Recent Posts

8101

General Software Discussion / Re: Dot Net - a wrong step by MS?

« Last post by wraith808 on August 04, 2011, 07:11 AM »

I guess I have to be the first to disagree.  First, though .NET is language agnostic to a large degree, the large development with .NET was C#, and though they try not to say it, it is the defacto language for .NET.  I think that, more than anything else, is why the support for C++ in the managed world has languished.  And I don't look at it as a bad thing.  A lot of our legacy applications are built in C++/COM, and everyone dreads having to get them set up to debug, let alone actually work in them.  Don't get me wrong; I think C++ will always have its place.  I just don't see it becoming a major player in the standard Windows business application market again.  All you have to do is look at the jobs available ads to see what a fallacy that thought is.

HTML5 is a browser based technology.  No matter how robust they become, desktop applications won't disappear, which is why the second part is fallacy.  Even Silverlight has its place in Microsoft's strategies.  HTML5 is the language of choice in Microsoft for internet applications; Silverlight is still Microsoft's language of choice for intranet applications.  There is a big difference.

A lot of the article seems to be based on concepts that are not competing, and arguments that don't hold water IMO.

8102

General Software Discussion / Re: Google+

« Last post by wraith808 on August 03, 2011, 10:16 AM »

1. Anyone can follow any other profile in Google+ and you've no control over who can follow you. (This will kill twitter for sure if G+ takes off). In facebook you can choose folks to peak inside your profile,same with orkut.

-mahesh2k (August 02, 2011, 09:20 PM)

No, that's not true.  You can block others from following you.  It even says that in the e-mail notification you receive.

8103

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

« Last post by wraith808 on August 02, 2011, 03:09 PM »

I mainly use my phone to make phone calls ... because, it's a phone.

-Stoic Joker (August 02, 2011, 02:47 PM)

Yeah... I'm just not that popular.

-Renegade (August 02, 2011, 02:51 PM)

Me either.  The only reason that I have a cell phone is for emergencies.  Most people just aren't important enough to need 24/7 connectivity that a cell phone brings.  It's more for convenience than a need, truthfully.

8104

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

« Last post by wraith808 on August 02, 2011, 02:05 PM »

I mostly use my phone for reading news though... Not much more.

-Renegade (August 02, 2011, 09:50 AM)

When it comes down to it, I mostly use my phone for reading books.  A few other things, but when you boil it down, all of that extra stuff to most people is just window dressing.  One, maybe two functions other than the basic.  But we get so caught up in all of that other stuff that we've done just find without before- and that's what they build their business model on. 

8105

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

« Last post by wraith808 on August 02, 2011, 08:27 AM »

I saw this one comment, and had to re-post:

"When technology delivers basic needs, user experience dominates" - Don Norman, The Invisible Computer.

Does everyone understand this now?

That sums it up, IMO.

8106

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: The Humble Indie Bundle #3

« Last post by wraith808 on August 01, 2011, 10:48 PM »

Nice! I'm going to give that a shot - it reminds me Raptor which was an awesome game back in the day.

-worstje (August 01, 2011, 09:34 PM)

Raptor is available on Gog.com too... for only 5.99.  Just an FYI.

8107

Living Room / Re: A tad paranoid when it comes to installing software?

« Last post by wraith808 on August 01, 2011, 03:46 PM »

So they are Borlands specific .lib type libraries?

-Stoic Joker (August 01, 2011, 03:17 PM)

Sort of, though that's not a direct analogy.  They are statically linked, but can be dynamically loaded (and if .lib files can be dynamically loaded, then the answer is just yes).

8108

Living Room / Re: Android tablets to rival iPad

« Last post by wraith808 on August 01, 2011, 03:25 PM »

My options were to either finger the thing or try talking to it.

-Stoic Joker (August 01, 2011, 07:04 AM)

Ummm... did you buy it dinner first? 

-wraith808 (August 01, 2011, 11:55 AM)

Nope, went straight for a quicky and ended up frustrating both of us. But is ain't my fault the moody bitch wasn't ready on command.


( ...too far?)

-Stoic Joker (August 01, 2011, 02:55 PM)

I think that line was sprinted over. 

8109

Living Room / Re: A tad paranoid when it comes to installing software?

« Last post by wraith808 on August 01, 2011, 12:03 PM »

I don't recall C++ ever needing additional files, unless it's an MFC app (which I never use).

While I'm not sure about the Delphi part, I have seen several mainstream production applications (like Sage BusinessWorks) that were created using Borland's (CBuilder) IDE that insisted on dumping a ton of .bpl files in the system32 folder.

But it's my understanding that these .bpl (Break Point Library) files are only used for debugging and should never under any circumstances be used/required by release version production software. So this would be a developer boo boo as I understand it.

-Stoic Joker (August 01, 2011, 11:45 AM)

Ummm... no.  BPL doesn't stand for break point library.  It stands for Borland Package Library.  They can either be compiled into the executable, or separated out as supporting assemblies.  And the only reason to separate them out is if you're going to load your own packages at run time.  See http://edn.embarcadero.com/article/27178.

They are the same as the atl/vc libraries, and contain system level functionality.  But they can be for the most part compiled into the executable, and in the case that they can't, they can be put alongside the application.  This is a practice of some developers, just as you could do the same in .NET.  It's not a difference or a weakness in the language, but the developer and how they distribute.

8110

Living Room / Re: Android tablets to rival iPad

« Last post by wraith808 on August 01, 2011, 11:55 AM »

My options were to either finger the thing or try talking to it.

-Stoic Joker (August 01, 2011, 07:04 AM)

Ummm... did you buy it dinner first?  

Well here's something Android has that iWhatever doesn't...
Sentience!
(I know it's on a Motorola phone, not a tablet device, but it's entertaining nonetheless...)
3 days to go!!

-Edvard (August 01, 2011, 11:34 AM)

Hmmm... it seems that it's a sentient troll or something.  It's already been banned.  

8111

General Software Discussion / Re: Unlocker punishes you for not installing toolbar.

« Last post by wraith808 on August 01, 2011, 10:48 AM »

Like that your link doesn't work.

-Deozaan (July 31, 2011, 04:31 AM)

It will if you scrape off the extraneous prefix: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasia

-Ath (July 31, 2011, 04:34 AM)

Yeah... DC automagically puts the decorations on links to wikipedia (also explains the 'w' at the end), but I don't think most people know that...

8112

Living Room / Re: A tad paranoid when it comes to installing software?

« Last post by wraith808 on August 01, 2011, 10:46 AM »

It's the C++/Delphi crowd that scares me. Installing things into system folders and all that...

-Renegade (August 01, 2011, 09:20 AM)

Ummm... what?  What is this you say?  Almost all of my apps up until 2005 were in Delphi.  And *none* of them used the system folders.  Just as with *everything* else, it depends on the developer, even with .NET.

8113

Living Room / Re: A tad paranoid when it comes to installing software?

« Last post by wraith808 on July 31, 2011, 08:59 PM »

Your purposeful *Le Click*2 on the main checkbox has been accepted.
This dialog box is meaningless now.
Thank you for choosing NCH Herpa Derp!

-nosh (July 31, 2011, 12:11 PM)

Hilarious!  And I wouldn't put it past them.

8114

Finished Programs / Re: add a global shortcut to cherrytomato (C#), best pomodoro app around

« Last post by wraith808 on July 31, 2011, 08:44 PM »

So... I was able to get back to this, and realized that the problem was because of the lack of registration of some components.  But it seems that you might not need it.  Just figured I'd check in before I did anything.

8115

Finished Programs / Re: add a global shortcut to cherrytomato (C#), best pomodoro app around

« Last post by wraith808 on July 31, 2011, 07:10 AM »

Hmmm... maybe something needs to be registered (which VS would do automatically for me).  I'll try on my other computer, but if you want to try those same lines, it's an idea.

-wraith808 (July 31, 2011, 07:06 AM)

I've got VS 2010 on here, and the 2005/8/10 VC++ runtimes. So I don't know what's breaking.

When I saw the 80 or so compile errors, I gave up.

-Renegade (July 31, 2011, 07:10 AM)

I meant one of the plugins.  If they need to be registered, they would be when they are compiled.

8116

Finished Programs / Re: add a global shortcut to cherrytomato (C#), best pomodoro app around

« Last post by wraith808 on July 31, 2011, 07:06 AM »

Hmmm... maybe something needs to be registered (which VS would do automatically for me).  I'll try on my other computer, but if you want to try those same lines, it's an idea.

8117

General Software Discussion / Re: Question about Listary Pro

« Last post by wraith808 on July 31, 2011, 06:57 AM »

I'm not sure.  It has shown up since I installed Listary (not Pro).  I'm also using Directory Opus, and have had no problems.  Have you changed any settings since you installed it?


Listary Toolbar when saving image in your post.

8118

Finished Programs / Re: add a global shortcut to cherrytomato (C#), best pomodoro app around

« Last post by wraith808 on July 31, 2011, 06:10 AM »

I didn't get compile errors.  Check it out and see if I forgot something before I start trying to do anything else.

8119

DC Gamer Club / Re: E.Y.E.: Divine Cybermancy

« Last post by wraith808 on July 30, 2011, 03:33 PM »

I was able to find 3 people in the interim on the Steam forums.  But thanks anyway.

8120

Adventures of Baby Cody / Re: Poland

« Last post by wraith808 on July 30, 2011, 09:26 AM »

very cool

8121

DC Gamer Club / E.Y.E.: Divine Cybermancy

« Last post by wraith808 on July 29, 2011, 08:50 PM »

E.Y.E.: Divine Cybermancy just popped up on Steam, and seems like it has potential.

Rock Paper Shotgun Preview

There is a 4-pack available for $53.97 or about $14 each.  3 people want to go in on it?  If I haven't heard by Monday, I'll assume no.

8122

General Software Discussion / Re: Grid Layout software? Does it exist?

« Last post by wraith808 on July 29, 2011, 02:10 PM »

This was one of the USP's of Delphi, back in the days. Throw together a UI working with the 'customer', add some (semi)working code, and give a nice demo.

-Ath (July 29, 2011, 05:11 AM)

As a former delphi coder and advocate even, I'd have to disagree.  Though you could throw things together with little code, you did need it.

This is more like FoxPro or PowerBuilder's territory it seems to me.  And Lightswitch seems an extension of the capabilities of Expression Blend.

8123

Living Room / Re: Android tablets to rival iPad

« Last post by wraith808 on July 29, 2011, 02:07 PM »

That situation wraith is exactly Apples game. Their software distribution ties developers hands and locks you into Apples platform.

-Eóin (July 29, 2011, 11:51 AM)

It's not Apple's game.  It's everyone's game.  No matter what platform you're on, you're locked into that platform once you start consuming it.  Whether the platform is a garden or a courtyard is no different- it's just the distance that you find yourself from the fence.

8124

Living Room / Re: When you make your 100'th Post

« Last post by wraith808 on July 29, 2011, 10:52 AM »

I need to get a life

8125

Living Room / Re: Android tablets to rival iPad

« Last post by wraith808 on July 29, 2011, 10:47 AM »

I like my ipad, it's ok.  But it lacks so much in the way of configurability, even jailbroken.  Android is better in that respect, but still, my problem is that all my stuff is on Windows, and it would just be super duper convenient if the OS on the tablet was Windows also.  It's not that it's better, it's just that I need that low level compatibility so I can deal with my files, folders, and favorite software without any middlemen or hacks to bridge the gap.

-superboyac (July 28, 2011, 05:52 PM)

We've had a different experience, and I'm not sure why.  I use my iPad for the majority of my document work.  With just a couple of apps, my text editing (also using markdown) is synchronized with my desktop, my other documents are synchronized over google documents, and my keyboard case means that I can edit where ever I want.  While it is true that they are different in terms of the software, the functionality is still there, which is what matters to me.  The only thing that I need now is a mouse solution for when I sit down to do work.  Still utilizing the screen with a keyboard is sort of strange to me.  But other than that, it works. 

To be fair, if Android tablets had come out before I got hooked on the ipad (i.e. apps) it would work just as well I'm sure; I'm just using it for a dumb interface to my documents.  But already having an iphone/ipad, no matter how cool the other devices are, it will have to be head and shoulders above with some sort of killer feature for me to switch.