Recent Posts

51

General Software Discussion / Re: Fully operate my Android using my laptop's touchpad and keyboard?

« Last post by 4wd on January 31, 2023, 05:47 AM »

scrcpy of course 

-daddydave (November 25, 2022, 04:01 PM)

I just found about sndcpy to forward sound to the desktop as well (which doesn't happen by default)
https://github.com/rom1v/sndcpy
These two tools + OBS Studio are a good way to record screen videos from your phone.

-daddydave (January 30, 2023, 02:14 PM)

You can find a GUI for Linux/Windows to run both here: GitHub

52

General Software Discussion / Re: Run software on GPU to compress images?

« Last post by 4wd on January 11, 2023, 05:31 AM »

The below tested ok on my machine, there's a lot of comments which should make it easy to understand.

Basically:

• Grabs list of PNGs in directory
• Splits list into number of cmd files along with formatting for ect.exe
• Executes cmd files

NOTES:

• Edit in the full path to ect.exe - see comments
• Edit in your ect.exe options - see comments
• I only run PowerShell 7+ so that's what I tested it on

You'll see a CLI window open for each cmd file running along with output from ect.exe in each, they close as each cmd file finishes.

Code: PowerShell [Select]

1. <#
2. RunEct.ps1
3.  
4. Open a PowerShell console:
5.  
6. path\to\RunEct.ps1 <path of PNG files> [-Threads <x>]
7.  
8. Default number of threads is 4
9.  
10. Examples:
11.  
12. .\RunEct.ps1 d:\png-images
13. d:\RunEct.ps1 "f:\png images" -Threads 8
14.  
15. #>
16.  
17. param(
18.   [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][string]$Path,
19.   [int]$Threads = 4
20. )
21.  
22. # Full path to ect.exe
23. $ectPath = "R:\ect.exe"
24. # Options for ect.exe
25. $ectOpts = "-9"
26.  
27. # Get the system TEMP path
28. $tempPath = [System.IO.Path]::GetTempPath()
29.  
30. # Get all PNG files within the directory
31. $files = (Get-ChildItem "$($Path)/*" -Include *.png)
32.  
33. # Collect the file names into a list
34. $fileNames = $files.Name
35. # Get the number of files
36. $numberOfFiles = $fileNames.Count
37. # Set the number of cmd files to the number of required threads to run
38. # and set number of files per list
39. $numberOfLists = $Threads
40. $filesPerList = [Math]::Ceiling($numberOfFiles / $numberOfLists)
41.  
42. # Create a list to hold the cmd file names
43. $cmdFiles = @()
44. # Split the number of files between the number of lists
45. for ($i = 0; $i -lt $numberOfLists; $i++) {
46.   $startIndex = $i * $filesPerList
47.   $endIndex = $startIndex + $filesPerList - 1
48.   $list = $fileNames[$startIndex..$endIndex]
49. # Create a temp cmd file
50.   $filePath = [System.IO.Path]::Combine($tempPath, "ectTempFile$($i).cmd")
51.   New-Item -Path $filePath -ItemType File -Force
52. # Add it to the cmd file list
53.   $cmdFiles += $filePath
54. # Output that list of files to the cmd file with formatting to run ect.exe on each
55.   $list | ForEach-Object {
56.     "$($ectPath) $($ectOpts) `"$($_)`""
57.   } | Set-Content -Path $filePath
58. }
59.  
60. # Change current location to input path
61. Push-Location $Path
62.  
63. # Execute each cmd file
64. $cmdFiles | ForEach-Object {
65. # Remove the hash (#) in the line below to have all output to the PowerShell console
66.     Start-Process cmd.exe -ArgumentList "/c $($_)" #-NoNewWindow
67. }
68.  
69. # Jump back to original path
70. Pop-Location

Each ECT process causes ~10% CPU load on my Ryzen 5 5600X.

53

General Software Discussion / Re: Run software on GPU to compress images?

« Last post by 4wd on January 10, 2023, 07:51 PM »

You'd probably have to find a program that uses OpenCL.

ECT doesn't seem to cause much CPU load, typically less than %20 on my machine so you could speed things up by running concurrent tasks.

Example:

Code: Text [Select]

1. .\timeit.exe .\ect.exe -9 .\20221224-topaz-denoise.png
2. Processed 1 file
3. Saved 1.95MB out of 12.34MB (15.7650%)
4.  
5. Version Number:   Windows NT 6.2 (Build 9200)
6. Exit Time:        12:32 am, Wednesday, January 11 2023
7. Elapsed Time:     0:01:28.952
8. Process Time:     0:01:28.937

Five concurrent processes on the same file, (five different names):

Code: Text [Select]

1. .\timeit.exe .\ect.exe -9 .\20221224-topaz-denoise(x).png
2. Processed 1 file
3. Saved 1.95MB out of 12.34MB (15.7650%)
4.  
5. Version Number:   Windows NT 6.2 (Build 9200)
6. Exit Time:        12:39 am, Wednesday, January 11 2023
7. Elapsed Time:     0:01:42.891
8. Process Time:     0:01:42.703

Time to process increased by 14 seconds, (this was the same for all processes give or take a few ms), CPU utilization was still under 60% so still plenty left for doing other things.

So for the cost of an extra 14 seconds I got a 5 fold increase in files processed, files had the same properties of course but it should still scale similarly.

54

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for programming language with good integration to Windows

« Last post by 4wd on January 08, 2023, 06:33 AM »

Mmm really, Python does not require installation on Win10? How come when I install any IDE like PyCharm, Anaconda, they install Python at the same time?

-kalos (January 05, 2023, 07:37 AM)

You said Python, not an IDE, Python does not require an IDE.

All it requires is a text editor and to know what you're doing ... you're halfway there

55

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by 4wd on January 06, 2023, 10:44 AM »

@Shades: Let us journey into the distant past ...

 

56

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by 4wd on January 06, 2023, 03:01 AM »

Just when you thought 2023 was going to be better

57

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for programming language with good integration to Windows

« Last post by 4wd on January 04, 2023, 05:07 AM »

4) no Powershell, no cmd, no WSCRIPT, ...
5) Power Automate is okay but ideally would like something else as it is not standard with every Windows

-kalos (December 31, 2022, 02:46 PM)

In point 4 you eliminated those which come standard with Windows and then in point 5 state something else that would be suitable but eliminate it because it does not come standard with Windows.

You need to rethink your requirements, either you want something that comes standard with Windows or you don't.

And FWIW, Powershell 7 does not require installation neither does Python.

58

General Software Discussion / Re: How can I put the date of the photo over the photo ?

« Last post by 4wd on December 30, 2022, 03:30 AM »

XNView MP:

59

General Software Discussion / Re: Lastpass hacked proper

« Last post by 4wd on December 25, 2022, 10:57 PM »

I've never trusted password managers, but I've started using KeePass. It has no requirement to sync to the cloud, so I don't.

-daddydave (December 23, 2022, 06:37 PM)

Been using Keepass for years, it syncs to iDrive Cloud Drive, (mainly as a backup but also so I have access to the database file via browser/app if needed), and via OneDrive sync plugin which the Android app uses as the database, (syncing any local changes back to it which then propagate to computers).

60

General Software Discussion / Re: Reliable phonetically controlled web browser or Windows?

« Last post by 4wd on December 12, 2022, 09:12 PM »

-KynloStephen66515 (December 12, 2022, 05:09 PM)

He wants to voice control his browser while his hands are ... errr ... otherwise engaged

61

Living Room / Re: Recommend some music videos to me!

« Last post by 4wd on December 09, 2022, 05:45 AM »

Turn it up ...

Dang it, app posted last year ... but here you get a light show

62

Android Apps / Re: Which Android Emulator

« Last post by 4wd on December 05, 2022, 11:02 PM »

Don't forget if you're running Windows 11 you've got Windows Subsytem for Android.

63

General Software Discussion / Re: Where is the downloaded Directx file in Win 10?

« Last post by 4wd on October 31, 2022, 04:14 AM »

VoidTools Everything - download it, run it, type in what you're looking for.

Or just download it:
https://www.microsof...d/details.aspx?id=35

64

Living Room / Re: Share your photos! Travel shots, photoblogs, etc.

« Last post by 4wd on October 09, 2022, 12:56 PM »

Welcome to Iceland:

65

Living Room / Re: Share your photos! Travel shots, photoblogs, etc.

« Last post by 4wd on October 08, 2022, 02:15 AM »

Bit of a rough landing but at least the luggage survived:

66

Living Room / Re: Share your photos! Travel shots, photoblogs, etc.

« Last post by 4wd on September 25, 2022, 06:48 AM »

Awesome.  Are all those photos ones you took?

-mouser (September 24, 2022, 12:24 PM)

Yes, just on the phone.

Still in Budapest until Monday.

67

Living Room / Re: Share your photos! Travel shots, photoblogs, etc.

« Last post by 4wd on September 24, 2022, 12:16 PM »

Buda Castle, Budapest:

68

General Software Discussion / Re: Open several sessions whatsapp

« Last post by 4wd on September 20, 2022, 05:36 AM »

https://www.technipa...ith-specific-browser

69

Living Room / Re: How do you play high quality digital music *LOCALLY* - (CD quality - or higher)?

« Last post by 4wd on September 18, 2022, 03:04 PM »

Probably one step better would be via USB into the external DAC, to avoid using the phone's analogue converter.

-tomos (September 18, 2022, 01:15 PM)

A lot of phones have a pretty good DAC, some of the LG's, (V10 - V40, G5, G6, etc), made the DAC they used a selling point.

I'd try it before investing any money.

70

Living Room / Re: How do you play high quality digital music *LOCALLY* - (CD quality - or higher)?

« Last post by 4wd on September 18, 2022, 07:25 AM »

Load your music onto a uSD card, plug it into an old smart phone, (or buy a cheap new one).
Install a music player app of you choice.
Connect phone to HiFi AUX input via 3.5mm - RCA cable.

Or 3.5mm - 3.5mm cable for external powered speakers, soundbar, etc if they don't have RCA input.

71

Living Room / Re: Share your photos! Travel shots, photoblogs, etc.

« Last post by 4wd on September 12, 2022, 08:18 AM »

Krakow:



Zakopane:

72

Living Room / Re: Share your photos! Travel shots, photoblogs, etc.

« Last post by 4wd on September 12, 2022, 08:07 AM »

Saltburn-by-the-sea^w


I'm sure someone will be able to work out where the following were taken:

73

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

« Last post by 4wd on September 10, 2022, 05:31 AM »

LibRedirect - A web extension that redirects YouTube, Twitter, Instagram... requests to alternative privacy friendly frontends and backends.

Also works on Firefox for Android, (Firefox Nightly tested).



Also available for Chrome based browsers.

74

Community Giveaways / Re: Fanatical Summer Mystery Bundle Leftovers

« Last post by 4wd on September 10, 2022, 04:36 AM »

If no-one has requested it, can I request Allen Breed 3, please?

75

General Software Discussion / Re: Contra Chrome

« Last post by 4wd on August 25, 2022, 02:12 PM »

Some of my banks require chrome to display online statements which is really unfortunate.

-sphere (August 23, 2022, 08:40 AM)

Chrome or Chrome-based ?

I don't have Chrome installed on my computers and I've yet to find a website that Iridium won't handle that would necessitate installing Chrome, Chromium, etc.

Normally I use Firefox and fall back to Iridium for the odd incompatible site, wife only uses Iridium and no screaming has been heard regarding sites that won't load.