11 Mar 2006

Booxter

Booxter, by Deep Prose Software, allows a user to manage his book library. I had a look at version 1.8.3.

  • Game - the Client supports a game for testing your book knowledge;
  • Barcode - the Client supports scanning barcodes of books with iSight;
  • List-pane templates - One can define multiple List-pane templates. Each templates has its own set of columns;
  • Duplicates - One can search for duplicate Items;
  • Lock - the user can lock an Item against editing;
Supported MicroContent Type(s): Book Descriptions •
Rating: 48 out of 90 points (checklist 1.4) • Developer: Deep Prose Software • Version: 1.8.3 •

Checklist:
  • MicroContent (8/10) - to what degree does the client support MicroContent Items?
    • Structure - YES, an extensive set of fields;
    • Multiplicity - NO;
    • Flexibility - NO;
    • MicroWeb - YES, information from AddressBook for the loan administration;
    • Merged - YES, some 21 book databases are used;
    • Pick-list Fields - YES;
    • Title - YES;
    • Description - YES, a publicly available description and user defined notes;
    • Tags - YES, called keywords;
    • Rating - YES, a five-point scale;

  • Interface (10) - does the client have the characteristic layout?
    • View-pane - NO, although one can view part of the Item in a drawer;
    • View-pane styles - NO;
    • Item Window - YES;
    • Items-pane - YES, as a tabular view;
    • Items-pane Views - NO;
    • Items-pane Sorting - YES;
    • Items-pane Fields - YES;
    • Lists-pane - YES;
    • Browser-pane - YES;
    • Pane layout change - NO;

  • Item functions (6/10) - functions for managing individual Items.
    • View - YES, in the drawer or the Item Window;
    • Create - YES;
    • Edit - YES;
    • Mark - NO;
    • Search - NO;
    • Persistence - NO;
    • Access Control - YES, the user can lock an Item to protect against accidental editing;
    • Duplicate Control - NO, a user can add duplicates. In fact there is a separate duplicate function;
    • Delete - YES;
    • Download - YES, one can specify whether the cover image must be downloaded;

  • List functions (8/17)
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - NO;
    • Handpicked - YES;
    • Smart - YES;
    • Recommendations - NO;
    • List Metadata - NO;
    • Statistics - YES, total number of books, pages and price;
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - YES;
    • Edit - YES;
    • Show - NO;
    • Backup/revert - YES, revert only;
    • Refresh - NO;
    • Remove - YES;
    • Delete - YES;

  • Groups (4/8) does the Client support Groups?
    • Unlimited Depth - NO;
    • Local - YES a new group implies a new document;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - NO;
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - YES;
    • Edit - YES;
    • Delete - YES;

  • Import (1/6) - does the Client allow for importing Items?
    • Classic - YES, at least I think;
    • Standard - NO;
    • Proprietary - NO;
    • Application - NO;
    • Bookmarklet - NO;
    • Drag&drop - NO;

  • Export (7/14) - does the client allow for exporting Items?
    • Classic - YES;
    • Standard - YES, to BibTex, MLA or XML;
    • Proprietary - is there a proprietary format for exporting?
    • HTML - YES;
    • Print - YES;
    • Feed - NO;
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - YES< to an iPod;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote: .Mac - NO;
    • Remote: FTP - NO;
    • Remote: RPC - NO;
    • Drag&drop - YES, this will create a Webloc-file with the amazon-link;
    • Application - NO;

  • MacOSX (7/15) - is the client a good MacOSX application?
    • Look&Feel - YES;
    • Menu - YES;
    • Toolbar - YES;
    • Alt-click - NO;
    • Ctrl-click - YES;
    • Drag&drop - YES;
    • Services - does the client offer a function in the Services menu?
    • Dock - NO;
    • Spotlight - YES;
    • Dashboard - NO;
    • AppleScript - NO;
    • Framework - NO;
    • Menu-bar - NO;
    • Plug-ins - NO;
    • Languages - YES, english and french;


Categories: type • review • book
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10 Mar 2006

Dossier

This application by Vortimac Software Corporation allows the user to manage notes. Some remarks:

  • Lock - it is possible to lock individual Items. The corresponding password can be stored in the Macosx Keychain;
Supported MicroContent Type(s): Notes •
Rating: 37 out of 87 points (checklist 1.3) • Developer: Vortimac Software Corporation •

Checklist:
  • MicroContent (3/10) - to what degree does the client support MicroContent Items?
    • Structure - YES, a very simple structure consisting of a title and a description;
    • Multiplicity - NO;
    • Flexibility - NO;
    • MicroWeb - NO;
    • Merged - NO;
    • Pick-list Fields - NO;
    • Title - YES;
    • Description - YES;
    • Tags - NO;
    • Rating - NO;

  • Interface (7/10) - does the client have the characteristic layout?
    • View-pane - YES, on the bottom part of the window;
    • View-pane styles - NO, I do not count the RTF styles;
    • View-pane Window - YES, the editor window;
    • Items-pane - YES, on the top part of the window;
    • Items-pane Views - YES;
    • Items-pane Sorting - YES;
    • Items-pane Fields - NO;
    • Lists-pane - YES, implemented as a drawer;
    • Browser-pane - NO;
    • Pane layout change - YES, on can switch between a top-bottom and left-right layout for the Items- and View-pane;

  • Item functions (6/9) - functions for managing individual Items.
    • View - YES;
    • Create - YES;
    • Edit - YES;
    • Mark - NO;
    • Search - YES;
    • Persistence - NO;
    • Access Control - YES, a user can lock an Item against viewing;
    • Delete - YES;
    • Download - NO:

  • List functions (5/16) - called folders.
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - NO;
    • Handpicked - YES;
    • Smart - YES, there is also a calendar, which is in fact a predefined smart list on date;
    • Recommendations - NO;
    • List Metadata - is their metadata for each List?
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - YES;
    • Edit - YES, the title
    • Show - NO;
    • Backup/revert - NO;
    • Refresh - NO;
    • Remove - NO, one can only delete an item;
    • Delete - YES;

  • Groups (4/8) this document-based app allows to create multiple dossiers (documents).
    • Unlimited Depth - NO;
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - NO;
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - YES;
    • Edit - YES;
    • Delete - YES;

  • Import (2/6) - does the Client allow for importing Items?
    • Classic - NO;
    • Standard - YES, but I do not understand which formats are recognised;
    • Proprietary - NO;
    • Application - NO;
    • Bookmarklet - NO;
    • Drag&drop - YES, text-based and RTF files;

  • Export (6/14) - does the client allow for exporting Items?
    • Classic - NO;
    • Standard - YES, as Text, RTF, RTFD and Word files;
    • Proprietary - NO;
    • HTML - NO;
    • Print - YES;
    • Feed - NO;
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote: .Mac - NO;
    • Remote: FTP - NO;
    • Remote: RPC - YES, one can blog an Item to Blogger or LiveJournal;
    • Drag&drop - YES;
    • Application - YES, the description can become the body of an email;

  • MacOSX (6/14) - is the client a good MacOSX application?
    • Look&Feel - YES;
    • Menu - YES;
    • Toolbar - YES, it supports the standard toolbar;
    • Alt-click - NO;
    • Ctrl-click - YES;
    • Drag&drop - YES, for changing the content of a folder;
    • Services - YES, to create an entry or append text to an entry;
    • Dock - NO;
    • Spotlight - NO, although the data is available for search;
    • Dashboard - NO;
    • AppleScript - NO, no specific calls are available;
    • Framework - NO;
    • Menu-bar - NO;
    • Plug-ins - NO;


Categories: type • blog
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07 Mar 2006

Endo

This News Aggregator Client is the newest kids on the block. It looks pretty complete and has some nice extra's. But in some places it does things different from other MicroContent Clients. And this is nice, I look to see some innovation. Some remarks:

  • Groups-pane - the Client introduces the groups-pane. This pane spans the entire main window and is found on the top of the window. At first this confused me a bit, as I expect the standard toolbar there. The groups is animated, i.e. the selected Group moves to the middle of the pane. Only the groups that fit the window are displayed. I do not like that, one should be able to see all Groups;
  • Layout - I do not like the layout of the groups, Lists/Items and View-pane. I like to have more horizontal width for viewing Items. I prefer the see the Items-pane above the View-pane. And then the Groups-pane can be on the Left. In this set-up I was lost from time to time;
  • Menu-bar - the Client has a corresponding Applet(?) for the Menu-bar. This Applet allows the user to manage the downloading of enclosures, which are found in feeds. I have no idea whether this Applet is useful in this case. However I think it makes a Client more complete. So I will add Applet's (what is the right name?) to the checklist;
  • Plugins - this Client supports plugins. There are plugins possible for article and notification styles. And more importantly one can create plugins to subscribe to services. The Client comes with plugins for Delicious, Flickr, Technorati and general scripts. The Delicious plugin helps the user to create the correct RSS-feed. I like the idea of Plugins and guess that it might be useful for other Clients as well. So something to be added to the Checklist;
  • Spotlight - I like the integration with Spotlight. There is a separate Spotlight search window available in the Client. It is however a pity that not all fields are searched. I can not search from Items from a specific author;
  • Subscriptions Manager - the Client has a separate window for the management of Groups and Lists. This allows a user to set all metadata of groups and lists. I like this separate window, although the integration between the two windows is not perfect;
  • Autodiscovery - the Client supports autodiscovery. This allows a users to specify the blog website and let the Client discover the corresponding feeds. The user can then select the feed-format he wants;
Supported MicroContent Type(s): Blogs •
Rating: 41 out of 90 points (checklist 1.4) • Version: 1.0.2 •

Checklist:
  • MicroContent (6/10) - to what degree does the client support MicroContent Items?
    • Structure - YES, the blog structure;
    • Multiplicity - YES, assuming Atom and RSS have slight different structure;
    • Flexibility - NO;
    • MicroWeb - NO;
    • Merged - NO;
    • Pick-list Fields - NO;
    • Title - YES;
    • Description - YES;
    • Tags - YES;
    • Rating - YES, one can flag an Item;

  • Interface (4/10) - does the client have the characteristic layout?
    • View-pane - YES;
    • View-pane styles - YES;
    • View-pane Window - NO;
    • Items-pane - YES;
    • Items-pane Views - NO;
    • Items-pane Sorting - YES, sort on date and unread;
    • Items-pane Fields - NO;
    • Lists-pane - NO, the Items-pane can be sorted on feeds: the Lists;
    • Browser-pane - NO;
    • Pane layout change - NO, standard is a widescreen layout;

  • Item functions (4/10) - functions for managing individual Items.
    • View - YES, in the view-pane
    • Create - NO;
    • Edit - NO;
    • Mark - YES, an Item can be flagged;
    • Search - NO;
    • Persistence - YES, by means of the flag;
    • Access Control - NO;
    • Duplicate Control - NO;
    • Delete - NO;
    • Download - YES;

  • List functions (7/17)
    • Local - NO;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - YES;
    • Handpicked - YES, by the authors of the Remote Lists;
    • Smart - YES;
    • Recommendations - NO;
    • List Metadata - YES;
    • Statistics - YES, the number of unread messages are shown next to the List;
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - NO;
    • Edit - YES, the metadata can be edited;
    • Show - YES, new items will be shown in a floating transparent window;
    • Backup/revert - NO;
    • Refresh - YES;
    • Remove - NO, removing implies delete;
    • Delete - YES;

  • Groups (4/8) does the Client support Groups?
    • Unlimited Depth - NO, just single depth;
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - NO;
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - YES;
    • Edit - YES, some metadata and one can delete embedded Lists;
    • Delete - YES;

  • Import (1/6) - does the Client allow for importing Items?
    • Classic - NO;
    • Standard - YES, through an OPML-file one can import a directory;
    • Proprietary - NO;
    • Application - NO, although Ecto maybe?
    • Bookmarklet - NO;
    • Drag&drop - NO;

  • Export (7/14) - does the client allow for exporting Items?
    • Classic - NO;
    • Standard - YES, a directory can be exported as XOXO or OPML;
    • Proprietary - NO;
    • HTML - NO;
    • Print - YES;
    • Feed - NO;
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote: .Mac - YES, there seems to be a syncing option. Function is only available to registered users;
    • Remote: FTP - NO;
    • Remote: RPC - YES, an Item can be publishes as bookmark on delicious;
    • Drag&drop - YES, this will create a Webloc-document;
    • Application - YES, one can link to a blog-editor. Integration with AddressBook allows a user to Mail or Chat with the author of a blog;

  • MacOSX (6/15) - is the client a good MacOSX application?
    • Look&Feel - YES, although the placement of the groups is out of the ordinary;
    • Menu - NO, the setup looks non-standard;
    • Toolbar - NO;
    • Alt-click - NO;
    • Ctrl-click - YES;
    • Drag&drop - YES, for adding a feed to a group;
    • Services - YES, allows a user to subscribe to a feed;
    • Dock - NO;
    • Spotlight - YES, this is very nice;
    • Dashboard - NO;
    • AppleScript - YES;
    • Framework - NO;
    • Menu-bar Item - YES;
    • Plug-ins - YES;
    • Languages - NO;


Categories: type • blog
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03 Mar 2006

Delicious Library

Delicious Library by Delicious Monster allows a user to manage his books, games, dvd's and cd's. On the one hand it can be used for creating reviews and on the other hand you can just record what you own or have read. Sort of bookmarking of books. Some remarks:

  • Barcodes - the most publicised feature of this Client is the integration with camera's in order to capture barcodes from books. I have not been able to test this feature;
  • Loan administration - the loan administration is interesting as it integrates with the AddressBook and iCal applications. Due dates are pushed into an iCal Calendar. And loaners are taken from the AddressBook;
  • Amazon integration - the Client is strongly integrated with the Amazon assets. The user must specify his preferred Amazon site and all the information is taken from that site. And the user is sent to that site for various links
Supported MicroContent Type(s): Book Description, Review •
Rating: 42 out of 90 points (checklist 1.4) • Developer: Delicious Monster • Version: 1.6.1 •

Checklist:
  • MicroContent (7/10) - to what degree does the client support MicroContent Items?
    • Structure - YES, the user part consists of a rating, a description and a purchase date;
    • Multiplicity - YES, book and CD items have an extra field and support other fields. The loan administration is another MicroContent type;
    • Flexibility - NO;
    • MicroWeb - YES, it links to various points on one of the Amazon sites;
    • Merged - YES, information on Items is pulled in from Amazon when possible;
    • Pick-list Fields - NO;
    • Title - YES;
    • Description - YES, called Notes;
    • Tags - NO;
    • Rating - YES, a 5-point scale;

  • Interface (7/10) - does the client have the characteristic layout?
    • View-pane - YES, with three tabs;
    • View-pane styles - NO;
    • View-pane Window - YES;
    • Items-pane - YES;
    • Items-pane Views - YES, a tabular and an image view;
    • Items-pane Sorting - YES;
    • Items-pane Fields - YES;
    • Lists-pane - YES, they are called Collections;
    • Browser-pane - NO;
    • Pane layout change - NO, standard is a Widescreen layout;

  • Item functions (5/10) - functions for managing individual Items.
    • View - YES;
    • Create - YES;
    • Edit - YES;
    • Mark - NO;
    • Search - NO;
    • Persistence - NO;
    • Access Control - NO, it seems that one can add dupicates;
    • Duplicate Control - NO;
    • Delete - YES;
    • Download - YES, one can refresh parts of the Item;

  • List functions (9/17)
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - NO;
    • Handpicked - YES;
    • Smart - YES, but only the Predefined Collections Books, Movies, Music and Games;
    • Recommendations - YES, for a selected Item one gets the related Items from Amazon in a tab of the View-pane;
    • List Metadata - NO;
    • Statistics - YES, next to each list the totals are shown;
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - YES;
    • Edit - YES;
    • Show - NO;
    • Backup/revert - NO;
    • Refresh - NO;
    • Remove - YES;
    • Delete - YES;

  • Groups (0/8) does the Client support Groups?
    • Unlimited Depth - NO;
    • Local - NO;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - NO;
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - NO;
    • Edit - NO;
    • Delete - NO;

  • Import (2/6) - does the Client allow for importing Items?
    • Classic - YES;
    • Standard - NO;
    • Proprietary - NO;
    • Application - YES, some competing apps are supported;
    • Bookmarklet - NO;
    • Drag&drop - NO;

  • Export (5/14) - does the client allow for exporting Items?
    • Classic - YES;
    • Standard - NO;
    • Proprietary - NO;
    • HTML - NO;
    • Print - YES;
    • Feed - NO;
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - YES;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote: .Mac - NO;
    • Remote: FTP - NO;
    • Remote: RPC - NO;
    • Drag&drop - NO;
    • Application - YES, Mail, Web-browser, iCal and AddressBook;

  • MacOSX (6/15) - is the client a good MacOSX application?
    • Look&Feel - YES, in Metal;
    • Menu - YES;
    • Toolbar - NO;
    • Alt-click - NO;
    • Ctrl-click - NO;
    • Drag&drop - YES, for filling the hand-picked Lists;
    • Services - NO;
    • Dock - NO;
    • Spotlight - NO, I was not able to get it to work;
    • Dashboard - YES;
    • AppleScript - YES, only a single command;
    • Framework - NO;
    • Menu-bar Item - NO;
    • Plug-ins - NO;
    • Languages - YES, some 9 languages;


Categories: fields • rating • type • review • book
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03 Mar 2006

Wine XT

This client helps a user to manage his Wine Cellar. For each wine the user can enter the number of bottles and where they are placed in the cellar. And for each wine the user can add comments and tasting notes. Some remarks:

  • Bloat - the Client leaves me with a bloat feeling. It also has an integrated web-browser and news-reader;
  • Reports - the client has an extended reports module, which allow the user to create various reports based on a set of tags, which integrate with the database. This is very nice, I wish this idea could be open to other Clients. Maybe the usage of Applescript would be handy to open this up;
  • Cellar Editor - the cellar editor an corresponding bottle numbering module is interesting. I can image this also useful for libraries of books, CD's, etc.
Supported MicroContent Type(s): Wine Descriptions, Ratings •
Rating: 36 out of 87 points (checklist 1.3) • Developer: Martin Böhler • Version: 2.3.11 •

Checklist:
  • MicroContent (7/10) - to what degree does the client support MicroContent Items?
    • Structure - YES, the Client supports structure;
    • Multiplicity - YES, the basic structure is the wine type. For each wine type the user can specify the number of bottles and add drinking notes for a bottle. However the actual review is done on the wine level, with very detailed notes. And thirdly there is system for managing the cellar and the corresponding locations. Also addresses are pushed out;
    • Flexibility - NO;
    • MicroWeb - YES, one can an image to each wine type. And there is a realtion with the address database;
    • Merged - NO, the application would lend itself this option if a public wine database would be available;
    • Pick-list Fields - YES;
    • Title - YES, this is the name of the wine;
    • Description - YES, these are notes that one can add to the wine;
    • Tags - NO;
    • Rating - YES, a 7 point rating system. And a 20-point system with separate categories for quality, sight, smell and taste;

  • Interface (7/10) - does the client have the characteristic layout?
    • View-pane - YES, the view-pane offers a small summary;
    • View-pane styles - NO;
    • View-pane Window - YES, this is also the edit window;
    • Items-pane - YES;
    • Items-pane Views - NO, only a tabular view;
    • Items-pane Sorting - YES;
    • Items-pane Fields - YES;
    • Lists-pane - YES;
    • Browser-pane - YES;
    • Pane layout change - NO;

  • Item functions (5/9) - functions for managing individual Items.
    • View - YES;
    • Create - YES;
    • Edit - YES;
    • Mark - NO;
    • Search - YES;
    • Persistence - NO;
    • Access Control - NO;
    • Delete - YES;
    • Download - NO;

  • List functions (8/16) - called Groups.
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - NO;
    • Handpicked - YES;
    • Smart - YES, but only a predefine Smart List for showing the maturity level of wines;
    • Recommendations - NO;
    • List Metadata - NO;
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - YES;
    • Edit - YES, only the title;
    • Show - NO;
    • Backup/revert - YES, one can revert to an automatically created backup;
    • Refresh - NO;
    • Remove - YES;
    • Delete - YES;

  • Groups (4/8) does the Client support Groups?
    • Unlimited Depth - YES;
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - YES;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - NO;
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - YES;
    • Edit - YES;
    • Delete - YES;

  • Import (1/6) - does the Client allow for importing Items?
    • Classic - NO;
    • Standard - NO;
    • Proprietary - YES, although I do not know from what format;
    • Application - NO;
    • Bookmarklet - NO;
    • Drag&drop - NO;

  • Export (2/14) - does the client allow for exporting Items?
    • Classic - NO;
    • Standard - NO;
    • Proprietary - NO;
    • HTML - NO;
    • Print - YES;
    • Feed - NO;
    • Local - NO;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote: .Mac - NO;
    • Remote: FTP - NO;
    • Remote: RPC - NO;
    • Drag&drop - NO;
    • Application - YES, any new address will be stored in the AddressBook library as well;

  • MacOSX (3/12) - is the client a good MacOSX application?
    • Look&Feel - YES;
    • Menu - YES, although it could use some improvements;
    • Toolbar - YES;
    • Alt-click - NO;
    • Ctrl-click - NO;
    • Drag&drop - YES;
    • Services - NO;
    • Dock - NO;
    • Spotlight - NO;
    • Dashboard - NO;
    • AppleScript - NO;
    • Framework - NO;
    • Men-bar Item - NO;
    • Plug-ins - NO;


Categories: fields • rating • type • review • wine
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03 Mar 2006

FeedMe

This Client, by allows a user to edit and create RSS-files. The feature set is very small, but nice if one needs to create RSS-files.

Supported MicroContent Type(s): Blog •
Rating: 25 out of 84 points (checklist 1.3) • Developer: Glass Onion software • Version: 0.71 •

Checklist:
  • MicroContent (4/10) - to what degree does the client support MicroContent Items?
    • Structure - YES, the basic RSS-structure;
    • Multiplicity - NO;
    • Flexibility - NO;
    • MicroWeb - NO;
    • Merged - NO;
    • Pick-list Fields - NO;
    • Title - YES;
    • Description - YES;
    • Tags - YES, called category;
    • Rating - NO;

  • Interface (2/10) - does the client have the characteristic layout?
    • View-pane - YES;
    • View-pane styles - NO;
    • View-pane Window - NO;
    • Items-pane - YES, implemented as a drawer;
    • Items-pane Views - NO;
    • Items-pane Sorting - NO, standard is a time-reverse order;
    • Items-pane Fields - NO;
    • Lists-pane - NO;
    • Browser-pane - NO;
    • Pane layout change - NO;

  • Item functions (4/9) - functions for managing individual Items.
    • View - YES;
    • Create - YES;
    • Edit - YES;
    • Mark - NO;
    • Search - NO;
    • Persistence - NO;
    • Access Control - NO;
    • Delete - YES;
    • Download - NO;

  • List functions (8/16)
    • Local - YES, each List is a separate file;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - NO;
    • Handpicked - YES, the user creates what comes in a List;
    • Smart - NO;

      • Recommendations - NO;
    • List Metadata - YES, this is the metadata that corresponds to the RSS format;
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - YES, this implies creating a new file;
    • Edit - YES, one can edit the metadata;
    • Show - NO;
    • Backup/revert - YES, one can revert to the original file;
    • Refresh - NO;
    • Remove - YES, but it implies that the Item is deleted as well;
    • Delete - YES;

  • Groups (0/8) does the Client support Groups?
    • Unlimited Depth - NO;
    • Local - NO;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - NO;
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - NO;
    • Edit - NO;
    • Delete - NO;

  • Import (1/6) - does the Client allow for importing Items?
    • Classic - NO;
    • Standard - YES, a user can open RSS files, implying the import of a whole List of Items;
    • Proprietary - NO;
    • Application - NO;
    • Bookmarklet - NO;
    • Drag&drop - NO;

  • Export (3/14) - does the client allow for exporting Items?
    • Classic - NO;
    • Standard - YES, RSS files;
    • Proprietary - NO;
    • HTML - NO
    • Print - NO;
    • Feed - YES, RSS;
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote: .Mac - NO;
    • Remote: FTP - NO;
    • Remote: RPC - NO;
    • Drag&drop - NO;
    • Application - NO;

  • MacOSX (3/14) - is the client a good MacOSX application?
    • Look&Feel - YES;
    • Menu - YES;
    • Toolbar - YES;
    • Alt-click - NO;
    • Ctrl-click - NO;
    • Drag&drop - NO;
    • Services - NO;
    • Dock - NO;
    • Spotlight - NO;
    • Dashboard - NO;
    • AppleScript - NO;
    • Framework - NO;
    • Menu-bar Item - NO;
    • Plug-ins - NO;

Categories: type • blog
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02 Mar 2006

iCal

iCal is an application to manage events and todo's. Both are MicroContent Items where Time and date play a predominant role.

  • Related Items - in interesting phenomenon from a MicroContent view are the recurring events. A recurring event is an event that is repeated on a regular basis, say each year (birthday), every week, etc. The nice thing is that the user has to enter such en event only once and can then subsequently add a repeat frequency. This will create new events at the specified frequency. Thus it is very easy to create, but it is also easy to update all events. So there must exist a relation between events. Maybe I could call that a Smart List in some way. It is an example of how MicroContent Items can be related to each other through some rule;
  • Notifications - one can set alarms for an event with various actions connected to an alarm. There is also a notification panel, but I do not know what that does;
  • Backup/restore - this Client also has a backup and restore database function;
  • GoTo - the Client has a MiniCalendar to go quickly to a date. And there are shortcuts to go to today's date and a date specified by the user;
Supported MicroContent Type(s): Todo's, Events •
Rating: 49 out of 90 points with checklist 1.4 • Developer: Apple • Version: 2.0.3 •

Checklist:
  • MicroContent (7/10) - to what degree does the client support MicroContent Items?
    • Structure - YES, both events and todo’s have structure;
    • Multiplicity - YES, Events and todo’s;
    • Flexibility - NO;
    • MicroWeb - YES, to each Event one can add attendees, which refer to cards in AddressBook;
    • Merged - NO;
    • Pick-list Fields - YES, several fields are closed pick-lists;
    • Title - YES, both the event and todo have a title;
    • Description - YES, they are called Notes;
    • Tags - NO;
    • Rating - YES, todo’s have a rating called priority;

  • Interface (4/10) - does the client have the characteristic layout?
    • View-pane - YES, it implemented as a drawer;
    • View-pane styles - NO;
    • View-pane Window - NO;
    • Items-pane - YES;
    • Items-pane Views - YES, there is a calendar view (day, week, month) and a tabular view called Search Results. The tabular view opens an extra pane;
    • Items-pane Sorting - YES, but only the tabular view;
    • Items-pane Fields - NO;
    • Lists-pane - NO, these are called Calendars;
    • Browser-pane - NO;
    • Pane layout change - NO;

  • Item functions (6/10) - functions for managing individual Items.
    • View - YES;
    • Create - YES;
    • Edit - YES;
    • Mark - NO;
    • Search - YES, the button bar supports a search field with drop down field selection;
    • Persistence - YES, old Items can be deleted automatically;
    • Access Control - NO;
    • Duplicate Control - NO;
    • Delete - YES;
    • Download - NO;

  • List functions (10/17)
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - NO, although one can synchronise with an iPod and other connected devices through iSync;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - YES, these are called Subscribed calendars;
    • Handpicked - YES, the user can set the Calendar for each event or todo Item;
    • Smart - NO;
    • Recommendations - NO;
    • List Metadata - YES, for handpicked local Lists these are descriptions. For Remote Lists these are the URL, the refresh-rate and alarm settings;
    • Statistics - NO;
    • Directories - Are there Item directories?
    • Add - YES;
    • Edit - YES;
    • Show - NO;
    • Backup/revert - YES, both backup and revert;
    • Refresh - YES;
    • Remove - YES, but only for Local Handpicked Lists;
    • Delete - YES;

  • Groups (4/8) does the Client support Groups?
    • Unlimited Depth - NO, a Group has just a single depth;
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - NO;
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - YES;
    • Edit - YES, a user can change title, description and incorporated calendars;
    • Delete - YES;

  • Import (3/6) - does the Client allow for importing Items?
    • Classic - NO;
    • Standard - YES, iCal and vCal files;
    • Proprietary - YES, from Entourage;
    • Application - YES, birtdays can be imported from AddressBook. This seems to be an import as I am not able to refresh it;
    • Bookmarklet - NO;
    • Drag&drop - YES, files in ICS-format;

  • Export (6/14) - does the client allow for exporting Items?
    • Classic - NO;
    • Standard - YES, as ICS files
    • Proprietary - NO;
    • HTML - NO;
    • Print - YES, in various layouts;
    • Feed - NO;
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - NO, one must use iSynch;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote: .Mac - YES and also to other WebDAV-servers;
    • Remote: FTP - NO;
    • Remote: RPC - NO;
    • Drag&drop - YES, to files in ICS-format;
    • Application - YES, one can send invitations to attendees of events;

  • MacOSX (8/15) - is the client a good MacOSX application?
    • Look&Feel - YES;
    • Menu - YES;
    • Toolbar - NO, there is a toolbar, but it is a non-standard implementation;
    • Alt-click - NO;
    • Ctrl-click - YES;
    • Drag&drop - YES for adding Calendars to a group or setting new times;
    • Services - NO;
    • Dock - NO;
    • Spotlight - YES;
    • Dashboard - YES;
    • AppleScript - YES;
    • Framework - NO;
    • Menu-bar Item - NO;
    • Plug-in - YES, with Automator one can create Alarm Plug-ins;
    • Language - YES, some 14 languages;


Categories: fields • time • type • event • todo
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27 Feb 2006

A Cook’s Books

This Client by 3 Cats and a Mac, allows a user to manage recipes and create a planning.

I have a mixed feeling about this application. On the one hand it supports a lot of information, but I miss some things as well. And I had a problem in getting some features to work.

Some remarks:

  • MicroWeb - this application calculates the nutritional value of a recipe based on the ingredients list and an USDA list of nutrition. For this it uses the second MicroContent Type available in the Client. This is a list of ingredients with for each ingredient the nutritional values. Using standard measures in the recipe, the nutritional value of the recipe can then be calculated. This is an example where on MicroContent Item is connected to multiple other MicroContent Items. It is a step towards the MicroWeb;
  • Pantry - There is the option to specify what one has in his pantry. Not sure how this is used any further. I guess this another MicroWeb coming up;
  • Related Fields - It supports conversions from metric to imperial and the ingredients based on servings. It is nice of example of relations that exist between fields in an Item;
  • Recursion - it is possible to define a recipe as an ingredient for another recipe;
Supported MicroContent Type(s): Recipes, Ratings •
Rating: 28 out of 87 points (checklist version 1.3) • Developer: 3 Cats and a Mac • Version: 0.9.20 •

Checklist:

&t

  • MicroContent (5/10) - to what degree does the client support MicroContent Items?
    • Structure - YES, the recipe has many fields;
    • Multiplicity - YES, I would call the nutrition database another supported type as it allows the user to add things. And there is a lot of information available on foods and cooking;
    • Flexibility - NO;
    • MicroWeb - YES;
    • Merged - NO;
    • Pick-list Fields - YES, for the measures there is an open pick-list;
    • Title - YES;
    • Description - YES, either the directions or the notes
    • Tags - NO;
    • Rating - NO;

  • Interface (3/10) - does the client have the characteristic layout?
    • View-pane - YES, but the pane does not show all information on a recipe. For notes and images one has to open the drawer and for cooking times one has to open the info sheet;
    • View-pane styles - NO;
    • View-pane Window - NO, although there is a corresponding Item sheet;
    • Items-pane - YES;
    • Items-pane Views - NO;
    • Items-pane Sorting - NO;
    • Items-pane Fields - NO, only the title is shown;
    • Lists-pane - YES, is called Quick Lists;
    • Browser-pane - NO;
    • Pane layout change - NO;

  • Item functions (5/9) - functions for managing individual Items.
    • View - YES, although a bit complex;
    • Create - YES;
    • Edit - YES;
    • Mark - NO;
    • Search - YES;
    • Persistence - NO;
    • Access Control - NO;
    • - YES;
    • Download - NO;

  • List functions (5/16)
    • Local - YES, the Quick List and the Library;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;

      • ;li>Remote - NO;
    • Handpicked - NO;
    • Smart - YES, called Quick Lists;
    • Recommendations - NO;
    • List Metadata - NO;
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - YES, the Quick List;
    • Edit - YES, the Quick List rules;
    • Show - NO;
    • Backup/revert - NO;
    • Refresh - NO;
    • Remove - NO;
    • Delete - YES;

  • Groups (0/8) does the Client support Groups?
    • Unlimited Depth - NO;
    • Local - NO;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote - NO;
    • Directories - NO;
    • Add - NO;
    • Edit - NO;
    • Delete - NO;

  • Import (2/6) - does the Client allow for importing Items?
    • Classic - NO;
    • Standard - YES, some 7 different formats;
    • Proprietary - YES;
    • Application - NO;
    • Bookmarklet - NO;
    • Drag&drop - NO;

  • Export (5/14) - does the client allow for exporting Items?
    • Classic - NO;
    • Standard - YES, MasterCook;
    • Proprietary - YES;
    • HTML - NO;
    • Print - YES;
    • Feed - NO;
    • Local - YES;
    • Connected - NO;
    • Shared - NO;
    • Remote: .Mac - NO;
    • Remote: FTP - NO;
    • Remote: RPC - NO;
    • Drag&drop - NO;
    • Application - YES, there is a connection with email;

  • MacOSX (2/14) - is the client a good MacOSX application?
    • Look&Feel - YES, although it needs work;
    • Menu - YES;
    • Toolbar - NO;
    • Alt-click - NO;
    • Ctrl-click - NO;
    • Drag&drop - NO;
    • Services - NO;
    • Dock - NO;
    • Spotlight - NO;
    • Dashboard - NO;
    • AppleScript - NO;
    • Framework - NO;
    • Menu-bar Item - NO;
    • Plug-in - NO;


Categories: type • recipe
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