Messages

26

Post New Requests Here / Re: Copy (and Auto-Paste) Directly to New Excel Worksheet

« on: August 03, 2011, 05:00 AM »

Perhaps ASAP Utilities for Excel (freeware) might help?

http://www.asap-util...es=20&lang=en_us

27

Finished Programs / Re: IDEA: Add cover art to MP3 from command line

« on: July 29, 2011, 02:21 PM »

So, I answer my own thread...  

I googled a bit more and found somewhere the most essential info how to get the eye3D Python script working, since it's not really meant to be run under Windows (rename filename from eyeD3.py to eyed3.py).

Tried two different python2exe compilers to get standalone Windows exe files, but all two two error out. So a Python script it is. It's slower than using metamp3.exe but it's not messing with unicode id3tags, so I'm happy.


Update: Instead of launching "python.exe eyeD3.py" for every file the Autohotkey script now generates one Python script using the eyeD3 library. So it's a lot faster, and I mean a lot. Also there's now a GUI for stand-alone use (no command line parameter passed).



Attached to this post are two simple Autohotkey scripts I'm using:
FolderArtDownloadHelper (a GUI for AlbumArtDownloader with command line support)
FolderArtWriter (a GUI to write album art files in MP3 files using Python eyeD3. It can manage huge amounts of folders.)

Alternatives:
Metamp3 (can't handle unicode characters in ID3 tags)
Mutagen (is not supporting special ID3 tags like TXXX file signature)

28

Finished Programs / SOLVED: Add cover art to MP3 from command line

« on: July 29, 2011, 02:50 AM »

I'm looking for a Windows tool which adds cover art to MP3 files, preserving existing ID3 tags, so I can use it in scripts, like

"tool.exe folder.jpg title.mp3"

I don't care if it's a console application or not, it should just accept command line parameters (with no output).


I found a tool doing exactly such thing called "MetaMP3 v0.92 beta 5" (about four years old) but the tool isn't unicode and messing up ID3tags with international characters.

The next best - and only - thing is probably eyeD3, but I can't figure out how to get this Python source compiled.  

My extensive Internet search also brought up "Tag", which is pretty cool to extract Id3v2 info, but it can't write id3v2.

29

General Software Discussion / Re: I want to download streaming content (specificially videos) from ANY browser.

« on: July 27, 2011, 08:59 PM »

GetFLV ($60)
http://www.getflv.net/

Replay Media Catcher ($40)
http://applian.com/download-videos/

Also, there's StreamTransport (freeware), but I think development died one year ago.
http://www.streamtransport.com/

As browser plugin (Firefox) I'm using DownloadHelper (freeware).

30

Finished Programs / Re: Host Editor 7 - Hassle free host editing for Win7-XP

« on: July 18, 2011, 10:41 AM »

Thanks! 

31

Developer's Corner / Re: AHK Soundboard

« on: July 09, 2011, 08:24 AM »

Thanks! 

32

Developer's Corner / AHK Soundboard

« on: July 08, 2011, 09:15 AM »

Since I've collected many sound files and I had some time to kill, I wrote myself a little Soundboard script using Autohotkey. It scans a folder for sound files and dynamically creates a folder list + button list to click on.



Anyway, if you've interest, just try it and have fun.   Some hints: You can right click the folder list, buttons and playlist for different context menues. Shift+Click a button for quick rename. Playlist text files can be dragged into the playlist field. Autohotkey limitation: If the volume buttons have no effect, you've to run the script in Windows XP compatibility mode. And finally another Authotkey limitation: Other files than .wav might not be playable if the right codec isn't installed.

Attached's the compiled exe, including the pretty chaotic AHK source and some audio files to get you started. Tested under WinXP and Win7x64.

And here's my full collection of sound files... about 3800 files (180 MB): http://tinyurl.com/423je8v

33

Living Room / Re: What's Your Internet Speed/Reliability SATISFACTION?

« on: June 27, 2011, 09:41 AM »

My provider runs a special until end of July. 100 Mbit up/down unlimited for EUR 35,- (USD 50). I don't really need it, but for just EUR 5,- more?!? That's a temptation I couldn't resist.  





I can't find a speedtest.net server supporting this upload speed.

But I do wonder what people use these seriously fast connections for

Mirroring the Internet?

I agree. Nobody needs such speed. For me it was like paying the same, but getting more, so it would be stupid not to get it. Six months ago I had 12/7 Mbit for EUR 30,- and that was pretty nice. But then my house got fiber-optic connection and I could change to this insane provider. Austria is a bit "underdeveloped" in matters of broadband Internet, so they're really pushing it to the extreme.

I like to download US shows like Idol, Got Talent, ... and it's nice to download 2 GB episodes in a couple of minutes, but that's about it. Sharing large files (1080p videos from my camera) and online backups are also possible.

34

Living Room / Re: What's Your Internet Speed/Reliability SATISFACTION?

« on: June 25, 2011, 12:59 PM »

That's in Austria, ISP Blizznet / Wien Energie. I pay for 30 Mb down/up EUR 30,- (USD 42) a month. No limits. I am in heaven.

Using two connections I usually get my 30 Mb upload.

35

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« on: June 18, 2011, 05:42 PM »

Mac software insults user.... 



Macintosh and Windows getting along just fine...

36

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« on: June 05, 2011, 02:56 AM »

37

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Migrate from USB Safely Remove to Zentimo for $8.90

« on: April 01, 2011, 04:49 AM »

I was halfway convinced that the new licence model for Zentimo was an excuse to stop developing USBSR, but there's been at least one or two updates to USBSR since Zentimo's release, so I'm keeping my natural cynicism at bay at present. 

-oblivion (April 01, 2011, 02:17 AM)

Oh, it is an excuse and I'm very pissed with this company. Since almost two years no major updates for USBSR. After Zentimo a cosmetic update to show customers it's still in support... since then, nothing. Anyway, USBSR won't get new functions because customers told them, "they want to keep it simple." Selling a lifetime license for a dead product is scam. 

The right way to do it: Change license policy for *new* customers, keep old ones with the lifetime license they purchased.

38

General Software Discussion / Re: Z-Type - Type to shoot

« on: March 29, 2011, 08:36 AM »

Typing Shark is fun... nothing is better than "Typing of the Dead". It's a shame "Typing of the Dead 2" never got an English version.

Anyway,  Z-Type is also fun, but I can't press ESC to select a new aim. Also, with later levels it gets impossible, as there are several alien ships starting with the same letter and the engine isn't aiming for the closest enemy.

39

General Software Discussion / Re: What Android Apps Do You Use?

« on: March 26, 2011, 05:35 PM »

Apps I use everyday:
Widgetsoid (widgets and app launcher)
Volume Locker (prevents changing ringer volume)
Call Confirm (asks if you really want to call someone)
K9 (email)
Go SMS + Go Contacts (default apps on my LG P500 suck)
AlarmDroid (alarm clock on stereoids)
WhoIsIt
FlickNote (editor which syncs with SimpleNote)

Other apps:
Barcode Scanner (I use http://delivr.com/qr-code-generator to write really long SMS)
Mortplayer (audio player based on folder structure)
Zimly (video player)
Awesome drop (send files to phone)
Retro Calculator (just for fun)
Calzo Free (calculator with history)

40

Post New Requests Here / Re: Sending certain keystrokes via mouse click.

« on: March 24, 2011, 08:15 AM »

Or even better...

http://www.tcbmi.com/strokeit/

If you invest 5 minutes to learn using it, you'll love it.

41

General Software Discussion / Re: Favorite ZIP/RAR application?

« on: March 18, 2011, 08:30 AM »

I tried the same, and I think their shop system is bugged.

Using an Austrian IP I get:
WinRAR € 29,95
19% VAT € 5,69
Total € 35,64   ($ 50.38)

Using an IP from USA I get (Country Austria selected)
WinRAR € 21,83   ($ 29)
19% VAT € 4,15   ($ 5.51)
Total € 25,98   ($ 34.51)

So, a different IP saves you 10 Euros? Stupid.

Guess best is to ask someone in USA to order it and you pay this person via Paypal. Then it costs € 21,83 ($29) only. I'm not sure charging VAT is okay here, since they're not shipping anything. If you want a different IP, try CyberGhost VPN (coupon code "quale157" gives you one year for free (untested))

Edit: Attached two screenshots

Edit 2: Asked Winrar about it... here's the answer:

We have different pricing strategy for different markets. Such price
differences are very common in daily business (e.g. the computer
equipment or jeans that are cheaper in US, the digital camera bought in
Asia...). That's the way things are. Markets differ and so do prices.

Well, I really like WinRAR, but this sound stupid. It's a software licence sent by email, no camera or jeans. Oh well, I'm glad I registered it years ago.

42

General Software Discussion / Re: Favorite ZIP/RAR application?

« on: March 12, 2011, 03:10 PM »

I'm moving to 7-zip, it's mature enough by now imho

Everytime I really tried to use 7-zip I found limitations and weirdness...

As an example, 7-zip needs a lot of work in the split archives department to be a rival for WinRAR. It's still using binary split für split archives, which limits functionality a lot IMHO. Here's some things - just in "split archives" - WinRAR is doing much better:

• 7-zip will recognize split archives only if .001 is loaded
• no SFX fo split archives (lame! Under Win95 I had binary splitters which could create a sfx)
• No CRC for split archives
• No recovery record
• Extract a split archive (password protected, encrypted filenames) or open it in file manager. Then enter a wrong password. Since the filenames are protected it should be able to say "wrong password" (just like WinRAR if the filenames are encrypted), but that's for the 7z archive. Not the split archive. So with a wrong password 7zip will just join all files. Unasked. That's not what I asked the program to do and pretty annoying if you deal with large file sets.
• Open or extract a set with one missing file and 7-zip reports "Unknown error". Unknown error?!?! My Autohotkey scripts can do better error messages.  I guess a "File missing!" message is too much to ask for. Still, that's an improvement to previous versions, which joined all files it could find and then reported a corrupted 7z archive. Duh! Of course it's corrupted, there's a file missing. But the average user isn't seeing the missing file, just a corrupted 7z archive.
• And of course, unlike WinRAR, it can't extract any file from broken file sets.

I'm using 7-zip when compression is more important than time. I then usually split-archive it using WinRAR (store and recovery record).

If 7-zip would catch up in this area, WinRAR would be in trouble. But I don't think this will happen. 7-zip development sure slowed down.

43

General Software Discussion / Re: Favorite ZIP/RAR application?

« on: March 12, 2011, 02:52 AM »

It's a free upgrade.

44

General Software Discussion / Re: I have to admit defeat ... I cannot format a hard drive ...

« on: February 28, 2011, 02:31 AM »

This is embarrassing.  I'm trying to format a 1T [internal] HD.

Shouldn't be embarassing. Your drive is probably defective.

I had kinda the same thing with a Western Digital 1 TB hdd... couldn't create a partition. No matter what I tried. After hour of trying I gave up and sent it back in to Western Digital (warranty replacement) and got a new (refurbished?) one. Anyway, no problems at all with the new drive, so the old one was probably defective.


btw: As a last resort you can try a Windows installation CD to delete your drive, create partitions and format. If this fails, there's really something wrong.

45

Living Room / Re: print webpages that don't fit the page

« on: February 27, 2011, 12:46 PM »

It seems someone has mentioned a site or some software that will
overcome these limitations.

-techidave (February 25, 2011, 02:10 PM)

I'm using Aardvark to remove parts of a webpage I don't need for a printout or PDF. Perhaps this will help.

46

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: RandomPlayer - play a mp3 file at (almost) random intervals

« on: February 17, 2011, 03:57 AM »

I hope the problems with the "sleep" function are gone, after my bug fix.

The issue with the locked file should be resolved now, with using "Soundplay,...,wait".

I've added the "repeat last sound" function in the tray menu, and also made "stop sound" and "force next". "force next" will just play the next sound without waiting, but won't do anything while in "sleep mode".

Default tray action (double-click) can be configured in the ini file.


So, that's it with the script. Unless you find a serious bug, I won't touch it again. :-)

47

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: RandomPlayer - play a mp3 file at (almost) random intervals

« on: February 05, 2011, 07:03 PM »

Well, works here. Did you restart the script after changing the ini?

What is the tray tip saying (if you hover the mouse cursor over the icon)?

48

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: RandomPlayer - play a mp3 file at (almost) random intervals

« on: February 03, 2011, 09:02 AM »

A new version is online... see my first post.

> "next song in X minutes" info

Messing around with date and time values is always a task for me. But I think I got it. :-) Trying to keep it simple, X minutes will never be more than 59.


> And how about adding info when RandomPlayer is in 'sleep mode'?
> Nice, could you please also (re-)add a menu item to pause the script?
> And how about using the default system editor instead of Editor
> No sound because blacklisted process
> an option to be able to set the PC idle time in minutes

Done 5x

See the .ini file to activate/deactivate settings.

I've tested it quite some time, but there's a lot to test already. So I hope there're no bugs.

Enjoy!  

49

Finished Programs / Re: IDEA: RandomPlayer - play a mp3 file at (almost) random intervals

« on: January 28, 2011, 01:09 PM »

> next song in X minutes

It was originally meant to be one time only task tray tip, but then it got into an infotip ... which doesn't auto-update, of course. You're right.

I have no time to work on this script this weekend, but expect an update next week.  

50

Finished Programs / Re: IDEA: RandomPlayer - play a mp3 file at (almost) random intervals

« on: January 27, 2011, 10:07 AM »

Hi there, new version uploaded.

Right-click tray menu added.

About the blacklisted process... the default.ini had Skype.exe blacklisted. Perhaps it was active? The default.ini now comes with an empty blacklist.