Recent Posts

651

Developer's Corner / Re: A plugin based information bar in Windows

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 21, 2009, 05:25 AM »

2jake78

1. Right mouse click on topbar -> menu with blurry items,
2. "Plugins manager" -> fonts looks strange but it's hard to describe what is wrong with them
3. Maximum size of TextBox in PM is limited to columns width. Wouldn't it be better to give max. width at the beginning? I had thought something went wrong with GUI until I realized it resizes automatically on typing.
4. Launcher plugin -> loading folder sometimes kills explorer.exe process here just after closing its opened window,
5. Launcher plugin -> it would be nice to have folders with "browse" feature (you can add single folder, select proper checkbox and… have all subfolders as submenus),
6. clicking on "Information" icon in top left corner gives nothing,
7. it would be nice to have right "Close" icon as plugin (just to switch it off),
8. "down arrows" (next to Information and Close) do nothing,
9. alignment option would be nice - that way I could have some information shown on right,
10. no plugins SDK

652

What's the Best? / Re: Word document compare?

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 20, 2009, 12:05 PM »

2superboyac

IIRC there is also plugin for WinMerge somewhere in the web. I can find it if you want to

653

General Software Discussion / Re: Mozilla Contest: How Would You Improve Tabbed Browsing?

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 19, 2009, 10:37 PM »

2Ehtyar
I agree with you on this part but there is one more thing: Mozilla needs to change their way of thinking.

They were relying too much on extensions, left too many basic features to them and now are suffering from draw back. Things like TabMixPlus or PasteGo should be rather offered as core functionality or at least given within some kind of "Firefox pack". If they do that at the beginning there would be less problems because it could force in users good habits of organizing things.

They made few bad decisions and now are trying to fix them. Or rather: trying to find someone to do it for them for "fame". I was always thinking: make something good first, extend it more later but Mozilla did it opposite way.

For me Firefox is piece of crap without any extensions installed. When it had came to live I needed 12 extensions to do almost the same stuff as Opera and I was just starting with O! Of course, many things changed, much more extensions are available now but F is still poor right after installation. I still think that extensions are great but, seriously, how many users spend their time to track all of them down? Adblock, NoScript - these are the most known ones. What about others which could help to solve "too much" problem? Users will know nothing about them without Mozilla forcing them but M prefers to advertise their hunting instead of browsing their own database.

As I've already wrote: it's mental problem.

Time to sleep now

654

General Software Discussion / Re: Mozilla Contest: How Would You Improve Tabbed Browsing?

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 19, 2009, 09:20 PM »

I do think though that Firefox needs a few additional mechanisms to handle Windows more effectively. For example, moving tabs more efficiently between windows, an alt-tab type mechanism for windows perhaps....

-Ehtyar (May 19, 2009, 09:10 PM)

Do you mean working like Opera now?

It is possible in Opera to drag'n'drop tab into taskbar to create new browser instance with this tab only. You can go even further: drag tab from one window, Alt+Tab to 2nd (w/o releasing mouse button) and drop it there.

I can make a movie if you don't believe me

655

General Software Discussion / Re: Mozilla Contest: How Would You Improve Tabbed Browsing?

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 19, 2009, 08:43 PM »

People are so used to tabs now that if they opened a link in a new browser window it might seem like a revolutionary experience.

-MilesAhead (May 19, 2009, 08:17 PM)

You might be right.

BTW It just came to me but: isn't "too much tabs" just a mental problem?

I see it falling into the same category as hundreds of icons on Desktop or entries in Start menu.

656

General Software Discussion / Re: Mozilla Contest: How Would You Improve Tabbed Browsing?

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 19, 2009, 07:59 PM »

2Ehtyar
I see nothing against the possibility to switch "hover mode" off and using shortcuts.

I also know that accidental triggers can bother people but despite that some users might find it handy. I doubt I would ever use it (same annoyance for me as taskbar auto-hide) but I know "others" might think different. That is what making ideas is all about. You will never hit 100% satisfaction rate but you can try to get as much as possible.

Back to tabs: their disadvantages were well known since the beginning and it makes me wonder why they realized that so late.

657

General Software Discussion / Re: Mozilla Contest: How Would You Improve Tabbed Browsing?

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 19, 2009, 07:37 PM »

IMO the hover thing is not going to work in a browser, both from an efficiency and usability standpoint

-Ehtyar (May 19, 2009, 07:19 PM)

Why not? Something like this is already implemented in many browsers and called Sidebars or something. The biggest problem with them is the fact that they steal precious space when activated. That is why I've thought about overflow effect.

We have also the possibility to use auto-hide option for system taskbar. I know many people who use that even if it's not good for me. Now, imagine similar thing in browser.

I understand it is not the best idea in the world (i.e. there would be no indication of tabs count until we get something more) but I've wanted to show that solution might already exists, though no one sees.

P.S. I recommend to try FastStone Image Viewer in full screen mode to see some parts of my idea

658

General Software Discussion / Re: Mozilla Contest: How Would You Improve Tabbed Browsing?

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 19, 2009, 07:07 PM »

I've just browsed through web (Flickr mostly) and must say that many ideas are strange because most of the people are trying to reinvent the wheel. They focus on tabs only by grouping them or creating strange lists. It is no longer usable IMHO.

Why does nobody bother to i.e. use simple list view as overflow panel on the left side on the screen? With thumbnails and transparency it could be pretty nice to use. Just hover left area and it is shown. No magic needed.

659

General Review Discussion / Re: Free Total Commander licences

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 19, 2009, 11:10 AM »

2Innuendo
First post fixed.

BTW It can be full or mini-review (as far as it falls under "Reviews").

660

General Software Discussion / Re: Mozilla Contest: How Would You Improve Tabbed Browsing?

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 19, 2009, 11:07 AM »

I wonder what wil users show and will anyone post a link to Tree Style Tab addon

Honestly: I might have few ideas but I will not definitely go into troubles of creating movies for a browser I don't use so often. Come on, what happened with just writing ideas down or creating fake screenshots? Please, Mozilla, do not expect me to learn Flash or programming just to allow you to rip me off

661

Living Room / Re: Wolfram Alpha - Impressions On Launch

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 18, 2009, 10:39 AM »

I've tried Wolfram and it is sad experience. Many countries does not even exist in it.

I must say that one of my colleagues wrote Polish language chat bot for his diploma (took him year or something) and I remember it working better than Wolfram. His project was giving correct answers for questions like "When can I go from Warsaw to Krakow". Learnt database had only the size of few GB but in case of no data it simply asked Wikipedia or Google. It worked great that way. Unfortunately, implementing Polish semantic and grammar mechanisms was too time consuming work and because of that there was no English version

I can't simply believe that something such "big" can work so bad. Wolfram reminds me Chandler somehow.

662

General Software Discussion / Re: What are my options for editing a PSD file

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 17, 2009, 08:51 PM »

2tranglos

It seems I am too late but… have you ever tried Artweaver?

663

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Total Commander 7.50 public beta 1 - mini-review

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 15, 2009, 11:14 AM »

<OT>
I've been looking for "dual pane" option in beta and no success here

BTW Preview panel gives me "XPCom not initialized!" error for SVG files.
</OT>

664

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Total Commander 7.50 public beta 1 - mini-review

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 15, 2009, 08:16 AM »

2Darwin
As I thought, you fit into "acceptable behaviour" group

I understand using such approach for very dynamic feeds or very short discussions (in e-mails). For longer ones it was always better (for me) to follow the natural reading order*.

*) I've never heard about any language where you have to read from bottom to top.

EOT

665

Living Room / Re: Looking for a newsgroup news reader

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 14, 2009, 09:16 PM »

Or they could just not post.

-4wd

I agree with that.

If you want to badmouth someone in public then you have no right to call it "privacy violation" when it's still on web. If you don't like it… take a deep breath and think about yourself.

When I had heard that first time I wondered when criminals will sue police because of destroying their "good image" on arrest warrants

666

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Total Commander 7.50 public beta 1 - mini-review

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 14, 2009, 07:35 PM »

2Darwin
It's always good to keep an eye on competitors

BTW Do you really find it better to read newest posts first?
Fix for it: http://www.xyplorer....c.php?p=32589#p32589

667

Living Room / Re: Looking for a newsgroup news reader

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 14, 2009, 07:31 PM »

2kartal
I recommend to check 40tude scripts

Little bit more about "Google removal":
I am only sure that they decided to remove "older" threads for some Polish groups. I don't know about other languages.
First I thought it's just the case of "privacy problems" but it couldn't explain whole threads disappearing.

Privacy problems were second thing which bothered me. Many people were against archiving their messages (mostly agressive ones) by Google and called that "privacy violation". In my opinion: it was stupid and I would never delete any message if I wear Google's boots.

668

Living Room / Re: Looking for a newsgroup news reader

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 14, 2009, 07:01 PM »

I remember using ForteAgent couple years ago but I had abandoned it because of lack of multiple servers support. I've started using 40tude Dialog and must say that even if it was not updated since 2005, I can't simply leave it

Two reasons behind:
- habits,
- big history - few years ago Google removed pretty big part of their nntp archives and it is impossible now to get some messages back (other servers don't have them either).

669

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Total Commander 7.50 public beta 1 - mini-review

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 14, 2009, 04:04 PM »

Total Commander 7.50 PB3 is out!

About 60 bugs from previous public beta have been fixed and 9 new features added.

Announcement:
http://www.ghisler.c...iewtopic.php?t=22363

670

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: BBCeditor 1.0.13

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 14, 2009, 02:48 PM »

1.0.13 is out!

Changes:
- fix for fonts change;

Please note that font fix (available on "Appearance" tab of "Settings" dialogue) might cause flickering.

671

N.A.N.Y. 2009 / Re: NANY 2009 Release: Comparer

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 14, 2009, 02:21 PM »

1.0.9.0 is out!

Changes:
- fixed: "Scan for plugins" generated errors for new config;
- fixed - ThreadAbortException handled;
- added: temporary skipping FileDesc.wdx;

672

General Software Discussion / Re: EC wants software makers held liable for code

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 13, 2009, 10:10 PM »

It reminds me about something I heard from French user, that "An author is not responsible for any data loss occurred while using his software" part of licences is never valid, because according to French law, you are always responsible for the things you sell / provide / lend until you sign named agreement with customer that you both know about bugs and he takes responsibility.

Simply spoken: if you borrow a ladder to your neighbour and he will fell off from it, you will be guilty. The only way to prevent this is, as I wrote above, to sign some stupid papers that you know ladder is broken and your pal knows it, and he accepts the fact that he can broke his neck using it.

Of course, it was theory only and no one cared about BUT if EC is trying to force similar law than it gives one thought only: they either want to move all developers outside EU or just show off that they do something.

673

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for a text editor that can colorize text

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 13, 2009, 07:49 PM »

Hey that is cool, i did not know that honestly.

-kartal (May 13, 2009, 07:41 PM)

Me neither I've just discovered that (after update and RMB click).

Oh! And if you go to Settings -> Style Configurator and choose theme other than default, than you can customize background colours for "Mark Style X". You can Save changes, come back and load previous one again without loosing your colours set. I don't know why it's not in default one but, hey, it works!

The only thing which left to me is to figure out how to add more of my own styles.
Looks like it's not possible now but I've modified default theme (attached) to contain mark styles at least.

674

General Software Discussion / Re: Arrange "start" menu programs list alphabetically??

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 13, 2009, 07:43 PM »

2tranzor
Does RMB click on any menu item and "Sort items by name" not work*?

If you use classic menu then you can also: RMB on taskbar -> Properties -> "Menu Start" tab -> Customize -> Sort

*) You need to have "Personalized menus" switched off or classic menu applied AFAIK.

675

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for a text editor that can colorize text

« Last post by fenixproductions on May 13, 2009, 07:19 PM »

2kartal
Just small note: maybe it was in older versions but newest Notepad++ has nice custom colour styles feature which allows to select some text and apply 1 of 5 background colours to it (via RMB menu). They are temporary but this is a step into right direction

Take a look on screenshot (this one is real!):



Yellow rectangle on 15th line gutter is something given by "Change Markers" plugin.

Together with user defined highlight it is starting to be powerfull:



Even "code folding" plays nice: