Recent Posts

5276

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Norton Identity Safe -- Free Download

« Last post by IainB on April 30, 2012, 05:23 PM »

Have mostly found Norton products to be bloatware, however.

-Midnight Rambler (April 30, 2012, 09:38 AM)

Yes, that would probably be true for things like their anti-virus programs, especially. (The superb Norton Tools of yore would probably be the main singular exception to this though.) And they used to put hooks all over the system and were a devil of a job to expunge after de-installation. It was like trying to get rid of a bush lawyer.
But Norton might have got better (said optimistically), and this freebie NIS could be useful.
I think I'd be cautious about it though, after past experiences. The only thing that has stopped me buying the excellent PGP (encryption) is the fact that Norton bought it up.

5277

General Software Discussion / Re: Simple means of joining images?

« Last post by IainB on April 30, 2012, 04:54 PM »

You make it sound so simple...

-oblivion (April 30, 2012, 04:19 PM)

It is that simple: (I need to do this sort of thing all the time, exactly as @rjbull describes, and I do it in my main PIM - Microsoft OneNote)


(By the way, this took me seconds to do. As a demonstration, I used ScreenshotCaptor to add the notes and arrows to the composite image, but I could have done that quicker in OneNote too.)

5278

Clipboard Help+Spell / Re: When I Highlight, Clip Help/Spell copies to clipboard

« Last post by IainB on April 30, 2012, 04:28 PM »

@wkerby: Not sure if this will help: there is a Firefox add-on called Auto Copy 1.0.1 which does this, except it should copy automatically regardless of whether CHS is enabled.
If "Firefox is getting buggy" then it may be that you have some bad or conflicting add-ons.
I say this because Firefox otherwise is generally stable as anything - even the latest ß versions, which I run all the time.
I use a lot of add-ons and Greasemonkey scripts, and the only time I get any problems is when one of them starts to play up (usually because Firefox has been updated!).

By the way, Auto Copy works fine for me (I use CHS also).

5279

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: FreeFileSync - automated backup - Mini-Review (updated 2012-04-30)

« Last post by IainB on April 30, 2012, 07:04 AM »

Just did a minor update to the review details in the opening post (now re version 5.2, as at 2012-04-30).

-IainB (April 29, 2012, 11:27 PM)

Thank you for this review, IainB. FreeFileSync installer is now powered by OpenCandy.

-PhilB66 (April 30, 2012, 02:55 AM)

@PhilB66. I knew that, but had forgotten to add it in to the review update. Thanks for reminding me! Done now.

5280

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: FreeFileSync - automated backup - Mini-Review (updated 2012-04-30)

« Last post by IainB on April 29, 2012, 11:27 PM »

Just did a minor update to the review details in the opening post (now re version 5.2, as at 2012-04-30).

5281

General Software Discussion / Re: Google Books Downloader - WARNING - contains search hijack "arccosine.com"

« Last post by IainB on April 29, 2012, 12:05 AM »

How can I investigate if someone has ‘remote’ use of my computer?  What are the steps I need to follow to track this down?  Or what should I be looking for?

-Patriciann (April 28, 2012, 09:45 PM)

FWIW, my general recommendation is for a more private and secure PC and browsing experience via:
Set up OpenDNS (free) in your ADSL Router.

• Download, install and run Microsoft Security Essentials (FREE and excellent virus checker). Uninstall any existing virus proggies.
• Download, install and run Malwarebytes (there is a free and a paid version - go for the paid one as you need that for live scanning and monitoring of browsed sites).
• Download, install and run Windows 7 Firewall Control (free).
• Download, install and run PeerBlock (free). You may have to disable it from time to time as it's blocklists seem  a bit excessive at times.

Play around with these things and learn how they can best suit YOU. You will probably learn something useful in the process.

For what to do to clean the hijack up in Firefox, check my opening post about this (above):

Just a quick warning about this...

-IainB (March 19, 2012, 06:18 PM)

5282

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

« Last post by IainB on April 28, 2012, 11:44 PM »

It's a picture of a train wreck, actually...

5283

General Software Discussion / Re: Cloud-storage - safe & secure? Consider Wuala (it's encrypted as well).

« Last post by IainB on April 28, 2012, 10:02 PM »

Interesting. It looks as though we have here - so far, from the above comments - at least three (3) client-side encryption cloud-storage services:

• 1. Wuala (per IainB)
• 2. Carbonite (per @db90h)
• 3. SpiderOak (per @Deozaan)

About Wuala: (as far as I have been able to establish by this point)

• Has a client application that encrypts/decrypts the data synced/sent to/from the cloud-storage. The files as stored on the local drive are encrypted, then sent in encrypted form between client and cloud-storage.
• The data on your local drive is presented by the client application in a proprietary file explorer window. (I have not yet established where it is stored logically on the disk in C:\Users\[USER]\AppData\Local\Wuala)
• The proprietary file explorer window shows/holds folders and files in the same structure as held on the cloud-storage.
• You can read and edit the files in the proprietary file explorer window, which are encrypted/decrypted for the local editing application.
• Installing the client application necessitates a system reboot.
• The first time you run the client application, it asks for your user account details, or whether you want to set up a user account.
• If you want to set up a user account, then the client application walks you through user account setup.
• The application takes/uses whatever string you give it as an account PASSWORD at setup. I presume that it is related to the encryption key somehow. (You can change the PASSWORD subsequently, if you wish.)
• You are warned that if you lose/forget the PASSWORD, then you have lost all your data also (unrecoverable), as the PASSWORD is not stored or known in the cloud-storage side.
• The client application asks you to set a memory-nudging note in case you forget the PASSWORD. (The note is stored.)
• The client application can store the PASSWORD if you select that as an option, otherwise you have to type it in every time you start up the client application. (I think I prefer the latter, for security.) The application does not tell you what the PASSWORD is.
• The client application can be started manually or by default as a Windows startup.

I suspect that law enforcement is actively engaged in trying to deter these cloud storage services from offering true client side encryption, as it makes their jobs a bit harder in some cases.

-db90h (April 28, 2012, 03:13 PM)

Yes, probably so. Wouldn't surprise me one bit.    

5284

Living Room / Re: CISPA is the New SOPA/PIPA/OPEN/ACTA/etc. etc. etc.

« Last post by IainB on April 28, 2012, 11:43 AM »

Good dose of healthy cynicism there, @TaoPhoenix...     

5285

General Software Discussion / Re: Cloud-storage - safe & secure? Consider Wuala (it's encrypted as well).

« Last post by IainB on April 28, 2012, 11:41 AM »

Sorry!     
Link now fixed.     

5286

General Software Discussion / Cloud-storage - safe & secure? Consider Wuala (it's encrypted as well).

« Last post by IainB on April 28, 2012, 11:04 AM »

One issue that seems to persist in discussions in the DC Forum relating to aspects of cloud-storage is the safety/security of your data whilst it is in cloud-storage.
These discussions sometimes referred to Wuala, which has been discussed quite a bit on the DC forum, but seems to have been mainly "in passing".
I found some interesting links on this post: SkyDrive storage space land grab for grandfathers
One of them was in reference to Wuala.

So, today I followed the link in sciencetext and took a look at the Wuala site: Wuala - FREE 6Gb offer.

And I watched the simple Wuala - Promo Video
It's about a guy (John) who is concerned about his data security, after being bitten. (Maybe his data was on dotcom, or something, and he lost it all.)
Wuala looks like it is good tech and encrypted as well.

More choices!    

5287

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

« Last post by IainB on April 28, 2012, 10:17 AM »

5288

Living Room / Re: CISPA is the New SOPA/PIPA/OPEN/ACTA/etc. etc. etc.

« Last post by IainB on April 28, 2012, 09:09 AM »

Microsoft seems to have tried to sorta stay out of the tracking headlights. I'm not sure what to make of them on these topics.

-TaoPhoenix (April 28, 2012, 08:44 AM)

Well, they probably would back away - wouldn't they? They probably just want to get on with the business of making a mountain of money, by continuing to be the market's de facto monopoly, producing some pretty good software, and without risking unnecessary alienation of their market.
Heck, some people might say - not me you understand - that for all we know, M$ may have even written the initial CISPA draft, but I couldn't possibly comment.

5289

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: SNS-HDR - Mini-Review

« Last post by IainB on April 28, 2012, 05:42 AM »

QMark0: Thanks for this. Very interesting. I think I shall have a play with SNS-HDR.

5290

Living Room / Re: CISPA is the New SOPA/PIPA/OPEN/ACTA/etc. etc. etc.

« Last post by IainB on April 28, 2012, 04:36 AM »

The Police States of America is in high gear...

-Renegade (April 27, 2012, 12:32 AM)

It looks like an easy checkmate to me - "All your base are belong to us."

5291

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Rarma Radio (Raimersoft) - Mini-Review

« Last post by IainB on April 26, 2012, 09:36 PM »

Fact is that Raimersoft (the developer) does not inform users about the ad-supported installer

-PhilB66 (April 26, 2012, 08:23 PM)

Yes, thanks. I abhor this OpenCandy practice.
I have re-run the install but allowed the "phone home" feature, and proven what you say about the OpenCandy (Babylon toolbar) stage.
I have added a WARNING and a screenshot (from my laptop) into the OP.

This is evidence of yet another good reason for having something like Windows 7 Firewall Controller installed, to control incoming/outgoing Internet access/traffic.
Interesting that I would have remained oblivious to the OpenCandy if you had not pointed it out.

5292

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Rarma Radio (Raimersoft) - Mini-Review

« Last post by IainB on April 26, 2012, 07:17 PM »

While we're on internet radio players, anyone knows one that can scrobble what the radio played (if the stream contains the information). It would make it so easy to find tracks later again

-iphigenie (April 26, 2012, 12:25 PM)

+1 for that! Maybe you could post it it as a request for a new DC app.?   

5293

General Software Discussion / Re: Make icons in 'Show hidden icons' LARGE ?

« Last post by IainB on April 26, 2012, 10:24 AM »

My experience with enlarging everything (laptop with win7, classic theme, to 125% I think) was fairly disastrous** and often very ugly.
? Maybe the easiest solution would be windows magnifier ?
when you need to check the icons out, use the Winkey and plus (+) symbol to enlarge the screen. Zooms in wherever the mouse is. If you want to go back to 100%, you have to release the Winkey and then press it again with the minus (-) symbol. A magnifier symbol stays active, you can close this by clicking it first, then close.

-tomos (April 26, 2012, 05:09 AM)

Yes, "Ugly" was what I thought it was.
Thanks for the tip re Winkey and Plus/Minus key. I hadn't known that one. Handy.

5294

General Software Discussion / Re: Script to sort your Gmail messages by size using Google docs

« Last post by IainB on April 26, 2012, 09:56 AM »

BTW, google seems to increase gmail quotas from 7.5 to 10 GB, simultaneously with the google drive launch.

-eleman (April 25, 2012, 11:27 AM)

Oops! That's why my utilisation was down to 14%!! The cap just grew a bit bigger, that's all.
I thought I hadn't deleted enough to knock it down to 14% yet!   
I hadn't noticed the 2nd part of the message where it says:

14% full
Using 1497 MB of your 10240 MB

5295

General Software Discussion / Re: Script to sort your Gmail messages by size using Google docs

« Last post by IainB on April 26, 2012, 09:52 AM »

It only found about 10 emails the first run before it timed out! What use is that?  I can do manual heuristics faster than that!

-TaoPhoenix (April 25, 2012, 08:03 PM)

Set the script to auto-trigger at 5 or 10 minute intervals (per thread above) and check the Gdocs spreadsheet the next day - that's what I did. You don't even have to have the spreadsheet open that way. All automated.   

5296

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Rarma Radio (Raimersoft) - Mini-Review

« Last post by IainB on April 26, 2012, 09:43 AM »

@PhilB66: That's interesting. I don't get that "Babylon" screen, and no adware has been installed on my laptop.
The install sets up two folders in Temp:

• is-4JF82.tmp
• is-3MQE4.tmp

- with nothing "bad" in them as far as I can see.
The install did try to phone home, but my Windows 7 Firewall Control trapped that and I did not enable it.

5297

General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft takes on Dropbox with major SkyDrive update

« Last post by IainB on April 26, 2012, 09:31 AM »

i actually like this feature. if you want to share a certain file in a folder, there is  no need to move that file into the 'Public' folder. thus orphaning it from the rest of the items in the original folder.
agreed, no big deal but it's an oft requested feature and quite convenient too.

-lanux128 (April 25, 2012, 07:41 PM)

That has been possible for ages with Gdocs. You just email people with a sharing link to the document, and the link can give anyone who has it read access, or write access, if you stipulate that.
At any time, you can revert the file to non-shared/"private" status, and thus remove further read/write access to the file at that point - thus rendering the sharing link obsolete.

5298

General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft takes on Dropbox with major SkyDrive update

« Last post by IainB on April 26, 2012, 09:22 AM »

Sounds like you're more trusting than I...
...
...The only stuff I'd store exclusively in "the cloud" is the stuff I don't give a damn about losing.
clusively in "the cloud" is the stuff I don't give a damn about losing.

-Stoic Joker (April 25, 2012, 11:28 AM)

No, I think I may be just as mistrusting as you.   
I don't store anything exclusively in the cloud. I have it all on two laptops and my daily backups, and probably in my restore points. If I put something in the cloud, it's usually because I want to be able to use it for sharing with others (i.e., not between my disparate PCs).

By the way, the Syncdocs thing seems to be a bit of a scam. After it has synced 500 documents, it stops syncing and asks you to start paying a fee for the service. Since I don't value the service nor the data, I am hardly likely to be willing to pay for it - in fact, I think the bandwidth it uses in duplicating all those files is a waste of money.
For example, if I have a document in (say) 3 different Gdocs virtual folders (they are really labels), then SyncDocs faithfully creates 3 "real" folders on my local PC and puts one copy of the document into each of them. Sheesh.   

5299

Living Room / Re: Desktop items text visibility (Win 7)

« Last post by IainB on April 26, 2012, 08:45 AM »

See Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Performance Information and Tools
and click Adjust Visual Effects on the left.

-Carol Haynes (April 25, 2012, 01:22 PM)

Interesting suggestion! I followed it and ticked "Adjust for best appearance" - that's something I'd never done before. Everything is now turned ON.
Like you, I had most of it turned OFF, to maximise performance. It was one of the first things I did with my new laptop, almost without thinking.

I guess I had not really appreciated the fact that my HP Envy 14 has:

• Intel Core i7-720QM 1.6GHz Quad Core Processor
• ATI Mobility Radeon HD5650 1GB Dedicated Graphics

- and the 64-bit Windows 7 OS...
So it probably has power to spare - so why not squander some of it on better ergonomics?
I must admit to a strong dislike of animations though - they irritate me and slow things down - so I shall probably turn those off after a while.

5300

Screenshot Captor / Re: "Invalid pointer operation" error message - all changes to screenshot lost

« Last post by IainB on April 26, 2012, 08:26 AM »

If something goes wrong again, could you try try to write down exactly what the last actions you performed were? 

-mouser (April 25, 2012, 10:08 AM)

Roger wilco.
@x16wda's suggestion is not too bad...