Recent Posts

151

Living Room / Re: It's alive, it's alive!!! mwahaha! - WinButtons and 7" touchscreen works

« Last post by nudone on December 08, 2011, 10:52 AM »

Heheheh. Now that IS impressively old-school.

152

Living Room / Re: It's alive, it's alive!!! mwahaha! - WinButtons and 7" touchscreen works

« Last post by nudone on December 07, 2011, 10:52 PM »

A lot of the cheaper Android Tablets use Resistive too. I've tried a few and you have to use a stylus (old bit of plastic) to get the best response from them.

153

Living Room / Re: It's alive, it's alive!!! mwahaha! - WinButtons and 7" touchscreen works

« Last post by nudone on December 07, 2011, 12:23 PM »

You don't need to understand Korean to get the point there, but they're already here.

-Renegade (December 07, 2011, 12:14 PM)

Oh, I've seen those, they're everywhere aren't they - I've got a giant one that I use as a shower curtain. (Well, maybe I will have by the time I die.)

Displayper? Maybe. I assume we'll just be calling it e-paper when it arrives.

154

Living Room / Re: It's alive, it's alive!!! mwahaha! - WinButtons and 7" touchscreen works

« Last post by nudone on December 07, 2011, 12:04 PM »

I think your issue with the sound quality on cellphones is going to be down to the noise cancellation that they'll all be using. I don't know this for sure, it would just make sense that this is built-in these days. Plus, I wouldn't be too surprised if mobile phones only send audio when the sound reaches above a certain level (or is that simply noise cancellation again).

As for touchscreens, yep, they are pretty crap at the moment. I imagine they will remain so for another 10 years - until flexible and "softtouch" screens are available (or whenever that will be).

I've an iPad and that seems about the best touchscreen at the moment. Maybe they should all be named something other than "touch", perhaps "heavythumbprodscreens".

155

General Software Discussion / Re: make USB port disabled or delayed enable on startup - any util do this?

« Last post by nudone on December 06, 2011, 03:15 AM »

thanks, Shades. I'll go through that thread at the weekend (or when I feel up to the stress of constant reboots trying to get the MIMO to work).

as for MIMO difficulties, cranioscopical, all I've seen are complaints on the forums. I get the impressoin that people just give up and send the touchscreen back to Amazon. plenty of cases where the touchscreen worked and then one day it decided not to.

(which is all why I can't really be bothered to try and figure out the problem.)

156

General Software Discussion / Re: make USB port disabled or delayed enable on startup - any util do this?

« Last post by nudone on December 05, 2011, 10:31 AM »

nah, I'll hang on to it. It might be brilliant used alongside the Wacom Cintiq. if it doesn't work with anything I plug it into then, fair enough, it's a dud. at which point i will happily smash it up. everything i buy i view as a gamble - i'm genuinely amazed when things work properly. when they don't i just accept that i lost that one - again.

157

General Software Discussion / Re: make USB port disabled or delayed enable on startup - any util do this?

« Last post by nudone on December 05, 2011, 06:23 AM »

I've had black screens for several seconds each time too - that's if I was lucky enough for it to connect at all. For it to work means not having the touchscreen connected during startup; it's as simple as that. I was prepared to accept that, it was simple enough, I just plug the MIMO in after everything else has loaded in...

...but today, not even that worked. This is on a machine that hasn't changed since the last time the MIMO was connected (two days ago). So, what's happened? Nothing has changed on the machine (that I'm aware of) and yet the MIMO decided it just didn't feel like waking up today (you may be right about the Monday Morning model).

So, I can't get the touchscreen to work if I boot up with it plugged in. In this scenario, it doesn't make the screens go black - it just doesn't do anything at all; the system has no idea that it's there. On my previous computer it would struggle to do something in this configuration - but it amounted to nothing more than making a blue LED blink and a ping noise repeat constantly (the sound of a USB device trying to connect).

And now, it doesn't even work plugging the device in after startup. I'm not prepared to keep messing about with it anymore. There was absolutely no good reason for it not to work this morning.

It's too late to send back to Amazon, I've checked. I suppose I could send it back and say it's not fit for purpose or something but I suspect that it will work fine if I plug it into a system with less monitors attached. So, not fit for purpose isn't really the truth.

I'll see what happens when I get around to using it with another machine. Maybe I'll be quite happy with it then.

edit:
Having said all that. One thing I've not tried is letting the machine wait at a login screen during startup. Maybe that's the trick that makes it work. I'll give it one last try sometime this week. If it doesn't work then, I'll probably attempt to snap the screen over my knee.

158

General Software Discussion / Re: make USB port disabled or delayed enable on startup - any util do this?

« Last post by nudone on December 05, 2011, 03:03 AM »

Please do not suggest I try anything further with this horrible touchscreen

i like torturing nudone so i will suggest another.. devices which like to suck lots of usb power may behave better on a POWERED usb hub.
If you haven't yet tried connecting it to a powered usb hub, that might be worth a quick try.

-mouser (December 05, 2011, 02:43 AM)

Yep, that's the problem. I've tried more than one powered USB hub and other hubs and the ports on my motherboard. It just doesn't work.

I'm sure it works fine with one normal monitor attached to the machine but I've got three. I guess this is something the MIMO manufacturers have never thought about testing.

I've made a similar post about it here: https://www.donation....msg270234#msg270234

159

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: On Screen Button That Sends Keyboard Commands

« Last post by nudone on December 05, 2011, 03:00 AM »

I've made a post here about why I'm not using the MIMO touchscreen anymore: https://www.donation....msg270234#msg270234

160

Living Room / Re: It's alive, it's alive!!! mwahaha! - WinButtons and 7" touchscreen works

« Last post by nudone on December 05, 2011, 02:57 AM »

For the record: I've decided to stop using the MIMO touchscreen (and therefore Winbuttons too).

I've had enough of the device's inability to connect properly. I'd been persevering with it ever since it arrived but it's gone too far now.

(Please don't make any suggestions about how to make it work correctly. I've tried the latest drivers and they make the same amount of difference as the other drivers I've tried, i.e. zero difference. I've tried several USB hubs, powered and non powered and all of the ports on the motherboard.)

Today, not only would it refuse to connect but it has now made one of my screens forget all it's colour calibration settings (because my machine now thinks it's a completely different monitor, one that has never been calibrated). This means I've got to waste twenty minutes calibrating the screen all over again. This is not a new pointless routine I wan't to get into.

I've also decided that I can remember and access the hotkeys (in Photoshop, etc.) quicker than I can locate a button on the touchscreen - so the whole touchscreen idea is flawed (for me, at least).

I did consider this touchscreen stuff an experiment that may fail and so it has; maybe not for the right reasons but if the device doesn't want to play nicely then it can just go and die. One positive conclusion is that I know never to buy another touchscreen again, nor to try and use an iPad in a similar way. I've now realised that my keyboard with all its extra macro keys is going to be the better system - even if that is simply because it works immediately on startup.

I may find a use for the MIMO with my Wacom Cintiq based machine. That said, if it doesn't work first time I'm going to run outside and see how far I can throw the touchscreen and watch it smash as it lands on the nice hard concrete. Which will be the most satisfying thing I can do with the unfit for purpose device. (Maybe I should just see if Amazon will give me a refund.)

161

General Software Discussion / Re: make USB port disabled or delayed enable on startup - any util do this?

« Last post by nudone on December 05, 2011, 02:36 AM »

Thanks for all the suggestions but I've decided to take a radical approach to the problem - I'm going to throw the MIMO in a cupboard and forget about it.

I've just booted my machine, plugged the MIMO into the slot that had always made everything work - and this time it didn't work. Several minutes messing about rebooting, unplugging, plugging, installing new drivers has made me accept that this touchscreen device just isn't worth the trouble.

I may have persevered but it has also made one of my screens lose its colour calibration settings. That means I'll have to spend another 20 minutes doing that with my Spyder colorimeter thingy.

Please do not suggest I try anything further with this horrible touchscreen - except for satisfying ways I can drop heavy objects onto it; the most pleasure I will get from this piece of crap is by seeing it explode into thousands of tiny pieces.

162

N.A.N.Y. 2012 / Re: P-FANCI: Petition For A New Cody Image! POST HERE!!

« Last post by nudone on December 01, 2011, 07:52 AM »

Of course, drool. hehe.

163

General Software Discussion / Re: make USB port disabled or delayed enable on startup - any util do this?

« Last post by nudone on December 01, 2011, 07:52 AM »

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I think I'll have to try a few experiments over the weekend - after I do a system backup; I expect it will break all my USB "stuff" at some point.

I did see someone talking about devcon elsewhere for a similar USB problem - I think they said it didn't help so I forgot about it. Probably worth investigating though.

I'll try the newer DisplayLink drivers too.

164

General Software Discussion / make USB port disabled or delayed enable on startup - any util do this?

« Last post by nudone on December 01, 2011, 05:51 AM »

I need my machine to disable a specific USB port during startup or, even better, to simply delay enabling it for about 10 seconds.

The problem is that I've got one of those small MIMO touchscreens - it uses USB for power and image signal (using the DisplayLink drivers), and it refuses to connect properly during the startup of the machine.

If I leave the MIMO plugged in during startup, I can't even attempt to get it working by unplugging it and then plugging it into a different USB port.

This is how I get the MIMO to work without fail:

1) I have to boot the machine without the MIMO connected.

2) Wait for everything to load in.

3) Plug the MIMO into a USB socket.

4) Remember to disconnect the MIMO before I boot the machine next time.

This is the second machine I've had the problem with, so I think it's all just a symptom of the hardware and software I have to use. I've tried all the motherboards USB ports and a couple of external USB powered hubs - nothing makes a difference. The MIMO just doesn't like my setup - maybe it's because there are three other monitors plugged into the computer.



Anyway, is there a util that will delay a USB port connecting during startup. If not, is this something Autohotkey could do (and if so, would someone be so kind as to make it for a few DC credits).


Having said all this, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that merely disabling the USB port isn't enough to resolve the problem; maybe the system goes through more of a hardware scan when the MIMO is plugged in and this kicks the systems graphic management into action.

165

N.A.N.Y. 2012 / Re: P-FANCI: Petition For A New Cody Image! POST HERE!!

« Last post by nudone on December 01, 2011, 04:26 AM »

What has Hoardy got dripping out of his (or her) beak?

166

N.A.N.Y. 2012 / Re: P-FANCI: Petition For A New Cody Image! POST HERE!!

« Last post by nudone on November 30, 2011, 01:55 PM »

Put Cody in place of the LSD chicken at the top, then replace the pilot with a maiden...

-Stoic Joker (November 30, 2011, 01:22 PM)

heheheh. didn't notice that bird. maybe we can have baby cody as the LSD chicken and cody instead of a maiden. (though, i don't mind the original suggestion either.)

167

N.A.N.Y. 2012 / Re: P-FANCI: Petition For A New Cody Image! POST HERE!!

« Last post by nudone on November 30, 2011, 01:11 PM »

might be nice to put Cody into the mayan sky pilot image (or whatever it's commonly known as) as suggested by tomos.

168

N.A.N.Y. 2012 / Re: P-FANCI: Petition For A New Cody Image! POST HERE!!

« Last post by nudone on November 30, 2011, 12:48 PM »

that's a good idea - especially when it comes to using Adobe Illustrator. it would be the perfect design tool to do lots of symmetrical shapes and complex repeated patterns.

169

N.A.N.Y. 2012 / Re: P-FANCI: Petition For A New Cody Image! POST HERE!!

« Last post by nudone on November 30, 2011, 12:03 PM »

(phew, no one seems to be too interested. no need for me to start worrying yet.)

170

Adventures of Baby Cody / Re: I found Baby Cody's Family!

« Last post by nudone on November 20, 2011, 04:29 AM »

Amazing.

171

Living Room / Re: multiple monitors vs large monitor?

« Last post by nudone on November 17, 2011, 05:12 PM »

Depends what you consider expensive:

http://www.amazon.co...tech-data/B003CMHE3E  < £50 up to 2560 x 1600 res. (DVI, VGA and HDMI sockets), HDCP ???

http://www.amazon.co...p/product/B004L2K8ZA < £70 not sure max display res., DVI, DP and HDMI ports (probably need a DP-DVI adapter), HDCP compliant.

-Carol Haynes (November 17, 2011, 11:10 AM)

Not a bad price then.

172

Living Room / Re: multiple monitors vs large monitor?

« Last post by nudone on November 17, 2011, 10:52 AM »

I have 3 24" Samsung monitors - wouldn't swap them.

Why not by a bigger widescreen monitor and stick it in the middle of the two 19" monitors?

You would need a card that supports 3 screens though (ATI Eyeinfinity cards mostly do  - check the models).

-Carol Haynes (November 17, 2011, 07:52 AM)

You can still use more than one graphics card - if you've got the motherboard slots. The cards don't have to be too special either. I had two monitors driven by a very, very, cheap nvidia card a while back. Now, I've got two screens running off an old geforce 7800 and the main 30" running of a (cheap) geforce GT 430 - which I had to buy specially because the older cards couldn't output to 30".

I'm guessing a single card that can run three (or four) screens won't be too cheap.

173

Living Room / Re: multiple monitors vs large monitor?

« Last post by nudone on November 16, 2011, 06:20 PM »

I was trying to resist braggin, I mean chipping in...

Go for three if you can, a nice big one in the middle and smaller ones either side. I've got the perfect setup after years of half-hearted experimentation (quadruple monitors were a waste of time).

My array now resembles an extremely widescreen monitor that covers the width of the desk. So that's a 30" flanked by two 20"s in portrait mode.

I sometimes sit in front of a 24" screen on an older pc and it feels claustrophobic.

174

General Software Discussion / Re: Experts opinion on very odd Camera -> Card -> File Copy corruptions

« Last post by nudone on November 11, 2011, 06:40 PM »

Sorry to hear this - and after such a great adventure. It's a harsh lesson but "copying" from one location to another is the only way; maybe even treating the original cards as permanent media rather than something you can reuse. That's all in hindsight though.

I'd also blame the card(s), i.e. I've seen it happen and assumed it was the card so threw it away - then not had the problem arise again. I convinced myself this was due to putting the card in my back pocket - did you store the cards in a less than perfect way?

175

Developer's Corner / Re: A Brief Rant On the Future of Interaction Design

« Last post by nudone on November 09, 2011, 01:28 PM »

(I'd just like to say, what a load of crap the cover versions of Running Up That Hill are. Why on earth did they bother.)