Recent Posts

601

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: SnapSuite program family/Free online computer help

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 21, 2008, 12:19 AM »

OK, as part of a class assignment I made a small Calculator application. I am releasing it as open source: do whatever you want with it, I don't care, just give me credit somewhere if you redistribute it. Using it for personal teaching or learning or whatever is fine too

Image, EXE, and VB .NET 2008 solution (ZIP) are all attached. Let me know if you found it useful

-Brandon

P.S.: If you are wondering why I posted this in the SS topic and not its own, it is because I will probably use this in GoOS later on.

602

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 20, 2008, 11:54 PM »

Wouldn't it be easier to just subscribe to email updates to this topic? It should be an option when you hit the Preview button on the Quick Reply OR When you hit Reply @ the top or bottom of the topic.

Looking forward to the next non-beta update myself

603

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: SnapSuite program family/Free online computer help

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 20, 2008, 12:09 AM »

Ah, I hit the wrong button when posting. Dunno how I missed that, I usually look over my posts 2 or 3 times...

Anyways, fixed now

604

Circle Dock / Re: Windows Start Menu Shadow Residue Bug

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 19, 2008, 11:20 PM »

I can confirm that this happens to me as well on Vista Home Premium 32 bit. I don't know any C#, but figured I would point out that it happens to me too.

605

Living Room / Re: Show us the View Outside Your Window

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 19, 2008, 11:12 PM »

Deo, your yard reminds me of the movie Over The Hedge. Wouldn't happen to have any furry raccoons in the area, would you?

606

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: EDraw Max on Giveawayoftheday (8/19/08)

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 19, 2008, 10:20 PM »

I did the download-from-website and then register option, and had no problems whatsoever. Looks like a solid app, will be using it for brainstorming and whatnot.

607

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: AllSnap

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 19, 2008, 10:16 PM »

Cool, a friend of mine was looking for an app that does window snapping a couple days ago. Will have to let him know about it

The INI is a big plus IMO, makes it portable - good for school usage on a thumb drive.

608

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: SnapSuite program family/Free online computer help

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 19, 2008, 09:27 PM »

I would, but I really don't know what to make. I am not the most creative person by any stretch. Might poke around the coding snacks section, but most of that is AHK...

Check the link above...

-Veign (August 18, 2008, 08:08 PM)

Link works here? Or am I missing something?

609

Living Room / FARR on Download Dispatch

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 19, 2008, 09:14 PM »

Dunno if this has been posted, I just got my email...

If you're familiar with Windows application launchers (aside from the "Run" button), you probably already know all about Launchy, a simple utility that finds and runs/opens programs, files, music, Web searches, and bookmarks. Launchy has earned a big fan base because of its simplicity and efficiency. However, two new free launchers have their sights set on Launchy's user base.

Yesterday, the tech site Lifehacker featured Executor, a free release from Martin Bressman that expands upon Launchy's run functionality. Executor has a slick interface and is a no-brainer for keyboard maniacs. All of your favorite software, movies, and music can be started with easily customizable keywords.

Another popular program on the rise is the Find and Run Robot (or FARR) from DonationCoder.com. Although FARR is styled more like a search tool than a launcher, once you find what you're looking for, FARR lets you start applications, send e-mail, and perform quick Web searches. It uses adaptive caching to learn which programs and files you use most, and it's also been extended with free add-ons for services like Google Maps and compatibility with alternative browsers like Opera.

Do you use a launching application, or is the classic combination of the Windows Start button and Run functionality good enough? Tell me about it in the blog.

Full page here: http://www.download....st=1&tag=nl.e415

610

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: SnapSuite program family/Free online computer help

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 18, 2008, 07:55 PM »

Figured I should mention that I fixed both web problems (no screenshots and bad URLs). This does break functionality in older programs that I no longer work on (support), so if you are using an older app of mine be sure to check for an update (http://wreckedcarzz....ikidot.com/downloads).

I cleaned up the FTP server and am not using it for a website for the time being. It is just a home page, the update page for SS09, and all downloads. No links on the home page work (except the one for DC) so don't forget if you go over there (I changed the home page to explain this, but some people don't bother reading ).

I only uploaded screenshots for SS09, SS08, Maze Craze 2.4 and FloorIt (because, with the exception of SS08, these are the only programs currently available and supported).

Oh, and if you point your browser over to http://wreckedcarzz.wikidot.com/, there is a nice little preview of the upcoming successor to Crayons n Markers (previously KidDraw) It is actually coming out quite nicely, there are a few things I want to correct and whatnot, and a lot of things to be added, but right now it is a nice little Paint replacement.

611

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / SnapSuite 2009 information update

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 18, 2008, 01:06 AM »

I have yet to address either web problem, but I will do so. School has kept me busy, so I am doing some finalization on SnapSuite 2009 today and will get to the web stuff afterwards.

Details on SnapSuite 2009:
SnapSuite 2009 has been completed and I am doing final debugging and code cleanup. The code behind it is much much much better than 2008's version, however it still lacks a really good layout. You can navigate it somewhat easily, but it is a bit cluttered. I'll try to resolve this, but it isn't anything that anyone will notice during normal usage (only if you get the project/code).

Changes:

• I have integrated Notes 2.1
• PlayMe "Add Song" "Remove Song" and Song List have been removed. They were problematic and did not work properly.
• SystemCare top menu bar has been removed. It was never used.
• Small changes done to ensure that everything functions properly
• I did NOT update SmartBrowse, as it is not ready yet. I am having trouble with a couple things, and I havn't had time to look into fixing them. Please bear with me! (This may change before final release, in a couple weeks - I am testing it on 2 Vista SP1 PCs and 2 XP SP3 PCs extensively).

To-do list:

• Finish code cleanup
• Compile, install, and debug as an "end user"
• Redo EULA

Any feedback on SnapSuite 09- anything at all- should be made known now. I take no feedback as good feedback (no news is good news), so if you don't like something or something doesn't work, please speak up!

For the curious: Yes, SnapSuite 2010 will start development soon. It will hopefully have many more features, and WILL HAVE A CONSISTENT GUI. Yes, my GUI layouts are crap most of the time. Admitting your problem is the first step . FloorIt integration is also planned, and as I said before, I am working on a new drawing program. Time will tell, but 2010 won't be out until LATE 2009. I am taking more time and getting more feedback (as you may have noticed with this release), and I am trying to make everything work like it should.

Expect some type of weekly update from now on, as school is sure to keep me busy, and I am not stopping my coding either, so I won't post every couple days like I used to.

-Brandon

612

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: SnapSuite program family/Free online computer help

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 13, 2008, 06:39 PM »

I know about the spaces, but when the files are on my PC I just tend to put spaces in them and I forget when I upload. I'll be sure to fix it though

Ah - didn't even think about screenshots! I'll add those ASAP as well!

Thanks

613

General Software Discussion / Re: GNU/Linux Desktop Market Share is 4%

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 13, 2008, 06:21 PM »

Ahh yessss...

-Edvard (August 12, 2008, 02:30 PM)

Eeeeeexcellent......

Good article- it appears Windows/Microsoft may have some competition creeping up on it shortly.

EDIT:

And I now leave people with this url: http://www.allowe.co...umor/SwitchLinux.htm

I believe this to be zaine, in carnate

-Josh (August 13, 2008, 05:25 PM)

rofl!

614

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: SnapSuite program family/Free online computer help

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 13, 2008, 01:13 AM »

I am taking a go at making a more improved website, due to my lack of XML or CSS (or HTML, or any other web language) skills (as of yet). It is hosted at WikiDot, and I think I have the whole site in a usable state. Downloads, information, contact details and a simple home page are all in place, with navigation.

http://wreckedcarzz.wikidot.com/

Feedback?

615

DC Gamer Club / Re: Race Driver: GRID [LARGE IMAGES]

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 12, 2008, 06:34 PM »

BUMP!

FYI, I have all my game images available @ http://picasaweb.google.com/wreckedcarzz - just click the album of the game (in this case, "GRID Images") to see all my screenshots.

(By "all my screenshots", I mean every last one - I upload them on a weekly basis and delete them from my computer afterwards. If it isn't there, you can be 100% sure I don't have it).

616

Site/Forum Features / Re: An Idea: Make it Easy For DC Users To Show A Page of Their Posts

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 12, 2008, 06:26 PM »

http://userblog.dona...er.com/ForumNameHere (just a thought)

Be an interesting idea, but you then have to take the extra time to manage it and make it co-exist with the forum counterpart (assuming you don't directly integrate it)

Sounds really cool, but it might take some time and effort, depending on how it is setup

617

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: SnapSuite program family/Free online computer help

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 12, 2008, 06:17 PM »

According to the teacher, everyone failed, but I was one of the few (I am guessing 5ish, she didn't specify) that got VERY close to passing (70%).

There is a new drawing app that I am working on that will not be done anytime soon (due to debugging the thing... quite possibly my largest non-suite app yet). It should feature enough to make even GIMP users take a look- not sure about layers, and it isn't set in stone, so I don't want to go and talk about it too much. Assuming it does reach completion, it will be a very cool app.

618

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Compact AutoRunner v1.0 - Small, compact, customizable cd autorun menu!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 12, 2008, 06:14 PM »

Very cool. I used this last year when it was originally posted, but had no use for it. I have a spindle of DVD-RWs now...

619

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PC Tools Free Offers. Get them now!!!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 11, 2008, 06:29 PM »

I use Spyware Terminator here on my Vista box (my normal PC) with the realtime shield off (as stated above).

A quick look @ the System Requirements shows hope for you! You don't get the RTS but scanning is supposedly fully functional, and you sure as heck can't beat a free virus+spyware app... http://www.spywarete...em-requirements.aspx

620

Living Room / Re: Looking for "Compiz for Windows" (or at least virtual desktops)

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 11, 2008, 06:26 PM »

Cool lil review, I looked at Deskpot but anything with the word Order in the navigation bar kind of shows a red flag for me, as I yet to have a job (16+ is the law here). I just downloaded it, now knowing that it is freeware, and will give it a spin. Have tried a few you mentioned, with mixed thoughts.

Thanks

621

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: SnapSuite program family/Free online computer help

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 11, 2008, 05:52 PM »

*wreckedcarzz laughs, then looks around, confused*

Anyways... lol

I am back in school, and am taking two classes (one is a prerequisite of the other, however I have the more advanced class earlier in the day - oddball setup). The earlier one (speaking of hourly schedule) is aimed completely at Visual Basic 2008. WOO HOO!!! And plus, if I get a good start, the class is eligible for Dual Enrollment - do work in high school for college credit.

The second class is a MUCH more basic one, and it is a complete blast - everyone on my side of the room jokes around, and I am not the only complete-nerd there. The class is an "overview" of lots of programming tools and languages. Setup to let you "get your feet wet" in all the major apps/IDEs.

Because school is up and running, I won't be able to program as much; however, I will still do so. It is very fun showing off SnapSuite 09 to a class of kids (sophomores-seniors) that are new to VB

EDIT: The teacher I am taking was not only my FBLA advisor/person that ran everything last year, but she also teaches the SAME EXACT CLASS at a local college; it is basically a college level class. We took the pre-test today, and if I got less than a 75% I will be shocked. It was seriously that simple for me.

622

Living Room / Re: Request: Does anyone know a good "pet" game?

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 10, 2008, 09:39 PM »

Brandon, haven't you ever watched Trailer Park Boys? Tell her to get a bubble maker or just a bottle that makes bubbles. They'll go nuts over them!

http://www.thecatcon...om/Bubble-Kitty.html

-zridling (August 09, 2008, 12:01 AM)

cool way to get your cat to play with you. Too bad my mom is allergic to them

Might make a good Xmas gift for a friend though

623

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PC Tools Free Offers. Get them now!!!

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 10, 2008, 09:33 PM »

AVG! Avast may work also.

My grandpa (by marriage, not my "real" grandpa) has a Toshiba that ran Windows 98 with AVG 8. Good scanner for the OS, didn't slow it down either.

(I say it RAN Windows 98 because the rear fan died, and it overheated and melted itself - it will only run a matter of seconds before freezing and getting VERY hot again)

624

Living Room / Re: which operating system you like most....

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 10, 2008, 02:18 PM »

How often do you need to resize partitions? Sure, it's an advantage that you can do it, but just how much "value" does this add? For me, it would be none... I don't trust partition resizes... there's potential for losing a lot of data if something goes wrong

-f0dder (August 10, 2008, 08:25 AM)

If your installing Linux for the first time, or you dual partitioned a hard drive and want to combine it (ex: OEM "backup" partitions) it comes in handy.

The new start menu in Vista is nice enough, but since I use FARR, I hardly ever use the menu.

Visual tweaks? Ugh. I hate the Aero look of Vista. Unfortunately, it's all-or-nothing - you can't get Aero acceleration with the classic theme, how mindbogglingly silly design is that? And Microsoft obviously doesn't support custom themes unless they're signed by MS, so you have to resort to hacks to get a different look.

-f0dder (August 10, 2008, 08:25 AM)

If you use it (or use applications that use it: Switcher is a great app) it becomes the new Luna. Everyone complained how XP made their computer look all "cartoony". Now you go with a classic, professional glass appearance and everyone complains about that.

The sleep mode in vista totally obliterates XP's wannabe Stand By mode (major plus for mobile users).

-wreckedcarzz

How so?

-f0dder (August 10, 2008, 08:25 AM)

I have read multiple times over the internet that their battery life increased by hours in Sleep vs Stand By (2 hours comes to mind, but I read it a while back so not sure). Also, it is more reliable than Stand By (sometimes XP would just turn off, or crash, or it would wake back up immediately/randomly (I have had the 3rd problem personally, very annoying).

The wifi, you can not beat the wifi manager on Vista. It just works.

-wreckedcarzz

Heh. The amount of problems I've had with Vista wi-fi, ugh. And the diagnostics were useless - basically "uh oh, didn't work" shit. Was reaaaally obvious that I had to drop to an administrative-rights cmd.exe shell and use a cryptic netsh commandline to disable "auto-tuning", oh yes. With XP, my experience has been that things just worked, no need for broken diagnostics in the first place.

-f0dder (August 10, 2008, 08:25 AM)

Every time I have used the diagnostic tool it has helped me. It is just a series of questions, then it runs tests based on your answers, and repeat until it locates an issue. Strange it doesn't work for you.

Too bad DX10 isn't going to be ported to XP (and don't give me crap about "it's new architecture and can't be done" yadda yadda, it's perfectly doable), so eventually I'll probably have to go Vista (or the next version, anyway) if I want to play games. But as it is now, not many games support/require DX10, and the ones that have it optional don't get that much advantage from it anyway.

-f0dder (August 10, 2008, 08:25 AM)

That's like wanting to put AERO on XP or Windows Defender on 2k. Not gonna happen. If you make a product and it has a major selling point, your not going to give it to the older versions.

Personally, I have several games that have DX10 support (and I have taken advantage of it, in lieu of the cut frame rate (single core can't do it all anymore)). If you want the latest bleeding edge, DX9 is just so much more... yuck after you see DX10. It is like HDR vs "traditional" lighting.

Note that this wasn't meant as a diss, if you're happy with Vista, that's fine and good. Just wanted to say that I don't particularly like it, and don't see much advantage in it over XP... it does have some base features that are better, but who runs a base OS with no extras? And, for me, it has so many little annoyances that the overall experience is worse than XP. I'd sure love having the enhanced prefetch, prioritized I/O and transactional NTFS, but meh.

I'm getting a laptop soon, so there's probably no way around Vista I guess - it's such a nightmare hunting for XP laptop drivers now . So I guess it might be time to see how many annoyances can be fixed with vlite, and then give it a chance. But I have a suspicion that I'll end up hunting for XP drivers after all

-f0dder (August 10, 2008, 08:25 AM)

Everyone has an opinion

Just my rebuttal

625

Living Room / Re: which operating system you like most....

« Last post by wreckedcarzz on August 10, 2008, 01:52 PM »

I have run Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) at school, and it isn't bad (ignoring the insane amount of cash they put out for ~20 new 23" iMacs, and about the same amount of aging PowerPC models). Safari is lacking, iMovie (normal and HD) falls on its knees to Windows Movie Maker (Vista's version, NOT XP's - forgot to mention that in my list above). It all looks pretty, but it lacks any kind of customization at all. Yea, you have your Dock (that can not be put @ the top with your... Apple Menu) and your Dashboard (that can be confusing for new users: I had to explain it to a few classmates personally). And the "Mac's are oh so perfectly secure" is all talk. I (inadvertently) scared the teacher into thinking that my iMac had a virus on it, because my portable hard drive malfunctioned! Talk about confidence in your products!

Mac is good, if you have the cash and don't want options.
</opinion>

I have to agree with Mouser on the "fresh OS" thing; Vista still holds backwards compatibility for some DOS filenames and whatnot. WHY?!?! Sure it is just an option, but millions of others are sitting there, to be used once or twice by all of the users. Pointless bloat.

And UAC: I disabled it on all 3 Vista PC's in the house. If your into Linux and don't mind the administration popups for your password once in a while, for Vista do this:
Disable UAC -> Install everything and configure it -> Let Windows Update do its thing -> Clean up your PC and defragment it -> Reboot -> Enable UAC

It doesn't nag you THAT much, in comparison, and it can save you- personally, if I am on Windows, it is either web, IM, coding, or games. Not the time to ask if that new Xfire update installer can be Allowed or not. (And this PC has never seen a malicious program)

Old saying: Speed, price, quality - Pick any two. 

-40hz (August 10, 2008, 01:18 PM)

Speaking for most of the internet: I'll take my 3: Speed, Quality, Torrent (I mean, wha...)
(I'm on legit Vista, don't send the feds after me!)

-Brandon

EDIT: I own 2 Linksys routers (one in use) with 2/3 of the wireless PCs using Linksys cards (everything is Draft-N ). I followed the instructions the first time I setup the old WRT54G... I never did that again. You gotta just plug everything in, head over to http://192.168.1.1/, setup your options, and setup the computer's wifi. The instructions are pointless IMO.