[tomhr]

Originally Posted by tomhr

I downloaded Java yesterday, but now I don't see the little coffee-cup icon. I guess that means the Java plug-in isn't plugged in. How do I make Java plug into Windows, or Internet Explorer, or whatever it's supposed to plug into?

I tried downloading a song. I got "You need to download the Manager" messages, I did, and then nothing happened.

UPDATE:

Unless Skyforger can pull a rabbit out of a hat (meaning, an old, obsolete version of the Manager software that works with Windows 98), I'm done here. Because nothing happens. I'd be glad to give up my free-movie "option" (apparently no films are currently available anyway), if I could get my tracks.

But it looks like, getting tracks from Mp3Skyline won't happen until/unless I buy a new computer. Or unless MP3Skyline drops their requirement for the Manager software, and allows direct downloading like MP3Sparks and Lavamus.

Max, you're a nice guy, and you shame Mp3Sparks when it comes to customer service. Thanks for trying hard with me, and good luck to you.

[gluteus maximus]

Originally Posted by tomhr

UPDATE:

Unless Skyforger can pull a rabbit out of a hat (meaning, an old, obsolete version of the Manager software that works with Windows 98), I'm done here. Because nothing happens. I'd be glad to give up my free-movie "option" (apparently no films are currently available anyway), if I could get my tracks.

But it looks like, getting tracks from Mp3Skyline won't happen until/unless I buy a new computer. Or unless MP3Skyline drops their requirement for the Manager software, and allows direct downloading like MP3Sparks and Lavamus.

Max, you're a nice guy, and you shame Mp3Sparks when it comes to customer service. Thanks for trying hard with me, and good luck to you.

Hi tomhr

You'll find a Java section in Windows Control Panel. This leads to the Java Control Panel, which gives you info about your Java installation. Java should run automatically when you start a Java application such as Skyshare Manager, and that's when you should see the icon in your system tray (although I usually find it's missing).

After you download Skyshare Manager, you need to locate it in My Computer and double-click it to run it. This should install the Skyshare Manager on your computer. What's happening for me is that nothing happens at that point, except the cursor turns to an hourglass for a couple of seconds.

However, I can run the Skyshare Manager Installer from the command line on both of the two Win98SE machines I tested, so you may want to give it a try. (I assume you've installed Java successfully.)

First, download or copy skyshare-manager-v1.4.0.jar to your Desktop (this location seems to be important).

Then run the MSDos Prompt (or Start>Run>command). Make sure the command prompt is C:\> by typing C: and pressing Enter then typing cd\ and pressing Enter

Type the following command:

java -jar "C:\Windows\Desktop\skyshare-manager-v1.4.0.jar"

and press Enter. Don't forget the spaces and double quotes.

Hopefully you should see the IzPack Skyshare Manager Installer start. Follow the instructions. When it gets to Step 4 (Setup Shortcuts) you may see error messages in the Command window, and not be able to continue with the installation. Click "Quit". It has failed to create a shortcut on your Start Menu, but you can still run Skyshare Manager by opening My Computer and navigating to where you installed it, e.g. C:\Program Files\Skyshare Manager v1.4.0\bin\ and double-clicking on skyshare-manager.jar. It will then prompt for your login info and you're good to go. You can create your own shortcut to skyshare-manager.jar on the Desktop or Start Menu to make it easier to start it.

I hope this works for you. I'm sure there must be an easier way; any contributions welcome.

gm

[skyforger]

Gluteus, you're aboslutely amazing!
i could not describe the routine better than you, even if i tried hard
thank you very much for this complete instruction, hope it will be useful for not only Win9x customers, but for any person, who are not tech.savvy

tomhr, i do understand your complaints, and i am sorry for that - we're unable to provide direct downloads as for now. however we kindly ask our members to complete the installation routine (and now we have here a complete guide from gluteus), this is only one-time effort, and once you got the software running you can download as much songs as you like.

only one step
thank everybody for the patience.

sincerelly,
Max

[tomhr]

Thanks, gluteus maximus, you saved my butt. (Pun intended.)

Update/good news: I have Skyshare Manager unzipped and working, and have downloaded four songs now. There are a few minor bugs I've found (at least under Win98SE):

1) "Prelisten" in Skyshare Manager doesn't work. Well, it _almost_ works -- bytes are flying through my modem and into my computer, but nothing is coming through my headphone jack.

2) As a result of Skyshare Manager's Prelisten not working: since I want to listen to songs before I buy them, I need to have _both_ Skyshare Manager running, _and_ an MP3Skyline page up in Internet Explorer. I hear a song by clicking a "Listen" box on the web page.

3) When I click on a "Download now" icon on an MP3Skyline web page, that information doesn't get passed to Skyshare Manager (if I already have Skyshare Manager up and running). Instead, the web page gives me a message, "You must use Skyshare Manager to download music," and then I must search for that song or album a second time, from within Skyshare Manager. It means I have to do extra steps and double-check stuff.

[skyforger]

Originally Posted by tomhr

Thanks, gluteus maximus, you saved my butt. (Pun intended.)

Update/good news: I have Skyshare Manager unzipped and working, and have downloaded four songs now. There are a few minor bugs I've found (at least under Win98SE):

1) "Prelisten" in Skyshare Manager doesn't work. Well, it _almost_ works -- bytes are flying through my modem and into my computer, but nothing is coming through my headphone jack.

2) As a result of Skyshare Manager's Prelisten not working: since I want to listen to songs before I buy them, I need to have _both_ Skyshare Manager running, _and_ an MP3Skyline page up in Internet Explorer. I hear a song by clicking a "Listen" box on the web page.

3) When I click on a "Download now" icon on an MP3Skyline web page, that information doesn't get passed to Skyshare Manager (if I already have Skyshare Manager up and running). Instead, the web page gives me a message, "You must use Skyshare Manager to download music," and then I must search for that song or album a second time, from within Skyshare Manager. It means I have to do extra steps and double-check stuff.

thanks for posting back, tomhr
let me comment according to what i do know:
1) it is more likely that prelisten feature won't work at all with your Win98SE. we have experienced the like problem on some platforms, but fixed them by refactoring preview functionality however it cannot be the case with your version of Java, i guess. anyways, our team will try to check and fix it, if it is ever possible.
sorry for that

2) yes, this seems to be the only solution so far

3) while we're working on 1.4.1 version which would be significantly enhanced, we will probably add the availability to capture clicks on the site and ask software to act accordingly (e.g. you click on the page and software starts to download according track).
though i cannot yet announce the release date, but it will be in the next 2 weeks.

regards,
Max