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4076

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 27, 2011, 06:57 AM »

if I cannot find a way of rely-ably reproducing the issue with the software ... Then the issue, most likely, does not exist within the software.

-Stoic Joker (May 26, 2011, 10:08 PM)

Yes, I fear you're right. It does seem to be connected to the way Win7 handles Theme colors. I'll just have to experiment some more.

-Mugsy (May 26, 2011, 11:50 PM)

Please do let me know what you find. I'm not giving up on the issue, I'm just at a bit of a lose as to how to define it. Where is the Spring theme you're using from? Is it a 3rd party item? I never really got into the skinning craze back when so I'm not really "up" on what all of the MS themes are available.

If there was a way to *add* a background box/color to the area behind the T-clock text (I believe a much older version of T-Clock could do this), that might "fix" the problem.

-Mugsy (May 26, 2011, 11:50 PM)

Yes that was one of the legacy items I removed (back when). The transparency worked better as a default going between (Win2000 & XP) the two primarily available OS of the time. And with Vista and 7 both being themed there was no real compelling reason to bring the background color option back going forward either. This was compounded by the fact that when using either of the transparency methods (Aero or the one built into T-Clock) the background was also subjected to the transparency...Which made its effect rather moot. Well that and I thought the squared corners looked like poo.... *Shrug*


What I usually do in testing is drag either an explorer window or a command window down behind the taskbar for quick extra contrast when needed. This helped out a great deal when I was trying to resolve the fuzzy font issue (which is why the font quality setting was added) awhile back. I don't know (kinda doubt) if it'll help here as it seems like something is either blocking, mangling, or not sending a paint message to that window. But it might be worth a shot.

4077

Living Room / Re: Macs More Attractive for Malware Authors?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 10:24 PM »

As Mac Defender and countless Windows malware show, successful attacks are more about social engineering than lax operating system security.

It's good to finally hear some good information in the media. The OS isn't the security issue... It's the USER!

-Renegade (May 26, 2011, 09:28 PM)

Damn Straight! ...There is no point in trying to blast your way through a  steal door when the *Ding Dong* Avon Calling approach works so much better. And there's a boat load of folks in glass houses fixin' to get all sorts of un(intentionally)welcomed attention.

4078

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 10:08 PM »

Changing "Desktop" color seems to disable text transparency (regardless of color selected).

-Mugsy (May 26, 2011, 08:17 PM)

Unfortunately that doesn't really prove anything because the applied color settings just force a repaint of the entire desktop. Which is the shotgun version of Refresh T-Clock forcing a repaint of the systemtray. The question on the table is: How do we make it do that in the first place?

Themes that have "transparent" text lack a black bar in the "preview" icon. Themes with opaque text show a black bar on the "window" graphic. The icon/theme on the left would give me transparent text. The right one: opaque.

-Mugsy (May 26, 2011, 08:17 PM)

Certain fonts are harder to render at runtime than others. T-Clock renders its own font at runtime independently of what the system is doing. Which is why the Font Quality setting had to be added. But the issue there was in the fonts washing out and appearing transparent. The issue I'm concerned with at this point is the (white) backgrounding that is appearing in your screen-shots. It is something I've simply never seen before. I did have limited success reproducing an ephemeral version of it ... But that's in a Virtual PC which means it's stuck with a crap virtualized video card.

Now I get the impression that your's are persistent. And I'd like to help. But if I cannot find a way of rely-ably reproducing the issue with the software ... Then the issue, most likely, does not exist within the software.

4079

Living Room / Re: Which is more important: the gadget, or the software and apps that runs it?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 07:01 PM »

Then, when a guy like Madoff gets caught with a Ponzi scheme in the economic crisis, he is vilified and sent to prison.  Good, right?  (I'm not defending him, I'm using this as an academic example).  However, when AIG or the government does the EXACT SAME THING, what happens?  We print more money and dump it into the top of the pyramid.  And that's the "right thing to do".

-superboyac (May 26, 2011, 05:39 PM)

I hear ya man. I was in favor of lining up the leaders of AIG and ass raping them with a chainsaw. But...Justice only prevails in the movies. *Shrug*

But I still think that software is the make or break point for the topic. Does it do what I want, and does it do it well? That is the primary question IMO.

For most of the (heard) typical end users (sheeple) that don't have a clue what any of those cryptic letters and numbers actually mean.  The sales (drone) person can tell (spin) them any version of the "truth" that will close the sale. Only thing the user has to gauge with is the UI, and how easy it is to navigate when they start poking at it with a finger.

Hell, I've done it a few times. Stroll up to a counter, pickup a new unfamiliar device, and try to open a web page. It should be simple as bloody hell... But it ain't. Not consistently. Next test is to close the browser & open a text file. If I gotta hunt for an off button, Fail!. The UI is either completely obvious ... Or it's completely garbage ... There is no middle ground.

Numbers is nice, but the UI decides if money changes hands.

4080

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 06:34 PM »

Okay, played with it a bit more, While trying to replicate what I know of your configuration. For the tests, I'm running a copy of Windows 7 Basic in a Virtual PC so no Aero. But that shouldn't be an issue.

So here's the a default T-Clock with a theme applied:



And, here's what happened when I switched to Classic (You should recognize this one):



Then I switched the text color to black and got this:




Then switched back to white for this:




Then I fiddled with it for a bit trying to figure out how to best reproduce number 2.

There does seem to be a problem with one of the shades of white when entering classic mode...But hitting Refresh T-Clock did clear it up. Black seemed to do just fine at all points. I could not however manage to get it to do the whited out background trick with a theme applied.

So I'm back to pondering your configuration to see if there is anything else I may need to replicate to reproduce the behavior.

4081

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 05:19 PM »

Hm... Okay, here's what's bugging me. In you first set of pics we had this:



Which is "normal" given that I haven't gotten around to picking a better set of defaults yet.

Then - from the second set - we get this:



What changed? Does that come up every time? Or just after some event? What if any effect does hitting refresh T-Clock have? There's nothing in the code that will/can create a background color right now...(Even Classic should be transparent)...However it is on my to-do list to add that option back (by request(s)). So that behavior is really quite baffling.

Is there anything else running, that could be conflicting with it? Can you shut down the other items in the tray to see if one of them may be tripping it? Skype I know is safe, but I don't know what else might be running.

One thing I did just noticed, while flipping through your screen-shots. Is the ones that have the white clock face also don't show any taskbar transparency. Aero, by default, should have just a bit of transparency. Not entirely sure if/how that's related ... But it seems worth picking at...

4082

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 12:29 PM »

Okay, that makes a bit more sense. Now try setting the font color to the silver gray that's in the middle of the color menu. It should come out looking white when applied.

Also with that font, try setting Quality to ClearType(XP). I had to do that here at the office to get Calibri to look right.

4083

N.A.N.Y. 2011 / Re: NANY 2011 Certificate

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 11:53 AM »

Shouldn't that be: NAFEOW 2012

New Apps For End Of World?

4084

Living Room / Re: Which is more important: the gadget, or the software and apps that runs it?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 11:48 AM »

Alright (damn you guys - now I'm stuck trying to figure this out.) If I understand this correctly:

When HardWare encounters WetWare, it ends up being SoftWare in less than an hour.


Right?

4085

Living Room / Re: Which is more important: the gadget, or the software and apps that runs it?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 11:42 AM »

^Software does a lot more than just beat Wetware. Those two have a full blown sadomasochistic relationship going. And we're talking the "lifestyle" variety here. 

-40hz (May 26, 2011, 09:02 AM)

Do tell~!

-Renegade (May 26, 2011, 09:44 AM)

Yeah! I want pictures ... i think... 

4086

Living Room / Re: Skype Outage

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 11:39 AM »

You don’t fire people over that. You shoot them. And their families. And pets. And friends. And some random strangers just for good measure.

-The Article

Over-Kill i.e. ^^^  

Thanks, I'll be laughing about that for the rest of the afternoon.

4087

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 11:32 AM »

I've found that the problem goes away if the Theme is set to "Classic" mode, but anything else gives me transparent text.

-Mugsy (May 26, 2011, 10:11 AM)

That is incredibly odd behavior, especially with the whited out clock face. That is troubling... Changing the font color is occasionally required to get proper contrast with a theme. But I've never seen it do that before. Except for some of the early alphas back in 2004. Can you post a screen shot of the Clock Text (tab) settings you're currently using in the shot above?

4088

Living Room / Re: Building a home server. Please help, DC!

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 11:15 AM »

I don't get the "cutesy" act so much from my girls.  I get the "lady logic" arguments that flummox me to the point that I can't even form a coherent sentence with which to reply.

-skwire (May 26, 2011, 10:55 AM)

When cornered, the safest answer is always no. Beyond that fall back to go ask your mother ... Because only a true expert can win that game.

...At least that appears to have been my dad's strategy for dealing with my sister.

4089

Living Room / Re: Apple admits existence of MacDefender malware - Update planned

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 07:00 AM »

Apple appears to be treating this outbreak as if it were a single incident that won’t be repeated. They seriously underestimate the bad guys, who are not idiots. Peter James, an Intego spokeperson, told me his company’s analysts were “impressed by the quality of the original version.” The quick response to Apple’s move suggests they are capable of churning out new releases at Internet speeds, adapting their software and their tactics as their target—Apple—tries to put up new roadblocks.

If Apple plans to play Whack-a-Mole with these guys, they’re in for months of misery.

-The Article

Lambs, Slaughter, Any Questions...? 

4090

N.A.N.Y. 2011 / Re: NANY 2011 Certificate

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 06:46 AM »

Absolutely Brilliant Idea! 

(I've been there too)

4091

Living Room / Re: Which is more important: the gadget, or the software and apps that runs it?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 26, 2011, 06:42 AM »

So which is more important - the device or the apps it runs?

Since it's a synergistic relationship, my answer would have be a simple "yes."

-40hz (May 26, 2011, 06:15 AM)

While I do understand Renegades point, I can totally see my self going here with the answer (hehe).

However, speaking of points...

Therefore, does the device/gadget win you over or is it the software/apps that run it?

-zridling (May 25, 2011, 11:21 PM)

The original question says to me; what is more important to the consumer. Not what's more important philosophically. Uber slick hardware (speed), or what you can do with it at that speed (the apps).

Given that there's not much point, fun, or reason to drop the extra cash on a Quad Core to playing Pong. For the end user, I'd say, it's a matter of what can be done with. The apps are a means to an end. That end being to access the content. Which also makes the apps the Pivot Man for the content. A bad app can waste the hardware capabilities, and ruin the content consumptions experience.

So I'll say that the most important make or break point is the apps. Because a well written app, even on old/slow hardware can still rock ... If it plays well with the user.

4092

Living Room / Re: Apple admits existence of MacDefender malware - Update planned

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 25, 2011, 11:30 PM »

The more one learns about Apple and Steve Jobs, the uglier it gets. There comes a point at which you -- as an honest, decent person -- take responsibility for the direct effects one's purchase decisions. For example, if three workers, an elephant, and part of the rainforest had to die to get me my next "iPad," then maybe you shouldn't buy the horrific device.

-zridling (May 25, 2011, 11:01 PM)

My apologies. That was a non sequitur. Carry on.

-zridling (May 25, 2011, 11:02 PM)

Every time you use your iPad, God kills a kitten.

-Renegade (May 25, 2011, 11:14 PM)

Damn it! I wanted to do that line...

 

4093

Developer's Corner / Re: To ASPX, or Not To ASPX...

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 25, 2011, 10:16 PM »

For the client site that I'd mentioned above, I changed the DNS and had the site up and running inside of a morning with time to spare (I think it took me less than an hour). Done. From there on, it was only a matter of entering products.

I know I'm kind of harping on it, but time... There's just so little of it. Anything I can do to save me time is a godsend.

-Renegade (May 25, 2011, 09:20 PM)

Hm... Okay, I'll look into it in the morning.

For things going wrong, I've never had a smooth PHP installation. I always need to tweak the INI file to stop modules (that are supposed to actually run properly) from killing PHP entirely. I'm not a fan of PHP on a Windows box.

-Renegade (May 25, 2011, 07:23 PM)

I don't think I've ever really had a problem with it. But I usually start with everything turned off, and then activate only what is required. It's the development time that kills me. Which granted is probably my own fault for not using some type of IDE.

Yeah, I run PHP, but I cripple a lot of it so that it doesn't cripple itself. Kind of like breaking a lemmings legs so that it doesn't run off the cliff.

-Renegade (May 25, 2011, 07:23 PM)

Hahaha  Consider that line officially stolen ... I love it! 

4094

Developer's Corner / Re: To ASPX, or Not To ASPX...

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 25, 2011, 08:17 PM »

Why use an entire CMS when you could just use a stand-alone shopping cart? Assuming that's all the thing needs to do.

-JavaJones (May 25, 2011, 07:40 PM)

Because overkill is fun~!  

-Renegade (May 25, 2011, 07:52 PM)

Oh fuck me...    


But seriously...

VS 2005 will only let you do up to .NET 2.0. Which is fine for most things. However, you may want to use .NET 3.5, or a component may need that, so you'll want 2008/10 most likely. Basically, 2010 just gives you more options so you don't need to think about things as much.

-Renegade (May 25, 2011, 07:23 PM)

Hm... ok. At this point less options might be safer. (I'll have plenty of time to regret that assertion later...)

DNN is free as well, so there's no cost associated there other than your infrastructure, which you already have.

-Renegade (May 25, 2011, 07:23 PM)

Ah! Okay... I saw the $120 price tag on the component you'd mentioned and assumed...  

I looked at that CP page. I don't know why you'd want to go that route though. I don't see any advantage to getting your hands dirty when you don't need to.

-Renegade (May 25, 2011, 07:23 PM)

It's kind of a less is more thing. We already have to get a CMS which was selected by an outside contractor (see PM). I actually liked the looks of Concrete5, but haven't had time to explore it and/or push the issue. The one picked is CMS made simple. This little project is getting (quite literally) wedged into a corner somewhere ... In the hopes it won't conflict with anything major. There are quite a lot of things going on on that box... And I'd like to keep the load limit out of the red.

4095

Developer's Corner / Re: To ASPX, or Not To ASPX...

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 25, 2011, 07:14 PM »

@skwire - Thank you, I was having a retarded moment.

On a semi-related note, for "ASPX or not ASPX", I like to drop extensions as they contain no useful information for the URL. In DNN this module lets you customize your URLs very quickly, easily, and RELIABLY:

http://www.ifinity.c..._Master_DNN_SEO_Urls

I would highly recommend that module as I have used it and found it to be reliable.

-Renegade (May 25, 2011, 06:36 PM)

   I'll keep that in mind for the future, but at the moment I'm (not going for style points) trying to "Hand-Job" as much as possible to keep the IT budget down to make room for a much needed hardware refresh. We got a bunch of antique whitebox XP machines here that I'm dying to get shed of.

   I did find this: Shopping Cart using C#.NET, Web Forms and SQL Server which should be a perfect way to spike my learning curve and get this thing off the ground. I can reverse engineer damn near anything...So I'll probably take a crack at it in the morning.

I'd say use VS 2010 as you can use any .NET version there. It's like having 2005 and 2008 at the same time.

-Renegade (May 25, 2011, 06:36 PM)

I'm not really up on .NET versions - Being as I've been avoiding it for years -  Is there some thing specific in 08/10 that I would/could/should need/be concerned with?

4096

Developer's Corner / Re: To ASPX, or Not To ASPX...

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 25, 2011, 06:25 PM »

DNN?

4097

Living Room / Re: Apple admits existence of MacDefender malware - Update planned

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 25, 2011, 06:19 PM »

Mouse over the first image and you see "wy-builder"... I wouldn't be surprised to see a bunch of false positives for WYBuild shortly, which is a legitimate software component.

-Renegade (May 25, 2011, 05:52 PM)

Damn, that is a cool little widget. It would suck to see it get hurt in the crossfire. But it do seem that the fickle finger of fate is pointing at Apple's bung.

4098

Developer's Corner / To ASPX, or Not To ASPX...

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 25, 2011, 06:04 PM »

Greetings
   So the boss dropped by my office today to drop another (great idea) project in my lap. Which is basically a Quick-N-Dirty Shopping Cart type of affair. It will be publicly facing for (a specific) client access, but all orders will be processed internally through a single PO (e.g. No PCI is involved, needed, to be planned for). This is going to be strictly User Table -> Authentication Mechanism -> Product Table -> (and ephemeral) Order List "Cart".

   Now... (here's the weird part)... I'm debating on what to code it in, and speed is a factor (a huge one). ASP sucks, and PHP requires a bit too much pain staking care (considering I do it with a plain text editor) to meet the deadline. So I'm debating on taking the ASPX route because I can then speed things up using MSVS to hand the thing together quickly. The obvious downside being that I've never used it for that.

   I did however find a rather handy tutorial that I played with for most of this afternoon. It seem to do a fairly nice job of taking you from Hello World! ... All the way to the edge of the cliff... Which basically makes the question should I proceed in that direction? And if I do is VS2005 a good enough way to get there? Or should I jump to one of the newer ones (VS2008/2010) to avoid something that'll byte me in the ass down the road (or just screw me outa the gate)?

 Note: Ducking the project was also presented as an option...But I'm not that smart...

Thank you,
Stoic Joker


P.S. I'm also not adverse to starting with a sample code project, if anyone knows of a good one.

4099

Living Room / Re: Apple admits existence of MacDefender malware - Update planned

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 25, 2011, 04:55 PM »

Then there's this:
http://krebsonsecuri...rgets-macs-for-bots/

Automation - Not a good sign (hehe).

4100

Living Room / Re: Building a home server. Please help, DC!

« Last post by Stoic Joker on May 25, 2011, 04:35 PM »

I didn't have time to go read the details at work today ... but Damn! 67.5 TeraBytes.

...Now I'm afraid to read it ... 'Cause the wife will freakin shoot me if I come off with an idea like that.