Cyclef Explorer™ by Red Chair Software, Inc.

Section 1. Overview

This section describes the overall structure of the Cyclef product to give you a solid basis for understanding all of its functionality and features. This also includes a discussion of device and operating system compatibility.

The Cyclef package is composed of two main groups of software components: the Cyclef Manager core, and a set of applications that run on top of that core. This set includes the primary Cyclef Explorer interface, Cyclef Xtreamer web access, and TrueStream playback to 3rd party MP3 software. The following sections describe the role of these components.

1.1 Cyclef Manager

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The Manager is the core component of Cyclef that detects, connects, and communicates with your Xclef device. Cyclef Manager must be running for Cyclef Explorer to work. For that reason, the Manager is started at Windows boot-up and we recommend that you leave it running for easy access to your Xclef.

Cyclef Manager provides the underlying functionality for all the application-level aspects of the Cyclef package, including the main Cyclef Explorer interface, Cyclef Xtreamer web access, and TrueStream playback to 3rd party software.

When you're not using Cyclef, the Manager consumes very little resources and stays out of your way. In light of Cyclef Explorer's tight integration with Windows, the presence of the Manager, we've found, is the best way to ensure stability and ease-of-use. When you try to exit Cyclef Manager, you will get a warning dialog saying as much. If you wish to disable this warning dialog, enable the "Do not ask to confirm when existing Cyclef Manager" option on the General tab of the Cyclef Manager Options dialog.

Cyclef Manager appears as icon(s) in the "systray", which is the area on the right side of the Windows Taskbar at the bottom of your desktop:

Systray Icon

If you right-click on the icon, you'll bring up the Cyclef Manager menu:

Right-click an icon for the menu.

When Cyclef Manager is running, it is listed as "cycmgr.exe" in Windows Task Manager.

1.2 Cyclef Explorer

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Cyclef Explorer is the part of Cyclef that is actually integrated into Windows Explorer. Cyclef Explorer communicates with your Xclef device through the Cyclef Manager and it is the main user interface with which you'll interact.

The screenshot above shows a typical Cyclef Explorer window. Its various functions are described in detail in Section 3.

When Cyclef Explorer is running, it is listed as "explorer.exe" in Windows Task Manager.

1.3 Cyclef Xtreamer

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Cyclef Xtreamer provides web-based access to Xclef devices. Using Xtreamer, you can browse your Xclef through a web interface and stream and download contents. Xtreamer supports local and remote access across a LAN or the Internet. The main Xtreamer page looks like this:

Cyclef Xtreamer can be accessed through any standard web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. Xtreamer is discussed in detail in Section 8.

1.4 TrueStream

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TrueStream is a feature of Cyclef Explorer that lets you stream music from your Xclef and play it through your favorite MP3 software such as Winamp. This makes it easy to enjoy your Xclef music through your computer's sound system without having to hook up extra cables when you dock your Xclef to your computer. Section 6 describes TrueStream in detail.

1.5 Compatibility

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1.5.1 Devices

Cyclef Explorer currently supports the following Xclef devices:

DMC Xclef HD-500 (all capcities)
DMC Xclef HD-800 (all capacities)
Runs on Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, and XP.

1.5.2 Operating Systems

Cyclef Explorer currently runs on:

Windows 98SE
Windows ME
Windows 2000 Professional
Windows XP Home
Windows XP Professional

Because Cyclef Explorer is integrated with Windows Explorer, your Windows "shell" must be of a certain version to work properly with Cyclef. To check, just look at your Internet Explorer version using the "About Internet Explorer" item in its "Help" menu. As long as IE is 5.0 or higher, your Windows shell will have everything Cyclef needs to run. Note that you don't have to use Internet Explorer as your normal browser, or even to use Cyclef Xtreamer; it just has to be installed.

Once in a while someone will ask if Cyclef runs on Windows NT4. Although Cyclef probably runs fine on NT4, the point is moot because without USB or Firewire support, NT4 can't even connect to your Xclef in the first place. It is time to upgrade your OS! :-)