Feb 19
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Meander – Map MaximizerNormally: $19.99 ZOT Price: $9.97 |
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Meander plots points, plans routes and measures distances using any map, including maps you’ve scanned or those you’ve found on the web. Save your routes for later. Export or print and share them with others. Meander includes these Key Features:
Requires Mac OS 10.2 and Later. For more info, go to http://meander.macpaq.com/ |
February 20th, 2007 at 5:39 am
I recommend Trail Runner. It’s free (donationware for now), and has considerably more features. Check it out http://trailrunnerx.com/.
February 20th, 2007 at 6:34 am
I really like the way this captures the image beneath it (fantastic idea), and it worked quite well when I last tried it. Some people will find it useful, I honestly didn’t.
That said, Meander is rather shockingly easy to use. For someone who doesn’t want to futz with all the details, it’s probably ideal.
February 20th, 2007 at 8:33 am
I recommend that those who reference other apps, versus the current MacZOT, respectfully refrain from commenting. It is much like being invited to someone’s residence, and then telling them you do not like their decor—complete, and utter lack of manners.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:40 am
@F451 – I don’t think that’s a fair analogy. I have found great apps through the comments, but more often have decided to go for the ZOTTED app anyway. I prefer that commenters (commentators?) are honest and say if they think there is a better alternative.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:30 am
I’m torn. I sort of agree with F451, but the fact is that the ZOT! community doesn’t have forums for us to converse with each other. This comments area is really the only place where we can advise each other. I have been seriously contemplating this purchase all day, but was waiting (hoping) for some comments to be posted. Just because an applications is free/donationware/cheaper than the ZOT! doesn’t mean I’ll go for it. It’s hard enough to evaluate an application in the allotted time in order to make a purchase decision; scouring MU/VT/iusethis etc. for comparable alternatives to evaluate at the same time is much harder. Thus, I appreciate when plausible alternatives are presented here so that I can make an informed decision.
No offence meant, F451. If we had a forum where we could congregate and have such discussions without being “rude” to the developer kind enough to participate in macZOT!, I would agree that posting alternatives here is bad form.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:53 am
So ya, I tried both, and they appeared to me (in my limited trial of them) to be completely different applications. Meander’s clear acetate and snapshot tools are really cool!
Unfortunately, I realised that *for my purpose*, neither one is as simple as going to Google Maps and typing (location a) to (location b) to plan a route. Others who require more (such as running/hiking/biking trails) may definitely find a lot to like about either application.
Tho’ I decided not to purchase today, I still want to thank Brian and Meander’s developer for this cool ZOT!. I probably never would’ve come across something like this on my own.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
justG,
A MacZOT forum is a great idea!
Jan ,
When the very first comment is to direct you elsewhere…well…that’s just not right, is it?
February 20th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I love comments… especially, when they are controversial and based on user experience. I’ve already pumped loads of money into shareware that had no support, was crap, or where a better alternative existed. Also, at the end of the day, there’s Versiontracker and MacUpdate… so, posting negative comments here doesn’t limit the chances of selling the app, it just helps potential buyers who otherwise would have to swing over to VT and MU.
February 20th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
gryphonent,
To a degree, I agree, but I also disagree, but having been around probably longer than most here, I have also seen a degradation in how the dissemination of information is done these days—and it is not for the better. Unfortunately, this media known as the internet, along with most the of the rubbish produced for television, has more disinformation than substantiated information.
I wonder how people here would act if we were all face-to-face with the developer presenting their software directly to us?
February 20th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Silly me, I was thinking this Comment area was for Comments. I’m not sure where I’d have gotten that impression…
I guess it is also considered silly to be an informed consumer. Instead of seeing what’s available, we should all look at the shiny object of the day and purchased without thought. Why in the world would comparison, or recommendations be a useful thing? Money is going on trees these days, is it not?
As for being face-to-face? “Have you seen Cool App X? It’s got some interesting takes on the way things are done”, “Have you considered adding feature Y”, “It’s nice, but doesn’t quite fit my needs”, “That other app seems to be a superset of your own, I bet you’re losing some sales due to it”.
The type of retailer I admire most (macZOT included) is the kind that allows open and free discussion, even if said discussion may hurt sales. I see plenty of online retailers allowing products to be rated and commented on and see plenty of “Stay away”, “Don’t waste your money”, “Great Buy” comments (there’s that illplaced word again). Nothing I said was nearly as detremental as other comments may have been. I didn’t say another app was better, worse, or otherwise, I merely stated that I recommend one over the other, which is a fair statement having tried them both.
Suck it up.
February 20th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Rob,
My take is completely different as the developers’ here chose to give us an opportunity to purchase their software at discounted prices. I have already made my rounds to various other sites MU, VT, et al, to see what others think, and their comments. I then choose to purchase or not. In return for the discount—should I choose to purchase or already own—I typically leave a good response, or not. But, what I do not do is reference others by name out of respect for the discount (I do not like doing this in my reviews at VT or MU either). However, the world is indeed changing and I guest it is applicable for someone to tell you that you that you could have done better with your spouse or significant other because you could have gotten someone better, prettier, smarter. I mean, there are other fish in the sea, right? I guess you should have shopped around a bit more…chosen something more than the subset you are stuck with? Oh well, suck it up as you say.
February 20th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
I recommend you review timelines. There’s a distinct difference between a recommendation before and after a purchase. Apart from that, I’d gladly here a “She’s awfully nice, but do you think she’s quite right” comment, or to be more accurate with my original comment “Hi, have you met my friend Jane? She’s really nice.”
Analogies work best when they are accurate, quit trying to blow stuff out of proportion and you may have a better time convincing someone of your point (or not, when your point is particularly weak).
You could also give my 99% off a piece of crap, I’m still willing to call it a piece of crap. I’ll call a spade a spade no matter how ‘gracious’ someone is. Now before you bust a nut, I’ll be clear and state that in no way am I saying that this piece of software is a piece of crap, I never stated anything like it.
Boy it’s getting tough to be a straight-shooter.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:29 am
I appreciate when users give alternatives to the current MacZot. I don’t think it’s inappropriate at all to advise fellow Zot’ers on their experience with an application–good or bad. It’s one of the reasons I come to MacZot on a daily basis. Sometimes the current Zot doesn’t do it for me but user comments point me towards something really useful.
Why are comments off for FileChute? I love that application!
February 21st, 2007 at 5:33 am
In reference to today’s ZOT! (FileChute):
Dear macZOT!, if you don’t like what people are saying in the comments section, disallowing them is not the way to react. What the action does do quite effectively, though, is ensure that I won’t be purchasing the day’s ZOT!. Here’s hoping that it was just an option that was accidentally ticked upon posting today’s entry, rather than a passive-aggressive attempt to stifle discussion. I’d rather give macZOT! the benefit of the doubt because I love that it exists. But no comments the day after some debate on the comments area is… hm.. highly suspect. =]
February 21st, 2007 at 5:49 am
Ridiculous, I’d say if there was a connection between someone bitching that we’re offered a comparison and closing comments today it is completely dumb.
Like has been stated before, we are consumers and should be able to make comparisons and help each other. This is a competitive market – if I was a developer and was so thin-skinned to not think my product competes with similar products and not want people to make comparisons, I’d be in the wrong business and give up.
I’d say suck it up and compete by making a product that can stand up to comparison, but it wasn’t the developer that was griping :) So I think other users can ignore the comparisons if they don’t like them and smart consumers can use the information. Sound like a deal?
February 21st, 2007 at 9:46 am
Why are comments off for FileChute??
February 21st, 2007 at 11:34 am
So I go into Best Buy and some guy has a router in his hand, but before he buys it he asks me if it’s a good router. I tell him it’s not bad, but there is a better one available at Circuit City that costs less. He temporarily puts off his purchase and looks at alternatives.
Should Best Buy ban speaking to prevent this kind of thing from happening? Some here would say yes.
Banning speaking would indeed stop the above scenario from happening, but doing so would inferiorate and alienate customers; it wouldn’t belong before Best Buy would be closing up shop.
Let’s hope MacZot keeps a free and open discussion system available to its customers. I like getting deals on software but I’m not down with censorship or intentional silencing of the masses.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Seriously this all seems to be a non issue. We all have opinions and comments – that is why there are comments in the first place. I would say make any comment you want. If everyone disagrees then you’ll know because we’ll all say so, in the freaking comments!
If you like it tell us why… if you don’t you should share that too. Hell, the developers will also benefit from the chatter too. If we all say feature x sucks, maybe they’ll read it and fix it.
February 21st, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Suggestion for MacZot:
1. have a forum hosted at Mac-Headz or another already established forum site (so it’s a “partner” and not more usage on your own limited bandwidth).
2. Post comment rules that comments must remain on-topic (define “on-topic” explicitly, as you wish), or else they will be deleted. At the very least, this would keep the argument crap out of the comments section, and allow developers to respond directly to a commenter’s alternative suggestion.
(one man’s gold trash is another’s gold….)
3. Really encourage devs to take an active role in these comment threads…. these do turn up in internet searches, and as any of us MZ consumers can attest, a dev who cares enough about their product to discuss it in these threads is a dev worth buying software from.
So, do I get a business development consultants’ commission?
February 21st, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Oh., and regarding treailrunner:
I checked it out, but it doesn’t offer me what Meander does offer.
(ease of use, and the ability to draw a guide on near anything)
Trailrunner seems very geared to, uh, trail runners hikers and bikers, and great for those of you doing that thing with a GPs unit….
That’s an entirely different user market form me, a business user who occasionally forgets to write down mileage and doesn’t take the route suggested by Google or whoever. I could say something similar about File Chute, but whatever.
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:18 am
I was interested in Billings, but I’m also rather disappointed by the elimination of the comments section, not to mention the recent xPad fiasco.
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:58 am
Hmm… second time the comments are off. I wonder if Zot has killled our discussions? This would be VERY detrimental to the site and the community. I’m really tempted to buy Billings today… however, I’ve also been checking out iBiz and iRatchet. I’d love to discuss my options with you guys. Now, with MacZot killing democracy… IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE WHO CAN OPEN AN INDEPENDENT FORUM WHERE WE CAN GO TO RANT, CRITIC, PRAISE, AND LOVE EACH OTHER?
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:27 am
gryphonent & Eddie – I agree – I’d like to get some feedback on Billings from fellow Zotters before purchase.
C’mon ZOT – open comments!
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:08 am
Killing democracy? Hardly … its a business website. they can do whatever they want to do. Get over it people.
I would like to say, however, that the usefulness of maczot (to me) is gone without discussion. Often times maczot has a mediocre application up that fits what i need and then in the comments it lists applications that work better.
May i suggest that if people really care about the comments someone start a Zot forum somewhere. If its good the community will follow, just link back to the product being offered.
Hell, offer up an RSS feed of MacZot’s feed. link back to their site. put forums on your site. Its a new MacZot community site! you can pull in feeds from macupdate and such too, make it an all inclusive site.
If I had the time, I’d be tempted to set it up. Probably some good advertising money there.
February 22nd, 2007 at 6:05 am
FileChute is great. Billings is great. MacZot killing comments is not great.
MacZot is now removed from my list of daily read links. It’s been nice knowing ya MacZot. MacUpdate Promo gets my future business.
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:59 am
I would appeal to the active members of this community and inquire as to whether anyone wants to get together and work on what’s been suggested. My concern is putting in that time and effort and being shut down by the macZOT! administrators. I really don’t have that kind of time to waste, but am willing to make time if the investment of it is worthwhile. Of course, any such conflict could be avoided by not mentioning this site at all, but that’s too clandestine and sort of defeats the purpose of having a place for, specifically, the macZOT! user community to congregate.
February 22nd, 2007 at 10:23 am
*sigh* Like gryphonent, I’m really interested in Billings, and am happy about the extended ZOT! time we have to evaluate it, but there are too many similar-looking options and not enough time to evaluate them all (iBiz, On the Job, and Billable are my top 3 alternatives); I’m extremely reluctant to make such a substantial investment without some discussion with my fellow ZOT!ters. =(
February 22nd, 2007 at 10:52 am
JustG, thanks for the offer. I’m not sure I would frequent a forum that much, since very few of the apps being offered interest me, and I didn’t appreciate the whole xPad situation.
Regarding Billings, they had a discount recently while it was a beta, and I think they were also the MacUpdate promo some weeks ago.
My concern is that from what I have seen their level of support is not what it used to be, and users request can go unanswered for long periods.
I’ve used Daylite for years now, love it, and support was incredible in the past. People in their forums are quite helpful, but that’s irrelevant when it comes to asking for basic functionality not yet incorporated into their software. For examples just visit their forums. This applies to both Daylite and Billings.
I hope it’s just a momentary bump on the road for them and that they’ll be more responsive again. I’ve been a fan since Daylite first appeared, and Billings 2 is certainly a huge improvement over the previous version.
February 22nd, 2007 at 10:59 am
@ Eddie: Hey, thanks for your input, it’s appreciated!
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:21 pm
@Eddie: thanks for the insight.
this is why macZOT comments have been highly useful in the past and have GREATLY influenced my purchasing decisions. free trials are great, but nothing beats feedback from other users who have spent more time putting the software through its “paces” as well as had contact with developer support.
count me in as another macZOT user unhappy with the closure of the comments section. and please pardon me for hijacking the Meander thread to voice this.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Take it from Guy Kawasaki, comments are good to have:
http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/02/a_comment_on_co.html
February 23rd, 2007 at 2:57 am
Mike wrote:
“Killing democracy? Hardly … its a business website. they can do whatever they want to do. Get over it people.”
Mike… Business is indeed what is killing democracy! Corporate agenda = money agenda = no time for “soft” issues like democracy and the environment. Wake up!
Mike wrote:
“May i suggest that if people really care about the comments someone start a Zot forum somewhere. If its good the community will follow, just link back to the product being offered.”
Mike… Why in the world would anyone want to do just that?
About Billings:
I own Billings. Bought it last month from MUpromo.com – and I’m happy with it. However, different tools fit different users temperament, and I can recommend thecking out iRatchet. But for me, iRat is too complex, the interface and prefs make me tired just looking at it;-) But the dev is great.
About MacZOT disabling comments:
That, and the idiotic, insensitive handling of the xPad case, makes me boyCOT macZOT!
So, I’ll now remove my MacZOT feed from Safari, and never come back. MUpromo has far higher quality applications available anyway.
I can only hope more people will just boycot MacZOT – some maybe even make competing site. It’s healthy to have more than just MUpromo left;-)
boyCOT macZOT!!!
February 23rd, 2007 at 7:53 am
While I think Oliver’s approach may be a tad extreme, I do have to agree with him. Why aren’t comments on? Is it a bug? No, because Eddie probably would have said something about it. This is an intentional embargo on information and the exchange of opinions between customers. MacZOT, are you trying to lose customers? Because you are.
MacZOT! used to be a great idea; I remember buying things from it all the time back when there were 1-5 dollar deals, and multi-software packages… hell, I remember when stuff actually sold out! I truely believe that comments, if not a forum, are an invaluable way of keeping in contact with a customer base…. above all, MacZOT is acting snooty and fussy. Listen to your consumors. We have things to say and suggestions to make. Believe me, you’ll make more profit if you keep an open mind.
February 23rd, 2007 at 11:14 am
I certainly hope that turning the comments off isn’t a request from the developers of the software sold here. I enjoy the developers that come in to address negative issues brought up in the comments. That’s a good selling point. It’d be nice to see more developers doing that. It would add a nice tough if prospective buyers knew that such a perk was here.
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Hey guys,
Here is a forum that started back when MacZot hosted a game called ColloboZOT. The program billings can be discussed here:
http://forum.mac-headz.com/showthread.php?t=900
Mac-headz
February 25th, 2007 at 2:47 am
MacZot, please explain: Why is there a “Discuss†button on the main page if comments are turned off???
February 25th, 2007 at 5:47 am
Good point. Remove the discuss link if you don’t want to be hypocritical, or open the comments. Simple.