MACERICG  Dead links -- both to developer and download! Is this still available?  
(Version 1.0b4)

MACERICG  The ONLY reason we run Windows on out Intel Mac is to run the PC version of QuickBooks for our accountant. The Mac version just plain stinks! Less features than the PC version and buggy.

Add to that you cannot simply exchange QuickBooks files between Mac and PC without running file converters. Is this day and age this is ridiculous! All the major software manufacturers took care of cross platform compatibility long before Macs were even running on Intel. This is a joke Intuit. Why can't you bee more like Microsoft or Adobe?

Oh, and support stinks no matter which platform you use.  
(Version 10.0.3 R6)

MACERICG  Works for me. I like it more than PandoraMan because of the Apple remote interface built-in, plus the window of recently-played tunes is a nicer viewing option than scrolling back, back, back through the regular Pandora interface.

Besides that, for some reason PandoraMan started launching Safari whenever it was launched. Strange. I don't have any problem like that with PandoraBoy.

Would like to possibly see a mini player option like iTunes has available. I don't know if this is possible, since all these apps basically appear to be the regular Pandora player inside of a shell with added features.  
(Version 0.6)

MACERICG  The developer's website compares the effect to the travel routes in the Indiana Jones movies.

The one big difference found in these movies is the zoomed-in framing that moves along with the route, thus showing the details of the map. However, in the case of Road Trip Effect, the map is a static image and only the routes are animated.

The ability to take an oversized map image and "travel the route path" would make this a killer little app. Extra cool would be the ability to integrate with Google maps.

Oh, and I second the request for bezier curves. ;)  
(Version 2.6.3)

MACERICG  With all the people upset over the direction Apple took with iMovie, Norrkross Movie has the opportunity to fill a void -- if:

1) It movies were made compatible/exportable to iDVD

2) Supported 3rd-party iMovie plugins (that are now incompatible)

3) Added some additional iMovie features -- such as chapters

4) Tweaked the interface to have more of the original iMovie feel and handling  
(Version 1.2.2)

MACERICG  Can't some clever developer make an Adobe Illustrator import plug-in that opens CorelDraw and Windows Meta Files? I mean, come one -- The only professionals still using this app en masse are embroiders and sign makers.  
(Version 11.693)

MACERICG  .sit is a Stuffit archive. Search for Stuffit Expander to decompress.  
(Version 3.3)

MACERICG  Thanks for the reply.

I understand that iTunes isn't compatible with WMF, but I was meaning to find if support could be added in the form of an iTunes plug in.

Since iTunes is QuickTime compatible, and Flip4Mac makes WMF open in QuickTime on the fly, it seemed a reasonable thought.

I have tried what you suggested -- saving WMF to MOV and then opening iTunes. This is great for standalone files. I don't think I was able to make this work with streaming WMF radio.  
(Version 2.2.1.7b)

MACERICG  To the developers:

Any chance of making SizzlingKeys compatible with QTtunes (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/27762)?

Since iTunes is not compatible with streaming Windows Media/asx, I was forced to use the QuickTime browser for my radio stations. Now I use QTtunes and it works great -- but miss the SizzlingKeys control.

Combine your two great apps and you've got a real one-two punch winner.  
(Version 3.2.6)

MACERICG  Folks: We have a winner!

Just add Flip4Mac and finally we have a way to play streaming asx/Windows Media on a Mac without the clunkiness of the QuickTime Player (for playing audio only, it -IS- clunky and big).

My only request is some kind of F-key control like SizzlingKeys has for working with iTunes. Granted, there are command keys that work when the app is to the front, but that's not convenient when working in other programs and you want to just hit one button to pause or mute.

Maybe the developers can get together. Think I'll post this idea over there. ;)  
(Version 1.6)

MACERICG  Any chance this thing could be made to play Windows streaming radio in iTunes?

It would be -so- much nicer to play radio like this in iTunes instead of QuickTime.  
(Version 2.2.1.7b)

MACERICG  "do you know the password?

or perhaps you want a version that ignores password protection? (7/31/2008, Version: 2.2.1.7b)" -Author: rich k.

Um...No. I have a password that can only be activated through WMP.

Don't believe me? Try for yourself:

http://southsuburbancollege.edu/distlearn/telecourse/courses/acc.html#acc110  
(Version 2.2.1.7b)

MACERICG  I was hoping this software would do two things:

1) Allow me to browse archived email

2) Function separately from the Mail client

Sadly, neither is the case. This is an all or nothing "solution." Backup all your email to an archive with no viewability of its contents, and restore it all back to your client overwriting your current email in the process.  
(Version 2.0.4)

MACERICG  Beat Apple's included DVD player hands downs -- if for no other reason, than the ability to skip all the intro commercial DVD junk that is "not permitted" to be skipped.  
(Version 0.8.6i)

MACERICG  No developer contact info listed.

Will there be options for a regular old application launcher from the dock that works (and is customizable) with any apps?  
(Version 1.1)

MACERICG  Can't access Windows Media that is password protected. Any chance this feature will be made available?  
(Version 2.2.0.49R)

MACERICG  I haven't used this software in years (maybe a decade), but from the new features list I can understand why.

Things like drop shadows, multi-column text boxes and text on a path have been around in InDesign and XPress for years. Granted, the sort feature sounds neat, but how often will I use that? Probably not much.

Perhaps this has a niche design market, but as someone who designs ads for newspapers, magazines and phone books — I don't see it.  
(Version 8.0.3)

MACERICG  Very nice. This is the one feature from Firefox (via add ons) that I sorely miss when I'm in Safari. With the submenus, this actually works BETTER than the Firefox option.

Working under OS 10.4.11 and Safari 3.1.1 and appears to be running fine. Thanks for the great work developer.   
(Version 0.7b4)

MACERICG  Anybody get that "audio fingerprint" feature to work properly for auto-identifying streaming audio recorded into Spin Doctor?

http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/toast/titanium/listen.html

Seems like this should be pulled from the streaming data labels, but for me it records first and then tries to match up labels with Gracenote afterwards. Not very precise.  
(Version 9.0.2)

MACERICG  One request for Mr. Welch:

This is a great app for recording streaming audio -- if you know how to go back and label everything appropriately.

Developer Roxio boasts that their new version of Toast has "audio fingerprint identification" to tag songs automatically -- http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/toast/titanium/listen.html -- I've tried it, but I'm not impressed. It seems to try linking files back to Gracenote after-the-fact, rather than pulling from the streaming data labels.

Any chance of building a similar (and better) feature into WireTap Studio?  
(Version 1.0.6)

MACERICG  Is this only for D&D or can I use this for my personal attributes?  
(Version 2.1.4)

MACERICG  Great little app.

Any way you can provide the option of having the menu on the left, so it is like the old OS 9 customizable Apple Menu?  
(Version 3.2.1)

MACERICG  Wow! This has only been a feature InDesign for a few years.  
(Version 7.3)

MACERICG  The is a lot a validity to your point.

As someone with a background in commercial print publishing, it is maddening to deal with people who think something will reproduce fine on paper because it looks great on screen. They don't understand resolution, colorspace, trapping, bleeds and a host of other key terms that are necessary to make the jump to a printing press.

Frankly, I have had to deal with many web designers in the past who think that because they build sites, that they can then produce corresponding graphic design for business cards and mailings. Then we receive the "camera ready" art -- a lone PSD file. That's what we call a red flag.

There is much need to preview your web layout on many platforms and on many browsers. However, that is more of a quality service, and not specific to the creation software.

That being said, it is also important to understand your audience. For example, Sony probably wont care if their Playstation website is readable on a Braille reader -- their audience won't be playing too many visual games. Likewise, if a software company requires a modern host OS to operate, would they care much if their site is viewable under Windows 95? Probably not.

Freeway is a great product for getting into web design and creating sites that 90% of the public will be viewing on a semi- to modern PC and browser. It is also a good primer for those who want to understand other basics prior to learning to code. For the specific audiences you mentioned, I agree that other software may be more appropriate. For the rest, people can use Freeway.  
(Version 5.0p2)

MACERICG  I love this application. If presentations were meant to just be words and clip art (a la PowerPoint), you should suffice with just Word.

Keynote takes presentations to the next level by embracing Apple's strong support for graphics and a touch of class. Animation and transitions are very cool, and help keep an audience's attention. the templates are first rate.

My only "but" is that there needs to be a Keynote player for Windows. You can't always export all this wonderful stuff to PowerPoint because, well, it stinks. If Apple is keeping this a Mac-only app, fine, but at least be able to display the results on a PC.  
(Version 4.0.2)

MACERICG  Those of you still needing a read receipt option for Apple Mail should check out http://email.about.com/od/macosxmailtips/qt/et_request_recp.htm

I have made the changes outlined in these instructions (which only require the Terminal), and the receipts work!  
(Version 3.21a)

MACERICG  Correct me if I'm wrong -- Doesn't this make iTunes looks like Windows Media Player under Vista?  
(Version 2.0)

MACERICG  I'm pleased to see a stand-alone Mac product that provides many of the features of online services such as www.speechagents.com or www.sitepal.com.

You have the start of a great product. I would purchase (and suspect many others would, too) if you were able to offer a few other features found in these other online services:

1) Flash export of animation. (Would be much smaller than video files, anyway.)

2) Ability to lip-sync with real, spoken recordings. (Mac voices sound so dated -- It's as if I'm listening to an old 'Speak-N-Spell.')

3) More ambient movement than just the blinking of eyes. The slight turn of the head, ability to nod or shake "no" -- all would greatly enhance the experience. SitePal has this down to a science, were the character's head and eyes actually follows the cursor once the dialogue is finished.

Again, great work. Hope to see more.  
(Version 1.2.3)

MACERICG  Sounds like a neat app, but download and developer link are no good.  
(Version 1.1.5)

MACERICG  One great thing about this game is its VARIETY -- all packed in a cool story and theme. If you've been missing games like 7th Guest and 11th Hour under OSX, this one is for you.

Whether you are a fan of Mastermind, hidden objects, tile puzzles, Suduko, mazes, Simon, memory and even jigsaw, Azada has it and a whole lot more for a really great price.  
(Version 1.0.3.1)

MACERICG  Before I bought the full version, I could have sworn that I could save a slide show as a screen saver. Now I don't see that option. Can anyone help?  
(Version 3.0)

MACERICG  I agree with SPLUNK23 -- This is THE BEST menu launcher around -- and I've been trying them all since my Dock became overcrowded with dozens of microscopic icons. (Was hoping Apple would address this better in Leopard. Oh well.)

I now keep my Dock empty and let it fill with apps once they are launched from the aLunch menu.

One request: In the Preference > Item Selection configuration -- would it be possible to support drag & drop in addition to the +/- assignments?  
(Version 2.2.1)

MACERICG  Anyone know how this compares to Alien Skin's Blow Up?   
(Version 5.0)

MACERICG  Great little app. My thanks to the developer.

And to those who complain that the program is in a .sitx format or that it takes too long to configure -- quit your whining! -- It's free and it works.  
(Version 2.2.1)

MACERICG  What?!? Use a Microsoft game controller on your Mac?!? What's nextÉBoot your Mac into WindoÉoh, waitÉ  
(Version 1.3.4)

MACERICG  Widget may need to be a bit bigger. Apr. 27 image is some building, but seems too small to see any illusion.  
(Version 4.0)

MACERICG  Nice! Bravo! Free? Wow!

My advice to everyone who suffers from Dock-Overcrowdedness is to to remove all icons from their Dock and put everything in custom XMenu categories/folders.

Now, only your active apps are in the Dock, and everything is in XMenu, neat and organized.

My only wish would be a choice to put XMenu to the right, a la OS 9, but other than that, it rocks!

(Now, if only someone would make the Dock like the Task Bar to reflect all open documents. I know it's heresy, but it's the one thing Microsoft got right.)  
(Version 1.8)

MACERICG  I've owned Toast since it was available from Astarte, through the releases when Adaptec took over, to today now that it is a Roxio product.

Toast is probably one piece of software that should be installed on every Mac. Much better than Apple's built-in software. Most of the new features have worked well for me, especially with the integration of iLife.

However, I recently wasted roughly 30 DVD-Rs because Disc Spanning kept hanging. Disc Spanning is the process that allows huge directories of data to be automatically saved across many discs.

Tech support from Roxio stinks, as I still haven't received a reply to my online query -- not even a, "Sorry we don't know." Maybe this has been resolved in the latest release, but it would appear Roxio Mac customers are on their own.  
(Version 8.0)

MACERICG  $40 is kinda steep for an iCal alternative. Does it offer something that isn't provided free by Apple?  
(Version 12.0.1)

MACERICG  Not trying to cheat anyone here, but the effectiveness of this app is hard to see with the demo limitations. Would it be possible to make the demo time-limited with full features, rather than feature-disabled?

Also, any way Map-It can be made into a multi-purpose index submitter that would include Yahoo, MSN and AOL?  
(Version 1.3)

MACERICG  Only one thing really missing from this program that was offered in Font Reserve — and that is the auto categorization of fonts, a la Script, Serif, San Serif, Dingbat, Blackletter, and so on.

While under the iTunes-like Store feature of Font Explorer, you can view fonts categories for purchase, as seen on their website here:

http://image.linotype.com/cms/built_img_d20674i9.gif

However, your existing font purchases simply sit in alphabetical folders that the user defines.

Since Linotype already sells a gazillion fonts from all the major foundries, it would seem this would be an easy feature to implement. I'm crossing my fingers that it wont take too long.  
(Version 1.1.1)

MACERICG  While the notion of working under Classic was fine for a while, Apple's move to Intel chips means that there is now no option to run TypeStyler on a new Mac.

I don't understand the work behind programming software like this, but I too must admit that I have given up on the promise of an OSX version becoming available after this 5 year wait.

Perhaps it is time for the developers to consider joining forces with another developer to get it completed.

(May I recommend approaching Softpress, the makers of Freeway? TypeStyler would fit their niche for kick-ass Mac-only software, and would compliment their flagship product wonderfully.)   
(Version 3.7.2 )

MACERICG  Anybody know if the Archive Assistant will now work with directories other than the User's Folder?

One big disappointment with my last upgrade was finding out that this automated feature wouldn't work with my secondary drive because of this limitation.  
(Version 11.0)

MACERICG  I don't get it. I lose my pitch setting if I click anywhere else to compare a sample vs. another sound file, resetting everything back to the start. Is this how MachineHead is meant to work?  
(Version 0.48b)

MACERICG  I would love a little interface that would allow me to rank and label the genre of the current song without having to open iTunes. Would this be easy to add?  
(Version 1.0)

MACERICG  Love this app. Any chance of taking these transitions and building them into Apple's Screen Saver?  
(Version 2.5.4b)

MACERICG  Be careful of Quark. They still have a lot to prove to us users who were shat upon after they stomped-out Pagemaker but before InDesign landed.

XPress 4 was released loaded with bugs. XPress 5 came out with loyalty to the Windows platform and an absence for OS X support. XPress 6 brought with it only OS X compatibility with no new features at the cost of an upgrade -- while companies like Adobe were bundling OSX and Classic software together at no additional cost. Now XPress 7 has landed and Quark has dissolved all InDesign plug-ins from ALAP.

I've owned XPress since version 3. Quark is a stubborn, narcissistic company who neither remembers their customers or the platform that put them on the map until their cash flow is in jeopardy.  
(Version 7.0)

MACERICG  Holy cow TNH -- Write a book!

But you're right, anyway...  
(Version 9)

MACERICG  To anyone reading the bad reviews of iWeb who would like something made for Mac users at home, try out Freeway Express.  
(Version 1.1)

MACERICG  For us "older boys" who got on board with the desktop publishing revolution in the late 80's, but left school (and extra free time) long behind when the internet exploded, Freeway is a godsend.

Granted, I could learn HTML and buy a copy of Dreamweaver, but right now my QuarkXPress skills are 80% of what I need to run Freeway and build wonderful websites. It works just like a page layout application, and it is sophisticated in terms of the technologies it supports.

Add to that that this program is more compatible with native Adobe file formats than GoLive and Dreamweaver, and you'll see why many people believe it is well worth consideration.

And besides, the whole "learn HTML" argument is really getting old. It harkens back to the time when Mac users would get grief about not having command lines in their OS like DOS. The Mac is all about ease of use, and spending time designing rather than technical operations. Freeway follows the Macintosh concept wonderfully.  
(Version 4.1.2)

MACERICG  Here's a tip: If you need audio alerts of incoming email, use SpeakIt to make AIFF files that announce the sender.

In our office, we have a main Mac to accept general emails. From there everything is forwarded. Sometimes no one is manning that station, so in Mail, there are rules set up to play announcements like, "email has arrived from so-and-so."  
(Version 0.9)

MACERICG  One real nice thing about this app is that it plays your QuickTime movies full screen without owning QuickTime Pro! (How is that possible?)

Does the job for me. I have a bunch of tutorials I watch in order by just creating a playlist. Drag and drop doesn't work for keeping sequential order, which is my only complaint.  
(Version 1.2)

MACERICG  New release has Illustrator CS1 support and imports without crashing (a la the beta). Looks like a winner.

Extensis take note: This is a FREE product. Don't know that acquiring Suitcase and now Font Reserve was that wise a move.

Said it before, but the only thing I miss is sorting by classification (Serif, San Serif, Blackletter, Dingbat, etc.) Add that feature and all bases are covered.  
(Version 1.0fc4)

MACERICG  Changes some fonts when combining the files. Any way to stop this?  
(Version 2.1)

MACERICG  Not to be pushy to someone who produces software for free, but here's a thought: Why not make Silica able to speak the incoming caller's name?  
(Version 1.2)