Recent Posts

5101

Living Room / Re: Windows Vista Pronunciation

« Last post by app103 on October 19, 2006, 08:25 AM »

I like how a friend explained how Italians say the "a" sound as almost silent but more like a pause for emphasis of the preceding letter sound. Like the word "mozzarella", for instance. Pronounce it "mawtsuh-relluh" and you won't get anything from signore cheesemonger. But say "moatS' relL' " and you'll get some sloppy white goo that goes excellent melted over red sauce and linguine.

-Edvard (October 17, 2006, 01:11 PM)

Here in NJ, home of many displaced Italians (and Tony Soprano), we pronounce that like this:

moot (rhymes with boot)-sah-rell (roll that 'r')

and that's not 'red sauce'...it's gravy. 

5102

Living Room / Re: Forums: pay for posts

« Last post by app103 on October 19, 2006, 08:09 AM »

whoa! I am in the top 10? 

5103

Living Room / Re: Forums: pay for posts

« Last post by app103 on October 19, 2006, 05:33 AM »

I understood this to be something entirely different.

This isn't companies hiring people to go post on other people's forums and talk about their products.

This is forum owners hiring people to post on their own forums to have some activity going on. To prevent a dead forum with nobody talking. To get posts that people will respond to and discuss things.

This isn't a service a forum like this one would use. We don't have a lack of members willing to make quality posts here.

But there are forums that are dead and the owners desperate for something going on to get people motivated to join in and discuss things...with the hopes that the forum will take off and they can replace their professional posters with real ones, eventually. That's who this service is for.

And people that want to make money for making quality posts....something we do here for free.

This is more of a 'pay for content' thing.

Personally, I couldn't do this...not as a forum owner or a poster.

It's stops being fun when it becomes work...and very few forums can hold my attention long enough to get more than 10 posts out of me.

And if I had a forum that was that dead (and I do have a few) I would close it before I ever wasted money hiring a few people to talk to me...or to each other.

5104

General Review Discussion / Re: Icon Tool Shootout Review by HamRadio - Draft Available to Supporting Members

« Last post by app103 on October 19, 2006, 04:33 AM »

ahhh...2 posts related to this..I can't keep up!

I'll just quote myself here:

Great job, hamradio!

One thing I didn't see mentioned, though, was the ability to import graphics to base your icons on.

I know Microangelo allows you to import .bmp files that you have created in another graphics program. This is my preferred way of creating icons since it gives me much more control over the image creation and I can use any plugins I want in the process by creating the image for the icon in Paintshop Pro.

I also know that Microangelo allows you to export a .gif file of your icon as well as an .ico file, which can be handy for developers that need a small graphic for their PAD files.

-https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=5838.msg41066#msg41066

5105

Living Room / Ms Dewey: the search engine with a face & personality

« Last post by app103 on October 19, 2006, 03:22 AM »

This is a unique approach to presenting a search engine.

Meet Ms. Dewey.

http://www.msdewey.com

My search for 'cool flash games' returned as the #1 result a site I have been trying to find in my huge list of bookmarks for quite some time:

http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/  (the games are very sweet and pretty)

I am not quite ready to give up Google just yet, but it was amusing...especially if you don't type anything and she gets impatient. 

5106

Icon Tools / Re: congrats hamradio

« Last post by app103 on October 19, 2006, 01:42 AM »

Great job, hamradio!

One thing I didn't see mentioned, though, was the ability to import graphics to base your icons on.

I know Microangelo allows you to import .bmp files that you have created in another graphics program. This is my preferred way of creating icons since it gives me much more control over the image creation and I can use any plugins I want in the process by creating the image for the icon in Paintshop Pro.

I also know that Microangelo allows you to export a .gif file of your icon as well as an .ico file, which can be handy for developers that need a small graphic for their PAD files.

5107

Living Room / Re: MouserMon - a silly tool that lets you know when the Boss is/not on the forum

« Last post by app103 on October 19, 2006, 01:10 AM »

ROFLMAO!

This is cute!

I love the icon...and how it flips when he's not online.

5108

Living Room / Domino Pressure: Flash Game of the Day

« Last post by app103 on October 19, 2006, 12:24 AM »

Click a domino to knock down the stack and crush the tomato.

Seconds are taken off the next round for any remaining dominoes.

Seconds are added if you knock them all down, quickly.

Game ends if you run out of time.

Click a tomato on the lower right to pass.

http://www.gamedesig...h/domino/domino.html

5109

General Software Discussion / Re: Abbreviation expanders for DOS boxes under Win9x?

« Last post by app103 on October 17, 2006, 03:58 PM »

I've moved AW around, installing and uninstalling it on various machines (I believe the license allows you to install it on two machines IIRC)

-Darwin (October 16, 2006, 09:20 AM)

According to their site you can install it on as many pc's as you use:

The ActiveWords PLUS Personal Version License
Your ActiveWords, where ever you need
them, for the price of a single license! 
 
The ActiveWords PLUS Personal Version License gives you the unrestricted right to install and use the purchased version on any computer.

As an ActiveWords PLUS customer you can install the software and use your ActiveWords on any computer, anywhere, for the price of a single license.  Save time and make your computing more spontaneous, relevant, and enjoyable on every computer you use.
 

-http://www.activewords.com/unlimited.html

5110

General Software Discussion / Re: Need help with Google Talk!

« Last post by app103 on October 17, 2006, 03:47 PM »

There is only 2 reasons why I even run GTalk:

1. I have friends that use it from GMail because they can't use anything else at work/school.

2. The built in GMail notifier.

But personally I think it's crude, buggy, and seriously lacking in many areas as a chat client. (not to mention that the taskbar button flashing drives me nuts!)

actually other programs are running well and after several re-installs. i've decided to configure Miranda for Google Talk, eventhough i had to forego the PC-to-PC phone..

-lanux128 (October 17, 2006, 12:19 AM)

There are many other better messenger applications/networks that can do voice chat.

AIM has had the ability to do it for many years. Yahoo can do it too, as well as MSN. And I think there are others.

The three I mentioned also support webcams.

And if you just want pc to pc phone, try Skype or Glophone. Both are free to use to call other members. They don't cost anything unless you are going to use them for calls between pc & land lines.

5111

Living Room / Re: Blog Article: 100+ Ways to Rejuvenate the Games You Already Own

« Last post by app103 on October 17, 2006, 03:19 PM »

Many board and card games have made their way to the PC (Scrabble, Monopoly, Uno, etc)

But the great thing about having the original board game is you CAN change the rules...something you can't do with a pc version.

And there is nothing quite like playing a game of Uno, for money, with 20 drunk people, using 5 decks and 'house rules'. 

I never played Monopoly by the normal rules till I played it on Sega Genesis. And I have to say that it was boring. I'll take my brother's 'backyard rules' any day.

5112

Living Room / Re: Mike-O-Matic on GooTube and The Power of Branding

« Last post by app103 on October 17, 2006, 08:02 AM »

yeah i think it is human nature.
i try to tell myself when i go shopping - don't believe the marketing hype - don't get affected purely by brand name recognition.

-mouser (October 15, 2006, 08:33 PM)

We all do...and many don't realize to what extent they do.

How many times do you tell someone to "Google it"?

So many product names have become the substitute for the generic that many don't even realize they are brands or trademarked names any more.

• Brillo = steel wool soap pads.
• Q-tips = cotton tipped swabs.
• Cheez Whiz = processed cheese product
• Kitty Litter = cat box filler
• Band-Aid = plastic adhesive bandage
• Velcro = hook & loop tape
• Post-It Notes = sticky notes
• Scotch Tape = clear cellophane tape
• Duck Tape = duct tape
• Minute Rice = instant rice
• Oreos = chocolate sandwich cookies with white cream
• Coke = carbonated 'cola' beverage
• Saran Wrap = plastic wrap
• Windex = ammonia based glass cleaner
• Escalator = moving staircase
• Allen wrench = hexagonal screwdriver
• Crock-Pot = slow cooker
• Granola = oat and fruit mixture
• Hula Hoop - toy ring
• Linoleum = vinyl floor covering
• Touch-Tone = dual tone multi-frequency telephone signaling
• Yo-Yo = toy
• Lava lamp = decorative light
• Spam = canned pork product
• Ace bandage = cloth elastic bandage
• Alka-Seltzer = multi-purpose effervescent tablet
• Novocaine = local anesthetic
• Tylenol = pain reliever
• Advil = pain reliever
• Aqua-Lung = Scuba equipment
• Breathalyzer = breath alcohol analyzer
• Bubble Wrap = air-filled plastic packing material
• ChapStick = lip balm
• Ethernet = IEEE 802.3 LAN protocol
• Fig Newton = soft cake-like cookie filled with fig jam
• Jaws of Life = a rescue tool
• Jell-O = gelatin dessert
• Kleenex = packaged folded facial tissue paper
• Laundromat = self-service laundry
• Magic Marker = Felt-tip marker
• Phillips Screwdriver = screwdriver with a cross-pointed drive hole
• Play-Doh = commercial plastic modeling compound, clay-like
• Pop Tart = breakfast toaster pastry
• Rollerblade = inline skates
• Speedo = tight-fitting swimsuit
• Swiss Army Knife = a clasp-knife with multi-functional blades
• Thermos = vacuum flask
• Vaseline = petroleum jelly
• Windbreaker = light jacket
• X-Acto knife = sharp precision craft knife with short replaceable blades
• Zamboni = ice resurfacing machine

In the end, regardless of what brand of the actual product you use, in cases like this you still call it by its most recognizable brand name.

Could that be considered a success by a company? or perhaps a bit of a failure at the same time, since you call the competitors product by their brand name and buy the other product any way.

And then there is the risk that your trademark on your brand could be taken away and the term made legally generic, as in the case of 'aspirin' or 'bikini'

5113

General Software Discussion / Re: recommendations for web graphic and photo software

« Last post by app103 on October 17, 2006, 06:23 AM »

Tons of PSP tutorials here:  http://www.pspug.org...ywords/keywd-a.shtml

5114

Site/Forum Features / Re: DonationCredits CodyCoin Web Page Links!

« Last post by app103 on October 17, 2006, 06:15 AM »

Mine are still there:  http://www.appsapps.info

5115

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: pandora.com - Internet radio for EVERY taste! FREE!

« Last post by app103 on October 17, 2006, 06:08 AM »

I just installed OpenPandora and I am loving it!

It's much better this way than running an instance of firefox to hide it.

Now I need to go dig up some 'things' and see if there can be some modding done to them to work with this, since it has title & artist on the window caption. 

5116

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: pandora.com - Internet radio for EVERY taste! FREE!

« Last post by app103 on October 16, 2006, 08:06 AM »

You can share your Pandora stations by clicking where it says 'share' and selecting 'Email current station to a friend'.

Enter your own email address and they will send the share link to you, so you can distribute it anywhere.

Here is a station I made by including all my favorite stuff:

http://www.pandora.c...sh155954033507829735

Enjoy! 

5117

General Software Discussion / Re: Need help with Google Talk!

« Last post by app103 on October 16, 2006, 02:59 AM »

Do you have large fonts enabled?

I can't find the setting on XP, but on Win9x I used to have the same problem with many programs if I had large fonts enabled.

Sometimes an entire feature that was supposed to be there was missing.

Have you tried resizing the window? (I know it's obvious, but I have to ask)

I haven't been able to duplicate your problem here on my pc.

5118

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Now it's Paragon for FREE!

« Last post by app103 on October 15, 2006, 05:03 PM »

The only Paragon product I have ever used is the CD-ROM Emulator. I have used it for years and LOVE it.

5119

General Software Discussion / Re: Abbreviation expanders for DOS boxes under Win9x?

« Last post by app103 on October 15, 2006, 04:20 PM »

I have never heard of any. There might be some for real DOS that I don't know about but I don't think they would work unless you rebooted into DOS, and not in a console window within Win98.

5120

General Software Discussion / Re: Recommend Windows 98 holdout site?

« Last post by app103 on October 15, 2006, 04:15 PM »

http://www.mdgx.com  <--best one I know 

5121

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows XP Myths

« Last post by app103 on October 15, 2006, 12:17 PM »

I don't see anything wrong in what mouser said/did.

I tried very hard to resist replying to mastertech's attacks on my point of view, and instead tried to lighten up the mood of this thread twice, with humor.

The point mouser was trying to make, and it is a beneficial one for this forum (or any forum for that matter) is if you think someone is a troll, don't feed them and they won't come back for more.

Sometimes it's easier said than done, though. And I think mouser handled it the right way.  Mouser was just trying to remind us of that.

I, for one, walk away from this thread a little better of a person than I was before....stronger...able to resist falling into traps and avoiding becoming part of a problem instead of the easy solution.

Thanks mouser. 

5122

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows XP Myths

« Last post by app103 on October 15, 2006, 03:46 AM »

Remember, folks...this is the same Microsoft that brought you things like WinME...which even they have never had any clue on how to make it stable.  

-app103 (October 13, 2006, 06:43 AM)

Just in case anybody here didn't quite get it (cough* Mastertech *cough)...the above quote from me was a JOKE. Not something meant to be twisted around into a flame war....or taken seriously.

Even though I make fun of WinME and old slow computers and anything else in my life that might annoy me, I happen to love my old WinME computer very much...every bit of it and all it's odd quirks (especially some of it's odd quirks) and I wouldn't part with it or change it's OS again for all the money in the world.

Part of having a good sense of humor is being able to laugh at yourself, which I am doing right now...because I am bothering to post this reply.

Now let's try this again...just a little different this time...

Remember, folks...this is the same Microsoft that brought you things like MS Bob. 

5123

General Software Discussion / Re: CNET: Last hurrah for PC-based software?

« Last post by app103 on October 14, 2006, 01:44 AM »

There will always be real desktop software as long as there are situations where web based apps can't be used.

Such as businesses where they don't want to give employees internet access because they want them to be more productive and not messing around with flash games and forums. 

And what about airplanes? You can't use a web based app on your laptop during a flight.

And can you imagine trying to use one on a train when it suddenly goes through a tunnel and your access gets cut off?

5124

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows XP Myths

« Last post by app103 on October 14, 2006, 01:24 AM »

I have a stable ME box in the other room. Part of the trick to making it stable was NOT using the WinME drivers that were supplied by Microsoft.

It runs much better with Win95 drivers supplied by the hardware manufacturers. 

5125

Living Room / Re: Mike-O-Matic on GooTube and The Power of Branding

« Last post by app103 on October 13, 2006, 01:54 PM »

What people don't realize is that everything uploaded to YouTube, the uploader has agreed to give certain rights to YouTube and any company that might buy them out in the future...certain rights...among them to reproduce, distribute, make derivative works from your content, and profit from it... without ever compensating you for it.

That means, for example, that a small time independent band can make a music video and upload it...and YouTube can take the music out of it and sell the rights to use it to some company and the band's song could end up being used in a commercial for hemorrhoid cream.

YouTube, or any company that buys YouTube (in this case, Google) would be the sole entity to profit from this. The band would become famous for their one-hit advertising wonder...but never receive a dime for it.

Or even worse if something like this were to happen:

An artist creates and uploads a short animation featuring a really cute bird with a coin. YouTube sublicenses derivative works based on it to Disney, which makes a full length feature movie based on the bird character and makes billions on it. Then they make even more off the merchandising, the tv series, dvd's, etc. The bird becomes as well known as Donald Duck.

YouTube gets their cut. The original artist gets nothing, except maybe a mention in the credits, if he is lucky.

Is it fair? no

Is it legal? Yes, because they AGREED to it when they uploaded the video. Their agreement says "exploit me" all over it.

Be really careful when you agree to things...make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.

For clarity, you retain all of your ownership rights in your User Submissions. However, by submitting the User Submissions to YouTube, you hereby grant YouTube a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicenseable and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform the User Submissions in connection with the YouTube Website and YouTube's (and its successor's) business, including without limitation for promoting and redistributing part or all of the YouTube Website (and derivative works thereof) in any media formats and through any media channels.

-http://www.youtube.com/t/terms