Recent Posts

351

General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft takes on Dropbox with major SkyDrive update

« Last post by cyberdiva on April 24, 2012, 07:36 AM »

Yes, and thanks for the tip. However when I logged into my account (which I haven't done in years) it said I was already at 25GB, but needed to accept the offer/lock-in the size before they dropped it down to the new 7GB limit (Sorry I forgot to grab SS).

-Stoic Joker (April 24, 2012, 06:56 AM)

I wish you had grabbed a SS, because when I went into my SkyDrive account, I was told that I was using almost 18 GB of my 25 GB allotment, and there was nothing about accepting an offer.  I was uneasy, but then I read what Microsoft said on its "loyalty" page (whose link lanux128 provided above): "If you were using close to this amount before the latest update, we’ve automatically upgraded your storage already . You can always see how much storage you have by signing into SkyDrive and checking the storage meter."  So I'm assuming/hoping that my 25 GB account will remain at 25 GB without my having to do anything.  If I'm wrong, I hope someone will let me know.

352

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: WinPatrol Plus @ $0.99 on January 29th

« Last post by cyberdiva on April 18, 2012, 10:02 AM »

As a WinPatrol Plus user, sent author support questions over a month ago, twice, and still haven't heard back.

-Midnight Rambler (April 17, 2012, 10:18 AM)

I'm really surprised.  I've sent Bill a number of support questions over the years, and I've always gotten a relatively prompt and helpful response.  I agree with wraith: try again.

353

General Software Discussion / Re: yet another file manager thread...

« Last post by cyberdiva on April 08, 2012, 06:03 PM »

Back in my DOS days, I used and loved Norton Commander.  I don't remember what I did once I moved to Windows, but at some point I used Servant Salamander.  I never was able to feel the enthusiasm for that program that I did for Norton Commander, so I tried some others.  I was about to buy Total Commander when, for some reason, I tried Directory Opus.  I discovered that with DOpus I could have two directories open with detailed listings (which is my preferred setup) and yet, if I moused over a graphics file, I could see a thumbnail of the image without having to leave the detailed listing.   That immediately sold me on Directory Opus.  That was several versions ago, but I've seen no reason to look for another file manager.  DOpus does everything I want and more.  Its complexity is perhaps its one drawback, but that also makes possible the wealth of features I value.

354

Living Room / Re: Any ideas for a save website crawler for offline reading?

« Last post by cyberdiva on April 04, 2012, 10:46 PM »

Just upgraded Surfulater as I used to use that but even that if I use the browser extension to save the page just saves a link to the pacge and that only goes to the login - it can't save the contents!

-Carol Haynes (April 04, 2012, 07:53 PM)

I think that Web Research will save the content of linked pages, though I don't know whether it plays nicely with frames.  I'm pretty sure you can download it for a free trial period.

355

Living Room / Re: Any ideas for a save website crawler for offline reading?

« Last post by cyberdiva on April 04, 2012, 07:28 PM »

Web Research seems very interesting... how does it store the websites?  Local Website Archive stores the html so you dont need LWA to view the articles you've downloaded.  Does Web Research use a proprietary format?

-kfitting (April 04, 2012, 10:53 AM)

To be honest, it has been a year or two since I last used Web Research, and I do not have it on the computer I bought this year.  I was never all that concerned about whether it used a proprietary format, since I was interested only in retrieving and consulting information I had saved, not exporting it.  I just went onto the Web Research website, and here's what it says about exporting documents:

Web Research offers various methods to export documents and folders:

    Export as files in original format
    Export as "Single File Web Page" (mht format)
    Export as album (chm format)
    Export as a Document Package
    Create a Web Page Presentation
    Copy the Web Research address of a document
    Print documents
    Transfer to Microsoft Word
    Programming interface (API)
    External linking via Web Research protocol handler

Perhaps I'm not understanding the above correctly, but a couple of the items seem to suggest that the material is not saved in a proprietary format.  I think you'd be best off writing to the company to find out for sure.

356

Living Room / Re: Any ideas for a save website crawler for offline reading?

« Last post by cyberdiva on April 04, 2012, 08:05 AM »

I used to use a program called Web Research that allowed me to save all or part of a web page.  One of its features is it permits you to save some or all pages linked to the page you want to save.  (I didn't use that feature, since I was always interested in saving just all or part of a single page.)  Your needs may be more complex, but I thought I'd mention it.  Web Research has both a "Personal" and a "Professional" version--the former is quite modestly priced.  I don't know whether the two have similar features--I own the Professional version.

357

General Software Discussion / Re: Whats your preferred web browser?

« Last post by cyberdiva on March 28, 2012, 10:43 PM »

Speed Dial in particular broke my previous addiction to Opera, although the lack of extensibility for the latter (can't use Roboform or Lastpass, last time I looked) took away its other advantages.

-oblivion (March 28, 2012, 05:00 PM)

LastPass now works with Opera.  You used to have to use bookmarklets, but now there's a regular LastPass icon for the toolbar, similar to the one for Firefox.

358

General Software Discussion / Re: Whats your preferred web browser?

« Last post by cyberdiva on March 26, 2012, 08:44 AM »

Years ago, Opera was my default browser (even back in the days when I had to pay for it).  Eventually, I switched to Firefox, both because more sites looked right in it and because it had some useful add-ons and Opera at that time had none.  I've stayed with FF, using Opera as my backup, mostly because some of the add-ons I care about most are not available on Opera.  I'm thinking especially of Lazarus and the add-on for Surfulater (Surfulater works MUCH less well in Opera).  As for Chrome, I don't even have it on my computer.   I don't have confidence in how Google will use what it knows about users of its software (and hardware).  I really don't feel comfortable making it easy for Google to track every website I visit. 

359

Living Room / Re: Cell phone for trip to China

« Last post by cyberdiva on March 18, 2012, 03:20 PM »

Several years ago, my husband bought a new 4-band unlocked GSM phone from a company called Mobal.  It works everywhere.  I think he paid about $40 or $50.  They sent it to him, and it came with a SIM card for England that had an expensive rate but is nice to have "just in case."  He doesn't use that SIM card; as soon as we arrive in a country, my husband buys a SIM card for that country for $5 or $10.  It gives us an in-country phone number and the ability to make calls at the in-country rate, which is usually quite low.  It has worked very well for us.

I can't answer any of your other questions, but you may want to take a look at Mobal's web site: http://www.mobal.com/.

360

General Software Discussion / Re: SnagIt 11

« Last post by cyberdiva on March 08, 2012, 06:23 PM »

Which version are you using?  I have a license for Hypersnap 6, but would have to pay for 7.  I rarely use it because (IIRC) the license is per-installation, and I have it on one of my USB sticks.

-rjbull (March 08, 2012, 05:49 PM)

I'm using version 7.  I paid to upgrade from version 6 (which IIRC was a free upgrade from version 5).  The license says it can be used by only one person, but it can be installed on two or more computers that I own, as long as I'm the only one using it.  I have it on my netbook as well as my Win7 desktop.  I don't have it on a USB stick, and I don't know how the licensing works with that.  You might write to Greg (the developer) and ask him.

361

General Software Discussion / Re: SnagIt 11

« Last post by cyberdiva on March 07, 2012, 01:02 PM »

I own a copy of SnagIt 10, which I got for free.  I agree with those who said they saw little reason to upgrade to SnagIt 11 (esp. since it would cost me $25 to upgrade).  Having tried SnagIt 10, I found that for most things, I much prefer the program I've been using for well over a decade: HyperSnap.  I find it faster and much easier to use the SnagIt and much less resource-heavy.  I haven't tried other screen-capture programs because I've been so pleased with HyperSnap.  If HyperSnap were to disappear, I still wouldn't turn to SnagIt as my everyday program.  Instead, I think I'd give Screenshot Captor a serious try.

362

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Agnitum Outpost Firewall - Lifetime License - $29.97 - Coming Soon

« Last post by cyberdiva on February 29, 2012, 04:56 PM »

There's nothing wrong at all with the Windows 7 firewall if all you are concerned with is stuff trying to get in. Where its weak point lies is with things trying to get out. Lots of programs try to phone home (some are benign and others not so much) so it depends on how important that aspect of your security/privacy is.

-Innuendo (February 29, 2012, 01:17 PM)

For years, I wouldn't even consider the Windows firewall precisely because it dealt only with what was incoming, not outgoing.  But as I got more and more frustrated with the obtrusive behavior and perplexing warnings/announcements from Outpost, I began to reconsider my priorities.  I realized that at no time had Outpost ever alerted me to anything outgoing that I cared about.  It was just a short step from that realization to my uninstalling Outpost and turning on the Windows 7 firewall.  I've now had it on my netbook for two years and on my Win7 64-bit desktop computer ever since I bought it this past May.  Thus far, I haven't had any reason to regret that decision  (knock on wood, salt over my shoulder  ).

363

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Agnitum Outpost Firewall - Lifetime License - $29.97 - Coming Soon

« Last post by cyberdiva on February 29, 2012, 10:14 AM »

As for you, Ms. Diva....firewall tutoring is available upon request.

-Innuendo (February 28, 2012, 09:33 AM)

Ah, where were you when I really needed this?    Seriously, thanks very much, Innuendo.  I may eventually take you up on your offer, but for the moment, I'm  content with the Windows 7 firewall, which required nothing more of me than to turn it on.  That much I can manage on my own. 

364

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Agnitum Outpost Firewall - Lifetime License - $29.97 - Coming Soon

« Last post by cyberdiva on February 27, 2012, 12:51 PM »

I used the Outpost Pro firewall for a couple of years, and in fact I have a lifetime license.  However, I'm not very savvy when it comes to firewalls, and I eventually got tired of having to deal with behaviors that got in the way and a variety of mysterious messages I did not understand.  I decided to try the Windows 7 built-in firewall.  It doesn't offer as many different kinds of protection as Outpost, but it has turned out to be all I seem to need.  I now have it on both my netbook and my desktop, and I'm happy with it.  I could tweak it to offer more sophisticated protection, but I haven't felt the need to do so.  

IIRC, I also tried Comodo before deciding upon Outpost.  At the time, something on my system didn't play nicely with Comodo.  I now have a different system, but I haven't been tempted to give Comodo another try.

I'm not trying to dissuade you from getting Outpost or Comodo; I'm simply reporting my experience.

365

Living Room / Re: Firefox and LastPass problems

« Last post by cyberdiva on February 25, 2012, 09:27 PM »

Hi, Carol.  I'm writing to say that I use Firefox (currently version 10.0.2) and Last Pass (currently 1.90), and I haven't had that problem.  Since it doesn't happen with your other browsers, I'm wondering whether some FF add-on could be involved here.  Perhaps something like NoScript or Ghostery or something else that tries to monitor what interacts with your browser.  Just a wild guess.  I'd also continue to report the problem to LastPass, both via a ticket and perhaps also via their forum.  They need to know (and be reminded  ) that the problem recurs each time LP is updated. 

Sorry I can't be of more help.  Good luck!

366

Living Room / Re: Google Ends Privacy

« Last post by cyberdiva on January 25, 2012, 03:25 PM »

I don't lead a very exciting or covert life, but I do believe that I should be able to decide what I reveal publicly and what I consider private--both about me and about my family and friends.  Google apparently feels differently. Though I will probably continue to use Gmail and Google Reader, I have stopped using Google+ and have changed my default search engine to Bing or Scroogle.  And while I have been assuming that when I finally buy a tablet and/or a smartphone, I would choose an Android, I'm no longer so sure.  Suddenly the iPad and the iPhone are looking more attractive.  

Apparently absolute power really does corrupt absolutely. 

367

General Software Discussion / Re: Software Uninstallers

« Last post by cyberdiva on January 24, 2012, 04:14 PM »

1. Is the uninstaller in Windows enough? 3rd party uninstallers just call the same entry point to uninstall anyway, all they do is have a nicer GUI and maybe list more stuff.

-MrCrispy (January 24, 2012, 04:06 PM)

I'm not in a position to address all the questions you asked (though I think there was a thread not long ago on DC about uninstallers that take snapshots before and after).  I just want to say that I much prefer Revo Uninstaller to the Windows uninstaller.  I've used both the free and the paid version of Revo, and both of them do a better job than Windows, IMHO.  It's true that Revo uses the same uninstaller that Windows does, but Revo then goes on to scan the computer for leftover files and folders AND scans the registry for leftover registry entries.  This latter is what I appreciate most.  Very infrequently I decide to leave some registry entries that Revo claims I can delete, but most of the time I simply follow its advice, and I've never been sorry (knock on wood).

368

General Software Discussion / Re: Recommend less known macro apps and text expanders

« Last post by cyberdiva on January 21, 2012, 09:00 AM »

You're probably right, tranglos, that ActiveWords limits the trigger key to the function keys.  I'm not sure, since I never found a need to use something else as the trigger.  I did need to change function keys at one point, and that was no problem.  As far as typos go, ActiveWords corrects them without any trigger key (unless for some reason you want a trigger key even for a given typo, which is also possible).  If I type "becuase," ActiveWords will automatically change that to "because" without my hitting a function key.

One thing I appreciate about ActiveWords is that its scripting is simple yet quite powerful.  For people comfortable with more sophisticated languages and who have more complicated needs, AHK may be a better choice.  I don't know, since I've never tried it.  

369

General Software Discussion / Re: Recommend less known macro apps and text expanders

« Last post by cyberdiva on January 20, 2012, 06:49 PM »

I have used and loved ActiveWords for years.  It has both text expander and macro capabilities.  More specifically, it can do text substitution/expansion, launch programs, open documents and folders, send email [I've never used it for this], and navigate to websites.  Moreover, it has a simple but moderately powerful scripting language  that makes it possible to do more complex tasks.

There's a free version that I've never tried.  The commercial version costs $49.95.  You can install it on all your computers for that price.  I've tried several similar programs and continue to prefer ActiveWords.  

370

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to watch the Web for specific words to appear

« Last post by cyberdiva on January 16, 2012, 09:57 AM »

Thanks, barney and Ath, for your suggestions.  I have the feeling that copyright software may be aimed at a different market--one that is willing to spend bigger bucks than I am.  But I guess it doesn't hurt to take a look.  As for Web Link Captor, that's an intriguing idea.  When Mouser discussed it earlier, I followed the discussion for a while, but apparently I had an incorrect idea of what it could do.  I might indeed give it a try, though Google Alerts sounds a lot easier to set up (and thus probably a lot less flexible     )

Again, many thanks!

371

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to watch the Web for specific words to appear

« Last post by cyberdiva on January 15, 2012, 11:28 PM »

Thanks very much, Stephen!  I'm a little reluctant to become even more involved with and dependent on Google, but Google Alerts does seem to be the sort of thing I'm looking for.  Unless there is free or inexpensive software that will do as good a job, I think I'll go with Google Alerts.

372

General Software Discussion / Software to watch the Web for specific words to appear

« Last post by cyberdiva on January 15, 2012, 09:15 PM »

I'm wondering whether anyone knows of free or moderately inexpensive software that will watch the Web and let me know whenever a specific word or name or title appears.  I don't want to specify a specific web site; rather, I'd want the software to search the Web and let me know whenever it finds what I've asked for.  I can imagine a number of uses for such a program: watching for mention of a particular piece of software, or a forthcoming film, or anything involving my favorite actor or author.  Or me. 

I thought such programs would be easy to find, but a very quick Google search turned up only Orbiscope, and from what I can tell, I'd have to tell it what web pages to watch.  That's not what I want.  I already own an old copy of Website Watcher, which is fine for monitoring a specific page or pages.  But my problem is that I don't know where the mention will appear.   Does anyone know of software that will do what I want?

373

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Bits - Ultra Recall

« Last post by cyberdiva on January 15, 2012, 09:36 AM »

@Curt - Thanks very much for the link to the list of features of the various versions.  As far as I can tell, Ultra Recall doesn't offer me anything I really need that I don't already get with Surfulater.  And since I've got a zillion items already stored and immediately findable in Surfulater, I guess I'll stick with that and see what Neville comes up with next.  Though, with a not-very-successfully-recovering software junkie like me, one never knows. 

@Bionic71 - I think what I've just said above (to Curt) probably explains why I don't just download Ultra Recall and try it out.  If I were trying to decide which of the two programs to buy, I would probably do what you suggest, but since I already am happily using Surfulater, I would only try out Ultra Recall if it offered me something important that Surfulater does not.  As far as I can tell, that's not the case.

374

General Software Discussion / Re: remove objects from photos

« Last post by cyberdiva on January 14, 2012, 09:48 AM »

Hmmm...interesting.  It looks eerily like InPaint!

375

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Bits - Ultra Recall

« Last post by cyberdiva on January 13, 2012, 03:19 PM »

Thanks, Curt.  I already had read Neville's blog.  That's probably the only reason I had any interest at all in Ultra Recall, because I've been delighted with Surfulater.  It's one of my favorite programs, and, apparently unlike Ultra Recall, it has had a number of updates in the past year or so.  I'm curious, apprehensive, and excited about the direction in which Neville is moving.  However, I'm also interested in knowing whether Ultra Recall offers anything important that Surfulater does not.  I'm not interested enough (and don't really have time enough) to download UR and try to figure this out for myself, but I thought it might be interesting to see what others on DC might be able to tell me.