I see it announced today on prmac.com that EasyEnvelopes is now available in the MAS for $9.99. It is listed as version 1.0.0, released on 21 July 2012.
It is now an application, whereas before it was a widget. Actually, prior to OS X, it was a Desk Accessory — and a very good one at that.
As a widget, it has been good, but some of the functionality of the old Desk Accessory didn't seem to be as good.
So far, there is one comment on the MAS that claims that the app is not worth the steep price. Without trying it out, I would tend to agree.
Personally, I'm hoping to hold onto the existing widget that works under 10.7 — and hope that if I upgrade to 10.8 that widget will continue to work properly.
It's sad that Ambrosia feels the need to charge such a steep price for this app — especially since it doesn't seem to offer much, if anything, more than the free widget offers.
I've used this since it was first an app (free back then) but POJ/POS are both too nice of descriptors for this broken and orphaned app. It did work a little bit up until El Capitan 10.11.2, but now I think it's total history. The developer has a voice message that says "We won't be answering this voice mail in the future"...I'm not hoping for an email reply. The sad part is there is absolutely no other app out there that does just envelope printing when you just need a single envelope addressed.
OMG. I used this years ago with some modest success, but just tried it again and ... I'm not even going to begin to delineate all of the things that are wrong or broken in this p.o.j. (polite form of p.o.s.). It's like the dev stopped supporting it or sailed it out on the world half-baked, or something. Gonna go try Labels & Addresses instead....
It's really unfortunate that Ambrosia has abandoned Snow Leopard with this. The widget was always a great tool, this is miles ahead but can't be used on Snow...I'm majorly disappointed with this.
I see it announced today on prmac.com that EasyEnvelopes is now available in the MAS for $9.99. It is listed as version 1.0.0, released on 21 July 2012.
It is now an application, whereas before it was a widget. Actually, prior to OS X, it was a Desk Accessory — and a very good one at that.
As a widget, it has been good, but some of the functionality of the old Desk Accessory didn't seem to be as good.
So far, there is one comment on the MAS that claims that the app is not worth the steep price. Without trying it out, I would tend to agree.
Personally, I'm hoping to hold onto the existing widget that works under 10.7 — and hope that if I upgrade to 10.8 that widget will continue to work properly.
It's sad that Ambrosia feels the need to charge such a steep price for this app — especially since it doesn't seem to offer much, if anything, more than the free widget offers.
Like (6)
Version 1.0.10
3 answer(s)
M-Luther
27 July 2012
I'm with ya, Anthony. Not only that, the widget now has this annoying "Upgrade to Pro" yellow sticky note on it. What in the world...? Ambrosia isn't even calling this "Pro," its version 1.0.0. I'm going to keep using the widget since I maybe use this app 10 times per year. Great little app, but for $1/envelope, I'll go back to hand writing envelopes.
Like (1)
Rubaiyat
12 August 2012
I also agree. Bit of opportunism with a misjudged price.
So many better and more useful Apps sell for less.
Lppk for this to Go on Special real soon.
Like (1)
Jimw
05 October 2012
At that price, for the few envelopes I do each year, I can use Pages, MS Word, or LibreOffice (free) and merge print as well. I agree, $10 is simply too much for this "one trick pony."
I consider this little gem of a widget indispensable. So, I feel a little bad about looking a gift horse in the mouth.
Easy Envelopes doesn't print a Facing Identification Mark or "FIM" on the envelope. If the objective is to help your mail sail through the postal services automation, not having a FIM is glaring omission. They've known about it for a long time and new versions have come out and they still don't do it. Addressix does it, but it's all but defunct at this point.
It's worth mentioning that the barcode Easy Envelopes uses is a POSTNET barcode. As of May, 2011, this barcode format is being deprecated by the US Postal Service in favor of the Intelligent Mail barcode, or "IMB." Since they won't even add a FIM, I'm guessing that IMB is not in Easy Envelope's future. :-(
I hope I am proven wrong on all counts. That would be wonderful.
Like (5)
Version 1.0.9
2 answer(s)
Christoa
02 May 2012
Please be aware that this change only affects automation price pieces, in which case you wouldn't be using EasyEnvelopes to print your envelopes. Also, FIMs are not used except for Business Reply Mail, so you shouldn't be printing your own FIMs anyway.
So long as you're using EE to pre-print envelopes for proper usage, the output it gives you is as good as you can get; changing to IMb or adding FIMs isn't going to help (the latter one could possibly delay a mailing!)
Like (3)
Paulson
26 October 2013
FIM (Facing Information Marks) make no difference, really, because they're intended for Business Reply Mail. Have you ever seen how fast modern mail sorters work? The envelopes fly through these scanners at about 50 miles an hour, so even if needed, lack of a FIM would add about a millisecond for the machine to turn the envelope right side up, or just read the back side. Non-existent problem.
I'm using this on a machine with 10.6.6 as a standalone app built using Mesa Dynamics' Amnesty Singles - one could use another program that converts widgets to desktop apps as well I imagine - and it seems to run ok for me.
I am using the trial version of Amnesty Singles so there is a nag box that pops up. (I don't like eSellerate - the program's third party e-vendor - so I have removed all portions of the eSellerate privacy-invasive framework from the Amnesty Singles app. Otherwise I'd gladly buy a copy but can't find another way to do this. =( )
I can't really explain why I don't get the same errors as outlined below other than the fact that I am using it as a standalone app and not a widget.
Easy Envelope is advertised as OS 10.6 compatible. However, the print dialog box hangs and requires a log out. I contacted Ambrosia Software and received “We're aware of this issue happening to a few people. At this time there's no workaround or update in the wing” as a reply. If you have a workaround, please post.
Like (1)
Version 1.0.8
3 answer(s)
Simplesymon
28 December 2009
having the same problem, only can get box off screen with a restart... anybody now of another widget for envelopes? Or wen this problem will b fixed???
Like
Version 1.0.8
Rod-Vaughn
17 September 2010
Same problem here - I believe it is more widespread than they realize. Pity too because it's because of this free software by Ambrosia, that I ended up buying Snapz Pro and Wiretap Studio. I love the app for the ease of use, but this problem makes it almost not worth the effort.
Like
Version 1.0.8
The-Big-K
03 December 2010
This was a wonderful app up through Leopard. But now it's broken for a lot of us Snow Leopard users. They acknowledge this on their support page, thus:
http://www.ambrosiasw.com/support/faqs/products/easyenvelopes-widget/Why-is-the-print-dialog-box-stuck-on-my-screen
So forget about a workaround.
I can't blame them for not investing to fix a freebie, but now I've got to search out a replacement, and I'll gladly pay for a good one. (Address Book itself is almost useless for printing envelopes.)
Arrrrrgh!
An outstanding, simple, and intuitive widget for occasional envelope printing that includes fine Mac address book integration. This has become only software I use for non-bulk envelope creation. Version 1.0.8 in a clean installation of MacOS 10.6 works flawlessly for me as well.
Easy Envelopes does a way better job than office envelope wizard, and kills Apple's Address Book, both of which require multiple steps just to print one unique envelope. This software is absolutely fantastic. It is so easy to use, and even prints out USPS barcodes, truly outstanding. I would easily pay $10 for this application.
They finally added something I suggested over a year ago! They have now added the Delivery Point digits after the ZIP+4 into the POSTNET bar code. Yay!
Now that POSTNET is being deprecated, hopefully EasyEnvelopes will include its replacement, "Intelligent Mail Barcode," in a future release.
Be warned: Easy Envelopes 1.0.7 does NOT work properly in OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. It can print envelopes but has freezes when minimized as well as with the Print dialog screen.
No word when or if Easy Envelopes will be updated to work with 10.6 by the developers, Ambrosia Software.
/
First envelope I tried to print gave me an error because I had duplex printing checked. That's not so bad. But what IS bad is that the OK button on the dialog box is grayed out so I can't close the error message, can't print the envelope, can't use the widget, can't clear the message off of my screen, etc.
I was wonderin if you print the envelope out, do you have to have a envelope in the printer? If not, do I have to have some type of special paper in the printer?
Like
Version 1.0.7
2 answer(s)
Ambrosiasw
07 April 2008
Hello,
The software EasyEnvelopes simply offers you an easy way of printing out envelopes, as it integrates with your Address Book, you can quickly and easily address an envelope to a friend or business contact. By using the software it formats it to have a perfect formatted envelope. It handles USPS bar codes for both 5 and 9 digit bar codes, and boasts many time-saving nicities.
You will need to supply your own envelopes to be printed upon, Ambrosia Software does not supply the envelopes. The software is designed to let you control the size of the envelope you wish to print on as well as the formatting for the return and mailing address. If you have any further questions please feel free to check out the Easy Envelopes Widget FAQs found on our site.
Nice software, easy to use, can't argue with the price. Kudos for including the Delivery point digits in the POSTNET bar code. BTW, I checked bar codes for several envelopes I printed and they were all correct, (I've seen errors on other software!)
However, it is missing one very important element: FIM-A. What's "FIM-A" you ask? Go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facing_Identification_Mark
Like
Version 1.0.7
1 answer(s)
Christoa
02 May 2012
FIM is only used for Business Reply Mail, and should *not* be used with software such as EE.
VERY simple to use and much more user friendly than Snail Mail which I had used for a long time. One thing I think is cool is if you copy a name and address from anywhere, it puts that name and address in the To field...you don't have to even paste it in. And it keeps the size parameters for the font, the other one didn't.
"Two thumbs up!" as they say.
every so often a gem like this comes along and changes the way you do things - to the extent that it makes a chore transparent. kudos to the developer.
don
Very nice and simple app.
It would be nice if one could choose where to print the Bar code (above the address or at the bottom right) and also add the FIM A.
I've been using this widget for a year or so now. It's fabulous, and the developer is very responsive to feedback. Great product. Siplicity at it's finest.
In 1.0.1 it was added the ability to minimize the widget. However each time Dashboard starts EasyEnvelopes is maximized. Can't it remember in what state it was the last time the computer shut down? If not, can you add a preference to select the initial minimize/maximize state?
Beside that, it works well. A truly useful widget.
Like
Version 1.0.1
1 answer(s)
Moki
28 October 2005
Yep, we're going to add this feature in the next update (saving of a widget's minimized state)
The original widget just wouldn't look up addresses in my address book, making it rather tedious to use!
This one has fixed the problem. It's an elegant and versatile widget, as you would expect from Ambrosia.
I love the concept of Easy Envelopes and look forward to using this widget regularly and frequently ... if one wrinkle can be smoothed out.
The Wrinkle :: I have my Address Book displayed by last name, and Easy Envelopes addresses my envelopes in the same fashion, i.e., "Last First."
Any fix for this (apart from the obvious one of changing my Address Book display)?
Like
Version 1.0
3 answer(s)
Moki
27 August 2005
EasyEnvelopes just asks Address Book for a formatted address. If you changed how Address Book formats the address, then it will affect the format of the address that is returned to Easy Envelopes when it asks for it.
Like
Version 1.0
Anonymous
18 October 2005
This is my problem too and I don't want to display first name first in the address book. This should a separate preference within the widget.
Like
Version 1.0.1
Moki
18 October 2005
This was fixed in version 1.0.1, which we've just released.
Doesn't work with printers that feed envelopes in the center (like HP LaserJet 3330 I use) - app thinks that envelope is simply on left side of the feeder and prints with that assumption. It works somehow fairly with printers that feed envelopes on one side. Seems that developer didn't take into consideration that many printers resize their feeded to the center, not to the side.
Like
Version 1.0
1 answer(s)
Moki
27 August 2005
EasyEnvelopes actually works fine with center-fed printers -- you just need to choose the proper paper size. All of the printers at the Ambrosia office are center-fed printers, and EEW works fine with them. If you have further issues, please contact us at help@AmbrosiaSW.com
This is a visually attractive widget but unfortunately it cannot perform the most basic functions for which one would use an envelope addressing widget. It does not formal addresses according to USPS Standardized Address guidelines and instead merely print on the envelope, anything that the user enters. It creates a bar code for 5- and 9-digit zip codes but it does not use the USPS database to confirm that you have used the correct zip code and cannot look up the correct zip codes for addresses. The widget "USPS Address Verifier" can look up the data but not print the envelopes. If these two authors could combine their efforts then we would have something useful. Until, I'll stick with "USPS Address Verifier" because it ensures that I get the correct address formated in the correct wayl.
Like
Version 1.0
1 answer(s)
Moki
21 August 2005
The address that we print comes either from Address Book (most often), or an address that the user pastes in. When the address comes from Address Book, it is indeed a properly formatted address to USPS spec.
When pasted in, we assume people want the address printed the way it was pasted in. We're concerned with more than the USPS, EEW works with a number of languages/countries, and people may very well be sending envelopes from one country to another.
As for zip code lookup, that's an interesting idea, and we certainly could do it -- but it would again me a US-centric feature (not that there's anything wrong with that).
The main point of EasyEnvelopes is to print envelopes easily.
Thanx for bringing this back. I haven't been able to use this for several years, and I miss it's 'easyness'.
Yeah, there's other apps that can help with envs, but they aren't as easy ;-)
Back in the day, a minute would be all that was needed to knock out an env with EE and a DeskWriter.
Making it a widget is a clever homage to the DA. And making this quick utility, free - is great.
Thanx again, Andrew.
Ya know, I bought Easy Envelopes back when it was an application for MacOS 7, and I really liked it until an update to System & broke it. That wouldn't have been so bad.. if Ambrosia had fixed it, but I guess the developer figured an app that he only charged $5.00 didn't warrant support... and now you can use it for free.. oh my.
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