Recent Posts

476

Living Room / Re: Cross-utilization?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 21, 2016, 04:46 PM »

Could also be a good name for a search engine that returns copious information unrelated to the query in question. 

-MilesAhead (November 11, 2016, 06:15 PM)

Google does this occasionally, if my guessing the 'right' keywords isn't good enough.    How about fling+Google... flingle?

-crabby3 (November 21, 2016, 02:38 PM)

Sounds cool to me.

Aren't some words relating to anything these days... just made-up?

Yeah, one that comes to mind is WiFi.  Supposedly it does not really stand for anything.  The guy who coined the name probably was a HiFi enthusiast back in the day when they had dedicated HiFi stores. 

477

General Software Discussion / Re: Firefox 50.0 stable release

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 16, 2016, 11:26 AM »

Firefox 50.0 Release Notes

The download can be had here

I don't know what they did but I tried the Nightly and it acted much better than anything newer than v. 42.0.  When the stable showed with the same version as the nightly I figured they must have dubbed the nightly stable and removed the Nightly labels and logos.

This is my second day using it.  It still loads lethargically but nowhere nearly as slow as versions 43 to 49.

I don't use it as my default browser anymore.  But there are times when I just have to use Firefox.  At least for now.   

478

Living Room / Re: Mechanical Keyboards

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 16, 2016, 09:09 AM »

-wraith808 (June 26, 2016, 11:26 AM)

I am curious how much this baby weighs?

Edit:  I ask because it looks very cool.  I use an external USB keyboard and mouse with my Laptop.  I put up with wired keyboard and mouse because weight is a big factor when I have to drag all my stuff around in a suitcase.  I figure the batteries must weigh something in wireless gear.  Unless they use those small watch batteries.

If you used colored keys that made interesting patterns you might be able to sell custom keyboards as art.  Or at least get a high price per unit.. personalized to the customer.

479

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

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 11, 2016, 06:16 PM »

@MilesAhead: Thanks for the suggestion. I have installed JavaScript Popup Blocker.

-IainB (November 10, 2016, 10:06 PM)

You are welcome.  I don't recall it giving me any hassles.  Hopefully it will work as well for you.

480

Living Room / Re: Cross-utilization?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 11, 2016, 06:15 PM »

@crabby3 fling.  Could also be a good name for a search engine that returns copious information unrelated to the query in question. 

481

Living Room / Re: Abandoned in space in 1967, a US satellite has started transmitting again

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 10, 2016, 02:52 PM »

I bet it is broadcasting All In The Family reruns.   

482

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

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 10, 2016, 08:08 AM »

Since adblocking is built-in to Slimjet it makes ad-blocker extensions/add-ons superfluous. Chrome, however, would still need a blocker.
 - Is that correct?

-IainB (November 09, 2016, 07:04 PM)

With SlimJet you may still need the JavaScript plugin blocker.  It counters those sites that put a black popup over the whole page, making you click the 'x' to get rid of it.

483

Living Room / Re: Cross-utilization?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 09, 2016, 03:50 PM »

So... are current flash drives the convertable roofs of the computer world?  Cool and fun  when they're new but begin to leak later on?

-crabby3 (November 09, 2016, 10:14 AM)

   Heh heh.  I always wanted to try one of those "hard top" convertibles that fold up but are not so obviously convertibles.  They look better and don't attract slashers.

Maybe the best way to extend the life of your data is to walk to the next aisle and get an external hard drive.   

Or just keep migrating to the next technology before the shelf life of the old runs out.  We survived floppies.  I think we'll survive flash drives. 

Edit:  Hmm, floppy drive and flash drive... seems like we have to think of another removable storage device that starts with "fl."

484

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

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 09, 2016, 03:44 PM »

I had the same problem- so I stick with uBlock, and it works for me.  Might want to try it.

-Steven Avery (November 09, 2016, 10:51 AM)

Thanks.  I'll give it a go.

485

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

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 09, 2016, 09:33 AM »

Sobering post: 10 Chrome Extensions You Should Uninstall Right Now

AdBlock? - Oops!

-IainB (November 08, 2016, 09:35 PM)

Interesting article.  Glad I was too lazy to install most of them. 

Although for me uBlock Origin was not a viable alternative.  The cure was worse than the disease.  Enough sites went weird with it running that I just got rid of it.

486

Living Room / Re: Cross-utilization?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 08, 2016, 07:39 AM »

How can something with no moving parts wear out?

-crabby3 (November 07, 2016, 03:47 PM)

My GF used to ask me the same question. 

487

Living Room / Re: Cross-utilization?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 06, 2016, 03:57 PM »

I'd be curious if there is a concise explanation of USB flash vs SSD and the SSD's facility for trim or pre-W7 the algorithm built into the controller to "condition" deleted memory so it writes quickly again the next time around, and the ramifications(pun intended) thereof. 

488

Living Room / Re: Cross-utilization?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 05, 2016, 07:23 AM »

Wait, what's the point to defrag a flash drive anyway?

-ConstanceJill (November 04, 2016, 06:36 PM)

You never want to defrag a flash drive.  Flash memory wears out.  And defragging uses up reads and writes from the flash drive's lifetime.

-wraith808 (November 04, 2016, 09:57 PM)

You certainly would not want to shuffle the clusters around.  If anything you might copy the entire drive to another storage, erase the flash drive, then copy back on file by file.  Do benchmarks before and after to see if it makes any difference whatsoever.  In general usage I bet not.  But perhaps in some funky DB application you might get a nanosecond here and there.  It would be interesting to find out.

489

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: [free one year license] RegOrganizer 7.52

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 04, 2016, 07:13 AM »

I tried getting the EaseUS Data Recovery and the account creation went fine...but the license and DL is 404ing.

-Stoic Joker (November 01, 2016, 07:21 AM)

Weird.  This still shows as enabled for download on their page.  But the links are still broken.  Perhaps they have no Comment section where people can post to alert them to broken links.  The initial Download icon is in the middle of a bunch of Expired items.  Something is strange somewhere.

490

General Software Discussion / Re: dvd players + video formats

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 04, 2016, 06:50 AM »

Sometimes this DivFix freebie will straighten out the header info.

Unlike .mpg, .avi and .divx have a header with info such as duration and likely the starting frame.  Some avi and divx files actually have a menu built in.  That's probably the reason they have the start frame number in the header.

491

Living Room / Re: What books are you reading?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 04, 2016, 06:45 AM »

all your images have disappeared here :-(
Here with BBCode disabled:

-tomos (November 04, 2016, 06:10 AM)

I guess that's why they always said "you can't judge a book by its cover."  heh heh

492

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Humble Bundle Lifehacker Software Bundle

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 03, 2016, 06:21 PM »

I guess they have a merchant account so the fee is not handled like it is for personal accounts.  DUH! 

-MilesAhead (November 03, 2016, 11:10 AM)

I think PayPal still charges a fairly significant fee, which is why $1 is the minimum. They're probably only getting like $0.60-$0.70 when you only pay $1.

-Deozaan (November 03, 2016, 02:37 PM)

Yup, exactly.  At one point they didn't have a minimum, but jackwagons took advantage of that and they were losing money on those.

-wraith808 (November 03, 2016, 04:31 PM)

Hmm, I never ran into that slang term before.  Cool.

493

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Humble Bundle Lifehacker Software Bundle

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 03, 2016, 11:10 AM »

Just like any other amount? 

In the bottom area, select custom amount and put in $1.  It will send you to paypal for $1.

-wraith808 (November 03, 2016, 09:15 AM)

I guess they have a merchant account so the fee is not handled like it is for personal accounts.  DUH! 
I watched a video of a guy showing how to use Deskscape.  I tried Fences before and was less than thrilled.

Subconsciously I must be looking for an excuse not to get multiple software titles for a buck. 

494

General Software Discussion / Re: dvd players + video formats

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 03, 2016, 11:05 AM »

I just use MakeMKV, and that allows me to play it from my DVD player, my media hub, and my computer.

-wraith808 (November 03, 2016, 09:18 AM)

+1  I bought a MakeMKV license back in Feb. 2010.

I don't know why the DVD Player USB port is so touchy about format unless the DVD makers all buy the same chip that has the decoding built in or something.

495

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Humble Bundle Lifehacker Software Bundle

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 03, 2016, 08:18 AM »

If you are anything like me and collect desktop icons like nothing else in the world ... i definately recommend getting the first tier of the bundle with Fences.

-Bending_Unit (November 03, 2016, 07:33 AM)

Have you ordered anything?  I am just curious how it would work paying $1 with PayPal. 

496

General Software Discussion / Re: dvd players + video formats

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 03, 2016, 06:53 AM »

Device is a cheapo Audiosonic (Mod # CDV-992AQ) which isn't referenced on the site Miles linked to.  Googling the model number only shows 2 pages (almost a googlewhack these days). 

Generic searching for Audiosonic and formats indicates DIVX so I'm gonna go with that and see what happens (what could possibly go wrong?)

-Target (November 02, 2016, 07:13 PM)

Sounds like a good plan.  Likely any video made using xvid converter to specs would work.  A lot of free conversion tools use xvid.  I never had a problem due to using that instead of the divx codec.

497

General Software Discussion / Re: dvd players + video formats

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 02, 2016, 06:08 PM »

No more tedious transcoding... You download and play... Easy!

-antekgla (November 02, 2016, 04:45 PM)

As time goes on more and more stuff will become available, so less of a need to transcode.  I like foreign films generally and Asian moves and TV shows in particular.  Having to deal with subtitles often limits the options.  Hopefully more and more edits of each film/TV show have synced subs available online.  Therefore stuff should be a lot simpler than the hurdles I had to jump over just to watch quality video with subs. 

Anyway I am curious about the hardware the OP uses and look forward to the replies.
I have been out of the loop for a few years.  Software and especially media stuff changes fast.  So I am reluctant to suggest specific software.  If I did the chances would be high that much of it is abandonedware by now. 

I wish I had a setup to check out the new set top boxes and Ultra HD.  I'm sure it is all very cool. 
Next time I hit the Lotto I'll have to empty out the BrandsMart. 

498

General Software Discussion / Re: dvd players + video formats

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 02, 2016, 02:51 PM »

It is floundering in the dark unless the hardware is specified(TV as well as DVD Player, connections to TV etc..)  But as for playing through the USB port directly on the DVD player my Philips was very restrictive.  It pretty much wanted compliant .avi or .divx files if you wanted both video and audio to come out of the TV set in sync. 

If you think you may soon upgrade your TV to HD or Ultra HD for the money you can't beat a set top box.  Once I got a set top box the video conversions I did dropped to about 10% of my previous activity.  And most of those were processing through the .mp4 program I mentioned that batch converted and muxed to get compliant audio.  I had the portable program, plus the video input, intermediate, and output files on an SSD.  Man that thing went through 2 hour movie videos in like 5 minutes each!  It was fun to watch the processing rather than tedium.

499

General Software Discussion / Re: dvd players + video formats

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 02, 2016, 06:51 AM »

The first thing I would do is look up your player here:
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers

I found annoying things with my upconverting DVD player(Philips) such as it would play .avi format, but only if the resolution was SD.  If it was already HD it would not play.  So I found myself doing stupid things like converting an HD video to SD so my player could upscale it to HD.

I found set top boxes to be more versatile with formats.  The one I had would play HD .avi and .divx as well as .mkv .mpg .mp4 .m4v .m2ts etc..

Often all I had to do was copy the video onto a USB.  Sometimes it would not play because the audio was not in a compliant format.  In which case all you may need to do is run it through an .mp4 video encoder that would convert the audio and remux if that is all that is needed.

But you can find a wealth of tools on that VideoHelp site.  Also there is a forum for just about every type of conversion and tool.

What DVD player do you have btw?

500

General Software Discussion / Re: (urgent) Need AMD/ATI Catalyst Software: CCC 15.7 WHQL - Windows 7 BSOD

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 01, 2016, 04:04 PM »

Wayback didn't help and rolling back (sadly) wasn't an option, but I now contacted the AMD support. They pointed me to the 15.7 version (http://support.amd.c...0-%2064&rev=15.7). Fingers crossed!

-brotherS (November 01, 2016, 11:56 AM)

Cool.  Good luck with it.