Recent Posts

5876

General Software Discussion / Re: Photo panorama creation

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 03, 2006, 05:11 AM »

http://www.autopano.net/ looks good but the price makes me cringe. It is a licensee of autostitch
I love autostitch 

-tsaint (June 02, 2006, 09:12 PM)

That's what I thought - given that you can download AutoStitch why would anyone pay $100 for AutoPano which is just AutoStitch in a new skin (I presume)? Maybe the SDK from AutoStitch offers a lot of other options that aren't in the beta.

My only criticism of Autostitch is that it isn't perfect at blending colours and getting the match right with the main parts of the pictures so you get a slight banding. It is pretty damn good for a freebie though ...

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General Software Discussion / Re: Photo panorama creation

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 02, 2006, 06:13 PM »

Added an 'Autostitch' section to the first post.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Photo panorama creation

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 02, 2006, 05:32 PM »

OK I'll get onto it ...

Anyone got other apps for this they would like covered (but only if they have a free or properly working demo version)?

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Living Room / Microsoft trying to head of legal battles with Adobe ...

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 02, 2006, 05:29 PM »

Intereting that they are trying to head off before the event this time ...

Office, Vista changed in wake of Adobe threat
Microsoft is making changes to the next versions of both Office and Windows as part of an effort to head off a legal challenge from Adobe Systems.
http://news.zdnet.co...519.html?tag=nl.e589

Microsoft, Adobe squabble over PDF
Microsoft is bracing for a legal battle in Europe with Adobe Systems, following a breakdown in negotiations last week over the use of Adobe's PDF technology in Microsoft's Office applications suite.
http://news.zdnet.co...320.html?tag=nl.e589

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General Software Discussion / Photo panorama creation

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 02, 2006, 03:11 PM »

Thought I'd show off a panorama I took the other day. All three images are thumbnails - click on them to see the full image.

This is a picture of Wensleydale looking south (the East end of my village is at the left hand end of the the photo)

To give a bit of background:

12 large/fine JPEG quality photos taken left to right with a Canon EOS Rebel (300D)
Hand held (yes I know ideally I should use a tripod but it was a spare of the moment decision)

I tried three different applications on basic settings (just whacked in the photos and used all the default settings):

This was the best image I got - and I am really quite impressed:



Note the original image created is 11Mb so this is significantly reduced in size (and it shows a bit). The software I used for this image was PTGui (latest build) (cost 65 Euros). There is also a very active forum where the author contributes a lot (which is based on the original PanoTools).

Other applications I tried were Panorama Factory (latest version, $70) and PanaVue Image Assembler (version 2.12a - current version is 3, $64-$129) and Autostitch (free beta version - time limited, available in other commercial products at a price).

Panorama Factory had distinct areas of non-alignment (in various places trees on the skyline appeared as elongated blobs because they appeared more than once but not quite in the same place). It produced a file of 24.5Mb. Here is a small version of the output file:



I haven't upgraded to the latest version of PanaVue Image Assembler because it seems hard to justify the price ($32 for the upgrade) when I originally swapped to Panorama Factory because of marginally better results. Version 2 produced an image with a slight bend, misalignments and some colour banding at overlaps. It produced a file of 20.1Mb. Here is a small version:



Autostitch ... produced a 24.9Mb file with good alignment. It is hard to tell but I personally think the image is a little more banded at the original pictures overlap areas than in PTGui - but for free it produces a good result - plus it is the easiest to use - you can add any set of photos (in any order) and it sorts out the positions of the all photos even if there are multiple rows and the pics are not straight without any further user input.



This is a very unscientific test really - one stitching job on default settings is hardly good practice - but then I was really impressed with the accuracy and colour matching of PTGui.

If anyone is interested I could do a little review and try to identify (and zoom in on) some of the problem areas. I could try PanaVue version 3 too (using the demo version).

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Living Room / Re: usability test videos for linux desktop tasks - interesting

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 02, 2006, 01:57 PM »

It read an interesting article the other day which included an interview with the CEO of Red Hat. The article was about the problems Linux is facing with the rise of webservices and how this will affect them in the future. Even the RH guy admitted that they are already seeing a reduction in Linux usage because of the growth of webservices - and it hasn't really started yet. Naturally MS's aggressive marketing got the blame because MS is pushing the idea of these services very hard. Sorry I can't give you a link 'cos I deleted the email - but I think it was on either ZDNet or TechRepublic.

Just found it on ZDNet ...

http://news.zdnet.co...3513_22-6078854.html

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Living Room / Re: Extremely cool visualization of global statistics over time.

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 02, 2006, 12:31 PM »

Yes it may but I don't want to have to copy all my roboform data to Opera and then be stuck using only opera ...

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General Software Discussion / Re: [Help] I want to remove some entries from the context menu

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 02, 2006, 09:49 AM »

If you download TweakUI from Microsoft (check you get the right version for your Windows version) it allows you to remove "New" entry items with a single click. If you do a Google search for TweakUI you should find it easily.

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Living Room / Re: Extremely cool visualization of global statistics over time.

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 02, 2006, 09:45 AM »

Only if you like Opera - maybe I haven't given it enough of a chance but it doesn't feel at all intuitive to me - plus (big one) it doesn't support RoboForm.

5885

Mouser's Zone / Re: IDEA - Webpage archiving

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 02, 2006, 09:44 AM »

No I've not tried Evernote - I do have NetSnippets and Surfulator (don't really know why I bought both as they do similar jobs).

MHT files are compiled webpages produced by Internet Explorer. If you open a page in Internet Explorer and click File > Save As ... you can chose it in the "Save as type ..." pull down menu under the filename.

Basically it save the whole web page in a single file (including graphics etc.), but as far as I know only Internet Explorer can open it. It doesn't always work on sites that use generated pages or on secure sites - but if it can't do it you get a warning that tells you.

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WorldCup Predictor / Re: WCP'06 - FIFA World Cup 2006 Markov Chain Monte Carlo Tournament Predictor

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 02, 2006, 04:41 AM »

Oh - God am I going to have to bow out of DC to get away from football ... WAHHHH!

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Living Room / Interesting Read - Microsoft security product (Windows Live OneCare) makes debut

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 02, 2006, 04:27 AM »

Looks like another war starting with MS - how long before it is installed on the desktop with windows and the antitrust cases start up again? Will they slay the Symanetc dragon?

See: http://techrepublic....249.html?tag=nl.e103

and for blog commentary

http://techrepublic....2949&tag=nl.e103

Microsoft has started selling Windows Live OneCare, three years after it announced its intent to move into the antivirus arena.

OneCare combines antivirus, anti-spyware and firewall software with backup features and several tune-up tools for Windows PCs. The product went on sale in the U.S. online and in stores Wednesday. Microsoft said it plans to expand to international markets in the coming 12 months.

Follow link to read on ...

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Living Room / Re: Jack PC

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 01, 2006, 01:51 PM »

If you want the full details see http://www.jadeinteg...ation.com/jackpc.php and for £200 or so it is really cheap.



What do you do about storage though? Are you limited to USB2 hard disc drives lying around the carpet ? Or do you dig a hole in the wall to hide your hard discs

Edit ...
Just read the blurb and really it is only for use as a network client running Windows CE in a small memory foot print ... wouldn't it be nice if this could be expanded a little to proper desktop proportions ?

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Living Room / Re: Be careful with your personal data...

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 01, 2006, 06:59 AM »

Hmm ... http://news.bbc.co.u...d/london/5030814.stm

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Living Room / Re: Vista: how to delete a shortcut icon in 7 simple steps!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 01, 2006, 05:20 AM »

LOL - brilliant ... Can't wait for the productivity improvements of Vista !! Certainly put you off making shortcuts.

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

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 31, 2006, 04:37 PM »

The only acceptable constructive "ideas" here in this thread are basically this.
"Someone else has to accommodate us/me, my/our rights to what I/we deem to be entitled to supercede anyone else's rights to set a fair market price for their product. And in setting fair market price beyond what I/we think is reasonable cheats me out of what I/we feel entitled to."

-Cpilot (May 31, 2006, 03:55 PM)

All the software I have talked about I have purchased at market price. I am not arguing for myself.

Companies who sell this stuff don't just pick a figure out of the air and then charge what they want. They determine fair market value based on several factors.

Utter rubbish - companies base their prices on how much they can screw out of users - some companies like the prestige of extremely high prices because it implies their product is best. It has absolutely nothing to do with fair market value - otherwise why does MS charge more than a third of the cost of a PC for Windows - which is already included with 99% of PCs ??

You don't want constructive dialog, you just want everyone to agree with your assessment of entitlement.

How many constructive comments have you made to the discussion?

How many times have I accused people of supporting piracy without any grounds (even people, like me who have clearly stated that tjhey don't support piracy repeatedly)?

I've had enough - this is my last comment on this.

5892

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

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 31, 2006, 03:28 PM »

Basically it's a "how dare they price it beyond what I can/am willing to pay" and then using that argument as justification for piracy.

-Cpilot (May 31, 2006, 01:51 PM)

OK I give up - you obviously can't read what I wrote because I said precisely the opposite to what you are accusing me of ... I have tried to have a discussion in this thread about what you are saying but all you do is make negative and personal comments without putting forward any constructive ideas. What's the point?

5893

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

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 31, 2006, 01:14 PM »

Yeah, we can afford all that and yet begrudge someone a fair profit for their product.

-Cpilot

You STILL haven't gotten it, have you?

-f0dder (May 31, 2006, 12:54 PM)

That's what I thought!

Let's try one more time ...

I grow vegetables - they are very good and VERY expensive. Will anybody buy them - bet your life they will! A handful of people with more money than sense will buy them because "xpensive is always best".

The rest of the world can't actually afford them so they don't -- result I don't make much money.

Now then - same veg - affordable price - how many people buy now  ... the world does and I become stinking rich on it!

I am not saying companies shouldn't make a healthy profit - I think I am actually saying that large companies like MS and Adobe should make more money ... and the way to do that is to make the product affordable to the man in the street. Then many more will buy it and you will make more profit. Yes they employ people - but the important thing is how much money they make, not how many CDs the press.

I am also not talking about people in poverty - but someone on average income and 2.4 kids has to think hard to justify spending $700 + $150 every year on upgrades to use Photoshop ... Reducing it to $100 + $50 per upgrade would mean far more people could buy the product easily - Adobe would be quids in - they wouldn't have to spend vast amounts of money on antipiracy but their overheads would be exactly the same ... hey presto everybody wins !!! How can that possibly be an invalid argument???

The only reason Adobe and MS charge so much is because they want their products to appeal to rich businessmen - and they like to have the prestige value of having the most expensive product on the market - not because the price is in anwya justified.

If CPilot thinks this is an invalid argument how about suggesting a realistic solution to the problem rather than just repeating that companies have the right to set fair prices? At the moment so many people world wide think that prices are so unfair that piracy is rampant. I don't agree with piracy but it is a fact of life - and this thread started asking the question why should this be.

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

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 31, 2006, 11:49 AM »

Suppose a vacuum cleaner cost $5000 - then very few people could buy one and maybe (as in the 1920s) you would find people hiring rather than buying and some people would carry on using a brush. It makes economic sense for the manufacturer to make and sell 75 vacuum cleaners for $200 each because then everyone will buy one and he will make far more than $5000 in the process. If I do buy a vacuum cleaner I can lend it to my family and friends.

A pet hate is eBooks - I made the mistake o buying some in the early days - I can no longer read them now because Amazon (where I bought them from) no longer stock the titels so I can't reauthorise them at all. If I buy books I can read them where and when I like, lend them to friends - underline bit - cut out my favourite bits and frame them if I like, or sell it in a secondhand bookshop. My ebook ... I can't even read them!

One of the things I particularly hate about software companies is product activation - and it is becoming a growing issue even with small shareware companies. Having just reinstalled windows on my system from scratch I have had to email numerous companies around the world to be allowed to use the software I purchased. The only company that has any sense in this matter is Adobe because a single menu click allows me to deactivate the products instantly and a second click allows me to activate it again on another computer or after a reinstall. Effectively I can use Adobe products legitmately on as many computers as I like - but only one at a time which is fine.

All the other companies treat me like a criminal - I had to phone Microsoft twice (because Windows and Office refused to activate automatically and there is no way to deactivate the product) to explain that no I hadn't installed my software on another computer and yes I was reinstalling after formatting my hard disk. The only people who don't suffer in this way are the cracked software users who never have to bother.

At least with large companies they are likely to be there when you need to reactivate - but small companies come and go all the time and software may or may not be sold on. What do you do then when you have a legitmately bought piece of software that you can't use. In my vacuum cleaner analogy it is equivalent to the manufacturer having to OK its use every time you plug it in.

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

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 31, 2006, 04:25 AM »

Oh please.
This is just another rationaliztion thread for piracy.

-Cpilot (May 31, 2006, 12:24 AM)

No its not - it is a rationalisation for companies to stop piracy and make more profits.

The point is that piracy happens on a massive scale and especially for the expensive applications. No one here is condoning that - certainly not me (I pay for all my software - even though some apps are excessively expensive).

However I believe piracy would be significantly reduced and sale volumes would grow in response to sensible pricing.

You only have to look at lots of areas in the business world to see that pricing is often based purely on 'what the market will pay' and is nothing to do with investment or realistic costs. Look at a few examples - why does it cost hundreds of dollars to get a lawyer to write a will for you when it is a standard format which you can write yourself on a piece of paper? Similarly I regularly get invited to conferences where a day of 'teaching' costs as much as a month's salary per person that I was paid when I taught in adult education - basically they charge what people are willing to pay and it has nothing to do with actual osts or value.

Microsoft admit this is the model they use for setting prices - it simply doesn't make sense to charge the prices they do and then spend millions on anti piracy measures which have the effect of really annoying their legitimate users. Similarly with Adobe - have either company actually sold more copies since they introduced product activation? Probably not because those who buy the software will still buy it (and be irritated by the activation and inability to easily move from one macjine to another) and those who download cracked versions and pay nothing will still do so. Wouldn't it be simpler to sell software at a price that can be easily afforded and encourage many more sales so that you make the same amount of money or more and grow your market share? In many areas volume sales (eg. food) => lower prices - but not in the software world apparently.

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

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 30, 2006, 11:02 AM »

It's a long time since I tried Gimp - probably the best solution is to try it and see ... it is free after all!

5897

General Software Discussion / Re: software to generate postcards and address tags for them

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 30, 2006, 10:58 AM »

http://www.avery.com do inkjet/laserjet postcards and you can download free MS Word templates to print them. Type in postcards in the search box.

They also have software on the site for printing out their label stock - click on "Templates and Software" there is also an online create and print facility.

(PS There is nothing to stop you buying plain card and printing onto that and cutting out the postcards - you can still use the templates and software)

Failing that use bought blank postcards (stationery shop) set up your printer driver paper size to match the card size and use a Wordprocessor to enter the data.

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

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 30, 2006, 10:33 AM »

The trouble is there really isn't an open source equivalent of Photoshop. The Gimp can do some of it but it isn't really in the same league at all and not really aimed at photographic processing. I suppose the cheaper solution for students is to get Photoshop Elements which does most of what Photoshop does these days (unless they need to learn about prepress, CMYK etc).

-Carol Haynes (May 30, 2006, 04:17 AM)

i didn't realise the gimp was that bad - or do you just mean it's okay, say, it's like an older version of photoshop from years ago or does it really suck when photo editing.

-nudone (May 30, 2006, 04:35 AM)

As I understand it the Gimp is aimed at image editing for monitor display and web pages, and not optimized or really designed for photography. It is a long time since I used the Gimp maybe things have changed but it used to be limited to screen resolutions (ie. 92 dpi).

The Gimp is probably fine for learning about techniques if you want something free but if you want a cheap alternative to Photoshop there are really only two options Photoshop Elements and Paint Shop Pro. There are other apps out there but none of them have the breadth of those two.

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

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 30, 2006, 04:17 AM »

The trouble is there really isn't an open source equivalent of Photoshop. The Gimp can do some of it but it isn't really in the same league at all and not really aimed at photographic processing. I suppose the cheaper solution for students is to get Photoshop Elements which does most of what Photoshop does these days (unless they need to learn about prepress, CMYK etc).

5900

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

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 30, 2006, 04:14 AM »

I'm not the network manager and so haven't any responsibility for it at my school - Carol might have a different perspective to me.

-tsaint (May 29, 2006, 09:30 PM)

I've not taught anywhere for a long time that had enough money to buy expensive software so the issue has never arisen. I have to wonder at the sense of an educational establishment paying for MS Office when they can install Open Office for free. OK there are issues but even at academic license prices it must be horrendously expensive.

I can understand your students dilemma thought - both MS Office and Photoshop even at Academic prices are not cheap.