Messages - HankFriedman [ switch to compact view ]

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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.com/news/software/applications/8-hacks-to-make-firefox-ridiculously-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
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.)


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