RasterWeb!

I should have mentioned this the other day, in the same place I mentioned TexEdit. There’s an app called Text Reader. What does it do? Well, you open a text file, and it can read it aloud, or save it to an AIFF file. (Saving to an MP3 might happen in the future.) There’s AppleScript ways to do similar things, but this is a bit easier for most people.

Now, onto what I need. I need a command line application that can convert AIFF files to MP3 files, without the presence of QuickTime Pro. I’m sure there’s some open-source app out there that’ll do this and will compile on OS X right? If you know, please let me know.

In a certain workgroup I happen to be involved in, we’ve implemented IM using AIM. So while I personally would like to see our own Jabber server implemented (you know, security, control, and what not) for now AIM will do. The presence part of IM is something I find very interesting…

On to clients! For Mac OS X I use Fire, but for you poor Windows bastards there’s always Trillian. I’ve not personally used any version of Trillian, but I’ve heard a few people say that Trillian Pro is quite good. As for my own Windows box, I thought I’d try out Gaim. Gaim has a Windows port, which includes the GTK+bits, so it’s not a difficult install, and the features seem fine. (Again, I’m not an IM guru, so don’t take my opinion too strongly.) Gaim will do fine for those rare times when my Mac is unavailable.

Are there any other AIM/IM clients for Windows I should check out? (Open-source is preferred) Let me know…

Next on the to do list: perl aimbots

I missed the most recent Tea event, which is not surprising, since I live 1/2 way across the country from the normal Tea meeting place. While I’m most famous as the inventor of TML (the Tea Markup Language) few people know that I’m also working on the Tea::Reader module for Perl, as well as mod_tea for Apache, and some time next year plan to release Teanux, a version of Linux aimed at people who attend the Tea events… (Note that I have no affiliation with the Tea Scripting Language.)

Oh, how I wish it worked with Mac OS X… The Plusdeck PC Audio Deck, that is. See, years ago I would make tapes using my Mac and TexEdit, which had the ability to read aloud text files. I’d make tapes for the car, and listen while driving to and from work. Nowadays things are a little different, but I still make tapes (less frequently) but now they might include MP3‘s. Heck, there’s even apps out there that will convert text files to MP3’s, so it’s gotten better over the years.

Still, just like 1980, I’m forced to execute some command on a computer, while fiddling with a tape deck connected by some cables… Sure my G4 is a bit faster than my old Apple ][+, but the basic concept hasn’t changed much. I’ve had the idea of jamming a cassette deck in a drive slot for years now, so it’s cool to see someone has finally done it.

Now as soon as someone makes it work in a Mac (at an affordable price) I’ll be positively giddy…

Over at Adobe Studio’s System Requirements page they say:

Need to update your browser?

Get Internet Explorer update

Get Netscape Navigator update

And then provide a link so you can download Netscape 4.x because, you know, downloading a version of a browser that’s closing in on it’s sixth birthday is somehow updating your browser.

If you’re using one of those fancy operating systems like Mac OS 10.1 (or higher) they suggest using Internet Explorer 5.1, an old version of a browser that they stopped development of recently…

Of course since they also say:

Adobe Studio assumes full-screen browser use on a 1024×768 display with 16-bit and above color depth. It is also assumed that JavaScript is turned on and that cookies are enabled. A persistent Internet connection, such as DSL, cable modem, or T1 line, is recommended.

Those are a lot of assumptions… So draw your own conclusions about their recommendations… Maybe we shouldn’t worry, perhaps the all-new Adobe Studio Web Site will address all of these issues. (I certainly hope so.)