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Well, here's yet another reason to hackintosh that netbook* once I buy one.
Great work, Mark! I'm sure the folks at Renlearn are eagerly downloading your app as we speak.
*I have been accused by the woodchuck of bringing netbooks into every thread, so I have to live up to my reputation.
Posted 41 months ago.
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Woot! Thanks Mark. I'll certainly be giving it a try when I get home from work. I've got files on my Neo that need to be backed up anyway. This sounds awesome. I hate using the AS manager so this type of app sounds right up my alley.
Now if someone could figure out a way to make the alphabeam software beam files to the neo I'd be in hog heaven.
-Cel
Posted 41 months ago.
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Un -
Great stuff! Makes the Neo a lot more useful in my eyes. Sexy!
Uh, Vance? Well, OK - honesty compels me to admit that I was browsing the hackintosh pages last night myself. After seeing and trying typing on an HP Mini yesterday in a Best Buy I think it's about as cute as a box full of puppies (Golden Retriever puppies, too). And a darn nice keyboard. The little sucker booted right up, boing!
Into Windows, splodge!
No, don't say that, Alan. XP SP3 is a very nice OS. Nice. OK. Tolerable.
Sigh.
We're all impressed, Un. You rock, dude!
Posted 41 months ago.
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Mark,
If there’s a part of heaven reserved for AlphaSmartians you’ll definitely be in it! This is terrific!
I’m reminded of the program Alphassist a young German once wrote for Mac OSX, after the old and cranky Get Utility app wouldn’t run anymore. There was, for some time, a link to it on the defunct AlphaSmart Community Center, but it was removed soon by highest order as being suspect of copyright infringement (something I didn’t believe then, and don’t do now).
Being written for the AS3000, it was much superior, both in appearance and functionality, to the Get Utility, though not half as sleek as what you have contrived.
To make things worse, forumwise, I was advocating AlphaSmart should buy Alphassist and distribute it. Nothing came of this, sadly, and all that remained were understandably hard feelings on the part of the developer.
I trust the fate of AlphaSync will be different. After all, the above happened years ago, and AlphaSmart is now a division of Renaissance Learning. RL cares about what people want, doesn’t it?
Kees
Posted 41 months ago.
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Darn. I want a Macbook. ;-)
Posted 41 months ago.
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Great work Mark. I wish it would work with a Dana. I am a recent convert from windows to a macbook and love the mac. Would make it a lot more convenient to be able to sync with your clever app than having to use the palm desktop software. Anyway, I am sure the people wil Neos and Macs will love it.
Posted 41 months ago.
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Mark, this is really, truly, terrific. Just had a chance to fire it up on my US Neo 1, and everything worked beautifully. Loved the ability to rename the Neo's numbered files, but the "woot!" moment was finding a preferences checkbox for auto-starting whenever a Neo is plugged in.
Can't thank you enough.
Posted 41 months ago.
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nelson_vogler [deleted] says:
I feel so jealous now. In days like this, having a pc sucks.
Posted 41 months ago.
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Nah, Nelson, don't say that. In days like Windows 2000, having a PC sucked. Nowadays, it really doesn't matter. All the platforms allow you to work easily and simply.
This is great for mac/neo owners, but it's only a convenience. Your business is to write. All the rest is self-indulgent geekery. Don't get hung up on the buttons and lights. Focus on the words.
Originally posted 41 months ago.
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Oldwoodchuck edited this topic 41 months ago.
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Hey Mark,
I got to play with it tonight. Let me say that I certainly like how easy it is. Right now I only have 1 feature request:
Maybe I'm a little weird but can we add a feature called delete that actually removes the files from the Neo? I tend to have more than 8 files on my Neo. The tool lets me add more files just not take any away at the moment.
Outside of that, the tool is running marvelously. It's fast to open and makes a connection to the Neo really quickly. I've tested the backup, clear and inspector buttons which all run like a champ. It makes things way easier to install fonts too. I'm really happy with it.
Thank you!!!!!!
-Cel
Posted 41 months ago.
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nelson_vogler [deleted] says:
Oldwoodchuck - Hahahaha, you're just so right! I can't help being geeky sometimes, or just want the new thing like a child. I must say this app sounds really comfortable; of course is not a NEED to anybody, just a very nice idea that will ease use.
Windows is ok, especially XP. Vista? Well, actually a bit too many bells and whistles, and too thirsty on resources, but I must run in on my newest laptop and have got used to it. Both my other computers go on XP. I don't think 2000 sucked that much. I was even happy with my old win95 pentiun and office 97.
So cool to see somebody telling me not to be indulgent with gadgets and things and focus on writing. I have given that lecture so many times to others. I guess I'm a case of "do as I say, not as I do".
Thanks so much, OWC. Cheers.
Nelson
Posted 41 months ago.
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Thanks for the feedback.
I didn't know about Alphassist. Sounds like it arose for much the same reason (I wrote the first version of AlphaSync when RL didn't have a version of ASM that worked OSX 10.5).
I don't believe that AlphaSync violates any copyright - the code was written cleanly using only information that anyone can see with a USB bus analyser. My main worry is to not cause RL support headaches. This is why the public version does not allow OS/applet uploads or changing of applet settings.
Cel - I tried to add a delete command as you suggest. However, I have not been able to find a sensible* way to make this work over USB. If you select the AlphaWord applet icon, you can clear all AW files, leaving just the 8 file spaces.
-- Mark
* a possible option is to clear all files, then re-load those that were not deleted. However, this is both slow and risky (eg if the user unplugs the Neo while the transfers are running).
Posted 41 months ago.
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Mark,
A phenomenal piece of work. Congratulations and thank you!
Nelson, you should take a look at the Windows 7 beta. It is Vista with all of the bloat removed (and a fair few features cribbed from the Mac!). Runs very well on my lowly Acer netbook. Really what Vista should have been.
David.
Posted 41 months ago.
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Thanks for the update and ideas Mark.
-Cel
Posted 41 months ago.
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My son-in-law-the-geek, who runs a programming tools research group for MS, is very high on Windows 7. Says they tossed the cowboys out and got good engineers in for this one (this is not an exact quote - he's more diplomatic than this). Says that this is what Vista should have been (no, he's not quoting DB - he really did say that). The Windows 7 manager is a top notch guy and very into basics.
Posted 41 months ago.
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Well, UH ... looks like I'll have to take my Neo out of the bag it has been in for a couple of months.
I've been back to using my Dana for my primary writing for some time now, after a couple of years of Neo. Given that it is almost six years old, and the E and A keys worn virtually blank, it is still an extraordinary machine, and just as groundbreaking as it was at the time I bought it.
Neo I liked very much and travelled with it to many parts of the world, I just gave it that break for the last while.
I'll go dig it out and say hello.
Brian
LATER: Hats off, UH ... well done, neat and tidy and really elegant. The only glitch is that, occasionally the preview doesn't show the text that it normally does. Haven't played around enough to see when that happens, though. But well done.
PS ... nice to say 'hi' to Neo again. It's too easy to forget what a really elegant machine it is too. Isn't it amazing how the relative simplicity of Neo, and to a slightly lesser extent the Dana, last through every other new technology.
Case in point: I had to do some 15,000 words for a motoring supplement last week, against a tight deadline. I opted to do it on Dana instead of MacBook, because of the non-distraction factor.
Originally posted 41 months ago.
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mariseo (a group admin) edited this topic 41 months ago.
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I seriously have no idea what you guys are referring to when you talk about this "non-distraction factor."
Oh, wait...
Posted 41 months ago.
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Thanks for this program. Makes life easier! Bravo.
Posted 40 months ago.
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It's funny. It worked the first time I tried it, but when I tried it again later.... it keeps unexpectedly quitting.
Posted 40 months ago.
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ach, it does not work with my Alphasmart 3000. Neither does a version of Alphassist.
O Levpparde, what hast thou donst ?
is there any free application capable of transferring AS 3000 files?
any chance alphasync could see an upgrade to include the AS 3000 ?
if I can assist any data from my (german) AS 3000, I'd be happy to !!!
Posted 40 months ago.
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Wow, I go away for a little while and look what cool stuff shows up! Thanks, Mark. Can't wait to try it.
Btw, is there a difference between a "recent Neo" and an older one?
Posted 40 months ago.
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Thank you, unexpected_human, Thank You.
Your program works perfectly. The app's icon is on my dock.
Two thumbs up, mate!
Cheers,
- Jez
Originally posted 32 months ago.
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- Jez edited this topic 32 months ago.
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It's an excellent app, isn't it? I'd like to try and port it to Windows if I ever get the time - though it would definitely be a stretch for my programming skills.
Posted 32 months ago.
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nevinsons_goggles (such a wonderful "name" - is there a story behind it?) why not ask unexpected_human for porting tips. Maybe he'll be prepared to pitch in here and there?
Originally posted 32 months ago.
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- Jez edited this topic 32 months ago.
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Mark (unexpected_human) very kindly sent me the source files a while back. The challenging part really is writing the Windows drivers; Windows drivers are notoriously troublesome to develop; added to this, I'm not much more than a novice at programming in C, though I have a fair bit of experience in various other languages.
The name "Nevinson's goggles" has a slightly convoluted (and probably not terribly interesting!) story behind it. I used to belong to a yahoo group focused on the Eiffel Tower Restaurant and the literary and artistic figures that frequented it in the 1910s and 20s. CRW Nevinson was a British WWI artist who belonged to this set. The goggles is a reference to the fact that, in a publicity photo for an exhibition of 1915 or 16 (can't remember exactly), he wore his goggles pushed up over his cap in order to obscure the red cross that gave him away as an ambulance driver rather than an infantryman. It struck me as an interesting piece of "spin", and quite revealing of his character.
Posted 32 months ago.
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Great. I thought it a very interesting story.
I Googled "CRW Nevinson" and not only was I rewarded with his wonderful artwork (in Google images) there was a portrait of him, too, wearing his goggles pushed up his hat.
Really pleased I asked you if there was a story behind the name, thanks for responding. Makes me wonder what other stories are out their, on this forum, that led to their "names."
Originally posted 32 months ago.
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- Jez edited this topic 32 months ago.
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Has anyone tried AlphaSync with a Neo2?
Posted 32 months ago.
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Thank you, nevinsons_goggles. I joined the Yahoo group. Very intriguing.
Posted 32 months ago.
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There's an article on this tool at Cult of Mac:
www.cultofmac.com/nanowrimo-writers-sync-your-alphasmart-...
Posted 31 months ago.
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To answer my own question a few weeks ago, I decided to give this a try. I'm happy to report that AlphaSync works with my Neo2 and MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard.
Thanks once, again, unexpected human, for a marvelous addition to our Neos!
Posted 31 months ago.
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This sounded so promising. I too have a Macbook Pro running Snow Leopard, and a Neo, but my experience was less happy.
Every time the Neo connects with AlphaSync, AlphaSync goes poof! and leaves the screen. I can connect the Neo with AlphaSmartManager, but not AlphaSync.
Too bad. It would be so useful.
Gene
Originally posted 29 months ago.
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Gene Wilburn edited this topic 29 months ago.
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Sorry to hear, Gene. Perhaps unexpected human can weigh in and help.
By the way, is your Macbook Pro new--something from Santa this year? Have you installed Scrivener?
Liz
Posted 29 months ago.
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Will this work with Tiger PPC or is it Inthell only? (the PDF doesn't say...)
Posted 27 months ago.
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Runs fine on 10.4 Tiger.
Cheers, Mike
Posted 27 months ago.
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Wow! Talk about instant. Drag a file across to Bean or Srivener and bang its there. Superb, Thank you so much.
As for the backup button. I was a bit scared of that one. Where would they go? So I hit the button(icon) and woof!
Ok, now lets find them.
Look here, an AlphaSync folder in Documents with a set of perfectly nested folders under today's date. Even the spell check file. Perfect.
Give the man (unexpected_human) a gold star!
Posted 27 months ago.
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As the 'Happy new Neo owner' - I just fired up Alphasmart Manager for the very first time - did it recognise my Neo? Nope. Dead as a doornail. Nuff said. 10 points to Alphasync.
I may need to connect AM to a USB port on my Macbook rather than through the port on my keyboard? That may get AM back in the game.
Can I be bothered right now?
Nope.
Alphasync all the way for now.
Simples (as the meerkat says).
Originally posted 27 months ago.
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Snuffles edited this topic 27 months ago.
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Hi all--a quick question--but also a thanks, first, to the wonderfully named "unexpected human" for his / her / its labor on this software! It's working wonderfully for me, with one smallish glitch (that I don't see posted in the stream above). When I drag a file into a word processor (I've tried Word and Mellel and Pages, just to get a sampling), I get the file transferred just fine, but the so called "not-sign" which looks like this: ¬
is inserted at what seem to be random points in the text. This sign has ASCII number 172; hex AC; HTML ¬, if that'll help "random human" or anyone else figure anything out?
It seems to have no reference to any symbol / character in my neo files: it occurs, in fact, where there are simply spaces in my own neo files.
I'm using the latest version of Neo software and of the Mac OS; everything's up to date.
The backup works fine, by the way.
thanks for any tips / advice you can give me.
Posted 27 months ago.
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Snuffles,
I have to say that I rarely use ASM only to do things like add Unexpected Human's wonderful fonts. I tend to plug my Neo into my iMac and open Word in Office for Mac and hit the send button then once its done save the Word file. Im a new MacHead I have a 2nd user iMac (polycarbonate white 1st Intel version) which I won on Ebay last month. I am actually hoping to get a MacBook Pro on my DSA. Your account of AlphaSync has encouraged me to download it onto my iMac and try it.
Regards
Harley
Posted 27 months ago.
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I've just been reading though this thread.
A) Moving to a Mac was a good move,
But:
B) Buying a 14" laptop with Windows 7 was also a good move.
I never used Vista being a voice recognition user that was out for me but I agree with both OWC that his son in law was right in that MS got good people in to create Windows 7 and David that Windows 7 has cribbed a few OSX features in my option the most notice able is the translucent taskbar.
Posted 27 months ago.
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I think I've found the problem, which is simply that this program works for Apple's OS 10.4 and 10.5 but not quite perfectly for 10.6? Easy enough to do find and replace for the "not sign" in the .txt files that are imported to the Mac, but I wonder if Unexpected Human can say if this OS version is indeed the problem, and if there's a fix possible?
Posted 27 months ago.
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Mark (unexpected_human) developed Alphasync in OS 10.5, before Snow Leopard came out. It was issued 'as is' in Jan 09 with no guarantees of ongoing support etc.
Not sure where the problem has come from, but I think the Unicode conversion was a bit hacky (from my memory of his own comments in the source files, which he kindly sent me some while back).
Have you tried PMing him?
Posted 27 months ago.
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I am on 10.6.2
I will have a go at dragging a file and see if its the same for me. If it is I will just copy and paste.
To my mind its still far far easier than Alphasmart Manager. It has the Apple mentality through and through, i.e. it does not need a manual.
Most PC products seem (to my mind) to be more complex by nature whereas Apple developers tend to follow a more intuitive route. Then I am rather biased.
Posted 27 months ago.
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Thanks for the suggestion, N'sG--I just sent him a message, and I'll post any response he gives to this stream.
And, Snuffles, it'll be good to know if you have the same problem, with the same ¬ character.
I found it was there in my backup .txt files, as well as in pasted documents.
And I agree: it's still easier than Alphasmart Manager; and a find and replace works to strip the ¬ from files just fine.
Posted 27 months ago.
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Hmm. Its not appearing in my backup text files. Will try the dragged files in the morning.
Posted 27 months ago.
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