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Recent Posts

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4901
Yes... definitely.  A 1GB download so that you can't save on your machine?


That sounds like a definite  :down:
4902
Living Room / Re: Against TED talks
« Last post by wraith808 on March 19, 2014, 10:43 AM »
The TED Conferences are a lot like that. Much, in fact, like a major film festival: there's an "in" group - and there's everyone else who's also attending. That doesn't detract from the films being shown - just what private parties you'll be invited to afterwards. If that's the sort of thing that offends you, then you're better off staying home. Because that's pretty much how the world works about 90% of the time. And TED is no different.

Oh, I totally agree.  It's just that though it's obvious to *you* and to *others* that they aren't fully altruistic and philanthropic, they present themselves as that way.  And that's one of the few things that I totally and utterly despise.
4903
I can't help but think Windows-RT will eventually go the way of Windows CE (now CE was one cool and fast little OS!) and Surface the way of Zune.

Don't forget the Windows Tablet PC.  That's where I got bitten.
4904
Ah, I knew there had to be a catch. I’ve been using OneNote 2010 on my Windows PC, which I paid for. I just downloaded the free 2013 edition, which was working just fine until I tried to create a new page in one of the notebooks that I keep on my computer (instead of on SkyDrive), and got a messages saying “Subscribe to Office to continue using this notebook.” From the “Learn more” link:
Anyone can download and use the free version of OneNote. When you subscribe to Office 365 Home Premium for just $9.99 per month, you get the premium version of OneNote, which easily integrates with the other latest Office applications and comes with additional capabilities, including the ability to:
Create notebooks on your PC. Create notebooks saved to your hard drive (offline) in addition to being saved to your OneDrive. Being able to work with notebooks offline as well as online is great for anyone with a spotty network connection or those who are always on the go.
Support your business needs. Your notes are synced to your OneDrive for Business, so you and your teammates can collaborate easily. For added security, you can password-protect your notebooks. And with Office 365 you get the latest Office applications, which means you get a complete note-taking experience, with embedded Excel files and added Outlook tasks, meeting notes, and contacts.
Record your notes. Why just write or type your notes when you can video- or audio-record them at the same time? That way you’re sure not to miss any important information. Perfect for students and for those important meetings.
4905
Oh... and thanks for the post from the outlinersoftware.com, IainB!  MagicalPad HD is pretty cool and I hadn't heard of it.  The one for the iPhone isn't on the app store, though...
4906
Living Room / Re: Against TED talks
« Last post by wraith808 on March 18, 2014, 09:15 PM »
Ever attend a 2-day trade or industry insider conference? Those aren't cheap either. These things go on convention budgets. Depending on the location, the facilities, and the number of days, it can add up fast. I just spent last Saturday night at a small inn about 300 miles from where I live. Cost for the night = $235. The week before I was in NYC at one of the Hiltons since I couldn't find anything else for the days I needed to be there. Price per night $424, I've also worked in a hotel. Back in the 80s when they hosted conferences where I worked, the conferences were getting an average of $800-1200 a day to attend. A now defunct guitar Workshop I used to attend offered a 5-day program that ran in a resort someplace out west. Cost to attend = $5250 to $6000. The normal price for the very same workshop held at a local boarding school in my state during summer recess = $1200 for the classes plus an additional $800 to stay in a school dorm room with four other people.

TED seems to be on the higher midrange of what these things tend to charge.

Indeed I have.  But you know the difference?  The other conferences I've attended are for profit.  The ones that I've attended that have been for non-profits and/or for PR haven't been nearly as expensive.  And they have sponsors.  And I did look on the site before, and never got anything other than their initiatives, and the spiel about being a non-profit and that they don't pay their speakers.
4907
They're actually going in the reverse of what you said- WinRT is destined for the bin.  Which was one of the main reasons that I sold my tablet.  I can't have confidence in it if they don't.  I got bitten by that twice before with MS, and just as I was ready to give them another try...

...that said, after using iOS, it does still feel in its nacency to me.  When I was returning it to factory, the screen would only go portrait, though all of the dialogs were wider than that, and you couldn't adjust at all.

They're a company trying to do everything, and succeeding a little when it comes to mobile devices IMO.
4908
Given that evernote desktop is a fraction of that size, I'm not sure that I'm even going to try it on the computers that don't have it.  That's just way too much space for what it does.
4909
Living Room / Re: Against TED talks
« Last post by wraith808 on March 18, 2014, 05:47 PM »
so TED does something other than facilitate public forums on random topics?

then there's a certain irony in the latest (?) presentation

Daniel Reisel studies the brains of criminal psychopaths (and mice). And he asks a big question: Instead of warehousing these criminals, shouldn’t we be using what we know about the brain to help them rehabilitate? Put another way: If the brain can grow new neural pathways after an injury … could we help the brain re-grow morality?

If they don't, then why does it cost $6K-8.5K to attend?  Where does that money go?  That's a *lot* of money to think that they only "facilitate public forums on random topics".
4910
Living Room / Re: Against TED talks
« Last post by wraith808 on March 18, 2014, 03:43 PM »
I don't think it's towards the speakers if I'm reading right. It's towards the aims of TED as an organization.  And Ren's not the only one to question on that front.  It's quite valid in the case of these things to question the motives of the organizer.

A friend organized several user groups in several different locations- he'd get them going, and then turn them over.  Was it just for the good of the area?  No- it was because his one payment for doing so was that he was able to always get right of first refusal to introduce a speaker.  So in the end, it was to raise his capital.  Not a bad thing- but definitely an ulterior motive.

Is the organization sponsoring these talks out of a philanthropic gesture?  Or is there something else behind it?

That's a valid question to ask- especially as any organization gets actual power...
4911
For example (comment at OutlinerSoftware.com):
OneNote for Mac on the horizon...
Posted by Alexander Deliyannis
Mar 18, 2014 at 01:35 PM

Stephen Zeoli wrote:
>However, it causes me to worry that
>innovative apps like Outline and MagicalPad are just going to die out
>because they can’t compete with Microsoft—especially if OneNote is
>free everywhere.

I agree, this is called unfair competition in my book.

The funny thing about this comment is that Outline uses OneNote- it was just to get an editing platform on iOS.
4912
And iTunes is as rabid about DRM and proprietary platforms as the studios are.

On some things (and movies are one of those things, as far as I can see).  But on others, they've loosened the reins.  I'm actually able to buy music from iTunes now and get the non-DRM'd versions, so that's a win for me.
4913
* wraith808 raises hand

Not one of the surprised, but one of the backers.  I thought that perhaps since it wasn't a major motion picture release, and most of what they were putting up was PR and distribution, it might slip by.

silly me.

but...

If Veronica Mars proves to be the thing that finally bring down Flixster and Ultraviolet, it will officially be the most successful Kickstarter campaign yet.

...and another gem...

Hanlon's razor at work?

“I will not be supporting anything VMars related in the future, and may never support a similar Kickstarter project again.”

Given the studios really hate services like Kickstarter for providing creators means of funding that doesn't require them to sign all of their rights over, I have to wonder if part of what drove this latest disaster was an attempt at poisoning the well for other creators looking to get funding for their films, funding which, being crowdsourced, wouldn't come with tons of 'strings' other than 'provide backers, and others, with film when finished'.

A few bait-and-switch 'projects' like this, and you'd likely have a whole bunch of people swearing off movie/film kickstarter projects altogether(although a smarter move would be to do the same, but limit it to just studio-based projects).

It's either that, or just another indication that the major studios and those that run them are just as brain dead, and full of contempt for their 'customers' as ever I suppose.

... and a laugh...

I love Ultraviolet, at least when included with Blu-ray combo packs. This means I get a Blu-ray copy for myself, a DVD copy to give to someone I like, and an Ultraviolet code to give to someone I secretly loathe. It looks like I'm giving them a gift, but they have to deal with Ultraviolet digital copies. I will never use an Ultraviolet code myself.

Personally, the only reason I use it is because my TV and blu-ray player support it.  I'd never install that PoC on my computer...
4914
General Software Discussion / Re: OneNote is now free
« Last post by wraith808 on March 17, 2014, 07:45 PM »
So, is this an Evernote-killer or is it too late or not enough for that?

Don't know if it is or not.  Onenote is more flexible in my opinion; not being able to access it where ever I was was the big reason I've used Evernote for so long.
4915
Living Room / Re: Against TED talks
« Last post by wraith808 on March 17, 2014, 11:19 AM »
I think with TED, there's the best of intent on some levels.

... but I think that there's a quote that talks about that from someone much more sage than I.

"L'enfer est plein de bonnes volontés et désirs"
-  Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
4916
^ I think he meant the invasion as in the alien invasion of Earth. ;)
4917
Maybe they set the goal so high because they dont want to reach it?

I hope not. Because I'd consider that an attempt to game or co-opt the system - much like Canonical's ludicrous $32 million IndieGoGo campaign for the Ubuntu Edge smartphone was.

Although Kickstarter often gets criticized for how strict and arbitrary its rules sometimes seem, at least it make it tougher for less than ethical people to play games with it.


And that's the reason I don't back flexible funding projects.
4918
Living Room / Re: Cute jokes' thread
« Last post by wraith808 on March 14, 2014, 01:40 PM »
^ From http://www.hitfix.co...se-faith-in-humanity

Another funny one:

Name something you really can take with you if you have a big enough casket.

A Pet.

You're dead, so you're going to kill your pet because you didn't make it?
4919
But be aware!  This crowdsource fundraiser will immediately charge you for a pledge, even if the goal is never met.  I'm not very experienced with these things, but it was my understanding that the usual rule was that pledges didn't get charged unless the goal was met.

Good point! But it's important to note that that's primarily Kickstarter's rule. And since Kickstarter was the earliest and most successful crowdfunding aggregator, it has (mostly) become the norm for crowdfunding in general. But it's not a legal requirement.

Different aggregators can adopt whatever rules they want. And those rules can be expanded (i.e. made "flexible") or change with little notice. So it's always good to read the fine print - as many an unsuccessful Kickstarter project learned to its dismay when it discovered it was still on the hook for the percentage Kickstarter charges to host a campaign. Because Kickstarter is a business - not a public service. It gets its fee regardless of your campaign's success or failure.

With Indiegogo, they have a couple of different ways of setting up your project.  The traditional Kickstarter manner is called Fixed Funding.  But this particular campaign is under Flexible Funding.  Right under the donate button on any project on indiegogo, it will tell you the manner of funding.

CONTRIBUTE NOW ▶
Flexible Funding
This campaign will receive all funds raised even if it does not reach its goal. Funding duration: January 22, 2014 - March 23, 2014 (11:59pm PT).

Unless it's something that I don't really care about- like charity, which Kickstarter doesn't let you do so a lot of those end up here- I wouldn't pledge to a flexible funding campaign.  It shows that they don't have the confidence to really run their campaign- they're just trying to get money.  And I have no faith that the afterwards won't end up the same way.  In this case, because of the way the rewards are set up, I think it's valid.  But in most cases, I stay away.
4920
Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?
« Last post by wraith808 on March 13, 2014, 12:13 AM »
Bitcoin is not a unit of account as no price of goods and services is set in Bitcoin unit nor it ever will.

Wrong.  There are several legitimate businesses that accept it as a form of tender.  And there are more than a few that accept only bitcoin.

And given its volatility all who accept it convert it right back into $/€/¥

That's patently incorrect.

And it isn't safe given hacking of it.

Repeat after me.  Bitcoin has not been hacked.  There have been no instances of Bitcoin itself being hacked.  The exchanges and markets have been hacked, yes.  But that's a problem for people who didn't store their funds safely.  It's like saying that the dollar isn't safe because some people had their funds stolen from/by an investment firm.

I'm not a bitcoin apologist.  As with any currency it has upsides and downsides.  You have to make a risk assessment and go in with your blinders off.  But I hate so called experts spreading FUD with a stamp of their expertise.  I hate that on anything, truth be told.

Deal in the unadulterated facts, and if you don't know the facts and aren't willing to do research on it, then you aren't qualified to weigh in.
4921
So it's fair that they gave you your own money back? :P
4922
DC Gamer Club / Re: GoG and Regional Pricing
« Last post by wraith808 on March 11, 2014, 12:23 PM »
Not all around.  But it does satisfy the squeaky wheel.
4923
To which one reply is ...
"... And you think they'd come out correctly and fairly?!"

Shades of 1776!

8)

To which another reply is "where does fair come into it even now?"
4924
General Software Discussion / Re: Directory Opus 11 Released!
« Last post by wraith808 on March 09, 2014, 11:57 AM »
I wonder when they added that.  As I said, I have 9, don't have it blocked from the internet, and don't see any access like this.  Unless it's so infrequent that I just missed it.
4925
General Software Discussion / Re: Directory Opus 11 Released!
« Last post by wraith808 on March 08, 2014, 03:57 PM »
Right.  I don't call that "phoning home".  I call that "checking for news and product updates".  Especially since you can easily disable it.

I know the difference between checking for updates and phoning home and I'm here to tell you that the program indeed does phone home. Yes, if you have "checking for news and and product updates" enabled, it will happily check a server located at si-sv2378.com which is a is registered to a company called Server Intellect. They are a webhosting company and where DOpus downloads news & updates from. Turn off the setting in preferences and this server will not be contacted again.

However, regardless whether or not you have that setting enabled, every so often Directory Opus will reach out to a server located at cbf02m01-in-fl121.1e100.net. It appears e100.net is registered to a company called MarkMonitor.com. Browsing there it seems to be a company devoted to brand protection and fighting piracy. Directory Opus phones home there to check for blacklisted serials and such and if relevant information is found then appropriate action is taken.

So I will say again, Directory Opus does phone home regardless of what the user has set in preferences. This behavior may have changed since the release of v11, but this was what occurred with v10.

I would not have stated


I meant no offense.  I've not noticed the same behaviour.  I have version 9, so perhaps there's a difference in versions.  But I run all of my requests through OpenDNS, and searched through my logs and see no mention of that particular domain.
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