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User Name mdlarson
Member Since 2000-07-11
Total number of Feedback Posts: 35
Total number of comments: 4
Last 10 Feedback Posts by mdlarson [ Search for All ]
LineIn 2.0.3 (Mac OS X)
I was looking for a way to port my Xbox audio through my decent quality USB-based harmon/kardon Soundsticks, and LineIn is the perfect solution. Just launch LineIn, toggle my display to the Xbox input (I just have the single multiple-input display), and I'm ready to game. I use the Mac's audio keys on the keyboard to control the volume. Running great on Mac OS X 10.5.8. [alert admin]
Monday, October 19 2009 @ 05:44 AM PDT
SecuritySpy 1.6.2 (Mac OS X)
We have been using SecuritySpy at our business for about three years, starting on a Mac mini with 4 cameras and an external hard drive. We have since upgraded to a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac (2 GB RAM) running 6 cameras. All cameras are set to 640x480 and SecuritySpy was set to record the fastest frame rate possible, with motion detection for each device (each day's video is saved in large single .mov QuickTime files). Video is saved to an external 1 TB LaCie hard drive (930 GB after format) and we have two weeks worth of saved video we can review if needed. We have purchased 8 more cameras and I am in the process of installing them now. These are the cameras that we will have installed when it is all complete: (1) TRENDnet TV-IP301 (for dark interior infra-red capture) (1) Toshiba IK-WB15A (this is our only PTZ camera) (1) Axis 216FD (our only dome camera, except for the Toshiba PTZ above) (1) Axis 211A (our only outdoor camera to date; outdoor cameras are a pain to setup) (1) Axis 207 (9) Axis 206 I suspect we'll have to upgrade to a Mac Pro to handle all of this video compression, but we'll see. Anyway, the SecuritySpy software itself has worked pretty well. The documentation is very thorough, and I have referred to it many times when planning things out. There are some quirky things in the software that take some getting used to (primarily user interface issues), but the important thing is the software just works. The weakest part of SecuritySpy is the web server. For starters, authentication is not encrypted. Additionally, the authentication doesn't always seem to clear after a browser session (if I log into the web server, then close the window, someone can click on the history link and get into it without having to authenticate again). Viewing live video is OK, but if you want to switch to another camera, you have to go back to the main menu and choose a new camera. Viewing captured footage is VERY tedious in the web browser. I've trained myself and the other managers to just log into the iMac via VNC and open the saved footage in QuickTime Pro (added bonus with this method is seeing all the cameras in the "Main video window"). I avoid logging into the web server if I can help it. Special advanced tip: We use FileMaker extensively here, and I have setup a special layout that allows users to simply click on a value list that lists the cameras, and a Web Viewer object displays the appropriate camera URL of the resulting calculated field. This is the easiest and fastest way to quickly see what's going on in the building, short of logging into the iMac via VNC. Aside from the web server limitations, I would strongly recommend that the developer improve the update process. Modern applications these days have built-in update notifications, with nearly automatic update routines. I am usually unaware of SecuritySpy updates until several months after an update is released. The 1.6.2 update was yesterday and it's only by coincidence that I'm completely up-to-date. So, to sum up, SecuritySpy is a very good. This program, in conjunction with the Mac platform, allows me to administer and implement my video security network with GREAT flexibility. [alert admin]
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Wednesday, January 07 2009 @ 09:39 AM PST
VMware Fusion 2.0.1 (Mac OS X)
OK, so I stay up-to-date on my software and I was already on Fusion 2.0 (updated from version 1.X). When I updated to version 2.0, there was a very large download, but with a jump of major version numbers, the large download didn't surprise me. However, now that I'm updating to 2.0.1, I need to download another 246 MB file? And to add insult to injury, the installer (updater) is telling me that "This will take 300 KB of space on your computer." Good software, but not so good update process. [alert admin]
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Tuesday, November 18 2008 @ 07:56 AM PST
MakeiPhoneRingtone 1.3.1 (Mac OS X)
So I'm one of the many irritated by Apple's (and AT&T's) inconvenient policy of gouging the consumer for custom ringtones. I wanted to make my own, and I found (what I think to be) the perfect ringtone for any Starcraft geek - the Protoss "victory" sound: http://www.battle.net/supersecrest/pvict.mp3 So I used iTunes to convert the file to AAC, dragged the file onto MakeiPhoneRingtone (gotta come up with a better name than that) and it immediately appeared (and played) in my iTunes Ringtones library. The clip was 31 seconds long, and I was afraid I'd have to clip a second off based on some other reports I've read about ringtones having to be 30 seconds or less, but that didn't seem to be an issue. The iPhone plays all 31 seconds. I can also confirm this works on the new 2.0.1 iPhone software. Thanks for this app - it fills a missing feature on the iPhone / iTunes combo. [alert admin]
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Tuesday, August 05 2008 @ 06:54 PM PDT
JollysFastVNC 0.96.40 (Mac OS X)
Best 3rd party Mac VNC client, with flaws 
I'm a long time VNC user with experience using a variety of VNC clients. Chicken of the VNC has been my client of choice but as time wore on and technologies have changed, it has become long in the tooth and I was again looking for a replacement (enter JollysFastVNC). Finally, with JollysFastVNC we had a smart, manageable server list and a client that promised full implementation of a plethora of valuable features. And we have an active developer to boot! (CotVNC has been stuck at version 2.0b4 for years) So, my short list of complaints / things to improve: 1) Shortcuts such as Command-W and Command-F MUST be sent to the VNC server. I can't tell you how many times I've been working on the remote computer and attempted to close a remote window only to terminate my VNC session. I would STRONGLY advocate attaching an additional modifier key to any JollysFastVNC function (i.e. Command-Option-W to close). 2) Increase the visibility of the Connect process. If a particular VNC server does not work for some reason, what happens is I hit the Connect button and a series of text strings flashes by in an instant just to the left of the button. It is almost too fast to notice, and I'm left wondering if the program is still working on the connection. A dialog box telling me why the connection failed would be very handy. I've been playing with Leopard's built-in "Screen Sharing" app (hidden in Macintosh HD > System > Library > CoreServices) and it is very good, if you take a trip to the terminal first. Here's a great article that shows you how to do it: http://www.macworld.com/article/131094/2007/12/screensharepower.html To the JollysFastVNC developer: Take some design cues from Screen Sharing and you will improve your product. The image quality slider at the top is dead-simple to use, and much easier to understand than a list of cryptic VNC encoding standards or a relatively vague Color Depth popup menu. In the end, I am planning on using JollysFastVNC as my main VNC client for now until Apple improves the Screen Sharing app (there are some serious flaws in it; not ready for prime time yet). Thanks for developing this program — you are right when you say the Mac VNC client market needed it! [alert admin]
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Sunday, August 03 2008 @ 09:15 AM PDT
VncThumbnailViewer 1.4.2 (Mac OS X)
This feedback form shouldn't require a Title.
I'd never seen a program that does what this VncThumbnailViewer does, and the concept was interesting to me so I downloaded it and gave it a try. The basic use being keeping an eye on what the employees were doing (watching for MySpace usage, things like that). This program is VERY rough around the edges, but the features are there. I loaded up 7 remote VNC connections (running on a different subnet over the internet through a site-to-site VPN) and performance was acceptable once I started dialing down the color settings. I didn't like how the default setting was set to control (remember, I see this app as being a great remote surveillance program; so accidental mouse movements are undesired). It would also be nice to be able to double-click on the saved configuration file and have it launch the program for instant access (or near-instant if password is enabled). Right now it's just a file extension-less text file that opens up TextEdit if opened directly. Advice for the developer: very cool concept, and could be great if you focus more on ease-of-use and polish. [alert admin]
Wednesday, July 16 2008 @ 04:24 PM PDT
NetVault 7.4.5 (Mac OS X)
Version 8.0 is reported to be Leopard (10.5) compatible: http://www.bakbone.com/docs/NetVault_Backup_Supported_Platforms_May_2008.pdf They just need to update their VersionTracker page and the linked page. [alert admin]
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Monday, May 12 2008 @ 09:54 AM PDT
Ad Subtract 11/2007 (Mac OS X)
The developers here need to make it more obvious how to install this thing. When the download link produces only a single .css file, what to do next is as clear as mud for those who have never messed with custom CSS files. It took me 20 minutes to find the "SETUP.pdf" file on the Google developer site (which could have been named better IMO... "setup" harkens to bad windows installers). The PDF document should be included in the standard download. Failing that, the PDF should be named "Instructions.pdf" and be listed as an additional download on this page. [alert admin]
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Sunday, May 11 2008 @ 08:33 PM PDT
Chicken of the VNC 2.0b4 (Mac OS X)
Great program, use it every day with OSXvnc and the newer Vine Server on some clients. I'm wondering if there is a new update scheduled anytime; it's been over a year since 2.0b4 has been released, and there's a few minor bugs that I notice. Sometimes when a connection fails, I retry a 2nd time and it works. When the 2nd attempt fails, sometimes a CotVNC quit / restart works. The VNC Login window listing my Servers on the left is the best I've seen in the free programs I've tried out in the past - very handy. But, when I have to cringe when I use the + and - buttons because sometimes it just does some real funky things. One problem that I've actually tried to track down in the com.geekspiff.chickenofthevnc.plist file is a "permanent" server that I can't delete. I have tried removing the plist file (which I think holds all of the servers) and relaunching CotVNC, and it appears to start out with a blank server list except for this mysterious permanent server, which I still cannot delete. Anyway, very good program otherwise, and it'd be nice to get some more frequent updates! [alert admin]
Friday, March 30 2007 @ 01:54 PM PDT
APC Powerchute 1.3.4 (Mac OS X)
The context: we have an APC SMART-UPS 2200 RM XL 3U backup battery with a serial port (NO USB). We also have an Apple Xserve dual G5 with both USB ports and a serial port. I have been trying to use the free APC PowerChute software to setup a script that would gracefully shut down our server and FileMaker databases in the event of a power failure. I have had a number of unhelpful popup message generated by PowerChute, including one that power was lost and the computer will shut down in about 2 hours. After calling tech support (which was fairly helpful), I started messing around with things. Here is my followup email… ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Hi again, After experimenting with the server setup last night, I have come to conclude that the PowerChute software is practically useless (or I am doing something seriously wrong). The APC SMART-UPS device itself seems to be a star performer. After unplugging the power from the wall several times, it kept our Xserve, switches, phone system, T1 box and other devices running. We eventually plan on plugging several power-over-ethernet enabled IP cameras into our network that will rely on this battery as well, and I have no doubt it will work. However, in the event of a prolonged power outage, the thing that most concerns me is our hosted FileMaker database. I do have a backup routine in place, but abruptly removing the power from the Xserve, which will obviously close all open applications and services, is not good for FileMaker files. They need to be properly closed in order to prevent corruption. The APC PowerChute ReadMe file says the following: "Shutdown : The OS shutdown performed by this application is an emergency shutdown. No applications are closed and no application data is saved. On restart some applications may report a warning. This is expected behavior." This is also unacceptable behavior for a server running business critical services like ours. As I scroll down to the "For Advanced Users" section of the ReadMe, I see a procedure that illustrates a way to gracefully shutdown the Xserve using a shell script. One thing that you must understand is that I am NOT a person who appreciates the command line. I very much dislike the fact that if I am to have even a remote chance at shutting down the server gracefully, I have to have UNIX experience (I don't, so I am left Googling for answers and stumbling through the Terminal). Furthermore, I came across a disconcerting report that indicates that even if I setup everything correctly, the PowerChute software only launches this shell script "a split second before the battery power is cut off." Given that this report dates back to Febraury of 2003, I looked at the latest list of changes (current version being 1.3.4), and no mention of allowing for more time for the script to work is mentioned. Furthermore, I noticed with great surprise that upgrading to PowerChute version 1.3.4 was a huge mistake, as Mac OS X Server 10.3.9 is no longer supported!!! This is something I should have double-checked before upgrading myself, but I had just taken your word for it. Again, I am just kicking myself for not purchasing an APC with USB support, because if I had done so, Mac OS X would have "just worked". Please tell me something good." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's been over a month and still no reply, so I decided to post it here for everyone to see. :( [alert admin]
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Friday, September 29 2006 @ 07:29 AM PDT
Last 10 Comments by mdlarson [ Search for All ]
You can specify the default save location in Preferences > Misc > Create Scratch Files In. It's not as handy (depending on your needs) as prompting the user on save, but it's not as bad as you're depicting.
Original feedback item : Read More
Thursday, July 16 2009 @ 02:25 PM PDT
I'll second that request for a Leopard version.
Original feedback item : Read More
Friday, August 01 2008 @ 01:22 PM PDT
I suppose I should link to this page instead of the actual PDF file: http://www.bakbone.com/support/product_documentation/retrieve_documentation.asp?product=NetVault_Supported_Platforms&page_type=support
Original feedback item : Read More
Monday, May 12 2008 @ 09:57 AM PDT
Doesn't work with Leopard 10.5
I installed this on my Leopard iMac just to try it and the Setup output formats... button was unresponsive (it took me a few seconds to figure out that you have to setup output formats before converting existing files). So, I installed it on a Tiger Mac mini, hit the Setup output formats... button, chose my desired output format from the menu (MP3), and converted a couple of WAV files. Everything worked perfectly. boringuser, try reading…
Original feedback item : Read More(1 words)
Monday, January 14 2008 @ 07:17 AM PST
