Recent Posts

1126

Living Room / Re: Knight to queen's bishop 3 - Snowden charged with espionage.

« Last post by superboyac on July 24, 2013, 09:35 PM »

Yes indeed. Those who are still curious about many of the things the people who work in the defense industry are not allowed to talk about (because they signed NDAs and/or required special clearances to know about and could be jailed if they did talk about it) will just have to go to their nearest large public library and ask where the Jane's Guides are kept.

That, or attend a defense industry weapons or air show and get copies of the free brochures these companies hand out detailing their products and technology.
 

-40hz (July 24, 2013, 08:59 PM)

what the hell is a janes guide?!  I was just about to eat dinner and unwind, too...

1127

Post New Requests Here / Re: Remember where I got the Download

« Last post by superboyac on July 22, 2013, 11:15 PM »

This approach does not work too well for video (e.g., YouTube) downloads though, as the filename is often just a generic string (e.g., filename "videoplayback", with no file extension). What I have started doing with those is copying the video title in .rtf from the download website, and saving that in MS OneNote, which also automatically copies the metadata (e.g., URL link and date/time of copying/pasting).
For copy/paste, I always use CHS (Clipboard Help & Spell)    - and I would like to use CHS to maintain a de facto download log for downloads such as this. You could (say) concatenate all the CHS clips of this type to make a consolidated log for a period, if you wanted. In any event, it would make it a one-step clip-and-save process, rather than the above constipated two-step process of getting it into OneNote.
I have made a request for a feature to capture and retain that kind of data/metadata in CHS, but until that is available, then I shall probably continue using OneNote, as above.

-IainB (July 22, 2013, 11:06 PM)

I use Clipmate to keep track of things i copy/paste.  I find it useful if I forget an idea or something I was working on, or even as a alternative to using the "browser history" features of browsers.
I use CHS for the popup menu, and for text cleaner features.  I also had notefrog and aceclip for a while, but they didn't take.

1128

Post New Requests Here / Re: Remember where I got the Download

« Last post by superboyac on July 22, 2013, 11:12 PM »

As a data hoarder, the approach I would generally recommend is to always automate creating/maintaining a record of downloaded files, by automatically capturing the data and logging it at the time of the download.
For example:

• The download software GetRight (which works nicely by picking up download links with IE, Chrome and Firefox) can be set by the user to maintain a consolidated download log (.txt file) of all files downloaded. I have used GetRight since 1997 - it is a seriously good piece of software. I think it is freeware now, but I bought a licence. I start a new log every year, and usually delete the old logs after they are about 2 years old, but they are not deleted from my backup archives, so I could probably go back many years if I ever needed to.
• On those occasions where I might have to use the built-in download manager in a web browser, I use their "native" download log. Most browsers give you the download source URL if you right-click on them in the downloads page, so to keep a "log" of sorts, don't clear the contents of the downloads page!

This approach does not work too well for video (e.g., YouTube) downloads though, as the filename is often just a generic string (e.g., filename "videoplayback", with no file extension). What I have started doing with those is copying the video title in .rtf from the download website, and saving that in MS OneNote, which also automatically copies the metadata (e.g., URL link and date/time of copying/pasting).
For copy/paste, I always use CHS (Clipboard Help & Spell)    - and I would like to use CHS to maintain a de facto download log for downloads such as this. You could (say) concatenate all the CHS clips of this type to make a consolidated log for a period, if you wanted. In any event, it would make it a one-step clip-and-save process, rather than the above constipated two-step process of getting it into OneNote.
I have made a request for a feature to capture and retain that kind of data/metadata in CHS, but until that is available, then I shall probably continue using OneNote, as above.

There could be a way to get this kind of data into GetRight as a comment with (say) AHK, but I haven't sat down to think about how to automate that yet.
The useful thing about OneNote is that anything saved into OneNote is indexed, and searchable/findable - so you won't lose it.
I have been contemplating saving my GetRight download logs into OneNote as well - you can use it rather like a SharePoint database.

-IainB (July 22, 2013, 11:06 PM)

dang.

1129

Living Room / Re: DonationCoder Recipe Sharing Thread

« Last post by superboyac on July 22, 2013, 08:52 PM »

Vanilla Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
8 egg yolk
3 cups milk
chocolate chips
1 vanilla bean or extract

Heat the milk to a boil with the vanilla bean.

Beat the egg yolks with the sugar in a heavy bottomed pot, until well mixed.

Remove the vanilla bean from the milk. Add the milk to the egg yolk mixture and stir constantly over low heat, until the liquid thickens enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Do Not Boil.

Transfer immediately to another bowl. Cover with waxed paper and cool in the refrigerator, mixing occasionally to prevent a crust from forming.

Freeze the mixture in an ice cream freezer, according to the manufacturer's instructions

-Tinman57 (July 22, 2013, 06:06 PM)

This I have to try.

1130

Living Room / Re: Movies or films you've seen lately

« Last post by superboyac on July 21, 2013, 01:02 AM »

The Grandmaster - good movie about kung fu (after all, Bruce Lee had to learn his art before becoming a master, this is about his teacher)

-Shades (July 20, 2013, 12:35 AM)

I just watched ip man and ip man 2!  And now this?  are they independent of each other?

1131

General Software Discussion / Re: Swapping Out Software?

« Last post by superboyac on July 19, 2013, 04:38 PM »

#3. Tree Note programs
I have remarked a few times elsewhere that I do mixes of old school paper and computer notes. I had been using a program called "TreeDBNotes Pro". For non experts like me it was a perfect blend of power and ease of use. It was the winner of a six month search for note programs without even having an end goal in mind ... total "I'll know it when I see it" territory!

In the end the Killer App (feature) became a "12 click export" of the entire database into a web page. I'm using it right now to index authors for a SciFi webzine. Then upon the reports of a couple of reader/users, I began scratching my head.

"I *know* I fixed that... why is it not done??!" So I did a couple of bug studies...

And ...Collapsed. Completely. "You have ... GOT .... to be kidding."

The *only* core thing a data organizer needs to do is ... organize the data. So get this ... when I filed a piece of data, and then tried to re-file it, it *undid* up to 25 (or more - I never did get the upper bound!) pieces of data previously filed! This includes saves!

Think about it. File 25 things. Move one. Unfile all 25.

Black Hole Horizon level chaos. No. ... Just ... No.

So what do you do when the sole winner of a program search with a killer feature completely implodes?!!

I got *extremely lucky* in that *in the intervening year* *another program* happened to decide to put in the "12 Click Export" feature ... except that this one didn't ruin my data every time I moved something. (I'm pretty sure it wasn't there before because my computer recognized the name but I would have noticed if it had the export.) So the switch was a snap, even forfeiting the old version's paid fee.

The lesson/question here is what happens when a "mission critical" program goes bad. I don't know what I would have done. ANYTHING was better than total loss of data confidence, but back to any of 30 Grade C alternatives would have been miserable.

-TaoPhoenix (July 19, 2013, 04:29 PM)

er...what is the name of that program?

1132

General Software Discussion / Re: Can someone make available to me the DC software installers? (read inside)

« Last post by superboyac on July 18, 2013, 10:54 AM »

How about on dropbox? Copy and paste link, don't click it.

https://dl.dropboxus...u/684853/misc/dc.zip

-app103 (July 18, 2013, 10:13 AM)

Thanks.

I wish they would buy a site license.  Sometimes people walk by and see me doing stuff, and they ask what is it?  I explain it, they think it's cool.  But for some reason, it's met with resistance to purchase such things.

1133

General Software Discussion / Can someone make available to me the DC software installers? (read inside)

« Last post by superboyac on July 18, 2013, 09:26 AM »

My work blocks dc software because they are malicious.  can someone provide the installers somehow on some offsite location (like MEga or something)?  I just got a new computer and I need:
screenshot captor
CHS
Find and run robot
dcupdater
unicode image maker SC
launchbar commander


Thanks!  much appreciated.

1134

Living Room / Re: What annoys you to no end?

« Last post by superboyac on July 17, 2013, 07:24 PM »

That and "Emo" anything.

-40hz (June 17, 2013, 10:43 PM)

Don't watch the latest Muppet movie...emo Kermit.

1135

Living Room / Re: What annoys you to no end?

« Last post by superboyac on July 17, 2013, 07:23 PM »

Acronyms.  WTF ?

-crabby3 (June 18, 2013, 08:44 AM)

You're username is perfect for this thread.

1136

Living Room / Re: Help me choose my next smartphone

« Last post by superboyac on July 17, 2013, 04:10 PM »

I don't want to turn it off.  then i have to turn it on whenever i'm in an area i can connect to wifi automatically.  but yes, i can turn it off.  and on when i get home.  and off when i get back to work.  and back on at home.  Yay.  what convenience.

-superboyac (July 17, 2013, 03:54 PM)

There's a setting to tell it not to automatically scan for new networks, have you tried that? I have that option enabled, and always have WiFi on. I have to manually add new networks by opening the wifi settings, but you only have to do that once. When you're around that network, it'll reconnect but ignore all others.

As for deleting . . . can't you just press and hold and then forget the network? (My phone is in the shop, so I can't confirm, but I am certain you can forget networks)

-allen (July 17, 2013, 04:01 PM)

Yes I have that setting off.  And normally you can delete the network by holding it, but it's buggy.  if it's trying to connect, it won't let you.  and if it's not trying to connect, holding it down doesn't do anything because as soon as you let go it asks for the user/password for that network.  it's just buggy.  i mean, just give me a freaking setting on the bottom and forget all this holding nonsense.  or fix it.  something!

1137

Living Room / Re: Help me choose my next smartphone

« Last post by superboyac on July 17, 2013, 03:54 PM »

Can you turn the WiFi off?
That's what I do, till I need it.
I have ATT with a Pantech SmartPhone.
It should be an easy setting to find, but I've never used a windows phone.

-cmpm (July 17, 2013, 03:53 PM)

I don't want to turn it off.  then i have to turn it on whenever i'm in an area i can connect to wifi automatically.  but yes, i can turn it off.  and on when i get home.  and off when i get back to work.  and back on at home.  Yay.  what convenience.

1138

Living Room / Why the Surface hasn't sold well. (idiots)

« Last post by superboyac on July 17, 2013, 03:51 PM »

http://www.businessi...snt-sold-well-2013-7
So this article is going to reveal the difficult mystery of why the surface has not sold well.

He told the resellers to bring their customers to a Microsoft Retail store and show them the Surface devices there: "You should feel free to use our store as an extension to your office," he said. "Bring your customers there."

Bob Venero, CEO Future Tech

Future Tech

Bob Venero, CEO Future Tech
Bob Venero, CEO of Holbrook, N.Y. reseller Future Tech, was incredulous.

"Really? Hey guys, let's bring our customers in and tell them, 'Look at all of this cool stuff. By the way, you can't buy any of it from us.' What? It's insanity," Venero told Business Insider.

Keeping the Surface away from the channel is also "an emotional issue" for resellers because the Surface is supposed to represent the best Windows 8 PC possible, he said. Why wouldn't Microsoft want its partners to be able to sell the best, he wonders.

Microsoft's reorganization last week doesn't look like it will solve the problem anytime soon.

"I"m trying to figure out the rationale, to understand why they put the Surface under a retail scenario. Xbox is retail. Where clearly the direction we're told from Microsoft is that Surface is for corporate [users] and it wants to drive it into the enterprise."

Read more: http://www.businessi...2013-7#ixzz2ZL0Bo02b

First, it's a dumb article.  Second, it's an idiotic article.

Why beat around the bush?  What is the big mystery?  Let me list all the DUH points:
--Why mess around with the whole start button nonsense?
--it's too locked down, not "messing around with" friendly.

Microsoft is not stupid, but they are pretending to be to hide their true agenda.  EVERYONE wants the start button back, and they are holding off on it as long as possible.  Secondly, the entire windows community is used to the hacker friendly operating system of the past 20 years.  This is the opposite.  Why would windows user desire an apple-like OS?  Doesn't microsoft realize there has been always was a raging rivalry between the two? Holy cow man.

And these are windows users!!  Not apple users who want the glitz and polish!  You are expecting nerdy, hacker, gadget loving, registry messing, service disabling, freeware loving communists, Windows IT users to gladly go to a windows 8 OS and take away all the things they love about computers?  Geez.

And I won't even get into the whole retail store, business/marketing argument that the article is addressing.

Idiots.

1139

Living Room / Re: Help me choose my next smartphone

« Last post by superboyac on July 17, 2013, 03:28 PM »

Well, I think I know now what my battery issues are.  When there is a wifi available, and there is trouble connecting to it like it's a secured connection that you don't have access to, or a weak signal, then it seems like the phone keeps trying to connect to it and sucks up the battery juice.  And I think it's similar to a signal that's weaker than expected.  So when I'm at work, my phone can't connect to the secured work connection, and even though the phone shows full bars and LTE, the internet really struggles (either shitty ATT, or shitty windows icon programming).  So it's like it's trying to connect but can't and uses up the battery all day long.

THis can totally be addressed with some options or some updates to the OS, but good luck with that.  so frustrating.  i can't even delete the offending wifi networks from the auto-connect list.

1140

Living Room / Re: Knight to queen's bishop 3 - Snowden charged with espionage.

« Last post by superboyac on July 17, 2013, 03:21 PM »

ad hominem
beat you (whoever you are) to it!

1141

Living Room / Re: Knight to queen's bishop 3 - Snowden charged with espionage.

« Last post by superboyac on July 17, 2013, 03:20 PM »

The fact remains that there are countless "conspiracy theories" out there that are proven facts. Not matter for debate.

-Renegade (July 17, 2013, 11:29 AM)

You're talking chalk and cheese here.

However, branding something as "a conspiracy" in order to deflect attention away from there being corroborating evidence to support its claims is no less a pile of dingo's kidneys than insisting something is "a conspiracy" to deflect attention away from its being an assertion without adequate corroborating evidence.

'Conspiracy' has become an intellectually bankrupt term. Right up there with 'organic' and 'green' IMHO. Let's stop using it.
 

-40hz (July 17, 2013, 01:21 PM)

I've JUST recently decided to stop discussing any kind of controversial subjects with most people because as soon as somebody seems to bring up an unpopular stance, the 'conspiracy" word is thrown around by a lot of people and it deflects all discussion of facts and objectivity.  Very similar to how the racist term typically used to be thrown around.  And I'm tired of it, and don't care to discuss it with people anymore.  The media doesn't help at all, in fact, they make it worse.  Take the latest cases: trayvon martin and this snowden.  All the important details are not known to anybody, and for sure the media is not giving away any details.  Yet, they expect people to make up their minds and take sides?!  You kidding me?!  And what's worse is that people ARE making up their minds!  So i'm done.  I'm just a spectator at this point.

I forgot the official latin word for this thing in debate terminology, but it's bully convincing.  "I don't believe you, I need more facts."  "What are you, an idiot?!  get outta my face moron." debate over.  great.

1142

Living Room / Re: Hack a Day website is now on Kickstarter

« Last post by superboyac on July 15, 2013, 05:06 PM »

BTW, thanks for helping me with my startup!

-superboyac (July 15, 2013, 12:42 PM)

@ SB - Thanks for the kind words. But you overestimate whatever help I may have given. You did your homework extremely well and had all the pieces of your plan in place. I was just the sounding board.

The thing that impressed me most was that you actually went out and did it. That put you in that very small minority group who prefers to actually do something rather than just dream about doing it.

Starting and running a real business is a mind altering experience - as we discussed. (Oh my yes!) And now you know this to be true from your own direct experience. Pass it on! 

-40hz (July 15, 2013, 03:57 PM)

I still remember the quote you told me about a mirror of yourself (forgot the wording), but it was exactly true.  I learned more about myself the last 3 years than possibly any period before.  What an experience, holy cow!  Can't say I'd be able to do THAT again.  But I will do some other things, and I think they will be good (fingers crossed).  I'm trying to do something more fun this time, along the lines of music or cartoons, and this time I'd like to work with less focus on the profits and more on just doing quality work, with energetic people, skilled people.  Not that it's going to be volunteer work, it must make financial sense one way or the other.  but one of the weird (almost mysterious) lessons I've learned through this whole process is that focusing on the money doesn't work well, and focusing only on the artistic (or perfectionist, control freak, etc.) also doesn't work well.  There's a strange balance in between that is just right, and I've gotten a really good feel for that.  I just don't know how to describe it, and I understand now why other businessmen I've talked to had a hard time explaining it to me (and I always was pissed and accused them of being intentionally vague or misleading or dishonest).

By the way, let me explain...the business was a success in the sense that we captured between 10-20% of the market in less than a year.  A copycat customer of ours even started his own exact same business just 6 months later with an inferior product (no way that guy put in the same sweat I did  ).  It was NOT a success in the sense it didn't change any of our lives much, and it completely exhausted me.  But that was because we expected to capture 80-100% of the market (stooopid).  Great lesson learned there.  I'm very proud of the books, I can guarantee anyone out there it is by far the best material out there.  i would be shocked if someone went through those problems and explanations and didn't pass the test.  Some uber-critical folk who were hammering us on discussion forums about errors (that we fixed with one day turnarounds) and telling us that the books were shit, etc....they all passed.  Some of these guys are such intense studiers that they'll pass regardless of the material.  I also had a very satisfying moment when a coworker was telling me about these really great tutorial videos he saw online that helped him pass, and I'm like "those are mine!".

1143

Living Room / Re: Hack a Day website is now on Kickstarter

« Last post by superboyac on July 15, 2013, 12:42 PM »

I have strong and (to my mind) well considered opinions about start-ups and running a business. And I have even stronger thoughts about how to do crowdfunding and crowdsourcing. Which means it's quite possible I have my head firmly up my ass about a lot of things like this. Especially since I date back to a time before online business anything existed - and I still can't see the web as the magic wand that some do.

-40hz (July 15, 2013, 11:26 AM)

Possible...but HIGHLY unlikely.  If it turns out that you have your head up your ass on such things, I'm just going to shoot myself now.  I'll check it out and see if I have any thoughts.  BTW, thanks for helping me with my startup! 

1144

Living Room / Re: I'm sooo exhausted with the overhyping of everything.

« Last post by superboyac on July 15, 2013, 11:40 AM »

And here I thought it was just an effect caused by the current generation's Short Attention Span Disorder that results in everything needing to be repeated ad infinitum.

-4wd (July 15, 2013, 01:23 AM)

There's been some serious research done on just that. Seems there's fairly clear indications that the acceptance of the 'myth of multitasking' has gone a large way towards training human brains to be more easily distracted and unable to focus.

-40hz (July 15, 2013, 09:28 AM)

In my younger, less cynical days when I was trying to master everything (and being quite successful at it), I remember how all the authority figures kept hinting not so subtly that perhaps I wasn't working hard enough (i.e. that i was lazy!?), or I wasn't able to multitask, or I was taking too long, or blah blah whatever.  And deep down I always knew that I'm absolutely at my best when I just hunker down and obsess about something and work on it.  Always fantastic results.  But I was obedient, so I tried to do it better; the multitasking shit, that is.  And all it did was turn everything into mediocrity.

So I've been studying some of these psychological things, and learning about experiments that have been conducted, really fascinating stuff.  And I see parents and authorities and what they are doing to kids, and it sickens me.  I'm talking about normal kids, not the wealthy ones, they get great loving treatment (of course). ok ok...

1145

Living Room / Re: Help me choose my next smartphone

« Last post by superboyac on July 15, 2013, 11:09 AM »

I personally think the hype of the 41 megapixel camera is stupid.  Not that the camera isn't great.  I find that it distracts from some of the more important windows phone related issues that could be addressed.

-superboyac (July 14, 2013, 01:06 AM)

Windows Phone 8 has been a disappointment on many levels. When Windows Phone 7 first happened, it was exciting ... but didn't even have clipboard support. Eventually the "Mango" update came along, and that was the only significant update to the platform in the last couple years. Windows Phone 8 was a major update in that it was a major version bump and total rewrite of the OS, but I don't consider it a significant update. In many (most?) ways, it was a step backwards in terms of usability. It came with the promise that this new RT based platform would be more actively updated over time... exactly zero significant updates later, we can write that off as false. There's a similar promise coming along with the next update but I won't hold my breath. Nokia has done its best to fill the gap to some extent with its own third party additions, Network+, Phone Extras, exclusive apps/games; at the same time, Verizon is the only network that supports the first party data sense.

There's been a lot of hype and a lot of disappointment. Despite all that, it's the platform I keep coming back to. I prefer the simplicity and elegance of Windows Phone over Android. While BlackBerry has a similar charm and even better usability, its app selection makes Windows Phone's modest selection seem robust.

Hopefully some time soon Microsoft (and BlackBerry for that matter) gets into its groove and really starts actively developing the platform--you've got to be fluid to keep pace in the mobile space. You can't start behind the pack, stagnate and expect to compete let alone win the race.

-allen (July 15, 2013, 09:31 AM)

exactly true on all points.  I was about to go to android or blackberry, but the kicker was the outlook integration for android (not as smooth as wp8) and for blackberry, well, let's just say consumer confidence in their product is quickly disintegrating.  So after two exchanges with ATT for battery issues, i'm sticking with the lumia 920.

Nokia has done some nice things with their app updates.  I mean, at least they are visibly trying to improve it.  Im quite happy with the Drive app, which i use a lot.  And their maps is good, too.  But for god's sake, can Microsoft do something...anything...that even hints that they are listening to their customer's concerns?  I'm talking about teeny tiny improvements like I mentioned above.  I'm not talking about drastic rewrites to the kernel or anything.  This is Windows...it's supposed to be the configurable, geek friendly OS.  At the moment, it's even more locked down than Apple!  These big companies are a lost cause now.  They just don't give a shit anymore, they can do whatever they want, they don't even need to do anything, and they will continue to grow and get massive amounts of money.  And nobody can say anything because they have all sorts of access to media channels, and people are dumb anyway, so they'll just repeat whatever the billboards say.  And you can't really start your own competitor company, just because (of many reasons).  So this is it.  Our options are just these mediocre products and non-existent customer friendliness.

People really need to wake up and get with it with the tech education.  I mean shit, there's all these free Khan academy videos, fantastic TED talks, etc. all over the place.  people think apps are cutting edge tech?  There are people levitating objects, bending light, tracing the origins of skin color using NASA satellites, all these amazing things...all for free, all right at our fingertips.  Yet so many people still have this "fear" of technology.  I fix people's computer issues and they think I'm a f---ing wizard.  And that makes me feel good and all, but geez, so out of control.  Argh!!!

I love music and girls soooooo much.

1146

Living Room / Re: $250,000 Prize for Human-Powered Helicopter

« Last post by superboyac on July 14, 2013, 10:38 PM »

Awesome.

1147

Living Room / Re: I'm sooo exhausted with the overhyping of everything.

« Last post by superboyac on July 14, 2013, 01:28 AM »

If you've read "1984" and "Brave New World", you don't need to read the news.

But I know what you mean about hype. All the most unimportant things are hyped beyond galactic proportions, meanwhile the news that actually matters either never gets mentioned or gets an off-hand mention. e.g. Atrocities by US-backed foreign rebel fighters in Syria and near universal support for Assad by the Syrian people, etc. Gee... the kindling for WWIII just isn't important enough for the news...

Try reading some alternative news as what you hear is radically different. And there's no non-stop celebrity gossip or non-issue news.

But, what do you expect from the MSM when it's owned by 6 PR companies.

And no - it hasn't always been this way. It's much worse now. I've been the editor for an industry journal for about 14 years and I've noticed the downhill slide. News is nothing more than press releases from industry and government - journalism is almost dead.

-Renegade (July 12, 2013, 10:09 PM)

That's good to hear.  I get a little frustrated sometimes because I can't tell if I'm just "growing up" or actually sensing a legitimate difference in today vs. before.  It's so annoying! And it's a topic that is super difficult to discuss with 99.9% of people (from my experiences at least).  Mostly because I'm a pretty social person and these types of topics are pretty unfriendly, so I just don't dig too much into them (but oh, how I'd love to).  A couple of my friends just agreed to eventually have an all-day video session with pro basketball videos so I can "prove" to them how overhyped most of these average players are.  That's a first.  I told them they better not be toying with me!

1148

Living Room / Re: What is safer for data -- a hard disk or a blue ray disc?

« Last post by superboyac on July 14, 2013, 01:11 AM »

That problem can be caused by not dismounting (safe removal) the drive correctly when using an USB or eSATA connection (the write back cache is not written to the disk before it's shut down, as it should, which may cause data loss or corruption). Some eSATA drives like WD MyBook can not be dismounted when first mounted (Windows does not show the option), others can. When first plugged in you have to keep them running until you shut down the PC.

-zenzai (July 12, 2013, 05:18 AM)

That's something I need to remember.  You never want a little impatient urge to ruin a 4TB drive. 

1149

Living Room / Re: What is safer for data -- a hard disk or a blue ray disc?

« Last post by superboyac on July 14, 2013, 01:08 AM »

I agree with zenzai about the cause, but now I don't even trust Safe Removal as I've been pretty careful. Whenever possible I turn off my notebook and disable write-back caching.

-longrun (July 13, 2013, 12:28 PM)

I'm using Zentimo to handle my USB connections, I don't know if it is safer when it comes to Safe Removal but I've never had any problems with my disks in this respect.

-zenzai (July 13, 2013, 12:51 PM)

i love zentimo.  for the simple reason that the gui is very easy and clear about what you are stopping/removing.  not the confusing presentation that comes with windows, good grief.  every time i use the default windows one, i always go through a moment where i'm like "This SEEMS to be the right drive I'm removing, but I'm not exactly sure.  oh well, here goes!"

1150

Living Room / Re: Help me choose my next smartphone

« Last post by superboyac on July 14, 2013, 01:06 AM »

Any interest in the Nokia Lumia 1020 with the 41-megapixel camera coming out this month. It's only available on AT&T, so that may be something against it. You may want to wait for hands-on user reviews and experience about it.

-Arizona Hot (July 13, 2013, 11:55 PM)

I personally think the hype of the 41 megapixel camera is stupid.  Not that the camera isn't great.  I find that it distracts from some of the more important windows phone related issues that could be addressed.  how about adding just a tad of customize-ability to the phone?  a lot of users have made some fantastic suggestions for small ways to improve the phone, and there is nothing.  all these stupid updates that don't do anything.  Seriously, they have updated things like the "about" screen more times than actually updating some things that add functionality to the phone.  how about adding a "select all" feature for emails?  little things like this.  how about giving some control over the fu--ing volume?  cmon, it would take one person a week to do these things.  i can't tell you how sick i am of just hype in general.

even something like navigating the music library is a complete pain.  there aren't enough buttons to go back and not enough options to do things with the playlists and stuff.  my biggest complaint with the phone is that it has been way too over simplified.  it's almost like the goal with apple and microsoft (microsoft being the worse of the two actually) is how much functionality can we cram into a single button? if it tap it it does this, if i hold it it does that, etc.  and that would be fine, but even the settings and options don't even have anything in there.  so many times on the windows phone, you will go into a settings or option for something, only to find the most minimal amount of things available, it will blow your mind.  There's a screen that tells you the specs of your phone...on that screen there's a "more" button.  if you press it, it shows you...get this...a few more lines of specs.  what the f--k is that?  just put them all on the screen?  what are you, saving me from reading 4 more specs out of 100?  such idiotic, careless, i don't give a f--k decisions with MS lately.

there's a settings menu labeled "network+".  what's inside?  just a toggle for call waiting.  what the hell is that?

Don't get me wrong, I like the phone, it's pretty smooth overall.  This negative/cynical reaction of mine is more of a response to all the hype, which in no way matches the reality of the phone.  it's just a nice phone.  it will get you through the day, nothing to write home about.  but this hyping of everything has been a bad problem since the economy went down.  maybe all the QE money went into marketing or something, i don't know.  seems like all the big companies are doing their best to super-steroid overhype anything that is within their grasp.  man i must be in a bad mood or something...time for bed.