WakeupOnStandBy for Windows

Despite this program's eyesore of a user interface, we would have forgiven WakeupOnStandBy's design flaws if it had functioned properly. However, while it successfully woke up our computer, it failed to perform the tasks that we had programmed it to do at wake-up.

WakeupOnStandBy's user interface is crowded and seems as packed together as the app's name. All of the program's commands are squeezed into one small window. Though they are numbered, the details of each step lack any kind of flow. They are also very vague, so it's difficult to tell where to go or what to click on next. During our first test, we selected to wake up our computer at a designated date and time, and open our browser to Yahoo. The program successfully woke up our computer, but it failed to open our browser. After 30 seconds, our computer went back to sleep. On our second go-around, we opted to run an application once our computer was awakened from its slumber. Again, the program successfully woke up our computer, but it failed to run the application.

The program doesn't come with any kind of built-in help, but it does offer links to the publisher's Web site for an online manual and an FAQ page. We weren't able to resolve the issues we had with the program using either guide. This program may be free, but it's no bargain. Skip it for an automation program that features a better design and performance.

• Fixed bugs in the scheduling engine.
• Simplified program's UI & added support for UI languages.