Messages

126

Post New Requests Here / Re: "Backdrop" for Windows

« on: June 01, 2009, 11:44 PM »

Thank you Skwire for the great links. The Dropcloth is exactly the same utility, for Windows. I really appreciate your taking the time to respond.

To answer Innuendo, let's say I want my background programs to keep working, e.g. collecting emails, becoming instantly accessible if I need them, but I want to focus on my writing, for example.

Having everything hidden except what I want to focus on is a real blessing.

thanks again everyone

127

Post New Requests Here / "Backdrop" for Windows

« on: June 01, 2009, 04:22 PM »

I was visiting the wonderful website freedownloadaday.com and one of the most recent free programs offered was called Backdrop. Unfortunately it's for the Mac. Here's what it does:

Are you easily distracted? Do you have to turn your email off to keep from taking a look each time a new email from your favorite Nigerian prince comes in? Does your IM app keep you busy all day? If you lose your concentration every time something shiny flashes at you from your screen, maybe it's time to suppress all that extraneous activity on your computer.

If this all sounds like you, Backdrop can help make your life a little easier and more productive. Just fire it up, and it fills your screen, successfully obscuring all the apps running on your system except for the front-most application. Now instead of getting all bogged down with all the excitement happening in the background, you can focus on the task at hand, and actually get some work done.

Another use of Backdrop is for use when taking screenshots. If it usually takes you five minutes to tidy up your desktop to give your screen captures a clean background, all you need to do is invoke Backdrop and you've got instant clean.

Backdrop is a Mac application.

Can anyone easily create a similar app for the PC/Windows?

I'd really appreciate it.

128

General Software Discussion / Re: Firefox Extension: Link Extend

« on: March 05, 2009, 06:32 PM »

This FireFox add-on slows FireFox to a standstill if you have sped up FireFox as I have.

I used the following article (the first four hacks) to speed up my FireFox 5 - 10 times. Now I can leave 20 tabs open at the end of a session, and have them reopen in no time at all.

http://www.techradar...culously-fast-468317

It's great to have FireFox function this well. Try it. (and avoid the slowdowns caused by Link Extend, they are just not worth it)

129

General Software Discussion / Re: Screen Stream - Broadcast your live desktop stream to others (free)

« on: October 29, 2008, 12:38 PM »

Unfortunately, Screen Stream does not operate in real time. Viewers cannot watch you point your cursor to specific places on your desktop, and so for teaching remotely (which is what I wanted to use it for) Screen Stream is unsuitable.

Is there any other software like this that does work in real time?

130

Living Room / Re: What printer?

« on: August 15, 2008, 11:26 AM »

I am still using my old HP laserjet 4 for all of my B&W work, and it performs like a champ. If you have a lot of B&W printing, you can get an HP 4 or 5 refurbished and it will outlast any monochrome laser printer made today.

On the color front, I initially purchased HP inkjets because my HP LaserJet was so excellent. But much to my chagrin, HP inkjet after HP inkjet failed miserably after about a year's usage. (And I was buying expensive inkjets, not low-end ones).

I finally moved to Canon printers, and am amazed at the quality and durability they have. I'm presently using a Pixma iP 5000 and wouldn't hesitate for a second to get another Canon if this one ever dies!

(By the way, in reliability surveys by pcmags for several years now, Canon printers have consistently come out on top.)

131

Living Room / An interesting comparison of internet shopping websites

« on: July 09, 2008, 07:26 PM »

Dealnews just published an interesting comparison of Pricegrabber, Shopping.com, and three other internet price comparison shopping sites.

You can read it at this link:

http://dealnews.com/...ing-bot-/229584.html

132

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Multiple Sorts of Directories

« on: March 11, 2008, 05:56 PM »

Having gotten xplorer2, I'm delighted with its capabilities (and I'm very fussy about my explorer replacements -- I have several).

It is now my primary tool for file managing.

Thanks for all of your help.

What a great forum.

133

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Multiple Sorts of Directories

« on: February 25, 2008, 03:09 PM »

Dear Nosh,

I "took the plunge" since Xplorer2 is on sale for us Donationcoder members until the end of the February and ordered it.

I look forward to learning all about it.

thanks

Hank

134

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Multiple Sorts of Directories

« on: February 25, 2008, 02:19 PM »

Dear AndyM,

The add-on your mentioned from http://www.xrayz.co.uk/extension-column/   (to give the exact link) did the trick.

I just wish that some of the explorer shells did the same thing.

Thank you very much for your help.

Hank

135

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Multiple Sorts of Directories

« on: February 24, 2008, 11:27 AM »

Thank you both for your replies.

I will explore Directory Opus.

Andy M, are you using Windows XP? When I tried to replicate your success, I couldn't. I could neither get a column with the extentions shows as three letters after the . nor would the sort orders stick after I chose a new sort.

Thanks again

136

Post New Requests Here / IDEA: Multiple Sorts of Directories

« on: February 23, 2008, 10:25 PM »

Please forgive me if my request is already handled somewhere...  but let me know if it is.

I would love a utility that would allow me to view a detailed list of files (e.g. showing name, extension, date, time, attribute..) and allow me to sort on two of them simultaneously.

E.g. To sort on extension, with a sub-sort showing them in declining dates.

Like this:

     index.htm    02/22/2008
     books.htm   02/20/2008
     article.htm    01/15/2008

does any file manager allow you two types of sorting at once? Could anyone write a simple one?

thanks

137

Official Announcements / Re: November Discounts and Giveaway

« on: November 22, 2007, 11:18 PM »

I would like to share my feedback about DefenseWall.

I've used it for a few months and have found it to be excellent in creating an incredibly protected surfing environment. I found software on another website that tested HIPS systems rigorously, and DefenseWall passed every test with flying colors.

In addition, its creator has given me the best customer service (even during the trial period when I hadn't purchased it yet) of anyone I've ever dealt with.

so if you want to surf safely, I give DefenseWall my highest recommendation.

138

N.A.N.Y. Challenge 2007 / Re: Backup Revision Folder

« on: May 31, 2007, 10:21 AM »

Is it possible to select all files in a folder that have a specific extension, so that the program automatically monitors and backs up changes of that file type?

That would be much more protective, in case a user doesn't remember to add a file to your listing.

139

General Software Discussion / Re: 12 Windows Explorer Alternatives Compared

« on: February 24, 2007, 10:59 AM »

I like working with many panes displayed, each showing a different folder. A nice free file explorer that opens four panes and has many functions (including an OLE preview of many file types) is called File Commander 5. Its author has recently improved it quite a bit, and he's open to suggestions too.

You can download it at:

http://www.godlikesoft.de/

140

Best E-mail Client / Re: Preview email in Search Messages results in Thunderbird

« on: October 02, 2006, 08:30 PM »

For anyone who wants this extension -- which is great! -- Here's the link:

http://www.supportwa.../PreviewInSearch.xpi

thank you all for helping my wish come true!

Hank

141

Best E-mail Client / Re: Preview email in Search Messages results in Thunderbird

« on: September 18, 2006, 07:16 PM »

Unfortunately, I always have a preview pane open on my main screen in Thunderbird, so no, opening that pane doesn't affect the Search Messages window.

I did post a message on the Thunderbird forum, as suggested.

142

Best E-mail Client / Preview email in Search Messages results in Thunderbird

« on: August 11, 2006, 12:07 AM »

When I do a search of my emails in Thunderbird, the program opens a Search Messages window which lists the emails that meet the search criteria.

In order to view any of these emails, I have to click on each one to open it in a separate window.

This is slow and annoying.

Does anyone know of a way to add a preview pane or other preview email method in this window?

I would really, really appreciate it.

thanks

143

General Software Discussion / Re: QuickCorrect function for Thunderbird?

« on: July 17, 2006, 01:31 PM »

I did find the TB Auto Correct 0.0.5.1, as I mentioned (except not by name), already, but it doesn't work correctly with Thunderbird 1.5, and seems quite buggy.

Still looking, because I want autoexpand and autocorrect, not just autoexpand.

144

General Software Discussion / Re: QuickCorrect function for Thunderbird?

« on: July 17, 2006, 12:52 AM »

In doing more checking, I discovered a really buggy (and only for Thunderbird 1.0) autocorrect spell checker called TB inline spell checker, but it doesn't work well at all with the latest Thunderbird.

so please consider programming this.

145

General Software Discussion / QuickCorrect function for Thunderbird?

« on: July 17, 2006, 12:18 AM »

I love using WordPerfect because if I type in "tehn", for example, it automatically corrects it (using its QuickCorrect function) to "then".

One adds words to QuickCorrect, first the misspelled word and then the correct spelling.

You can also add abbreviations of commonly used words that it will then fill in, e.g. if I type "Su" it replaces it with "the Sun".

I would love to see an extension to the Thunderbird email program that offered the same functionality.

Any chance of one of the programmers taking on this project?

Thank you for listening, and for all of the great programs you already offer.

many blessings to you

146

General Software Discussion / Re: What's your favorite computer game from when you were young?

« on: May 03, 2006, 07:05 PM »

My favorite computer game, on the Apple II, was called Aztec.

Recently, I found it on the 'net in a form that runs under emulation on a PC.

It's an Indiana Jones type of game, walking into traps, fighting monsters, and collecting strength and weapons.

Really creative and fun. And hard to win!!!