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Mac Classic  |  Multimedia  |  SqueezeBox Server  |  Don't Do It

SqueezeBox Server

SqueezeBox Server

Network music server for squeezebox, slimp3, handhelds.

Version:  7.4

   [ Views: 317 ]

Don't Do It

Feedback Type:  Commentary

Contributed by: Peter at Gemini Friday, May 20 2005 @ 11:31 AM PDT

Product Platform:

Used Product For: Less than a month

Recommend Product: NO

Folks, if you're using OS 9 or less, steer clear of this birth defect until you see the words, "Stalling and OutOfBounds exception solved." See my earlier review.
Below is one email exchange between me and Mr. Hendrickson, which came after I tried an update he suggested. It demonstrates that the more you try to help, and get help, by describing the problem in detail the more petulant and defensive he gets. He also refuses to answer straightforward questions, apparently feeling that "19 bucks" for this Mickey Mouse job doesn't earn anyone that consideration. First my email, then his response.

Jeff Hendrickson, Sat, May 7, 2005, 8:56 PM
Please take the time to read this carefully. If you see any of these (?) after a sentence, please take the trouble to answer specifically.
The app seems to be stalling more and quitting less. However, it still requires considerable nursing to get the job done.
I ran a batch of 372 spams. In that span, it quit 15 times and stalled 13 times. Previously, the quits occurred entirely during the process of adding the DNS to the honeypot. Now, however, quits occur on two other phases: Looking up abuse info, and No cc list entry. Also, there were two quits with addresses in the abuse address window--a new wrinkle.
However, there are now more emails being processed and reports being sent between quits. I'm also now seeing more spam responses than before.
What is an OutOfBounds exception?
Does SpamX do anything with report responses other than delete them?
The stalls occur mostly on Evaluating RIR answer, with most of those saying (Korea) after. Stalls also occur on Error do next RIR lookup, Error socket-3168, and Looking up abuse info.
I consider it a stall if it does nothing for 2 minutes. It will hesitate for shorter periods, like 30 seconds, and then resume operation, typically in the "resolving" process.
One VERY ANNOYING thing it does following restart after a quit is renumber all files in the message folder. I see no value in this--is it necessary?
One very time-consuming aspect is the need to individually select and classify emails in the filter. Why is there no Shift-click (group select) function?
It has sent now about 5500 reports, according to itself, yet the rate of incoming spam does not seem to have slowed at all. In fact, it seems like more is coming. For example, I cleared my box late Sat afternoon, and by Sunday morning at 10:30 I had 450 spams in there.
IS there a chance that spammers are able to identify viable email addresses based on the reports being sent, then "duck" out of the way and flame SpamX users? I'm still getting spam with the same subject lines I did when I began using the app on April 14.
The bottom line: the amount of nursing required is still too great UNLESS it reduces spam to a trickle. Thus far, that has not occurred. I'm giving it every benefit of the doubt, but am still leaning toward a refund because I cannot afford the time this takes. It's quicker for me just to delete the spams from my server with Mail Siphon. We will see what happens after I run these 450 recent spams. If there's no improvement after that, I'll have to ask again for the refund.

Mr. SpamX's reply next day:
Peter,
I am totally dumbfounded at the level of support that you are expecting for a piece of software that costs 19 bucks, where you are the only person experiencing problems.
I've deleted your email address from the registration database, and I'm going to let you go bother someone else. I process refunds every two weeks or so.
Please do not reply to this, if I never hear from you again it will be too soon.
*********
Sorry, Jeff--I'm guessing this is too soon? Still looking forward to my refund. I know a smart programmer like you can handle a PayPal transfer.   

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