Recent Posts

7951

Living Room / Re: Why My Mom Bought an Android, Returned It, and Got an iPhone

« Last post by wraith808 on September 26, 2011, 12:35 PM »

^ +1.  That sums up my feelings too.

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General Software Discussion / Re: The False Positive and Improperly Rated Site Epidemic

« Last post by wraith808 on September 25, 2011, 01:22 PM »

Good point about installers recommending that people turn off AV software. (I don't think it should be necessary, but that's just what I think.)

In the past, most of the problems I've had with false positives have been rooted in either compression or encryption. Was the licensing issue you had due to network traffic or encryption/compression?

-Renegade (September 25, 2011, 09:46 AM)

I think it was due to encryption, but I couldn't say that with 100% certainty.  From the work I had to do, I know that compression wasn't used, and I don't *think* there was any network traffic associated with the solution; it was put in place to replace the dongle solution that they used before, and they called it 'software dongle emulation', though in retrospect, it was more like software license management, where you have a licensing server that validates keys against the keys that are on the DVDs of the connected computers, so the DVD itself acted as a sort of dongle.  Really complicated (and complicated the mastering process) and really pointless IMO.

7953

Living Room / Re: It's alive, it's alive!!! mwahaha! - WinButtons and 7" touchscreen works

« Last post by wraith808 on September 25, 2011, 01:10 PM »

Well, thanks for your reports- I was very close to buying one of my own.  I still might, but I also might wait.

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Living Room / Re: Question to Everyone: Setting aside the technical meaning, does Donationware...

« Last post by wraith808 on September 25, 2011, 09:07 AM »

I think it depends on the implementation.  Much "Donationware" is just download it, use it, and if in the future you want to pay, give what you want.  Some "Pay What You Want" software involves the act of going through a payment, even if its zero, in order to get full functionality, or non-time limited functionality.  It's like "Shareware", but the registration just gives you the option of what to pay.  The lack of a common set of definitions for the terms makes defining what fits in what categories pretty difficult.

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General Software Discussion / Re: The False Positive and Improperly Rated Site Epidemic

« Last post by wraith808 on September 25, 2011, 08:58 AM »

This is just a case of two different understandings of what "false positive" means.

-Renegade (September 25, 2011, 12:46 AM)

Agreed on that point.

Whether it's OC or DevExpress or Infragistics or whatever, they all just seem like components to me. They all have a purpose. Saying that it's not a functional part of the software is only expressing an opinion on what level of utility one perceives in it.

-Renegade (September 25, 2011, 12:46 AM)

To help drive this point along, in many installers there is the bit about disabling your AV software.  I used to work at a company where we had a pretty tight licensing system, that used an implementation of a third-party licensing component.  I had to write a lot of code to get it to work and integrate with the product.  But apparently some AV programs looked at the licensing as virus-like activity.  In that case, would it not have been the company that was affected and so the company that should have a right to pursue remedies, instead of waiting for the developers of the licensing component?

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General Software Discussion / Re: The False Positive and Improperly Rated Site Epidemic

« Last post by wraith808 on September 24, 2011, 05:07 PM »

^ re the last line there:
it's good to be clear, but jeez app, give the man a break
he's already made his point and wished the site good luck:

[...]
Good luck with things. I hope that you can get the AV companies to stop dropping the ball so much.

-Renegade (September 24, 2011, 02:23 PM)

-tomos (September 24, 2011, 04:30 PM)

That's sort of my point.  Renegade is a pretty respected member of the site, and is pretty level headed and logical in his arguments.  He's also done quite a bit of research into the OC thing, even before using it.  However, whenever this comes up, he gets piled on, either in a passive aggressive manner or just an aggressive aggressive manner.  I know this is a hot point, but it seems like we can agree to disagree without the strife that seems to come up on these threads- I mean, its obvious that its in his software; he's even said as much, openly.  He's not trying to hide anything.  But the negative feelings towards the malware seems to spread out onto him, as if he's part of the problem.  That's my big problem with the whole thing.

7957

General Software Discussion / Re: notetaker that uses the filesystem and has powerful search?

« Last post by wraith808 on September 24, 2011, 03:23 PM »

Well, I spoke too soon.
Scrivener for windows is a great piece of software, but not suited for collaborative notetaking. Basically, the rtf files it saves do not have descriptive file names, just numbers. It makes no sense to look at the filesystem to see what has changes. In the forums, people make it clear that collaboration is out of the picture.

In fact, I don't know of a single notetaker that can do this, other than onenote + sharepoint (out of the question, people using macs are potential collaborators).

Does anyone know of a good solution for collaborative notetaking?
I'd be happy with:

• An indexer that can produce live searches, highlighting the matches inside the text in rtf files.
• An small rtf editor
• the filesystem itself as a db

But I don't know of any good solutions for te first two items, on windows.

-urlwolf (September 24, 2011, 02:02 PM)

Do you know of any solutions on any platforms?

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General Software Discussion / Re: The False Positive and Improperly Rated Site Epidemic

« Last post by wraith808 on September 24, 2011, 02:23 PM »

I disagree- a false positive is a false positive

-wraith808 (September 24, 2011, 12:33 PM)

This is FALSE, because they detected OpenCandy as OpenCandy. It is a classification issue, which is different than a false positive. We can NOT get into classification debates, period.

Those who believe bundles are a non-deceitful practice are welcome to start their own site ... However, they will not be part of THIS site because we need only the most EGREGIOUS and CLEAR CUT examples of harm. I said it all above. I will not repeat further. Reference my explanation. We simply can not allow borderline cases, because the system would not work. I discussed and thought about this for a hell of a long time with security vendors, so do not tell me that it is short-sighted. I *KNOW* bundles help you pay you bills, but ... they are deceitful in nature, in my opinion, and considered 'borderline' cases. Even though the user can opt-out, since almost nobody wants the bundled software, the clear intent is to 'get' those few who miss the checkbox.

I understand they pay you $$$... so you bundle supporters will never agree with this, so I invite you to start your own site. Argue no more, because this policy WILL NOT CHANGE. Read my first post, I explain it quite clearly. If we allow borderline cases, the whole system degrades into nothing but debate about what is good and what isn't. Instead, we want a site that demonstrates OBVIOUS mis-ratings and false positives... not debated classifications.

Again, the developer has the option to NOT include that bundle.. so it *is* Open Candy's fight, and they have plenty of power to fight.

-db90h (September 24, 2011, 12:34 PM)

I am not a bundle supporter, nor am I paid for anything, so classifying such in an aggressive post against what I said seems a bit out there.  I do tend to post in support of Renegade on such things, because he gets so much crap for stuff, i.e. the unaddressed issue of posting that it was his fault that an AV company decided not do business with you, rather than placing the blame with them for their own decision.  And if a third party component in your software does something that the AV program detects as malicious activity, then that becomes your problem, also.  Libraries *can* do the same thing, and result in the same sort of false reporting, i.e. the use of AutoHotKey.  It's not the program itself, its what it was made with in that case.  And the developers of the programs that are in AHK can't argue the point of their program?  I call BS.

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General Software Discussion / Re: The False Positive and Improperly Rated Site Epidemic

« Last post by wraith808 on September 24, 2011, 12:33 PM »

I disagree- a false positive is a false positive, and I think that the suing nature of OC has come from the antagonistic relationship that has developed because of the lack of accountability for false positives.  And it is a false positive, and IMO unfair to blame that on Renegade's post.  And saying that the fact that a bundled software causes false positives is not in your ability to fight the battle is short sighted to say the least, especially since it's not their product in the end that's getting flagged, but the developer that includes it.

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Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Share your mouse and keyboard with multiple Mac or Windows computers

« Last post by wraith808 on September 23, 2011, 06:15 AM »

At first sight, ShareMouse seems to replicate the remote control feature of MaxiVista.


The core difference is, that in MaxiVista, the remote control mode is internally tied to virtual video drivers of the extended screen feature.

This difference leads to some significant benefits of ShareMouse, justifying a separate product.


* MaxiVista is Windows-only. ShareMouse supports Windows and Mac OSX.

-BartelsMedia (September 23, 2011, 02:29 AM)

Ah!  I didn't see that the KM works only with windows on MaxiVista, since I don't use it that way.  I use it purely for screen extension.

Thanks!

And nudone, you might still look into MaxiVista- it costs a bit including the ipad app, but its well worth it (and you can get more use out of your ipad ).  Just make sure that you optimize your connection to the ipad when you first use it by the instructions.

And I figured the answer would be something like that; it's a shame.  I use my iPad to control my PC sometimes; it would be great to be able to hook up a mouse to it in any form.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Fairware: an interesting experiment in getting paid for Open Source

« Last post by wraith808 on September 23, 2011, 06:09 AM »

Why is it that marketing couldn't do the same for notepad or wordpad?

-Paul Keith (September 23, 2011, 12:46 AM)

They're free and MS includes them as a courtesy as part of the FS so they don't care about it?

This doesn't mean the above are extremely good examples but the point is, your point does not conflict with superboyac's points. It only does so if we quibble on what "needs" truly mean. Not when it has actually entered the consciousness of the consumer. It also belies the fact that marketing can't solve anything. Google Wave had the marketing. Had the initial hype. It was killed off eventually.

-Paul Keith (September 23, 2011, 12:46 AM)

I wasn't quibbling on the word need.  My point was that need doesn't drive consumption necessarily.  In the other situations that you refer to (dropbox, evernote) it was marketing, also.  People discount marketing, then talk about the church of Jobs/Apple.  Truthfully, on an innovation level, they aren't doing anything differently than they have been for years.  It's all about the marketing.  Look at their history, and IMO its pretty clear to see.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Fairware: an interesting experiment in getting paid for Open Source

« Last post by wraith808 on September 22, 2011, 11:48 PM »

There are no *needs* in terms of software then, by that definition.  Show me a software package that there are no alternatives for that aren't incredibly niche so that the market is very small.

-wraith808

This is not directed at me so I'm not sure superboyac agrees but to me these stand out:

-Paul Keith (September 22, 2011, 10:40 PM)

There are free alternatives to all of the ones that you mention, and there have always been.  To single out the biggest one on your list, Microsoft Office has not become the giant it is because you need it, nor because its the best, nor because there aren't alternatives.  They have become the largest because of marketing, and the ability to convince people that they need it.

And that's my point.  In software, there are very few that are actually needed.  But there are quite a few that convinced people otherwise, either through some sort of perceived characteristic.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Fairware: an interesting experiment in getting paid for Open Source

« Last post by wraith808 on September 22, 2011, 09:36 PM »

If they need it they will willingly pay isn't necessarily true, either.  Many people have a need for software that fills a niche, but they make do with other alternatives (of which there are always several) for the simple reason that people don't want to pay.

-wraith808 (September 22, 2011, 03:53 PM)

I would politely disagree with this based on the definition of the term "need".  If there are alternatives that are free, then it's not really a need.  Financially speaking, a need is something you will HAVE to pay for if you want that thing.  Or else you will not be able to fulfill your need.  If you can fulfill your need with a free alternative, then that thing that costs something is not a need anymore, it's a want.

If you HAVE to have something and only one company makes it, then you will HAVE to pay for it.  That's a need.  Of course, if the price is so high that you will choose to not pay for it, then it's not really a need is it?  So this can quickly turn into a whole chicken/egg argument, but I'm not here to argue.  It's all life/death stuff.  A need is something that moves the bar away from death and closer to life.

-superboyac (September 22, 2011, 04:34 PM)

There are no *needs* in terms of software then, by that definition.  Show me a software package that there are no alternatives for that aren't incredibly niche so that the market is very small.  Even with that limitation, I know and have worked in some niches that are so small as to be almost nonexistent, and still there is competition.  I might restate it as you have to convince you client that they need your software.  But truthfully, by your definition, there is no one piece of software that is needed that there aren't alternatives for.

7964

General Software Discussion / Re: Fairware: an interesting experiment in getting paid for Open Source

« Last post by wraith808 on September 22, 2011, 03:53 PM »

If they need it they will willingly pay isn't necessarily true, either.  Many people have a need for software that fills a niche, but they make do with other alternatives (of which there are always several) for the simple reason that people don't want to pay.

7965

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: Share your mouse and keyboard with multiple Mac or Windows computers

« Last post by wraith808 on September 22, 2011, 03:50 PM »

We kindly would like to invite you to the beta test of our latest product, the mouse and keyboard sharing software "ShareMouse", which allows you to control any computer with the mouse & keyboard of any other computer.

-BartelsMedia (August 24, 2011, 04:26 PM)

Question- I've been using the very well done MaxiVista for years (since beta, truth be told) and this seems to duplicate some of the functionality.  What are the differences?  Is this just to break out the sharing from MaxiVista as a separate product, or are new features included?

7966

Living Room / Re: You Selfish E-books! (Contains the F word)

« Last post by wraith808 on September 21, 2011, 02:07 PM »

As I said before, I am happy with the current model - buying physical books.

But if I got an e-book and did not like it, I would not send any money to the author. And would not download any other of their e-books and waste my time on them.

After seeing the latest Conan the Barbarian in a 3D cinema, I really wished there were a way get my money back.

-vlastimil (September 21, 2011, 01:15 PM)

My argument wasn't about being happy with physical books, but more about the value of non-physical purchases.  You might not have liked the end result of the Conan movie, but it was definitely pay for a non-physical purchase.  When you left the movie theatre, you had nothing in hand.  People do it all the time, and complain about the cost of software, and I never have understood that.

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Living Room / Re: You Selfish E-books! (Contains the F word)

« Last post by wraith808 on September 21, 2011, 12:45 PM »

If I do not get anything physical, I want to give the amount of money I decide it is worth directly to the author (if they still live)

-vlastimil (September 21, 2011, 12:17 PM)

And what if you read it and decide it's not worth anything?  This site is sort of a testament to the fact that while there are people who find value in the work of someone on the intangible, the vast majority won't give that value to it, even as they don't give the money.

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Living Room / Re: You Selfish E-books! (Contains the F word)

« Last post by wraith808 on September 21, 2011, 09:55 AM »

All e-books should be donationware

-vlastimil (September 21, 2011, 07:55 AM)

I don't get the sentiment here.  They're still someone's work.  I also don't get the sentiment that all forms of a media should have the same utility.  People pay many times more to go to a concert that they can hear once because it is in a different format.  People do the same thing with movies- and even worse, pay again to get a physical copy later.  I don't think that e-books should be priced the same, nor should they necessarily have the same functionality.  I think that's the biggest problem, trying to take two fundamentally different forms of the same entertainment, and make them work exactly the same.

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Living Room / Re: Anyone here using a standing desk?

« Last post by wraith808 on September 21, 2011, 09:38 AM »

A brief article from Cornell University, with conclusions extracted from studies done there, and the recommendation of taking a break by getting up once in a while, like many posters have suggested through the thread.

Something that everyone should be doing to avoid the dreaded carpal tunnel syndrome, right? Yeah, me neither

-Lashiec (September 20, 2011, 06:26 PM)

I use kirby's alarm to set alarms on every hour to take a break for 5 minutes.  And every three hours during that time, for the first minute I do a minute of deep breathing.  It helps more than it would seem for such a simple change...

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General Software Discussion / Re: Tuesday's online debate: Windows Right vs. Windows Wrong

« Last post by wraith808 on September 21, 2011, 09:35 AM »

I think you have to use it, that's the whole issue. Hopefully I'm wrong.

-nudone (September 20, 2011, 04:39 PM)

I've seen a demonstration where they show changing the interface by swiping, a la the mac views or whatever you call it.  They do the same thing on the mac itself- they have a view that looks like an iOS view, then the standard OS view (and you can add others- virtual desktops by another name)

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Living Room / Re: Thoughts in remembrance of 911

« Last post by wraith808 on September 21, 2011, 09:34 AM »

Having been brought up on WW2 documentaries, I used to feel slightly sick at the sight of that emblem, until - years ago - I saw it painted very large on the side of a Thai Buddhist temple.

-IainB (September 21, 2011, 08:34 AM)

That would have been strange if you saw an actual swastika on the side of a buddhist temple.  The swastika itself is an aberration- a reversed symbol from the one actually used, so the symbol should have been a reversed swastika, i.e. the original symbol...

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General Software Discussion / Re: Tuesday's online debate: Windows Right vs. Windows Wrong

« Last post by wraith808 on September 20, 2011, 03:32 PM »

Does Ed Bott use his computer for anything other than browsing the net. No one that uses Windows "seriously" is going to say Windows 8 is the right direction - not unless Windows 8 is released with the ability to completely disable "Metro". What utter rubbish.

-nudone (September 20, 2011, 01:16 PM)

Metro is just one view of the OS to make the UI more tablet centric, right?  Not something that you have to use...

7973

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA ~ Show List of Shortcuts overlaid on Desktop

« Last post by wraith808 on September 19, 2011, 08:31 PM »

What's the procedure for scaring away skwire from a coding request one wants to work on?

-mouser (September 16, 2011, 04:42 PM)

I wondered the opposite - what happens if you gene-splice skwire with skrommel

-rjbull (September 18, 2011, 10:43 AM)

The whole world is surrounded by an ahk-field as they overload?

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Living Room / Re: UI Roast #1: cruel but harmless fun!

« Last post by wraith808 on September 19, 2011, 02:55 PM »

Ah, a new challenger appears! Only 10 levels of priority granularity? Outrageous!

-Lashiec (September 19, 2011, 02:42 PM)

I agree!  Everyone knows you need 100 levels of priority granularity...

7975

Living Room / Re: UI Roast #1: cruel but harmless fun!

« Last post by wraith808 on September 19, 2011, 01:52 PM »

What's in the other menus if this one is so... overcrowded to be nice?

-wraith808 (September 19, 2011, 12:52 PM)

Yeah, the other menus are simpler, but they also have their moments. Like "Show Help (F1)" under the Edit menu, even though the expected Help menu is right there too.

-tranglos (September 19, 2011, 01:06 PM)

Well, I guess that I ask about that because a lot of the edit menu options (Cut, Paste, maybe even Clone) are on this menu... which leaves me to ask... why is there an edit menu at that point?

To add my others offhand...

There are several standard file manipulation entries that are scattered all over creation.  They should be grouped.  There are several macro related entries all over- they should be grouped.  Exit should be the last in the menu, and if you need a more, then your menu is too big!  ALT+F4 by convention exits the app.  It's been re-tasked here for no good reason.  Save File As, and Save All Now, but no Save?  If you don't need a Save (i.e. you always save all now) then why not use save instead of save all?  Very confusing...