Is anyone actually using SHERLOCK?

[ecche]

Hi,

Maybe I'm missing out on something, but I wonder if somebody is actually using SHERLOCK? If so, then please let us know why.

Personally, I find it the least attractive app in Apple history. I gave it a try after each and every update, but so far I could not be persuaded to move it into my dock.

[kgarner]

When it came out i used it all the time to search lots of search engines at once. Lately, however, I rarely use it. I think I only use it to check movie times, and some times I don't even use sherlock for that. The app may be useless now, but that is really because Apple has integrated a lot of the functions it performed into the system itself. I think eventually, it will be gone, absorbed into the system like a lot of other programs.

[russed]

i use it for the dictionary basically because i cant be bothered to open the actual thing that is right in front of me!

[Savage Henry]

Pre-jaguar I occasionally used it to search for stray files on my drives.

These days I can't think of one reason why I would go near it.

Sorry.

[iBook]

I use it for movies. It's really the coolest part of Sherlock, imho.

I like that it gives you the theatre name and address -- meanwhile, it preloads the trailer and you can watch it in the browser -- and show times. Way cool. :)

[mkrishnan]

I use it for movies. It's really the coolest part of Sherlock, imho.

I like that it gives you the theatre name and address -- meanwhile, it preloads the trailer and you can watch it in the browser -- and show times. Way cool. :)

I use it for that too -- the trailers are really nicely integrated and you hardly have to wait at all for them to start streaming. Also, I occasionally use it to look up addresses to restaurants and stuff like that, although I usually use Mapquest in Safari....

[BillClinton]

I use it for spanish homework

[kenkooler]

For translations only.

[Squire]

For translations only.
Ditto...and that's pretty rare.

Squire

[7on]

Movies
eBay
Translations
Dictionary

[alywa]

I actually think Sherlock is a good program. I use the phone book all the time, and the maps are actually acurate (unlike the mapquest maps IMHO).

As others have stated, the movie listings are cool too. I also use it to track e-bay listings (especially when I'm selling)

I guess I'm in the minority, but I think it's a worthwhile program.

-alywa

[BornAgainMac]

There are a lot of new channels added to Sherlock in the collections called "Other Channels". Excellent addons. I was surprised nobody ever mentions anything about them. I agree with everyone, it needs an update to make it worthwhile or just removed and have it's features integrated in the finder or something. To bad Panther didn't expand on it or take that idea farther along.

[Sweetfeld28]

i used to use it in os 9, but not so much in X. However, when X.1 first came out i used the __________ program which was exactlly like the current version of sherlock (can't remember the name of it, but it was faster than sherlock). Whatever it was, it was showcased at one of the expos. Actually, i think it might have been a develper confrence.

[applekid]

I never noticed those other channels. The only channels I used were translation and movies. I should start using Sherlock more often. I really don't need to open Safari to check my stocks, flights, eBay, the phonebook, and the dictionary. When Steve shows off Tiger, he should perhaps demo Sherlock again. Sherlock is quicker for those things than Safari. In a way, Sherlock could be a better web browser!

[sethypoo]

I actually think Sherlock is a good program. I use the phone book all the time, and the maps are actually acurate (unlike the mapquest maps IMHO).

Doesn't Sherlock use MapQuest maps? :confused:

[Koodauw]

I have never used Sherlock and have no idea what it does. So no.

[PowerMacMan]

Sherlock is EXCELLENT to use if you're in school...

Or doing homework for school...

I find it EXTREMELY USEFULL! :D :)

[mkrishnan]

Doesn't Sherlock use MapQuest maps? :confused:

According to the software itself, it credits Maps on Us (http://www.mapsonus.com/), which seems to use its own maps, so apparently no. The maps seem fairly good, although they don't tell you which side of the street a destination is on. :(

I think MapQuest is pretty good, but they do need to work on the whole "take the xxx exit, take a slight left on the xxxx exit, take a left on the xxx exit" thing for on/off ramps. There are like five lines of instructions to handle an interchange. Sheesh! :o

[BrianKonarsMac]

I use Sherlock to check out what's playing at the local theater's, it's MUCH faster than using the internet. It remembers my zip, so I just open it up and find out what's playing, and I can even watch a preview right there.

Sherlock = Nice Idea, Poor Implementation.

[senseibiz]

I haven't use sherlock in a long time..... I also have watson, but I rarely use them both.

[QCassidy352]

yes, I use it. Dictionary, translator, and movies (my favorite!). It's not the most useful app in history, but I'd sure rather have it than not!

[Giaguara]

i use it. soem news headlines and movies.

never the translator though.

i use it as it's so retro.


and i like googling from the command line. :p

[Awimoway]

I used to use it for:

Movies: But then I moved and some of the theaters at my new location aren't listed, so it's useless.

Dictionary: But in the last four or five months the dictionary hasn't always worked, so now I just use a javascript word-entry bookmark to dictionary.com.

Translation: I still use this feature. But Sherlock has been removed from my dock because I don't need translation very often.

[armchainmstenw]

Nope.

[Powerbook G5]

I use Sherlock, it's a pretty useful app.

[poopyhead]

I use it constantly as a thesaurus when I'm writing papers
it allows me to repeat words less often and spell check words that I have misspelled so badly that appleworks is unable recognize them
basically I use it to supplement appleworks crappy spell check and very limited word bank.

[coolsoldier]

I use Sherlock for Movies, Phonebook, Dictionary, Translation, TV Schedules, Song Lyrics, MacUpdate Searches, and Weather Forecasts.

So yes.

I also occasionally use the Google channel if I want to search for something while using Sherlock, although I usually do my web searches from Safari because 9 times out of 10, Safari's already running.

[ravenvii]

Actually, I've never used it. Know what it was, but just never opened it up for some reason. Sounds very useful, though. Oh well. Maybe 10.4 will update it and convince me to give it other click.

[Savage Henry]

Maybe 10.4 will update it and convince me to give it other click.

Don't hold your breath. I can't think the Apple resources are particulary honed on waking this cumbersome beast. When Apple delivers OSX Frosties-style the changes to Sherlock will be purely cosmetic.

[BrianKonarsMac]

Don't hold your breath. I can't think the Apple resources are particulary honed on waking this cumbersome beast. When Apple delivers OSX Frosties-style the changes to Sherlock will be purely cosmetic. ya it seems as tho apple is quietly killing off Sherlock, they haven't touched or discussed it in forever. Then again, the same could be said for Appleworks.

[unfaded]

Wow, Sherlock. Completely forgot about it when they took it away from command-F.

[whooleytoo]

I use it all the time for eBay, dictionary, thesauras (not using my Mac at the moment, so I KNOW that word's spelt wrong! :p ) and translations. Occasionally look up a movie with it.

Of course, it's pretty US-centric. If there were more tie-ins with European services, I'd use it more.

[ecche]

For translations only.

Of course you realize that its results are very poor indeed!? While straighforward words i.e. hour, freight) are sometimes translated correctly, more complicated words or combinations of words (i.e.hour glass, freight train) are almost always translated incorrectly.

[toontra]

I use it regularly for UK Books & UK Music channels. It also used to have a great weather channel but that doesn't work any more.

I used to be a Watson user, but with these Sherlock 3rd-party channels I nowadays never open it.

[chrisspea]

I have only used it for movie times, but for some reason the cinema closest to me (a five minute walk) doesn't show on their list.

Other than that, I always have a browser open so Google is right there.

[Counterfit]

Of course you realize that its results are very poor indeed!? While straighforward words i.e. hour, freight) are sometimes translated correctly, more complicated words or combinations of words (i.e.hour glass, freight train) are almost always translated incorrectly. Well go blame SystranSoft then :p

[dstorey]

I only really use the dictionary and translation. The latter is useful to understand what the hell the chinese are talking about in our MSN meetings. It's usually good enough to get the just of it. The russian seems quite good too.

The whole thing needs updating though. With all the research and pushing into web services at the moment, I see it as a useful webservices application once they become more mainstream. Apple even shows sherlock in its web objects pages for web services. The interface really needs updating though....the search field even breaks Apples user interface guidlines amnd sticks out like a sore thumb. Surely it should be changed to a text field with rounded corners. To be truely useful for me, the movies and phone book need to be localised. I can use the phone boiok to look up my american friends numbers but then i already know them so that would be pointless ;)

[cyberddot]

Yes, for dictionary and translation services (Spanish) - though my friend's in Spain make fun of my translations, so I make sure to blame it on the service. I find the dictionary very useful - nice thesaurus service and very complete definitions.

I would agree that the rest of the app is kind of cumbersome. I Google my searches for many of the other services offered (internet, yellowpages, travel and even Applecare) while using Safari. Now iTunes carries movie previews or trailers (I don't have network/cable TV to help me find out what's in the theaters). I use an online ticketing service to check for movies in my small town(s) along the coast because Sherlock doesn't find theaters within a 50 mile radius (though there are 4 listed by Fandango)

[kylos]

Movies, translations, and maps. When I'm looking for something on ebay, sherlock is easier to use than the ebay site.

[stcanard]

Okay, maybe somebody can help me and tell me what sherlock is actually for?

I took a quick look at it, and it seemed like it wanted to push a lot of news to me that I could get easier elsewhere, and any of the features like movies were US based only.

Is there any reason why somebody based outside of the US would want to use it instead of just going to google directly?

[Fuchal]

I do use Watson occasionally... and since all Sherlock is is a poor, crippled Watson ripoff, there's no real need to use Sherlock.

[kasei]

I use it quite a bit to check movie times, ebay listings and the dictionary is really handy. The best feature allows you to track flights. I use it to check flight schedules and arrival times. I think that is the best feature on Sherlock.

[ecche]

Well go blame SystranSoft then :p


Not really! I think I should blame Apple for using something as silly as this SystranSoft rubbish in one of their products. It's like a Porsche car with Lada parts. Want one?

[Awimoway]

Not really! I think I should blame Apple for using something as silly as this SystranSoft rubbish in one of their products. It's like a Porsche car with Lada parts. Want one?

Can you recommend a better translation service?

[applemacdude]

Where is the translation feature in Sherlock?

[Sayer]

If Apple could safely/securely integrate One-click purchasing for movie tickets and/or airline ticket purchasing, and maybe add concert tickets then I would definitely use it a lot more.

As it is right now I can get the same thing from a newspaper (movies) or specific airline web pages or even travel agencies (flights).

Concert tickets may eventually be added to the iTunes Music Store, but still I'd like to see something like purchasing options via Sherlock (it's pretty obvious the first time you find a movie listing you wish you could just buy a ticket right then).

Or maybe have a button to send the movie/flight info to iCal?

Sherlock goes pretty far and just abruptly stops.

Perhaps "Sherlock" will eventually be folded into a new Safari? Who knows, Apple never reveals future plans and leaves its customers twisting in the wind time and time again or lamenting a great idea that was killed or left to die (Ink anyone?).

[mkrishnan]

Where is the translation feature in Sherlock?

Ummm...you click on the button marked "Translation" in the row of icons at the top. And then you get two boxes, for in and out, and a combo box to choose the languages from. See:

It works, albeit not perfectly.... ;)

[Coolvirus007]

As some have mentioned, its useful when your in school. I use the translator and dictionary almost every day.