Mac OS X | Desktop Enhancements | Themes | Spy OS X

Spy OS X - 1.0b2

Displays static or live view of your desktop in a browser

Download v 1.2b1

(File Size: 961k)

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All Time:	(4.9)
Version 1.0b2:	(4.7)
Selected Version:	1.0b2
Release Date:	2003-01-26
License:	Beta
Downloads (version 1.0b2):	181
Downloads (all versions):	15,156

Information Related to Version:

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Product Description:

Spy allows you to run a small server on your Mac, that when accessed by any normal web browser, allows people to see your screen, as well as information about your Macintosh. But it doesn't stop there - they can look at a normal static image, or they can look at your screen, live, in real-time! You can also choose which image format you want to use - JPEG or PNG. Not only that, but the user can choose what picture quality they want by manually specifying their desired quality and scale in the picture.jpg or picture.png request! Other features include 2 built-in layouts and custom layout support, and a Live Connection manager that lets you see everyone that is viewing your desktop live as well as disconnect any of those users. Best of all, Spy is totally free.

What's new in this version:

After some consideration, I have decided to remove GZip support from Spy. GZip is not appropriate in the case of Spy. It only saved up to 3% off of the size of JPEG images. If you want to save 3% or more off of your JPEG images, just lower your quality by about 2% in the preferences. It didn't work at all on Live streams. It compressed HTML well but that is only a fraction of what Spy handles. It added extra hard drive usage and used extra CPU time. And it actually caused PNG images to be slightly larger! As a side effect, this move will decrease the application filesize of Spy, meaning you can download new versions from the web more quickly.
Since GZip support is removed, I have created a simple HTML post-parser that removes all carriage returns, double spaces, and other unnecessary data from HTML before it is sent. This doesn't use the hard drive at all and takes almost no CPU time. Requires no special browser features.
Added icons for Layout, Index, and Live to the OS X Preferences window. The icons, however, don't match very well and are ripped from other Apple products. If you want to create some icons for me that do match, please get in touch with me at mike@silvernetwork.net.
Fixed "Get SPY!" logo not showing up on 404 Error pages for requests that include directories (for example, http://ip_address:2000/blah/foo/nonExistant.html)
Fixed "Force Default Values" possibly causing all Live streams to be delivered in one particular quality regardless of what the user chose.
Copy Address now copies "http://" as well as the IP and port number (but only if the port number is something other than 80).
The picture snapshot/compression code is now faster. This should reduce CPU usage moderately, especially in Live streams.
Fixed blank pages and other problems with Safari and some Windows-based IE browsers.
Removed the Advanced pane from the Preferences window since it is no longer necessary.
Added warning about "Force Default Values" option causing Thumbnail support to break.
Streamlined the internal HTTP header system to make it easier to maintain.
Minor re-naming in the Preferences window to better clarify some things.
The Spy bookmark/favorites icon (favicon.ico) now has a proper mask.
Added "Firewall" and "Live Doesn't Work" sections to the Read Me.
The iTunes song info now shows the Album name if there is one.

Operating System Requirements:

This product is designed to run on the following operating systems:

Mac OS X 10.3
Mac OS X 10.2
Mac OS X 10.1

Additional Requirements:

Mac OS X 10.1.5 or higher

Feedback Summary:

Version 1.0b2:
Overall Rating:	(4.7)	Features:	Not rated (0.0)	Support:	Not rated (0.0)
Ease of Use:	Not rated (0.0)	Quality / Stability:	Not rated (0.0)	Price:	Not rated (0.0)

Key to Types of Feedback:

Reviews Reviews Troubleshooting Usage Tips Developer Notes Commentary Featured Reviews

Great tool for user support - Version: 1.1, 7/5/2003 06:43AM PST

Andy Baird 1

I've used Spy with to help troubleshoot problems remotely and to talk users through unfamiliar (to them) procedures, and it's been invaluable. Being able to see exactly what is going on on the etrh end makes all the differnce. OK, it isn't Timbuktu--but what it does, it does superbly, and you can't beat the price! My deepest gratitude to the author.

No! Not the same as below link! - Version: 1.1, 7/4/2003 02:49PM PST

(1 of 2 users found this comment useful)

Mike Richardson

SilverNetworks Spy product is NOT the same as the product called "Spy" published by "James "007" Bond". The link below will NOT direct you to a newer version of SilverNetworks Spy.

Yes, please rename... - Version: 1.1, 7/3/2003 03:50PM PST

(1 of 1 users found this comment useful)

nsfbr

Since Spy is a copyrighted software for the Mac.