Recent Posts

2301

Living Room / Re: What books are you reading?

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on June 04, 2013, 08:49 PM »

Learning made fun:
"I am a bug" - notes on software development and other tech activities.

http://www.amibug.com/iamabug/p01.html

Because:
1. Adorable pictures for the "Executive Summary" when you are too tired to think.
2. Nice "pop-up" explanations for when you can feel like reading actual ... words! (gasp!) But still broad enough for non-programmers like me!
3. Give it to a child without the software stuff - the power of subversive learning: priceless!

2302

Living Room / Re: Prenda Law - Judge, Jury, Executioner - and also Perpetrator?

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on June 04, 2013, 08:47 AM »

I've long believed that the "copyright" legal firms are involved in this.

I believe yet an even bigger risk that I hope the legal system really notices is the whole thing of IP addresses as evidence. What stops some firm from just randomly inventing completely fake evidence just from lists of IP's?

2303

General Software Discussion / "Click to Enable Javascript" Firefox Addon?

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on June 04, 2013, 08:26 AM »

Hallo gang.

I am wondering if there is a simple add-on, toggle-able, that acts like a quick and dirty version of No-Script where all java-script etc is "disabled" until you maybe click somewhere (in the add-on toolbar?) which then allows the rest of the site to perform all future scripts.

The basic use case is that full powered No-Script is too hard for me to configure site by site. Specifically the news sites are increasing "sliders" - truly aggressive notification ads and also "legit" rollover-menus that are increasingly not picked up by AdBlock. They feel like being whacked in the head by a stick, metaphorically! So then with this add-on, the basic page loads, the slider(s) are blocked, then you click and go look at the actual site content. Or, read an article and not worry that a mouse-drift won't enable a huge drop down menu *on rollover*.

Any ideas?

Edit: Aren't rollover menus supposed to be at the top of the no-no list for site usability guidelines? But they seem to be increasing!

2304

Living Room / Re: The real difference between a desktop pc and every other gadget you have.

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on June 03, 2013, 10:36 PM »

I'll second the emphasis on the run toward "politics". One problem I see is that in a very rough sense Android was "supposed to be" the DIY phone - universal(ish!) open source(ish!) OS running on anyone's hardware? That sounds familiar!

But then the forces that be managed to steer the mindshare away from that by playing hard on the "it's too hard for average people" theme. And yes, in many ways, while vehemently objecting to other "political" philosophies involved, I for one do want my phone to "just shut up and make phone calls plus run my cute 25 apps". I don't see it as a computer, it's more like the name says - a phone that then can give you a calendar, a calculator, a GPS, a music player, and a fun little game of your choice.

A far bigger split is the (unfortunately!) *brilliant* PR job to get people to see tablets as ... wait for it ... not a small laptop, but an overgrown phone! But with the mind-washing how people like to "consume because it's relaxing", they have sold tablets as everyone's cute go to device. And yes, hurling a grumpy charge at MS, to me there's no "legit" reason a tablet can't have a dual OS - Tablet Factor and then hook up the dock and stuff and out comes the laptop!

2305

General Software Discussion / Re: Let's try to draw more attention to donationware authors - Volunteers wanted!

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on June 02, 2013, 08:22 PM »

Done!

2306

General Software Discussion / Stickies - Part of the Zhorn Software Donationware Series

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on June 02, 2013, 08:20 PM »

Tom Revell's Stickies is a cute little entry into the Stickies-type software. I use it as the second half of the capture process from taking a square screen snip with Screenshot Captor.

http://www.zhornsoftware.co.uk/

He maintains a forum where he responds to bugs, features, and a new version every year or two. I haven't "version controlled" my copy in a couple of years, but for example he put in a multi-undo into one of the Beta versions after I remarked that it was too easy to work on a sticky over a long period of time, only to ruin it with a stray mouse click with the paintbrush.

http://tomrevell.conforums.com/

The Donate part is in the top left corner, though it's Paypal, which I have very mixed feelings for!

2307

General Software Discussion / Re: Let's try to draw more attention to donationware authors - Volunteers wanted!

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on June 02, 2013, 07:30 PM »

Has the DC Software page done a big chunk of this effort over the years? Last I knew lots of those links went to the author's home pages.

2308

Living Room / Re: EmoPulse bracelet smartphone wants to go beyond smartwatches

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on June 01, 2013, 05:13 PM »

I haven't damaged a watch in that way in years, but a bracelet is a funny answer to the ad-screenspace problem. A Watch is a fascinating study in screen space - it should only do about 7 things. (Phone calls plus your choice of six). However since everyone's favorite new paradigm is Touchy, you can't touch anything on a watch - you'd be covering 20+ % of the screen space.

2309

General Software Discussion / Re: Shift to Linux

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on June 01, 2013, 03:09 PM »

I got a horrible mood when I just could not update a few things because of bad libraries or something...

-TaoPhoenix (June 01, 2013, 03:47 AM)

Just out of personal curiosity, which distro were you using? What were the things that wouldn't update? And how long ago was it that you ran into that?
 

-40hz (June 01, 2013, 04:17 AM)

Two different versions of uBuntu messed up bad on me.

The last time when I gave up was when my test box very specifically didn't like one of the then-new versions. It was something like 4-10 was fine and 10-10 hosed my box so bad it wouldn't boot the screen driver. A Sub-Sub-Distro fixed that, but about that point I just began to lose interest in it all.

A couple years earlier Dapper Drake (X-06?) created its own problems and ran itself into the ground on a Dell box. Then in general I just tried to update some stuff A' La Windows and got into DLL Hell. I'm gonna get a bit aggressive here and say no it's not okay for that to be "way back when", ... when Windows 2000 and its pony child Windows XP were *five years earlier* and are still the measuring sticks of Windows, *five* versions later. So no, I won't put up with *twelve* versions of Ubuntu, half of which are reported to cause problems per the forums and two of which caused severe problems for me personally.

Not insignificantly, I have a few Snacks from here, and they ... wait for it ... run on Windows. Plus a ton of other stuff that's Windows Only.

So I get the philosophy, I really do, but MS won. They played the long game and held on tight, and they won.

2310

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

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on June 01, 2013, 03:01 PM »

The Brid is the Wrod!
: )

2311

General Software Discussion / Re: Custom webmail recommendations (to switch from gmail)

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on June 01, 2013, 04:15 AM »

But atmail has a pretty gmail-like interface.

-superboyac (May 31, 2013, 07:45 PM)

Not having it unless the multi-inbox mod is supported. My best use of Gmail that I hooked my CFO on was a 7 layer spread of sorting the email by category. Nothing else matters if that was dropped in the new update.

2312

General Software Discussion / Re: Shift to Linux

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on June 01, 2013, 03:47 AM »

I am not annoyed. I pity the fools.

-Tuxman (May 31, 2013, 06:45 AM)

That's insulting.  That I/we do not use your OS of choice does not make us fools.  We are using whatever OS that allows us to get our respective jobs done!.  That you do not care for our respective OSes does not give you the right to denigrate us, nor to denigrate an OS that we may have no choice but to use.  To quote an old sci-fi phrase, Curb thy tongue, impious fish.

-barney (June 01, 2013, 12:47 AM)

There are over 100 things I cannot get done in Linux, not the least of which is some coding snacks here.

I'd use Linux ... wait for it ... if it just was as easy as Windows. I got a horrible mood when I just could not update a few things because of bad libraries or something...

2313

General Software Discussion / Re: 2013 Version: Browser Wars

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on May 31, 2013, 06:01 PM »

64 bit Waterfox is a modestly rare browser. So in many ways that does not surprise me at all.

However I haven't many sites since one particular site from my old job that generic Firefox didn't handle right. Your choice of surveys but it's #2-4 in the browser world, so devs DO test for it.
 

2314

General Software Discussion / Re: Custom webmail recommendations (to switch from gmail)

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on May 31, 2013, 05:58 PM »

Kinda tangential, but I have been using Yahoo mail for almost a decade, half of which because it was Not-Gmail, rather than any real liking for the "quality". But Yahoo seems to be the only other major web mail service out there.

I'll plead ignorance on Hotmail, your choice of one more, and then it drops off a cliff.

-TaoPhoenix (May 31, 2013, 05:48 PM)

I would thoroughly recommend avoiding Yahoo like the plague. The websoftware is flaky at best (doesn't even work in some browsers when you sign up) and their servers are constantly being hacked - plus the advertising is chronic.

-Carol Haynes (May 31, 2013, 05:52 PM)

These are fair criticisms. I've taken some measures to reduce the ads. It was more of a remark about longevity. Since my real comp skills are kinda thin, I can't think of any other solution that would be the same 8 years later. (I started using Yahoo mail about 2004.)

2315

General Software Discussion / Re: Personalyzed directory tree listing

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on May 31, 2013, 05:52 PM »

One handicap with KDP is that create a pdf ready to print in paper. But I have very long paths that is not possible to show in a single line....

-Contro (May 31, 2013, 09:34 AM)

Naw Contro, I always save the results to a text file, so maybe it's down to a setting in the program. I never saw it cut off a directory in the text file.

Maybe we can do an experiment together or something.

2316

Living Room / Re: Problem with merging folders

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on May 31, 2013, 05:50 PM »

What version of OS are you on? Windows 7 has a couple of built in tools for some of this kind of thing. I remember from work that it would do things like "keep the duplicate second copy" or "use this solution for all conflicts". Then you really could set it going, then go to lunch or something.

2317

General Software Discussion / Re: Custom webmail recommendations (to switch from gmail)

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on May 31, 2013, 05:48 PM »

Kinda tangential, but I have been using Yahoo mail for almost a decade, half of which because it was Not-Gmail, rather than any real liking for the "quality". But Yahoo seems to be the only other major web mail service out there.

I'll plead ignorance on Hotmail, your choice of one more, and then it drops off a cliff.

2318

Developer's Corner / Re: Some thoughts on the Project Wonderful Ad Network and web advertising in general

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on May 31, 2013, 05:45 PM »

It would be smart to serve ads. Add a setting in a user's profile to opt out of them if they want. Some members will leave them on to support the site, others will turn them off--but all incoming new traffic will have no choice but to help support the site through ad views.

I've seen this done a few times. DuckDuckGo is one that comes to mind (and I've left ads on--I want to support the search engine and their ads are tasteful)

-allen (May 31, 2013, 11:24 AM)

Be careful Allen. In other threads I have remarked on the explosion of the "Opt Out" abuse. The internet public subconsciously notices ads vs lack of ads, and you can't easily just make it an "opt out" that someone has to hunt down. It creates ill will.

2319

General Software Discussion / Re: Personalyzed directory tree listing

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on May 31, 2013, 07:38 AM »

Freeware (if possible...) portable application for
obtain in a txt file a list of the files in a folder or in a tree folders structure with personalized fields.

By example :

Obtain a txt with name and extension followed by the complete path to the file
With possibility to exclude certain extensions or hidden files.

example.doc   x:\folder\subfolder\example.doc

and many other combinations of listing

Exist this software ?

I have found Karen's Directory Printer but is not enough.

I need for shortlinks that really point to the real file whenever it is when possible. So I need to read the real path to that file, not the .lnk extension file when is found in the folder.
so the program needs to make a complete read of the link and be able to export a personalyzed group of parameters....
Best Regards

Additionally is not intended to print in paper. Karen's software cuts the line when is too long.

-Contro (May 30, 2013, 03:38 PM)

Hi Contro,

I have used and recommended Karen's directory printer for some time now, so I am a bit surprised that it isn't apparently doing a couple of things for you that I believe it is able to do.  You may still need a new program, but here are some notes:

1. "So I need to read the real path to that file, not the .lnk extension file when is found in the folder.." Fair, it doesn't resolve links into the real-files. However, in some ways, that also is a bit much to ask for the type of program it is - it reads the directory; so if you want the actual program, it's over in .../programs/...

So if you wanted all those programs, read that folder tree instead.

2. How are you seeing "cutting the line when it is too long"? When I have made directory reads, the only limiting factor was notepad/wordpad wrapping the line. I haven't seen Karen's Reader cutting lines on me. (XP).

2320

General Software Discussion / Re: Opera 15 Preview

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on May 29, 2013, 03:42 PM »

But they apparently got the Chrome version numbering going! They moved from version 12.x to 15 in one go, and there's this snip from the release notes:
"...you will see new versions coming at much, much faster pace than it was with the classic, Presto-based line."

2321

Living Room / Re: No way out? SecureBoot's latest wrinkle for non-Windows users.

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on May 29, 2013, 10:04 AM »

Yeah, that's the strange thing about MS these days - they flip flop between their new baffling decisions (like much of what went into Windows 8 and the Metro meme at all), and stuff like this which harks back to their old style sneakiness.

2322

Site/Forum Features / Re: Some guidelines and rules about posting on the forum

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on May 28, 2013, 10:58 PM »

...

• Don't link to external images.. instead, ATTACH the image to your post -- that way it won't get lost if the original site goes offline.

-mouser (May 20, 2013, 08:25 PM)

It just occurred to me this guideline has interesting copyright implications!

2323

Living Room / Re: The 21 worst tech habits [PCWORLD]

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on May 28, 2013, 10:57 PM »

another one: Writing a long, well-structured, relevant post and then deciding not to post it.

Good I don't do most of them

-miva2 (May 28, 2013, 06:27 PM)

The few times I came close to doing that, a flag goes off in my mind that if I'm writing something "long, well structured, and relevant to something", chances are I'll want to post it eventually, so I have saved some of those as "unsent drafts" that I later fold, spindle, and mutilate into other posts.

P.S. I'll give Paul Keith a cupcake for being in my top 10 list of people who consistently write long, well structured, relevant posts!
 

2324

General Software Discussion / Re: Opera 15 Preview

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on May 28, 2013, 10:50 PM »

So far, the new version of Opera is REALLY stripped down... it's basically reskinned Chrome with half the functionality and a new icon. Can't change the default search engine, bookmarks don't sync, it's... pretty much pointless. I'll be curious to see how they differentiate themselves moving forward. It's always been a niche browser for enthusiastic power tweakers... they've thrown all that out. Thus far, the only reason I can think of for using it in the future is sync with Opera mobile, if you use that. Of course, that's purely speculative because even that doesn't work right now.

-allen (May 28, 2013, 10:03 AM)

This is disappointing to me too. I'm not glued to a rendering engine per se - I use a browser to "do stuff" and it just happens that Firefox is where I landed. But if along with the render engine they stripped out a big swath of actual features, then it totally becomes a "what's the point" item. There used to be jokes that companies like Microsoft would infiltrate companies with the purpose of inducing them to make bad decisions as the prelim to torpedoing the company.

So I have a bit of a mental memo to "check back in a year" and see what all or little became of their big new "we want to focus on the user" speech from back then. Apparently the first step to focusing on the user is ... removing features?!

2325

General Software Discussion / Unbelievable: USA Intellectual Property Theft Commission Recommends Malware!

« Last post by TaoPhoenix on May 27, 2013, 06:46 PM »

The gang at MouserLand will have a field day with this one!

http://boingboing.ne...t-industry-to-c.html

"Additionally, software can be written that will allow only authorized users to open files containing valuable information. If an unauthorized person accesses the information, a range of actions might then occur. For example, the file could be rendered inaccessible and the unauthorized user’s computer could be locked down, with instructions on how to contact law enforcement to get the password needed to unlock the account. Such measures do not violate existing laws on the use of the Internet, yet they serve to blunt attacks and stabilize a cyber incident to provide both time and evidence for law enforcement to become involved. "
...
"While not currently permitted under U.S. law, there are increasing calls for creating a more permissive environment for active network defense that allows companies not only to stabilize a situation but to take further steps, including actively retrieving stolen information, altering it within the intruder’s networks, or even destroying the information within an unauthorized network. Additional measures go further, including photographing the hacker using his own system’s camera, implanting malware in the hacker’s network, or even physically disabling or destroying the hacker’s own computer or network. "

Yum, that tail they're eating is great! So lemme see if I have this straight:
If you "hack" a computer then you're a vicious terrorist, unless you're an Intellectual Property Rights Holder ... uh ... with a net worth more than six digits ... then you can deploy anything you want including malware that even when it works correctly will destroy your computer???!