Recent Posts

4401

Living Room / Re: ARGHHH .... CD/DVD burning woes ... any ideas.

« Last post by app103 on August 15, 2007, 07:42 PM »

Hmmm ... just burned 10 DVDs without a single error - so presumably it was a bad pack.

Now what do I do with about 35 Verbatim discs that don't record properly?

-Carol Haynes (August 15, 2007, 07:40 PM)

If you still have your receipt, how about contacting the manufacturer for a replacement or refund?

4402

Living Room / Re: suffering online status anxiety

« Last post by app103 on August 15, 2007, 02:13 PM »

Just do 'your thing'. Sooner or later someone will appreciate it for what it is. As long as you enjoy doing it, it doesn't matter who else appreciates it, any way.

And like mitzevo said...stick with it. And if you like what you are doing, that part is easy.

Just remember something...the most appreciated things on the internet are of unknown origin. You may have already contributed to that and not know it.

4403

Living Room / Flash Game of the Week: Escape Game [RGB]

« Last post by app103 on August 14, 2007, 10:34 PM »

The object of this insane puzzle game is to get out of the room. Click on things and stuff may happen, and you may get some clues.

http://neutralx0.net/home/esc01.html

4404

Living Room / Re: Help with concepts.

« Last post by app103 on August 14, 2007, 04:44 PM »

1. IBM Compatible
2. How USB Ports Work
3a. How RAM Works
3b. How Computer Memory Works

And you will probably learn a lot more answers to computer questions you haven't asked yet, here:  http://computer.howstuffworks.com/

4405

General Software Discussion / Re: Hard Disk Partition turns from NTFS to RAW !!!

« Last post by app103 on August 14, 2007, 10:48 AM »

I have had some weird probs with things being reported as RAW when they were really FAT32, on a brand new hard drive. I couldn't get windows to recognize them for what they were.

Might want to take a look at this post and see some of the suggestions people made: https://www.donation...dex.php?topic=7214.0

4406

Official Announcements / Re: DC-IRL DD #5 - BELLEVILLE, NJ

« Last post by app103 on August 13, 2007, 12:47 PM »

It's the magical cherry blossom trees...they act as a magnet, attracting people from all over the world. (even when they are not in bloom)



Some more pics I took this past spring:
http://appsapps.info/cherry2007

4407

General Review Discussion / Educational Software reviews?

« Last post by app103 on August 12, 2007, 11:17 PM »

I was just thinking about what our review section at DonationCoder is missing and needs.

September is almost upon us and in the US that means back to school...so what we need are some reviews of educational software for children.

Maybe I can encourage the members with kids (or teachers) to share their experiences and possibly get their kids (or students) involved with helping them write some reviews? (a child's point of view is very important in this category)

I found a great page with tons of reviews, but most of them are quite old, dating from about 1998-2003, and it seems that nothing is downloadable, only for purchase on disk.

But this is the kind of software I am thinking of and I think it could be a great addition to our review collection.

So maybe we can start by listing what is available, downloadable (freeware/donationware/shareware), and for what ages/subjects and see if we can get some reviews going.

What do you think? Does this sound like a good idea?

4408

Found Deals and Discounts / Corel Educational bundles deals

« Last post by app103 on August 12, 2007, 09:28 PM »

Paintshop Pro XI: $59.99
Education Edition
Comes with Free training CD from lynda.com, Free camera kit.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 : $99
Student & Teacher Edition
Comes with Free training CD from lynda.com, Free camera kit.

WordPerfect Office X3: $99.99
Student & Teacher Edition
Comes with Free training CD from lynda.com, Free camera kit.

Corel Painter X: $99
Education Edition
Comes with Free training CD from lynda.com, Free camera kit.

Ulead Video Studio 11: $49.99
Comes with Free camera kit.

InterVideo DVD Copy 5 Platinum: $35.99
Comes with Free camera kit.

InterVideo WinDVD 8 Platinum: $49.99
Comes with Free camera kit.

Available while quantities last. Valid in North America only. All prices shown in USD.

And from what I understand, this is physical delivery on disk...not download versions.

http://corel.rsys1.n...LspmLsHtLkFntHpsDJht

4409

Post New Requests Here / Re: Silly Idea? A program that counts out loud

« Last post by app103 on August 10, 2007, 06:02 AM »

It would end up sounding like an automated telephone information system at best. (the one for directory assistance)

It doesn't really seem all that hard to do, just thinking about it...but it probably will be harder than I think in practice.

4410

General Software Discussion / Re: Top 3 programs you use

« Last post by app103 on August 10, 2007, 02:31 AM »

Giving it some more thought, and after considering a few things about the purpose of providing this list of applications, I would have to revise it to not include anything that loads at startup, since it's research for some type of application launcher.

Since it has been suggested to leave out the boring browsers and email clients, I am going to have to change the entire list.

Here are the top 3 things that I use that are not a browser or email client, do not load at startup, aren't launched automatically from within or by another application, and are instead launched manually by some sort of shortcut:

1. Windows Live Writer (best desktop blogging application I have ever used)
2. Notepad 2 (I click the icon to open that more times a day than I can count)
3. Paintshop Pro

(I just took the top 3 that qualified for the revised list from my wakoopa profile)

4411

Official Announcements / Re: DC-IRL DD #5 - BELLEVEUE, NJ

« Last post by app103 on August 09, 2007, 03:47 PM »

You spelled the town name wrong. 

It's BELLEVILLE. 

For those that may be unfamiliar with where that 3 square mile patch of land is, it's a suburb of Newark, and bordered by Kearny, North Arlington, Lyndhurst, Nutley, and Bloomfield.

4412

Developer's Corner / Re: Is Beautiful Code A Succubus

« Last post by app103 on August 09, 2007, 01:11 PM »

Thank you. I am glad someone has finally given me an answer that makes sense and doesn't confuse me more.

4413

Developer's Corner / Re: Is Beautiful Code A Succubus

« Last post by app103 on August 08, 2007, 10:38 PM »

 

That didn't help any, at all. Is there a simple definition of what qualifies as beautiful/elegant code? Or what it is normally thought of as? Something?

The ugliest stuff is easily recognizable as being ugly...but I don't know beautiful/elegant when I see it. Most likely because I can't define it.

4414

Living Room / Re: Mintcamp: a new blog of interviews with developers and web designers

« Last post by app103 on August 08, 2007, 10:37 PM »

Thanks april for the thread but i was actually keeping it secret till this month

-mahesh2k (August 08, 2007, 04:12 AM)

I wasn't aware it was supposed to be a secret. I showed it to mouser while I was trying to talk him into saying 'yes' to being interviewed, and he demanded I post about it and give you some publicity.

I am sorry if you were not ready for that yet. You didn't tell me to keep it a secret.

4415

General Software Discussion / Re: Top 3 programs you use

« Last post by app103 on August 08, 2007, 09:52 PM »

This is hard for me to answer because I always have so much running and there are at least 40 that are running at all times for various reasons.

But if I had to pick 3 that I am always actively using and would be of interest to someone in 'the rest of the world' they would have to be these 3:

1. AOL Explorer browser
2. xchat
3. OpenPandora

4416

Activation/License/Language Help / Re: I really need a XoftSpySE license key

« Last post by app103 on August 08, 2007, 03:10 PM »

Actually, requests for keys on forums are more common than you think...and some people actually do think they will get an answer and a key. I have seen it before. Some people are a lot less bright than you might give them credit for. And some less bright do respond giving out keys too, leading to more work for forum mods having to delete such posts and replies.

My reply was to send a message to others that this is not that kind of forum. (yes, unfortunately there are forums that exist that would give out a key)

The title of this section of the forum may have been misleading to someone that dropped by thinking this is where they can get an illegal key. I just meant to correct that kind of thinking to help avoid future requests for illegal keys.

And as far as requesters never returning and participating on the forum any further, that would be because this isn't the warez forum they mistakenly thought it was.

4417

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for a notepad software

« Last post by app103 on August 08, 2007, 02:39 PM »

There is a program that will dock a window to autohide on the edge of your screen: Panel Hider

Just make sure you know this trick, just in case you lose a window offscreen and can't get it back.

4418

Developer's Corner / Re: Is Beautiful Code A Succubus

« Last post by app103 on August 08, 2007, 08:40 AM »

I never understood what the definition of elegant/beautiful code is. And so far nobody has been able to supply a definition that I can wrap my mind around.

Would anyone like to take a crack at enlightening me?

4419

General Software Discussion / Re: WYFCA?

« Last post by app103 on August 08, 2007, 08:32 AM »

PEBCAK: Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard (usually reported as Error ID: 10T)

I have to share this quote from the IRC channel, since it's related to the topic:

<Deozaan> "Tired of thinking WTF and never getting TMI doing your SMF searches? Do you LOL at the POS results the current SMF search returns? Get ZillaRank now and say STFU to the SOB who wrote the script for that SMF search!"

 

4420

Living Room / Re: Mintcamp: a new blog of interviews with developers and web designers

« Last post by app103 on August 07, 2007, 06:21 PM »

It needs a minty green web 2.0 look redesign 

-tinjaw (August 07, 2007, 03:39 PM)

This template would be awesome:


http://www.bloggerte...es.org/review/artica

4421

Living Room / Mintcamp: a new blog of interviews with developers and web designers

« Last post by app103 on August 07, 2007, 06:13 AM »

Our very own mahesh2k has started a blog called Mintcamp, where he intends to post interviews with developers and web designers.

Ok just wanted to let you know my purpose behind the mintcamp is to let world know there are talents out there which is not noticed,so mintcamp will continue to put light on such talent.

-Mahesh

So far he has interviewed Sash (of SkyIDE) and me.

He plans on interviewing any developer or web designer that will sit still and allow it, so if you have any suggestions, let him know who you'd like to hear about next.

Oh...and if he asks you if YOU would like to be interviewed, don't be shy...he doesn't bite.

-----
EDIT: mahesh2k has moved the interviews to his other blog, Onecore: http://www.onecore.n.../category/interviews

4422

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: timer that counts resting, interruptions, and work as separate entries

« Last post by app103 on August 06, 2007, 08:28 PM »

I am going to be working on Instant Boss as soon as the weather cools down (the fall). It's hot & nasty here right now and there is no air conditioning in the room in which I have my PC. Not a good environment for thinking.

I have some plans for better logging that I am going to try to do. Everything will be logged. A lot of what you are asking for will be on tabs, within the application's log window.

Hopefully I'll be able to manage writing the logs to xml. That can open up a lot of possibilities for what you can do with that data, and other applications that can use it. You could even display it on your website or in a desktop widget (if someone makes one, but let's not get too far ahead just yet).

This is something I have really wanted to do. I feel it is desperately needed. The logging it currently does and how it is displayed isn't enough. Up until now I wasn't sure how I wanted to go about doing it and presenting it. I just couldn't visualize it.

I am also going to be doing something about that 'forgetting' and give you an option to automatically pause the application under certain conditions.

And, it will also have the ability to automatically open files, launch applications, and run scripts at designated points within your work cycle.

4423

Living Room / Information Overload: a review of the new MyAOL portal

« Last post by app103 on August 06, 2007, 05:39 PM »

I have just written a review of the new MyAOL portal, that I am 'officially' beta testing. (While it is open for any AOL or AIM member to use, only official beta testers get to report bugs.)

The review is a tour & tutorial of the portal, and very loaded full of screenshots. I placed it on my blog, for better formatting.

I was quite surprised. It is a pleasure to use and quite interesting. MyAOL, one of the least popular features on their site, doesn't suck any more. It may even be worthy of being the start page in your browser.

http://cranialsoup.b...rload-new-myaol.html

4424

Developer's Corner / Re: Does my web page suck?

« Last post by app103 on August 06, 2007, 12:27 AM »

I do share his hatred of 'mystery meat navigation', though.

And autoplaying sound and video files (why don't browsers have their very own mute button that will mute sounds only from the browser?).

4425

Post New Requests Here / Re: FirefoxPortable.exe on a small Flash Drive that will bring up an Index

« Last post by app103 on August 04, 2007, 06:46 PM »

I hate to be the one to point this out, but a usb drive with vital info worn around a child's neck might not be the great idea it seems at first.

My immediate reaction to reading about this was 'Oh cool! great idea!'

But then I thought about this some more...

You have to give thought to all the things that could go wrong:

• Safety: On a cord, around the neck can be a strangulation hazard to a child. On the shoe or wrist is a much safer location for ID.
  
• Theft: You might as well put the info on a $20 bill. Putting something of 'value' in the possession of a child could make them a target to thieves, should they become lost. Will the usb drive still be on their person once they come in contact with someone that could offer them real help? And they are in no position to defend themselves against adult attackers that want nothing more than to rob them of anything that might be valuable. And all too often, even adults are victimized in emergency situations. I hear stories all the time about adults being robbed while they are unconscious, following car accidents.
  
• Identity Theft: too much info spells trouble. Whatever solution you use shouldn't contain the entire life history and all info about the child and every family member. Should the drive fall into the wrong hands, either lost or stolen, it could be used to aid in identity theft of 1 or more persons who's info is on that drive. Your ID solution should contain nothing more than child's name, age, existing medical conditions, current medications, allergies, list of phone numbers to contact...should never contain any addresses, social security numbers, actual date of birth, place of birth...no more info that would be needed. Information overkill is not your friend if it falls into the wrong hands. The info should be sufficient, accurate, but nothing unnecessary.
  
• Damage: What happens if it gets banged around or wet? Will it still work? Your solution should be able to survive through the worst disasters and still be able to give the vital info to emergency personnel.
  
• Needs access to a computer: What if they are in a situation where the info is needed immediately and no computer access is handy? Will necessary info still be available? Low tech solutions need no special tools.
  
• Not recognized as ID: Emergency personnel tend to look for things that are recognized as ID products. Going with something that is a nonstandard solution may make them overlook it or waste valuable time while they look for the known products like shoe tags, wristbands, etc. (please note that in the last link, the usb drive they offer is a toolkit meant to be kept by parents, at home, as part of an action plan, should a child end up missing)

Just some things for you to think about.