Messages

1

General Software Discussion / Any experience with Pi KVM over IP?

« on: January 07, 2023, 06:53 PM »

Hello!

I am tempted to try one of the Raspberry KVM over IP devices, do you think it's worth it?

I saw some videos of one and it looked too laggy to be not frustrating.

Any input would be really appreciated!

Thanks!

2

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for programming language with good integration to Windows

« on: January 05, 2023, 07:37 AM »

Mmm really, Python does not require installation on Win10? How come when I install any IDE like PyCharm, Anaconda, they install Python at the same time?

3

General Software Discussion / Looking for programming language with good integration to Windows

« on: December 31, 2022, 02:46 PM »

Hello!

I am looking for recent advances in Windows/Web automation that can do things like:
1) automate both high and low level Windows and its apps
2) perform large data analysis
3) integrate with Excel and wider Office
4) automate Web/Chrome/Edge

However, I have the following requirements:
1) no installation needed, no admin rights needed, no executables that may be admin blocked
2) fully compatibility/stability with latest Windows
3) easy syntax (without having to write 100 lines of code just to detect and click a button)
4) no Powershell, no cmd, no WSCRIPT, no AHK (as it requires executables and may not have good Windows integration)
5) Power Automate is okay but ideally would like something else as it is not standard with every Windows
6) if it can run on virtual machine or cloud, it would be ideal

Do the above ring any bell? I suppose I can install Python and do all the above but again would prefer no installation.
Thanks!

4

Living Room / How to setup KVM switch?

« on: December 28, 2022, 05:28 PM »

Hello

I am not entirely clear how to setup a KVM switch so that I use one monitor, one keyboard and one webcam to operate four laptops.

• Do I have to connect each laptop to the KVM switch via both a USB and a HDMI cable? That's alot of cables!
• Will the video be transferred bidirectionally, i.e. to the monitor and from the shared webcam?/
• Does the KVM need drivers or other software to install on each of the laptops?
• Ideally I would like to connect each laptop to the KVM via only one USB-C cable, is that possible?

Thanks!

5

General Software Discussion / Re: Are you familiar with kubernetes/containers?

« on: December 25, 2022, 11:50 AM »

Thanks! But *why* would I want to use containers/kubernetes?

For example:

• I use the cloud so that I do not have to have my laptop switched on 24/7 and also for performance reasons.
• I use sandbox for security and not to mess the whole OS.
• I use VM to run stuff in my local OS that are not built/available/ported to my local OS.
• I use portable apps for portability, easy deployment, easy migration.

Why would I use containers/kubernetes? I assume containers/kubernetes is an "environment" and what you actually run can be anything e.g. a python script etc? Why would I want to use such special environment if not for performance?

6

General Software Discussion / Free Formula Navigator for Excel?

« on: December 24, 2022, 05:56 PM »

Hello!

Do you know any formula navigator for Excel that is free? Similar to Arixcel where you click on each references of a formula to navigate to them?

It seems several people have built their on in VBA but can't find anything to leverage nor I can easily build it in an evening!

Thanks!

7

General Software Discussion / Looking for some Web Browser (Chrome or Chromium) functionalities

« on: December 24, 2022, 05:50 PM »

Hello!

I am looking for the below functionality in Chrome (or other Chromium browser if needed):
1) hover over drop down menus to open them instead of having to click on them
2) remove all parameters from urls using regex (I want to particularly remove the utm_* etc from Google ads)
3) easily attach a specific file on upload forms (to attach my CV for job posts with one click)
4) right click on highlighted text to Google search for it in a separate tab
5) single click and drag to select text instead of double click and drag or even better to hover to select underlying text instead of clicking on it (as some text can have hyperlinks)

Any idea?

Thanks!

8

General Software Discussion / Are you familiar with kubernetes/containers?

« on: December 20, 2022, 04:27 PM »

Hello!

Are you familiar with kubernetes/containers?

I have left behind regarding these technologies and wonder if you can briefly explain how you understand its purposes and use cases?

I remember decades ago there was the concept of 'sandbox' where basically you would be able to run executables locally in a way that is isolated from the OS for security purposes. E.g. if you didn't know if something is a virus, you would run it in a sandbox so that whatever it reads/writes will be emulated locally instead of messing the OS.

Then there was the concept of 'portable apps' which still exists and its purpose was that you can migrate the app to different machines without having to install it and this would ensure that whatever permanent changes you make to the app such as choosing particular Options (i.e. dark theme) would be transferred or maintained within the app.

Is it accurate to say kubernetes/containers are kind of these concepts? i.e. a sandbox or an sandboxed executable or a portable executable?

Regarding its purpose, is it instead of security or maybe in addition to security, some kind of repeatability and efficiency?

• I understand efficiency as 'in case the executable would mess the OS resources if run unrestricted e.g. a very CPU consuming executable'
• I understand repeatability as 'in case the executable would be incompatible with the OS e.g. a Linux executable running in a Windows environment'

I read/watched some kubernetes/containers explanations but they were not making much sense :/ and especially how different they are from sandboxes and portable apps.

Thanks!

9

General Software Discussion / Reliable phonetically controlled web browser or Windows?

« on: December 12, 2022, 03:48 PM »

Hello!

Is there a reliable phonetically controlled way for a web browser or Windows?

I tried few times Cortana and seems hideous 

Thanks!

10

General Software Discussion / Advanced wireless keyboard/touchpad with easy gesture/hotkey customisation?

« on: November 15, 2022, 05:54 AM »

Hello

I am looking for a wireless keyboard with an mouse-like device (i.e. touchpad etc) that will enable me to easily assign gestures/hotkeys etc so that I will not have the MS Win limitations (limited gesture etc customisation).

Do you know any? Ideally I should be able to connect it to both my laptop and Android phone!

Thanks!

11

General Software Discussion / Re: Best Android Email App?

« on: October 24, 2022, 12:05 AM »

Absolutely, just didn't want to seem as advertising etc.

It is called Boxer Email, it is primary for corporate email accounts on personal devices but it works for personal use too.
It is not very customisable but it has some basic features and what I kind of trust is the brand name and the secure tech behind it as well as its professional look and feel (no offense to individual coders! )

I tried the FairEmail and it was extremely slow with Ymail.

Some others like Blue Email, K-9 and others were okish but the main problem was display issues. Some fonts did not display properly or the dark theme didn't work properly etc.

If you set it up with Ymail, you probably need to generate an app-specific pass to be able to login.

12

General Software Discussion / Re: Best Android Email App?

« on: October 23, 2022, 12:39 PM »

Thanks, VMware's email client is what I finally chose.

13

General Software Discussion / Fully operate my Android using my laptop's touchpad and keyboard?

« on: October 23, 2022, 12:28 PM »

Hello

Is it possible to fully operate my Android using my laptop's touchpad and keyboard?

Preferably without an app that is dodgy or has ads etc.

Most of what I have found, is simply to access the folders/files plus some functionality like send sms but I need to see on my laptop my true phone screen and me able to use a cursor/keyboard to operate it as if I was using my phone.

I think Samsung has a proprietary tool and Android offers a screen cast feature (but probably only for display, not for remote control of the device)

Thanks!

14

General Software Discussion / Re: Best Android Email App?

« on: September 23, 2022, 02:16 PM »

You mention Teams invitations, I would say that if you're using 365 for corporate email then they'll start disabling basic authentication in a couple weeks, so as much as I hate to say it, you might need to use Outlook. I know our company is disabling access from all other email programs.

-x16wda (September 22, 2022, 07:44 PM)

Thanks, no it's not for corp email, it 's for personal email but I just happen to receive Teams invites for videocalls.

15

General Software Discussion / Best Android Email App?

« on: September 22, 2022, 05:41 PM »

Hello

I am looking for an Android app that will save me from the Ymail frustrations:
- does not fully download emails when they arrive so I cannot open then when offline
- does not resize fonts to be visible no matter what the sender fonts were
- does not have the option not to mark as read automatically
- does not display well Teams invites (omits date/time)
- does not have any power/productivity features at all (e.g. favorite attachments, autocomplete, flexible custom gestures etc)

Any reliable recommendation? I cannot afford not to send/receive or lose emails/data nor to have inadequate privacy policy.

So far tried:
BlueMail
K-9 Mail
spark

None seemed good enough or having the above features!

Thanks!

16

General Software Discussion / API creation

« on: September 15, 2022, 08:37 PM »

Hello

Can you briefly describe how to create an  API for any system?

Also how to create new bindings in an existing API?

Thanks!

17

General Software Discussion / Is it possible to SFTP a file to an email inbox?

« on: September 02, 2022, 04:16 PM »

Hello

SFTP and SMTP have very similar naming but are they the same in terms of security?

I need to SFTP a file to an email inbox but it seems there are several alternative ways they do that (e.g. via a web interface) which means that it is not that secure.

Any experience?

Thanks!

18

General Software Discussion / Ultrabook that has spill resistant keyboard/touchpad

« on: September 01, 2022, 08:34 AM »

Hello

I am looking for a 13-14.5" laptop that has spill resistant keyboard/touchpad and it is not rugged/semi-rugged.

My laptop failures have been almost exclusively due to spilled coffee/water or dust, bread crumbs/bits.

I know some HP ones have that but they have bad reputation in terms of quality and would like to explore alternatives.

A new Dell I bought, I wet wiped its touchpad and it is now broken!

Any idea?

Thanks!

19

General Software Discussion / Re: Multiple Android app instances

« on: August 14, 2022, 04:17 PM »

Unfortunately it's not possible.

By the way I checked my Xiaomi's Dual Apps feature:
1) while I enabled Dual Apps for that particular app, it says it is blocked to install it on my phone (I already have installed one version which works fine)
2) it does not seem to allow me to install 5 instances of the app but only one

20

General Software Discussion / Multiple Android app instances

« on: August 14, 2022, 03:43 PM »

Hello

I have a sensor that connects to an Android mobile via bluetooth and I can operate the sensor using the Android mobile via an Android sensor app.

I need to be able to operate five of these sensors. Unfortunately each sensor can match to one instance of the app so one Android phone.

Is there a cheap way to operate these five sensors? I can buy 5 cheap Android phones and install the Sensor app on each but I hope there is a cheaper solution?

Thanks!

21

General Software Discussion / Fast entry Android reminders

« on: August 01, 2022, 03:54 PM »

Hello!

Do you use any Android app that has very fast reminder input?
E.g. type 11.30am 03/01 blah blah blah and it will ring you at 11:30 with a 'blah blah blah' note?

Voice instructions would be great but I have very poor experience with voice commands so far.

Thanks!

22

General Software Discussion / Windows ini and other questions

« on: July 17, 2022, 09:01 PM »

Hello!

Few questions if anyone has any idea:
Is it possible to specify two finger gestures via AHK or other ways?
Is it possible to save my Windows and Office settings in an .ini file or something to migrate them easily across different machines?
Is it possible to feed a variable from a PowerBI visual into Power Query or a SQL query in Power BI? I know the 'Parameter' feature but not sure if it can be linked to a visual instead of popping a dialog box at start.
Is there an email client (free preferably) that supports full customization/automation with scripting?

Thanks!

23

General Software Discussion / Powerpoint xml

« on: July 03, 2022, 03:06 PM »

Hello

Is there any good xml guide for Office templates?

Thanks!

24

General Software Discussion / CMD SFTP from Windows syntax

« on: June 23, 2022, 12:42 PM »

Hello

I want to sftp a file to a server using a public key.
I have stored the key in my desktop but I get an error:

CreateProcessW failed error:2
posix_spawn: No such file or directory


Can anyone tell me please the right syntax to send a C:\file.txt to sftpserver.com using C:\publickey.pkk ?

CMD sftp usage:
usage: sftp [-46aCfpqrv] [-B buffer_size] [-b batchfile] [-c cipher]
          [-D sftp_server_path] [-F ssh_config] [-i identity_file]
          [-J destination] [-l limit] [-o ssh_option] [-P port]
          [-R num_requests] [-S program] [-s subsystem | sftp_server]
          destination

PS: I cannot install anything on the machine

Thanks!

25

General Software Discussion / Re: Operating multiple devices - easy solution for cables?

« on: June 11, 2022, 02:02 PM »

Thanks RDP is a good option but not adequately mature (I am experiencing issues/inefficiencies).

Is it possible to enable my personal laptop receive/send signals (video, sound, keyboard, touchpad) from e.g. four other laptops?

The KVM switches I have been able to find, only accept a keyboard or screen to output the source signals which is something I do not want. I need to consolidate all the laptops into one device but this device has to be laptop or at least a screen and a keyboard/touchpad that can form a laptop-like device (similar to MS Surface convertibles etc).