MacUpdate: Member Profile

BlackMacX

Downloads: 4

Posts: 20

Smile Score: +23

About Me

I am a Free member
Gender: Male
Not much to say; I'm a Mac user going all the way back to '86. Learned to resurrect FAT drives on my Mac when others said it couldn't be done. F***ed up my Mac OS 6 and 7 installs playing with ResEdit live in the Finder's inner'eds. I'm good within doing things the other way, breaking then trying to fix. :)

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Last Visit: 3 days ago
Member Since: 14 May 2011
Profile Views: 270

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BlackMacX's Posts

Average Rating from BlackMacX:

(13)

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BookMacster

BlackMacX reviewed on 23 May 2012

I have tried BookMacster v1.11.1 (tried it in prior versions too) and again within minutes have deleted it. Sorry, Bookdog does the job just as well, cleaner and simpler interface and setup. Also, BookMacster, every time I have used it has given me the same basic error, that the file it creates (from default settings) can't be found and therefore always asks me to open or create a new bookshelf. This has never ever worked and is why I always go back to Bookdog. I understand that there are issues with how Bookdog did things; but sorry, the developer needs to take the functionality of BookMacster and the usability of Bookdog and create a new application that has both without their respective faults. I know Bookdog won't sync with iCloud, thankfully I don't sync my iPhone (or eventual iPad) that way.

I can't recommend BookMacster to anyone. I have uninstalled it on my own system now for I believe the 5th time and have gone back (yet again) to Bookdog.

Please, developer, listen to users and ditch BookMacster and learn from it's failures and also Bookdog's dogged continued use. Thanks.

[Version 1.11.1]

Switch

BlackMacX commented on 26 Mar 2012

A promising idea for a simple application; sadly, once downloaded and installed, it didn't find my other browser, Chromium; but did find Firefox.

Also, the developer's page for the application only seems to provide a download and no contact information (that's why I am commenting here).

If you could add in the functionality to add additional browsers (like Chromium) this would be much appreciated.

If the above is done, I will update my comment accordingly.

[Version 1.0]

Browser

BlackMacX reviewed on 21 Mar 2012

I installed v1.1.3 of Browser today and can't tell you how bad a change this is from v1.1.2; I can't even launch it; the Dock icon just keeps pulsing; but window comes up; all I get it the pulsing Dock icon. I have removed it (moved to Trash, as well as all related files to Browser) and even rebooted and unzipped the archive file again and installed it again in my root Applications folder. Still no joy. Going to Activity Monitor doesn't help either as Browser isn't coming up as a process running.

So into the trash this version goes.

[Version 1.1.3]

1 Reply

+23

BlackMacX replied on 22 Mar 2012

@Apfelz.
I've emailed the console log file, a snapshot of my Activity Monitor (filtered on Browser) and my Dock to show that though app is in the Dock and flashing (like it's starting up), it isn't running and exits with a 1 in the console log. I hope this helps.

LibreOffice

BlackMacX reviewed on 15 Mar 2012

I have used LibreOffice since it calved from OpenOffice and find it generally to be great. My whole family use it and haven't had issue until v3.5.0 (in my case RC3) where documents saved as .doc don't display fonts correctly once saved (even though they display correctly initially when setup). The happens with bulletpoints and only seems to happen with saving to .doc format; .odt format isn't affected nor is exporting to a PDF. So I believe the issue is with the rendering engine or font recognition within LO and specific to .doc files. My wife created a file on her system, saved as a .doc and also .odt; sent the .doc to me as it was displaying the above problems on her machine and so wanted to try on mine; same issue. Both machines come with a standard Mac OS X Lion 10.7.3 install of fonts and no extra fonts have been added. So I have to assume the issue is with LO as other programs don't have similar issues with .doc files and bullet points in the same fonts (specifically Arial 10 and 12).

That said, overall LO is a great app and I will continue to use it.

[Version 3.5.1]

Hazel

BlackMacX reviewed on 01 Mar 2012

Updated this morning, and no issues whatsoever. I have used Hazel since 2007 and can't imagine life with out it.

The only advice I would give to upgraders, as I commented below on Quorm's experience, it to stop Hazel before you upgrade. Then perform the upgrade, and then restart Hazel. It worked perfectly for me and none of my rules were affected.

[Version 3.0]

1 Reply

+23

BlackMacX replied on 01 Mar 2012

Just as a note, I have over 40 rules setup in Hazel; some calling embedded Applescripts or Bash scripts, no issues what so ever. That's not to say you shouldn't backup your rules. To do this, go to the Folder tab, then in the left column pane ("Folders") go to the cog wheel at the bottom and select Export All. This will explore all your rules into nice and neat groups based on how you have yours setup. I do it whenever I have upgraded or made a change to my rules.

Apple Messages

BlackMacX reviewed on 17 Feb 2012

I have used it all day yesterday without issue; love it sofar. It is long overdue to be able send/receive iMessages to/from your family/friends iPhones/iPad on your Mac. Works well, no issues. The other apps from OS X Mountain Lion that I hope are released for Mac OS X Lion users to try and keep are Reminders and Notes. Notification is nice possibly as well.

That said, the idea of OS X Mountain Lion doesn't enthral me at this point, I am using Mac OS X Lion and don't like how it has removed some functionality that was there in Snow Leopard. This though is just my 2 cents worth of thought on the future version of (Mac) OS X.

[Version 6.1]

Punakea

BlackMacX reviewed on 14 Dec 2011

I bought Punakea early after it came out of beta and was available for purchase. I'd used Leap and wanted a tool with similar functionality and wanted to support a startup company. Punakea was lightweight and I thought good initially. That said, I found quickly that it can't (for me) handle more then 2 or 3 tags attached to too many files and/or too many files of one tag (I would have it crash when trying to tag 40 or so PDFs or when I was removing tags, it would often crash). I did email the developers who were as helpful as was possible; but my issues continued. I have removed Punakea, all related files and re-installed it, no change. Also, there were numerous times where I would remove a tag, then quit the application and go back a week or two later to find the tag back. This and the fact that for my usage pattern, Punakea isn't want I wanted, has lead me to remove Punakea and continue to search for a potential replacement. Sofar, the best I have found, it the Finder's SmartSearchs; they aren't perfect and not as nuanced, though the Finder doesn't crash on me and I can find files faster then I could with Punakea (also, having to maintain the org structure of the tags was a pain).

It wasn't right for me; but might be for another.

[Version 1.1.6]

Alfred

BlackMacX reviewed on 21 Oct 2011

A great lightweight and function rich launcher; I don't need the PowerPack add-on; but may buy it to support the continued development of Alfred. It's become the third application I instant on a Mac when setting it up, after 1Password (love it; if you don't know it, check it out here: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/21711/1password) and Evernote (love it too, check it out here if you don't know it: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/27456/evernote).

I am a former (though still support it and would go back to it if Alfred were to go under) of DragThing and was originally skeptical that Alfred would work as well for me as DT; but it is wonderful and so simple to use.

[Version 0.9.10]

DragThing

BlackMacX reviewed on 21 Oct 2011

I used to use DragThing and loved it; it is very powerful and prior to me moving to Alfred, was for over a decade my application/document/URL launcher of choice. James (the developer) has always been helpful and quick to reply and willing to help, no matter how finicky the issue. Has DragThing dropped in popularity as others have come on the scene, yes; will I stop supporting a great piece of software and one that for many users is a near top install for new systems after password manager, no.

The ability to customize the interface, the power within DT and its versatility as well as a great replacement for the Dock make it an application that were I to stop using Alfred, I would go back to (without looking at any other launcher).

Is it expensive, no, not for the work, stability, function and extensibility that James has put into it over the years. Also, the fact it doesn't need frequent updating speaks to James' solid work.

[Version 5.9.8]

Bookdog

BlackMacX reviewed on 21 Oct 2011

It's great to see that Sheep Systems is still updating Bookdog even though they have their newer app BookMacster out. I will stay with Bookdog as it (IMO) is better at what it and even BookMacster's intended functions are, less prone to problems (BookMacster is not only more complicated to setup and use; but ruined my bookmark structure (thankfully I had a backup available) so bad that I had to replace the file in Safari (my primary browser).

What for me sets Bookdog apart from it's competition (and why partially I keep using it) is it's ability to verify sites still exist, sorting of bookmarks and keeping things organized between various browsers (I know the way it does this mayn't be as well designed (supposedly) as BookMacster; but I find Bookdog's implementation works better and has never (let me repeat that), never ruined my bookmark structure) effortlessly.

If Sheep System's can take a single (though I doubt I'm the only one) customer's suggestion, do away with BookMacster, renew Bookdog and leave it that way. The foray into BookMacster was for a valid reason; but it (by user comments) isn't what users seem to want, whereas Bookdog is still going strong (due to user demand) well after it was officially shelved to be replaced by BookMacster.

[Version 5.3.19]

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