CHAS_M  At last, a cart machine for OS X that looks like it was designed in this century!

Hello, Sound Byte, this is your wake-up call!  
(Version 1.0.1)

CHAS_M  The proper past-tense term for "jailbreak" is "jailbroken."

Just sayin'.  
(Version 1.0a)

CHAS_M  Pretty useless, really.

If you app is not in the top 100 of your category, it will not appear. So ... not really much point for 99.95% of users, and those who have popular apps will, I suspect, be capable of measuring sales in other ways.

Not sure why they imposed this artificial limit, but it really renders the app almost meaningless.  
(Version 1.3.2)

CHAS_M  $29 seems mighty steep to me when there are free alternatives (which I'm sure are not as good, BUT get the basic job done just fine). I'll check back when it's $10.  
(Version 1.0.1)

CHAS_M  For those needing a lightweight but full-featured office suite, this might be a better alternative than you think.

It's not free like NeoOffice/OpenOffice, but neither is it HOPELESSLY BLOATED and FUGLY.

And it's not MS.

Personally, I enjoy the iWork suite too much to switch, but if you don't have that or prefer something more "MS Office" like, this is definitely worth checking out. Before iWork came around, I had good experiences with ThinkFree both in terms of usefullness and compatibility.  
(Version 3.6.1219.82)

CHAS_M  I'm not the developer nor affiliated with him, but I think the answer to your question becomes obvious when you actually download and try out the thing.

ffmpegX is a great and powerful program, but its #1 problem is that its interface is about as un-Mac-like as you can get.

iVideo Converter is rather obviously trying to slap a better (still not great, but better) interface on the same core functionality.  
(Version 1.0.1)

CHAS_M  It's pretty obvious that something is wrong with your iMovie install, and updates are never going to fix that.

Reinstall iMovie from your system disk or retail iLife 09 disk.  
(Version 8.0.3)

CHAS_M  Did the MacUpdate editors (or the dev) change the requirements of 10.5 recently, or did you just not notice that?  
(Version 1.1)

CHAS_M  Yeah, that was two years ago. I think we can officially call BS on it, and move to last.fm and other alternatives.  
(Version 1.3b251)

CHAS_M  $10 - probably

$15 - maybe

$29 - not a chance.  
(Version 1.0)

CHAS_M  Not as odd as you "rebuilding your system frequently."

Unless you are a very bored Windows user, that really is a huge waste of your time. Macs don't need this sort of treatment at all.  
(Version 3.3)

CHAS_M  Not only does the program use Core Animation, which doesn't exist in Tiger, but it is entirely reasonable and rational for a developer to assume that TWO YEARS AFTER RELEASE most customers have migrated to the current OS.

Next there will be some crank on here who's mad that there's no OS 9 version.

I perfectly understand that some people are reluctant to upgrade the OS until after the bugs are spotted and quashed and all the programs have been updated to accommodate the changes. That is normal, and rational, behaviour.

But two years later, now you're just being cheap (or you have a machine that can't go beyond Tiger). Stop whining about developers that are working in the present just because YOU are stuck in the past. Live with what you've got or get with the program. If you don't like rapid, ongoing change, you probably shouldn't be using a computer at all.  
(Version 1.1.1)

CHAS_M  Your fantasy that Leopard is "slow and bloated" is exactly that -- a fantasy. Grow up, get a job, buy Leopard and see for yourself.

Oh, and next time, see if you can make a request for a feature without insulting the developer (and users) and looking like a crutch-needing Tiger apologist. I imagine that would help.  
(Version 1.4)

CHAS_M  To TheGraphicMac:

iPhoto 09 has Flickr Support built-in.  
(Version 3.0.1)

CHAS_M  Agreed. $25 is waaaaay too much money for this one-trick pony.

Call me when it's $9.99 or less. Or better yet, a $1.99 iPhone app.  
(Version 1.5b2)

CHAS_M  Although more "graphical" than the bookmarks bar, it essentially does the same thing (actually, not as much) and takes up more room. I'm hard-pressed to see any value in this.  
(Version 1.1.2b)

CHAS_M  Ah. Somehow I missed that bit about the internet. My bad.

Okay, so how is this different or better than Nicecast? :)  
(Version 1.0.5)

CHAS_M  How is this different or better than iTunes' own ability to share its library over the network?  
(Version 1.0.4)

CHAS_M  I'm sorry, I want to like this, but it is just so ... amateur.

Latest version: forgot to put the "done" button on so once we've set the location we can use the damn thing!

Previous versions (including this one): forgets your location. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. YOU. UPDATE.

Sigh.  
(Version 3.4)

CHAS_M  If you have "10 Safari icons" then as the lolcats say "yer doin' it wrong."

Safari has tabs. You use tabs to have as many windows as you like without taking up any additional screen space.

But if for some strange reason you really want to clutter up the screen with multiple Safari windows -- use Expose to manage them rather than minimising. You'll like it better, I promise!

(Finder -> Help Menu -> Expose if you need more information)  
(Version 4.0)

CHAS_M  To put it mildly, you're a bit confused.

1. RAW is not a universal format -- there are different types of RAW (many, actually). Apple's products and OS both ship with the ability to read the most common RAW files, but manufacturers keep changing/tweaking the format, requiring (FREE!) updates.

2. iPhoto is only a "paid" product if you're somehow not using a Mac. It's included on all Mac hardware. Upgrades are "paid" products, however.

3. Apple is under NO legal obligation to provide compatibility for these additional, new RAW formats -- this should properly be the responsibility of the maker of these formats, usually the camera manufacturers themselves. They should provide compatibility for both major platforms (as well as Linux, but as there's no money in doing so I can kind of see why they don't). But because Apple wants professional photographers to use the Mac platform, they provide compatibility at their own expense *as a courtesy.*

Finally, if you want QuickLook capability for the various RAW formats, you'll have to talk to the manufacturers -- Apple can't provide everything for what amounts to a teeny tiny percentage of its customers.  
(Version 2.5)

CHAS_M  Now works fine in Canada and elsewhere.  
(Version 1.0.2)

CHAS_M  Now supports Canada and, as far as I can tell, all Craigslist regions.  
(Version 1.0.2)

CHAS_M  You trashed a SYSTEM UTILITY app because it requires admin privileges to work??

Some people really shouldn't own a computer.  
(Version 1.10)

CHAS_M  Bravo!

With 1.1, the developer has kindly address the two major complaints about the product, allowing us to focus on what it really does! Many thanks!

I have used TM Error Logger to help me quickly find the corrupt file that was stopping the TM backups from completing. Very handy, particularly now that all components are inside the app bundle, and I can easily put the app in my Utilities folder instead of being forced to put it in the Applications folder.

Thanks again!  
(Version 1.1)

CHAS_M  I don't mind it having to stay inside it's own folder (though as pointed out one could easily "package" the folder contents into one item), but given the frequency of updates it really would be nice if I was allowed to specify WHERE the folder was installed. I prefer this sort of program to go into my Utilities folder, not Applications.

At present, this means I must install the package, then locate the old copy I moved to Utilities, trash it, then move the new copy into Utilities. Kind of PITA.

Take a look at the OnyX installer, which allows me to specify which folder I'd like to install to, as a model of what I'm looking for. Thanks.  
(Version 1.07)

CHAS_M  WAS free, now suddenly it's worth $20??

Look, I don't mind if the dev decides he wants to charge for something he did, that's fine.

But I do think it's only fair to:

a) let people know in advance (no explanation whatsoever on the web site)

b) be realistic about pricing (Craigslist isn't THAT hard to navigate)

Call me when this gets to be $5 or a 99¢ iPhone app, and we'll talk.  
(Version 1.0.1)

CHAS_M  I normally have a rule about buying things before they reach 1.0: I don't.

However, this thing works as advertised so far, and if a few bucks can get me the HD/high quality (if available) and saving that works, it's worth more than $1.99. Nice work!  
(Version 0.1.2)

CHAS_M  I don't agree that it should be free, but I do think it's a bit overpriced. Hopefully the developer will consider adding it to a future MUPromo or MacUpdate Bundle so sharp-eyed MU fans can pick it up at a discount.  
(Version 1.0fc2)

CHAS_M  To the developer: unless you want Apple Legal all over you, change the (original) name of this product PRONTO.  
(Version 1.0)

CHAS_M  This functionality is already present in the (much more handy) conversion widget, part of every Mac OS X desktop for years now. The slider idea is cute, I guess, and you can't complain about the price -- but can't really see any point to downloading this when I already have a tool that will convert not just temps, but currency, volume, distance and a dozen other measures just as easily.  
(Version 1.1)

CHAS_M  Duplicates the functionality found in iPhoto, only in a harder-to-use and more complicated way.

Some apps aren't even worth "free" ...  
(Version 1.0)

CHAS_M  What does this app do that Preview does not do?  
(Version 1.3.1)

CHAS_M  Sheer unmitigated GENIUS!!

The only suggestion I have for this app is to expand the window to show what picture (or lack of picture) is CURRENTLY in the Address Book so that people can decide if the FB pic is a better or worse choice.

Otherwise perfect!  
(Version 1.0)

CHAS_M  Could just be a case of "not YET."

Chillax, check back in a week, THEN we can call out the WAHmbulance :)  
(Version 0.3.142)

CHAS_M  Call me when the dev stops LYING about why you can't listen outside the US.

If you need me, I'll be helping build Last.FM's audience in the meantime.  
(Version 1.0.4)

CHAS_M  First off, let me say that I actually do own and use this program.

Fission has a lot to like about it, but frankly I've been disappointed with the slow pace of bringing it up to a decent basic audio editor. It's main competition, the similarly-priced Amadeus Pro, blows it out of the water in terms of editing.

Fission's big selling point is that it can do lossless editing, but with editing left on such a very basic level, users quickly run into the wall.

Depending on the file format you're routinely having to edit, it's still a good value (when it's on sale via a bundle) -- but other programs like MP3 Trimmer and the aforementioned Amadeus do more for around the same price or less. I often use Fission to trim the "ends" off an audio file I recorded with Audio Hijack Pro, and I'm sure this is exactly what Rogue Amoeba had in mind for it. But a computer program working with digital audio files should be able to do more than what I could do with a razor blade back in the "tape" era.

I'm not looking for Fission to evolve into a full-blown audio editor, but a few key things like being able to join audio files, insert silence (now -- a year later -- finally addressed!), and cross-fade would bring this program up to the standard of a good utility tool for basic lossless audio editing, and justify the price.  
(Version 1.6)

CHAS_M  Does it work in Canada?

Seeing the field for "zip code" makes me think "no," but sometimes I've been pleasantly surprised, so I have to ask.  
(Version 1.0)

CHAS_M  WAAAAAAY overpriced.

This is something I would really use and enjoy, but call me back when it's under (WELL under) $20.  
(Version 1.0.1)

CHAS_M  I use -- and love -- Rogue Amoeba's products, but their habit of charging around $32 for everything has made me VERY hesitant to pick this one up. However nice this program is, it's a one-trick pony doing something a lot of other programs do for less money.

Their other programs are generally WELL worth the cost (Audio Hijack Pro in particular), but RA should rethink the pricing on this one (something more like $20-25), particularly given that they are still squashing major bugs.  
(Version 1.1)

CHAS_M  Don't assume the developer has malicious intent in excluding older OSes.

Sometimes, the tools used to compile the code force older versions to be excluded, sometimes the features leveraged from the OS (like Core Animation) *require* that you make something Leopard-only (as the feature doesn't exist in Tiger!).

By all means, petition the developer for support of recent OS versions -- just don't always assume its an oversight, or in their power to fix.  
(Version 0.63)

CHAS_M  Hah, had to provide my own follow-up! They sure don't make this easy to find:

http://www.viddler.com/explore/liscio/videos/1/  
(Version 1.1)

CHAS_M  The "drawer" was for displaying ads, which only very VERY rarely appeared. It can't be closed -- the ads were what supported the program (or didn't, as we see now).  
(Version 2.0b)

CHAS_M  I went to the website but can't find any videos. Link?  
(Version 1.0.3)

CHAS_M  Adobe Air does not require "unrestricted" access (ie root). It needs Admin access (which you may think is "unrestricted" but that's not correct) because it needs to install components within the system, in much the same way that QuickTime needs similar access in order to function.  
(Version 1.0)

CHAS_M  Dang it, I just discovered this thing! And it works with Canadian banks, even!

COME BACK!!  
(Version 2.6)

CHAS_M  This is a very clever idea and an interesting UI. The only real flaw I can find with this is that it appears to be unable to record streams (as, say, Audio Hijack or Wiretap can).

As-is, this is a great easy tool for musicians and vocal recording, voiceovers, practicing and podcasting, so if they add the ability to record audio off the net I think they've got a really solid product here.  
(Version 1.0)

CHAS_M  Having just gotten this thanks to the MU promo bundle (thanks, guys!) I'm looking forward to testing it versus my beloved Amadeus Pro.

Still -- I've been using Fission a lot lately for "quick" editing because of it's "no further loss" nature, and wondering why AP nor SS offer this amazing ability.

For jobs where you are just "cutting and/or pasting" audio, you should be able to save losslessly like Fission offers.  
(Version 3.5.6)

CHAS_M  I was a little nervous that this was going to be a "gotcha" because I bought Mac Pilot as part of a bundle.

But lo and behold, because I was within the time frame I got a free upgraded license.

Well done!  
(Version 3.0)

CHAS_M  Add a US proxy so that we Canadians (and others) can enjoy Pandora again and you've got not just a sale, but an evangelist.  
(Version 1.3b238)

CHAS_M  Followed instructions. Program continues to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Thanks for wasting my time.  
(Version 0.3)

CHAS_M  Have not tried it (yet!), but if all it does is catalog and view your media (even very quickly), $49 is HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

Call me when this is $19.99 or less.  
(Version 1.0.2)

CHAS_M  Cats can look after themselves. :)  
(Version 1.0)

CHAS_M  Can't get the 1.1 dmg file to open -- verification failed. Tried from both MU's link and direct from the dev site.  
(Version 1.1)

CHAS_M  Wow, SOMEBODY'S been looking at Numbers ...  
(Version pb1)

CHAS_M  If you already own Word, and don't want to shell out the bucks for Final Draft, Magic Movie Screenwriter or Montage, this might be a good alternative.

If you started your screenplay on a "friend's" copy of FD or MMS, you can now convert that file to and from ScreenWright's MSWord format, making this in my view now a complete product.

Haven't tried it yet, but you might want to check out the free trial -- I will.  
(Version 2007.9)

CHAS_M  While I do appreciate the work that must have gone into taming the beast that is MS Word into a workable manuscript processor, I doubt that anyone who's already paid for Word is going to want to shell out that much over again (Word, on the rare occasions it's offered as a standalone product, usually sells for around $99-129) to turn it into a single-purpose app.

Assuming it's utterly flawless, a professional person who makes a living turning Word output from idiot authors into usable manuscripts might find this worth it, if only there weren't open-source materials that, with a little fine-tuning, can do the job just as well or faster and cost only the time spent fine-tuning.  
(Version 2007.7)

CHAS_M  Leo Spill -- why not give it a try first before commenting? WireTap Studio has a few features that the AHP/Fission combo doesn't.

Maybe that's worth the extra $5 (compared to buying AHP and Fission separately), maybe it's not. Costs nothing to find out. Heck of a lot cheaper than the other competitors (SoundStudio, Deck/Peak, etc) either way.

(I agree that the AHP/Fission combo deal is a great price, and as a registered user of both I like them a lot, but like most people I didn't think to buy them at the same time, so WTS isn't a hugely more expensive item and I plan to take a close look at it.)  
(Version 1.0)

CHAS_M  Great program, but for US users the $17 price is a little hard to justify for a program one is probably only going to use occasionally.

At $10 or less I would be far more likely to buy.  
(Version 3.7)

CHAS_M  While it's always a pleasure to see a useful program actively supported and expanded by the developer, this at-least-once-a-week update schedule suggests that perhaps the dev ought to add more/update more between releases lest it look like he just didn't think the program's purpose through very well and is playing catch-up on the fly.

Again, I'm appreciative of the program and the dev's efforts to improve it, but bigger updates a big less often would be fine too.  
(Version 2.2.8)

CHAS_M  I had used the previous version of this successfully, but this one (1.1) eats up my CPU and writes temp files to fill up my hard drive RAPIDLY.

BIG problems. Deleted until the developer corrects these issues.  
(Version 1.1)

CHAS_M  Re: the comment about MenuCalendarClock

I'm not knocking MagiCal, but what you said about MenuCalendarClock simply isn't true. I own the program and get NO reminders (because that's how I like it) unless and until I click on the menubar icon.

MagiCal looks nice and is free, so it's perfect for some. MenuCalendarClock has a few more tricks up its sleeve, however, and some may feel it's worth the small shareware fee.

I entreat any readers to try them both and make up your own mind.  
(Version 1.1a4)

CHAS_M  VERY excited about this, early trials look very promising, thanks so much!!

However, one quibble: I would really, REALLY like to be able to search for games from a list using the actual name of the game. At present, the "list" checkbox is blank and I must type in the actual ROM name (which is often, but not always, similar to the game name but just a bit different).

Surely it would not be hard to have the program "grab" the list of ROMs by their real titles on startup?

Thanks again!  
(Version 0.114)

CHAS_M  Could the developer take a look at this site:

http://www.fabchannel.com

and see if FVD can capture any of those flash performances  
(Version 1.1)

CHAS_M  Not as good as MenuCalendarClock, but OTOH it's free.  
(Version 1.0)

CHAS_M  The price listed is sort of deceptive. The $4.95 charge is PER MONTH, ie ongoing.

To the developer: this is a marvelous utility, but I'm totally uninterested in paying you continuously. Price it at a fair price (say $9.99), charge for major updates if necessary, but let us pay a flat rate. You are a small operation and we have no idea if you will be around a month, six months, a year from now.  
(Version 1.4)

CHAS_M  I really appreciate Allume making the expander available separately, FREE, as a Universal Binary for us Intel Mac owners.

Thanks, Allume! It certainly keeps you on my mind favourably.  
(Version 11.0)

CHAS_M  It means you have too much RAM installed, or not the type of RAM Parallels was expecting. Best thing to do is contact the company and let them help you troubleshoot -- they are very helpful.  
(Version 2.2.1884)

CHAS_M  I applaud alternatives to Toast/Jam, but given that this program is untried and untested yet costs MORE than Jam, don't think I'll be giving it a spin anytime real soon.

Rethink that price policy boys and good luck!  
(Version 0.18.3b)

CHAS_M  Would be a LOT more useful if I could specify a date range of mail I want backed up. Still, the price on this is right ... so thanks for an excellent start!  
(Version 1.0)

CHAS_M  Marvelous recreation of a game I loved in childhood. Many thanks!  
(Version 1.0b9)

CHAS_M  Holy crap!! What is this guy, 12?

That's got to be some kind of all-time "ugly, useless web site" winner.

With DVDpedia around, I'm really not inclined to give this one a try given the complete lack of any sense of aesthetics by the dev.

Maybe someday I'll be bored enough to experiment.  
(Version 1.07)

CHAS_M  One of the better Yahtzee clones for OS X because it allows for triple-play, but I'm afraid it doesn't hold a candle to Super Dice-It from the old OS 8 days (the *last* Classic software I still use!). I even asked the author of Super Dice-It to update it but he doesn't have time.

I'd suggest the developer of Triple Fun take a look at Super Dice-It and take the game further -- then he'd really have a winner on his hands IMHO.  
(Version 1.2)

CHAS_M  I find that the "miniMail" widget (http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/19776) is more useful for this sort of thing, and definitely works under Tiger.

Of course, the best option is to simply set up your own built-into-the-OS SMTP server using a tool like Postfix Enabler, only $10 shareware:

http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/13237

But if you're, for example, at work and need to send a quick message out under your "personal" address, MiniMail does the trick quite nicely. BTW, if you're just relaying telephone contacts via email, take a look at Wywo:

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/15749

Still works!  
(Version 0.1)

CHAS_M  If Java=Crap to you, you haven't tried ThinkFree Office.

I'm NOT a big Java fan -- far from it, actually -- but ThinkFree Office runs extremely well and has been a really solid performer for me. Yes, it's slower than MS Office, but only somewhat -- so I trade a little speed for freedom from MS's monopoly. I trade a tiny bit of functionality (very little) for a $50 pricetag.

Yes, I think ThinkFree Office is a better value for most people than MS Office. Power users, maybe not so much, but "regular folks"? Definitely.  
(Version 2.3 (0417.64))

CHAS_M  To the fellow who said "Two words: WIRE TAP" and to the other fellow who said "Three words: Audio. Hijack. Pro.":

Yes, Wiretap is free (from http://www.ambrosiasw.com) and nifty. However, it does not do what iRecordMusic does -- Wiretap records to AIFF files only, which can be quite unwieldy for long recordings. And yes, Audio Hijack Pro ($37) is in some ways niftier than iRecordMusic, but also costs considerably more -- nearly double!

If a person wants a CHEAP way to easily record radio streams from a variety of sources directly into MP3 or MP4/AAC format, it seems to me that iRecordMusic is quite the viable option. There may be similar products that are even more well-suited to the purpose (I don't pretend to know every product on the market), but used in conjuction with Steam I find iRecordMusic to be an economical and sensible option, whereas Wiretap and AHP (fine products that they are) don't quite fit my needs/budget.

Slamming one product to promote another seems needlessly childish to me.

Oh, and BTW -- Wiretap is ONE WORD, not two. FYI.  
(Version 1.3v29)

CHAS_M  WE'RE NOT WORTHY! WE'RE NOT WORTHY!

Thanks, man. This is awesome.  
(Version 1.3)

CHAS_M  I'm just downloading the new version now, so I can't yet comment on that, but just wanted to say that I think the developer has hit on a GOOD way to allow users to fully explore and try the product prior to registering, while not leaving it so nobody will bother to register. A good balance.

Since I had a few (minor) issues with the last version, I'm looking forward to trying this one out on my Blogger account. It's a good program, just needed some polishing and extras. [review edited to remove star rating since the writer hadn't yet downloaded the app -MU Admin]  
(Version 1.5)

CHAS_M  Bless 'im!!  
(Version 2.0.6)

CHAS_M  I rely on this product as the cornerstone of my backup strategy. Send Mike Bombich the five bucks already -- he's more than earned it!  
(Version 2.3)

CHAS_M  I'm a little confused about why someone would use this software instead of the built-in MP3CD burner in iTunes.

I'm particularly skeptical that someone would need to use this over iTunes to the point where they would pay the suggested $20.  
(Version 1.1)

CHAS_M  I was having trouble with iChat the last time I tried Fire. I'll give it another go, but I need to keep iChat around for AV chats.  
(Version 0.32.e)

CHAS_M  Clean, simple -- and I love that it can (optionally) send the results to the author for comparison.

But without ANY kind of reference to let me know how well -- or poorly -- my setup compares to other machines (different, similar, or "on average"), I'd have to say the thing is fairly meaningless at present. I'm sure the compiled "sent in" scores will eventually be incorporated, so for now just imagine you're doing your bit for the Mac community. It only takes a few seconds.  
(Version 1.2.2)

CHARLES MARTIN  Ben has created a great fax program. It's not for "professional" faxcasters and/or spammers (thank goodness!) but for "the rest of us" it meets our needs perfectly and doesn't require a manual. This is the future of shareware -- building a little onto the back of open-source software and charging a little (very reasonable) for the extra convenience. Way to go Ben!

One little thing I would like to see added is Address Book integration.  
(Version 1.1)