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1901

General Software Discussion / Re: Hey Grisoft: I love AVG but I hate popups!

« Last post by J-Mac on October 24, 2008, 02:32 AM »

Having talked to some of their marketing guys, my understanding is that AVG's approach is to only prompt free users to upgrade once per quarter.  If you're seeing popups more than that, something is definitely wrong.  That was a couple months ago though.  If it's working as intended, I think one popup every 3 months is pretty reasonable for a free product that does require a non-trivial amount of everyday maintenance on their part.

-bobj (October 14, 2008, 04:29 PM)

I couldn’t disagree more. It is Grisoft that decided to offer a free version, not pressure from users. And it is already a limited feature edition, as are most free versions of a normally pay-for software.

I don’t believe that there were such complaints - at least not here at DonationCoder.com that I have seen - when the ads were only shown in the application interface itself, or in popups that "stay home", meaning not open your browser. But opening a browser page unsolicited is not a valid "program limitation" for even a free version. Do they make this clear when the free version is downloaded? Didn't think so!

No, this is not acceptable behavior at all. It is, in plain words, a browser hijack. And if any other company did this even once, let alone on a regularly scheduled basis, you - or at least most reasonable persons - would consider it to be the behavior of malware.

If this is a requirement of their so-called "free" version, then it is not a free version at all, for the user is indeed giving up something of value.

Bad move.

Jim

1902

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 22, 2008, 12:06 AM »

Pierre,

I'd be happy to help out, but it would of course have to be in a non-IQ technical way, considering my novice level of IQ knowledge. If there is anything else I can do to help, let me know.

Purely voluntary, naturally!

Jim

1903

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 20, 2008, 01:13 PM »

# A Grid is a view - the Grid view is dictated by the "source" field which is usually a tick-box field - if something is ticked in this column it is shown in the grid.
If you create a new grid, say called "LOLCats", a new field is automatically created called "LOLCats" - top-level items in this Grid have field "LOLCats" ticked.

-tomos (October 19, 2008, 01:05 PM)

tomos,

Now you are confusing me too! The "Source" is a toolbar with a drop-down menu that sits directly over the top of the grid, isn't it? I think what you are describing here is what you see when you click on "Manage Fields".

Or maybe I am just not understanding your point.

Jim

-J-Mac (October 20, 2008, 11:26 AM)

Both you and tomos are correct. The Source bar is the toolbar just above the grid. The grid source is the left-most combobox, the filter is shown in the center and sort is on the right side

-PPLandry (October 20, 2008, 11:44 AM)

Thanks Pierre. Appreciate the clarification.

Jim

1904

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 20, 2008, 11:26 AM »

# A Grid is a view - the Grid view is dictated by the "source" field which is usually a tick-box field - if something is ticked in this column it is shown in the grid.
If you create a new grid, say called "LOLCats", a new field is automatically created called "LOLCats" - top-level items in this Grid have field "LOLCats" ticked.

-tomos (October 19, 2008, 01:05 PM)

tomos,

Now you are confusing me too! The "Source" is a toolbar with a drop-down menu that sits directly over the top of the grid, isn't it? I think what you are describing here is what you see when you click on "Manage Fields".

Or maybe I am just not understanding your point.

Jim

1905

Living Room / Re: Rats! MS Auto Updates Got Me Again!

« Last post by J-Mac on October 18, 2008, 10:14 PM »

I've had problems. Some Windows Updates have caused my PC to blue screen upon boot. Others have caused various strange issues.

It doesn't happen to me often, but it has happened more than once.

-Deozaan (October 18, 2008, 08:07 PM)

Good!  Oh, NOT good that you have problems with updates occasionally!

But that there is someone else in the world who has a problem with their MS updates now and then. (Been hearing from all the folks who just stopped in to gloat!!    )

Jim

1906

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 18, 2008, 09:49 PM »

Paul,

I'm getting there, and believe me - if I can pick it up, with a lot of trying admittedly, then you can too! It does take a bit of time, but not any more than, say, Ultra Recall. And Ultra Recall has a complete, very large User Manual, though as one member of their forum put it, the manual appears to have been written by a programmer addressed to people who are already knowledgeable in UR!

I'm using IQ more extensively in less time and without a manual.

Jim

1907

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 18, 2008, 06:59 PM »

I wish I had the time to participate in that conversation about one of my all time favorite software... (still in beta, BTW)

Just wanted to say that someone erased the "getting started" part of the wiki... 

-Armando (October 18, 2008, 06:42 PM)

I noticed that the other day! I figured that someone was editing, or actually rewriting, that section. You mean that it wasn't supposed to be blank for now?

I believe that in wikis, a person would have to be signed in to edit, and that should be available in the activity log -- that is, if you're looking to shoot someone!! 

Jim

1908

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 18, 2008, 03:39 PM »

Pierre,

I am probably the best example of a "regular" user who has intermediate tech knowledge and skills but who is more accustomed to applications that have a UI that employs more of an intuitive workflow. SQLNotes (or InfoQube, as it is or will soon be called) can do more than any of the other programs I have that can ne classified as "information collection" applications. But it is not initially easy to see exactly what it can do.

Which is not to say that I am not working hard at discovering and figuring out just what I can do with it, and how to do those things. But the documentation is still quite scattered, leaving the only real way to learn how to use SQLNotes as trying a lot of different things and reading the forum here and at your web site. (Which, BTW, still hangs quite often in your forum - though the Wiki is coming along very nicely!)

Even a good, clear description of exactly what SQLNotes IS and DOES would go a long way in getting folks interested in it. Currently when people ask about SQLNotes, I see a lot of, "Well, it can do this and that and a whole lot of other things that normally would require a lot of different software!". But it isn't commonly described in clear terms as to what type of software it actually is, and what its intended - and optimal - uses are.

IMO, SQLNotes is really a very good, clean database application for collection, manipulation, and display of, well, almost any kind of information that one would want collected in one place. And the seemingly infinite manners in which that information can then be displayed it probably its best feature: Grids, lists, notes, calendar entries, journal, Gantt charts, tables, etc., etc. The possibilities seem endless! But discovering exactly how to get your information into these various display modes is the toughest part for me.

I probably ask enough questions of you and other users to be pretty darned annoying - at least to those who are already fairly adept at using SQLNotes, or who have experience with Ecco! But I have a feeling that what you see with me is more representative of how so-called "normal", everyday users see SQLNotes. It definitely takes some fortitude to stick with it and find out how it can work. If it was just having to decipher a manual and put that into practice, that is tough enough for a lot of users. But with SQLNotes there isn't really a manual! So users must dig in and use trial and error (lots and lots of error!), and then browse around at your web site, wiki, forum, and anywhere else that might have some Ecco information.

All in all, though, I believe that it is eminently worth one's while to work at it, because ultimately I will be able to do more with SQLNotes than most other software applications on my computer!

Jim

1909

Living Room / Re: Rats! MS Auto Updates Got Me Again!

« Last post by J-Mac on October 18, 2008, 02:06 AM »

Latest updates had a problem with Zone Alarm....

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956803

-CleverCat (October 18, 2008, 01:31 AM)

Everything has a problem with Zone Alarm, doesn’t it? 

However I haven't used Zone Alarm in, oh, maybe four or five years, and never on this box.

Thanks!

Jim

1910

Living Room / Re: Rats! MS Auto Updates Got Me Again!

« Last post by J-Mac on October 18, 2008, 01:27 AM »

Am I the only person who has NEVER had a problem with an update from MS? Any problem I have is usually caused by another product and NOT the Windows OS or a patch to one of its components.

WOOT! 1500 Posts!

-Josh (October 18, 2008, 01:14 AM)

You must be! I went for years without a hitch. Of course that was when I was using fairly stock computers: Dell Dimensions or HP Pavilions with pretty standard components. Ever since I got this "upscale" bastard with supposedly high-end components (which all have been replaced at least once!), it seems like it is more prone to conflicts. Too many HDD's, etc.

Who knows?!

Jim

1911

Living Room / Rats! MS Auto Updates Got Me Again!

« Last post by J-Mac on October 18, 2008, 12:17 AM »

I am really hating Microsoft right now! Even worse than usual!

Today I installed 7 Updates from them. Restarted and no internet connection. Could not get either of my two adapters to connect. Restarted my router a few times: nothing.

Then I remembered reading something about he latest updates causing internet connection issues for some. That would normally have been enough to delay my installing these, but I had just installed 9 of them on my Vista notebook last night and although at first, after a restart, it could not load my user profile, a second restart and bypassing the Fingerprint scanner worked OK. I figured that was it.

Wrong again, of course! Nothing could get me connected again, though the notebook was connecting just fine.

I uninstalled all the updates, not knowing which caused it and they have no description available after they are installed. (IF I had an internet connection I could have searched around!)  I could have searched using the notebook, but I was so pissed that I just uninstalled all, restarted the computer, restarted (repowered) the router, and all was well in my world again.

That's it. No more. I edited my Group Policy to only notify me of available downloads but not automatically download them.

NO more updates will be installed here anymore until at least a full month has passed without any news of such "uh-ohs".  Grrrrr.

Jim

1912

General Software Discussion / Re: How to get rid of the restart prompt afer win update?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 18, 2008, 12:07 AM »

In XP Pro, I use the Group Policy Editor (Start>Run... gpedit.msc, OK)

Once the window opens, click to expand the following:

Local Computer Policy>Computer Configuration>Administrative Templates>Windows Components>Windows Update

[attachthumb=#1][/attachthumb]

Then double-click 'Configure Automatic Updates' and select when and how you want to be notified of new updates. You may choose, for example, the following:

[attachthumb=#2][/attachthumb]

Then configure 'No Auto Restart...' and 'Re-prompt for restart...'

[attachthumb=#3][/attachthumb]                  [attachthumb=#4][/attachthumb]

Then OK out and close the Editor.

Works for me!

Jim

1913

Living Room / Re: Digital Music Purchases - Downloads or Ripped CD's?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 17, 2008, 11:54 PM »

To clarify my last post about one-hit wonders...

Currently I cannot get out of my head that song by the '70's one-hit wonder group, Player, in the Swiffer commercials - where the mop is sending flowers, etc. to housewives who are using Swiffer?

OK, OK: No, I won't be downloading that one! (But I do have to get someone - anyone - else to get infected with that tune so that I can get it out of my head!!)

Jim

1914

Living Room / Re: Digital Music Purchases - Downloads or Ripped CD's?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 17, 2008, 11:50 PM »

J-Mac, I believe that to be 40hz's point. Most artists now-a-days are one hit wonders. You end up buying a cd (not you and i, but most consumers) for that single song. With the advent of iTunes, you can now purchase that one song. iTunes, in my opinion, is a great indicator of a band's true popularity as you can use it to determine what bands are really popular and which are relying on a single song or two to push them through the economy and fan base.

Greatest hits albums are released based on the most popular songs of a band. They are used when normal album sales aren't selling as much as they should, or in some cases, when a band has reached high popularity such as korn. Korn did not release a greatest hits album until after their 7th studio release. Same goes with the beetles. Most of their music consisted of hits. What they did was take the most popular songs and put them out on a CD or record.

-Josh (October 17, 2008, 11:31 PM)

Guess so. I took it that he was saying that there is never a need to download a single track, which as I mentioned I sometimes do have such a need.

Also (as I publicly blush!   ), I even happen to like some one-hit wonder songs!!     OK - not many, but once in a while... 

Thanks!

Jim

1915

Living Room / Re: Digital Music Purchases - Downloads or Ripped CD's?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 17, 2008, 08:33 PM »

Buy and rip. (FLAC for home use and archive. MP3 for the road.)

I buy CDs. I have no respect for the talents of any musician or group that can't produce enough good material to make an $18-20 album purchase worthwhile. Anybody with a modicum of musical talent can write one good song. So play me three more just so I'll know it's not luck.

The downloadable single is what drives the market for all those "One Hit Wonders." People that got lucky with their one song - and then tried to make up for the rest with choreography and "a whole lotta cleavage." I've got nothing against "eye candy" - but I really want something to listen to more than anything else.

And because I don't pirate - ever - I absolutely refuse to tolerate DRM in any way, shape, or form.
(Go chase the people that are actually breaking the law and leave me and my music collection alone! )

-40hz (October 17, 2008, 12:14 PM)

I don’t entirely agree, 40hz. I purchase CD's for the most part, but there are occasions when purchasing individual tracks is the only sensible way to do it!

Take, for example, the case of a favorite artist where I own 8 or 10 of their albums (CDs); if a "Greatest Hits" compilation that includes several artists - most of whom I don’t wish to purchase their music, but there is ONE track by the artist I DO like that is not available on any of his or her albums. In such cases - and I come across more and more situations like this lately - I would rather buy a download of that one track instead of purchasing an entire album/CD for one track.

Another case - a new album was released by another favorite artist that contained mostly songs that I already have the exact same recording of on several other albums I own, but there are a couple that I would like anyway. Again, I now buy just the downloadable version of those two, rather than buy an album of mostly tracks of which I have too many! Years ago I would have bought it anyway, just to maintian the "collection". But nowadays I don’t feel that same need.

Jim

1916

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 17, 2008, 03:38 AM »

Well there are still a heck of a lot of settings and files in my installer version that won't be retained then.

I'm going to wait for Pierre to see what the heck is supposed to be where. Darn, if he is having us replace versions he needs to tell us a little more clearly just how to do it.

Thanks!

Jim

1917

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 17, 2008, 02:37 AM »

Tom,

Also, did you uninstall the installer version first? Or just replace the contents of the Program Files folder?

Thanks again,

Jim

1918

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 17, 2008, 02:36 AM »

Hi Tom!

Barring that, how do I install the portable version semi-permanently? And not lose my current data?

-J-Mac (October 17, 2008, 02:00 AM)

data or settings ? (or both?)
Data is all in the file

-tomos (October 17, 2008, 02:25 AM)

I meant data, but settings will help too! (In the meantime, I did see the post you quoted over in Pierre's forum!)

I ended up taking the oppurtunity to start from scratch settings-wise

Once it's setup as I want it, I just copy updates into the "install" folder - (making a dated copy of contents first). Settings are retained.

-tomos (October 17, 2008, 02:25 AM)

You mean that you replaced the contents of your previously installed version with the contents of the Portable download?

Thanks!

Jim

1919

Living Room / Re: Digital Music Purchases - Downloads or Ripped CD's?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 17, 2008, 02:04 AM »

...I will then rip the CD to a VBR mp3 set as I don't believe that the different in quality for FLAC or other "lossless" audio files is worth the extra space. The difference between the two I don't even really notice, if at all.

-Josh (October 17, 2008, 01:57 AM)

To be honest, neither can I. I guess I have never had quite that discriminating of an ear!

Jim

1920

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 17, 2008, 02:00 AM »

I'm curious: Is the new portable version taking the place of the regular installed version? I see that 0.9.23.7i is the latest version but it is only available as a portable version, while 0.9.23.6 is the latest version available with an installer package. Are there new improvements, features, bug fixes, etc. available ONLY in the portable version? Are you abandoning the installer version?

-J-Mac (October 06, 2008, 12:47 AM)

Technically, there is only 1 version. One is distributed as a zip of all files (portable), the second is through an installer. The 2 are identical with 1 distinction: the portable does not (yet) associate the .sndb extension with SQLNotes.

The 2 distributions will be maintained. Lack of time is the only reason why I've neglected the installer. I'll fix it this week.

-PPLandry (October 06, 2008, 06:21 AM)

Pierre,

Either you didn't manage to update the installer version to match the portable, or else I simply cannot find it.

Barring that, how do I install the portable version semi-permanently? And not lose my current data? Finally, must I uninstall 9.23.6 - the current installer version, before installing the portable version?

Thanks!

Jim

1921

Living Room / Digital Music Purchases - Downloads or Ripped CD's?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 17, 2008, 12:16 AM »

I'm just curious: Other than the ability to purchase only specific tracks, how do most here purchase their digital music, by purchasing downloaded MP3's or purchasing and ripping CD's?

I'm not talking about sharing music; just purchasing online. I have done both, though usually I only purchase downloadable MP3's if I don’t want all tracks on a given album. But for entire albums I usually just purchase the CD and then rip them to my HDD.

Thanks!

Jim

1922

Living Room / Re: Anyone Else Stop Getting the BitsduJour Daily Emails?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 14, 2008, 04:41 PM »

Nico,

Got it.  Thanks!

Jim

1923

Living Room / Re: Anyone Else Stop Getting the BitsduJour Daily Emails?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 14, 2008, 03:15 AM »

Thanks Nico.

I went and subscribed again, so who knows how many I'll get when your emails start rolling out again.

BTW, mine all stopped at least two or three weeks ago, not just last week. Just thought I would let you know.

Thanks again.

Jim

1924

General Software Discussion / Re: What's your music player of choice?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 13, 2008, 07:39 PM »

- why not just re-install the Real thing, and let it to DrmRemoval to free the clips once and for all? DR might be strange and ugly to look at, but it works very well - also with Rhapsody.

-Curt (October 13, 2008, 04:46 PM)

To be honest, I never saw that before Curt. Looks interesting, however if it requires me to reinstall Rhapsody, I can do without it!

I am pretty certain that I can burn and re-rip them fairly quickly; I had been considering CDs, but I believe that burning/ripping a much larger number of tracks to DVDs instead will work with less effort.

Thanks!

Jim

1925

Living Room / Re: Anyone Else Stop Getting the BitsduJour Daily Emails?

« Last post by J-Mac on October 13, 2008, 04:30 PM »

Thanks f0dder.

I don’t make many purchases there but have gotten the occasional gem from them. E.g., Ultra Recall Pro at 60% off regular price. I had considered Ultra Recall in the past but the price was always too high for me to satisfy my curiosity. But at a 60% discount it was well worth it! As I said, not too often but maybe two or three purchases a year.

Jim