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30 Most Recent RSS FeedSite Fixes
Looks like my host's MySQL servers are back up to snuff. Things actually do seem to be a bit snappier.
In about a week I will be making some adjustments to the site which may cause a few bumps but I don't expect any down time. However, if the situation changes I will make a note of it here.
Site Access
It's been a worrisome few days.
My hosting company has been having some serious issues with their MySQL servers and as a result this site has been inaccessible. I'm told access will be much better after the current issues are resolved. I've managed to workaround their problem to a small extent, but it's still not perfect, so expect things to be a bit slow-loading for a bit.
UPDATED: Join Together v5.2
Join Together has been updated to version 5.2.
This AppleScript Studio application automates the process of joining the files of selected iTunes tracks together with QuickTime and exporting them as a single AAC Music or Audiobook file/track. Optionally, with Apple's ChapterTool application installed, you can create a "chapterized" audio file of the exported AAC file with pointers to the individually joined tracks.
As of version 5.2, Join Together comes in two flavors:
The basic version of Join Together is free and always will be. It has the same or better features--and performs as well or better--as it ever has without restrictions. Most users will find the free basic version of Join Together satisfactory for their track-joining needs.
Join Together Plus is an optional shareware upgrade that provides additional pre-flight and post-op features that have been requested by power-users. You can upgrade to Join Together Plus from the free basic version for US$7. This is to cover development and support expenses, which, in turn, helps make Join Together work better for everybody. See Join Together's Help pages for more information on its Plus features.
Updated in v5.2
- Added "enabled" checkbox for the final track
- Added "Rating" options for the final track
- Added "Part of a gapless album" and "Skip when shuffling" options for the final track
- Can cancel operation from QuickTime
- Updated the interface
- Updated Help pages
- Fixed unusual issue with filename replacing track name
- Addressed QuickTime invalid track error while using pass through
- Performance enhancements
- Combine contiguous tracks as chapters [Plus version]
- Chapter name editing; auto-increment chapter numbers [Plus version]
- Use grouping tags as chapter names [Plus version]
- Contextual info windows for tracks/chapters [Plus version]
- Save options for saving final file to playlist, as a Podcast, and copy to iPod [Plus version]
- Preferences for various options [Plus version]
- Dock menu reduces application switching [Plus version]
Apple Updates the AppleScript Language Guide
After nearly ten years, Apple has finally updated the Introduction to AppleScript Language Guide. Its layout and organization is more consistent with other Apple Developer Connection documentation and is much easier to grok (and much less 1999-internet-looking). It is specifically geared towards AppleScript 2.0 and Mac OS 10.5 or later.
UPDATED: Make Video Tags v1.1
I was pleasantly enough surprised at the reaction to the initial version of Make Video Tags that I've updated it to include a couple of new features.
This is a no-big-frills video tagging app that I was using in my rip-dvds-for-iPod-with-Handbrake workflow. Added to the new version is the ability to open files in the Finder whereby they will be added to iTunes and then be available for editing in Make Video Tags. Also, if one or more iPods are detected to you can choose to send the tracks to a selected iPod.
This app handles editing of only the few video tags editable in iTunes itself. I highly recommend using the application Lostify, written by Lowell Stewart, for editing a lot more meta-data, including MPAA ratings, network, air dates, cast information, and so on.
NEW: Make Video Tags
I just needed a quick and easy way to add global tags to some of my Handbrake'd DVD rips, so a few months ago I slapped together a simple GUI for some AppleScript routines to do the job. Notably, I used the routines from my Set Video Kind of Selected script. There are some great video tag editors available already (I frequently use and highly recommend Lostify), but I wanted something no-frills so I could just get a batch of stuff onto my iPod without a lot of keyboard pecking.
Well, I've cleaned it up and added some features and I'm making Make Video Tags available.
It grabs the track info from the selected video tracks in iTunes so you can edit it, then dumps it back to the appropriate tracks; global info on the left, individual track info on the right. Besides the tags pictured, you can also provide Comments, Description, Long Description, and Lyrics for each individual track. It's an AppleScript Studio application and requires OS 10.4 or better. Let me know how it runs at your house.
iTunes 7.6.1 Released -- Delete Bug SMASHED
Hurrah! iTunes 7.6.1 (available at this writing via Software Update) fixes the AppleScript delete bug.
Dupin v1.3 Released
Dupin v1.3 is now available. Dupin allows you to quickly find all sets of duplicate tracks in iTunes based on the criteria you choose. It can then automatically select the "Keeper" tracks from among a number of duplicates using your choice of a variety of versatile filter options. Tracks you decide not to keep can be purged from iTunes and their files optionally moved to the Trash. Dupin is flexible, fast, and easy to use.
Updated in version 1.3:
- Adds Newest/Oldest Date Modified options to Filter Controls
- Adds Largest/Smallest File Size options to Filter Controls
- Displays Bit Rate Rounding status in Filter Controls window
- Bit Rate Rounding is applicable to bit rate options in Filter Controls
- Provides workaround for iTunes 7.6 AppleScript "delete bug" (whereby files chosen to be preserved during Purge are errantly moved to Trash)
- Fixed a problem with bit rate filtering
- Updated Help pages
- Minor performance enhancements
UPDATED: CDDB Safari Kit v2.4.1
Gracenote has recently updated its page format thus obliging me to update CDDB Safari Kit to version 2.4.1. If you are interested, they are using more CSS and have stopped using list tags for track names and numbers.
iTunes AppleScript Delete Bug Moreso
A lister on the AppleScript mailing list writes:
The Scripting Interface Guidelines agree with you: make and delete should be used to create/destroy objects completely, while add and remove should be used to add/remove existing objects to sub-groups. e.g. Compare Address Book, which uses add and remove to add/remove existing person objects to group objects. iTunes predates the SIG, however, and while its scripting interface is fairly extensive it does suffer a number of longstanding design quirks.
Yep. I'd be happy if they just made it like it used to be.
