TweetMyMac lets you get screenshots, iSight snapshots, and your IP address from your Mac just by sending a direct message to your specially setup Mac controlling account. You can start torrents remotely, shutdown your Mac and more.
TweetMyMac is currently still considered beta software so please don't blame us if your Mac spontaneously catches fire. Also, please let us know if things don't work as they should.
If you've enjoyed using TweetMyMac and want to thank us and support development then read about why you should donate to us here.
How To Use TweetMyMac
-
Sign up for a new Twitter account just for your Mac (I called mine TweetAlexsMac) - feel free to protect the updates if you like.
- IMPORTANT: You MUST sign up for a new account, not just use your normal Twitter account or everyone you follow will be able to control your Mac!
- Set the new account to follow your main twitter account.
- Download and run TweetMyMac.
- Enter the account details for the new account you signed up for (that's your Mac's Twitter account)
- To control your Mac send it a direct message with a command (either using the direct message option on twitter or by writing a tweet of the form "d MacAccountName command")
- Your Mac will reply to some commands (like retrieving IP address or screenshots) using it's account so you will probably want to set your main twitter account to follow your Mac.
Supported Commands
Any of these commands can be sent to your Mac with a DM:| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
| shutdown | Shutdown your Mac. Will NOT save any open files. |
| restart | Restart your Mac. Will NOT save any open files. |
| logout | Logout of your Mac. Will NOT save any open files. |
| sleep | Sleep your Mac. |
| ip | Get your Mac's external IP address. Your Mac will reply with its current IP. |
| isight | Snap an image from your Mac's iSight camera. Your Mac will reply with the picture posted on TwitPic. |
| screenshot | Get a screenshot of your Mac. Your Mac will reply with the picture posted on TwitPic. |
| say [phrase] | Your Mac will speak the phrase in the default voice. |
| torrent [torrent URL] | Your Mac will download the torrent and open it in the default torrent client. |
| screensaver | The screensaver will be activated on your Mac. |
| open [App] | Opens the application. You do not need to specify the apps path, but you must enter it's full name, eg "open Address Book". |
| quit [App] | Quits the application. You do not need to specify the apps path, but you must enter it's full name, eg "open Address Book". The application will NOT save any open files. |
| mute | Mutes your Mac's volume. |
| unmute | Un-mutes your Mac's volume. |
| lock | Lock you Mac, switching to the login screen (without logging out) |
| battery | (For laptops) Your Mac will reply with it's current battery percentage, and whether it's running on AC or battery power. |
| empty trash | This will empty the trash on your user account. |
| ping | This will cause your Mac to respond with a short message to confirm it's responding. |
| tweet [text] | This will make your Mac's account tweet the provided text. |
| [URL] | Your Mac will open any URL it is sent. |
| %[command] | Your Mac will execute the custom shell command. Note: this is disabled by default for security and must be enabled in the options to use. |
Changelog
Version 1.07 (minor update)
- Massively improved speed / reliability of shutdown, restart & logout commands.
- The generated profile image will now include your desktop background and dock. Thanks to Rogue Amoeba for the great code used by this feature!
- There is now a limited degree of smartness, so commands like 'What is your IP address?' and 'please shutdown' will respond correctly. However, you should continue to use the exact commands to ensure guaranteed execution.
- The screenshot taking code has now been rewritten for reliability & speed.
Version 1.06 (minor update)
- Tentative fix for overly dark iSight images.
- TweetMyMac will now set your Mac accounts profile picture automatically if it's set to twitters default picture.
- New 'lock' command will lock your Mac, changing to the login screen.
- New 'battery' command for laptops will return your current battery percentage and whether the laptop is running on battery or AC Power.
- New 'ping' command will respond with a short message to confirm the Mac is responding.
- New 'empty trash' command will empty your Mac's trash.
- New 'tweet [text]' command will have your Mac's account tweet the provided text.
Version 1.05 (minor update)
- Fixed an issue causing the app to crash when receiving the iSight command for some users.
- Added a "screensaver" command to activate the screensaver.
- Added a "mute" and "unmute" command to mute and unmute your Mac's volume.
- Added "open [APP]" and "quit [APP]" commands to open and quit Applications - you do not need to specify the apps path, but you must enter it's full name, eg "open Address Book".
- You can now have your Mac open a URL starting with www. (not just http:// etc)
Version 1.04 (minor update)
- Corrected warning message to show people the account is following rather than followers.
- Direct messages sent informing users they can control the Mac now contain a link explaining the message (http://themacbox.co.uk/tweetmymac/dm/)
Version 1.03 (minor update)
- Added a warning showing who will be able to control your Mac when you first use an account.
- You can now send a direct message with just a URL as the contents and your Mac will open that URL.
- Added menu option to donate to TheMacBox to support development of TweetMyMac.
Version 1.02 (minor update)
- The iSight command should now work 100% of the time.
Version 1.01 (minor update)
- Added ability to directly set the Mac account's profile picture.
Version 1.0 (initial release)
- Control your Mac with tweets
- Get screenshots & iSight images
- Find out your Mac's IP address
- Start torrents with tweets
- More...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe?
Yes. Only people followed by your Mac's account can control your Mac with DMs. Also, by default custom commands are disabled so it would be impossible for anyone to delete files even if they had your Twitter login. However, TweetMyMac is only as safe as your twitter accounts - if anyone gets the password for you or your Mac's account they'll be able to run any of the above commands.
What commands can I use?
See the table above.
Can I protect the updates from my Mac's account?
Yes. You should protect the updates if you don't want them to be visible to the public. Also, if you don't want screenshots
and iSight snaps to show up on the TwitPic.com public timeline
then you should login to TwitPic.com with your Mac's account, go to Settings and select "Do not show my updates in the public timeline".
Otherwise anyone can see your screenshots and iSight snaps - depends how much you want to share with the world!
Should I set my Mac's account to follow people I like?
NO. Anyone you follow with your Mac's account will be able to control your Mac!
Should I sign in to TweetMyMac with my main Twitter account?
NO. Everyone you follow will be able to control your Mac! That's why you make a new account just for your Mac.
Does it work if I'm not the logged in user on the Mac?
No, TweetMyMac has to be running as the main logged in user to work.
What happens if I sent a command when the software wasn't running, then I start it up?
TweetMyMac only runs commands received after it starts up.
What does the "Run Test Command..." option in the menu do?
It lets you give TweetMyMac commands as if they were from Twitter so you can test what they do.
What does the "Set Profile Image..." option in the menu do?
It lets you set a nice picture as the profile image of your Mac's account.
What version of Mac OS X is required to run TweetMyMac?
TweetMyMac currently only supports Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard & Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, sorry Tiger users!
Where can I send feedback or questions not answered here?
If you have any feedback, please send it to tweetmymac@themacbox.co.uk - please understand if we have a high volume of mail we may not reply directly to requests for features etc, but we will have made a careful note of your feedback.
TweetMyMac was designed by TheMacBox, inspired by TweetMyPC and the Twitter bird image was created by The Design Superhero. Thanks to Rogue Amoeba for providing code used in the profile image setting feature.