Recent Posts

6001

General Software Discussion / Re: I found a jewel of a program: XMplay

« Last post by Darwin on March 24, 2007, 03:30 PM »

Hi quantumrider,

I downloaded and installed Quintessential Player - very nice. I rebooted my computer and then fired it up and played an mp3. I recorded CPU usage, RAM usage and VM usage and then repeated with XMPlay playing the same mp3 (Deus' "There is nothing impossible"):

Quintessential: 00-21% CPU/ 9468K RAM/ 21248 K VM
XMPlay: 00-18% CPU/ 6432K RAM/ 6368K VM


Quintessential certainly qualifies as light, particularly in comparison to the other players I tried. It's heavier then XMPlay but does have the advantage of being more intuitive in terms of the layout of its controls. I'm going to to stick with XMPlay for now because I like it, but I'll keep my eyes on Quintessential Player.

6002

Older Newsletters / Re: --> Newsletter for March 23rd, 2007 - Codename "Dinner and Drinks"

« Last post by Darwin on March 24, 2007, 10:42 AM »

Thanks Mouser - I just dropped back in to say that I am using BetaNews as the whole process seems easier (and I've already rated a number of programs, two of which I've left comments on...) so it was rendered a non-issue for me. But it's good to know that I am on the right track. Writing a mini-review is a bit of a daunting task, but Cody's genius shows through: encourage us all to take that tentative step and once we realize how painless and risk free it is we'll be posting mini-reviews as fast as we can churn them out!

6003

Older Newsletters / Re: --> Newsletter for March 23rd, 2007 - Codename "Dinner and Drinks"

« Last post by Darwin on March 24, 2007, 10:25 AM »

OK, just want clarification on the the second of the Cody Tasks: Cody, do you want us to rate and comment on software or simply to rate it out of 5 stars?! Snapfiles (as far as I can tell) requires written comments when rating software while written comments are optional at  BetaNews... Sorry to be picky, Cody, but it's important to me that I complete your tasks properly!

6004

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to compress large pdf files

« Last post by Darwin on March 24, 2007, 01:25 AM »

Hi jdd,

I'll have to try using PDF-DocPro to compress some pdfs that I didn't generate in the first place (though I know that the results will be mixed). nxpowerlite is an interesting find - one of the avenues that I explored in trying to reduce the size of the pdfs I generated from powerpoint files was to compress the ppt before converting to pdf. Nothing I tried worked that well, other than the script that patteo pointed out. Will have to give this a go.

Regarding PDF Compressor 3.1 - I was impressed by this app. As noted above, a file that was generated from a ppt file with compressed graphics using medium compression in the pdf creation process was compressed less than 2% by PDF-DocPro but about 45% by PDF Compressor. It works, and it works well, it's just that my needs are different - I'm trying to create small pdfs to distribute by e-mail and am less worried about compressing those that I have gotten from other people.

6005

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for planning wood bookcases/cabinets/tables etc?

« Last post by Darwin on March 24, 2007, 01:16 AM »

Thanks for posting that mouser! I'm looking at tackling a similar project myself and your notes will come in very handy.

6006

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for planning wood bookcases/cabinets/tables etc?

« Last post by Darwin on March 23, 2007, 07:34 PM »

That's an impressive bookshelf! Will you be filling it with books only, or are other items going to be going into it as well (pictures in frames, stereo, tv, etc.)? Also, I can't tell from the picture: is it bolted to the wall somehow?

6007

General Software Discussion / Re: My favorite software! What's yours?

« Last post by Darwin on March 22, 2007, 10:34 PM »

I just about crapped my pants when I installed this just now.

Messy...

6008

General Software Discussion / Re: Which software can extract pictures out of pdf ?

« Last post by Darwin on March 22, 2007, 04:03 PM »

This google search yielded a few hits... Note the third one down regarding the Acrobat Reader 6+ feature that does this... My excuse for not knowing this is that I use FoxIt Reader - haven't had Adobe installed in years.

6009

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to compress large pdf files

« Last post by Darwin on March 22, 2007, 02:05 PM »

Well... Ovis PDF-DocPro does as it advertises (albeit with perhaps less user control over the process than I'd like). I used Clickbook PDF Printer to generate a 25 MB pdf from a ppt file that was 9.5 MB in size (graphics were converted to jpg but not optimized for web view) and then ran it through PDF-DocPro and it generated a file that is 3 MB in size. That's knocking on the developer's claim of 90% compression. The nice thing is that the result features nice, sharp graphics, unlike the file that I produced using PdfCompressor 3.1 (the pixelation rendered any text in the graphics unreadable). I am satisfied and rethinking how I generate pdf's for e-mail!

PS urlwolf - I didn't figure out how to generate a pdf from the flash file that I generated, but thanks for the suggestion anyway. The fact that a 10 MB ppt file can be converted to a 2 MB Flash file with almost no loss of quality in the graphics is IMPRESSIVE!

PPS Sorry I hijacked the thread... 

6010

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to compress large pdf files

« Last post by Darwin on March 22, 2007, 09:30 AM »

Hmmm... funny you mention that urlwolf. I've just finished using the same GAOTD flash conversion utility  to generate a swf from my ppt. Right, I'm off to try to generate a pdf from it.

PS patteo's script was good - shaved 1.5MB off the normal ppt and 550 K off the ppt with compressed graphics - thanks patteo!

6011

General Software Discussion / Re: I found a jewel of a program: XMplay

« Last post by Darwin on March 22, 2007, 09:27 AM »

Yeah, I should have added (and meant to do so) that I don't care about skinning and album art - just a feature rich lightweight player.

6012

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to compress large pdf files

« Last post by Darwin on March 22, 2007, 07:11 AM »

Thanks patteo. This is interesting and I'm giving it a go now. My "workflow" for creating pdfs from ppts is to create a backup of my ppt and compress all of the graphics to webview (96dpi), print to FinePrint using 4-UP Landscape and then print to ScanSoft PDF Converter 4 Pro. The settings for Scansoft are usually set to webview as well. What's bizarre is that printing directly from Powerpoint to Scansoft using the handouts view (4 per sheet) will result in a significantly smaller pdf file than the source ppt file, printing from FinePrint results in a significantly larger pdf file than the source ppt file (I expect the FinePrint file to be larger than the powerpoint handout file, but not than the original ppt file!). Note, though, that there is no appreciable difference in terms of compression no matter what route I take to creating my pdf (i.e. if I simply create a pdf from my original, full sized ppt file resulting in the largest possible pdf I still see no more than 2% compression with PDF-DocPro). Anyway, I'm testing the script you linked to now.

On a related note, I wrote to the developer of PDF-DocPro, explaining that I have had no luck with their product compressing ANY PDF more than 2%, whether I've created the PDF at full compression, with none at all, or anything in between. They wrote back that the product will not compress a pdf file that is created by a PDF converter software that automatically compresses to a maximum level?!

This prompted me to download and run a trial of PdfCompressor 3.1 (the $300 Gorilla mentioned in jdds original post) and ran it on a PDF that was 9.72 MB in size. PDF-DocPro had compressed it 2% (to 9.42 MB) while PdfCompressor managed to squeeze it to 4.72 MB. Significant. However, it achieved this by compressing the graphics further, resulting in heavy pixelation... So, it *is* possible to further compress my PDF's, but I'm dealing with the law of diminishing returns here. Patteo's on the right track - the source file needs to be optimized.

The script is still running...

6013

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to compress large pdf files

« Last post by Darwin on March 21, 2007, 08:23 PM »

Bollocks! Ovis PDF-DocPro compresses my pdf's minimally (as in at most 2%). Surely there must be a reasonably priced (or free) app that will ACTUALLY does as it claims and compress large pdfs?

6014

General Software Discussion / Re: I found a jewel of a program: XMplay

« Last post by Darwin on March 21, 2007, 03:33 PM »

I'm sitting in front of my computer grinning like an idiot - I've got Marillion's Kayleigh blasting out of XMPlay and it sounds GREAT - and I'm staring at XMPlay's resource usage in Task Manager. It's sitting solidly at CPU 0-7%/ 4,092 K RAM/ 7,328 K VM. I compared this to the latest versions of WMP 11, iTunes, and Creative MediaSource 5 Player, playing the same mp3 file right after startup and recorded the following:

WMP 2-23%/ 28,108 K RAM/ 597,860 K VM (NOT a typo)
iTunes 9-47%/ 48,260 K RAM/ 41,688 K VM
CMS 5 0-9%/ 36,576 K RAM/ 30,940 K VM

Crazy. As far as my tin ears can tell, the sound quality is the same in each. XMPlay opens intstantly, while the others range from a few seconds (CMS 5) to 30 seconds or so (iTunes).

Just note, I just discovered that CMS 5 has live search as well. Pretty cool!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, urlwolf! I've been hoping to find something more lightweight to play my digital music with and it looks like you've found it. If only it would play iTunes files... Bring on those European court rulings!

6015

General Software Discussion / Re: Text xpander that can handle RTF

« Last post by Darwin on March 20, 2007, 09:05 AM »

I decided to take a look at Fast Fox and note that it's discounted at the moment from $39 to $19.95 - were you aware of that cnewtonne? If so, does it help?!

As noted above, I'm not absolutely sure of your requirements, but wonder if this thread on the ActiveWords forum sheds light on the issue that you're looking to resolve?

6016

General Software Discussion / Re: Text xpander that can handle RTF

« Last post by Darwin on March 20, 2007, 08:00 AM »

I'm glad I'm not the only one that wasn't sure what to make of the request  

6017

General Software Discussion / Re: What are your favourite Outlook plugins?

« Last post by Darwin on March 19, 2007, 08:19 AM »

I use a number of Outlook plugins with Outlook 2003, but only two are indispensible: SpamBayes and Shutdown Add-in.

6018

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to compress large pdf files

« Last post by Darwin on March 18, 2007, 11:32 PM »

OK I've downloaded and tried the NicePDF PDF Compressor and it is a dud... I didn't successfully create a single compressed pdf on numerous tries. I generated a 28.8MB pdf from a powerpoint presentation using FinePrint and Scansoft PDF Converter 4 set to create a PDF 1.4 without any compression of the graphics. Using PDF Compressor, I often wound up with a 395KB damaged pdf file. The rest of the time the program simply stopped responding, leaving a damaged 985KB file.

6019

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to compress large pdf files

« Last post by Darwin on March 18, 2007, 10:49 PM »

I haven't tried PDF Compressor 3.1 so can't comment (I'm tempted to try the trial, but why bother - way out of my price range) but sadly my experience with both pdf-DocPro and PDF Compressor (the bureausoft one) mirrors yours. As I said, I have to work hard to get pdf-DocPro to do much compresson at all. Did you try the "other" PDF Compressor (actually, I guess it's the THIRD one!)? I haven't but will download and install now to see how it does.

6020

Find And Run Robot / Re: not freeware !!!

« Last post by Darwin on March 18, 2007, 01:30 PM »

You almost make it sound as if DC is some sort of scam

This was posted as I wrote the above, just wanted to note that it's this subtext on usergroups and other forums that raises my hackles when I read negative posts about donationcoder. I don't get this from edyshor's posts.

6021

Find And Run Robot / Re: not freeware !!!

« Last post by Darwin on March 18, 2007, 01:27 PM »

I'd hate to see some time from now the download.com advertising freeware that you can for free 30 days then you'll have to pay if you want to use it for free   (some freeware).

I see this happening already - I'm on the same page with you on this one: I hate being lured in by the promise of a "free download" only to discover that it's for a 15 day trial. No arguments with you there...

Thanks again for your thoughtful and thought provoking posts. I am particularly interested in the distinction you draw between freeware and free software. For me the software and the license are secondary to the community (no offence mouser! I love the software, too), which I am very pleased and honoured to be a part of. I hope that whatever your opinion of the software, you continue to be part of the community. If nothing else, you can make further suggestions about the licensing model and contribute to its evolution.

6022

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to compress large pdf files

« Last post by Darwin on March 18, 2007, 01:18 PM »

There's a utility by Ovis call pdf-DocPro, which is shareware ($47 - which I consider steep - $300 would have to come with absolute guarantees!) and PDF Compressor which is freeware. I used PDF Compressor and had some luck with it, but better luck with pdf-DocPro, though in my experience the amount of compressoin achievable has a lot to do with the options selected during pdf creation. This works for me because I am usually trying to create smaller pdfs, rather than compress pdfs that someone else has created.

I just googled and found this one, confusingly ALSO call PDF Compressor (scroll about half way down the page for "Free PDF Compressor v. 2.81). Haven't tried it, but it's free!

6023

Find And Run Robot / Re: not freeware !!!

« Last post by Darwin on March 18, 2007, 09:23 AM »

Hmm... This is interesting. I don't know how I missed this thread back in June (though I was in the throes of moving at the time, so that may explain it). My hackles go way up when I read diatribes against the donationcoder concept, so I was pleasantly surprised by edyshor's comments - as noted above, they are thoughtful and polite.

I respectfully disagree with the assertion that donationcoder's tactics are aggressive and that the licensing is misrepresented. Visiting a site to set up an account to receive a license key and then being politely asked to update that key two or three times before having a permanent license issued is hardly aggressive and hardly inconvenient. My browser, by default, opens to the same page every time I fire it up, which means that I am "forced" to visit that page at least 365 times a year! OK, a forced analogy to be sure, but really how onerous is it to be required to visit a webpage once every 121 1/3 days? The functionality of the software isn't even impaired while you wait for the serial to be generated!

OK, I'll shut up now. I just don't "get it" and doubt that I ever will. Likewise, the other side is not likely to "get" my position, either (as in, why I can't understand the fuss). And so it goes... Thank you edyshor, for your thought provoking posts and non-inflammatory tone. As mouser points out,  your year is almost up and your non-expiring license yours for the asking. How inconvenient, aggressive, and underhanded is that?

6024

Icon Tools / Re: Icon Tool Shooutout Review is now open to the public!

« Last post by Darwin on March 17, 2007, 08:55 AM »

Just a caveat. I just finished reading this review of Microangelo... Very interesting and rather disturbing!

6025

General Software Discussion / Re: Your favorite Registry Viewer + Editor?

« Last post by Darwin on March 17, 2007, 12:20 AM »

+1 for Resplendence Registry Registrar! I bought the Pro version about six months ago and don't regret a penny of the purchase price.