wente that lets you create a simple alarm clock for the Audrey !
  
  
• Disable Audrey's automatic 'sleep' mode.
  
  
• Command Audrey's screen to turn on/off
  Enable a simple function that can turn on/off Audrey's screen from a remote, like XTension.
  
  
• Change those 'Channels'
  Modify the 'channels' that Audrey chooses when you twist the Channel knob.
  
  
• Playing MP3's
  
• Change Audrey's 'skin'
  Modify Audrey's startup screen, and other icons
  
  
• For any item that doesn't have a link, try some of the links below...

• Dean Davis's Macintosh-XTension-Audrey site
  
  
• Robert's Audrey Info site
  
  
• The Un-Official Audrey Hacking site
  
  
• The Linux-Audrey discussion board
  
  
• The Unofficial 3Com Audrey FAQ
  
  
• Another Audrey discussion list
  
  
• The QNX operating system website with documentation of some of Audrey's 'shell' functions?
  

Last modified: December 5, 2007
Michael Ferguson, webmaster@shed.com