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1426

Found Deals and Discounts / Angry Birds free for Chrome

« Last post by Edvard on June 11, 2011, 02:22 PM »

Don't know what kind of deal they got worked out, but if you haven't played this already, welcome to your new addiction...

Birds! Slingshots! Destruction! Feathers! Fun!

https://chrome.googl...jchaibgeefbgmgeghloj

from a friend of mine

1427

General Software Discussion / Re: Not bad article on The Sins of Ubuntu

« Last post by Edvard on June 10, 2011, 06:32 PM »

No problem. You base your response on experience. Your statement is the core of Linux: freedom (to choose something else).

Pre-zactly.
I knew you'd understand. 

1428

General Software Discussion / Re: Not bad article on The Sins of Ubuntu

« Last post by Edvard on June 10, 2011, 12:31 PM »

I could write a book replying to this article point by point, but I just don't have the time at the moment, maybe later, I don't know.
Suffice it to say I agree with many of his points, wholeheartedly even, but I found myself disagreeing with where he lays the blame.
In other words, as bad as some of their decisions have been, I just can't say that it's all Canonical/Ubuntu's fault.
Sometimes you gotta go with what works, and when somebody else breaks it for you...

I use Xubuntu because it was the first distro I used that I didn't have to fight with in order to get and use software that didn't come bundled with the distro.
Believe me, after my initial go-arounds with Slackware, Mandrake, and a few others I was always left wondering if it couldn't be made just a little easier.
Ubuntu answered that.

I've tried the latest versions of OpenSuse, Fedora, etc. and while they've both handily overcome the package management beast, I still prefer the APT/Synaptic system over Yum/RPM, and there was always something I didn't like; usually something starting with a K or a G.
Sorry Zaine, nothing against you, but I just cannot stand KDE no matter how many times I try to use it, and Gnome consistently insults my intelligence.
Xfce is my DE of choice and I'm quite glad I have that freedom.

So much more to say...

1429

Living Room / Re: Wanted: Electronic/Searchable Holy Books

« Last post by Edvard on June 04, 2011, 02:26 AM »

Once again, I believe OP (Tinjaw) was looking for more than just Bible study aids:
https://www.donation...89.msg95630#msg95630

e.g. Is there a Quran module for e-Sword?
A searchable web interface for the Bhagavad-Gita with bookmarks and commentary?
Can the Tibetan Book of the Dead be converted to OSIS format for loading into Sword project software?

And so on...

Regardless of (or because of?...) my own personal predilections, I would also be interested in electronic resources for studying other cultural/religious works, and since this thread has woken up again, I think I'll do a little more searching of my own.

1430

Living Room / Re: Which is more important: the gadget, or the software and apps that runs it?

« Last post by Edvard on May 31, 2011, 07:05 PM »

Wow, did this thread ever go off topic!! 

1431

Living Room / Re: Which is more important: the gadget, or the software and apps that runs it?

« Last post by Edvard on May 31, 2011, 03:46 PM »

... And Brave New World!! Don't forget about Brave New World!! 

1432

Living Room / Re: Kaydara - 55 minute Matrix Fanfilm

« Last post by Edvard on May 27, 2011, 04:11 PM »

Commercials, during a web video...Are you kidding me?!?

-Stoic Joker (May 27, 2011, 02:39 PM)

Yeah... forgot about that... Ugh >_<
I guess they gotta clear their budget somehow.

I thought the claymation sequence made virtually no sense but was funny as hell, and was therefore OK. The ending I didn't really like, primarily because it didn't make a damn bit of sense to me. What the hell is the point of running away from the dead body of the guy you just killed - Twice, by not saving him... - solely for the purpose of going into VR to hug his virtual corpse?!?

Got me there...  
It is a FAN film after all, and those don't usually have the same depth of plot or coherent story, but if it's done well, I can usually forgive them.

Like this time... 

1433

Living Room / Re: Skype Outage

« Last post by Edvard on May 27, 2011, 11:55 AM »

I'm not so sure...
Unplugging from Asterisk severs at least one tie, as Asterisk is a full-fledged PBX system (read: telco interface), and you still have to pay extra to a SIP provider to get to a land-line (just like Skype offers), so that's not much of a foot in the door either.
Also, from everything I read, Microsoft wants to integrate the technology in all their Cloud stuff which pretty much inextricably ties it into use of their software which I must say is miles away from being called a public utility.

Maybe when governments finally wrest control of the internet from the people by calling it a "civil right" we'll see some of that, but hopefully that's still a long way off...

1434

Living Room / Re: Kaydara - 55 minute Matrix Fanfilm

« Last post by Edvard on May 27, 2011, 11:39 AM »

Towards the end of the film, there are events that play out that are relevant to the claymation sequence, so it's not a total throwaway.
The film could have survived without it, though.

1435

Living Room / Re: Skype Outage

« Last post by Edvard on May 27, 2011, 12:22 AM »

I'm actually excited about this part:

we have prioritized our focus around implementing the IETF SIP [Session Initiation Protocol]  standard in our Skype Connect solution.

That means that Skype will then be able to communicate over SIP, which MAY also mean SIP clients would be able to connect to the Skype network (fingers crossed), which is a VERY smart move IMHO.

1436

Living Room / Re: Kaydara - 55 minute Matrix Fanfilm

« Last post by Edvard on May 26, 2011, 08:33 PM »

Maybe I just don't get out as much as I should; I quite enjoyed it.

@JavaJones: the opening sequence was a video game one of the characters was playing.
It plays a minor role in the final outcome, so there's reason behind it, but I agree it was rather silly.

1437

Living Room / Re: Kaydara - 55 minute Matrix Fanfilm

« Last post by Edvard on May 26, 2011, 03:47 PM »

@Edvard- Well, yeah. Thanks. But I made that recommendation a while ago. And I try to follow the "6-month recommendation limit" rule. Because AFAIC, if something's not mentioned for over half a year, then the next person who does mention it becomes the 'new' finder.

-40hz (May 25, 2011, 07:21 AM)

Hello, only 5 months ago...

Either way it's a great movie site.  

+1  

I just watched the film and it's pretty darn good for a fan production.
The sound was WAAAY out of sync for me (don't know why) so it was like watching a badly dubbed french film, and the story line seemed a bit shallow in spots (I know, it's short, it's a FAN film, etc. etc.) but well done overall.
 

1438

Living Room / Re: Skype Outage

« Last post by Edvard on May 26, 2011, 03:35 PM »

Skype has gone out before, so this is not even eyebrow raising.

I mean, as far as I know, ink on the deal isn't even dry yet, why the hell blame Microsoft so quickly?
Even the latest flap about Skype severing ties with Asterisk is about a deal that was planned months ago.

1439

Living Room / Re: Which is more important: the gadget, or the software and apps that runs it?

« Last post by Edvard on May 26, 2011, 02:03 PM »

...

I simply see good hardware as a prerequisite. That doesn't diminish the value of the hardware, because without it you're screwed. But what I'm really interested in is getting things done, and the software is the primary enabler.

-Renegade (May 26, 2011, 05:29 AM)

I agree with you 100%, I was just saying if I go shopping for a gadget, I'm going to be looking at the slickest hardware first, which won't guarantee great software, but less hardware constraints make for a better software environment.
"Build it and they will come"

Alright (damn you guys - now I'm stuck trying to figure this out.) If I understand this correctly:

When HardWare encounters WetWare, it ends up being SoftWare in less than an hour.

Right?

-Stoic Joker (May 26, 2011, 11:48 AM)

*facepalm*

1440

Living Room / Re: Which is more important: the gadget, or the software and apps that runs it?

« Last post by Edvard on May 26, 2011, 04:40 AM »

@Renegade
Try running Windows 7 on a Pentium II and get back to me.

I see everyone's point, the quality of the software available is a prime consideration when adopting any platform.
It's just that if your hardware isn't there, all the zippy software in the world is not going to help.
You're not going to paint the Mona Lisa on a paper towel.

1441

Living Room / Re: Which is more important: the gadget, or the software and apps that runs it?

« Last post by Edvard on May 26, 2011, 02:37 AM »

Double-edged sword.

Lackluster software running on awesome hardware is frustrating and puzzling at the least, and plain stupid at worst, though the hope then remains that the software can be updated or apps developed to take advantage of the hardware's capabilities.

Great software attempting to run on under-powered hardware is downright painful.

So... I'll have to disagree.
+1 for hardware.

1442

Living Room / Re: Apple admits existence of MacDefender malware - Update planned

« Last post by Edvard on May 26, 2011, 01:15 AM »

But wait folks! There's more!!

Within 12 hours of Apple’s announcement, the author of the original Mac Defender program had a new variant available that renders key portions of the current Mac Defender prevention plan obsolete.

http://ct.zdnet.com/...;brand=ZDNET&s=5

1443

Living Room / Re: Microsoft buying skype for US $8.5 Billion

« Last post by Edvard on May 25, 2011, 07:09 AM »

From the website:
http://ripetungi.com...ons-and-investments/

Infographic showing the acquisitions and investments of Microsoft, done as a tube map with each coloured line representing a different industry for each acquisition or investment.  Where the stations meet is where the two industries overlap.  The key at the bottom displays information about the location on the map of the station (company) the year of acquisition or investment.

 

I could also wish for a distinction between investments and acquisitions.
I saw Facebook on there and had to re-read. 

1444

Living Room / Re: Kaydara - 55 minute Matrix Fanfilm

« Last post by Edvard on May 25, 2011, 06:42 AM »

@40Hz RE: Quiet Earth

I do believe I happened upon that site from one of your posts.
Been checking it almost daily ever since. 

1445

Living Room / Kaydara - 55 minute Matrix Fanfilm

« Last post by Edvard on May 25, 2011, 05:00 AM »

Kaydara, a bounty hunter who is living separately from the Human Resistance Group, does not believe in the prophecy of 'the One.' He sees this so-called saviour as a threat to the awakening of Man's self-awareness and considers him an enemy. If their paths cross, Kaydara will not hesitate to confront him.

http://www.kaydarafilm.com

from QuietEarth

1446

DC Gamer Club / Re: Spiral Knights - a free-to-play MMOG that's fistfuls of fun...

« Last post by Edvard on May 24, 2011, 09:08 AM »

My knight's name is Googoogajoob, go ahead and tag me in your friends list when you get signed up. 

1447

DC Gamer Club / Re: Spiral Knights - a free-to-play MMOG that's fistfuls of fun...

« Last post by Edvard on May 23, 2011, 10:20 PM »

Yup, it's pretty good for all that.

They now have an Auction House and a Training Hall.
I'm going to check it out now, haven't played in a while.

Looks like Tycho from Penny Arcade is obsessed with the game, and

look who I found flying around the Town Square!

1448

Living Room / Re: Force USB Drives to use Drive Letter X

« Last post by Edvard on May 21, 2011, 11:57 AM »

I realize my next suggestion is not ideal either, but...

Are there better backup solutions than Symantec's?
I know your company paid good money for it and the support, but this if this is as critical as "one slip and it's bye-bye data" then maybe something else needs to be done.

I know, more straws to grasp at...

1449

Living Room / Re: Tech shopping tips

« Last post by Edvard on May 21, 2011, 06:27 AM »

Or was until they came out with 4-layer boards with plated-thru mounting holes.

Like I said, "... it was broke when it left the factory."

You call it "obsolete" or "out of warranty" I call it "free parts". 
That silver solder they're using now is pretty darn tough though.
"We're gonna need a hotter iron..." (nod to Roy Scheider and his toothy pal)

1450

Living Room / Re: favourite hardware hacking resources

« Last post by Edvard on May 21, 2011, 01:44 AM »

+ temporary chain link. (I have done this...)

My latest hack fave:
Fresh out of AAA batteries?
Got a 9v battery hanging around somewhere (even a half-dead one)?
Crack the 9v open and there's the equivalent of six AAA cells in there (AAAA's actually, but whatevs).
http://lifehacker.co...ry-as-emergency-aaas