Recent Posts

3701

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: OnScreen Display for Mute Status

« Last post by app103 on December 05, 2008, 08:54 PM »

The original script with the flicker, that was my preferred one since the flickering caught my attention more.

So I never ran a newer version of the script. 

It worked great on my last pc, but for some reason it isn't working quite the same on the new pc. It won't stay on top.

So I updated it and without the flicker seems to stay on top just fine.

I wish I could have that flicker back without it dropping behind other windows, though.

BTW: you have done some fantastic work with this. I love the idea of replacing the volume icon and still being able to access settings. This script is now everything the Windows volume control should have always been.

Thank you.   

3702

General Software Discussion / Re: Wanted: Nexian's HandyGPS Ubigo maps of the USA

« Last post by app103 on December 02, 2008, 08:40 AM »

Thanks for that info. I'll let him know and see what he says.

3703

General Software Discussion / Re: Want to add a subtle embossed watermark to a couple hudred photos

« Last post by app103 on November 30, 2008, 12:48 AM »

app103: when was Python scripting added to PSP? In the annoying Corel versions, or previously?

-f0dder (November 19, 2008, 12:32 AM)

Previously, in V8, while it was still a Jasc product. Corel's first version was v10.

3704

General Software Discussion / Re: Wanted: Nexian's HandyGPS Ubigo maps of the USA

« Last post by app103 on November 30, 2008, 12:43 AM »

The problem with what archive.org has there is that it includes the pages from the site (only the public ones) but the login doesn't work and the maps are unavailable (if they even have them).

3705

General Software Discussion / Wanted: Nexian's HandyGPS Ubigo maps of the USA

« Last post by app103 on November 29, 2008, 01:23 PM »

A friend of mine contacted me today and asked if I knew where to download the Ubigo maps of the USA (he wants the complete set) for Nexian's HandyGPS (used for the Handspring Visor and other similar PDA's).

They used to be a free download on the Nexian site, but the company went out of business almost 2-3 years ago.

He has been going nuts looking for these maps and can't find them anywhere. I tried looking for them myself, and I couldn't find them either.

Does anyone have any idea where/how to get them?

3706

Living Room / Re: Flash Toy of the Week: How Well Can you Differentiate Colors?

« Last post by app103 on November 27, 2008, 01:37 PM »

Now that I have a much better graphics card, I decided to try this again.

This time I scored a 19. Better than the 23 of last time, but that was to be expected, since last time I wasn't running in true color.

Unfortunately, my CRT monitor died recently, so I can't connect it to the new pc and compare results between monitor types, although I would expect my color perception to be much better with a CRT. I wouldn't get that funny halo, gradient, and wavy line effect that I see on all LCD's.

3707

Living Room / Re: Why does it say paper jam when there is no paper jam?!

« Last post by app103 on November 25, 2008, 02:04 PM »

I am not sure about the printer you have, but for my HP I would have to use a cleaning kit like this:

http://h10025.www1.h...n&product=428800

And if I remember correctly, it's a single use cleaner and costs about $20

3708

Living Room / Why does it say paper jam when there is no paper jam?!

« Last post by app103 on November 25, 2008, 01:31 PM »

Great video of a cat "fixing" the printer.

http://s2.photobucke...current=cvUMHvLZ.flv

from FriendFeed

3709

Living Room / Re: What is Donation Coder?

« Last post by app103 on November 23, 2008, 08:00 AM »

As  non-programmer/scripter, it's a site where you learn a lot (if you are willing) and the best place I know to find good free software that makes using your PC a lot easier! 

Mum is always saying "Where did you get that programme?" and my answer 90% of time is..

"Donation Coder, of course!" 

-CleverCat (November 22, 2008, 06:18 AM)

I have become very aware recently (and have become a bit self conscious about it) of how much I give out links to this site. It seems nearly every issue someone has that could be solved with either a useful tool or some info, either the tool is already made (usually by skrommel) or there is a post with the info here.

I just hope people elsewhere do not perceive me as a broken record or think I am attempting to actively promote the site just to drive traffic to it. The truth is, we just seem to have everything they need.

3710

Living Room / Re: Show/World: A new way to look at the world

« Last post by app103 on November 20, 2008, 11:52 AM »

If you have that data in the format they want, submit it and they may add it to the Your Maps section.

3711

Living Room / Show/World: A new way to look at the world

« Last post by app103 on November 20, 2008, 09:18 AM »

SELECT a subject from the top menu and watch the countries on the map change their size. Instead of land mass, the size of each country will represent the data for that subject --both its share of the total and absolute value.

http://show.mappingworlds.com/

3712

General Software Discussion / Re: Want to add a subtle embossed watermark to a couple hudred photos

« Last post by app103 on November 18, 2008, 10:14 PM »

I am really surprised a Python lover like yourself doesn't have a copy of Paintshop Pro by now.

You could easily create a macro by recording actions in Paintshop Pro (and refine it in python if necessary) to repeat actions on a bunch of files.

I would pick a font I wanted to use, add a new layer, add text to that layer in the color I wanted, adjust the transparency of the layer till it was just how I wanted (on the layers palette) and then play back the macro of actions in batch process. (I have never done this with text so I am unsure if you will have to set the actual text with python, manually)

You could even record/script it to create thumbnails of all the images, at the same time.

Or you could use small tiled text (alternating black & white so it will show no matter what color the image is) on a diagonal angle, flood fill with it on a new layer so it repeats across the whole image. (that would make it much more difficult to remove)

3713

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Countdown Timer Showdown

« Last post by app103 on November 18, 2008, 09:18 AM »

I wish there was an application that would remind me to do something at certain times annoyingly like WorkRave.
For example, something that would annoy me to go to sleep early would be great .

Anyone knows anything like that?

-vitalyb (November 16, 2008, 03:16 PM)

This is the one application I swear by and would be lost without:

3M post-It Digital Notes (shareware: $9.99)

You can set alarms, they give you a snooze button on the alarms, alarms can be set to repeat on a schedule (hourly, daily, weekly,monthly, yearly, etc), organizing boards with tabs so you don't have to have the notes on your desktop, great alarm manager window allows you to see everything at a glance.

Just set the alarm sound to a wav of a nagging woman's voice and you can skip the bad relationship part.  (Get one of Shades' ex-girlfriends to record it for you. )

3714

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Countdown Timer Showdown

« Last post by app103 on November 15, 2008, 11:16 AM »

I found it amusing that he called my Instant Boss "too bossy". 

I guess it's a good thing I didn't include that wav of my husband yelling at you to "get back to work".

3715

General Software Discussion / Windows Countdown Timer Showdown

« Last post by app103 on November 15, 2008, 11:13 AM »

A great comparison of some features among 20 different timer applications.

I’ve found a good way to reduce procrastination is to set a timer and commit to working on a task for that period of time. It makes it easier for you to work on something you’ve been fearing because regardless of the outcome of the task, you get to stop when the timer dings. It’s really a way to trick yourself into doing something you’re avoiding, but it works, so I do it.

I wanted an application that made it as easy as possible to start a timer. I came up with the following requirements, in order of priority.

    * Free
    * Fast to start and stop the timer (fast application startup is good too)
    * Lightweight
    * Popup dialog displayed when timer is up
    * Remembers duration(s) set previously
    * Can disable audio alerts
    * Simple interface
    * Can pause timer
    * Minimizes to tray (Less of an issue when I discovered that TaskSwitch XP can minimize any application to tray by right-clicking the minimize button.
    * Visually appealing

http://dan.hersam.co...down-timer-showdown/

3716

Living Room / Re: Surfulater 3 - huge price hike (166%) + where is the Firefox add-on?

« Last post by app103 on November 14, 2008, 03:29 AM »

Surfulater 3 includes the Firefox plugin, so if you have upgraded you will not need it. The seperate downloadable plugin is only for version 2.

For anyone that is interested I got an answer from Surfulater support.

You can download the Firefopx Extension here (look for attachments at the bottom of the post - if you click the link in the post it just takes you back to the main download page on the website which doesn't have a link).

Not exactly obvious!

-Carol Haynes (November 14, 2008, 02:57 AM)

I just installed version 2 on my new computer yesterday and went bonkers looking for the plugin, myself. I contacted support through the forum yesterday and also got a reply pointing me to the same forum post. The Firefox plugin was added today, probably in response to the 2 of us (maybe more?) asking where it is.

I also mentioned how much I love their application, but that I wouldn't be upgrading, due to the huge price increase. I can't afford to pay that much, and even with the 50% upgrade discount it's still too much for me. It's $79 US (up from original $35 US), $39.50 US for upgrade,

I won my copy of v2 in a drawing here. (lucky me!)

I would rather stick with the older v2 than use Evernote or Google Notebook. (I never really liked either one of those.)

I guess I have until the next version of Firefox (that won't work with the current plugin) to find a replacement. 

(I am also wondering how difficult it would be to hack together something to make it work with K-Meleon)

3717

N.A.N.Y. 2009 / Re: NANY 2009 Intro

« Last post by app103 on November 13, 2008, 09:34 PM »

I have a few projects I have been working on in the last 8 months that I could possibly finish up at least one and release it for this year's NANY.

We have never had a theme for it in the past, and I am not sure it's a good idea to start. Sure we have had other challenges like the GOE one, but that's different.

If you are going to specify a theme this year, I might have to pass if the projects I have that are half finished don't fit the theme.

3718

Living Room / Re: Apologies

« Last post by app103 on November 11, 2008, 01:18 AM »

Sorry, but once you donate your soul to the site, there is no getting it back. 

3719

Living Room / Re: Things your kids will never know - old school tech!

« Last post by app103 on November 09, 2008, 12:55 PM »

My father was remembering back to when I was a kid and mentioned that one of the things he enjoyed most, was watching me from the window at dusk, as I skated up and down our block wearing a pair of Union skates, with the steel wheels.

Why?

Because the bits of flint in the cement of the sidewalk would cause sparks, and as it got dark you could see the sparks as I flew past the house. 




These skates were tough, and unless you skated on dirt or grass instead of the sidewalk, left them out in the rain, or lost a skate, it wasn't likely that you would ever need more than 1 pair over the course of your childhood. (I managed to wear out a pair a year, though, with the amount of skating I did)

They were completely adjustable (with a key)...one size fits all...and fit over your shoes. With how popular they were, it was probably the reason why kids sneakers all had that rubber toe back in those days.

Around 1980 they started disappearing, as well as the old style rubber toed sneakers, when Rollerblades came along.

My daughter has never actually seen a pair of these skates, other than in pictures, and it was rather tough finding a good pic of them online. I have often wished as she was growing up, that they never went out of style, as it would have been a lot cheaper for me not to have to buy her a new pair of skates every time her feet grew.

3720

Site/Forum Features / Re: RSS Feeds for DonationCoder.com and this Forum

« Last post by app103 on November 07, 2008, 03:47 AM »

u=4,5,6 (this says show all recent posts by users # 4,5, or 6)

-mouser (August 29, 2008, 08:41 PM)

This is handy for anyone that uses FriendFeed, allowing you to add your posts here on DC to your lifestream.

3721

General Software Discussion / Re: I am looking for an messaging client that can send emails

« Last post by app103 on November 07, 2008, 03:33 AM »

How about QNext?

3722

General Software Discussion / Re: Should licensed Vista users get free upgrade to Windows 7?

« Last post by app103 on November 06, 2008, 06:54 PM »

I seriously doubt that they are going to give a free upgrade to anyone. (I got a free downgrade with my new PC)

I still think they should have had a massive historic product recall with WinME and given everyone that had a copy (OEM or boxed) a free copy of Win2k.

I am sure a lot of people feel that way about Vista, too, which is probably why Dell is still giving away a lot of free XP downgrades.

3723

Living Room / Re: Apologies

« Last post by app103 on November 03, 2008, 05:21 AM »

I propose a new T-shirt for totally addicted members:

3724

Developer's Corner / Re: 91 Ways to Become a Great Developer

« Last post by app103 on November 03, 2008, 04:54 AM »

oops 

3725

Developer's Corner / 91 Ways to Become a Great Developer

« Last post by app103 on November 03, 2008, 01:34 AM »

 I found this list full of tips, advice, and links today, while on one of my "click adventures".

It's broken down into the following sections:

1. Learn the Skills You Need
2. Write Self-Descriptive Code, Useful Comments or None at All
3. Program Efficiently
4. Be a Good Businessman
5. Get the Job You Deserve