Brian said:
So, what format do you use? CDRLabel? CDInsert? Just curious as to
how people are using it. Email me offline if you want. (or post in
http://forums.filanbber.com)
Brian,
I would use the straight text since output since one format (.clbx)
seems to be proprietary to that shareware program, and I don't use
shareware as a rule.
Another way of using the output is to submit the list (the
"mp3cd-cdinsert.txt" output) to that online service you recommend. A
warning to those who pirate .mp3s: bear in mind that you are
voluntarily giving information to people you don't know (and a WHOIS
doesn't provide much about this site). That information could easily
be going straight to the RIAA. It could very easily be a sort of
"honeypot". JMO.
Since I don't make .mp3 CDs, I thought I'd look into what would be
necessary for using your program's text file output. It appears that a
lot of CD cover creation programs only use graphics files that you
create or download from the internet (another risky thing to do). It
isn't easy to find one that uses text output. However, here are a few
programs I found that might be able to do this:
Label Creator 4000 Special Edition:
http://www.survivorx.com/download.php
Capas (installs with default Portuguese interface, but can be changed
to English by clicking the "Ajuda" menu, choosing "Parametros" and
selecting English):
http://www.terravista.pt/guincho/1108/software.html
CoverPrint 1.0:
http://www.greger.nu/greger_program_vb-en.htm
CD Book:
http://www.spiritone.com/~enegus/
CoverCreator:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~reneslkh/covercreator/index.html
And I'm sure there are others, but I'm tired of looking.
A caveat: I haven't installed or used any of these programs, so their
suitability for this application (using text files to make CD jewel
case covers) is an unknown. I also don't know if any of them are
adware or have any other hidden bugaboos; I'm only trusting the
various websites' assertions that they are freeware.
A few suggestions for *your* program though:
1. (And I do mean *number 1*) Your program immediately tried to call
home to "look for a newer version". Since I hadn't yet run the program
and had a chance to turn off autoupdate in options, it's a good thing
that I had the foresight to have my firewall set to stop all traffic.
You might want to consider making autoupdate something that is turned
off by default. I *never ever* allow a program to autoupdate, even AV
programs. JMO.
2. I just tried out your program and notice that you don't include a
help file. This can be a real problem for some people and I recommend
that you think about including one. Your suggestion that people post
questions to that online forum leaves out those who don't have
internet access, and believe me, there are lots of people like that
out there. At least make the readme.txt file accessible via the help
menu item. It's better than nothing.
3. I won't say anything about the fact that you have chosen to write
your program in Java except that it's very inconvenient for the casual
end user, most of whom run Windows systems.
4. You might want to consider losing the splash screen or at least
making it optional. Whenever a program has a splash screen and there's
another similar program without a splash screen available, I'll always
opt for the non-splash screen program. Splash screens simply serve to
slow down program startup and are a time-wasting annoyance to most people.
--
Regards from John Corliss
alt.comp.freeware F.A.Q.:
http://www.ccountry.net/~jcorliss/F.A.Q./FrameSet1.html
Note that I can't see any of Andy Mabbett's troll posts
because I have him killfiled.
