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6201

DC Gamer Club / Re: Free Red Orchestra Steam Code From Logitech (FB)

« Last post by Deozaan on September 03, 2010, 09:16 PM »

You have to give "Coupons HQ" access to some of your profile information, as well as signing up for Logitech's newsletter, along with "Liking" Logitech.

But it does include 3 free add-ons/mods.

I just did it successfully. Thanks for the heads up, Joel!

6202

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Verbatim 8x dvd+r dl a buck ea

« Last post by Deozaan on September 02, 2010, 02:57 PM »

@Deozaan on the ps3 you might try
http://forum.digital-digest.com/

and flag your question attn: Admin and/or Blutach.  Those guys have been doing video stuff for years before I got into it. If I don't have the particular hw to mess with I can't do trial and error(er, I mean scientific experimentation) to figure it out.

-MilesAhead (September 02, 2010, 02:32 AM)

I found this guide while navigating to the proper area of the forum to ask the question: PS3 H.264 Conversion Guide.

Important: There are actually three methods to get H.264 playback going on the PS3. One is to use MP4, but this means its limited to AAC audio and that unless you have an AAC decoding receiver, you will not get 5.1 audio. The second method first makes a MKV (instead of MP4) file with AC3 (instead of AAC) 5.1 audio, and then using the mkv2vob utility to convert that to a VOB/MPG file. This strange VOB/MPG file (normally they have MPEG-2 video, not H.264 video) will actually play on the PS3, and the advantage is that it can have AC3 or even DTS 5.1 audio and so you get to enjoy 5.1 audio easily. Unfortunately, this type of video file will not allowing seeking. The third method uses newly available tools to create a M2TS transport stream, which will allow AC3 5.1 audio and seeking (but only forward seeking, apparently). The instructions are common for all 3 methods until a certain point the guide (which will contain more information on the 3 methods), where you will then have to choose one of the methods.

I'll give it a try and report back (but it might be a day or two for the conversion process to complete). I think I'll stick with MP4 because it sounds like a lot of extra work (and time!) converting to mkv and then vob and besides all that I don't have a receiver. I just have my TV's speakers.

I also don't have PS3 so I can't give a personal recommendation on what works well in that regard.

However, I will say that recently I've read favorable comments on iWisoft Free Video Converter and Hamster Free Video Converter. Both of these video converters support a wide range of formats and devices.

-sajman99 (September 02, 2010, 01:55 PM)

I appreciate the help, but I'm just so tired of spending hours and sometimes days converting a video before I know it works. I think I'll stick with the guide mentioned above for now and if I get really desperate maybe I'll give these a try.

Thanks again, to both of you.

6203

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Verbatim 8x dvd+r dl a buck ea

« Last post by Deozaan on September 01, 2010, 03:36 PM »

The only BluRay player I have is a PS3. I'm trying to find something that will convert videos to play on it. I don't care so much about HD (since I can't rip BluRay videos from my PS3) but I do have a number of miscellaneous videos (not movies) on my PC that I would like to be able to copy over and play on my PS3 on the TV.

Thanks for your help. I'll keep looking.

Back on topic: That sure is a nice price for DL DVDs

6204

General Software Discussion / Re: 27 Good Reasons to Love Linux

« Last post by Deozaan on September 01, 2010, 02:52 PM »

I already love Linux. At least the idea of it. I haven't tested out many distros besides Ubuntu because I don't have a test machine that I'm willing to deal with multiple HDD wipes and fresh installs of Linux at this time. Ubuntu can be installed and removed straight from Windows as if it were another program, so that makes it very accessible to me.

Sure, there are Live CDs of distros but (maybe this is my ignorance speaking) it's just not the same as a real install.

I can only speak for myself and my own experiences, but even though I already like Linux I have to disagree and say that some of those 27 reasons are not good reasons to love Linux.

In my opinion, there are plenty of good reasons to love Linux and it isn't necessary to lie or use false stereotypes to try to make Linux look better. Linux has many fine qualities that stand on their own.

6205

General Software Discussion / Re: 27 Good Reasons to Love Linux

« Last post by Deozaan on August 31, 2010, 04:21 PM »

I want to get whatever distro the author of that article is using. Sounds like the best version of Linux evar!

6206

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Verbatim 8x dvd+r dl a buck ea

« Last post by Deozaan on August 31, 2010, 02:51 PM »

Yeah, x264 kinda' changes the game.

-MilesAhead (August 28, 2010, 04:43 PM)

Hmm. . . You make it seem like x264 is really good quality with good compression/small file size. But I'm using one of the x264 programs to convert a 650MB AVI to MP4 and the program says it will be 1.4GB.

-Deozaan (August 31, 2010, 03:44 AM)

I'm no expert on x264. I use programs that use it.  But is perhaps the .avi standard def while the .mp4 is 1080P or 720P? Are you sizing up? If so, you're going to use more bits.

-MilesAhead (August 31, 2010, 01:45 PM)

Turns out it was actually 2.34GB when it finished converting, but you bring up a good point I hadn't thought about.

But I just checked and the AVI was 720x480 and so is the MP4. So no, it didn't upscale. I didn't customize any settings, I just picked the preset to convert to play on the PS3. What's worse is that I spent all those hours converting the video and the PS3 doesn't even seem to recognize the file. . .

6207

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Verbatim 8x dvd+r dl a buck ea

« Last post by Deozaan on August 31, 2010, 03:44 AM »

Yeah, x264 kinda' changes the game.

-MilesAhead (August 28, 2010, 04:43 PM)

Hmm. . . You make it seem like x264 is really good quality with good compression/small file size. But I'm using one of the x264 programs to convert a 650MB AVI to MP4 and the program says it will be 1.4GB.

6208

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Verbatim 8x dvd+r dl a buck ea

« Last post by Deozaan on August 29, 2010, 01:57 AM »

I'd heard of h264, but not x264. Thanks for letting me know.

6209

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Verbatim 8x dvd+r dl a buck ea

« Last post by Deozaan on August 28, 2010, 08:15 PM »

What is x264?

6210

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Verbatim 8x dvd+r dl a buck ea

« Last post by Deozaan on August 28, 2010, 04:23 PM »

I bought a 3-pack of DVD+R DL a few years ago for $15. They were so expensive that I've never used them for fear of making a coaster.

Now I can get 10 times as many DVD+R DLs for 2 times as much money. Really good deal!

Except these days I don't know what I'd use a DL DVD for.

6211

Living Room / Re: WTH... Steam is NOT coming to Linux?!?

« Last post by Deozaan on August 28, 2010, 02:10 AM »

Why would they? There really isn't a market for linux gaming. Most of the gaming which is done on Linux is done through Wine or some form of Wine anyways.

-Josh (August 27, 2010, 09:03 PM)

Every game I play these days, with the exception of one, is from Steam or can be run on Linux without the need for Wine. If Steam were to come out for Linux, and somehow all the games I own on Steam were to work on Linux (two very different things), then there'd really be no reason for me to stick with Windows.

6212

DC Gamer Club / Re: Worms Reloaded on Steam on Aug 26, 2010 - multiplayer dc

« Last post by Deozaan on August 25, 2010, 09:31 PM »

Carp! I scheduled an event for some game time in Steam and then 5 minutes before it started my internet died on me and it was down for hours.

6213

DC Gamer Club / Re: Worms Reloaded on Steam on Aug 26, 2010 - multiplayer dc

« Last post by Deozaan on August 25, 2010, 02:58 PM »

Okay I'm hosting a game.

6214

DC Gamer Club / Re: Worms Reloaded on Steam on Aug 26, 2010 - multiplayer dc

« Last post by Deozaan on August 25, 2010, 02:53 PM »

Weird. It seems artificially limited compared to past versions. You can only have 4 worms per team, and only 4 players/teams in a game.

And the GUI looks overly huge, even running on a 22" monitor at 1680x1050.

6215

DC Gamer Club / Re: Worms Reloaded on Steam on Aug 26, 2010 - multiplayer dc

« Last post by Deozaan on August 25, 2010, 02:07 PM »

If you own the game, you can install it and play it now!

-Deozaan (August 25, 2010, 02:01 PM)

...Except steam bombs out with "cannot contact the steam network, please try again later". Yay.

-f0dder (August 25, 2010, 02:06 PM)

Bummer. It worked for me on my first try. I'm at 45%. Just keep trying and you'll get it eventually.

6216

DC Gamer Club / Re: Worms Reloaded on Steam on Aug 26, 2010 - multiplayer dc

« Last post by Deozaan on August 25, 2010, 02:01 PM »

If you own the game, you can install it and play it now!

6217

General Software Discussion / Readability - Get rid of the clutter so you can read!

« Last post by Deozaan on August 25, 2010, 12:39 AM »

I just discovered Readability, a bookmarklet that makes it easier to read content that is normally surrounded in clutter.

I'll be honest: I haven't used it yet and I don't have time to look into it and make a decent write up about it, but I thought the good folks here would find it interesting.

Here's a video for a quick introduction: http://vimeo.com/3445774

It has been mentioned here on DC before: Lower The Lights? Easier To Read Websites?

EDIT: ljbirns let us know that it's available as a Firefox extension.

6218

Living Room / Re: Simple way to connect two computers (both XP) ?

« Last post by Deozaan on August 24, 2010, 03:12 PM »

Are both computers in the same workgroup?

6219

Living Room / Re: Private Servers, MMO Piracy, and the Future of DRM

« Last post by Deozaan on August 21, 2010, 06:54 PM »

Is the privilege of using the server separate from the cost of the game?  I don't think the license actually allows for that...

-wraith808 (August 20, 2010, 05:57 PM)

Yeah, I paid $50 for the WoW discs, just to install the software on my PC and then $15 a month for the server usage. At least that's how I envisioned it at the time.

I figured I was bound by the EULA when I connected to their servers, but I had already paid for the software and I could use it however I wanted. Like buying a music album on CD. If it comes with a free month subscription to eMusic that's all fine and good, but if I'm done using eMusic's service, why shouldn't I be allowed to listen to the album I paid for and have a physical copy of?

I'm not saying that's correct. That's just how I thought it worked at the time.

6220

General Software Discussion / Re: Which archive software are we using in 2010 (and why)?

« Last post by Deozaan on August 21, 2010, 06:48 PM »

I don't have (much) experience with either of these, but 7-Zip also has command-line support (not sure how good it is) and file name encryption.

-Deozaan (August 20, 2010, 04:16 PM)

Now I feel ashamed because for password protection I could swear the opposite. When was it added? Has "error recovery" feature been added too? Either way speed issue remains.

-fenixproductions (August 20, 2010, 07:30 PM)

I don't know when those options were added and I don't know if it has any "error recovery" features. I know it can check to make sure archives are valid, but I suspect that's not what you mean.

6221

Living Room / Re: Private Servers, MMO Piracy, and the Future of DRM

« Last post by Deozaan on August 20, 2010, 04:26 PM »

I've used a WoW private server a time or two.

I never thought of it as piracy because I paid for the game; I just didn't want to pay Blizzard anymore for the privilege of using their server, so I tried out free private servers.

Private servers are not the same as the official. It's not as fun. Then again, some might consider it more fun because they (sometimes) change it so the first monster you kill gives you a million gold and gets you to level 65 (or whatever the max level is these days) and all the best gear.

I didn't enjoy it so I don't do that anymore.

6222

General Software Discussion / Re: Which archive software are we using in 2010 (and why)?

« Last post by Deozaan on August 20, 2010, 04:16 PM »

WinRAR for me because of:
 - the best speed/size ratio,
 - nice command line support,
 - file names encryption (SQX had that but died).

-fenixproductions (August 20, 2010, 08:11 AM)

I don't have (much) experience with either of these, but 7-Zip also has command-line support (not sure how good it is) and file name encryption.

6223

General Software Discussion / Re: It is impossible to remove the network connection icon from the system tray.

« Last post by Deozaan on August 20, 2010, 04:12 PM »

The only way I could ever get the LAN network icon to go away was to disable the network adapter, as you said. That works fine if you are using WiFi, but you'll still have the WiFi network icon displayed there.

Those two checkboxes should make it go away, and sometimes in XP I was able to get it to go away temporarily. But it would always come back again after a reboot or who-knows-what.

Windows 7 at least allows you to hide them.

6224

Developer's Corner / Re: Java and braces ... how do you keep track of them?

« Last post by Deozaan on August 19, 2010, 03:17 AM »

Indentions is a good way. Code folding works as well. But having an IDE with syntax highlighting (including syntax errors) is probably the best I can think of.

6225

General Software Discussion / Re: Which archive software are we using in 2010 (and why)?

« Last post by Deozaan on August 16, 2010, 12:05 AM »

(creating different archives per file or folder, and deleting the source files after compression are invaluable features)

-Lashiec (August 10, 2010, 06:39 PM)

Thanks for reminding me of the only two features I miss from WinRAR.

However, a bit of investigation led me to an AHK script/utility called 7-Zip Each File. It's a lot easier than trying to figure out how to do it by command-line. The only thing it seems to be missing is the option to delete the source file after compressing.