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Beholder User Reviews (9 posts)

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	Jul 31 2008	GCOGHILL This looks pretty cool, but could really use tabbed windows instead of opening new ones. (Version 3.0)		0
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	Nov 5 2006	MESADYNAMICS As the current engine was a bit outdated (and only functions somewhat reliably with AllTheWeb), we've completely rewritten Beholder from scratch. The first public release of this new version (Beholder 3.0a1) is now available. Though it is not yet feature complete, it does once again fully support Google image search, and will eventually include the oft-requested "sort by size" feature (probably in 3.0a2). When the final version of Beholder 3.0 is released, it will be a free upgrade for all current registered users, and will remain at its $19.95 price for new users. Thanks for your support. (Version 3.0a1)		0
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	Nov 30 2004	PIGZELNER It's a cool tool, but the Prism Zoom scaler makes the pictures look awful(!). Can it be because I'm using a flat screen? Or is the scaler method supposed to be like this? It would be nice with an option that could disable it. (Version 2.0)		0
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Nov 30 2004

ANONYMOUS PrismZoom displays the thumbnail data is a way that trades brightness for perceived sharpness. For high saturation thumbnails it works pretty well, but at 3x, any scaling method will be far from what the actual image looks like.

However, if you resize the Search Window smaller vertically you can remove it (it only displays when there is enough room for it).
(Version 2.0)

Feb 3 2005

TIMSTRINGER I've tried Prism Zoom with a number of images (some high-quality, reasonable resolution) and still find that the quality is very poor regardless of the Bright/Sharp setting. It would be good if there were a way to turn this feature off completely and just view the image in its native format.
(Version 2.0.1)

Feb 3 2005

ANONYMOUS I think you might be confused about what Prism Zoom is. The "image in its native format" is right there in front of you: in the thumbnail. Google (and other search engines) return tiny thumbnails, so Beholder decides to provide a 3x zoom to see the details a bit more closely without downloading the original image (which may not even exist).

Prism Zoom is simply a way of taking only the pixels in the thumbnail and expanding them 3x. No matter what zoom algorithm you use to do that, it's not going to look as good as the original image (there just isn't that much information in a tiny thumbnail).
(Version 2.0.1)

	Nov 15 2004	ANONYMOUS Note; For those looking for the freeware version of Beholder, it's still available as Beholder Lite. (Version 2.0)		0
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	Apr 6 2004	ANONYMOUS This is cool, lightning-fast software! I clocked it and it's easily as fast as Google. Images open in about two seconds and save just as fast. Several advantages over Google are that the thumbnails list relevant information and you save a lot of time over Google by being able to quickly open images in a pop-up window. Just don't try to adjust the sharpness slider without clicking off the "auto" option or the program crashes unmercifully. One feature I'd like to see in Beholder, in Google, Sherlock, or whatever, is a solid "safe search" preference for those of us with kids. (Version 1.3)		0
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Mar 10 2005

ANONYMOUS why make them go through the trouble of turning it off?
(Version 2.0.2)

	Mar 9 2004	MERMAN Needless use of an installer makes download overly complicated. Interface is a mess - defaults to view which does not show results, dragging window to resize causes clipping of interface elements. Enlarged versions of images bare little resemblance to original images. Using the websites the app interfaces with is easier and more pleasant than using the app - don't bother downloading. (Version 1.2)		0
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Mar 9 2004

ANONYMOUS Merman:

The installer is only used to present the shrinkwrap license, nothing more (this is explained clearly in the installer's Read Me).

The view does indeed show the results: it automatically expands when the results are ready (this can also be disabled or set to expand to a specific size).

And I respectfully disagree: Using a image search web site (and having to slog through Javascript, banner ads, etc. to get to the original image on a given site) is nowhere near as easy as simply double-clicking a thumbnail in Beholder to download an image.

For the price (free) may I suggest it's worth the "bother" to download.
(Version 1.2)

Mar 15 2004

MERMAN A license can be attached to a disk image - see, for example, http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/7397
(Version 1.2)

	Jan 12 2004	ANONYMOUS Both issues below are resolved in 1.1. (Version 1.1)		0
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	Nov 19 2003	WALLACE Doesn't display the size/dimensions of the images as google image search does. This is critical & surprising to be absent. (Version 1.0)		0
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	Nov 7 2003	THOMAS Pretty nice. Fast too. I wish you would have named the 'sets' what the search engine was instead of 1 2 and 3. Also this zoom thing doesn't look that impressive. What is it? And does it have to install off an installer? Thats kinda scary. (Version 1.0)		0
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