Recent Posts

3526

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: RecentX Launcher - 40% discount only on 1st September

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 07:17 PM »

Hello superboyac,

Thanks for your interest.

RecentX works mostly with Windows Explorer (which includes the file open/save dialogs also). Technically it is almost impossible for them to get details from Everything, FARR etc.

But you can manually add your favorite files and folders to RecentX by dragging and dropping them over RecentX so that you can always launch them from RecentX.

Let us know how else we can serve you.

Regards,
Gautam Jain

-conceptworld (September 01, 2010, 06:58 PM)

Ah, I see.  Thanks.  Hmm...I wonder how useful the program will be to me.  This is no knock on the program, I'm just thinking out loud...

Here's the thing, if it works mainly with explorer windows and dialogs, then that means it won't keep track of the files I'm using with other applications.  Now, with Dopus, it can be configured to work on the double-clicking.  However, I use so many third-party tools like that.  The only situation where I regularly use a normal windows dialog is in the open/save dialogs.  And even those I have enhanced by Direct Folders.  Direct Folders and RecentX, even though they do different things, for me they have very overlapping functions.  I use Direct Folders to make those open/save dialogs quite efficient.  So in those cases, RecentX wouldn't add that much more to it by just storing a history of those files.  Secondly, DOpus has the virtual file collection features.  I haven't even used half of the capabilities there, but I can very easily use it to hold my favorite folders and files and what not.  I can probably even set it up to do some cooler things like keep track of recent documents.

But that being said, even the open/save I don't use that often.  I open most files by either double-clicking in DOpus (or XYplorer, TC, etc.) or dragging-dropping into the application window.  Once again, RecentX wouldn't help me much there.  And for really hard to find files, I'll just use Everything which is brilliant for that.

So I think I'll pass.  Again, nothing negative about RecentX, it's a personal thing.  It's actually a good application and I appreciate that the authors come here and respond and are helpful.  I also give a big thumbs up to the interface, which is very nice and elegant.  I've been bitching about interfaces recently, so there's a good example of how to do it right.  i think I'm just such a software geek that I already have 5 things for each function.  But I also know I'm in the very small minority.

3527

Living Room / Re: Why do we always wait for apple's stuff before making a i[blank]-killer??

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 04:44 PM »

^^Yup.  Well said.

3528

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Super Flexible File Synchronizer Mini-Review

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 04:26 PM »

As you say, I think it needs a complete overhaul. I wouldnt know how to approach it myself there's so much there.

-tomos (September 01, 2010, 01:31 PM)

Yeah, i've wondered how to change it myself.  I can't say I've come up with anything great, but I can definitely come up with something significantly better.  Like I said above, the options dialog for DOpus is a very good example.  It has a filter on the bottom where you can actually search all the options for whatever keyword you like, and the matches will be very clearly highlighted by a red rectangle.  I thought that was very creative and awesome.  But beyond that, i also think the whole tabs interface should be redone like mouser did for some of his programs.  mouser changed his preferences (FARR, for example) from tabs (like SFFS) to the current tree hierarchy on the left.  This was a great improvement.  Tabs are good, but they become klunky when there are a lot, and especially when organization comes into play.  Like, if there are options that are sub-categories of a larger set of options, it's better to do that with a tree than a bunch of tabs.  SFFS really needs to consider changing their interface.

3529

Living Room / Re: Why do we always wait for apple's stuff before making a i[blank]-killer??

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 04:11 PM »

What's ridiculous is that so often Apple bides it's time and THEN releases a ______-killer piece of heardware that then A. becomes the market leader and the gold standard in that segment and B. (and FAR more annoyingly) almost immediately becomes generally "recognized" as the "first" such product in the segment! There WERE mp3 players before the iPod, there WERE tablets LONG before the iPad, there WERE smartphones (possibly even touchscreen smartphones?) before the iPhone, and there WERE computers before the Mac, etc.

-Darwin (September 01, 2010, 02:07 PM)

Exactly.  In my opinion, that reflects very poorly upon the other companies.  I remember all those initial mp3 players like Rio and stuff.  But years after, Apple creates the ipod, and just obliterates the market.  Brilliant.  And it definitely was a beautiful design.  All those other players looked cheap and felt cheap compared to it, and that wheel was brilliant.  Sony should be the most ashamed as they had minidisc players out by the early 90's.  They had a 10-year head start on digital music in a compressed format and did nothing substantial with it.  And it doesn't seem like they have learned any lessons, so this will just continue.

3530

Living Room / Re: Why do we always wait for apple's stuff before making a i[blank]-killer??

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 12:59 PM »

Geez...
Everyone, go to engadget right now:
http://www.engadget.com/

Look at all the amazing things Apple is doing.  They are totally taking over the consumer markets.  Phones, games, computers, they have their hands in everything.  And their user interfaces and device designs are so brilliant that it's hard for people to resist, even if they lack certain "open" and flexible features we would want.  Beware, all companies, beware.  Better yet, watch and learn...try to do it better if you can.

But what other companies can't do is bitch about Apple taking over their markets.  Don't complain, show that you can beat them at their own game.  Which means start paying attention to the little things.  Don't tell people what they want.  Try to understand what normal people want and give it to them.  People want shiny.  People want easy.  People want no-brainers.  Yes, Sony...that means you.

Sony does some remarkably puzzling things.  For example, they make some fancy device and have 3 models of it: cheap, medium, and pro model.  But what they'll do is put some little feature on the medium that the pro doesn't have.  So the consumer may want to get the pro model, but is torn because he also wants that feature in the medium model.  Seriously, WTF?!  And of course, Sony will name the thing "NMZ-3609".  That's the name of the thing.  Not ipad, not iphone, not actual words.  Just NMZ-3609 or whatever else.  It's almost like they are sitting at a table and intentionally thinking of ways to confuse the user.

3531

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: RecentX Launcher - 40% discount only on 1st September

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 12:39 PM »

Interesting.  I'm a little intrigued by this program.  Like tranglos, I've come across it before but never had a real need for it because of FARR, LBC, Dopus, Everything, etc.  But it does seem quite handy!  The only thing I'm concerned about is how it tracks the accessed file/folders through all these different applications.  I never use windows explorer for pretty much anything, so I need to know if it works well with other programs.  In the BDJ comments, somebody posted a link showing how to configure DOpus to work with it.  I would (obviously) prefer it to work with all the programs without too much additional configuration.

3532

Living Room / Re: tc1100 tablet pc dies before i've even set it up

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 12:09 PM »

Man!  I'm really sorry to hear that.  Especially since I'm considering buying their newer version of that very very soon.

Maybe someone here at DC will volunteer to try fixing it.

3533

General Software Discussion / Re: Yet another application tapping into the "cloud" market.

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 11:26 AM »

OK, i'm going to start using dropbox.  I've heard nothing but good things about it.
[edit]
although...I'd love to figure out how to set up my home computer to work like dropbox without actually using dropbox.  In other words, I don't want to use their servers.  Can I do a setup on XP using mapped drives or something like that?  I'd need it to work over the internet somehow, but it needs to act like a regular folder, not an ftp site or anything like that.

3534

General Software Discussion / Re: Yet another application tapping into the "cloud" market.

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 11:02 AM »

I hate to be one of those "good ol days" curmudgeons, but seriously, I think people are comically afraid of peacefulness...what you're calling boredom I'm calling peaceful times.  People just have a hard time not doing anything and just thinking or relaxing.

-superboyac (September 01, 2010, 09:25 AM)

Actually I used the term boredom to be sarcastic, so we are indeed on the same page there. And at 45 I've already resigned myself to becoming a curmudgeon as the inevitability has become rather clear. I'm Okay with it.

-Stoic Joker (September 01, 2010, 10:18 AM)

I know exactly what you mean.  My nickname at my previous job was "funkiller".

3535

General Software Discussion / Re: What's a good Linux distro for a multi-touch capable laptop?

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 11:01 AM »

Next month in Ubuntu's 10.10 version should have this capability. I don't expect HP to share any drivers for that new laptop, however. Also, several Android notebooks will include this, too.

http://news.cnet.com..._3-20013760-264.html

-zridling (September 01, 2010, 10:42 AM)

Argh!  I need drivers from hp to make it work?!  That's never going to happen.  How come I was able to install linux on my regular pc without getting any extra drivers?

3536

General Software Discussion / Re: Yet another application tapping into the "cloud" market.

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 09:25 AM »

Okay hating technology was a bit broad, maybe it more just the (down the marketing toilet) direction it's going these days. I like computers, and still enjoy working on/with them, but... The whole cell phone/PDA/Epal dependency just irks the hell outa me. Why is it that all of a sudden nobody is allowed to be considered Kewl unless they've got enough electronic gizmos strapped on that they could pass for  :)ing Batman? I-just-don't-get-it...and I'm not sure I want to.

Why the hell do we suddenly seem to need to be entertained/directed/informed/connected every second of every waking minute? Are we that afraid of being lonely? Boredom wasn't really fatal...last time I checked.

-Stoic Joker (September 01, 2010, 09:10 AM)

Haha, yes, I agree.  I'm actually trying to go as minimalist as possible.  Except (a big exception) for my home computer, that thing is a beast and does everything.  But as far as cell phones and all those gadgets, I like them, I think they're fun and all, I just don't have a need for them which is why I've never purchased them yet.  I hate to be one of those "good ol days" curmudgeons, but seriously, I think people are comically afraid of peacefulness...what you're calling boredom I'm calling peaceful times.  People just have a hard time not doing anything and just thinking or relaxing.  Just chill people!  I went to a great jazz show the other day and one of my friends was constantly texting the whole time.  Just couldn't keep his thumb off that iphone.  I find a lot of people my age and younger are a little....spazzy.  They always are looking to have fun.  The irony is that they never find it even when they think they do.  All I want is some peacefulness.

3537

General Software Discussion / Re: ComboFix=GREAT rootkit cleaner. (Kaspersky failed me big time).

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 08:52 AM »

SKA, thanks.  I didn't even know 2011 was out.  How come the software update doesn't notify you of new versions?  That's weird also.

And I never meant to replace kaspersky with combofix.  i don't even think combofix can run on windows with other things running.  That wasn't the point.  The point was that Kaspersky let the rootkit in and should have caught it for such a well respected AV program. 

3538

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Super Flexible File Synchronizer Mini-Review

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 08:47 AM »

Why the hell does a software support forum need my address and phone number? Intrusive crap!

A little ranting tonight, yes?   

Jim

-J-Mac (September 01, 2010, 12:32 AM)

Join the club! As Kramer says, "Why does Radio Shack ask for your phone number when you buy batteries?"

But, as tomos said, Tobias is very responsive to emails.

3539

General Software Discussion / Re: Yet another application tapping into the "cloud" market.

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 08:42 AM »

While I have to admit I've been enjoying this roll you've been on, I've just got to ask... Are you having an I was born in the wrong century/hate technology moment?

-Stoic Joker (September 01, 2010, 08:00 AM)

Yeah, i don't know what's happening.  i guess it started when i was thinking about getting an ipad and I started thinking about all of this more seriously.  I've always felt I was born in the wrong century, so to speak.  But i don't hate technology, i love it!  Actually, I do know why this is happening, I just can't talk about it yet....after December....

3540

General Software Discussion / Re: Yet another application tapping into the "cloud" market.

« Last post by superboyac on September 01, 2010, 07:15 AM »

There's a fine line there between wanting to make more money and thinking "we'll screw the customers for all we can get". It's probably very subjective but when they go over that line I very much resent it and move on when & where I can

-tomos (August 31, 2010, 11:48 PM)

I totally agree.  I can't criticize MLO too much for it because it is relatively cheap and optional.  I just don't like the trend in general.  I feel you, though.  There definitely is a line somewhere that's hard to describe.  i guess one of the first things I would ask is, "does this really need to be on someone else's server?  Really?"  Then I move on from there.  The answer is usually no.

3541

General Software Discussion / Re: wireless (wifi) network connection manager with saved profiles

« Last post by superboyac on August 31, 2010, 10:34 PM »

^^This is exactly what I'm talking about.  You are right on the money.  I was just talking about this last week with my friend who bought a Mac last year.  He specifically showed me how on a mac, when it detects a new connection, all that happens is a box pops up asking for the wifi password, and BAM you are connected.  That's what I'm talking about.  I have never seen it that easy or even close to it on any PC.  This is why Mac will keep gaining ground.  I don't know how Win7 is, but on XP, it's stupid.  And yes, the XP configuration dialog is probably the best of the bunch out there.  And that's sad because it's pretty bad.  There MUST be a program out there that does this better, I have to believe that...

3542

General Software Discussion / Yet another application tapping into the "cloud" market.

« Last post by superboyac on August 31, 2010, 06:01 PM »

Ugh, once again, another one of my favorite programs is starting to go the "cloud" way, and charging for it.  MyLife Organized.  I love MLO, it's a great program, but I hate paying extra for cloud services.  It's only a buck or two a month, but still.  Also, in their defense, it is optional.

I just don't like all this.  Especially for a program like MLO, if you are going to offer cloud services, I would just be inclined to do it for free like it's an additional feature.  I know, they justify it by saying they have to maintain the server, etc.  It's not like they need a bunch of servers to handle all the gigabytes of information.  If you take all the MLO users and their data, how much do you think there is?  i don't think it's much, and offering free cloud syncing would be great!  We pay for the application, and that's part of it.  FullRecall did it right.  They offered a syncing feature using their servers, but it was free when they added it.

I'm very opposed to paying for an application, and then paying again for a monthly service.  Then what?  It will be more like what Dopus does with some of it's extra features (secured ftp, usb mode) where they charge a few dollars extra for those features.  Then what?  how about we select the features we want a la carte?

You see how silly it is?  It's funny.  These software companies will go a la carte to make more money, and the tv companies will NOT go a la carte to make more money.  Whatever makes more money.  And I get that!  I truly do, I am not opposed to companies trying to make a buck.  I just don't like it as a consumer, and I am becoming increasingly frustrated.  I guess I just want all of us to be aware of it, that's as much as i can do.

Seriously, I'm just going to setup my own file server at home for all these little data files.  I started a thread about having my own dedicated server, but that's not happening any time soon.  But for little things that don't require much bandwidth, I can have my own file server.  I know...you all will say to use Dropbox, but I really want to see if I can just do it myself.  For some reason, I am irrationally opposed to Dropbox.  If I'm going to sync, I want to do it directly to my computer.  no middle man, unless necessary.  And yes, I probably will go to great lengths to try to get it to work, as crazy as I may seem to everyone out there.

3543

General Software Discussion / Re: ComboFix=GREAT rootkit cleaner. (Kaspersky failed me big time).

« Last post by superboyac on August 31, 2010, 05:37 PM »

...  I've never had this happen with kaspersky before.  ...

-superboyac (August 31, 2010, 03:00 PM)

have you checked if you've made the same mistake that I once made, after teaching my security suite, forgetting to also take it out of 'learning-mode' again?

-Curt (August 31, 2010, 03:52 PM)

What learning mode?  I wasn't even aware of one in kaspersky.

3544

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Super Flexible File Synchronizer Mini-Review

« Last post by superboyac on August 31, 2010, 03:42 PM »

Armando, i find your experiment with SFFS very interesting.  I know you are very detail-oriented.  I've used SFFS for a while now.  I use mostly the exact mirror mode for my stuff except in a few cases.  I'm shocked to hear you say that Syncback has more flexibility and options.  Wow!  The whole reason I was attracted to SFFS was because of the tons of options.  So I definitely have to check out Syncback now.

The interface on SFFS is pretty crummy.  I was really hoping Tobias was going to revamp it for version 5.  I feel it needs the same type of overhaul DOpus went through for it's options dialog a couple of versions back.  There are too many options to sort through all those tabs.  It's overwhelming.  That needs to be done in a different way.  And the thing you mention about the grid showing the backups...yes, that could definitely be improved.  I also really think he should change the dialog where you select the individual folders you want backed up (with checkboxes).  For as long as I've used it, he's done that in a really funky way with radio buttons, which makes no sense to me.

3545

General Software Discussion / What's a good Linux distro for a multi-touch capable laptop?

« Last post by superboyac on August 31, 2010, 03:09 PM »

I'm about to order the Hp Touchsmart tm2t.  I was curious about putting a nice Linux distro on it.  But I'd really LOVE to find one that has excellent support for multi-touch screens.  Is there anything like that out there?  If not a distro itself, perhaps a software that is compatible with a good distro.  Thanks.

3546

DcUpdater / Re: LATEST VERSION INFO THREAD - DcUpdater - 1.27.01 Beta - Aug 31, 2010

« Last post by superboyac on August 31, 2010, 03:05 PM »

Seems to be working fine.  But to know for sure, I have to wait.  It was an error that would just appear out of nowhere...like, I'd just come to my computer and see it there.  So, if I don't see it in coming weeks, I would say the problem is solved.

3547

Living Room / Re: MIT's biopic of 4chan's founder, Chris Poole (moot)

« Last post by superboyac on August 31, 2010, 03:01 PM »

unique mix of humor, pornography, offensiveness, and, at times, borderline legality.

-superboyac (August 31, 2010, 12:03 PM)

I did use the term Thicker for a reason ... I was assuming the key word there was mixture - anticipating a percentage other than 95% - Scrolling past it wasn't working. - There was no end. 

-Stoic Joker (August 31, 2010, 12:14 PM)

Haha, I know what you mean!  I was blown away the first time I saw it.  4chan is anarchy.

3548

General Software Discussion / Re: ComboFix=GREAT rootkit cleaner. (Kaspersky failed me big time).

« Last post by superboyac on August 31, 2010, 03:00 PM »

These antivirus programs need to go through a makeover.  Less bloat, and focus on minimizing the performance impact and accuracy/effectiveness.

-superboyac (August 31, 2010, 12:33 PM)

Well said.  And an absolute absence of false positives 

-rjbull (August 31, 2010, 02:40 PM)

Yeah, really.  I bet a lot of the things it found were false positives, but I can't be sure.  At the very least, it should catch the things that are malware.  I've never had this happen with kaspersky before.  I've always had peace of mind with it, but now I've lost a little of the trust, and I don't like that.

3549

General Software Discussion / Re: ComboFix=GREAT rootkit cleaner. (Kaspersky failed me big time).

« Last post by superboyac on August 31, 2010, 02:59 PM »

I did a full computer scan with Kaspersky IS 2010, and it caught a bunch of stuff

Then I used malwarebytes anti-malware program to clean, and that found some stuff also

Maybe you should focus on not exposing your "workhorse" to so much "stuff".

-mrainey (August 31, 2010, 02:00 PM)

Actually, the point of an AV program is to protect my computer in case I encounter such things.  As careful as I am, I do a lot of computing and things in general on the net, so I would have to disagree with that.  What if i wasn't a big time computer supergeek?  Does that mean I have to be afraid of everything I do?  No.  That's why we pay for the AV programs.  If it's just a matter of being cautious, why do we run AV programs which slow our computers down?

3550

General Software Discussion / ComboFix=GREAT rootkit cleaner. (Kaspersky failed me big time).

« Last post by superboyac on August 31, 2010, 12:33 PM »

http://www.bleepingc.../how-to-use-combofix

Well, Kaspersky actually failed me for the first time since I've been using it (many years).  A couple of days ago, I noticed my Firefox was having some weird problems.  It turns out I had a Google redirect virus that was causing significant trouble on my computer.  My Ad Muncher even broke, which is VERY rare.  I did a full computer scan with Kaspersky IS 2010, and it caught a bunch of stuff but didn't clean this particular problem.  First of all, Kaspersky should have never allowed it in in the first place...what's the point of having it running and slowing everything down???  Anyway, after all of that, I was still having the problem.  Then I used malwarebytes anti-malware program to clean, and that found some stuff also, but didn't clean this problem.

So I did a lot of reading, and came across the program ComboFix (link up top).  Actually, I discovered it in the comments section of some blog post, so it was rather difficult to find.  I know it's been mentioned here a little, but no big discussions or anything.  Anyway, I'm glad to say that it did a FANTASTIC job of cleaning out that rootkit.

More importantly, I'm VERY VERY disappointed in Kaspersky.  It's a world-class security suite and should be very capable of catching these things.  I'm also a little annoyed in knowing that even though it's constantly monitoring my pc, why do I get a bunch of malware when I do a full computer scan?  What's the point of it running and monitoring?  I don't get that.

This was bad.  I don't mind this happening to my laptop or mom's computer.  But not to my workhorse computer.  That's my baby.  I do everything on there, it's practically a mini-corporation.

These antivirus programs need to go through a makeover.  Less bloat, and focus on minimizing the performance impact and accuracy/effectiveness.  All other features are secondary.  Almost all users care primarily about those two things: performance impact and security.  The companies should spend 80% of their efforts on those two things.  For AV programs, they should cut out as much bloat as possible.  What is it about software...as soon as it gets anywhere near the big-times, they become slow and bulky.  They install files all over the place, etc.  I love those tiny little utilities that run super-fast, have nice simple interfaces, and install so simply, like all files in one folder, or even having a portable option.  All software should be portable unless there is a true need to get their fingers all up in the OS (which AV programs might very well need).