BURNINGTHUMB  GUIs are good. I wonder if the command line and shell script fans are serious. Do they run linux and darwin or do they use OS X.

In any case in addition to the GUI ShredIt X has many features not provided by the command line.

These cursory comments don't do any GUI program justice. It would be better to do a side by side comparison of all of ShredIt X features before saying "write a script"  
(Version 5.8.3)

BURNINGTHUMB  ShredIt X has many important features, like Safe Place, not found on the command line. We have been doing this for 15 years (since Mac OS 7) and trust me there is nothing worse than the sinking feeling of realizing you just shredded something by accident. This is just one example.

Finally, if the command line is for you that's great, but for many Mac OS X users a GUI is the way to go - there is a good reason for GUI's and that is why many folks pay $179 for Mac OS X upgrades instead of installing the free open source Darwin ;-)  
(Version 5.8.3)

BURNINGTHUMB  The information on rixstep is obsolete. Gutmann revised his paper but rixstep "forgot" to revise their site.

The 35 overwrites is just wearing out your hard disk, its not doing a "better" job - that's the gist of Gutmanns revision.

We do make ShredIt X which is a perfect GUI file, folder, disk free space, and optical CDRW shredder. It also includes a safe place feature (sorry command line fans no safe place for you to keep things) so that you don't accidentally shred important files.  
(Version 4.2.2)

BURNINGTHUMB  NetShred overwrites the private information. Safari deletes it. The difference is that when NetShred is done no file recovery software can be used to retrieve the information, when Safari is done anyone, even your kids, could recover your private information.  
(Version 4.2.2)

BURNINGTHUMB  If you clear private data without using a secure delete, ask this reviewer suggests, those private items are recoverable by many off the shelf file recovery tools. If you "forget" to enable private browsing you could leave a lot of private information around - NetShred runs automatically so you don't forget to run it.  
(Version 4.2.2)

BURNINGTHUMB  I think you missed some of the things Music Man does, cdparanoia ripping, lame encoding by default (you can install an apple script to get itune to do that), DVD-Audio burning, WMA support, and more. Certainly for a lot of people iTunes does all they need, and its a valid comment to say "If iTunes does everything you need don't buy something else", that's what we would say.

But Music Man does more, much of which was implemented in response to direct requests for customers - so it does matter to someone other than us.

Rather than taking a cursory look and not seeing something that you specifically need perhaps you could take the time to do a proper side by side comparison. You still may not need the features but at least you would present a fair review.  
(Version 2.7)

BURNINGTHUMB  As I said in previous replies. Music Man does lots of things iTunes does not do: Rips with CDParanoia, encodes MP3 with Lame by default (you can if you prefer install an Apple Script to do this), supports WMA, supports DVD-Audio burning.

Many of the features in Music Man were put in in direct response to customer requests. If something is missing that you need, ask us and you could suddenly find Music Man very useful indeed.  
(Version 2.7)

BURNINGTHUMB  Our return / refund policy can be found here:

http://www.mireth.com/text/refund_policy.html

Its purpose is to assure customers that if the software has a problem we will address it. Typically if you find a problem we do this (a) fix the problem, (b) give you a free copy of the software and all updates for life.

Its purpose is not to allow anyone with an excuse to get a refund. We do offer complete documentation, free email support, and a fully functional 30 day trial. Please do take advantage of the trial and ask questions prior to purchase - we strongly encourage that.

With respect to lame, Music Man does not use the lame libraries, if uses a specific tested version of lame. When you launch Music Man if that version is not present it asks you to allow it to download and install that version. If you say YES to that it will work. If you want to manually install a different version of lame there are instructions in the Read Me file on what to do but we don't support that.

With respect to us posting our own "fake" reviews. We don't do that. Never have and never will.  
(Version 2.7)

BURNINGTHUMB  By default, Music Man uses CDParanoia to rip CDs. It is indeed the gold standard but it is also quite slow so there is an option, in the advanced settings, to turn off cdparanoia if you have a good quality CD.

As I mentioned in other posts Music Man does things that iTunes does not do (WMA support, DVD-Audio) and while for a lot of people iTunes does what they need for other people its not the case.

Certainly we don't advocate Music Man if you don't need it, but it does provide much needed functions that we did implement as a result of requests by folks.  
(Version 2.7)

BURNINGTHUMB  iTunes is a vehicle by which Apple sell you content. Music Man is an alternative to iTunes. For example we included links to legal DRM free vendors of music years before iTunes went DRM free. In addition Music Man supports media types that you (and Apple) may not care about but that lots of other people do care about, like WMA, and DVD-Audio. These formats were, in fact, added specifically because folks requested them.

So if iTunes does everything you need of course you don't need Music Man. But there are many things Music Man does that iTunes does not do that people do indeed care about and asked for.  
(Version 2.7)

BURNINGTHUMB  If you could be more specific, perhaps send your comments to our support email, we could see if its possible to make changes that you would like.  
(Version 2.7)

BURNINGTHUMB  This fellow first contacted us saying:

"I paid for and downloaded your software. It does not work on my Mac. I do not have a RW drive, so it just kicks the disk out."

When we followed up asking for System Info it turned out he did indeed have a CDRW Drive. He sent us this information that we requested from the system profiler:

"Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported)

CD-Write: -R, -RW"

He then followed up saying this:

"It was a CD-RW. I tried multiple CD-RWs on multiple occasions.

Unfortunately, I was not aware there was a free trial, so I purchased it out of desperation to try and meet a deadline. I needed the software for 1 specific project in which the deadline has passed"

We asked him for the DRM Dumpster log so that we could determine the cause of the problem. Though we asked in 4 different emails he each time never sent the log so we could never confirm that he followed the setup steps - our guess is he did not but that is just a guess we are not saying it is a fact.

There were many more emails but to sum it up he only needed to convert 1 track and he just should have used iTunes. We are sorry he did not explain that he was not very computer literate or we would have not been trying to solve the problem which we now believe has nothing to do with our software. After all the time spent on this he is now posting negative reviews and says this:

"The hostile tone of your last email and calling me dishonest has pissed me off enough to post NUMEROUS negative reviews to my displeasure of your product, support and customer service. I'd be happy to post more reviews in my spare time so keep the emails coming"

Our "hostile email to him was this:

"I have asked you now for the 4th time to send me the log information. Once you send me that information I can tell you what to do next. If you do not send me that information I cannot help you further.

While I want to respect your specific circumstances I can tell you that you are the only person currently reporting an issue. In the past all issues have been resolved once the log information was provided, and as you see in the paypal email below, issues are solved by working WITH each other.

I am prepared to work with yo to resolve this issue and once again assure you that if the software is the problem, as opposed to something else like you missed one of the required setting, you will receive an instant refund. I am however, based on the total lack of any issues from any other people, 99.9% confident this is a small issue with your configuration that can be easily resolve with a small bit of cooperative effort."  
(Version 3.2)

BURNINGTHUMB  It is safer, more compatible, and not much faster given modern high speed media.

A virtual CD MUST be implemented as a kernel extenstion and as such you must provide Administrator access to that software. So any Virtual CD driver can (a) crash your system, (b) bypass security on your system, (c) require updates each time the OS is updated. In other words its a dangerous thing. You will most likely find Virtual CD drivers don't exists on Mac OS X but do, for some reason, seem popular on Windows.

So if you still want a virtual CD drive, and are on Windows, you should get a standalone one (there are several available) and then if you can get iTunes to recognize the virtual drive it will also work with DRM Dumpster.

But for 99% of people its simply no longer needed to install such software when a $2 high speed media solves the problem.  
(Version 3.1)

BURNINGTHUMB  Its actually already been explained. But here it is again.

For < 30 tracks DRM Dumpster is free - just use the demo.

For more tracks, for a lot of people, it makes sense to automate the process and have it run unattended while they do something else. Maybe see a movie, or have some beer. For some other people doing the process manually is fine too.  
(Version 3.1)

BURNINGTHUMB  Please see my generic reply in the forum. Please contact me directly if you have a problem.  
(Version 3.0)

BURNINGTHUMB  iTuens does all the burning and ripping. Any such burn / rip problems are iTuens or corrupt library problems. Remember DRM Dumpster automates what you would do manually and you would get the same results doing it manually. In other words its not a DRM Dumpster problem that you got truncated tracks.

Any crashing is a DRM Dumpster bug that I'd like to fix. For every person that has contacted me directly, I have fixed the problem (or figured out it was a previously corrupt iTunes Library that as soon as they rebuilt their iTunes Library the problem went away).

But in order to help I need to see the crash log. In other words get direct feedback. Please send me an email at support@burningthumb.com

I have used the software personally (actually that is why I wrote it) and converted my complete library several times flawlessly. The only way software can be made better is for folks to use it under different conditions than me to provide that direct feedback so that their issues can be addressed.

Just posting that "I had problems" in a public forum really has the opposite effect. Fewer people use the software, no direct feedback is provided, and the software does not get better.

If you want better software, and I have said it in this forum before, contact me directly first, post to the forum based on your experience after that.  
(Version 3.0)

BURNINGTHUMB  Typically such utilities (for example compost which does not compress trash) are in the $20 range. If price is an issue just contact us and we will do whatever we can to make the software affordable for you.  
(Version 1.0)

BURNINGTHUMB  I think you have mistaken a sincere effort to address your circumstances as something else.

If you look at the survey with respect to how many tracks folks have you would understand that using other solutions would require, for some people, hour and hours of time to convert and then update track meta data.

I encourage you to send us a direct email and we can provide a solution that makes sense to you at a price point that works for you.  
(Version 2.1.9)

BURNINGTHUMB  As a bit of information for everyone, for small libraries (< 30 protected tracks) DRM Dumpster for Mac OS X is FREE to use. Simply use the demo mode.

In addition, if you cannot afford the license fee please contact us directly to work something else out. While we need funds to ensure development continues, we are very flexible with respect to individual circumstances.

As I have indicated in the past, the best thing to do for all issue is to not hesitate to contact us directly.  
(Version 2.1.9)

BURNINGTHUMB  Perhaps you could just change the sort order so that comments come last. Or better yet separate comments from reviews and just display reviews with a link folks can press if they want to read the comments. Then you can monitor your web statistics and see how many of your users are interested in comments to determine their true value.  
(Version 2.1.9)

BURNINGTHUMB  I believe the star rating was not used because he never tried the software. My opinion is that software directories should limit comments to folks that take the time to try the software and have something to say about the features.  
(Version 2.1.9)

BURNINGTHUMB  Dudes,

The software is free (since the demo handles it) for small libraries (less than 30 tracks).

For folks that take the time to contact me directly, rather than posting negative comments in the forum, and explain that they cannot afford $30, arrangements have always been made for something that they can afford - like even a T-Shirt is enough dude.

But the idea that looking at the price and posting "no way" in a public forum is productive - dude, no way.  
(Version 2.1.9)

BURNINGTHUMB  Software is about providing solutions to problems for a target audience. Software that provides a solution to a problem for a target audience has value.

For DRM Dumpster the solution is to automate the process of converting iTunes DRM protected tracks to unprotected tracks for folks who have better ways to spend a couple of hours.

For most people the solution requires them to click 1 button.

To summarise, DRM Dumpster can give you a couple of hours to spend doing something fun rather than something tedious.  
(Version 2.1.9)

BURNINGTHUMB  Also DRM Dumpster retains the all the meta data not just track, artist, album, but also track number and disc number etc.

The point is its all, for me anyway, about saving time. I personally saved a lot of time - for some people, not all, saving even an hour is well worth $25.  
(Version 2.1.7)

BURNINGTHUMB  You DON'T attend DRM Dumpster - if you need to do that something is wrong.  
(Version 2.1.7)

BURNINGTHUMB  The main differences are speed (5-10x faster depending on the CD and the optical drive), and cost (since DRM Dumpster is going for $25 on sale its a $7 difference). But don't get me wrong I also use Audio Hijack and totally agree its great software. I could have used it myself but I just wanted something faster to do this job for all my tunes. But for a small library Audio Hijack is a great way to go.  
(Version 2.1.7)

BURNINGTHUMB  You are completely missing the point. The point is you don't need to attend DRM Dumpster. Set it and forget it. That is why it uses a CDRW - so it can burn, rip, erase, and repeat with no intervention needed.  
(Version 2.1.7)

BURNINGTHUMB  I'm not quite sure I understand the problem.

How much did you already pay to Apple for your tunes?

Why would you pay a multi-billion dollar company all that money to let the screw you over by selling you tunes that are protected but not be prepared to spend a small amount to fund the ongoing development of a tiny independent developer that gives you a way to automate the process of freeing your tunes?  
(Version 2.1.7)

BURNINGTHUMB  Somebody, on that other software directory, posted some FUD about iTunes 7.3 applying DRM to re-imported files. This is also *not* the case. DRM Dumpster works fine with iTunes 7.3. Please, please, ignore comments from people who have not actually (as was this case) tried the software. If you do have a problem please contact me directly - so far I have managed to solve any problems brought directly to my attention. Finally if the problem cannot be solved you will certainly get your money back so don't be concerned about that.  
(Version 2.0)

BURNINGTHUMB  Tested with iTunes 7.2.

Somehow some people think its not working with iTunes 7.2 but I have fully tested and it is working fine with iTunes 7.2.

So if you have a problem please contact me directly as it can surely be fixed if you send me your log output.  
(Version 1.5.1)

BURNINGTHUMB  support@burningthumb.com  
(Version 1.4)

BURNINGTHUMB  The best way to compare quality loss is this:

1. Don't convert your tracks to MP3 and try to listen to the M4P on your car MP3 player -- you will hear nothing, its very bad quality.

2. Use DRM Dumpster and convert those same tracks to MP3 and listen to the MP3 in your car MP3 player -- you can hear the tracks. Its MUCH better quality.

For iPod and iTunes you should still just keep and play the M4P files. Its foolish to convert them to MP3 and trash the M4P for iPod or iTunes use.

Finally, if you have a real positive suggetion, that complies with the legal agreement you made when you purchased DRM tracks, for another way to convert them please suggest that - we all want to know your better idea.  
(Version 1.4)

BURNINGTHUMB  Did you configure iTunes correctly to burn AUDIO CD. Did you read and follow the IMPORTANT Read Me First file ? Do you have the latest version directly from www.burningthumb.com.

Anyway contact me directly at suppot@burningthumb.com if you want a solution - send me the output of the log window and it will save time since that is the first thing I'll ask for -- if you don't see the log you have old software.  
(Version 1.4)

BURNINGTHUMB  Do you have version 1.3.2 ? If not download again and it should be working.

If you do have v1.3.2 then go here http://www.burningthumb.com/contact.html and email me directly and I will send you a test script to determine why your play lists are not being found.  
(Version 1.3)

BURNINGTHUMB  Really its strange. It works for me. Send me email (http://www.burningthumb.com/contact.html) and I will send you a zip file.  
(Version 1.3)

BURNINGTHUMB  Again please understand Apple (iTunes) must use a CD. It is not something I control.

As for long things like Audio books, they are not supported, you need to do those few things manually.  
(Version 1.3)

BURNINGTHUMB  Did you pick a playlist to look in. Try changing the word for Protected in your language to noting (delete everything in that field) and picking a playlist that you know has some purchased songs in it.  
(Version 1.3)

BURNINGTHUMB  If you use a high speed CDRW performance is quite good. Even better than burning to DVD since a high speed CD-RW can burn at 10x speed on modern Mac hardware.

Considering DRM Dumpster can typically run unattended in a batch mode over night I don't really understand why anyone really cares about the media issue - it is really a minor thing, especially if you purchase the software from us on high speed CDRW. You get everything you need and support the software development on OS X.  
(Version 1.3)

BURNINGTHUMB  If you were using OS X 10.3 a problem was found that would prevent the track from being collected. You would get the red X and 0 tracks.

The problem has been fixed in v1.2.2  
(Version 1.2)

BURNINGTHUMB  Because iTunes will only burn Audio CDs to real drives. It would be possilbe to develop a USB Kernel Driver to simulate a real drive but that takes time, which costs money, so if you donate, and get two friends to donate, and so on then it could be done.  
(Version 1.2)

BURNINGTHUMB  I think maybe you had some old junk in your library. I have made a change to skip over any old or missing items and that should allow it to work without moving the library. There is nothing in DRM Dumpster that cares about where the tracks are.  
(Version 1.1)

BURNINGTHUMB  It now (with v1.1) converts to AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, AIFF or WAV  
(Version 1.0.2)

BURNINGTHUMB  You can now get v1.1 which will import as MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, AIFF or WAV.  
(Version 1.0.2)

BURNINGTHUMB  Try with v1.1, it now checks to see if the Track Kind CONTAINS the word protected. With the earlier versions it checked to see if the Track kind BEGAN WITH Protected.

If its still not working please contact us via email and we can try and figure out what is wrong on your system.  
(Version 1.0.2)

BURNINGTHUMB  Now with v1.1 you can import to MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, AIFF, or WAV.  
(Version 1.0.2)

BURNINGTHUMB  Message received. Change coming.  
(Version 1.0)

BURNINGTHUMB  The disk image is fixed. Download again.  
(Version 1.0)

BURNINGTHUMB  This problem is fixed in v1.0.2. You probably did not have Enable access for assistive devices enabled in the Universal Access System Preference. DRM Dumpster now checks for that and displays the panel and a message asking you to enable it if its not enabled. The system requirements are also updated to reflect this need.  
(Version 1.0)

BURNINGTHUMB  There is no real way to prevent quality loss. Either you burn to CD or you convert to something like WAV and then you convert back - either way quality is lost. Having said that anyone listening to lossy compressed music bringing up quality as an issue in the first place is "suspect". Compressed digital music and video will always be lower quality.  
(Version 1.0)

BURNINGTHUMB  It should work. Maybe you had the problem with iTunes not burning due to Enable access for assistive devices not being checked. Try v1.0.2 and enable that setting. Then it should work.  
(Version 1.0)

BURNINGTHUMB  We hear you - we will support other importers in an update and not just be limited to MP3.  
(Version 1.0)

BURNINGTHUMB  Sorry all my bad. We uploaded a small fix earlier today and it looks like the image was somehow corrupt. Its fixed now.  
(Version 1.0)

BURNINGTHUMB  It sounds like an education issue but its also a really easy change to make. I'll add it in next week.  
(Version 1.0)

BURNINGTHUMB  If there is some reason to rip them back as AAC its easy to do. But since the DRM files are already AAC why would you not just play them instead of going to the quality loss of burning and ripping AAC.

DRM Dumpster is not designed to remove DRM, its designed to let you use your DRM songs in MP3 players that don't support AAC, like a lot of car MP3 players.

If you like AAC then what is wrong with using the DRMed AAC ??????  
(Version 1.0)

BURNINGTHUMB  No it does not convert to AAC. It designed to convert to MP3 for use with players that don't support AAC, like car MP3 players, its not designe to stip off DRM from your AAC files. The DRMed files are already AAC so why do you not just play them ?????  
(Version 1.0)