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Advanced SearchUser Name Joe Wheeler
Member Since 2005-04-04
Total number of Feedback Posts: 9
Total number of comments: 9
Last 10 Feedback Posts by Joe Wheeler [ Search for All ]
Lexmark Z42 Color Jetprinter 2.0.7 (Mac OS X)
Forget the download link, it "times out" so the driver is probably not available. [alert admin]
Thursday, August 16 2007 @ 10:41 PM PDT
Olympus DSS Player 6.0.4 (Mac OS X)
Though this page is for v. 6.0.4, when you click the download link, the Olympus page does not contain a link to download DSS Player v.6.0.4, it has evidently been removed. There is of course the newer v.6.2.0, but through lousy wording, I can't tell if it is a universal binary that will work on my PPC based Mac, or only on Intel Macs. The blurb below the download link reads:
"This is a software update module for the DSS Player for MAC V6. This update will enable the DSS Player for MAC V6 (PowerPC Binary) to run on Intel-based MAC and support the Mass Storage Class recorders from Olympus. This update is applicable to MAC (OS X) V6 versions. Check the readme file for additional information. (Self-extracting .dmg disk image file 3.22 MB) (1/2007) (MAC OS X only)." What is meant by "PowerPC Binary"? Univeral or not? Clicking on the Read Me link below the download (should open a PDF file) is 404 - file not found.
I'm leery about installing 6.2.0, since 6.0.4 works fine for me, and I'm concerned about the trend of newer software versions removing some previously included functionality. That BTW is the case with iListen, which in version 1.6.8 had support for the Olympus recorders but upon introducing v. 1.7, MacSpeech removed that functionality, for which users of recorders are now forced to pay a steep $75 for a "TranscriptionPak" otherwise the Olympus recorders won't work with iListen.
Thus, in addition to DSS Player to manage files, to listen to and type speech I've recorded, there is an app called Express Scribe that reads files from the recorder, can do faster, slower, back up, fast forward, etc., and works with a USB dictation petal or keyboard modifier-arrow keys combos. Since DS-2 or DS-20 have problems in this area (multiple files if one backs up to review), such software is invaluable. [alert admin]
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Wednesday, June 13 2007 @ 01:52 AM PDT
Perian 0.5 (Mac OS X)
I incorrectly stated that the Amazing Media Browser add-on in FireFox used QuickTime. In fact, for .swf files it directly accesses the Flash plug-in. This is no reflection on Perian, which never promised to read .swf files anyway. Perian is great, highly recommended. [alert admin]
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Thursday, November 23 2006 @ 02:42 AM PST
Perian 0.5 (Mac OS X)
I agree with other reviewers, this is a tremendous boon to Mac people who want to view Flash movies via QuickTime. Though not listed as a supported format, I was able to load some .swf files. In some cases, animated text effects did not display, in others, QuickTime simply said the .swf file I was opening had "invalid media data". Oddly, I could view the latter files using the Amazing Media Browser add-on in FireFox (I thought AMB used QuickTime, if it does, must somehow get around the invalid media data faux issue as happens when opening such files directly in QT). So, between the two, I can now open all Flash movies, at least all I've tried. Lovely and long overdue functionality. BTW, some reviewers refer to this as an "app" -- it is not, it is a "component" for QuickTime. [alert admin]
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Thursday, November 23 2006 @ 02:31 AM PST
BackItUp 1.5 (Mac OS X)
You would think from the name that this was a backup utility; well it is in a way, but *only* to CDs. The developer suggests using iCal to make BackItUp an event in order to be reminded to back up crucial files. I haven't actually gone through with a burn, as I can see no indication this app supports sessions, otherwise I'd be wasting a disc that wasn't full. Actually, I'm not sure what the point of this app is. I suppose it runs a couple of scripts to do via dialog windows what you'd otherwise do directly in the Finder. [alert admin]
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Wednesday, September 06 2006 @ 12:19 AM PDT
NotLight 1.3 (Mac OS X)
This is indeed a huge improvement over Apple's 'fake' interface. One thing that is mentioned as a searchable attribute in the developer documents for Spotlight is finding invisible files. So, I guess this is a feature request, that finding invisible files be made available with NotLight. Maybe they aleady are and I just haven't found that feature, but if not, it would make a handy addition to the next version. [alert admin]
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Sunday, July 09 2006 @ 09:06 PM PDT
CharisMac Discribe 5.1.07 (Mac OS X)
forgot to click on "recommend" button 
The review I just submitted should have 5 stars throughout. I missed the "Recommend CharisMac Discribe" button or chose the wrong Feedback Type. Anyway, see my previous comments. I originally obtained this software when that bloatware package everybody touts that reminds one of breakfast, kept reporting that there was an "unstable connection" with my drive. I bought Discribe, it worked like a trouper, and have never looked back. Now with the patch for the latest Apple OS, it continues to satisfy me (see previous post for details). Again, this pertains to the yet-to-be-posted version 5.1.6. And, I had to choose "used product less than a month" but have in reality used it for over 3 years without a hitch, and this latest version keeps pace with that satisfaction. [alert admin]
Friday, March 03 2006 @ 12:24 AM PST
CharisMac Discribe 5.1.07 (Mac OS X)
Newer version exists!! (5.1.6) I don't know about people with earlier versions (I've had no trouble since 5.0.36) or e.g. Iomega drives, but with a 3rd party LG drive, I have been a completely satisfied user of this software for years. When I updated to OS X 10.4.5, I encountered a crash with 5.0.47. I e-mailed tech support, and was immediately sent an entirely new version, 5.1.6, which is solid as a rock. These people make great software, but are not as adept at keeping their users informed. I couldn't find the 5.1.6 update on their site. If you have a recent version paid copy, it is worth e-mailing them for an update (very quick response), it does so much more than Apple's plain jane burning that I couldn't function without it. Matter of fact, I'd say just buy the current version from the Web and if it doesn't work, ask for the update. Copy one disc to another with no image or scratch file, video CD, bootable CD, incremental sessions, convert AAC to AIFF, burnproof protection, mixed mode, etc., all that good stuff, it is all there, a combination of simplicity and elegance. I generally appreciate Apple's minimalist approach, but when you want to really get down to business with CD/DVD burning, you can't go wrong with Discribe. Disclaimer: I have no business or other association with Charismac Engineering, I just think they write a**kicking software. Don't whine-just buy it! [alert admin]
Friday, March 03 2006 @ 12:13 AM PST
CoMa X 7.3.1 (Mac OS X)
May be good for some, consistent crash for me 
...after installation, I began to attempt to set up the program in demo mode. It crashed. I rebooted the program, again it crashed. Sometimes it would take a menu access first, but always it would crash; crash log would start: Exception: EXC_BAD_ACCESS (0x0001) Codes: KERN_INVALID_ADDRESS (0x0001) at 0x72656464 I don't know what this means. I do know the software is unusable for me. Other issues: English manual and online help are written by a German speaking person whose translation skills leave much to be desired; to get both fax and ans. machine capability going, cost rises from $49 to $99, and to $149 if one wants to also provide faxback/fax retrieval function. I had all of the above features in OS 9 with Smith Micro's HotFax Messenger Pro (with the included FaxSTF 5 upgraded [free] to 6.0) which for the most part worked quite well. That software cost me $69 5 years ago. If it could be made to work, it has many desirable features (hence the 5 stars under features, and supports Class 2.0 fax protocol. Bottom line is, for what one gets it is too expensive, as well as, at least on some machines, buggy. This is doubly too bad, as this is the only software for OS X that makes use of voice-capable modems for a virtual answering machine. [alert admin]
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Sunday, February 19 2006 @ 08:26 PM PST
Last 10 Comments by Joe Wheeler [ Search for All ]
It gets even worse if you install FF 2.0 then proceed to update your extensions. The ones I use were all updated for 2.0, so now that I also will be reverting to 1.5.0.7, I'm going to have to hunt for previous/last versions compatible with 1.5.x. I had two crashes in 3 tries; whatever happened to TalkBack? It never came on in either case. As for rendering, the js and css implementation is a mess; I began…
Original feedback item : Read More(1 words)
Saturday, October 28 2006 @ 10:56 PM PDT
The instruction Download Mac142EN.sit, install update and restart is only necessary for people who work in OS 9 or Classic, as the installer is a Classic app. Installation of Download DSS_MacOS_10.sit and install results in a Dictation Window.app dated 2001, with a help file that didn't work in Help. No matter, by then Downloading DSSMac604EN.sit, install update and restart gave a much fuller app (though the help files show quite a differemce in screen shots and…
Original feedback item : Read More(1 words)
Thursday, October 12 2006 @ 03:43 AM PDT
Trash the 2.6.3 preferences, ~/Library/Preferences/com.fcs.MacDialer.plist That worked for me. Now MacDialer works seamlessly, even with an older external USB full-duplex voice modem (I can dial and have a hands-free conversation, yay!). I had to change the init string to do this (see your modem's manual if necessary).
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Wednesday, July 05 2006 @ 01:09 AM PDT
I got the same 'no picture' display in Firefox 1.5.0.3, but after a delay the Apple video would play, albeit broken up and placed too high on the screen so it would obscure page info that was meant to be above the video screen. The stand-alone VLC.app on the other hand is terrific.
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Saturday, May 06 2006 @ 10:22 PM PDT
Apr. 22-06 - this comment is still true regarding Enigmail and Thunderbird, but 99% of readers will not know anything about either of these encryption packages, since everything written is in geek jargon and zero skill in expository writing. Question, class: What is the difference between GnuPG and Enigmail? For that matter, what is encryption? If you know that, what programs can use it, and why would you use it anyway? If you don't know…
Original feedback item : Read More(1 words)
Saturday, April 22 2006 @ 08:44 PM PDT
Output Device does not like Griffin I-Mic
How far back? To what version in order to get iMic to be recognized?
Original feedback item : Read More
Tuesday, February 28 2006 @ 02:49 PM PST
The best OOo Release (for the Mac) yet!
Word 5??? If that were true, the reviewer is referring to the most historically esteemed word processor for Mac of all time. No, don’t confuse the simplicity of the default interface with backwardness. This suite has enormous power; and, people who are hooked on “Aqua” are missing the benefits of one of the most versatile tools available on any platform. It works well “out of the box” but considering it is free (or worth whatever you decide…
Original feedback item : Read More(1 words)
Wednesday, October 26 2005 @ 02:19 AM PDT
<[NeoOffice/J] feels like an OS X-native app (because it is!)> NOT! It relies heavily on Java, which slows it down considerably, and it is based on OpenOffice 1.1, whereas we now had OO 2, so powerful and solid that I can't imagine anyone doing all that is now available with Java and some C+++ code. Once you tell X11 to forget system keystrokes, suddenly all you Mac Command keys work where it was Conrol before.…
Original feedback item : Read More(1 words)
Wednesday, October 26 2005 @ 02:11 AM PDT
I recently bought (and then returned) a Mini with Tiger; while I had it, I discovered two other find programs, one that looked like the old Sherlock, and another even more streamlined that looked like the Find File in OS 8.6. I hadn't used previous versions of OS X,so I can't comment on similarities to Panther, et. al. Since I'm back to OS 9 until I can find another machine within my budget (the Mini…
Original feedback item : Read More(1 words)
Saturday, August 13 2005 @ 03:31 PM PDT
