Recent Posts

801

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: AnVir Task Manager Pro 60% off Today Only

« Last post by Innuendo on January 05, 2012, 09:40 AM »

Reminds me of the song and dance Ad Muncher users had to endure when they were waiting for a 64-bit version of that program to be released. Here's hoping all you Anvir ATM users don't have to wait *that* long!

802

General Software Discussion / Re: xplorer2 at Bits Du Jour soon....

« Last post by Innuendo on January 05, 2012, 09:39 AM »

It was, indeed, a false alarm.     If I hadn't been lazy & actually visited his support pages I would have found this:

Many of the existing customers are entitled to free replacement keys as long as:

    You have bought a free lifetime upgrades warranty
    or, you bought xplorer² during the last 12 months

All other people will have to purchase a replacement key, possibly with a discount as follows:

    if you bought xplorer² up to two (2) years ago then you can upgrade with a 33% discount
    All other (older) customers will need to purchase a license at full price

I think that's a fair policy with regards to who gets a free key or not. This file manager wasn't my style when I checked it out, but it's different enough from everything else out there that I can see where a lot of people like it. I hope everyone who wanted to was able to get in on the deal for a lifetime license at BDJ.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Configuring Directory Opus for Fun and Profit

« Last post by Innuendo on January 04, 2012, 09:50 AM »

Part of the problem is, I think, knowing what you want to do/knowing what can be done.

-oblivion (January 04, 2012, 08:22 AM)

The way I see it is that the DOpus forums are an excellent source of reference and research. However, the trick when it comes to reference and research is that you have to know what you are looking for in order to find it.

I think a good analogy would be if one were looking for ideas and inspiration one could sit down with an encyclopedia or a reference textbook on a given subject, but the prospect of inspiration striking isn't likely to happen.

Think of this thread as "Stupid DOpus Tricks" on Letterman.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Configuring Directory Opus for Fun and Profit

« Last post by Innuendo on January 04, 2012, 09:46 AM »

Problem was, only one person tried to write such a plugin and they didn't get very far. Archive plugins are pretty complicated to write (especially with formats like 7z where solid archives do not allow you to access the files in any order, or .tar.gz where you've got an archive in an archive) so it's not surprising, in hindsight, but it took a while to realise that nobody else was going to do it and we had to do it ourselves, during which time the demand for 7z also increased as the format became more popular.

-Nudel (January 04, 2012, 07:06 AM)

And that was the point I was trying to make way back when v8 was released. I had a spirited discussion with Dr. Perry regarding archive formats & how the limited support for ZIP & RAR were not going to be enough & that no one was going to take on the daunting task to write them. Dr. Perry just took awhile to come around to my way of thinking.

As an aside, though, my one minor victory back then was to get the GPSoft team to give up their custom file description format & go with the universal descript.ion way of doing things. I'm quite proud of that & feel DOpus is much better for it. It also gave me more respect for GPSoft as they took the suggestion of some schlub who wasn't even a paying customer.

I say "us"... What happened is I quit my job (which was unrelated to Opus) and took a holiday to write the Archives plugin that eventually shipped with Opus 10. Somehow that holiday never stopped and I'm still working on Opus stuff today (and quite broke compared to before, but also getting to spend a lot more time with my cat).

And your tireless efforts to promote DOpus are appreciated. I'm not sure DOpus would be nearly successful as it is today if some driven fellow hadn't taken the time to make that DOpus discussion group on Yahoo! Groups all those years ago. Thanks, Leo!

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General Software Discussion / Re: xplorer2 at Bits Du Jour soon....

« Last post by Innuendo on January 04, 2012, 09:26 AM »

Hold the phone!!! At first I was thinking, hey...this isn't too bad of a deal & the guy doesn't seem to be out to gouge people for money since v1 has been around 7 years before he decided to release v2 and ask for more money.

Then I read this on his site:

"And now for the not so agreeable news. Version 2.0 has introduced new unlock keys. If you bought xplorer² in the past you will find your old key is no longer working — even if you bought the free lifetime upgrades policy. However many people will get free replacement keys or a discount for v2.0."

I'm sorry, but the only acceptable statement here would have been to say, "Don't worry. Anyone who bought a lifetime license will be receiving an email with a new key." Might be a false alarm, but it sure got my Screw-O-Meter buzzing. Makes it sound like not everyone will be getting a new key who paid for a lifetime license.

But, again...might be a false alarm.

806

General Software Discussion / Re: Configuring Directory Opus for Fun and Profit

« Last post by Innuendo on January 03, 2012, 09:50 PM »

Check out the various Downloads / Tutorials areas on the Opus forums for people's shared configs, advice, etc. Lots of good stuff there. There's also a very long & detailed customization tutorial soon to be posted by one of the forum members, who let me see a draft copy recently, so keep an eye out for that.

-Nudel (January 03, 2012, 06:46 PM)

That member has also let me see a draft copy & I've already sent over my feedback. (He even implemented some of it.)

I think there's some misunderstanding there.

Not a misunderstanding...a typo. I meant to say implement support for archive formats *other* than ZIP and RAR. Oops.  

As for RAR, Opus has had a RAR archive plugin since seven or eight years ago.

The version of DOpus I tested would open RAR archives, but open them outside of the lister. It was very awkward. However...now Mr. Potter has implemented proper support for RAR and nearly every other archive format known to man....and very happy I am. Happy enough I bought a license immediately upon finding out how well this feature was implemented.

It's possible I've forgotten a very old statement but I don't think anyone ever insisted that archive plugins would not be written, for any filetype. Adding the archive/VFS plugin API back in 2004 (or whenever it was) would've been pretty pointless if the aim was to never write any plugins for it.

I didn't mean to say the aim was never to have plugins ever wrote for it. I was referring to an email exchange I had with Dr. Perry when DOpus 8 had been released. I had stated that it would be advantageous for plugins for other archive formats be written & it'd be a great boon to the program. His reply was that GPSoft was not going to write any such plugins and that they prefer to leave such things to the community to write. I am glad they saw the error of their ways.

As to all that you say about WinRAR/RAR, with the way RAR Labs has implemented their licensing, it was a very smart way for the file manager authors to add support to their programs...and the way Mr. Potter has implementing support for creating RAR archives when WinRAR is installed is nothing short of brilliant.

807

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: AnVir Task Manager Pro 60% off Today Only

« Last post by Innuendo on January 03, 2012, 01:13 AM »

AnVir TMP has always intrigued me & I've nearly bought it on numerous occasions, but their lackluster support and release consistency always made me decide against it in the end every time.

808

General Software Discussion / Re: Configuring Directory Opus for Fun and Profit

« Last post by Innuendo on January 03, 2012, 01:12 AM »

Thanks for all the tips so far...this is what I'm talking about. I've got some ideas myself about customizing DOpus...just have to figure them out in my head, implement them, and then I'll be sharing here.

4wd, I'm going to be dating myself here, but I used DOpus extensively on the Amiga and...I even started using it with v1.0. *gasp*

809

General Software Discussion / Re: Configuring Directory Opus for Fun and Profit

« Last post by Innuendo on January 02, 2012, 04:58 PM »

To both of you, yes, I meant the forum and it's an excellent resource with a wealth of information. However, it's purpose is more suited when you know what you want to ask. However, if one is just looking for ideas & don't have any specific questions to ask...well, that's why I created this topic.

If people shared the clever ways they have configured DOpus, others may find something they need, but never knew they needed it.

810

General Software Discussion / Configuring Directory Opus for Fun and Profit

« Last post by Innuendo on January 02, 2012, 02:32 PM »

Well, I haven't figured out the 'for profit' part yet, but in the grand scheme of things I don't feel too bad about that because I haven't really figured out the 'for fun' part yet, either.

I finally jumped on the Directory Opus bandwagon via the deal I posted in the Deals & Discounts sub-forum (plenty of views, but no replies. Maybe everyone here who has ever been remotely tempted to buy it already owns it? Maybe people are afraid to play the exchange rate game?) partly because the DOpus authors have finally caved on their long-time insistence that they'd never write archive plugins for either RAR and ZIP (and let's face it, their support for RAR in the past has been very weak and very much and after-thought) & because of a rising trend in the Total Commander community that tells me its users are very much stuck in the past and very much want to remain there.

So, with an open mind (and wallet) I'm hitching my wagon to DOpus's star for a bit to see how the other half lives. I do know there are a lot of DOpus users on the forums here & I thought it might be a nice for there to be a place where everyone can share their tips & tricks. While people can post their complete configurations if they'd like, I was thinking more along the lines of little gems of knowledge where when you configured that button or menu there was an, "Omigawd, why didn't I think of doing something like this ages ago! Things just got a lot easier!"

I'm slowly working my way through the ginormous resource that is the DOPus Resource Centre and will eventually get through it all. I'd just like to hear everyone's must-have tweaks that might inspire the rest of us.

811

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: AnVir Task Manager Pro 60% off Today Only

« Last post by Innuendo on January 02, 2012, 10:12 AM »

I think IL1keT0Donate was just concerned that his extended service agreement was coming to an end & since he liked the software was wanting to extend that service agreement even longer....at any price. He wasn't angling for a discount at all.

Hopefully, the answer you provided him will put him back on the path of software bliss.

812

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Agnitum Outpost 40%.. 60%OFF

« Last post by Innuendo on December 30, 2011, 10:57 AM »

I heart Agnitum.

Those plucky, little Russians are always coming up with some nifty new idea. Outpost Security Suite Pro v7.52 is right around the corner and the developers are hinting that there are going to be some nice developments contained within.

813

Living Room / Re: In search of ... someone who wants a wireless camera (DCS-930L) & mini-rant

« Last post by Innuendo on December 29, 2011, 09:16 PM »

Nothing wrong with D-Link overall, but like most network hardware companies, they outsource most (all?) of their products. You just have to be very careful reading reviews before you commit to buying something with their name on it.

I've got a DNS-323 NAS which had best in class performance when I bought it & a DGS1224T smart switch I bought for a song on eBay which is/was considered a stellar performer. I've had them both for a number of years and they've never let me down.

Having said that, there are other products D-Link has released which reviews have shown that you shouldn't touch them with a ten-foot pole.

814

Living Room / Re: In search of ... someone who wants a wireless camera (DCS-930L) & mini-rant

« Last post by Innuendo on December 29, 2011, 02:22 PM »

Glad you found someone who could make good use of it, Barney. Hopefully, your good deed will be repaid soon.

815

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: WS_FTP Professional 60%OFF (FTP client)

« Last post by Innuendo on December 29, 2011, 02:21 PM »

I didn't know WS-FTP was still around? Does it still have its patented retro-Win 3.11 program still now that it's almost 2012?

As for Directory Opus, it's always had a competent, basic FTP functionality to it, but now that v10 has been released with a full queue to back up its already decent features, DOpus has become a very decent/excellent FTP client.

816

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Vipre Antivirus to offer lifetime licenses

« Last post by Innuendo on December 29, 2011, 02:17 PM »

-makes sense. I don't think Agnitum is happy with their $50 lifetime keys, as Innuendo is talking about. I have one of those as well, and it is by far the best software deal I have ever made.

-Curt (December 29, 2011, 02:24 AM)

Curt, I think you're right. Agnitum has happily put their firewall on sale with lifetime licenses many, many times, but the lifetime license deal for the suite has never returned.

817

Living Room / Re: In search of ... router recommendations

« Last post by Innuendo on December 28, 2011, 05:37 PM »

Not quite so enthusiastic about DD-WRT. With power comes a price - and the potential for glitches.

Unless you need some of the really advanced features DD-WRT provides, I think you're better off with Tomato. Unless you like to get down and play, in which case DD-WRT is a nice big busybox to screw around with.

-40hz (December 27, 2011, 02:15 PM)

I read this passage and got to thinking...when was the last time I even messed with my router so I thought I'd take a peek at DD-WRT's status page and sure enough....Time: 18:31:01 up 177 days...

It'd have been even longer, but earlier this year there was a power outage when a tree fell and wiped out a power line killing juice to the entire neighborhood.

818

General Software Discussion / Re: Lifetime license from Audials+GAOTD: no good

« Last post by Innuendo on December 28, 2011, 05:24 PM »

Companies engage in this practice all the time...which prompts me to engage in the practice of putting them on my list of companies I will never give a dime.

I know it stinks, Curt, but do look at the bright side. At least you didn't pay for that license expecting to get a lifetime upgrade path to new versions.

819

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Vipre Antivirus to offer lifetime licenses

« Last post by Innuendo on December 28, 2011, 05:20 PM »

Vipre really made quite a splash when they first came on the scene with a very good product. Seems the bean-counters and greed-mongers have taken over the reigns of the company from the original idea men.

Personally, I'm glad I jumped on the $50 lifetime license for 3 PCs offer that Agnitum put up a couple years ago for their security suite. In spite of PC upgrades, PC replacements, and routine Windows OS reinstalls my lifetime license code has never ceased to work for me.

The AV component constantly wins awards time after time after time and the firewall component is just scary good. It's one of the few firewalls that can pass all leak tests & you just might be surprised what programs on your PC are trying to connect to the internet...and to whom.

820

Living Room / Re: In search of ... router recommendations

« Last post by Innuendo on December 26, 2011, 09:06 PM »

There *is* a version of DD-WRT for the 3700/3800. Not only that, but it's the current 'star of the day' over on the DD-WRT forums because it is such a beefy router. It handles the largest, most feature-filled build with plenty of resources left over.

821

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: 2 gifts from Abelsoft

« Last post by Innuendo on December 26, 2011, 09:01 PM »

Funny that...I think I was the one way back when who recommended Lazarus to you. 

822

Living Room / Re: In search of ... router recommendations

« Last post by Innuendo on December 26, 2011, 06:29 PM »

Reviews (both from professional reviewers and consumers) have been very favorable in regards to the Netgear WNDR3700. The stock firmware is full-featured (even including a guest access mode) & for those who live on the edge, it's hefty CPU, flash storage space, and RAM make it an utter beast to run DD-WRT on.

Runs right around $90-100. For those who have to have the absolute latest, you can get the successor, the WNDR3800, for $30-50 more.

I detest Netgear as a general rule, but they've done enough right with these two routers that I'm considering putting my principles aside & buying one.

Now as to whether you go Tomato or DD-WRT depends on entirely what kind of user you are.

Tomato - Small, fast, simply elegant in design. Works well.

DD-WRT - A little buggier than Tomato on some releases, but that's due to it bringing all the Big Boy features of the $3,000+ routers to your little box & putting them at your fingertips. The words 'kitchen sink' and 'everything but' apply very well here.

Another factor in deciding what flavor firmware to run is that DD-WRT runs on a lot more devices than Tomato does.

(Oh, and the word you were looking for, Barney, is dependability. A router isn't worth a hoot unless it's always there like a workhorse when you need it.)

823

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: 2 gifts from Abelsoft

« Last post by Innuendo on December 26, 2011, 06:16 PM »

I followed Curt's second link referencing FileWing:

http://www.abelssoft.net/filewing.php

Seems like a nicely featured file deletion and undeletion program.

824

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: 2 gifts from Abelsoft

« Last post by Innuendo on December 26, 2011, 04:13 PM »

I thought I'd go check these out. Interesting tidbit: I clicked on the FileWing Pro link first which took me to a download page stating that 13,968 people were missing from reaching their first million users. I thought better of downloading the file blindly so went to their home page and read up on the app first. When I decided it might be useful I went back to the original page to download and was then informed 14,008 people were missing. Hmm...another visit just now informed me 14,036 people were missing. At this rate they'll never reach their million! 

825

Found Deals and Discounts / Directory Opus v10 discount found...

« Last post by Innuendo on December 25, 2011, 11:45 AM »

NOTE: This is an exceptional deal if you are also interested in purchasing the USB & SFTP add-ons and its awesomeness may depend on where you are physically located in the world. If you only want one, or neither add-on, (or in an unfortunate geographical location) you'll have to decide if this deal is right for you.

Haage & Partner, the official German distributor of Directory Opus, is currently running a sale through December 31st on Directory Opus. They normally sell the 1-user license for 69.95 Euros and include the SFTB & USB add-ons at no additional charge. Through December 31st, however, they are knocking ten Euros off that price for a total of 59.95 Euros VAT included. Live in a country that doesn't have to pay VAT (like me) and your check-out price gets knocked down to 50.38 Euros. At the current exchange rate, that worked out to be less for me than that BitsDuJour 40% off deal awhile back (because the add-ons weren't eligible for the discount).

The (mostly) translated Haage&Partner DOpus sale page:

http://translate.goo...dex.html&act=url

The order page itself (which lets you choose your language from a pulldown at the top):

http://www.haage-par...er/DOpus10-1-DL.html

GPSoft has already stated that there won't be another discount on DOpus of the magnitude that the BitsDuJour sale brought to the table for at least 18 months so if you were waiting for a sale to jump on the DOpus train, don't wait too long to jump. The train is leaving the station shortly.