Synergy v1.0a7 Released - A tiny, full-featured OS X iTunes ...

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MacBytes

macrumors bot

Original poster

• Mar 9, 2004

• #1

Category: 3rd Party Software
Link: Synergy v1.0a7 Released - A tiny, full-featured OS X iTunes remote control
Posted on MacBytes.com

Approved by Mudbug

 

Mudbug

Administrator emeritus

• Mar 9, 2004

• #2

it being an alpha release (by the version number) I'd use this at your own risk, but I like the idea of having controller buttons for iTunes in the menu bar.

 

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Turias

macrumors newbie

• Mar 9, 2004

• #3

Has it gotten any better with CPU usage? It used to continuously hog 10% of my 400 MHz G4 processor.

 

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odditie

macrumors 6502

• Mar 9, 2004

• #4

I have it, just bought it yesterday actually (but used it for the 7 day trial first) and I'd have to say it's ten times better then any other program I've seen that does the same thing.

I don't know how it would preform on an older computer, I'm lucky enough to be on the 1.33GHz G4 Powerbook, so I don't see any problems when running it.

It does have a few bugs, if your iTunes is currently in the music store browsing, it won't allow you to continue playing songs, and sometimes it can act goofy, but besides those minor issues I have been totally sold on it.

Chris

 

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innervision

macrumors member

• Mar 9, 2004

• #5

Mudbug said:

it being an alpha release (by the version number) I'd use this at your own risk, but I like the idea of having controller buttons for iTunes in the menu bar.

Click to expand...

i've been using it for about six months now with no real problems... i love being able to switch songs with a keystroke/combination 😀

 

Daveman Deluxe

macrumors 68000

• Mar 9, 2004

• #6

I've been using it on my iBook 700, and it's really good. It doesn't hog too much CPU (~1% when iTunes is open, spikes above 10% when tracks change or when clicking a button) and is a great method of collecting all of the most important functions of iTunes. I especially love the ability to change the playlist right in the drop down menu.

 

nagromme

macrumors G5

• Mar 9, 2004

• #7

PTHiTunesNotifier workarounds

Always good to have new options! I've been happy with PTHiTunesNotifier myself--very customizable, with nifty animated overlays that pop up for a moment to announce each song.

In Panther, though, there's no visible effect when you right-click to get to the PTH app's menus. Not a killer problem: there are only two you need. Right-click, then hit Command-Comma for prefs, or Command-Q to quit. (In Panther, you must sometimes Quit it to stop iTunes from re-launching once you quit iTunes. iTunes doesn't launch the first time without you wanting it to, though--so again, not a killer for me. Hey, it's free!)

 

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big duane

macrumors newbie

• Mar 9, 2004

• #8

i love this program, use it everyday.

 

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sjk

macrumors 6502a

• Mar 9, 2004

• #9

Mudbug said:

... I like the idea of having controller buttons for iTunes in the menu bar.

Click to expand...

Might be nice with a larger display but the menu bar on my 1024x768 iBook display has long been overcrowded (especially after installing Menu Meters, which I can't make any smaller for the functionality I want) so anything that says "menu bar" (unless its use is optional, like Synergy's) quickly loses my attention.

I'd pay for a utility that added a second menu bar (or "control strip") for using third party menulets and menu extras. I'd write one myself if I had enough programming experience (if it's even possible; would it have to be a haxie?) and I bet a couple people would pony up ~$7 for it.

 

nagromme

macrumors G5

• Mar 9, 2004

• #10

If you like what you've got filling your menu bar, you might like an iTunes controller in the Dock. I'm sure there are some out there. (In fact, iTunes itself allows remote control--even rating changes--from its Dock icon. Click and hold or right-click it.)

 

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sjk

macrumors 6502a

• Mar 9, 2004

• #11

nagromme said:

If you like what you've got filling your menu bar

Click to expand...

I do, and it's as rearranged and space-optimized as it's gonna get. I'll have more fun with it once I have a large display on a desktop system (c'mon Apple, you know what I want 🙂).

(In fact, iTunes itself allows remote control--even rating changes--from its Dock icon. Click and hold or right-click it.)

Click to expand...

Yep, and that's really all I've needed until now.

At least all Dock icons stay visible much more often than menu bar icons. So even with its faults I'm not a Dock hater. The menu bar is easily more crippled on a small display... a rather obvious and unresolved UI blunder, IMO.