Messages

101

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: A new Humble Bundle

« on: October 06, 2011, 05:15 AM »

I have purchased each and every bundle. They just keep adding games to this one!  Keep them coming....

102

General Software Discussion / Re: Mother****ing placeholder text mother****er (Warning: Image contains bad words)

« on: September 21, 2011, 05:06 AM »

My name is y0himba, and I approve of this code generator. 

103

Living Room / Re: Donation gamer: Games to give

« on: September 09, 2011, 05:05 AM »

1. Euphemism for: now to play it without the wife catching me playing games.

-4wd (September 05, 2011, 10:06 PM)

the solution is: get wife into games too. It's just about finding the right game... and that might not be what you think (for one of my friends it was the original dark Alice game, for example). Warning: this is only a good solution if you have two computers.

-iphigenie (September 09, 2011, 05:01 AM)

I bought my wife a Kindle 3G instead. She never puts it down, reading it all the time, and I get to game.  Problem solved.

104

Living Room / Re: Donation gamer: Games to give

« on: August 28, 2011, 08:33 AM »

Hello!  If you still have them, I am interested in:

Defense Grid
Stronghold 1 (My son plays it in strategy gaming at school-it's a gifted course)
Din's Curse

I have also sent you a PM, thanks so much!

 

105

General Software Discussion / Re: Cnet's Download.com and the installer scam

« on: August 25, 2011, 08:02 AM »

In my opinion, if a software site offers a program for download, a link to the developer/author should be displayed prominently as one of the first links you see.

106

General Software Discussion / Re: Cnet's Download.com and the installer scam

« on: August 25, 2011, 07:40 AM »

It appears OpenDNS is now classifying the site in the Adware category...

107

General Software Discussion / Re: Freemake Software: Help With A Service

« on: July 26, 2011, 06:52 AM »

Notice there was no reply to that...

108

Living Room / Re: Am I alone in not using or wanting to use the "Cloud" ...

« on: July 26, 2011, 06:51 AM »

Not liking the cloud either. I prefer to keep everything local with minimal sharing of data or storing of data online.  My Gmail is empty, it's all local here and encrypted(The ones I save). I honestly cannot see how one could find the cloud secure.  It is just an accident waiting to happen, a hacker's buffet.

109

General Software Discussion / Re: Freemake Software: Help With A Service

« on: July 25, 2011, 03:08 PM »

Thank you!  That is helpful...seriously appreciated.

110

General Software Discussion / Re: Freemake Software: Help With A Service

« on: July 25, 2011, 09:00 AM »

From Facebook:

Hi everybody,

as promised yersterday we released an update with the fix of all found issues related to FreemakeUtilsService.

1. Now FreemakeUtilService which aroused so much concern is installed only upon user's permission who wants to help improve Freemake. The bug with the running service was fixed.
2. The service is uninstalled if software is uninstalled, no files are left. This was fixed too.
3. If the service was installed with the previous software version, a user can opt out in the new version. In this case the service will be automatically removed from PC.

Here to avoid confusion brought by some people we'd like to stress once again that the service didn't send before and doesn't send now any data if a user opted out.

The only function of the aforementioned service is to collect our software usage stats which will allow us to improve Freemake further, to your benefit. In case of a crash report a user is asked an additional permission to send a report through dedicated message window.

If permitted, the service runs when a user is online to synchronyze with our server for best time to send crash reports and usage stats. This is done to avoid our server time overload.

A user is given full information about the service via a link to a webpage during software installation.

-Facebook

My reply:

A "bug" for how many versions? Why wasn't this "bug" addressed when it was first reported around a month ago?

Good to see you admitting it was collecting statistics other than crash and bug data.

To be clear, the service DID send data even after opting out. It even sent data if the software was never run, and after the software was uninstalled.

You cannot say you fixed a "bug" and then say there was no issue.

Honesty folks, honesty.

111

General Software Discussion / Re: Freemake Software: Help With A Service

« on: July 24, 2011, 01:13 PM »

Finding the files was easy enough. I already use Process Hacker as my task manager of choice. I think I can use Wireshark to actually see inside the packets, or reconstruct them to see what is being sent, I don't really know.  I am reading about it now and reading the manual.

I already had WinPcap installed from using some program I picked up somewhere:  URLSnooper2.  You may have heard of it.

112

General Software Discussion / Re: Freemake Software: Help With A Service

« on: July 24, 2011, 12:48 PM »

Will do.  Any Sysinternals tools that would be of use?

113

General Software Discussion / Re: Freemake Software: Help With A Service

« on: July 24, 2011, 12:45 PM »

So how would I go about debugging the service to see what it is doing/transmitting and where?  If I am wrong, I will eat crow and apologize up and down.  However, their actions are suspicious and I want proof.

114

General Software Discussion / Re: Freemake Software: Help With A Service

« on: July 24, 2011, 12:01 PM »

No toolbars or addons, just this service, thanks though. I alredy disabled it on my desktop, but left it running on the laptop to see if it would transmit even though I never ran the program. It does.

I have no idea how to debug it, see what it is sending and where, so forth.  A lot of people use and love this "freeware" which is why it concerns me that they may be collecting more than bug or crash data.

115

General Software Discussion / Re: Freemake Software: Help With A Service

« on: July 24, 2011, 11:44 AM »

They are removing Facebook posts that ask about the service's activity and purpose.  Something is fishy here.  Again, if it looks too good to be true...

116

General Software Discussion / Freemake Software: Help With A Service

« on: July 24, 2011, 10:43 AM »

Hello.  I am sure that a lot of folks have heard of Freemake's utilities, a video downloader and a video encoder/transcoder. If you are using the software, it installs a service without your permission or knowledge called "FreemakeUtilsService" which runs at system start and sits there in the background, occasionally transmitting data over the Internet, even when the software is not running.

The software is actually quite nice for encoding with a TON of features.

They state that it collects bug and crash data and then chooses the best time to send that data based on when their servers are least busy.  If there are no bugs or crashes, and even if the software has never been run, it still transmits something. (I installed it on my laptop but have not used it yet) The service can be deleted and the software continues to run. The next time you upgrade (and upgrades are frequent), the service is re-installed, set to automatically run, without the user's permission or knowledge.

Can someone help me check this service out and see what exactly it is doing and transmitting? Someone with more knowledge than me.

http://www.freemake.com (Download the Video Encoder or Video Downloader)

117

General Software Discussion / Re: Google+

« on: July 06, 2011, 07:43 AM »

G+ has taken up all of my social browsing time.  Seriously.  It is almost perfect and the Android app is seamless. My concerns:

When it opens up to everyone, will it become as banal as Facebook?  Grammar-less morons who do nothing but play games?

G+ has plans to add games.  Coming soon to your stream, Farmville for G+. 

Right now it is fairly exclusive and the posts are interesting if not 60% G+ commentary. When this thing opens up and gets games, those of us that love it are screwed as it comes down to the level of Facebook. Other than that, I absolutely love it, transferred my Facebook contacts to G+, and haven't sent 5 minutes on either Facebook or Twitter since I got into G+.

I highly recommend it to everyone.

118

General Software Discussion / Re: Toolbar Cleaner + BHO Remover

« on: July 04, 2011, 12:02 PM »

I find it ironic that a toolbar cleaner wants me to "Protect my system with Domain Advisor" and "Set MyStart as my homepage".  Also, when clicking the like button it asks you to enter your Facebook user/paa and the same with Twitter, although I am already logged in.

It didn't find any of the things I want to get rid of in Firefox, and it listed things that are not installed in Chrome.

Good idea, but I am a bit leery of this one.  Uninstalled it.

119

Adventures of Baby Cody / Re: Baby Cody needs a place to visit!

« on: July 02, 2011, 11:24 AM »

Can he visit Pennsylvania? 

120

General Software Discussion / Re: Google+

« on: June 30, 2011, 09:14 AM »

@JavaJones: I am already on the waiting list and have installed the android App, however if you would like to send a complete stranger an invite, I would be very appreciative. 

121

General Software Discussion / Re: FreewareGenius.com: The best freeware virtual PDF printer tools

« on: June 21, 2011, 12:42 PM »

Bullzip user here as well, for quite a long time now. 

122

General Software Discussion / Re: IrfanView Version 4.25 released

« on: June 21, 2011, 12:40 PM »

Don't forget the plugins, which have also been updated. 

Info: http://irfanview.com/plugins.htm

Best Download: http://fileforum.bet...PlugIns/1099412658/1

(Don't use the software.com download links, they download additional software called WhiteSmokeInstaller.exe without your permission)

123

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

« on: June 04, 2011, 07:36 AM »

A man who'd just died is delivered to a local mortuary wearing an expensive, expertly tailored black suit.

The female blonde mortician asks the deceased's wife how she would like the body dressed. She points out that the man does look good in the black suit he is already wearing.

The widow, however, says that she always thought her husband looked his best in blue, and that she wants him in a blue suit. She gives the Blonde mortician a blank check and says, 'I don't care what it costs, but please have my husband in a blue suit for the viewing.'

The woman returns the next day for the wake. To her delight, she finds her husband dressed in a gorgeous blue suit with a subtle chalk stripe; the suit fits him perfectly...

She says to the mortician, 'Whatever this cost, I'm very satisfied.. You did an excellent job and I'm very grateful. How much did you spend?'

To her astonishment, the blonde mortician presents her with the blank check.

'There's no charge,' she says.

'No, really, I must compensate you for the cost of that exquisite blue suit!' she says.

'Honestly, ma'am,' the blonde says, 'it cost nothing. You see, a deceased gentleman of about your husband's size was brought in shortly after you left yesterday, and he was wearing an attractive blue suit. I asked his wife if she minded him going to his grave wearing a black suit instead, and she said it made no difference as long as he looked nice.'

'So I just switched the heads.'

124

Living Room / Re: Show us a photo of your mutt or other creatures..

« on: May 09, 2011, 12:51 PM »

Last night we rescued a (appx.) 20 month old Rottweiler who is not very well.  We think she was from a puppy farm and has been kicked onto the streets.

She is very thin, and lethargic and still lactating.  The vet said she gave birth no more than 3 weeks ago which means the litter possibly died.

However, even beyond all that, she is very loving, and has a great little attitude on her and shes getting on OK with Munch (my 10 month old Bull Mastiff X Rottweiler).

Here she is!
 (see attachment in previous post) (see attachment in previous post)

-Stephen66515 (May 09, 2011, 11:56 AM)

How is she doing?  Is she reacting or perking up at all?  Have you named her? Beautiful girl.  Look at her eyes.

125

Living Room / Re: amount of RAM in a netbook

« on: May 07, 2011, 06:52 AM »

I have an old Dell Mini 1010 Netbook.  I put Windows 7 Ultimate on it, 1GB ram, Intel Atom processor, 6 hour battery, and disabled the Aero effects.  I can run Firefox with 30 tabs open, and Last.fm streaming in the background at about 70% memory usage with very little sluggishness. I started dual-booting Ubuntu and it runs really nice (11.04).

Runs decent.  It's not a full sized laptop with a dual core and 4gb, but it runs more than sufficient. I cannot upgrade the RAM in this version of the Netbook as it is soldered into a daughter board with the processor. 

I have been thinking about putting XP back on it of late.  XP runs really nice on 1GB RAM and the Intel Atom processor.