Continuum Service™

Continuum Service makes any Windows 2000 or XP computer on your local area network (LAN) into an accurate time keeper. You can retrieve time from another local computer running Continuum/server or Continuum Service, or from the internet via NTP. When configured as a time server, Continuum Service will provide time sync to other local computers running any Continuum product.

No matter how you use it, Continuum Service runs invisibly as an efficient Windows Service. This means that it starts starts as soon as you boot your computer and thus is available even before you log onto a computer.   Having a service running as soon as the computer boots without requiring a user to log in provides better system security and functionality. Standard applications only start once a user logs in and physically starts the application either manually or by one of Windows auto-run features (i.e. Startup folder in your Start menu). 

Why run Continuum Service instead of Continuum/server?

• Continuum Service starts running as soon as Windows boots without requiring a user to log in
• Synchronizes computer time, even if no one is currently logged in. Useful on those servers tucked away in the IT closet.
• Reduces certain security issues of giving users too much control. Do you really want to give all users the privilege to change system level variables such as the time and other settings?
• Continuum Service uses 43% less memory and 10% of the CPU time required by Continuum/server or any other full-fledged windowed application running from the taskbar or system tray.
• Continuum Service is simply a wiser choice for your 2000 or XP machine. It is easy to install, sets up via user-friendly Control Panel, and is completely invisible when running. Available for single users or as Network Service bundles to save you money.
• Use your computer's internal CMOS quartz clock to update Windows time.
  

About the internal CMOS clock in your PC

When you change the time in Windows, either synchronizing with Continuum or manually, it updates the internal CMOS quartz clock. Your computer uses this clock on startup to set time in Windows for use with all applications. On machines that are on for longer durations, Windows time can (and will) vary from 2 minutes to an hour or more per day (don't believe us? read this!) and will never look twice at the "real time" on the CMOS clock.

If your machine is not attached to a public network and does not have access to a remote time server via NTP, you may synchronize to your computer's internal CMOS quartz clock. The CMOS clock is far more accurate than Windows separate time keeping routines. When you change the time in Windows, either synchronizing with Continuum or manually, it updates the internal CMOS quartz clock.

Why is there no trial version of the Continuum Service? 

There is no trial for the service version of Continuum for the maintenance on installing and uninstalling services with a timed trial is not really worth it (we here at Apteryx believe in ease-of-use).  Services are very compact, efficient Windows applications that are meant to run in the background and provide exactly what their name implies: computer and application services.  Adding extra code to a service to handle trial version time-outs and display dialogs to users indicating the a trial period status only wastes more computer memory and processor time.  The trial applications that are available will introduce you to the capability of what the service provides, but in an application form.

You are welcome to download our full-feature 30-day trial of Continuum or Continuum/server to see just how easy our software is to use!

Continuum Service requires Windows 2000 or XP.
All Continuum products are provided on an install CD-ROM, complete with electronic documentation.