I'm curious: if this requires a Blu-Ray drive, how can they claim it will work on any Mac, given that most don't have Blu-ray drives or an easy way to install one? Assuming the need for a Blu-ray drive, is there really any way to use this on a MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac Mini...?
With version 8.0.1, I am getting off the Firefox treadmill. It slows down everything running on my MacBook Pro. It locks up with the slightest provocation. It fails to restart after a forced quit (claiming that it's already running, even though there is no visible process int he Activity Monitor) - a problem I've been having since v4. Today, last night locked up when I attempted to clear the history (while I was offline), and was still unusable today. I got the following error when attempting to re-clear the history (and after a minute of the SBOD):
"A script on this page may be busy, or it may have stopped responding. You can stop the script now, or you can continue to see if the script will complete.
I have forced quit several times, shut down the mac and restarted, and FF still won't work properly. I refuse to waste another second of my life on this piece of garbage. Time to move on to a browser that works.
After a couple of days of regular use, it's clear that version 7.6 has the same issues I encountered with 7.5.2: it randomly drops connection for no reason (and immediately attempts to reconnect), thereby rendering any downloads in progress completely useless if your ISP uses dynamically-allocated IPs like mine does. This was the primary reason I downgraded to 7.5.1 before, and I can see I'll have to do so again. I paid good money for a 2010 Airport Extreme only to experience repeated failures as a result of ill-conceived firmware updates. In hindsight, I could have saved a lot of money buying a non-Mac product, and probably experienced better stability in the process. Thanks once more, Apple, for not disappointing my expectations. Let me know when you're ready to drop another firmware bomb.
It must not like my taste in music; out of 1442 tracks - I decided to test it on a smaller library first - it found cover art for 1 track! That said, I don't have a lot of pop/top-40 stuff. Hopefully it works better for others.
I needed this update in order to keep using Silverlight in 64-bit mode on Firefox 5. So far so good. Since the upgrade I haven't seen any screen flashing problems like I did on the previous version on Netflix (used to have the upper 1-2 inches of screen flash in a lighter colour on occasion). I'm hoping this means that they've eliminated the bug, but only time will tell.
For those looking for a way to configure Silverlight to maximize bandwidth, etc., there is a series of menus for configuring the software. Sadly, it's not as simple as right-clicking on the screen (so I give it a slightly lower ease-of-use rating). When Silverlight is running in regular windowed screen mode (ie not full screen):
For menu: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+M
For the a/v status: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+D
For stream manager: Crtl+Alt+Shift+S
For player info: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+P
The first one is the crucial one to memorize, as it will get you to the others. Supposedly the following work as well, but I've never managed to get them to function:
For download history: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+H
For frame rate histogram: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F
For bandwidth history: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+B
For buffer level history/prediction: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V
I highly recommend experimenting with the stream manager if you're unhappy with the quality of streamed video on Netflix. You'd be surprised how much just tweaking the buffering can improve picture quality!
Just bought this app via mupromo, and it appears that the download is NOT Pzizz Pro, but just Pzizz v2.7 (even though current version is 2.7.1). The app I received has a different interface than pictured and is limited to 60 minutes maximum session length (as opposed to 90 minutes, as advertised and shown in the demos). What gives?
Did some more testing - can produce 90 minute Energizer routines, just not Sleep or Meditation routines. Still don't know why the interface has changed, but perhaps it's a feature of the latest version. Also find it funny that the product FAQ (in the help system) just opens the product website. There's no FAQ, just the usual advertisement. Whats the point of telling a registered user how to buy your product? The general help material is a little more useful, but not much.
I'll produce a more complete review after I've tried it out for a while.
Overall, still a pretty solid emulator, even in 10.6.7 on an Intel MacBook Pro. It does have a habit of shutting down poorly; it tends to crash instead of shutting down.
Also of note: this page lists it as a $25 shareware product. The price is currently $32.
I generally like the new version, but after a week of use it locked up in the middle of viewing a page. Even after restarting not only the browser but also my MacBook Pro, FireFox would lock up the moment it started (despite opening to a blank page and not connected to the internet). When I tried to run an old copy of Firefox 3.6 I had kept, I had the same result, leading me to believe that the plist file had been thoroughly corrupted. I finally had to wipe out the plist file and start again. Still have no idea why it died, as I was viewing a site I had visited dozens of times without incident and for which the scripting had not changed. Next time I visited the site (after wiping the plist file) I had no problems.
Like other users, I am disappointed that I cannot increase/decrease font size using the pinch action on the multi touch pad, and the current system is limited by the availability of 64-bit plugins (like Microsoft SilverLight - NetFlix users will have to switch to 32-bit mode every time they view a video stream until MS comes out with a 64-bit version for Mac, and I'm sure they're in no hurry), but it shows promise. Not sure why other users were complaining about Flash not working in 64-bit mode, as it works fine for me. Perhaps I haven't encountered the same Flash objects, but so far YouTube and other Flash-intensive sites work fine in 64-bit mode on my machine. I'll hold off giving a star rating until I figure out the source of the stability issue mentioned above.
You are correct, Coolscreenname; the fault appears to have been with Silverlight, which failed to update automatically to the latest version for some reason. Since manually upgrading, it works without a browser restart. Thanks for the tip!
I can't help but notice these drivers aren't being released bu Epson, but by Apple. I've been using an Epson Stylus PHOTO R380 with little difficulty (except problems with the 7.5.2 firmware update to my Airport Extreme - network printing is hit-or-miss now). Why exactly do I need to download an 837MB file to replace the (working) manufacturer's driver (which hasn't been updated by Epson since 2007) with something from Apple? There is no reference on the Apple site to explain why this update is necessary. Anybody have any insights?
I foolishly went back to using FireFox. Yesterday it forcibly upgraded to v9.0.1, and now NetFlix no longer works - I get a black screen when I attempt to play anything. Anybody else having this issue? My silverlight plugin is up-to-date and enabled, and I can assess Netflix fine through Chrome. This is seriously twisting my arm into deleting Firefox permanently from all my computers.
I had a copy of Firefox 7 still floating around, so I tested it and NetFlix worked perfectly - for about 5 minutes. At that point, Firefox upgraded to v9.0.1 without asking permission, and put me right back to square 1. For the record: I officially hate this product line now, and I've switched to Chrome. Let me know when you're ready to make a real browser again.
Latest update wiped all my settings and replaced them; had to go back and reconfigure the interface after installing. Also noted some issues with Mail: after adjusting the color settings in CB, whichever message is selected at the time in Mail winds up permanently highlighted (as if it were part of a thread). Even if the message is deleted, the highlighting remains in the Trash. Furthermore, it retains the highlighting color settings; if the settings are changed when it isn't selected, the message will still be highlighted in the old color scheme. Very odd behavior.
Problems 1 and 2 appear to be connected, as the Sophos errors seem to be logged around the times I get the SBOD from Firefox. At one point the Activity Monirot showed Firefox eating 102% of CPU time. I've had as many as three of these show up in a row in the logs. It's possible there is a virus involved, but I don't know what. Clearing caches has no impact.
This morning version 7.0 upgraded itself to 7.0.1, and promptly popped up a window telling me the Profiles could not be read. Johnny-come-lately finally figured out there was a problem!
3) Plugins not working or not showing up at all, most notably QuickTime, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and DivX Web Player:
- QuickTime no longer handles imbedded MP3 files properly; they either don't load or don't play. A forced reload of the frame by itself will allow the media to play occasionally but it isn't consistent - repeated tests on the same page resulted in sporadic success - while loading it within the original frame will result in either nothing or a message that the QT plugin is missing (even though it shows up in the Tools > Add-ons list).
- Adobe Acrobat Reader is another story; as I examine the list of plugins and compare it to the directory, I can clearly see that the reader plugin is in the directory, but it does not show up in the about:plugins list or the Tools > Add-ons list. Every time I encounter a page with an in-line viewable pdf I get the Missing Plugin image, but I have gone through the proposed upgrading and installation each time without improvement. This may be a problem with Adobe Acrobat.
- DivX Web Player has been incompatible since upgrading to version 4 or 5, but it still shows up in the about:plugin list of enabled plugins. Not sure why or how to get rid of it.
None of these problems existed in version 3.6. I am left with only one conclusion: this rapid development route Firefox is on is less than ideal. I'm left with two choices: downgrade to v3.6 again or move to a competitor's product. I'm open to suggestions.
I'm having trouble upgrading. I currently have v1.2 installed, and see an update to v1.2.1 is available. CB v1.2 doesn't recognise the update as being a newer version, so I can't upgrade through the CB menu. Probably just isn't set up yet to recognise version numbers of x.y.z format. I'll try to download and install via this site instead.
Apparently 10.4 isn't just a 64-bit program on Lion; it also interferes with plugins in Snow Leopard. AccuBeatMix vanished, and CrystalBlack (a visual skin system) ceased to operate properly. I had to downgrade to 10.3 again to keep the functionality I require.
Clearly Apple's iTunes 10.4 update is a little too Lion-ready; CBv1.1 won't work on iTunes 10.4. For those who really want CB to work on iTunes, don't upgrade to v10.4 yet!
OK, new problem. I finally gave up on shared library access - iTunes can't connect to my old library without completely corrupting it and losing all the files. Today the issue is Core Location services.
For some reason, the latest version of iTunes causes a continuous stream of locationd accesses - the process central to Apple's Core Location service, used to pinpoint where you are geographically using WIFI. What I can't fathom is why iTunes needs to know where I'm located. There doesn't seem to be a way to shut this off, and as long as locationd is running, it tries to access the network every 10 seconds (using up 5 seconds for the query and 5 of idle time) as well as a chunk of my usage quota. Anybody else notice this? Anybody know how to fix it?
The update went through fine for me, but ever since upgrading the locationd process has been going crazy - way too many internet access attempts. Running Little Snitch I can see that it tries (unsuccessfully, I might add) to determine my location every 10 seconds (5 of which is rest and 5 of which is network activity). Last night I accidentally fell asleep with the AirPort still connected, and despite having no applications running and no viruses, managed to rack up 112MB of network activity in 7 hours! I have a usage cap on my service, so I don't want the computer wasting resources this way. Unfortunately I need location services for some of my apps (though they're pretty useless right now because Skyhook keeps reporting my location incorrectly). Anybody else having this problem? Any idea how to fix it?
1) UnderCover v4.5. This problem has been eliminated now; the developer sent me an update within 18 hours to correct the problem. Thank you, Peter!
2) iTunes v10.3.1. This problem persists. I have no idea why iTunes needs to constantly know my location, but turning on iTunes while my AirPort is active results in an endless stream of locationd access attempts. I've included this in Troubleshooting on the iTunes page (http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/5661/apple-itunes)
I'm not posting a full review yet, as I'm still working out the kinks. I liked the idea of this product, and it was reasonably priced, so I registered in early June. The earlier version couldn't track my location at all, though I suspect the problem was at my end at the time. After giving the new version permission to track my location, it accurately tracks my IP address (which will allow tracking accurate within a 50km radius), but it consistently reports my Mac as being on a causeway in Miami, Florida, when it's actually in Eastern Canada. At least it's on the right continent and the right coast! Unfortunately, the error isn't on Orbicle's end, as near as I can tell; the ability to chart the location of your Mac/iPhone/etc. depends on Skyhook coverage, and for some reason Skyhook apparently thinks I'm thousands of miles from my actual location, despite providing accurate data to them on June 3rd. I suspect most US users won't have this difficulty, as Skyhook coverage seems to be pretty good in most populated areas of the USA. I've got a request into Skyhook to see if I can correct the error at their end. Meanwhile, I just hope nobody steals my laptop, or the cops in Miami are going to have a fun time finding it!
version 4.5 has resulted in locationd going nuts! The locationd process now tries to connect every 10 seconds (spending 5 of them connecting and 5 idle). Last night I fell asleep with my airport on and nothing running, and it ran up 112MB of access in 7 hours! Hopefully this is a bug than can be fixed before I run out of my internet usage quota for the month!
Got an updated copy from the developer within 18 hours of registering my concern. Thanks Peter!
For the record: I also discovered that iTunes v10.3.1 is causing the same problem, for reasons unknown. At least Undercover has a legitimate reason to want to know my location. I have no idea why iTunes would.
Please login or create a new MacUpdate Member account to use this feature
-2
Blu-ray Player
-1
+14
+1
Firefox
Culture Of One reviewed on 21 Nov 2011
"A script on this page may be busy, or it may have stopped responding. You can stop the script now, or you can continue to see if the script will complete.
Script: resource:///components/nsFormHistory.js:465"
I have forced quit several times, shut down the mac and restarted, and FF still won't work properly. I refuse to waste another second of my life on this piece of garbage. Time to move on to a browser that works.
+1
AirPort Base Station and Time Capsule Firmware Update
Culture Of One reviewed on 15 Nov 2011
CoverArtFinder
BeatS (R&B/Pop Edition)
+3
Silverlight
Culture Of One reviewed on 26 Jun 2011
For those looking for a way to configure Silverlight to maximize bandwidth, etc., there is a series of menus for configuring the software. Sadly, it's not as simple as right-clicking on the screen (so I give it a slightly lower ease-of-use rating). When Silverlight is running in regular windowed screen mode (ie not full screen):
For menu: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+M
For the a/v status: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+D
For stream manager: Crtl+Alt+Shift+S
For player info: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+P
The first one is the crucial one to memorize, as it will get you to the others. Supposedly the following work as well, but I've never managed to get them to function:
For download history: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+H
For frame rate histogram: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F
For bandwidth history: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+B
For buffer level history/prediction: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V
I highly recommend experimenting with the stream manager if you're unhappy with the quality of streamed video on Netflix. You'd be surprised how much just tweaking the buffering can improve picture quality!
Pzizz Pro
+14
I'll produce a more complete review after I've tried it out for a while.
+1
Power64
Culture Of One reviewed on 08 May 2011
Also of note: this page lists it as a $25 shareware product. The price is currently $32.
Firefox
Like other users, I am disappointed that I cannot increase/decrease font size using the pinch action on the multi touch pad, and the current system is limited by the availability of 64-bit plugins (like Microsoft SilverLight - NetFlix users will have to switch to 32-bit mode every time they view a video stream until MS comes out with a 64-bit version for Mac, and I'm sure they're in no hurry), but it shows promise. Not sure why other users were complaining about Flash not working in 64-bit mode, as it works fine for me. Perhaps I haven't encountered the same Flash objects, but so far YouTube and other Flash-intensive sites work fine in 64-bit mode on my machine. I'll hold off giving a star rating until I figure out the source of the stability issue mentioned above.
+1
+14
Apple Epson Printer Drivers
Firefox
+14
Crystal Black
Firefox
1) Firefox gets slower and slower with each open tab (even if they all only contain static content) and inevitably crashes under the strain.
2)Sophos Anti-Virus keeps reporting that there are corrupt files in the Profiles. As an example:
com.sophos.intercheck: Corrupt file: /Users/XXXXXX/Library/Caches/Firefox/Profiles/srjawp7b.default/Cache/8/2C/9DD14d01
Problems 1 and 2 appear to be connected, as the Sophos errors seem to be logged around the times I get the SBOD from Firefox. At one point the Activity Monirot showed Firefox eating 102% of CPU time. I've had as many as three of these show up in a row in the logs. It's possible there is a virus involved, but I don't know what. Clearing caches has no impact.
This morning version 7.0 upgraded itself to 7.0.1, and promptly popped up a window telling me the Profiles could not be read. Johnny-come-lately finally figured out there was a problem!
3) Plugins not working or not showing up at all, most notably QuickTime, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and DivX Web Player:
- QuickTime no longer handles imbedded MP3 files properly; they either don't load or don't play. A forced reload of the frame by itself will allow the media to play occasionally but it isn't consistent - repeated tests on the same page resulted in sporadic success - while loading it within the original frame will result in either nothing or a message that the QT plugin is missing (even though it shows up in the Tools > Add-ons list).
- Adobe Acrobat Reader is another story; as I examine the list of plugins and compare it to the directory, I can clearly see that the reader plugin is in the directory, but it does not show up in the about:plugins list or the Tools > Add-ons list. Every time I encounter a page with an in-line viewable pdf I get the Missing Plugin image, but I have gone through the proposed upgrading and installation each time without improvement. This may be a problem with Adobe Acrobat.
- DivX Web Player has been incompatible since upgrading to version 4 or 5, but it still shows up in the about:plugin list of enabled plugins. Not sure why or how to get rid of it.
None of these problems existed in version 3.6. I am left with only one conclusion: this rapid development route Firefox is on is less than ideal. I'm left with two choices: downgrade to v3.6 again or move to a competitor's product. I'm open to suggestions.
Crystal Black
+14
Firefox
Apple iTunes
Crystal Black
Apple iTunes
For some reason, the latest version of iTunes causes a continuous stream of locationd accesses - the process central to Apple's Core Location service, used to pinpoint where you are geographically using WIFI. What I can't fathom is why iTunes needs to know where I'm located. There doesn't seem to be a way to shut this off, and as long as locationd is running, it tries to access the network every 10 seconds (using up 5 seconds for the query and 5 of idle time) as well as a chunk of my usage quota. Anybody else notice this? Anybody know how to fix it?
Apple Mac OS X
+14
1) UnderCover v4.5. This problem has been eliminated now; the developer sent me an update within 18 hours to correct the problem. Thank you, Peter!
2) iTunes v10.3.1. This problem persists. I have no idea why iTunes needs to constantly know my location, but turning on iTunes while my AirPort is active results in an endless stream of locationd access attempts. I've included this in Troubleshooting on the iTunes page (http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/5661/apple-itunes)
Undercover
+14
+14
For the record: I also discovered that iTunes v10.3.1 is causing the same problem, for reasons unknown. At least Undercover has a legitimate reason to want to know my location. I have no idea why iTunes would.