Recent Posts

1351

General Software Discussion / Re: Problems after you install Microsoft's security update 2823324

« Last post by app103 on April 12, 2013, 12:13 PM »

I think that may be the wrong link to the instructions. 

1352

MEWLO Web Framework / Re: OLD - Unfinished Web project: YUMPS

« Last post by app103 on April 11, 2013, 11:33 AM »

I could release the existing YUMPS code but i'm not sure what good that would do anyone..

-mouser (April 11, 2013, 09:18 AM)

Sometimes projects are like children. They shouldn't be released into the world until you have lived with them for at least 18 years. 

1353

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

« Last post by app103 on April 11, 2013, 01:16 AM »

1354

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

« Last post by app103 on April 10, 2013, 09:35 PM »

Am I the only one that can't find any hint of Stephen being offended by the term "tard" in this post, as claimed by Tinman, here, and has no clue why he told Stephen to "get over it"? 

Even Stephen has no clue what he's talking about, which is why he posted this:

-Stephen66515 (April 09, 2013, 08:38 PM)

Tinman, have you overdosed on troll pills or something? You aren't making any sense!

1355

Living Room / Re: portable furniture

« Last post by app103 on April 10, 2013, 09:15 PM »

You could always use LEGOs. If your furniture falls apart, you just snap it back together.

For inspiration:

• table
• matching chair
• another chair
• desk
• another table
• sofa
• kitchen island
• buffet table (awesome lego site alert!)

1356

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by app103 on April 10, 2013, 07:13 PM »

Another interesting posting on Bitcoin...

http://www.reddit.co...nd_savings_invested/

-wraith808 (April 10, 2013, 06:21 PM)

Glad to read that he did the smart thing to correct what could have been a really big foolish mistake and now whatever he makes from what he still has invested will be pure profit without risk.

But it could have easily become a situation where a fool and his money were soon parted, with him living on no more than $150.00/wk for a long time, if he defaulted on those credit cards and they obtained judgements against him, along with permission to garnish his wages till it was all paid off.

1357

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: NoteZilla

« Last post by app103 on April 10, 2013, 06:55 PM »

An annoyance under the best conditions.  With *your* task bar? 

* wraith808 shudders

-wraith808 (April 10, 2013, 05:56 PM)

1358

Living Room / Re: portable furniture

« Last post by app103 on April 10, 2013, 05:58 PM »

I used to have one of these and loved it. Folds up to the size of a suitcase. Quite sturdy, as long as you make sure the supports are securely snapped into place before using it. This could serve multiple needs quite nicely.

You could also consider a traditional folding banquet table and normal folding chairs.

Years ago (right before she started high school), I had considered buying my daughter a desk similar to this one, except the one I was going to buy also had a hutch with shelves on it*. I figured when the time came, she could fold it up and take it to college with her, and set it up in her dorm room. The company also makes a number of other foldable items that match it, including a chair, printer cart, bookcases, etc.

I have a foldable bookcase in my kitchen that I use as a "charging station" that holds my coffee maker, all the varieties of teas and coffees we have, and a power strip for charging MP3 players, phones, cameras, etc. It's quite sturdy and made from unfinished wood.

If you have the time and some basic wood working skills, you could make your own snap together/apart table from the following basic design:



While my image is rather hastily and sloppily made, it will give you the general idea. It consists of 2 shelves, which are identical, and 4 side supports, which are also identical. The whole thing snaps together by fitting the notches together. You'd make the shelf pieces no bigger than you need or can transport (in trunk or back seat of car). And the side supports determine the height of the whole thing. Measure carefully because you don't want it to fit too loose. It should be snug, but not get stuck so you can't snap it back apart. When you have to move, you just take it apart and the whole thing can store flat in the trunk or you can stand the shelves up behind the back of the front seats, inside the car. If you make it as tall as a kitchen table or standard desk, you may have to add a 3rd shelf in the middle and additional matching center notches in the side supports, to ensure stability, and keep the whole thing from collapsing. I would make these out of oak. While the weight would be heavier, it would make much stronger furniture that won't be as likely to break before you get back home again.

This basic design was the basis for a lot of really inexpensive entertainment centers and tables, back in the 80's, that were great when it came time to move, because they easily came apart and took up very little space in the moving truck. Larger units were made by simply adding more notches, shelves, and side supports of varying heights. (I tried to find some pics online of some vintage pieces like this, but couldn't find any.  )

If you understand the basic design, you can get pretty creative and make something that can serve multiple purposes by just changing the side supports and amount/size of the shelves, as needed....like a short coffee table with 2 shelves can become a desk in minutes, with the addition of another shelf and switching the side supports to a taller set with 3 notches each.  You could even make 2 of the shelves with a cutout for your legs, and use 4 side supports for the front, 2 on each side of cutouts. Of course that would mean as a coffee table, the bottom shelf would have a cutout, but if you are worried about looks, stick something decorative in the space to make it look like it's some sort of artistic modern design that's supposed to be that way. 

If you are interested in this design and considering making your own and don't understand something, ask away and I'll try to clarify. 

_{*We ended up buying a monster of a desk, instead.}

1359

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by app103 on April 10, 2013, 03:50 PM »

Bitcoin falling HARD, amidst possible DDos attack of one or more exchanges.

http://techcrunch.co...04/10/bitcoin-crash/
http://venturebeat.c...ices-crash-over-100/

1360

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: NoteZilla

« Last post by app103 on April 10, 2013, 01:52 PM »

Well, when given the choice between spending $20 to upgrade Notezilla or $10 to upgrade my old 3M Post-It Digital Notes, if I am going to have to wait till v9 or beyond to get rid of the annoying taskbar button flashing, I'll upgrade 3M and use it only for my notes that have alarms. It doesn't force taskbar button flashing on me and it has a much nicer alarm manager.

Over all, Notezilla is still the better product and I'll be happy to upgrade when the annoyance is fixed. I'd rather not run 3M at all or give them another dime, but necessity rules.  

Adding this feature is not a problem. It is a minor change. But by disabling the taskbar flashing button, you might miss the reminder popup window completely. Because Windows XP onwards, another program is not allowed to interrupt the active program. This is the reason the flashing button was added by Microsoft. Do you have any suggestions so that we can disable taskbar flashing button and at the same time not miss the reminder popup window.

-conceptworld (April 10, 2013, 09:38 AM)

I am not saying to take the flashing feature away. I am only asking for an option to disable the flashing. And you don't have to set that as the default. Allow the user to decide how they want it. Those that really want it disabled would be more likely to take the risk that they may miss seeing the popup. Besides, we always have alarm sounds to catch our attention, too. 

But in case you want to know, here is how 3M does it:

They use an animated tray icon (and no annoying taskbar activating balloon notification thingie) instead of an automatic popup window.



At the same time, it plays an alarm sound.

If the user does not click the alarm tray icon within a user configurable time (I have it set for 30 mins), it plays the sound again. It keeps repeating this till the user clicks that icon. (so, for me, that would be every 30 mins)



When the user does click the icon, it brings up the alarm manager where they see a list of ALL alarms scheduled, with icons in the left column to mark the alarms that are currently due, which ones are snoozed, etc.

Unlike Notezilla, there is no dismissing of one alarm popup window, only to have another and then another pop up after, if multiple alarms are due at the same time. It's all handled in the same window at the same time.

The alarm manager also shows the entries in the order of when alarms are scheduled to go off, so it is easy to see what and when the next alarm will be. The user can easily click any entry in the list to see the actual note and/or change the scheduling for it. And the user can manually open the alarm manager at any time, from an entry on the program's tray icon menu.



A good alarm manager was a feature I had hoped you'd consider adding for v8 of Notezilla. I am willing to wait for that for that feature in v9, to allow you plenty of time to do it nicely. I am not going to suggest you copy 3M's exactly, because I have the confidence that you'll do yours, even better.

I promise, if you take care of the flashing issue in the next version, I will purchase it. Take your time...don't rush with a quick fix on my account.

I too was annoyed by the flashing alarm. However, I was annoyed with Microsoft and XP; I don't understand why Conceptworld should be hold responsible. If a feature request was sounding like "please help me to live with XP", and not like "it is your fault that XP is annoying me!", one could maybe hope to win the case...
 

-Curt (April 10, 2013, 12:16 PM)

But it is his fault and not the fault of Microsoft or XP. He is the one making the FlashWindowEx API call that is overriding my OS defaults. He chose to use that API call. Neither Microsoft nor XP forced him to type that into his IDE. I do not normally use software where the developer acts like he knows what is good for me better than I do and overrides my OS defaults, with no option to disable that kind of behavior. If he gave the option to allow the popup window to behave according to my OS settings, it wouldn't lock the taskbar in its fully extended position like it does.

Microsoft even has a whole section on notification etiquette. This is what they had to say about flashing the taskbar:

Use taskbar button flashing sparingly to demand the user's immediate attention to keep an ongoing task running. It's hard for users to concentrate while a taskbar button is flashing, so assume that they will interrupt what they are doing to make it stop. While flashing a taskbar button is better than stealing input focus, flashing taskbar buttons are still very intrusive. Make sure the interruption is justified, such as to indicate that the user needs to save data before closing a window. Inactive programs should rarely require immediate action. Don't flash the taskbar button if the only thing the user has to do is activate the program, read a message, or see a change in status.

My complaint about the flashing that he added is just a reminder of how right Microsoft is about it being very intrusive.

But I like his software...a lot...which is why I paid for it, use it, have no plans on uninstalling it, and am willing to give him a chance to fix it. But I will not hand him another dime until it's fixed, when I feel like I am being pushed into to paying for an alternative while I am waiting for him to fix it. This is an annoyance that I will not live with for another few years, one way or another, even if it means taking matters into my own hands and using an alternative for just the notes that have alarms. I am sorry, but that's how I feel about it.

1361

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Copernic Desktop Search Pro Version on Bits Today, 18 July 2012

« Last post by app103 on April 09, 2013, 02:06 PM »

Curt, if you haven't done so already, I suggest perhaps installing the free version and giving it a try...then decide if you want to pay and upgrade it to pro.

http://www.copernic....ucts/desktop-search/

There is also a thread on desktop search tools here on DC (rather old though), where Copernic's is mentioned and compared to others quite a bit: https://www.donation...dex.php?topic=2434.0

I see you made quite a few contributions to that discussion, too.

1362

General Software Discussion / Re: Wanted: Simple EML viewer

« Last post by app103 on April 09, 2013, 10:53 AM »

Well, attachments are highly unlikely, as these are all from various forms submitted from the clients' websites, so Notepad2 should do just fine.

1363

General Software Discussion / Re: Wanted: Simple EML viewer

« Last post by app103 on April 09, 2013, 10:41 AM »

Notepad2 worked beautifully. 

1364

General Software Discussion / Re: Wanted: Simple EML viewer

« Last post by app103 on April 09, 2013, 10:38 AM »

April, EML files are plain-text files; you can view them in any text editor.  Or, were you looking for something a bit fancier?

-skwire (April 09, 2013, 10:23 AM)

I had no idea. I am and have always been a web mail user (except way back when I was on AOL)

Nice to know I probably don't need anything I don't already have. 

Thanks for the info.

1365

General Software Discussion / Wanted: Simple EML viewer

« Last post by app103 on April 09, 2013, 10:04 AM »

I need something simple, lightweight, no nonsense, and free to view EML files.

I am currently manning the support desk for a web development company and sometimes clients attach .eml files to posts, which I must view in order to understand what they are reporting as bugs.

I don't want or need a full blown desktop email application capable of sending/receiving email, address book, etc...just something to quickly open and view the content of these individual files with.

Anybody have any suggestions?

1366

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: NoteZilla

« Last post by app103 on April 09, 2013, 08:52 AM »

I am an XP user...nothing I can do on my end unless you give me that option.

1367

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

« Last post by app103 on April 08, 2013, 08:49 PM »

Not a joke as far as I know, but still funny as hell

-Stephen66515 (April 08, 2013, 01:52 PM)

  I don't know which to do, Laugh or just think this guy is a total tard......  And yeah, "tard" is a politically incorrect term, AKA; NSFW topic.  Get over it and move on....   

-Tinman57 (April 08, 2013, 08:40 PM)

Get over what? He said it wasn't a joke...and it wasn't. It was a news story. This urban legend is not a legend any more. 

1368

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by app103 on April 08, 2013, 08:24 PM »

Don't let the glare of the potential gains dazzle you to the extent that you are unable to see the potential losses (statistical history: there's already been one relatively major deflation, don't forget), and be aware that fear is likely to be a primary motivator in your behaviours - fear of potential loss of an unrealised potential and intangible gain. This is or would be absurd/irrational. As well as being irrational and acting as an amplifier for our innate greed under these circumstances, fear is one of the most destructive of human emotions, and it is extremely difficult to remain rational whilst in a state of fear - and therefore easy to make mistakes.
Money can make a very good servant, but a dreadful master.

-IainB (April 08, 2013, 07:22 PM)

What you said agrees with what I had said before, elsewhere, about not investing in objects to which you can easily become emotionally attached, or are symbolic (investing huge sums on an engagement ring for your bride is the first that comes to mind). That attachment reduces the value of the object to $0, because the attachment will stand in your way of ever selling it. You can't cash in on sentimental value. The only thing you can buy with it is regret.

There is no room for emotions of any kind in investing. Good investing is done cold, without feeling, nothing like love or fear to misguide you or stand in your way.

1369

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

« Last post by app103 on April 08, 2013, 05:36 PM »

People of DC,
I beg you a judgment about the penultimate message I posted, the message with the girl sleeping on her breast. I consider it very funny but a (male) member considers it inappropriate instead. I am ready to remove it but first I am curious to know what's your impression.

-Giampy (April 08, 2013, 03:00 PM)

You know, even though this thread is clearly marked NSFW and the image was behind a spoiler, nudity anywhere on this forum can still bring down the family-safe and child-safe rating of the entire site, which can trigger blocking in some filtering software commonly used in schools, businesses, and some homes.

And we wouldn't want that, would we?

1370

General Software Discussion / Re: Independent desktop shopping compare software

« Last post by app103 on April 08, 2013, 05:26 PM »

What is the software more near to this purpose then ?

-Contro (April 08, 2013, 03:50 PM)

I don't know, which is why I am following this thread, too. I am also interested in finding the same.

I guess we will both have to wait and see if anybody knows of such a tool that is not malware.

1371

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

« Last post by app103 on April 08, 2013, 03:14 PM »

They would probably have done better selling Peruvian Guinea Pigs, passing them off as Yorkies. It would have been more believable and no steroids necessary.

1372

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

« Last post by app103 on April 08, 2013, 02:45 PM »

Poor ferrets. 

1373

Screenshot Captor / Re: Deleting Files Permanently From Thumbnail Panel

« Last post by app103 on April 08, 2013, 10:04 AM »

What happens if you check the box on the dialog window? Nevermind.

1374

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by app103 on April 08, 2013, 09:46 AM »

Nothing, be it bitcoins, gold, diamonds, paper currency, baseball cards, classic cars, real estate, grandma's wedding dress, or anything else, has any value unless humans place one upon it. And it only has the value that we decide upon, and only for as long as we decide.

You ignore the *big* difference that Bitcoin is limited.

-tomos (April 08, 2013, 09:22 AM)

I own things I wouldn't trade for all the bitcoins, gold, diamonds, paper currency or anything else in the world, like my grandmother's sewing box. They are very limited...only 1 exists. They have great value to me. But you wouldn't agree that they have any value at all and would consider them worthless...to you.

That kind of makes the value that we humans assign to most things, nothing more than an opinion. And opinions are subject to change. (see Texas dollars, French Francs, German Deutschmark, Pogs, Beanie Babies, stock prices, etc.)

1375

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: NoteZilla

« Last post by app103 on April 08, 2013, 09:19 AM »

>> Is the taskbar button flashing issue on the reminder popup fixed (optional)?

Sorry. Can you elaborate on this issue?

-conceptworld (April 08, 2013, 12:30 AM)

As previously stated, back in 2009:

taskbar button flashing on alarms- I would love to see an option to turn that off. It makes my large hidden taskbar fly out halfway across my screen, covering whatever I am doing.

-app103 (June 03, 2009, 12:35 PM)

In v7, whenever a reminder pops up, it flashes the taskbar button, which causes my very large hidden taskbar to unhide itself, covering half my screen and staying locked in position until I click the reminder popup. Not very good for productivity. The solution would be to make taskbar button flashing optional.