Recent Posts

401

Living Room / Re: What books are you reading?

« Last post by rjbull on February 11, 2015, 02:57 PM »

Wounding the World: How Military Violence and War-Play Invade Our Lives by Joanna Bourke, Professor of History at Birkbeck, University of London.
- how militarism and the horrific injuries caused by modern weapons are euphemised, sanitised, obfuscated, and distanced by treatment as abstract theoretical problems, to normalise a permanent state of war.

402

General Software Discussion / Re: publishing notes to the net

« Last post by rjbull on February 10, 2015, 04:26 PM »

Some of these programs have a freely-distributable viewer, and/or can compile a note tree to an EXE file: TreePad is a notable example.  I'd rather have the viewer than the EXE owing to UAC, installation permissions, etc., but either gives an alternative way of distributing canned text.

403

Living Room / Re: License, registration, and insurance...or your cell phone

« Last post by rjbull on February 10, 2015, 04:18 PM »

Couldn't you use one of the password-protection apps, like Asus' own App Locker that was supplied with my Asus tablet, to prevent easy, casual snooping?

404

General Software Discussion / Re: Smartphones et al. and their software, batteries and keyboards

« Last post by rjbull on February 10, 2015, 04:07 PM »

Yup, once you buy something on the Play Store, it's yours forever.

-Deozaan (February 09, 2015, 06:52 PM)

Thanks for the confirmation! 

There are some possible exceptions: Consumable in-app purchases (IAPs)

-Deozaan (February 09, 2015, 06:52 PM)

Consumables?  Please can you give an example?

405

General Software Discussion / Re: Smartphones et al. and their software, batteries and keyboards

« Last post by rjbull on February 09, 2015, 05:49 PM »

eleman beat me to it. I have purchased apps on the Google Play store once and have been able to use the purchases on both my phone and my tablet simultaneously.

-Innuendo (February 04, 2015, 10:07 PM)

Just to be perfectly clear; does that mean that if I uninstall a utility purchased through the Google Play Store, either through the Play Store itself or via Settings, I can come back at some later date and reinstall it without further payment?

406

General Software Discussion / Re: Evernote Desktop v2.2.1.386.0 appreciation thread

« Last post by rjbull on February 02, 2015, 05:28 PM »

i really do highly recommend Wiznote as a worthy successor

-superboyac (January 29, 2015, 05:07 PM)

Is that the Chinese one that's been mentioned on DC before?  wiz.cn?

407

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: TreeDBNotes Pro - Christmas and New Year Discount: 50%

« Last post by rjbull on January 26, 2015, 04:38 PM »

It may seem odd, but I have never really got on with any single pane outliner - though I do have Outline 4d (a very particular type of program which again seems to have escaped development in the recent aeon).

-Dormouse (January 17, 2015, 04:23 PM)

Since single-pane outlining became a more common feature of word processors, there doesn't seem to have been much development in free-standing ones.  Pity.

Had a quick look at Inspiration. Seems most like a mindmapper with an outline view to me.

-Dormouse (January 17, 2015, 04:23 PM)

It did fairly well in John Buckman's very old round-up of outliners, but times have moved on...

I tend to find the rigid structures far too limiting and they never work with anything I'm doing. I seem to be able to do any number of things in TreeDB at the same time which is what I usually need.

-Dormouse (January 17, 2015, 04:23 PM)

You must have a complex mind to deal with complex needs 

408

General Software Discussion / Re: Evernote Desktop v2.2.1.386.0 appreciation thread

« Last post by rjbull on January 26, 2015, 04:33 PM »

I'm still using a registered copy of 2.2.0.384    It's still the best thing I've used for clipping from the web.  RightNote probably gives a slightly better rendition of the web page, but tends to be fragile on my system, and in any case I usually just want the content, without worrying too much about the exact appearance.

I didn't realise Evernote desktop had been declared free.  Is it definitely kosher?

409

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: DxO photo software 30% off January 2015

« Last post by rjbull on January 26, 2015, 04:26 PM »

as someone who's only ever used OEMs for desktop machines, and has a Win7 pc and a Win8.1 laptop - I'd go for a pc without OS, and a windows 7 oem. It gets supported for another 5 years and it might not get any better (versions 8/10).
FWIW you can get multilingual OEMs (usually DELL) on ebay.de for less than 30€

-tomos (January 25, 2015, 12:44 PM)

I thought OEM versions of Windows were the versions Microsoft sell to hardware manufacturers, and weren't released into the "wild," except when they were superannuated bin ends?  I'm surprised if OEM versions could be found on eBay, but maybe I should take a look!  Thanks for the tip.  Whatever machine I have next, I'd really like to have proper install disks, not just some kind of rescue disk.  It's good if Win7 lasts for a few years as XP and 7 seem to be the best-ever versions.

410

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: DxO photo software 30% off January 2015

« Last post by rjbull on January 25, 2015, 11:47 AM »

I don't think NPhoto/N-Photo magazine put much content online.  They have a digital edition as well as a print one, so presumably want you to subscribe 

The review you posted chimes with what else I've heard about DxO, but it's worth knowing that they've just changed the configurations of their Standard and Elite packages.  Previously, Elite was for high-end cameras.  Now, both versions handle all cameras, but you need the Elite version for the more advanced tools.  Which, almost inevitably, includes the one little feature you really, really wanted...

I'm a bit ambivalent about the offer because I'm still on 32-bit Vista, which isn't supported under DxO's latest versions, and have no immediate plans to change computer/OS.  Actually, I wonder if it's a bad time to buy a new computer because the well-liked Win7 is gone, at least I believe Microsoft are no longer supporting it and full versions are sold out, the cordially-hated Win8/8.l is dying, and Win10 isn't here yet.  Sigh.

411

Found Deals and Discounts / DxO photo software 30% off January 2015

« Last post by rjbull on January 24, 2015, 03:35 PM »

The February 2015 edition of NPhoto magazine contains reviews of a handful of image editing programs.  DxO Optics Pro from DxO Labs compensates for distortion, fringing, edge softness and vignetting caused by digital camera lenses, but it also contains a RAW converter that NPhoto's reviewers consider arguably the best RAW converter in the group they tested (reading between the lines, PhaseOne's Capture One Pro 8 might be even better in some ways, but more expensive).  Until the end of January 2015 DxO have a sale that offers around 30% off their products, including the complete suite of three.  Apart from Optics Pro, they offer ViewPoint for geometric perspective correction tools (e.g. wide-angle distortion) and FilmPack, which emulates the look of a wide range of films, and to some extent of old film camera lenses.

Looks like the latest version, DxO OpticsPro 10, needs Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 64-bit and doesn't support Vista or earlier.  See Help Center/Frequently Asked Questions/DxO Labs product operating system compatibility.

412

Living Room / Re: "Secure Email As a Potential Terrorist Indicator" ??!

« Last post by rjbull on January 17, 2015, 04:00 PM »

See New Scientist leader Free speech has to be for everyone, or not at all and comment Mass surveillance not effective for finding terrorists.

413

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: TreeDBNotes Pro - Christmas and New Year Discount: 50%

« Last post by rjbull on January 17, 2015, 03:44 PM »

What I like about TreeDBNotes for writing is the very full toolbar (I have all options open - and the styles at the bottom), the extensive right click menu, and the ability to write/edit in a pop out without all the PIM clutter.

-Dormouse (January 08, 2015, 05:48 AM)

I'm wondering whether at heart you'd prefer a single-pane outliner, if you could find one you liked?  Inspiration, perhaps?

414

Living Room / Re: At last, KeyNote done better :)

« Last post by rjbull on January 17, 2015, 03:34 PM »

I'm still hoping for a repository for web clips and notes that's as reliable and easy to use as the old Evernote desktop application, without being cloud.  RN doesn't work reliably for me for this, perhaps because I'm still on Vista.  It often hangs.  When it works, it works well, giving a rendition of a (section of a) web page that's good enough for me.  The other problem is that when you clip to a new note, it doesn't scroll the tree to show that new note.  Also clipping is sometimes slow, but I can't really complain about that, if the web page is long and complicated.  UltraRecall seems more reliable, but so slow that I'd be hard pressed to use it.

415

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for a utility to quick access folder by hotkeys! like DIRKEY 2!!!

« Last post by rjbull on January 13, 2015, 05:26 PM »

I haven't used Dirkey,  but it looks like a "dialog box extender."   Try forum search for previous posts.   Alternatives include:

Filebox eXtender  http://www.hyperionics.com/
(free)

DirectFolders  http://www.codesector.com/directfolders
(free and payware)

Listary Pro  http://www.listary.com/
(free and payware,  but you'd need the payware version)

Of these,  Listary Pro is by far the most powerful, and modestly priced for its great power.   Filebox eXtender might be closest to what you have now.  Both have 64-bit versions: I don't know about DirectFolders.

Apologies for scrappy reply: using a tablet.

416

Living Room / Re: Show us the View Outside Your Window

« Last post by rjbull on January 07, 2015, 03:01 PM »

Actually that's a cotton bale compressor.

-Arizona Hot (January 07, 2015, 02:21 PM)

Hence the quote marks - I thought it looked a bit technical for a hut 

417

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: TreeDBNotes Pro - Christmas and New Year Discount: 50%

« Last post by rjbull on January 07, 2015, 03:00 PM »

It seems that the program lacks a calendar, keeping it out of the possibility of being the elusive note program that functions as a full PIM.
[...]
============
Or do you have to go to an Outlook-style PIM or a Calendar program to try to get that?
Even though these are all weak on notes and/or database.

-Steven Avery (January 06, 2015, 02:47 AM)

Astonsoft's EssentialPIM (EPIM) didn't float your boat?  I'm wondering whether it's now more future-proof and versatile than some others, because Astonsoft offer not only standard and portable versions for the PC, including free versions, but compatible versions for Android and iOS.  Given the popularity of smartphones and tablets, that looks a sound move.

418

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: TreeDBNotes Pro - Christmas and New Year Discount: 50%

« Last post by rjbull on January 07, 2015, 02:38 PM »

I ran into a deadly bug that severely damaged the structure of the tree! [...] So I cannot recommend this program!

-TaoPhoenix (January 01, 2015, 12:59 AM)

What was their response when you reported the bug?

-rjbull (January 01, 2015, 03:48 PM)

None. [...]

-TaoPhoenix (January 06, 2015, 10:31 AM)

Ugh.  That gives me no confidence in the program.  One for shelfware at best.  Are they a one-man-band on a hobby project that didn't generate enough income to warrant, or enable, support?

419

N.A.N.Y. 2015 / NANY 2015 Mugs designs?

« Last post by rjbull on January 02, 2015, 05:01 PM »

I'll have to try is a bootup one, because the first thing I do is open trandesk, then SC Captor, then Stickies, then task manager. It would be nice not to have to do all that by hand.

-TaoPhoenix (January 02, 2015, 08:53 AM)

Batch file?  Or one of the startup managers that already exist, like WinPatrol Plus?

[Edit at UK time 2015-01-04, 20:35:-]
Oops...    I thought we were in this thread:  NANY 2015 Release - Splat (Simple Program Launching and Termination)
Apologies!
[/Edit]

420

Living Room / Re: Show us the View Outside Your Window

« Last post by rjbull on January 02, 2015, 04:58 PM »

We got some snow last night

-Arizona Hot (January 01, 2015, 05:01 PM)

Amazing.  I thought you'd converted it to monochrome until I scrolled about  two-thirds of the way across, and saw the red "hut."

421

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: TreeDBNotes Pro - Christmas and New Year Discount: 50%

« Last post by rjbull on January 01, 2015, 03:48 PM »

I ran into a deadly bug that severely damaged the structure of the tree! [...] So I cannot recommend this program!

-TaoPhoenix (January 01, 2015, 12:59 AM)

What was their response when you reported the bug?

422

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: WinPatrol & WinPrivacy holiday discounts

« Last post by rjbull on December 24, 2014, 09:34 AM »

I hadn't heard about the launch or discounts either.

-Dormouse (December 23, 2014, 10:12 AM)

Quoting Bret Lowry's e-mail to me:

We started sending emails in batches of 2,500 using the most recent addresses, but were forced to stop when spam reports reached a level of higher than 1 per 1,000 emails. That brought us back to early 2010. [...] The next release of WinPatrol will give us a much better way of notifying everyone of important news.

So if you purchased before 2010, you probably didn't get an e-mail.

423

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: WinPatrol & WinPrivacy holiday discounts

« Last post by rjbull on December 22, 2014, 03:39 PM »

according to their home page, it's a 70% discount

-Innuendo (December 22, 2014, 07:35 AM)

I paid at the 70% discount - and Ruiware refunded the difference between that and the original price of 80% off, because I hadn't heard about the initial offer - extraordinary customer care.

424

General Software Discussion / Re: Duplicate file finder and move

« Last post by rjbull on December 21, 2014, 05:31 PM »

DoubleKiller by Big Bang Enterprises.  Web site isn't loading currently, YMMV.  Screenshots show the Pro version; if you qualify for the free version, you may find it does enough.

425

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: WinPatrol & WinPrivacy holiday discounts

« Last post by rjbull on December 21, 2014, 05:16 PM »

Thanks for that - I've been a registered WinPatrol user for years, but it's the first time I've heard of WinPrivacy.  And I do wonder what programs are accessing the Internet, and why...