[David Dunham]

Ambrosia Software, Inc., is looking for beta testers for the next generation of its MacOS X audio recording utility WireTap Pro, called WireTap Studio.

We've completely retooled WireTap over the past year or so. Of course we've added the obvious things, like per-application recording, added Audio Unit support, etc., but we've also done some extremely interesting things with the product that go well above and beyond "feature parity".

We're looking for beta testers who might be interested in participating in the beta test for WireTap Studio. Ideally, you'd be someone who often records audio, whether from other applications, or from various audio input sources, streaming audio, etc., or someone who creates content (such as podcasters).

You'd need to be willing to subscribe to the beta email list, download new builds of the product, and give us your input to help shape the product as well as make it bullet-proof.

Of course every tester who participates to the end of the test will get a free copy of the software.

If you're interested, and are running MacOS X 10.3.9 or later, please send an email:

Subject: WireTap Studio beta test
To: david@AmbrosiaSW.com

...and include your name, as well as what you might use WireTap Studio for. People with funky audio setups are especially welcome.

Keep in mind, due to space limitations, not everyone who applies will be able to join the beta test.

Thanks for your time.

[pendragon]

David,

Thanks to all at Ambrosia for advising re the forthcoming update. Indeed it is appreciated. Really. The improvements you have mentioned will be most welcome. As it is, I fear there are many who find the competition's product (Audio Hijack) to be a superior and a better value.

While I do not qualify as Beta Tester, I do hope you will have a forum to entertain suggested improvements from casual/non-expert users. In my case, I was advised, back in 1.1.0 days, that "Calling Home" would be removed in future updaters (as we know, this didn't happen).

All I suggest, is that you give your loyal customers (like me) an opportunity to express their thoughts, and not just limit your improvements to feedback & comments from beta testers.

[David Dunham]

Please do send us your feedback!

You can send it to the email listed above and it will come directly to my desk.

When you refer to the phone home behavior, are you referring to WTP contacting the Ambrosia Servers on startup?

If so, it's a version check - WTP checks to see if a newer version is available on our site. If there is, it will put up a dialog indicating so. That dialog will also have the option to "not show that dialog again". Check that option, and WTP will no longer do the version check.

However, I do think moving that option into the general pane of the preferences would be more user friendly.

[pendragon]

Thanks for your prompt reply David.

Your comment about putting the version check (call home) in the general pane of the preferences would indeed be appreciated.

FWIW: In my case, I never knew it could be disabled because when the call was first initiated, I instructed Little Snitch to deny all such calls. How/if this applies to others, I dunno.

And finally, if you're really interested in feedback, perhaps a post or open letter soliciting reader/user comments & suggestions to MacFixIt, MacWorld, and other popular/frequented Mac sites (including Blogs such as TUAW) will net some valuable ideas. No doubt, many remarks will be stupid or mean-spirited, but there may also be a few pearls as well.

Best regards-

[David Dunham]

Hello-
You're very welcome. We're hoping to get enough feedback from the testers and our customers that we won't have to post such a request. We have a pretty good idea how WTP is used, and how it could be used from the feedback so far.

That said, it is a good idea to ask for general input in a more open forum, but I don't know that my skin is thick enough!

Take it easy...

[David Dunham]

Ambrosia Software would like to thank everyone who responded to our request for testers.

We've been able to fill out the beta team with some experienced and knowledgeable testers thanks to forums like this one on MacNN.

As such we will not be needing any new testers for this beta.

We would still love to hear your feedback on the current version of WireTap Pro, both good and bad - I can be reached at david@AmbrosiaSW.com.

Thanks again!