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3726

Living Room / Re: How to send fax through high-speed internet connection?

« Last post by superboyac on July 07, 2010, 02:48 PM »

There are TONS of services that will do this for you.

First result in google for "send fax online":  http://faxzero.com

-app103 (July 07, 2010, 01:19 PM)

Yes of course.  I was wondering if there was a particular favorite of anyone's around here.  I'm fully aware of google's abilities.

Seriously, though, is there any software that can do this?  I always prefer software to online apps because with software you can keep the settings locally, logs (if any), etc.  Faxzero sounds interesting, but it has only 3 pages max for free.  I'm surprised google doesn't have something called Google Fax!

3727

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for Business Process Modeling?

« Last post by superboyac on July 07, 2010, 02:44 PM »

Don't forget, 11x17 landscape is 8.5x11 times 2.  In other words, what I often see (particularly with engineering drawings incorporated into books for example) is what is called an engineering fold.  You basically have an 11x17 page, you fold it in half, and then fold one side in half again to make a z-fold with a long tail where the bind will actually take place.  This allows you to print on 11x17 without reflowing the images to fit in a manual.

-steeladept (July 07, 2010, 02:24 PM)

I know, i do that all the time (I am an engineer!).  But I'd still prefer to keep it on letter size if possible.  During this process, there are a lot of meetings going on and stuff, and I always have to print this and that out.  So it's just easier to keep everything the same.
But I use the engineering fold all the time.  I always have to stick stuff in my binders, and all those 11x17's get folder in.  i remember learning that fold early on, I thought it was cool.  That's how geeky I am!

here's another little known engineering tidbit:  when you have those big plans, you are always supposed to roll it so that the sheet title is visible once the rolling is done.  That usually means you roll plans from left to right, top side on the outside (because the sheet title is normally in the lower right hand side).

3728

Living Room / How to send fax through high-speed internet connection?

« Last post by superboyac on July 07, 2010, 12:59 PM »

Is it possible to send a fax to a regular fax number without having a dial-up modem?  I have my cable modem and high speed connection, and I'd like to send a pdf through it.  I remember back in the day using Winfax, but that used a regular phone line.  Are there any services or software that do this now?

3729

Living Room / Re: Question about video codecs/containers and playback differences.

« Last post by superboyac on July 06, 2010, 05:39 PM »

javaj, great explanation.  I'm going to have to bookmark that.  i knew a lot of it already, but the way you explained is just what I'm looking for.  Not overly technical, and very clear.  Thank you.

3730

Living Room / Re: TV Controls (rant)

« Last post by superboyac on July 06, 2010, 05:35 PM »

When I do watch TV, I can only watch something that's been recorded. I can't tolerate the endless commercial breaks. TV sitcoms used to do 22 minutes (for every 30) back in the day, but I think these modern reality shows (Pawn Stars, DIY network, Food porn, Cake Boss, et al.) only throw up about 18-19 minutes tops. I've yet to go digital since I can't afford a widescreen TV. Honest.

I've noticed that every single reality show family gets incredibly rich, from the psycho Kate Gosselin to the Chopperheads in New York to those smug little people in Oregon. In every show, they're always building monster businesses or mansions after they've been on the air for a while. Oh, and don't forget the world travel for everyone.

-zridling (July 06, 2010, 05:07 PM)

I'm with you.  I never watch live shows anymore.  Sometimes, I don't have anything new to watch and I'll turn the TV on.  There always comes a point where I flip to 5 or more channels, and they are ALL showing commercials.  It makes me curse up a storm, and I just rewatch something I've already seen.  It's out of control.  It's disrespectful to the public, that's what it is.  They are saying they don't give two sh-ts about your time.  you have nothing better to do, you might as well spend your valuable time watching endless amounts of commercials.

3731

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for Business Process Modeling?

« Last post by superboyac on July 06, 2010, 04:41 PM »

Use page connector shapes. The text will be the page number and any other designation required if there is more than one page connector. For example Page 1 may have Page Connectors a, b and c. Page 2 may have connectors a and b. Let's say the flow is going from Page 1c to Page 2b. The text in the Page 1C connector shape would be "To Page 2b" and the text in the Page 2b connector shape would be "From Page 1C". FYI - Visio helps automate page connectors.

Now that I reread it, I see that you don't want to jump pages. That kind of restriction can drive you crazy, and using larger paper sizes can prove to be dysfunctional in printed manuals and more difficult to follow on screen.

-steveorg (July 06, 2010, 04:26 PM)

I know.  I had it initially on a 11x17 landscape.  I just redid the flowchart manually to fit on a portrait 8.5x11.  It's good for now.  From now on, I'm keeping in mind this will be printed in a manual.  So I'm going to leave the page setup as is, and i really need to jump pages, I will.

3732

General Software Discussion / How to print multi-page flowcharts?

« Last post by superboyac on July 06, 2010, 03:42 PM »

Ok, I have a flowchart, but it is too big to fit on one 8.5x11 page.  How can I show this on letter size paper by splitting it up?  The arrows kind of go all over the place, so there's no easy point to simply break and say "continue on next page".  Do any of you have ideas?  I have 4 swimlanes.  It fits great on 11x17, but I don't know how to show it in our printable manual.

3733

Living Room / Re: Question about video codecs/containers and playback differences.

« Last post by superboyac on July 06, 2010, 02:46 PM »

The biggest weakness in stand-alone .avi/.divx players is they are limited to standard DVD resolution.  You couldn't play HD avi or divx files.  But the new Divx Plus they are coming out with is all .mkv now.  The .mkv is going to be the new wave.  Looks like they will support HD .mkv and .avi/.divx and probably .mp4 on the new Divx Plus players.

-MilesAhead (July 06, 2010, 01:33 PM)

i didn't know that!  I didn't realize avi./divx had a resolution limit.  Is that why all the HD videos I've seen are wmv or mkv?  Must be.  Yes, Splash Lite is a good little player.  If they can beef up the customizeability like a KMPlayer, it could easily be my player of choice.  it definitely deals with HD files  nicely.  Sometimes when I have an HD file (usually wmv or mp4) I always have to try a few players before it work smoothly.  KMPlayer doesn't always handle them well.  Splash usually does a god job, but even that sometimes doesn't work.  Light Alloy also does well occasionally, sometimes when no other player works.  But Light Alloy doesn't have built in decoders, it just uses your system configuration.  And I have a special decoder installed for HD stuff, I forget the name right now.
But I think the trend I see is this: any format that is proprietary or built in with copyright features is going to give you more trouble than the more general/open use formats like avi/divx/xvid/mpg.  And that is what is annoying.

I am beginning to like mkv a lot because it can do more than the other formats, such as subtitle enabling/disabling, built in chapters, etc.  That's really nice to have it all in one file rather than using VOB files or something like that.  I'm also looking forward to Googles open format that I've heard a little about.

I generally don't like wmv, wma, realplayer, even mp4 sometimes (but mp4 has been ok for me so far).  But I'm always a little suspicious of any of the formats that are proprietary to apple, microsoft, etc.  because you always know they won't do it the best way possible because one of their primary concerns will be copyright protection.

3734

Living Room / Re: TV Controls (rant)

« Last post by superboyac on July 06, 2010, 11:04 AM »

Redhead + red envelopes.

-40hz (July 06, 2010, 08:48 AM)

Once again, you have good taste!  I have a little thing for redheads with curly hair....mmmm.

3735

Living Room / Re: Question about video codecs/containers and playback differences.

« Last post by superboyac on July 06, 2010, 09:30 AM »

I'm not sure, but WMV seems to be a bit heavier to decode than some others. Perhaps someone that's more up on things can comment. I've not done a lot of work with it in a few years.

-Renegade (July 06, 2010, 09:10 AM)

Yes, it is heavier.  And I bet I know why.  Copyright copyright copyright.  wmv has that copyright stuff built in.  The ability to only allow playback a certain number of times and stuff.  It's all built into the codec, so it makes it run slower, harder to move the seek bar around...just generally makes it a worse experience so that copyright features can be added.

3736

General Software Discussion / Re: Lifehacker's Guide to Ripping and Converting Flash Videos

« Last post by superboyac on July 06, 2010, 09:13 AM »

I'm getting tired of the piss poor quality of youtube videos.  Anything that is of any interest to me has really bad quality.  Combine that with the super slow loading because I think my cable company throttles youtube, and I just avoid youtube if I can these days.  It's so bad that it takes me significantly less time to download the file from youtube than it does to wait for it to load and watch online.  This is all copyright stuff.  All the copyrighting is making it a miserable watching experience.
I uploaded like a 30 second clip from a movie for a friend of mine, and it was immediately blocked by youtube because it got fingerprinted.  Anything high quality like that will immediately get blocked.

3737

Living Room / Re: Question about video codecs/containers and playback differences.

« Last post by superboyac on July 06, 2010, 09:01 AM »

No, that's helpful.  I'm just looking for a discussion here, not an in depth analysis.  Yes, i also find mkv files to be very heavy, as you say.  But I also notice that people who use mkv files are making more high quality videos, like full HD or just very big multi gigabyte files.  For example, the only mkv files I have rips of music dvd's that are uncompressed, I think.  I use that program makemkv.  The quality is great, but I can't play those files on my old computer.

So what is it about wmv files that make them more annoying than avi?

3738

Living Room / Question about video codecs/containers and playback differences.

« Last post by superboyac on July 05, 2010, 10:37 PM »

I have questions about video player formats, codecs, containers, etc. that never gets properly answered because people get carried away with the technical jargon of it.  My question is, what are the differences and what causes the differences?  Please keep this novice friendly, don't go crazy about the technical details.

For example, I know if someone asks, "What is better; avi or mpg?"  The answer they will get is a long thing about how avi is a container and many formats fit in it.  Ok, i get that.  Whatever.

My real question is how come I get different playback experiences with the different formats?  Is it just me or what?  In light of all this, I'll give little nuggets of information, based on my experiences in the past:

--wmv files normally have more issues for me compared to avi or mpg.  Seeking in a player is usually more quirky.  I think it's more sluggish also.

--avi files seem to generally play back the best for me.  Never any problems.  Seeking is quick and pleasant.  Sometimes there are sync issues with audio.

--mpg files also seem to generally be trouble free.  Not as common as avi, but stable.

--mp4 are usually ok, but problems come up often.  I blame this largely on it being an apple format and how most pc's will not want to play those out of the box.  So you have to get quicktime.  but i don't want quicktime, so I get Quicktime Alternative, or a player like KMPlayer which plays everything.

but does anyone experience this also, where you have different experiences with different extensions (regardless of what combo of containers/codecs you use)?  I do.  Even now, if I see a wmv file, i'm always a little hesitant.  If I see an avi and wmv of the same thing available, I'll get the avi.  These are my impressions, however uninformed.

3739

Living Room / Re: Please recommend beautiful websites with simple, elegant designs.

« Last post by superboyac on July 05, 2010, 07:19 PM »

40hz, thanks again for the very helpful advice.  I dig that Ghost City scheme, as well as the others.  And I didn't know about Kuler, I'll have to play with it in the CS suite.

3740

Living Room / Re: Apple/ATT sued over iPhone 4 Antenna issues

« Last post by superboyac on July 04, 2010, 02:48 PM »

Interestingly enough Anandtech's tests indicate the iPhone 4 actually still gets better reception than previous iPhones, generally speaking: http://www.anandtech...he-iphone-4-review/2

Btw, semi-off topic, I just tried a friend's HTC Incredible: I'm not really getting why the iPhone "experience" is *still* considered so stand-out. The Incredible is pretty awesome. Smooth UI, lots of features, a great virtual keyboard (better than iPhone 3GS that I've tried IMHO). I dunno, is it just the "reality distortion field" saying that iPhone is still a better "experience" or is there something tangible that my limited (10 minutes or so) testing didn't show? Mind you I've had about 30 minutes with a 3GS as well for comparison (spaced over a few testing sessions with a friend's phone).

- Oshyan

-JavaJones (July 03, 2010, 08:42 PM)

I also was able to play with that phone from a coworker.  It is impressive.  I agree with you, I can't say the apple experience is better than that.  That may just the case of the popular thing winning over the less popular.  That screen was huge!

Another thing I've criticized Sony for is product naming.  So in this case, they are calling the phe the HTC Touch or something like that.  The iphone is the "iphone"...it's catchy, it's hip.  HTC TOuch..not so much.  A couple of years ago, i bought a Sony mp3 player...it was their top of the line model, and what was it called?  the NWZ-8211 or something along those lines.  Of course, Apple had the ipod.  So when I explain how cool my Sony player is, what do I call it?  the NWZ-8211??  Cmon Sony, what the hell is wrong with you?

3741

Living Room / Re: Please recommend beautiful websites with simple, elegant designs.

« Last post by superboyac on July 04, 2010, 12:04 AM »

I'm big on minimalist web design. I prefer sites that make good use of legible typography, and that employ understated color, or creative monochrome palettes.

Three of my favorite examples:

http://www.alistapart.com/articles/

http://www.markwieman.com/

http://maketea.co.uk/

 

-40hz (July 03, 2010, 07:34 AM)

Thanks, 40.  As usual, i agree with your taste.  I, too, like the minimalist approach, but maybe not quite so much.  I like some color around the edges to frame the content, rather than have it white all around.

There are elements to those 3 sites that I love.  I think I'm going to have to copy them.  First of all, the font in the alistapart site is GORGEOUS.  Wow.  Whatever that font is, I'm copying that.  I also love those soft colors.  I think I may have to go that way.
That mark wieman site is also great.  i don't like the font as much, but I love the cleanliness of the site.  My site may end up looking like that, more or less.
The maketea site also has a great font.  I'm going to use that or the one above.

3742

Living Room / Re: Please recommend beautiful websites with simple, elegant designs.

« Last post by superboyac on July 02, 2010, 11:17 PM »

People, maybe I wasn't clear...
I'm not looking for an actual theme.  I'm just looking for ideas.  The theme will be built by myself and the theme author.

Also, I'm looking for sites that YOU guys think are beautiful.  Please don't ask me to go and google something or browse the wordpress themes.  I already know how to do that.  If there is a favorite SPECIFIC site that is a favorite of yours, just link that site or put a screenshot or something like that.  That's going to be the most helpful thing to me.

Also, and I kind of knew this would happen, when i brought up the whole mahogany library thing, I didn't mean that I actually want my website looking like mahogany and have pictures of books and such int he background.  I meant to impart that I want people to feel the kind of peace and elegance one would feel when walking into an old traditional library like that.

OK, that being said, there are some nice ideas in the links you guys have provided so far.
I like the color scheme of that Bo's coffee site.  Nice brown/orange use.  Really nice.
That purple Moodle theme is also bery nice.  I didn't think of purple, but the way they've used the purple and the dark gray is elegant.


Maybe a better question I should have asked is:
What is YOUR favorite website layout, and why?

3743

Living Room / Please recommend beautiful websites with simple, elegant designs.

« Last post by superboyac on July 02, 2010, 06:06 PM »

I'm looking for ideas for a very simple, yet elegant website design.  If there's something that hits me good, I'll start designing it with my websites theme designer.  Here are my requirements:
--simple and elegant

--no sites with banners and ads all over the place, even if done tastefully

--top menu driven navigation scheme (not sidebar)

--one or two column only

--I'm very interested in nice color schemes

--not one of those flash-heavy sites where there's a lot of animation and very creative movements, shapes, etc.  A lot of musicians' websites do this.

OK, please recommend, thank you.

The feel I want for the website is like when you walk into the library of someone's 100 year old, well-maintained mansion.  There's a nice leather armchair, with mahogany tables around, and on the table is a book.  The book is my content, the room is the aura.  That's the feel I want.  This doesn't mean I want a mahogany wood background.  I'm just talking about the feel.

Thanks!

3744

General Software Discussion / Re: Add tabbed documents to MS Office

« Last post by superboyac on July 01, 2010, 08:44 AM »

superboyac - what did you wind up doing? Are you running any tab add-on today and, if so, what one? Are you happy with it? Any bugs? Questions, lots of questions... 

-Darwin (July 01, 2010, 07:24 AM)

No, I'm not using any tab plugin currently.  I don't know why, I think I just forgot about it once it became pay-ware.  I use that built in document switcher that someone mentioned above, even though it's nothing special.  The document switcher is the exact same thing as the "Window" menu that use to be there before the ribbon.

If I were to use one, I'd use Office Tabs.  It's pretty cheap and it worked well.  The only other option I know of is Intellitabs, which is way more expensive and I don't even think it's developed any longer.

3745

Screenshot Captor / Re: LATEST VERSION INFO THREAD - ScreenshotCaptor -2.82.01 - June 1st, 2010

« Last post by superboyac on June 30, 2010, 09:29 AM »

mouser, i love how you put paragraphs of comments right in your interface.  i always say you have a grat knack of balancing powerful features with a nice UI.  You should be the CEO of both Sony and Apple and fix all their issues.

3746

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for Business Process Modeling?

« Last post by superboyac on June 28, 2010, 05:27 PM »

@superboyac

I recently PM'd a couple of the experts here (I forgot to include IianB!)

-superboyac (June 25, 2010, 09:50 AM)

Please don't refer to me as, or imply that I am an "expert". The term seems to indicate that the person knows everything there is to know on a subject.

I might be an experienced consultant and practitioner of business process analysis/modeling and improvement, and I certainly can see where people are going down the wrong paths that I might have been down, but I have already indicated that I am rich in "withdom" and relatively poor in wisdom. There's probably still a lot to learn that I am not aware of.

-IainB (June 28, 2010, 05:03 PM)

i'm sorry.

3747

Living Room / Re: 20 years later, the movie "Total Recall" still kicks butt

« Last post by superboyac on June 28, 2010, 12:16 PM »

40hz, I love reading what you write...

I like your suggestion.  There's only one individual who I'd want to watch movies with right now in that manner, but maybe we might be able to muster up a couple of more people.  All we would really need is like 3 couples.  I've done things like "movie nights" before, but it's very hard getting a good discussion going, especially if people don't care about the more difficult things to discuss like story, building tension, irony, etc.  Then, you just watch fast and furious and the comments are "well! that was cool!" ok...fascinating.

3748

Living Room / Re: 20 years later, the movie "Total Recall" still kicks butt

« Last post by superboyac on June 28, 2010, 09:47 AM »

I personally didn't find No country for old men all that interesting.  I know I'm one of the few, but hey.  I also found it a little funny that No Country and There Will Be Blood turned into a whole rivalry for no apparent reason.  All of a sudden, you either liked one or the other.  i even wrote an article about it:
http://aram.dcmember...country-for-old-men/

3749

Living Room / Re: 20 years later, the movie "Total Recall" still kicks butt

« Last post by superboyac on June 28, 2010, 09:43 AM »

Usual Suspects blew my mind when I first saw it.  I still remember watching it:  i was home from college, and the premium channels (HBO, Cinemax) were having one of those free preview weekends.  It was late, like 2am in the morning.  This movie I'd never heard of came on, usual suspects.  So I was watching it and half falling asleep, but it started getting really interesting.  Then the ending came and i was blown away.  One of the most fun movie experiences ever.  My other top movie experiences were The Game, Jerry Maguire, and Gladiator.  not because of the movies necessarily, but the experience (I have stories for all of them).

I miss the days when going to the movies was really special and fun.  I know I sound one like one of those old geezer back in the day types, but I do miss that.  In college, there were always sneak previews of movies, and for broke college kids, that was really fun.  The anticipation, not knowing what the movie was about AT ALL, all the people...it was good stuff.

3750

Site/Forum Features / Re: Should we add tags to forum?

« Last post by superboyac on June 26, 2010, 11:05 PM »

superboyac, we should remember that when we appreciate the search function on the donationcoder forum, it's not me that deserves thanks, it's our beloved member Wordzilla, who spent a lot of time rewriting the default smf search functions to give them dinosaur power, creating what he called the "zillarank" system:

• https://www.donation...dex.php?topic=9434.0

-mouser (June 26, 2010, 10:50 PM)

Wow, wordzilla,  i didn't even know about that thread.  Amazing.  The people here are just the best, I'm not just saying that.
but mouser, you still deserve credit for masterminding the culture behind this website.  it is unique.  it's the only website that I visit daily, even with my limited time.

Sometimes I'm at work, and I wish i could hire some of the people here to help me...