Topics

1

Podcast Radio Show / October Podcast

« on: October 03, 2006, 09:27 AM »

Arrgghh, due to Starting my brand spanking new job this month, the Podcast "thing" has sorta slipped past me, David Allen would be very disapointed in me.

I think ive got some time, anyhow as its Halloween this month (im pretty sure it is, i get so confused with dates recently), i was thinking of the knightmares that we have with our little silicon friends (im not talking breast augmentation here, im talking computers, although stories of the former can be posted in private to myself).

So send us in your vocal tales of woe, and i was wondering if Zridling would do as a review of the worst piece of software he`s had the misfortune to install.

So come on help us out, sent in your horror stories, now.

If it dont get anything , this month podcast of a teletype printing "all work and no play make jack a dull boy" over and over again

red rum , red rum

Over to you

2

General Software Discussion / idea for donation coder CD

« on: September 19, 2006, 11:48 AM »

Ive noticed a couple of  .iso`s going around the world of torrent that are usefull to carry around as there full of usefull tools when encountering virgin pc`s.

Just a thought that maybe we should compile a Donation Coder essential tools CD, to be distributed in the same way. Two good reasons would be there just damn handy to have and it`ll raise the profile of the site.

The compilation im thinking of would include the following.

1.Its a bootable cd (i.e freedos or any similar free OS to offer some recovery and set up tools)
2.All the software included is allowed to be re-distributed (of course)
3.System and Network tools (subnet calculators, file monitors and extended process exporers etc)
4.General productivity tools (open office, firefox, 7zip etc)
5.Anything else we can stick on that people cant live without (as long as it complies with part 2)

Good or Bad idea?

3

Living Room / places to go, people to see

« on: September 19, 2006, 12:01 AM »

I remember there was a thread regarding place to meet up for a Donation Coder gathering, Id say here

http://www.villiard....otel-burjalarab.html


We could also trial a new olympic sport called "Check Out Desk Sprint" , which basically involves on the day of check out , how far you can make it to the airport before the hotel calls the police for unpayed bills.

4

Living Room / Zap reader

« on: August 17, 2006, 09:58 PM »

http://www.zapreader.com/

This is sooo simple, but so cool im actually using it to read T&C agreements at 835 WPM, with total comprehension (well as much comprehension you can get with a T&C agreement. (i think any faster my head will explode like the bloke in scanners).


Basically grab a load of text, past it in the browser, and instead of having your eyes have to scan left to right, it just plonks the text out on work at a time, fat speed.

It sounds crap i know, just try it.

5

General Software Discussion / MS giving away Game Dev Kits for 360 + PC

« on: August 16, 2006, 04:07 PM »

Is this microsoft activly supporting the homebrew scene, or an attempt to keep the scene for themselves

http://arstechnica.c...t/20060813-7490.html

6

General Review Discussion / Trillian

« on: August 06, 2006, 10:57 PM »

Basic Info

App Name	Trillian
App URL	http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/
App Version Reviewed	Trillian Pro 3.1
Test System Specs	Windows XP pro, Dual Xeon 3.2Ghz,6 Gig Ram,SuperMicro X6DAL-G Motherboard,Nvidia Quadro Fx3400
Supported OSes	Windows 98, 2000,Me,XP
Support Methods	Forums, Email
Trial Version Available?	Trillian Basic is available, extended features are disabled,
Pricing Scheme	Basic - Free , Pro $25

Intro:

Trillian originaly was released a good few years ago in 2000 as a solution for cross IM service messenging (despite the hostile action from certain companies to prevent 3rd party access to there services).This current version now supports connection to AIM,ICQ,MSN,Yahoo Messenger, IRC, Jabber,Rendezvous and Novell Groupwise Messenger. It supports pretty much all the features of the native clients its emulating (Voice, Video, File Transfer etc) and recently its been able to interface with Skype (via plugin) for VOIP calling

Who is this app designed for:

If you use Instant Messenging a lot, and you`ve over the years acquired multiple ID across the different networks this app is ideal.


The Good


First of all it has an excellent plug in engine with a wide variety of plugins to choose from, including email checkers, remote control for winamp, system stats. Literally hundreds to choose from. It also has a XML based skinning engine that makes it easy to customise to fit in with your desktop. It offers a tabs feature that makes it very easy to organise  that bursting contact list and the import of existing contacts is a breeze. It also has a nice little docking feature to keep contol of the conversations your paying attention to. It also comes a nicely laid out options screen (this app has LOADS of options) to help set it up the way you want it.

The needs improvement section

Some skins can be a little hit and miss, mostly due to Trillian not being 100% backward compatible with older ones.


Why I think you should use this product


Products like that are down to personal choice on how you respond to the "feel" of the app. I`ve been using trillian since 2000 and have seen it grow up into the fine piece of software it is today. I think it offers more features and customisation than anything else out there.


How does it compare to similar apps

Similar apps for IM interoperability include Miranda and Gaim, both of which ive installed and used during the "shall i pay to go pro" stage. I stuck with trillian.


Conclusions

Well as ive been using this App in one form or another for 6 years id have to be a sadist not to give it 5 out of 5. Its all you need to communicate to your friends, collegues and family accross the wide spectrum of IM protocols out there. Did i mention the plugins?

7

General Review Discussion / Daemon Tools

« on: August 03, 2006, 10:19 PM »

Basic Info

App Name	Daemon Tools
App URL	http://www.daemon-tools.cc
App Version Reviewed	4.03
Test System Specs	Windows XP pro, Dual Xeon 3.2Ghz,6 Gig Ram,SuperMicro X6DAL-G Motherboard,Nvidia Quadro Fx3400
Supported OSes	Windows 9x,Windows NT4,Windows 2000,Windows XP ,Windows 2003, Vista,Windows XP64,Windows 2003 x64,Vista x64
Support Methods	Forums
Upgrade Policy	N/A
Trial Version Available?	Daemon Tools is free (but it isnt freeware)
Pricing Scheme	Pro version £TBA

Intro:

Daemon Tools is a virtual CD/DVD-ROM emulator, it basically takes an image of a CD/DVD from your your Hard drive and mounts it as a Physical Drive


Who is this app designed for:

The app due to its emulation of copy protection schemes has gained popularity for people who wish to play from there CD backups and keep the original media safe. Aside from that its just a very good all purpose CD/DVD Tool.

The Good


Daemon Tools for me is integral to my Operating System. Having tons and tons of material spread over shiny discs i have to physically hunt for is just not the way i work anymore. Creating images of these discs and keeping them on a server is part of my workflow, with a couple of clicks i have a CD/DVD mounted without the delay of motors spinning up and slow seek times. Using VMWare is great with Daemon tools as i can download the latest Distro image and not have to waste a CD to install it. If i need to check out if the menu structure of a DVD is programmed correctly, i dont have to burn, i just mount. Anything i have to distribute on CD/DVD i can check it without having to burn discs.


The needs improvement section


The recent versions have got an annoying "WhenU SaveNow" searchbar installer , which is opt out as long as you remember to unselect it during installation


Why I think you should use this product


Because like all great apps you dont know it`s there, but if it isnt there you miss it.


How does it compare to similar apps

There are a couple of other virtual drives out there, Nero Drive mounter for one which comes with Nero Burning Rom , but everything else just seems clunky in comparison.


Conclusions

It does exactly what it says on the tin,  5 out of 5


Links to other reviews of this application
http://www.softpedia...m/DAEMON-Tools.shtml

8

Podcast Radio Show / Podcast #4 Submission Time!

« on: August 02, 2006, 04:57 PM »

Hi

The time has come where the 4th Donation Coder podcast needs to start being nailed down and getting prepared for the August Broadcast.

The production of the Podcast has been deligated to JavaJones and me Mukestar (I use the term delegated loosly, as in “Ghengis Khan deligated his way into northern China”)

We`ve got a couple of new idea to introduce a monthly format flavour to the podcast, and turn it into a mean lean podcasting machine (think George Forman grill with a USB connector).

The  podcast can only exist if we can get the continual support from all you  Donation Coder members out there, and this is who we need.

1. YOU
We would like to introduce a monthly feature where a member tells us who they are, where there from, what they do, there first PC, there hates, there loves. You get the idea. An Audio version of the “OK-Lets get to know each other” thread on the forum. So come on tell us who you are, speak out be it funny or serious – its all good.
 

2. SOFTWARE REVIEWERS
We want people to give us a concise review of the software they love or loathe, the piece of code they cant live without , the piece of code they cant live with. The best review for a piece of software is from the people who actually use it day to day. Get recording.

3.ARTICLES AND FEATURES
More “Man on the street” interviews please
More Interviews full stop
Articles related to the wonderfull world of computers

4. Ranters
Everyone can rant, ranting is good for you. We like rants.

And remember




Just noticed that people where asking about alternative codecs for the cast, not a problem. Vorbis, WMA,IFF,Mp3,Impala,ADPCM,G.726 whatever you like , the masters going to be batched encoded anyhow so not a problem. JavaJones has even volunteered to hand deliver 4-track versions of it