Recent Posts

4601

Living Room / Re: Recommend to me the BEST USB stick to get

« Last post by superboyac on May 04, 2009, 01:16 AM »

I got my gold Pico-C drive.  Check it out, it is tiny!!


It is very well built.  All metal.  I'm putting it on my keychain, and I doubt it will get damaged.  I can't comment on the speed, I guess it's fast.  USB always seems slow to me anyway, but I'm used to transferring things between Sata drives.  It's supposed to be fast relative to other USB flash drives.

Anyway, I'm happy with it.  Now, on to setting up all my portable apps.  The backbone to my portable workstation will be FindandRunRobot, and LaunchbarCommander.  Of course.

4602

General Software Discussion / How to setup wireless streaming movies through house?

« Last post by superboyac on May 03, 2009, 06:18 PM »

In past years, I've tried this and never gotten it to work.

I have a folder of video files that I would like to be able to share with other computers.  Now I don't have a network setup up, but I do have a wireless router.  Currently, I have  linksys wireless G router, but I also have this spare Linksys wireless-N router that I've been planning on using instead (I've been too lazy to do the swap and redo all my settings).

The problems I've run into in the past is that the network connection whenever I set it up is always so sketchy.  Sometimes i can't find the computer, sometimes I can't find the file.  Sometimes I find the file, but the connection comes and goes, or it's too slow and the file doesn't play properly.  Sometimes every click on the shared drive takes forever to process.  I've just never had good success doing this.

So I guess the question here is twofold:

--Help me set up a decent network using the wireless router.  The only thing I know of is the Windows simple-sharing thing.  if there is something better, or some nice software that makes it easier, let me know.

--Next, what is the best way to stream the movies?  Is the wireless bandwidth capable of handling a movie?


Thanks!

4603

General Software Discussion / Re: The Best Of: text editors

« Last post by superboyac on May 02, 2009, 03:04 PM »

What's turning me off of EmEditor is that the author seems to be pretty much satisfied with his work, and improvements are indeed slow in coming. It's my default editor at the moment, while I'm playing with Hippo's goodies.

-tranglos (May 02, 2009, 02:37 PM)

I think I'm probably in the same situation.

4604

General Software Discussion / Re: The Best Of: text editors

« Last post by superboyac on May 02, 2009, 01:54 PM »

I just tried hippo and I think it could very well be my choice. It copies emEditor in many ways, and adds some improvements. emEditor will be the best for large files and unicode, though.

Where both are kind of lost is when doing ctags stuff (more IDE-like).

The thing with hippo is that it seems to implement new features a lot faster than emEditor (which is very very slow). It could take the crown easily, I'd say.

-urlwolf (May 02, 2009, 01:25 PM)

I agree.  To me, it's just as fast as EmEditor, and I like that the author is active here and on his own forum.  It also has some cool visual features.  I wish I knew about it during the BDJ sale!

As I said before, I look at editors almost entirely from a plain text viewpoint.  I do about 1% programming.  So my primary concern is speed, and Hippo is tops at that.  The other things I like, even with just text files, are line numbering features, indentation features.  I also like it if the program has useful dialogs for placing around the main window like all editors have the file browser, but some have clipboard managers, search panes, etc.  I like those things if they apply to plain text.

So I'm probably in the minority here in that my needs are almost purely plain text, but like all my preferred software, I appreciate speed, a well-designed interface, and useful features.  Hippo seems to be all of that.  So good work, <author> (I don't know your name).

EmEditor is still good, but it's exciting to know that new features are always coming in hippo.  So between the two, i would pick hippo for now.

There's my plain-text user mini-mini-shootout!  Sometimes I feel like the only non-programmer who likes notepad alternatives.  I use Notepad++ at work.  Everyone asks me why I don't just use Word.  duh!

4605

What's the Best? / Re: Video Splitter: What's the best AND easiest?

« Last post by superboyac on May 02, 2009, 01:21 PM »

Depending on the codec, AviDemux might work for you.

-MilesAhead (May 02, 2009, 11:19 AM)

Sounds interesting, I'll have to check it out.

4606

What's the Best? / Re: Video Splitter: What's the best AND easiest?

« Last post by superboyac on May 02, 2009, 01:19 PM »

I just can't get over the fact that almost all these software houses have two separate products - one for splitting and one for joining, I'd have thought they're two sides of the same coin!

-nosh (May 02, 2009, 10:41 AM)

I know.  I think it's another example of how one software company starts doing it a certain way and everyone else follows, especially when it comes to making more money.  It's like why do all DSL services have annual subscriptions, but cable modem doesn't?

4607

What's the Best? / Re: Video Splitter: What's the best AND easiest?

« Last post by superboyac on May 02, 2009, 01:17 PM »

Boilsoft's Video Splitter comes close but it doesn't seem to have volume control..

-lanux128 (May 02, 2009, 09:56 AM)

Oh yeah, I forgot about this one!  Yes, Boilsoft is also very good.  i have nothing to complain about it, except for the volume thing.  I would put it up there with Movie Toolbox.

4608

Living Room / Re: Recommend to me the BEST USB stick to get

« Last post by superboyac on May 02, 2009, 08:56 AM »

Perhaps I'm dull, but I can't find the Throttle in the tested drives on that link? Anyway, USB2 would impose a max limit of "somewhat less than 60MB/s" because of the protocol. If the drive claims to 90MB/s but doesn't come close to 60MB/s with USB2, I sincerely doubt that eSATA helps.

-f0dder (May 02, 2009, 08:47 AM)

Whoops!  Sorry!  I meant this link.

4609

Living Room / Re: Recommend to me the BEST USB stick to get

« Last post by superboyac on May 02, 2009, 08:43 AM »

While trawling the net looking at SSDs I happened across this flash drive:  OCZ Throttle eSATA Flash Drive

For eSATA:
90MB/s - Read
30MB/s - Write

And a USB interface if the host PC doesn't have an eSATA port.

The 16GB version is available at Newegg for $52.

Now we're getting to some realistic speeds 

-4wd (May 02, 2009, 06:10 AM)

The actual OCZ Throttle speed review was done here, but I think they only tested it with the USB connection.  Either way, i doubt even esata actually achieves those speeds.

4610

What's the Best? / Video Splitter: What's the best AND easiest?

« Last post by superboyac on May 02, 2009, 02:19 AM »

Before you start recommending virtualdub or avisynth, or something along those lines, let me explain.  I'm looking for the best, easiest video splitter.  I'm talking you load a video, pick two points, press a button, and you're done.  Very, very simple...monkey-simple.  Either free or pretty cheap (~$20)

However, I've tried probably dozens of these programs (and there are a LOT of them), and they all have had a feature missing or something I didn't quite like.  If you look at a previous thread here, you can see some of the ones I'm talking about:

1. Easy Video Splitter
2. Ultra Video Splitter
3. Speed Video Splitter
4. Video File Master
5. New Video Splitter
6. SolveigMM Video Splitter

As I've tried these programs, I've narrowed my requirements down to the features I really really want.  So here they are:

--Being able to manually type in (h:m:s etc.) the split points.  Many of these programs don't have this.  As soon as I see that this is not possible, I'm done with that program.  I don't want to slide a bar around to find my point.

--Must be able to split losslessly.  I don't want any re-encoding.  When I press the "split" button, I don't want it asking me what format I want the clip in.  Just clip the file at the points.  For conversion, there are much better things to use, like Super.  Also, it makes the splitting faster, obviously, if it doesn't have to convert.  The majority of these programs do this, but there are a lot that don't, so you have to be careful.

--(not critical, but would be nice)  It would be nice if there was a volume control (or mute) button for the programs previewer.  Most of these programs omit it, and there's no way to control the volume.  You have to use the Windows master volume mixer.  Not a big deal, but a nuisance.


The program I've liked the most so far is one called Movie Splitter by the company Movie Toolbox.  It pretty much has it all except for the volume control (but it has a mute button).

Anyway, I was just wondering if you guys knew of any other good ones, I'm curious.  And maybe there's a great one that happens to be free!

4611

General Software Discussion / Re: How to create relative shortcut for a USB drive?

« Last post by superboyac on May 01, 2009, 01:07 PM »

Found the solution:

Ok, if you guys don’t want a black DOS windows to pop up. Then, when you are making the conversion, check invisible application instead of visible application (the default)

It's in the comments of the link above.  Awesome!!

4612

General Software Discussion / Re: How to create relative shortcut for a USB drive?

« Last post by superboyac on May 01, 2009, 01:03 PM »

Couldn't this be done in AHK?

4613

General Software Discussion / Re: How to create relative shortcut for a USB drive?

« Last post by superboyac on May 01, 2009, 01:02 PM »

^^that works fenix!  But I thought it was cool to get the icon embedded in the file as well, like the compiled version.  Of course, your code doesn't work when compiled.

I know I'm being nitpicky.  Basically, just for the fun of it, I'm wondering if this can be done perfectly.

4614

General Software Discussion / Re: How to create relative shortcut for a USB drive?

« Last post by superboyac on May 01, 2009, 12:27 PM »

I am assuming you have autorun disabled, otherwise, that is your answer.

-tinjaw (May 01, 2009, 12:26 PM)

Oh yeah, i forgot to mention that.  I want it to work on computers regardless of autorun.

4615

General Software Discussion / How to create relative shortcut for a USB drive?

« Last post by superboyac on May 01, 2009, 12:12 PM »

Since I'm trying to create a portable workstation on my USB stick, I'm running into this issue.

I need a way to create a shortcut that will launch my launchers.  Let me explain.  I'm going to use FARR and LBC as my portable application launchers.  However, when I first insert my USB stick, I'd like to be able to immediately launch those two from the root directory, even though their program files are elsewhere on the drive.  So, I need the shortcut to be able to handle relative paths, which Windows can't do.  Now, FARR and LBC can both handle relative paths, so that's not the problem.  That's why I say I need a shortcut to launch those launcher programs.

Anyway, I found this article:
http://www.freewareg...r-use-on-usb-drives/
And it works great, except for one thing:  The DOS window that pops up (because it's a bat file) won't close until the program it launches closes.  Not a big problem, but annoying.

So is there an alternative solution anyone can think of?  Maybe using an AHK script or something like that?  Or is there a program that already does things like this?

4616

General Software Discussion / Re: Can't remember the name of Caller ID software!!

« Last post by superboyac on April 30, 2009, 11:00 PM »

http://www.shareware...on.com/voicecall.htm

http://www.codesecto...nshots/voicecall.gif

the download-
http://www.codesecto...om/ftp/voicecall.exe


is that it?

funny it's not on the main page?

-cmpm (April 30, 2009, 09:16 PM)

AHHH!!! cmpm.  You are the man!!


I KNEW it was on codesector!  i wonder why they took it off?

4617

General Software Discussion / Re: Can't remember the name of Caller ID software!!

« Last post by superboyac on April 30, 2009, 06:58 PM »

What kind of punishment do we have for long time forum members who refuse to search the forum?
CallerId threads here: https://www.donation...rch2;search=callerid

-mouser (April 30, 2009, 06:44 PM)

None of those threads mention the website I'm thinking of.  This is going to drive me nuts!!

4618

General Software Discussion / Re: Is AnyDVD actually necessary for copying DVD's?

« Last post by superboyac on April 30, 2009, 06:38 PM »

it sounds like AnyDVD is not completely necessary for all DVD's.  And since the people I've heard from don't know anything about AnyDVD, I assume that most DVD's can just be copied fine without AnyDVD.

4619

General Software Discussion / Re: Can't remember the name of Caller ID software!!

« Last post by superboyac on April 30, 2009, 06:25 PM »

Well, I'm not really looking for one to use.  I just forgot the name of this particular one.  I just want to check out his software, because there were some cool things there.  I'm just browsing, as they say.

4620

General Software Discussion / Re: Any freeware alternatives to Faststone MaxView?

« Last post by superboyac on April 30, 2009, 06:06 PM »

MaxView is shareware but its bigger brother is still freeware... how weird.

-Lashiec (April 30, 2009, 05:55 PM)

Ha!  That is weird.

4621

General Software Discussion / Is AnyDVD actually necessary for copying DVD's?

« Last post by superboyac on April 30, 2009, 06:00 PM »

I don't want to turn this into a pirating topic, I'm just curious about the program AnyDVD.  I've never copied a commercial DVD, so I don't know how this all works.  All I know is that AnyDVD allows you to somehow bypass whatever copyright protection there is on a DVD so you can copy it, or make a backup.  My question is, I swear I know a bunch of people who copy DVD's and don't know anything about AnyDVD.  So what does it do exactly?

I've heard people using programs like DVD Shrink without AnyDVD and they are able to copy.  So i don't get it.  From what I understand, Anydvd doesn't do anything except run in the background and quietly remove any DVD restrictions.

So, can anyone clearly explain to me what the program does?


PS  The reason why I ask is because someone asked me about copying DVD's.  And being such a smartass software knowitall, I said I don't know because I've never done, but I've heard that you have to have this AnyDVD program to do it.  Someone else said they do it using just DVD Shrink.  And so forth...

4622

General Software Discussion / Can't remember the name of Caller ID software!!

« Last post by superboyac on April 30, 2009, 05:46 PM »

There was this software that used your modem to monitor incoming calls and had caller ID to display on your screen, etc.  I can't remember what the name was.  Please help!

I do remember that the author's website had a bunch of nifty little tools (around the $20 range) that did cool stuff like this.  i thought one of them was some of kind of Windows task tray volume control replacement.  I also thought it was the Codesector site (makers of Direct Folders and TeraCopy), but it's not it.  But that page reminds me exactly of what I'm looking for.  AARGH, what was the flippin' name?!

4623

General Software Discussion / Re: Any freeware alternatives to Faststone MaxView?

« Last post by superboyac on April 30, 2009, 03:34 PM »

I installed Imagine last year - just looking I see it's a version from 2006
 - there was lots I liked but I stopped using it cause zoom was very awkward

I see it's been updated, might try it again

-tomos (April 30, 2009, 03:15 PM)

What was awkward about it?

4624

General Software Discussion / Re: Any freeware alternatives to Faststone MaxView?

« Last post by superboyac on April 30, 2009, 12:26 PM »

FuturixImager

FuturixImager is a compact and customizable image viewer. It is capable of opening more then 50 file types, including all most popular ones (GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, JPEG2000, raw, DNG).
Imager can also print, scan, perform basic editing operations, make screenshots, show camera metadata, import raw camera photos, generate histograms, and much more!

(see attachment in previous post)

-PhilB66 (April 30, 2009, 12:22 PM)

nice find!!!  Thanks.

4625

General Software Discussion / Re: The Best Of: text editors

« Last post by superboyac on April 30, 2009, 11:07 AM »

You can install it as portable to get over the corporate limitation, but for some reason it doesn't run reliably from my USB stick.

-rjbull (April 30, 2009, 10:39 AM)

What do you mean by not running reliably?  Does it crash?  Is it significantly slower?