Recent Posts

5676

Living Room / Re: msn adcenter demographic prediction for donationcoder... 67% female?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 27, 2006, 04:06 AM »

Probably my level of posting ;-)

Actually I think it is totally meaningless ...

My websites come out at 65%/54% male.

Given the 65% male one is mostly pictures of birds, flowers and some photos from a Photoshop course I took (not to mention my rivetting minuet), and the other is mostly family photos what does that say about the sites?

You might argue that they don't get enough traffic (which is true - mainly because they are very boring and haven't been updated in ages from lack of time/enthusiasm after a recent sortie into experimenting with CMSs) but quite how they are calculating these results I can't imagine.

It is quite gratifying that playoutdoors.co.uk comes out in the 23-34 age range ... I must be young at heart (my body is certainly falling apart rapidly  )

It is interesting if you type your name in too ... apparently I am 38% male ... I'm now off to the bathroom to find out which bits ...

5677

Living Room / French rival to Google Earth announced

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 26, 2006, 01:13 PM »

Just seen this article ... looks interesting but the site, Geoportail.fr, unfortunately can't cope with demands at the moment as hits have far exceeded anticipation!

Full item here http://www.vnunet.com/2159062

5678

ContextMenu Commander / Re: ContextMenu Commander

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 26, 2006, 09:20 AM »

IE Booster offers tools to extend Internet Explorer, but the version which was free is no longer available on the website.  It helps you to dig into the technology behind a website, to analyze the HTML and script code, to copy content and to use online tools to analyze a webpage. 

As a webmaster, I use it to analyze errors in code snippets.  You can right click, show partial source and see exactly what you've highlighted.

-Sugar (March 12, 2006, 05:08 PM)

IE Booster was replaced by SiteInspector which was moved to freeware recently ...

http://www.paessler.com/psi

I suspect the move to freeware will mean suspension of development (they were already running down updates for Firefox when it was still commercial) but it does the job.

Note you really have to prune the number of context menu items visible in Internet Explorer otherwise it almost fill sthe maximum number of slots in that menu (it is a known problem with IE, but PSI doesn't help the situation by adding loads of entries). Check the preferences to decide which options you want included.

5679

Living Room / Re: PDAs - any use?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 26, 2006, 04:24 AM »

First one I found on Google ...

http://www.tangshop....zire-71-battery.html $24.95 - is that cheap?

5680

Developer's Corner / Re: Why's (Poignant) Guide to Ruby

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 25, 2006, 02:45 PM »

Reminds me a bit of Douglas Adams (in a strange sort of lateral way). It's the sort of writing that you come to with one expectation and leave in total bewilderment - but strangely satisfied. Dirk Gently lives - and he's into Ruby (whoever she might be). Now all you have to do is work out how to remove a sofa from the stack ....

At the end of the day he hasn't got a cat in hells chance of teaching anyone a programming language - but you'll kill a few happy hours, days, weeks, months wondering what you started reading for ...

Personally I think you should invite the guy over here to teach a Ruby class ...

5681

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: MIDI Capture

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 25, 2006, 12:06 PM »

Thanks I'll investigate GN MIDI looks like a lot of useful stuff - too much to digest at a quick glance!

5682

General Software Discussion / Re: Why is so much software cracked?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 25, 2006, 06:57 AM »

To be fair all those things apply in most countries to one extent or another. I have found Canada is particularly efficient at applying import duties (on everything) and then local sales taxes too whereas in the UK you generally don't get stung for import duty on 'gifts' (which can be useful at times) and the tax people can't be bothered applying for taxes on items under £25 - so you generally avoid import duty and VAT on DVDs etc. Software is another matter though - we end up paying $1=£1 (which is up to 40-50% hike) + import duty (~20%) + £6-9 (flat rate charge by delivery depending on who actually delivers it).

5683

General Software Discussion / Re: Why is so much software cracked?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 25, 2006, 05:53 AM »

Ah but the UK don't use the Euro ...

5684

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: MIDI Capture

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 25, 2006, 05:50 AM »

Thanks for the suggestion but it only appears to support Win 95 and 98.

Actually I was pointed at http://www.midiox.com/ which has a program called MidiYoke which works in a similar way (a driver that allows you to route MIDI signals where you want).

My biggest problem now is finding a way to quantize the music in such a way that it comes out looking like music, and also to sync the midi time code between apps. There are no options in the appliation which is source of the music to do with time codes and I can't seem to get my sequencing software  to lock to any external clock.

C'est la vie!

5685

Living Room / Re: CPU 100%

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 24, 2006, 03:38 PM »

Thanks Mouser and PhilKC problem solved my Belkin high speed wireless and router was the issue.

Mouser I have downloaded Screen Captor could I possible have a key?? I know I had one ages ago but can't find it. PM or email me you all my correct contact details.

Many many thanks,

Helen

-Hellie (June 24, 2006, 02:32 PM)

You can get your key by going to https://www.donation...r.com/Keys/index.php

5686

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: DupeTrasher

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 24, 2006, 11:13 AM »

I can't believe writing a utility like this in assembly language will make much difference to speed - the limiting factor isn't the processing speed but disc access - and that isn't going to be speeded up whatever programming language you use.

5687

Activation/License/Language Help / Re: UrlSnooper license key

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 24, 2006, 10:26 AM »

It says "Hello, I need key" .... http://translate.google.com did the trick

5688

Living Room / Re: Men Beware...Out there...

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 24, 2006, 10:23 AM »

Hmm .. I know its a joke but .... who's to say she would put up with a druken slob?

5689

Living Room / Re: There is something 'sinister' going on here

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 24, 2006, 06:33 AM »

I think it is Cody trying to make his presence felt ...

5690

General Software Discussion / Re: Why is so much software cracked?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 24, 2006, 06:21 AM »

??? R3000 - R5200 - why is is more expensive in SA? Surely that is the same cost just converted to your currency ??? Or are you saying that pay is so much lower in SA that the cost is disproportionately higher.

That is certainly true in the UK - we pay higher prices because of the $1 = £1 conversion rate that is often applied and US salaries are generally higher than UK salaries, and the cost of living lower. (Though I think Dubya is doing his best to make sure the US cost of living increases to EU proportions from what I have read).

5691

Living Room / Re: Recommendations for good external hard drive solutions?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 24, 2006, 06:16 AM »

For my part I'm aware of the Samsung advantage in noise so I definitely recommend them for any low-noise needs. But they *are* less generally available than other brands and they also tend to have less deals than say Maxtor or Seagate, both of whom often have very low prices with rebates on Outpost.com, for example. I've also been a bit unclear on whether *all* Samsung drives are "low noise" or if they have a special low noise type of drive. I've gone through the trouble of trying to find models in the same group as a well-reviewed quiet drive before but I don't often want to go to the trouble. If I can assume they're all equally quiet I'd be a lot more inclined to buy and recommend them. Otherwise, if their noise level truly does vary from product to product, then it may be too much work to research for anything but a low-noise PC purchase.

- Oshyan

-JavaJones (June 24, 2006, 01:16 AM)

Seagate Barracudas are also very quiet (but they get hot as a result because the noise is kept down by insulation)

5692

Official Announcements / Re: The DC Website is free from google ads - CodyQuotes are here!!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 24, 2006, 05:13 AM »

the google ads are on the forum (and only the forum) for now; we may remove them completely but at least they provide some entertainment factor on the forum.

-mouser (June 24, 2006, 03:14 AM)

Not on mine and I currently have ads set to 100 in my profile ???

i dont think it makes sense to put the codyquotes on the forum, they would just be a bit annoying after a while seeing them over and over again.

Depends how often the snippets get changed on the forum - perhaps we could have a few Cody Jokes added to the mix !

5693

General Software Discussion / Re: Program Idea - Control Use of Web and Computer

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 23, 2006, 07:35 PM »

Not had any need of anything like this so I haven't tried these but how about:

http://www.agtechsoft.com/Product1.htm $19.95 looks like it can do what you want for login hours but not the carry over unused time. You can extend time though without altering the usual allowed periods.

http://downloads.zdn...604,39180167s,00.htm (couldn't find price details)

http://www.virtualso...imeManager/index.htm $12.96

http://www.kidsadmin.com/ (free)

http://www.softwaretime.com/ct.html (Looks pretty good but costs $40)

5694

Living Room / Delphi 2005PE - trying to find a magazine disc with a copy.

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 23, 2006, 07:03 PM »

I have been trying to find a magazine (or back issue) with the Delphi 2005 PE on its cover disc. I know these have been distributed all over but I can't find a copy anywhere. Borland no longer have the PE versions as downloadables on the site - they just say buy a mag with a copy on the cover disc - which is OK if you can find one.

Does anyone know where I can find a mag disc with a copy?

5695

Living Room / Re: new Futurama series! finally!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 23, 2006, 12:52 PM »

Have I missed something? I love the Simpsons but have never managed to watch a whole episode of Futurama.

5696

Living Room / Re: SanDisk accused of "Shades of Sony Rootkit"

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 23, 2006, 10:50 AM »

I don't think the article actually implies that U3 is actually a rootkit at all (it certainly captured my attention though).

The problem seems to be that programs/installers can be made to autorun when the flashcard is inserted - and it is not clear (at least from the SanDisk experience) how to get rid of or disable the U3 technology.

For the average non savvy user who just buys a flashcard to use in a digital camera and ends up with a U3 enable SanDisk card what are they to think when they put the card in and the offer to install Skype immediately pops up? You have a brand new product from a reputable manufacturer - it is not unreasonable to assume this is some kind of required software.

My problem with this is that if it is possible to get flash cards to do this with legitmate (if unnecessary and unwanted marketing) how easy would it be to have these cards infected with software that isn't so useful or benign? It strikes me as another potential vector for nasties to be transmitted from computer to computer.

Perhaps MS should issue a patch that stops AutoRun on all devices when you disable it for CDROMs etc.

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Official Announcements / Re: The DC Website is free from google ads - CodyQuotes are here!!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 23, 2006, 10:41 AM »

How about adding the Cody panel to the forum page top? This is my first port of call on most visits - and I'd guess most regulars - unless I have a reason to look elsewhere on the site (new stuff is usually posted or pointed to on the forums). Shame for the regulars to miss out on the Cody headlines. People can still opt not to have them in their profiles if they don't want to see them.

5698

General Software Discussion / Re: download monitoring in network

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 23, 2006, 10:35 AM »

At 1.2Mb download in 20 minutes it will take you 5 months of online time to use up 12Gb ... I wouldn't worry. I download quite a lot and am online a lot and I never get near 12Gb - to use up that amount you would have to be downloading the equivalent of 2 complete CDs every 3 days. That's easy to do if you download loads of movies on a very fast connection but then you would want to upgrade your bandwidth anyway.

5699

Living Room / Re: Recommendations for good external hard drive solutions?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 23, 2006, 10:25 AM »

I'm not taking your criticism personally as you noted, but I know my stagnant brain tells me not to buy anything but Seagate.  Considering purchases for myself and other peoples computers over the last 3 years, I have bought over 35 seagate drives 120gb-400gb (mostly 120gb/200gb 7200.7 series) Not a damn one has had an issue yet.  I don't see why I would change a thing with a hard to beat track record like that. By the way steer clear of the 7200.8 series from seagate and consider the 7200.9 or 7200.10 stuff if anyone does consider them.

-vegas (June 23, 2006, 08:25 AM)

Ironically Seagate Barracudas are the only hardware I have ever bought that I sent back for a full refund (and got it)

5700

General Software Discussion / GenieSoft Release version 7 of their backup manager

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 22, 2006, 10:58 AM »

See http://www.genie-sof.../gbmpro/default.html for full details.

A while ago there was a lot of hype about all the new things in the coming release - I'm not sure what has changed is that significant for me. The major upgrade seems to be the ability to backup your files to the Genie webspace (or via FTP) - but personally I can't see me doing that as the files would be massive and even at 4Mb broadband the upload/download times would be prohibitive. I suppose if you have just a few crucial files to store outside the home/office it might prove useful.

Having said that I will probably upgrade so that I get future enhancements and fixes, and to support the team as they produce a very useful product.

PS. Not sure if the member discount applies to the new version or just version 6 - check before you purchase.