h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I bought a digital voice recorder (Olympus WS-311M) The package said it would work with my Mac but the booklet only has directions for Windows Media Player.

When I plug it into the USB port on my Mac, the recorder is identified and I can import the files. I can't figure out how to listen to them. What app do I need?

The recorder also works as an mp3 player but I can't figure out how to work it with iTunes.

Any suggestions?

What happens if you double-click on the files?

I get a window that says 'There is no default Application' It's the same window that I get when I try to open some email attachments. Then I click 'Choose application', My list of Apps comes up but none of them are appropriate.

FAQ for WS-311M: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_support_faqs.asp?id=1308 Can the WS-311M be used on a Macintosh computer? "The WS-311M can be used on a Macintosh computer that has Windows Media Player for Mac installed. Windows Media Player for Mac can be downloaded for free at Microsoft's web site. The WS-311M is not compatible with iTunes. If the files are opened using iTunes, the files will become corrupted and rendered unplayable." Both Windows Media Player (which hasn't been updated for years) and the probably better solution Flip4Mac (a plugin making it possible for QuickTime to play the files) can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/flip4mac.mspx How are CD music tracks imported into the WS-311M using a Macintosh computer? "To create music files that can be imported into a WS-311M, the CD tracks must be ripped into the iTunes music library as mp3 files and dragged and dropped into the WS-311M. The following procedure details each step: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_support_faqs.asp?id=1308#9" Notice: must be standard mp3 files, not Apples AAC files.

Thanks, Ottox, I'll try that and let you know how it turns out.

I downloaded the Flip4Mac (free version) and so far I can listen to the files but I can't copy them to my computer. I'll keep trying but it may be all that the free version does. They sell increasingly sophisticated and corespondingly expensive versions.

By the way, is there a keyboard command in OSX where I can highlight a word in a text and spell check it?

Hi Tumsup

Flip4Mac allows Quicktime to play Windoze media files. To be able to save what QT is playing requires Quicktime Pro. Apple will sell you a code to upgrade QT to Pro.

Keyboard shortcuts are software dependent on the Mac although there is a large amount of consistency across packages, especially where the command is Finder-based such as the Quit, Open, Close Window, Copy, Paste and many more commands. The Help or Spotlight menus are useful and in Word, for example, you can customise keyboard shortcuts.

t.

Thanks turvy

I can spell check as I type and other wise check my own stuff. Since I'm not sure of my own spelling, things that others have written sometimes look odd to me and I'm not sure if it's me and I should learn from them or if it's them. Right now, what I do is copy and paste the word to the dictionary on my Dashboard .This takes some effort, I wish there was an easier way. Like a shift/option/D or something.

Someday they will make a pen that I can scan a word with while I'm reading then stick in my ear to hear the pronunciation.

http://www.eurocosm.com/Application/Products/Wizcom/suppen1vGB.asp

Thanks Peet

I've seen variations on these for a few years now.

There are readers for the blind, I want something like that but miniaturized in a pocket sized thing and with a dictionary.

Also a pony for Christmas

You should be able to just drag the files from the player to anywhere on your hard drive, there's no reason to go through Flip4Mac/Quicktime to save them. You only need to do that if you want to save them into a different audio format.

As for the dictionary, simply put your mouse over any word - no need to select it - and hold down control-command-d. It doesn't work in every application (for instance, it works in Safari but not in Firefox), but it is really handy when it does work. And it's not spell-check, just dictionary. If you want a more useful, works-all-the-time with convenient keyboard shortcuts spellcheck, take a look at SpellCatcher - http://www.rainmakerinc.com/ I used it for years and used to highly recommend it, but I find it less necessary now.

>>simply put your mouse over any word - no need to select it - and hold down control-command-d.<<

thank you thank you

It works! Just (almost) what I wanted. Better than a pony for Christmas.

btw, I was able to drag the files into my machine, I just couldn't figure out how to play them from there.

That's where Flip4Mac comes in, you should just need to double-click them and it does the rest, regardless of whether they are on the Mac's hard drive or your USB recorder. But if that's not happening, Flip4Mac comes with something called "WMV Player" - try dropping the files on that, or do a "File --> Get Info" on one of the files and change the "open with" to WMV Player, then click "change all".

Hi everyone

Have been reading this with some interest as I bought a voice recorder a little while ago and have been having similar problems. Funnily enough it is an Olympus as well. it is the VN-3500PC model. the documentation I have with it says that it is compatible for 10.2 through to 10.5 but when I plug it in, the disk doesn't show up. I've scoured olympus' site for drivers but to no avail. Have also downloaded flip4mac on your recommendation but with no luck. Any ideas?

http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/2581_digital_recorder_vn-3500pc__-_specs_19893.htm

Kaz