Porthole v1.7.8, AirVLC v1.1.2 and Denied v1.3.0 are out now. I released quite a few updates the past month and forgot to write about it. So, here’s a quick overview of what I’ve been working on.

For all apps I’ve updated the update framework — if that makes sense. All updates are now deliverd securely over https, instead of just http and using the latest version of the Sparkle update framework. Let’s go into the specifics of what has changed under the hood of Porthole, AirVLC and Denied.

Porthole

• Updated the update framework.
• Switched to using HTTPS all through the app.
• Updated the project in general. Note: Porthole is now compatible with OS X 10.7 and up. Use one of the previous releases if you’re on OS X Snow Leopard.

AirVLC

• Updated the update framework.
• Switched to using HTTPS all through the update.
• Updated the project in general. Note: AirVLC is now compatible with OS X 10.7 and up. Use one of the previous releases if you’re on OS X Snow Leopard.

The updates for AirVLC and Porthole are pretty similar and mostly focus on bringing the apps into 2016. As a result both apps are now compatible with OS X 10.7, instead of OS X 10.6.8 If you require a legacy version, you can get it here for Porthole and here for AirVLC.

Denied

• Denied displays Spotify album art again!
• Instead of just using the slider, you can now enter the amount of days Denied should remember Repeating Songs.
• Updated the update framework.
• Brought the rest of the project into 2016 ;).
• Bugs were fixed, performance was tweaked.

Denied’s update introduces a more finegrained manner to specify the amount of time Denied should prevent repeat plays. Instead of just adjusting the slider you can actually enter the number of days.

Apple resets reviews in the Mac App Store after an update comes out, so I was pretty stoked to see a few new ones appear almost straight away. The creative ways in which people describe how Denied helps them out is awesome, so I’d like to share a few here:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A must-have for public Spotify playlists!

This app is so good it should be integrated into Spotify itself. If you listen to public playlists or some charts, and are tired of that one song that just keeps playing all the time — get Denied.

by dubstrike from the US on Feb 24, 2016

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Essential.

I can’t imagine a Mac with this uninstalled. Especially with Apple Music and Stations, the risk of hearing an Adele song grew too great. Now rather than hearing her dreadful wailing, I get a notification reminding me that my ears have been saved from the misery once more. Works perfectly, every time.

by David Harrison from the UK on Mar 22, 2016

They’re all great, but especially the last one cracked me up.

Hedge for Mac

I’m working on a startup with three other guys called Hedge for Mac. It’s an app for OS X, aimed at video professionals, that helps you import data from your camera and make multiple copies — or backups —, securely and quickly.

We launched version 1.0 on March the 22nd. For more information check out the website and download the trial version.

That’s it for now. For more frequent updates about Danger Cove apps, consider following me on Twitter or Facebook.

An update was long overdue and the Spotify album art issue was really getting on my nerves. So, here it is: Denied version 1.3.0!

• Denied displays Spotify album art again!
• Instead of just using the slider, you can now enter the amount of days Denied should remember Repeating Songs.
• Updated the update framework.
• Brought the rest of the project into 2016 ;).
• Bugs were fixed, performance was tweaked.

The update is live on the Mac App Store.

Being able to remotely control my AirPlay setup from the comfort of my couch has been at the top of my feature request list forever, so I’m very excited to say that it’s now a feature in Porthole!

I’ve added Porthole to the collection of apps that work with the remarkable Unified Remote. Unified Remote is an app made by Unified Intents that allows you to remotely control many features of your Mac and a whole bunch of third-party apps, now including Porthole.

The remote lets you turn AirPlay speakers on and off, toggle the computer speaker and adjust the main volume from any iOS, Android and Windows phone or tablet that’s on the same wireless network as your Mac.

I’m super proud to say that Denied is featured on Spotify’s Developer Showcast. Which means there’s this cool page that lists a few apps that use Spotify’s developer interface and DENIED IS ON IT!

The developer showcast highlights apps that use one or more of Spotify’s methods to control the desktop app or retrieve information from their immense song database. Denied uses AppleScript to control the OS X desktop app and uses the database to check for songs that contain explicit lyrics.

Spotify version 1.0.3 is being rolled out and AppleScript seems to be working as it should again! Well, almost. Everything works, except the album artwork. So while Denied will once again save your ears from the scum music of the earth, you can’t see what the album cover looks like.

While the black hole of despair is actually looking quite fitting in Denied, I’ve contacted Spotify once more to go in and fix the AppleScript stuff for good this time.