Recent Posts

1101

General Software Discussion / Re: Google Chrome -- a new browser coming (in beta) in a few hours

« Last post by fenixproductions on September 03, 2008, 03:49 AM »

First vulnerability just have been found:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=1843

1102

General Software Discussion / Re: Google Chrome -- a new browser coming (in beta) in a few hours

« Last post by fenixproductions on September 02, 2008, 05:32 PM »

2Grorgy
Yes. I know this is still beta and something might change in the future but I really doubt about cleaning installer mess. Take a look on Google Earth or Sketchup. Does any of these allows you to specify installation folder or just installs to PF automatically?

On the other side: it is not so hard to create something from other people bricks / ideas. The problem is to make it so well designed and consistent that everybody will want to use it. Don't rely on your brand only.

Similar thing is happening to any alternative filemanager. There are so many apps of such kind that it would be hard to remember all of them but in the matter of fact only few are memorable. Why? Anyone can make files managing software but not everyone can make revolutionary changes.

Currently Chrome is just a junk yard for other browsers ideas. They put few things together, labelled with double "o" and throw into market. They simply forgot about the "soul". For Firefox it's called "extensions", for Opera - speed and all-in-one. What for G? Imho: label only. In this case Google niched MS

1103

General Software Discussion / Re: Google Chrome -- a new browser coming (in beta) in a few hours

« Last post by fenixproductions on September 02, 2008, 03:00 PM »

2jgpaiva
I have almost all of my software categorized in my Program Files folder. each app goes to i.e. archive / system / tools/ etc. BUT...

Google Earth created Google directory in PF. Sketchup went there automatically without option to change it. Browser... went into Docs&Setts. I understand some user accounts restrictions. I understand that apps settings should be stored inside user's folders. I don't understand why whole app went there. It's against any kind of logic. It only creates unnecessary mess. Executables should be placed under PF from where less privileged users can only read.

I can't even imagine what will happen when I will try to access Google's browser from different account. Will it copy itself to next folder? Or perhaps will give other users an access to my folders under D&S because an EXE is there? Will it (at least) give access error or will not find an app?

Once again I am disappointed by big name giving "sick" apps (Desktops previously gave similar feeling).

1104

General Software Discussion / Re: Google Chrome -- a new browser coming (in beta) in a few hours

« Last post by fenixproductions on September 02, 2008, 02:43 PM »

Just installed and already pissed.

Looks like it went into:
"C:\Documents and Settings\<USER>\Local settings\Application data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"
WTF?

1st: You can only get downloader from Google's site.
2nd: No option to specify where should it be installed.
3rd: Where is bookmarks manager?

1105

General Software Discussion / Re: Google Chrome -- a new browser coming (in beta) in a few hours

« Last post by fenixproductions on September 02, 2008, 10:59 AM »

I will happily welcome this browser because of few reasons which are important to me: limits of rendering engines and usability issues.

Currently you can have to fair enough engines on Windows: Presto (Opera) and Gecko (Firefox). We can all forget about Trident, like it forgot about standards. Safari for Win (WebKit) is just a joke for everyone. I've found IE more usable for me.

When it comes to think about first two mentioned I cannot use them for 100% of my browsing time. I have many problems with Google apps and some movies in the Internet under Opera. On the other side: Firefox is big slug for me. Even if I try to optimize it via strange settings, it is still slower then Opera. Unfortunately: other web browsers use already mentioned engines because of its policies (KMeleon) or because of being just addons (Maxthon).

I've learnt to live with pros and cons of each browser and vary their use on needed content but sometimes I would like to have another way to fight with.

Maybe GBrowser ( ) will be an answer, maybe - not. Time will show.

1106

Developer's Corner / Re: A plugin based information bar in Windows

« Last post by fenixproductions on September 01, 2008, 07:11 PM »

Maybe add plugin which will be something between standard Windows applications bar and Alt+Tab replacement?

Something like this, what I wrote lately:
http://fenixproducti...ika.pl/tmp/Debug.zip

Sample screen:


WARNING
This app works on Win 32bit only and requires .NET 2.0 framework. It contains DLL files for keyboard and windows messages hooks. It's your risk only!

Shortcuts:
1. after clicking on horizontal list - arrows to navigate, Enter activates window,
2. global - hold Win key and use arrows, activate using Enter while Win key holding...

1107

Living Room / Re: My Taskbar Notification Area Competition

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 27, 2008, 05:14 PM »

I will never understand how is it possible to have so many items in taskbar

Here's mine:


"Links" is toolbar created from Desktop's folder which contains all shortcuts given by installers.

Near the clock (from left):

• Network connection (WinXP, automatic, I cannot switch it off),
• Safe remove (automatic, USB key for wireless),
• Skype,
• Miranda IM (runs together with guy from above),
• TrueCrypt,
• COMODO Firewall,
• Locate32
• Dropbox
• Rainlendar,
• Avira AntiVir

Few other apps which land there too. It is very rare for me to see naked Desktop or focus my eyes on task bar. I am using Total Commander almost all of the time so it handles my most used shortcuts and I became keyboard oriented user.

1108

Screenshot Captor / Re: Bug/Suggest: Capturing covered window.

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 27, 2008, 11:21 AM »

2mouser
You're welcome.

What about giving the dialog to choose which window should be captured? Or maybe additional RMB tray menu item called "Capture Application" with windows names as sub-items... This would be awesome

BTW If you're not planning big changes then I think that at least you could bring app to front if user wants to capture it (optional).

1109

Screenshot Captor / Bug/Suggest: Capturing covered window.

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 27, 2008, 09:59 AM »

Hi.

I've just found a "bug" common to many capturing utilities which exists in Screenshot Captor too.

The problem can be easily observed when you try to capture window which is partially covered by other one. In this case you'll got image with two applications.



I assume that the source of the troubles is using some WinAPI methods (like: GetWindowDC, GetWindowRect) which are very limited for this purpose. It seems that an information about window handle is used only for knowing the boundaries of the area to be cut from the screen. Not the best way for capturing because it requires to place window on top every time you need it.

I think that it could be nice to modify this tool a little bit and give the possibility to capture any window (even hidden) user can imagine.

One of the solutions is using WM_PRINT (and WM_PRINTCLIENT) as described here:
http://www.fengyuan....article/wmprint.html

The second solution is to apply more dirty trick:
http://www.codeproje...MinimizedWindow.aspx

It is dirty but can give additional feature:
user can choose witch application should be captured from the list of available windows (instead of clicking on appropriate one). Even minimized ones can be captured

1110

General Software Discussion / Re: Desktops V1.0 - a virtual desktop manager from Sysinternals

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 26, 2008, 08:27 PM »

I've took a look into Desktops forum and I am simply amazed by the level of ignorance. For "multiplying same desktop" problem the answer is something like: "The only suggestion I can think of is selective elimination of other software (stopping services, exiting processes, perhaps with the help of Autoruns, etc.).".
Why would I need Desktops without any other software? I know that the purpose of such utility is to simplify UI overload during your work BUT not by turning everything down. I have Process Explorer for this.

Well, it's like hearing: "if my application raises Your antivirus false-alarms then switch antivir off" ;(

1111

General Software Discussion / Re: Delphi 2009 (And C++ Builder 2009) Released

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 26, 2008, 03:42 PM »

I can't find an info so I will ask here:
is it now possible to compile 64bit code or should we wait next few years?

1112

Post New Requests Here / Re: Check file/folder similarity, rename file when similiraty occurs

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 25, 2008, 07:18 AM »

2Coldiffusion
If you are Total Commander's user then you can use Similarity.wdx plugin.
Just take a look here:
http://fenixproducti...Plugins.aspx#similar

If you don't *maybe* I will write it as standalone tool.

1113

General Software Discussion / Re: Graphics corruption -- Why?

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 24, 2008, 08:57 PM »

My wild guesses:
1. graphic card's faulty drivers - reinstall them,
2. motherboard BIOS problem (same as here: http://forums.nvidia....php?showtopic=16837).

If it would be the case of few applications only I could also point out some system's (or specific application's) libraries resposible for images handling (I've seen similar behaviour with bad libpng.dll).

1114

General Software Discussion / Re: Desktops V1.0 - a virtual desktop manager from Sysinternals

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 24, 2008, 02:27 PM »

2kartal
I can say you're lucky if this works for you after all.

For me: this is the first tool from SysInternals which doesn't work like it supposed to. I have the same desktop four times only. I cannot set this up to have i.e. Opera in D1 and TotalCommander on D2. Each application is available on each desktop. When I maximalize an app on one of these... it gets maximized in others too. Same functionality built in nVidia drivers works without any problems.

The biggest issue might be "placebo" imho. In any Linux distro I've used such functionality was very, very comfortable. In Windows - did not. I've tried many external solutions and also drivers related ones but each one of them lacks "something" which I cannot define.

1115

General Software Discussion / Re: Your most used SPECIAL programs

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 23, 2008, 08:02 PM »

I've decided to write my few thoughts in this thread because of two reasons:
1. I think that what I want to write about is pretty SPECIAL,
2. Even if I have plenty of time I am not in the mood to write a big review lately.

The thing I want to discuss is something I built up by my own which I call "fenix platform"

The main idea was to have nice set of tools related to general design and Information Architecture work which I would like to do in the future. The basic goal was to have good compatibility between various application and of course: for free. The best way to achieve that was trying to look for some ready answers in the Internet or building something from puzzles. And that is what I have already did. I've realized that XML (and files formats created using this mark-up language) is something worth to be investigated. After that it wasn't hard to find out what I should be using:

1. OpenOffice - office suite (documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings),
2. Inkscape - vector graphic editor,
3. GIMP - raster graphic editor,
4. Scribus - DTP tool,
5. Synfig - 2D vector animation.

Wide range of open source tools with possibilities to use XML (SVG) files as formats for export or import. They allow to design almost everything in any way you want to. Easy to learn, easy to use, easy to download. Imho the only way to have "suite" with similar possibilities is to buy whole packages from Adobe or Corel but it would rip off my pocket for sure.

I don't want to write detailed description for each tool because many of these are already known but I want to share an idea for setting up small "design studios" for free, for your owns only.

1116

General Software Discussion / Re: Your most used SPECIAL programs

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 23, 2008, 07:35 PM »

2tomos
"Measuring by own scale" means that I've always though that if there is a need for some thing which requires hard work at the beginning BUT will give time back after it, then... you can do it. You can learn almost everything if you only want to.

You "problem" is that you are looking for the solution which imho cannot be solved in 100%. You can learn TeX and gain great results but it will require some hard time. You can also try something easier, got good results but sooner or later you'll be limited to chosen tool's features. Your choice is similar to web developing beginners. They can make web sites easily using WYSIWYG tools (i.e. Nvu / Komposer) or little bit more advanced ones (Dreamweaver) but the best after some time this is not enough. They end up with hand-coding.

I gave my opinion, now it's your move to decide.

1117

General Software Discussion / Re: Your most used SPECIAL programs

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 23, 2008, 04:54 PM »

2tomos

when you say "coding", do you think a non-coder could manage without staying up all night or something?!!!  :-)

-tomos

Sorry for measuring people by my own scale

to clarify, I'm looking for a programme that can produce a pdf with embedded fonts (whether opentype or TrueType, document mainly type -layout important- and possibly with some illustrations) and without huge learning curve. I've heard and read about Tex, but you know the way, just reading doesnt really help sometimes ...

-tomos

Maybe use DTP tool (such like Scribus) then?

1118

General Software Discussion / Re: Wanted: Calendar/to-do manager with special repeat patterns (for students)

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 22, 2008, 06:32 PM »

2Darwin
Well "any day" is an option but it offers few units (day / week / month / year) which can be set according your needs. There is nothing wrong to write down 9 days instead 1w+2d. You can even put your exceptions. AFAIK my brothers use that for their school plans and this is working just great.

Privately I am using Rainlendar as my shopping list: buy coffe every 6 days except Sundays

1119

General Software Discussion / Re: Your most used SPECIAL programs

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 22, 2008, 06:23 PM »

2cranioscopical
Try maybe this one:
http://www.latexeditor.org/

It requires some "coding" but it was real pleasure to learn the syntax with it. I  remember how I was pissed that I found this little guy AFTER I wrote my thesis using "Win-something" shareware LED is the best LaTeX editor I've ever used.

1120

General Software Discussion / Re: Wanted: Calendar/to-do manager with special repeat patterns (for students)

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 22, 2008, 07:33 AM »

2Darwin
Isn't that a proof for Rainlendar?

1121

General Software Discussion / Re: Help! Good flowcharting sw needed

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 20, 2008, 10:11 AM »

2Curt
Thank you for that information. It looks like they are simply lying on their website ;(
Well this product is still good after all (even if doesn't fit into my fenixplatform©).

1122

General Software Discussion / Re: Help! Good flowcharting sw needed

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 19, 2008, 02:17 PM »

2Curt
I can use Google too but it will not help in my case. I have no Export option. There is wide range of saving possibilities (i.e. HTML, PDF) but SVG is nowhere to be found. I understand that exporting to any MS Office format requires it to be installed. Without that: specific options are greyed out BUT they are still visible (OO.org here). What should I put additionally into my PC to gain what I want?

1123

General Software Discussion / Re: Help! Good flowcharting sw needed

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 19, 2008, 12:25 PM »

2Curt
Thanks for the news.

For now I can't find SVG export option. They've stated that there is such possibility but no luck here.

1124

Living Room / Re: Chandler V1 is officially out.

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 14, 2008, 01:14 PM »

2kartal
AFAIR they wanted to create real Outlook (and Exchange Server) alternative but they didn't. The only thing to say is that they did something original. For now everyone is kicking the dead horse :-o.

Read also:
http://whydoeseveryt...kapors-chandler.html

1125

Living Room / Re: Chandler V1 is officially out.

« Last post by fenixproductions on August 13, 2008, 07:40 PM »

I feel disappointed. I've expected little more than that

What happened to code optimisation these days? Over 100MB from HDD taken just for PIM application?
Also: I know that I don't have the newest PC (2.01 GHz CPU, dual core, 2GB RAM) but response time for this app simply kills me. IIRC Inkscape is written in Python too and is more usable. Is it some kind of joke or what?