Recent Posts

4001

General Software Discussion / Re: cannot play ripped music files

« Last post by Curt on July 12, 2010, 03:04 AM »

Hey, leave Ryan Shupe out of this.  
He has some good songs though - IMNSHO.

-steeladept (March 14, 2009, 04:30 AM)

I am listening to the Dream Big album right now, and I totally like it  
I really need to get the other albums as well!
Thanks, steeladept, for telling!  

-Curt (March 14, 2009, 06:27 AM)

New album: http://www.shupe.net...ct_info.php?idnum=63 Brand New Shoes



$12.95

PostHeeHawFunkadelicHipHopNewGrass in its finest form!

4002

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Listary – search all lists in Windows

« Last post by Curt on July 10, 2010, 11:53 AM »

I don't know where to find "/"... on your keyboard,
but on mine it is above "7"; you know: shift+7
-meaning that non-americanized keyboard users only fully can use the $20 PRO version?

Other than that, I am impressed. 

4003

General Software Discussion / Partition Alignment increases performance

« Last post by Curt on July 09, 2010, 04:41 AM »

Paragon Software Group:
 
"Partition Alignment Dramatically Increases System Performance"

I will not imply that I understand much of this, because I understand very little of it.
However, from what I can (not) see, partition alignment has almost never been discussed on DC's forum, so I thought I should at least upload Paragon's pdf eBook on the subject:

Paragon Alignment Tool - White Paper.zip (671.25 kB - downloaded 698 times.)

Contents
Introduction............. 3

What is Partition Alignment?............. 3

Why misaligned partitions are the problem for hard disk drives? ............ 4

How Paragon Alignment Tool can help?.......... 6

Why misaligned partitions are a problem for SSD?.............. 7

Why misaligned partitions are the problem for SAN and RAID?......7

Why misaligned partitions are the problem for virtual environments?............ 9

Conclusion............................................. 10

until July 31, 2010 Paragon is giving away a free 10 page eBook ("Partition Alignment Dramatically Increases System Performance") and their Paragon Alignment Tool ($29.95 value). Here is Paragon's sales pitch to show why you need Paragon Alignment Tool:

---

The problem of inevitable degradation of the disk subsystem performance caused by misaligned partitions dates back to the nineties. From being a headache for IT administrators who wanted to get the most out of disk arrays, it's become crucial for all of us with appearance of SSD (solid state drive) and ultra high-capacity hard drives. Moreover, the growing popularity of virtualized systems has aggravated the situation even more. Does the problem that bad? Just see it for yourself:...(more)

http://dottech.org/freebies/16683

-dottech.org

At the same time I would of course like to hear if any one has tried this.
Does it really  - dramatically or less than dramatically - improve performance ?
 

4004

General Software Discussion / Re: Can anyone explain this web service? (Is it just a chat room?)

« Last post by Curt on July 08, 2010, 07:02 AM »

but there's even more, being on DonationCoder...:

perhaps best of all: this is open source. built with php 5.3.1, using the most non-heinous, totally rad lithium framework, couchdb, jquery, a few other scripts as well as some classy, original and established iconography for ui; all coming together for the conversational goodness you're about to experience.

contribute to the core or download the source and setup your own.
this one's for you, internets.

4005

General Software Discussion / Firefox 4.0 Beta 1

« Last post by Curt on July 08, 2010, 06:40 AM »

Firefox Project does not yet show a link to Firefox 4, but Major Geeks does:

Download Mozilla Firefox 4.0 Beta 1 from the Author's Site

Author: The Mozilla Organization
Date: 2010-07-07
Size: 8.96 MB
License: Freeware
Requires: Win All
Downloaded: 131992 Times

4006

Developer's Corner / Re: New add-on developer hub (beta)

« Last post by Curt on July 08, 2010, 06:25 AM »

this really should inspire you, dear coder:

2 billion Firefox add-ons downloaded!

4007

General Software Discussion / Re: Can anyone explain this web service? (Is it just a chat room?)

« Last post by Curt on July 08, 2010, 06:14 AM »

your "chat room" is created by the time this link loads. invite whoever you want by giving them your unique link, and chat away.

I would call it a temporary, private chat-room that is totally fast & easy to set up. Instant chat, per invitation only.

Really sounds as a good idea, if you have one or more people you want to talk to, without anyone else listening in on you.

Re-edited

4008

General Software Discussion / Re: Realtime Screencasting Software

« Last post by Curt on July 07, 2010, 06:07 PM »

See also http://presentall.com

-Vad1959 (July 06, 2010, 05:31 AM)

hmm...




 

4009

Developer's Corner / New add-on developer hub (beta)

« Last post by Curt on July 07, 2010, 05:43 PM »

New Mozilla hub is targeted at small-app coders, so I couldn't help thinking about certain donation coders... you know, like the ones who are likely to be reading this post, right now...:, coders, like YOU!  

https://addons.mozilla.org/developers :

Welcome to the new Developer Hub (beta)!

This will soon be the home of great add-on development resources like tutorials, documentation, and tools. Our content isn't available in all locales during our beta period, but you can still access the localized Developer Tools to manage any add-ons already hosted here.

Are You Ready to Make Browsing Better?

Add-ons empower millions of Firefox users to personalize their browser's form and function. Why not show off your smarts by creating an add-on the whole world can use? Tools and tutorials you find here make it simple. So take a look and put your ingenuity in motion.

Learn & Explore
    *
      How-to Library
      Get add-on development guidance in a top-notch collection of tutorials, articles, and more.
    *
      API & Language Reference
      The official documentation on APIs and languages. What you need, when you need it, to create your masterpiece.
    *
      Case Studies
      Start-to-finish success stories. See how add-on developers made magic with Mozilla.

Create & Connect
    *
      Developer Forums
      Discuss development, ideas, and make key connection in the world of add-ons.
    *
      Add-on Builder
      Auto-generate add-on packaging by entering basic info and picking UI parts. Get working without setup.
    *
      Add-on Validator
      Check your add-on for common problems and errors. Open to anyone, not just add-ons hosted here.

https://addons.mozilla.org/developers

4010

General Software Discussion / Re: Error: Firefox plugin manager not working ...

« Last post by Curt on July 07, 2010, 05:23 AM »

forgive me for being such an ignorant, but how do you know it is the plugin manager that is not working; you only tell us that Firefox itself is 'whitening out'?

Do you have some "force Firefox to trim memory cache"-addon enabled? The new versions of Firefox has this feature as default, so MAYBE you are emptying an empty cache, so to speak?

4011

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Agnitum 50% Off Sale

« Last post by Curt on July 07, 2010, 05:12 AM »

Because Emsisoft already were handling the support of Online Armor, I expect it to be safe to trust the future of it. But of course it is hard to know if the truth is different from the quote:

Emsisoft is primarly known for our Anti-Malware products. Two years ago we started marketing and selling the German version of the Online Armor firewall from Tall Emu, who are based in Australia. Both the positive feedback from our customers and excellent cooperation with Tall Emu led us to proudly announce that Emsisoft has taken over the support and development of Online Armor, including aquiring all of its developers.

http://www.emsisoft....articles/news100701/

-Emsisoft

But they start out all right with an offer to bundle:

4012

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Cyberlink DVD Suite 7 Centra_10.000 Licences

« Last post by Curt on July 07, 2010, 03:10 AM »

Anyone have any experience with this product. Would like a review before I buy

-Mikethomas (July 06, 2010, 09:06 PM)

I am not sure you can hope for an actual review... Certainly not from me!

First thing is that you typed 'this product', meaning version *7* which long ago was replaced by version 8. Are you really going to purchase version 7? No, I think not, unless you have found a very low price. Have you?

What goes for version 8, the new version, be aware that it comes with PowerDVD version 9. Meaning that their top-of-the-line version 10 Mrk II is a pricey separate upgrade.

CyberLink is a little heavy on the resources; you'll need a modern computer. Be also aware that it will put 3 links into Start, without asking or telling you.

Finally, be aware that it is BLOATED. This suite is a full GIGAbytes! You will be getting features you didn't ask for.

With this said, (all) CyberLink is working well; you won't be wasting your money on it. It is more a question, so to speak, if you can accept that the reason this giant moves slowly, is because he is fat!

4013

General Software Discussion / Re: jv16 - Pay to keep license on file?

« Last post by Curt on July 06, 2010, 10:21 AM »

BTW, the 2009 license works for the 2010 version released today !

-MerleOne (July 06, 2010, 08:34 AM)

-I really didn't expect this, so I am pleased!

Forgive me being impressed by small details, but I am also quite pleased that even though the new version installed into \jv16 PowerTools 2010\, it managed to find the key which was placed in \jv16 PowerTools 2009\ , during the installation and without asking!
 

4014

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

« Last post by Curt on July 06, 2010, 06:36 AM »

I am trying to find some sites that do Mp4 conversion from Youtube. Any advice?

-Mikethomas (July 06, 2010, 12:39 AM)

I am not exactly sure what you mean, but if you want to get the MP4 version of a YouTube video, use Firefox and DownloadHelper: http://www.downloadhelper.net/ The combination will get the MP4 version that most YouTube videos already are offering. This is much better than converting, that always will degrade the quality even further.

If you want to convert old flash videos that you already have downloaded, into MP4 format, there are MANY options. ;-) I prefer transcoding via MediaCoder Full Edition: http://www.mediacode...hq.com/editions.html

4015

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for a music file tagger...with a twist

« Last post by Curt on July 05, 2010, 03:31 PM »

Last November you were apparently going to test Helium Music Manager. I have not tried it for several years, so I cannot remember if it can do what you asked for.

http://www.helium-mu...anager.com/plug-ins/

4016

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Mini-Review of JungleDisk and ZumoDrive

« Last post by Curt on July 05, 2010, 09:43 AM »

thanks, wraith808 - a very fine way to mark your post # 1.000 ! 

4017

General Software Discussion / Re: Measuring PC boot-up time by component - and tweaking it with Soluto

« Last post by Curt on July 05, 2010, 09:24 AM »

-no, I will merely wait for their next version.

----------
FWIW:
I know nothing, but I imagine Soluto may become payware, as Soluto Labs is a company...

4018

General Software Discussion / Re: Measuring PC boot-up time by component - and tweaking it with Soluto

« Last post by Curt on July 05, 2010, 07:15 AM »

Thanks for keeping telling, IainB, even though some people never understood what this application is about ;-)

I tried Soluto the first day you wrote about it, and again right now, and I am sad to say it won't do anything useful on my pc. Soluto will say that the boot took 2:22, which would be okay, but it takes 4 minutes, and when I click "click here to see why", nothing will happen.

I hope you will keep posting about your use of Soluto, because I like the idea a lot.
The problem is just that on my pc it won't actually do it.  

4019

General Software Discussion / Re: Alternatives to Ditto

« Last post by Curt on July 05, 2010, 06:23 AM »

-ClipGuru has left the building.

4020

General Software Discussion / Re: Firefox Extensions: Your favorite or most useful

« Last post by Curt on July 05, 2010, 03:23 AM »

 


http://brettterpstra...re/readability2.html

“Clippable” Bookmarklet Formerly known as "Readability 2,"

4021

General Software Discussion / Re: File Managers! Windows Explorer replacement! Come one, come all...

« Last post by Curt on July 04, 2010, 04:26 PM »

The most important features I get from (overlapping and eyecandy included):

QT Tabbar, CFi ShellToys, Xentient Thumbnails, WireKeys, PS Hot Folders, Send To Toys, MediaInfo, Punk ÜberIcon, BAxBEx for IrfanView, and DM2.

-Curt (October 15, 2007, 07:08 PM)

Because of Quizo QT Tabbar I never got to realize that CFi Shell Toys includes a magnificent, tabbed, full Explorer "replacement"!
click to enlarge:




-comes included with bunches of shell extensions and tools, and its own Control Panel.

Pricing:
First license:  GBP £20.00  (approx. US $29.00,  EUR €24.00)
Additional licenses:  GBP £5.00 each  (approx. US $7.00,  EUR €6.00)
 


Q&A:

Which versions of Windows can ShellToys be used with?
You can use ShellToys with 64-bit and 32-bit versions of Windows from Windows 98 onwards, except Windows NT. That means it can be used with Windows 98, 98 Second Edition, Millennium Edition, 2000, and all 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows XP, Server 2003, Server 2008, Vista and 7.


Does ShellToys support 64-bit versions of Windows?
Yes, an x64-compatible edition of ShellToys is available from our Download page.

4022

General Software Discussion / Re: jv16 - Pay to keep license on file?

« Last post by Curt on July 04, 2010, 11:00 AM »

Cloq's example from JV16 2009 is a little extra "funny" because JV16 always shows the (Edit: now blurred) license key, when asked, and can even find it automatically:



----------
----------

Just upgraded to Xara Design Pro 6 (the new name for Xtreme Pro) and this was in the email AFTER THE PURCHASE WAS MADE:

Re-activation may be carried out free of charge up to three times
after purchase.

The emphasis is mine. So after you have purchased a piece of software costing £250 (not far off $400 US) you can only activate it three times if you change your hardware. There is no option to deactivate the product before upgrading windows or reinstalling your system or adding a new graphics card or memory etc.

I have generally liked Xara in the past but if this is the way things are going they will not be getting money from me again in the future.

-Carol Haynes (July 01, 2010, 05:12 PM)

I was actually impressed with this guarantee, until I read Carol's post! I didn't think of all the situations that could trigger the need for resetting the key. But on second thought, maybe I should have, because of all the times in the past that I had to write Agnitum, asking them to reset my key so I could do this or that, trying to solve the mysteries of a firewall.

Regarding the threat's subject, I also had to ask Agnitum to re-send me my license key, several times, because it is impossible to ask for their support without pasting the key into their site's form, and the problem was that I was testing various versions of their firewalls, on several computers, but I had deleted the relevant keys and kept the out-dated ones! If, in such situation, Agnitum had told me to pay a fine, I would probably not be using their suite today!


----------
I too upgraded to Xara Designer Pro 6, but was very disappointed when I realized it still comes with Photo Designer version 7. This product has not been updated for several years! I felt it like installing Microsoft Office 2010 and seeing the very same Photo Manager they passed along with Office 2003. Man, was that a disappointment!!

4023

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Fresh Ram 5.0

« Last post by Curt on July 03, 2010, 11:57 AM »

-at least this one is funny to read about 

4024

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Cyberlink DVD Suite 7 Centra_10.000 Licences

« Last post by Curt on July 02, 2010, 02:22 PM »

Now that I have it, I don't think I ever will use it (sorry if I took 'your' copy!) but it is a little older than I expected it to be. The PowerDVD is version 8, but the newest on their site is version 10. And, I think I already have 'covered' all the features with other 'up-to-date' applications - that all will launch quite a bit faster!

4025

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Revo Uninstaller Pro - Bits Du Jour - Wed. 7th July 2010

« Last post by Curt on July 01, 2010, 05:11 PM »

http://www.bitsdujou...evo-uninstaller-pro/