Dimitri’s Incredible Mac Application!
Sunday, October 22nd, 2006Are you a Mac user? Do you listen to JapanesePod101.com? If you answered ‘yes’ to both questions then you are in for a real special treat! Our young friend and talented programmer, Dimitri from Los Angeles, has just launched beta version 1.2 of his JapanesePod101.com super-duper application (see screenshot below). Using our RSS feed, his incredible application enables end users to quickly browse, search, sort, listen, and watch our daily podcasts and videocasts using one convenient tool. You can even see the romaji as you hear each lesson!
Anyone interested in beta-testing the application can get started on Dimitri’s website where they can download it, see screenshots, and read frequently asked questions.
Please direct all technical questions, issues, bugs, and feedback to Dimitri at dimitri008@mac.com (please indicate [JP101 Beta Testing] in the subject line of your email). We too at JapanesePod101.com would love to hear your feedback about the application.
On behalf of eveyone here at JapanesePod101.com, I would like to thank Dimitri for all his hard work in putting together this extraodinary application.
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
- Eran
Posted by JapanesePod101.com in Community Spotlight |
October 22nd, 2006 at 3:29 pm
Awesome. Thank you
October 22nd, 2006 at 3:46 pm
Two Thoughts:
1. Looks really nice, but a Windows version would also be very handy.
2. It may be a good idea to make the application Open Source so that the rest of the community here can develop the application further and further.
Yorishiku Onegaishimasu.
October 22nd, 2006 at 5:24 pm
OSUser—> I agree with you^^ I am on a Windows machine and a linux machine but not mac
October 22nd, 2006 at 6:06 pm
C’mon guys,
Someone makes a great piece of software (for the superior platform, btw
), and you guys are whining that he didn’t also make a Windoze version. 
If you really want one, make it yourself!
Excellent work Dimitri!!! You rock!
October 22nd, 2006 at 6:43 pm
Thanks Daniel for supporting me!
(btw, I don’t have a PC at home, so I can’t really make a windows version̷
October 22nd, 2006 at 7:55 pm
Which language is it written in Dimtri?
October 22nd, 2006 at 8:12 pm
It’s written in Objective-C.
October 22nd, 2006 at 9:27 pm
Not cool, Daniel Beck-san. What’s wrong with requesting a version of a good piece of software for your platform? Telling others to write one on their own is just quite rude.
If it is written in Objective-C/Aqua, then it will likely have zero chance of seeing daylights on windows. The effort will likely double for Dimitri-san to do so.
Wish I could help, but I have neither the time nor the PC to do so too.
October 22nd, 2006 at 10:04 pm
It’s not rude. Dimitri wrote a program as a service. He doesn’t owe anyone anything here. But, when he does write this nice program, people start telling him what he should have done?
October 22nd, 2006 at 11:36 pm
Gentlemen, Gentlemen,
Please set this aside. It is distracting from Dimitri’s contribution.
Dimitriさん、
ありがとうございます。
ジョン
October 23rd, 2006 at 5:41 am
Maybe I should get him a Dell
October 23rd, 2006 at 6:05 am
BTW, great choice of screen shot with Brody there.
October 23rd, 2006 at 7:10 am
lol
I never though I would create such commotion just by making an application…
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:00 am
Ok, I’m done with Beta 1.3 :smile:. I added two new features: Preferences and Kanji/Kana Close-Up.
The Preferences include options to download episodes, refresh on start-up etc… and the Kanji/Kana Close-up shows the kanji/kana that is under your mouse in big! Just click to transcript to activate.
Also, I fixed an issue where the previous episode would not stop if you started a new one.
Enjoy!
Download Beta 1.3: http://web.mac.com/dimitri008/iWeb/JapanesePod101/
Screen-Shots: http://web.mac.com/dimitri008/iWeb/JapanesePod101/Screen%20Shots.html
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:43 am
A direct port might be difficult, but it doesn’t seem too difficult to do in .NET. The big issue would probably be having an embedded Quicktime player. I might look into what I can do about that.
October 23rd, 2006 at 9:48 pm
Since there seemed to be interest, I’ve put together a Windows proggie that is working towards doing the same things as Dimitri’s is doing. I don’t know how many Windows users there are among ya’ll, but I know at least Eran uses a PC. This is an ALPHA version. It implements a lot of the basic stuff as Dimitri’s does, but there’s still a lot of features not implemented yet. You can browse all the lessons. If you click on a lesson, it loads the audio/video in one pane, and the website for that lesson in the embedded web browser.
Things that don’t work/aren’t implemented yet but hopefully will be in the near future:
-lesson notes
-file duration
-saving window and pane sizes
-the options dialog
-keeping track of played/unplayed lessons
-sorting
-searching (not looking forward to this one̷
-customizing the view
Though it’s been stable with me so far, this is a “use at your own risk” kind of thing. You’ll need Microsoft’s .NET Framework 2.0, which the installer should take care of if you don’t have it.
http://www.fresh-hope.com/jason/JapanesePod101_Setup.zip
October 24th, 2006 at 1:35 am
Jason-san,
Wow! This is an incredible start and yet another true testament to how amazingly talented and gracious you are to the JapanesePod101.com community. In case anyone is wondering here’s a breakdown of users per platform on our site:
Windows - 81%
Macintosh - 17%
Linux - 2%
- Eran
October 24th, 2006 at 1:42 am
Eranさん、
Interesting that the Mac Users are as much as 17% given that they are only 3.5% of computer users in the USA.
ジョン
October 24th, 2006 at 3:46 am
Thank You Jason-san and Eran-san
You both have give very uselful information
Jason-san I’m going to that link right away and start this Alpha version ok
S_R_C
October 24th, 2006 at 4:19 am
Sindyさん、
No one was saying you are “dumbs”.
But, saying that Windoze rules over Apple because it has a larger market share is like saying that Ford rules over BMW. The Ford will still get you where you’re going, but some of us like to travel in style.
Johnさん、
Actually, it’s not surprising that Mac users have a higher market share on a podcast than there computer market share. You’ll find that true on almost any podcast, because Mac users have been much quicker to adopt podcasting. And when it comes to those making podcasts, the percentage of Mac users is even higher. Just a little FYI.
Maybe Tech Guy will break down the percentages for us. 
October 24th, 2006 at 4:37 am
Beckさん、
I would guess you are right. It is also interesting that even though MAC is only 3.5% of the US market, iPOD is 85% of the US MP3 market. Both my daughter and I own one, but prior to this, I have never owned any Apple hardware.
In both cases （Computers and MP3 players), I think the main-stream has the advantage. Windows has a Yuge advantage of installed base and open market. This has driven down costs and caused Apple to follow the WIntel people. First MAC give up superior SCSI drives and go to the cheaper WIntel type IDE drives. Then MAC gives up and goes to the better Intel Processors. Clearly there is a big advantage in the main stream products.
On the iPOD side, I don’t think there is that much difference (anymore) between iPOD and other MP3 players. However, all the accessories are designed for iPOD because it is the main stream. You can easily connect an IPOD to a car stereo system and control it from the console. That is almost impossible with any other MP3 player. Again the advantage of being in the main stream. At least, MP3 files play on both iPOD and other players. I wish compatiblity was this good between Mac and Windows software.
じゃ また
ジョン
October 24th, 2006 at 6:06 am
Jason, If you need any of my source code / interface elements / class diagrams, just send me an email.
And btw Sindy, If it wasn’t for the creators of apple (Woz and Steve Jobs) we would neither be here right now (on the internet), let alone have a computer at home…
Now, for the sake of the comments page not being a forum, can we please stop this horrible Microsoft vs Apple thing?
October 24th, 2006 at 7:32 am
ahhhhh I knew that my comment would be erase before Daniel-san could see it JP10
But anyway ok Dimitri Bouniol congratulations once again my friend, I disagree with you but Love and peace ok! mina-san 
S_R_C
October 24th, 2006 at 11:20 am
Dimitri, thanks! That would be of massive help. Email will be coming shortly.
With Apple’s switch to Intels which gives us wonderful things like Bootcamp and Parallels (full speed DirectX and OpenGL support coming in the near future, btw :O), I hope this makes it easier for developers to work on this. Maybe we’ll see it improve soon.
Everybody chill with the whole “my OS is better than your OS” thing. As both a computer scientist and frequent user of Mac OS X, Windows, and (at one time) Linux, I know from firsthand experience that each platform has its unique advantages and disadvantages. There is very little you can do on one platform that you can’t do on the others given proper software and hardware support. If you prefer one to the others, that’s fine. I’m starting to heavily prefer OS X myself. But to tout one as being wholely superior to the others (and indirectly by association touting yourself to be “superior” since you use the “superior” platform) is ignorant (note: ignorant, *not* stupid or dumb), elitist, and downright silly. But worst of all it’s completely non-productive. There’re plenty of worthwhile topics to strongly argue over. “My OS is better than your OS” is not one of them.
October 24th, 2006 at 8:46 pm
Jasonさん、The voice of reason. Thanks man. ジョン
October 25th, 2006 at 2:54 am
October 25th, 2006 at 4:33 am
No thanks.
October 25th, 2006 at 4:34 am
けっこうだよ。いらん
October 25th, 2006 at 10:23 am
Here are a couple of things I forgot:
1) my proggie requires Quicktime 7.
2) A screenshot of ALPHA 0.0.1 (running in Parallels :razz:):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/jason42/JPod101.png
Is the picture in the about box cut off like that for anyone else? It looked fine when I ran it booted into XP.
October 25th, 2006 at 9:30 pm
Jason-san,
The image is cut off for me, as well. I am running XP here. Also, I would suggest not auto-playing the media when you click on a lesson - clicking around caused quite a few errors on my machine. Very good start! Looking forward to the development
October 26th, 2006 at 12:17 am
ALPHA 0.0.2 has been uploaded. Please uninstall the old version first. You should also delete the jpod101.rss file that’s in the program folder (by default, C:\Program Files\JKC Software\JapanesePod101). Here’s what’s new:
-sorting (a little buggy, but it works most of the time)
-list view filters
-lesson notes and file duration
-various minor improvements
http://www.fresh-hope.com/jason/JapanesePod101_Setup.zip
Here’s a screenshot:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/jason42/JPod101_002.png
October 26th, 2006 at 3:47 am
October 28th, 2006 at 2:35 am
Version ALPHA 0.0.3 is now up. Hopefully this version should be much more stable. Here’s what’s new/different:
-audio/video files no longer autoplay and the webpage for the lesson no longer automatically loads. To load these, either double click the lesson, select the lesson and either (1) hit enter; (2) click the Load button; (3) right click and chose Load; or (4) chose File\Load.
-right clicking most anywhere in the app gives you a handy menu to quickly perform some common tasks
-All and None buttons to quickly show or hide all lessons types
-view filtering should be a little faster when hiding categories
-internal code cleanup that I hope didn’t break anything
http://www.fresh-hope.com/jason/JapanesePod101_Setup.zip
Screenshot:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/jason42/JPod101_003.png
October 28th, 2006 at 1:50 pm
Beta 1.4 is finally done!
It allows you to actually go to JapanesePod101.com without leaving the app!
Enjoy!
More Info: http://web.mac.com/dimitri008/iWeb/BiasedMacUser/Blog/121486A8-6945-4393-950F-2F32DDD86F6E.html
Download Beta 1.4: http://web.mac.com/dimitri008/iWeb/JapanesePod101/
Screen Shots: http://web.mac.com/dimitri008/iWeb/JapanesePod101/Screen%20Shots.html
Also, next week, every saturday, I’m going to release a small newsletter that addresses common issues, gives tips etc to those interested. Please email (dimitri008@mac.com) me if you are.
If anyone has any feedback/suggestions/comments/whatever on the betas, please send me an email, or post a comment on this page!
October 28th, 2006 at 6:08 pm
ALPHA 0.0.4 is ready to go. The only thing new in this version is an options dialog will actual working options. :O See the screenshot of the dialog box:
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/5584/jpod101004ad5.png
http://www.fresh-hope.com/jason/JapanesePod101_Setup.zip
October 28th, 2006 at 7:41 pm
I just uploaded a small bugfix. If you downloaded and installed ALPHA 0.0.4 before now, please redownload and install it. Sorry about that.
November 11th, 2006 at 12:44 am
Dimitri and Jason,
Just a quick note to say thanks. You guys are awesome. I think I can speak for EVERYONE to say that we really appreciate the work that you’ve done (and continue to do) to help make JapanesePod101.com the best language site on the internet.
Keep up the great work!
Gadgetfreak
November 12th, 2006 at 7:36 am
Hi Jason,
I just downloaded your software for the PC. It works well (very similar to Dimitri’s program). Just one thing. I noticed that there’s no way to see all of the other previous downloads. Am I missing something?
Thanks,
Gadgetfreak
November 12th, 2006 at 7:51 am
Thanks for trying it out.
I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you mean by “previous downloads”, though.
November 12th, 2006 at 8:00 am
Do you have an e-mail address or MSN name? It might be easier that way.
Anyway, I meant that I can’t see ‘all’ of the lessons using the program. Only the most recent one.
Thanks.
November 12th, 2006 at 8:43 am
You can contact me at jpod’s regular address (contactus@japanesepod101.com). That’s strange. Could you email me a screenshot of that, please?
November 18th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
ALPHA 0.0.5 is up. As always, please uninstall your old version first.
Recent changes to the lesson feed means that older versions will no longer work and will crash on refresh (special thanks to Gadgetfreak for the error report :mrgreen:). Other changes include view filter support for the new lesson types and some minor cosmetic cleanup. Links to the setup program and screenshot follow:
http://www.fresh-hope.com/jason/JapanesePod101_Setup.zip
http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jpod101005iy3.png
November 19th, 2006 at 9:05 am
It works! It works! It works!
Thanks!
Good work Jason!
November 29th, 2006 at 10:36 am
ALPHA 0.0.6 is ready, and it’s a BIG update from 0.0.5. As always, please uninstall the old version first. Link to the installer and screenshot are below.
-minor interface improvements
–the web browser now has navigation controls. I’m aware they cut the top of the browser off. I’m working on that.
–I realize all the button in the “Load, Open, etc…” are all the same. I haven’t gotten around to making new ones yet.
-added the option to turn automatically loading the lesson website in the embedded web browser on and off
-File downloading:
–there’s an option to automatically download a lesson when you load it. Even if you turn this off, you can still download files manually
–added the option to choose where you want to save the files. This defaults to a folder called “media” in the program directory. Unless you’ve already got a directory where you’ve downloaded the podcasts from the site to your computer, I suggest you leave this alone. If you have a directory where you already have the files downloaded to (ie. if you downloaded them from the site directly or through bittorrent), you can set the download directory to that folder and it’ll use those files. HOWEVER, in order for the program to see them, those files MUST be named in the format that the direct download links and torrents from the site are named NOT the way iTunes renames them (for example, 324_LI4_112806_jpod101.mp3 for lower intermediate lesson 4). The files also have to be all in this one directory.
—if a file exists in your download directory, the program will play from that copy. Otherwise it’ll stream from the server.
–there’s a new Downloads tab to keep track of your download queue. Files added to the queue are downloaded in the background. The number in () shows how many files are in your queue. If you cancel a file in mid-download, it will be deleted. Unfortunately, pausing and resuming is not supported.
—only one file in your queue can be downloaded at a time. When the latest one finishes, the next one will automatically start.
—when a file finishes downloading, it’s automatically removed from the queue.
http://www.fresh-hope.com/jason/JapanesePod101_Setup.zip
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/1124/jpod101006pr2.png
I am by no means an artist, so if anyone wants to help make button icons and whatnot I’d would really appreciate it.
December 6th, 2006 at 1:54 am
I just realized that 0.0.6 broke some things, like the lesson notes. Here’s the fixed version:
http://www.fresh-hope.com/jason/JapanesePod101_Setup.zip
December 18th, 2006 at 6:09 am
Sorry about the late update, but Beta 1.5 of the mac version is finished!
!
A summary of the changes can be found on the latest newsletter:
Latest Newsletter
If you would like to get those newsletters by email, just contact me directly at dimitri008@mac.com
To download it the application, please visit my website
Click here to see screen shots of the new version.
If you have any questions or feature requests, please email me ASAP because I’m planning to release it very very soon
Enjoy!
December 30th, 2006 at 8:52 am
Hello everyone,
Just posting to let everyone know that the Mac version of the JapanesePod101 App will be released on New Years (around 12 AM PST time). You can download it at my website on the 1st of Jan.
I also made a short trailer: http://web.mac.com/dimitri008/iWeb/JapanesePod101/Trailer_files/App_Trailer.mov
Enjoy!
January 1st, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Happy New Years!
Just posting to let everyone know that I just released version 1.0 of the app for the Mac OS (finally, no more betas!).
Looking back, I have been working on this project for 6 months, and considering that this is my first real application, I am very proud of myself. I would like to thank everyone here (especially Peter and Eran :win
for supporting me. It was that support that kept me going, and it was the first real support I ever got in my entire life! So once again, thank you very much, and I hope you will all look forward to version 2 (scheduled for this summer)!
Download
February 8th, 2007 at 7:38 am
Nice work you two!
June 3rd, 2007 at 4:09 pm
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