Ann: New Mac P2 offload software. Beta testers needed....

I just did. You can create a workflow in Automator to do it.

If you want to spend money on something like that, go for it. My initial objection had more to do with the fact that someone asked for my help to test something they'd later reveal they want to sell.
 
jeffyjones said:
I just did. You can create a workflow in Automator to do it.

If you want to spend money on something like that, go for it. My initial objection had more to do with the fact that someone asked for my help to test something they'd later reveal they want to sell.
Click to expand...
I have no clue how Automator can be scripted. Would you mind sharing that Automator file with us?
Is it be as elegant as Anders' app?
 
Great thing about a free market economy is that people can choose to buy or invest on their own free will. I'll pay someone a resonable fee for work I can't or don't want to do, hence the PA. Ander has released FCP Rescue which is free and a great time saver if I'm working and a money saver if I'm paying. I offer my support and hope others do as well. Beta testing gave me a free great time saver and brain saver for a while, better than what I had before. I've beta tested for huge corporations before and I get a shirt and lots of frustration when the final rev is released and they do what they want in the first place.

Don Wilson
 
Jeff.

I started to develop P2 Genie because I needed the tool myself.
Just like when I developed FCP Rescue (which is also just a file copy tool)
The reason why I want to charge something for P2 genie, is because it will demand much more work to implement the features I am planning for the final release.
And let's not forget that we are talking about trusting the utility to backup very precious files, so these routines need to be bullet proof.
Then there is the aspect of support.
Even a very small utility like FCP Rescue, produced a lot of support emails, which I off cause all answered. But it still takes time to troubleshoot etc.

Actually I'm pretty stunned by your reaction. If you read the email in which I enclosed the very first Beta version of my P2 Genie to you, or read the splash screen, there was actually a blurb about this utility being shareware. That's shareware as in "It costs something, but only a small amount, and only so I can fund further improvements and do the support part"

Here is the info paragraph from the first email I sent to you. Note the last paragraph:
Some very important info (please read):

- You need Mac os x 10.4.

- Please don't distribute this demo to third parties. It's mighty fine to show it off, but please direct people to send me an email at: p2genie@andersholck.com to apply for a demo.

- This demo is only valid for 14 days. I don't want any of these early builds to stick around so please be aware that it will expire around the 30'th. I will send a new build out in good time for you to update.

- The mounted cards and the partitions on the P2 store must be unnamed to be detected by P2 genie, so has to mount as "No Name" in the finder. I'm working on a more advanced algorithm for card detection for a future release.

- Interface is locked during copy operation, so there is currently no way to abort an ongoing copy operation. Use force quit to abort.

- Only some premature error code is implemented at this time. I haven't experienced any errors though, so it should not be a problem.

- Card emptying is not implemented yet, but ejecting is :-)

- This beta "program" allows you to help me creating my little utility, when finished it will be distributed as shareware. I haven't decided on a price yet, but if you have an idea of what it's worth for you please comment on that as well. I'm no capitalist, but some funds to help improve the app would be great.
Click to expand...

And from the beta 2 email:
Introduction:

Ok, now we have an option to empty our cards when ejecting!
PLEASE, be carefull. Be aware that I won't be accountable for your actions.
Remember that this is a beta so start with material that is expendable.
Also please report back at p2genie@andersholck.com.

I especially need your thought's on:
- Features Any other features I should cram into the utility?
- Price What should the price be for this utitlity?
- Bugs Anything?
Click to expand...

And from beta 3:
Please report back at: p2genie@andersholck.com

- Features Any other features I should cram into the utility?
- Price What should the price be for this utitlity?
- Bugs Anything?
- Spelling English is not my native language, so if you catch any funny spelling errors please report it.
Click to expand...

Then in the Beta 4 email I added this blurb about the need to send your machine serial to be able to run beta 5:
Note: The next public beta of P2 Genie requires registration! (From Beta 5 and foreward)
To get it running you need to send me your machine serial number in an email.
The machine serial is easily obtained in the hardware pane of the System profiler.
If you don't send me the serial, I will delete you from the Beta list as you won't be able to run Beta 5 without it :-)
Thank you for taking the time to test my software...
Click to expand...

So I gave you four free betas and offered you a fifth free beta version, if only you sent me your machine serial number. There was newer any talk of you giving any money for the betas, and right from the start in the very first beta I stated that the final goal was to distribute my finished utility as shareware, and not freeware.

If you browse the shareware catalog at versiontracker.com you'll find that most shareware is in the $10-$40 pricerange, and should give you a clue of the potential price of P2 genie when I finish it up. Until then it's a FREE beta program.

If you want to make a free alternative as a set of applescripts or automator actions you are very welcome to do so. But be aware that this has already been done, and are available as a free download elsewhere on these boards.

If that solution is good enough for you, then by all means use that instead.
My aim with P2 Genie is to make the best offload solution on the Mac with features such as the autoloader which will automatically detect, copy empty and eject P2 cards as you mount them, automatic renaming of the folders and so forth. My goals for beta 5 are renaming of the Media files themselves(So you can tag them with the project name), an option to compile all the offloaded cards into one folder (Making one big P2 card) and browsing P2 cards by the Icon files.
All of these feature takes a great deal of time to do properly but they are indeed very useful at least for my workflow. And why not offer it to others as well :-)
 
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Anders,
as I emailed you, my PBG4 has no serial number any more (you know why).
What do I do now to remain included in your list of Beta5 testers?
 
jeffyjones said:
Well if you're not giving it away, I certainly don't want to test it. I thought you were doing this for the good of the community.
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Hopefully there aren't products on your computer from Apple, Adobe, etc. that have been "donated" for the good of the community. :)
 
Sounds like a good easy work flow.

Sounds like a good easy work flow.

Good Job Ann,

Would like to try it. You say it will be able to empty the card once downloaded to
my G4 right? How can I get a chance to try it?

Jeffrey
 
Anders - fabo idea, however I'm somewhat fond of my P2 Store. You mentioned a while back that you were wrestling with the logistics of dealing with multiple cards/partitions - does your view of the future include a P2 Store dedicated/compatible P2 Genie?
 
Anders, just a thought... Do you think it would be difficult to add the 'unwrapping-thing' as an option. That way, the computer can translate the native files to QT while you are shooting; and thatn could save time and hassle to get the project up and going in FCP. Especially for ENG-type work you could find many costumers for this.
I love what this app is turning into right now, and I'll surely ask you for a beta once I get a HVX. Or buy it if testing is over by that time obviously.
Keep up the good work.
Grtz,

Oliver
 
Yes I wan to try it, but is there a Windows version ?

And... speaking a little about every thing... I´m shocking about how you, serious people, have paid attention to a selfish and not so mistic person.

that´s the case of jeffyjones and all the dust his comments have done

If there is some body asking for help, well, let´s help, and if latter we need some help, then ask for it!

This give some balance to the world. (I think)

(Sorry for my bad english, I´m spanish spoken person)
 
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Hey what's this????
p2b5.png
 
Cash Money

Cash Money

Anders,

Enough Beta already. I need something to work with and will pay cash money, ready or not...

Skuzzle

ps. looks better w/ every revision!
 
I hope this is the last beta.
I will concentrate on getting the Manual done and an order website.
I have decided on a price of €25.
 
Cool, I've been following this thread. Thanks for your work Anders- I will definately get this once I buy the HVX.
 
after managing p2 store w/out this helpful applet I will never go back. My biggest complaint about the p2 store was the partitioning problem. I even had a gung ho producer back off (justifiably so) from using HVX200 on job on the road because it was just too scetchy to move files w/out making a mistake. So now that I have this I have been spreading the gospel. as for the expected price, I frankly don't care. I would pay triple the price and still feel like I got what I wanted. Biggest problem with HVX200? Data management. Biggest solution? this P2 Genie. I GUARANTEE it will generate work for me and/or my camera. as it will for everyone who owns a camera. in my opinion all P2 stores should ship with this. Not doing so is like buying a new car w/out the keys for the doors. "Hey, it's revolutionary, but you have to figure out on your own how to get in." P2 genie is the key into that car.
my only question is why the @&*(!? is Panasonic selling cars w/out door keys :)
And why doesn't this thread have a sticky on it?
-Nate
 
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