Newsletter for July 2, 2006 - Codename ''Summer Software"

[mouser]

Newsletter for July 2nd, 2006

Codename 'Summer Software'

"If you read nothing else on our site, read the newsletter!"

1. The C++ Builder Programming Contest is Almost Over (July 15th)!
Calling all programmers: Our C++ Builder Donationware Programming Contest, co-sponsored by Borland is coming to an end in the next two weeks.  With over $25,000 worth of prizes, the winners are going to be rolling in goodies and be the envy of their friends.  Plus you'll have your winning program featured on our site and in a magazine article as well.

• Read more about the C++ Builder Programming contest

2. New DonationCoder.com Software Releases
We listen to your requests and we've released quite a few updates in the last two weeks.

• Screenshot Captor v2.18.01
• Clipboard Help+Spell v1.10.01
• URL Snooper v2.10.06
• MiniCap v1.08.01
• RunSaver by Skrommel: run a program as your screensaver

3. July's Discounts and Giveaways
Each month we contact companies you have told us you want discounts from, and ask them if they are willing to provide a month long discount to our DonationCoder.com members, and donate a few copies for us to give away in a monthly drawing.  Let's see what we've got lined up for July:

• July's Special Discounts and Giveaways: UltraIso, SmartPc Tools, ACDSee, Comprexx, AI RoboForm, TrueLaunchBar 4, Microsoft VirtualPC.
• Enter to win the software of your choice in this month's drawing (you can enter to win a DonationCoder.com mug as well)

4. Games and Diversions
Ok you know the drill, work hard and play light - we love the little Flash Games and diversions, and they're a constant subject of discovery discussion on our forum:

• Gamma Bros - This one is a *must play* for all you retro arcade fans (and don't miss the hello by the author on our forum and send him some donationcredits to show your support)
• OfficePoltergeist, play a prank on your office mates
• Blast Off, a fun flash click game
• Treasure Box Cool Artistic Explore Toy/Game
• 55 Ways to Have Fun With Google, free ebook
• Maillardet’s Automaton, cool robot discovery
• Extortr Makes Blackmail Easy, funny joke site
• Make your own funny motivational posters online
• Make your own funny warning posters online
• BumpTop, cool desktop video

5. Site Features and News
We are always adding new features to our website in response to suggestions by you, our members.  What did we discuss in the last two weeks?

• New Screencast movie section, watch demos of new apps and request new videos
• Free blog hosting for members at DonationCoder?
• Cody's Quest or whatever - upcoming flash click game
• db90h makes slashdot news with his linksys router hack
• Keepass Password Safe mini review
• Add a cool DonationCoder.com rss feed image to your website latest dc threads
• Site Policy on Possible Conflicts of Interest
• The DC Website is free from google ads, CodyQuotes are here!!
• AutoHotkey Fund Goal Reached and Donation Made on Behalf of all DC Members
• Tip: Creating a virtual clip group of URLs in CHS
• Podcast Radio Show Planning: Join us by submitting something!

6. Developer's Corner
More and more people are discovering our programming school section, and having fun rediscovering the joy of programming.  And the developer-related discussions on our forum are getting interesting.

• Play DcTiles, a fun game from the Programming School Showcase (by Tekzel)
• New google desktop gadget writing contest
• Blog Post: 40 ways to be a better (game) designer
• Blog Post: Manifesto of the Programmer Liberation Front
• Blog post: 8 Invaluable Wordpress Plugins
• What is "cowboy coding?"
• When to fix bugs and when to leave well enough alone
• Helpful Programming Forum
• Video programming tutorials
• OISV: Organization of Independent Software Vendors

7. Debates and Hot Discussions
We love debating software issues on the forum.  Why aren't you joining in and expressing your views?  Everyone's opinion is welcome.

• HOT DEBATE: Digg, the wisdom of crowds, the hive mind, netscape, and competitors
• Article(s) on Googles New Pay Service, controversies, and my experiences
• Ads in games.. I'm starting to get a really bad feeling about this..
• Browser discussion
• Broken Windows Theory
• Why is so much software cracked?

8. Web Discoveries and Articles
What's worth reading on the web? With so much information out there it can be hard to know.  Here are some recent discoveries we're talking about on the forum.

• Interesting article: ‘Big Brother’ eyes make us act more honestly
• 50 Indispensable Microsoft Word tips / 10 ways to stay connected on the road
• Desktop search guide page
• Superticker's stumbledupon sites, and recent review of social bookmarker sites
• Free ebooks and readers
• Soft and hard links in ntfs
• Thunder7's latest interesting links

9. Security News
We are always keeping an eye out for security alerts, and we've seen a few recently.

• Security Alert 6/27/06 - A SQL injection vulnerability in Mambo/Joomla
• Critical Windows Vulnerability and Patch June 26
• Zdnet blog post: Maybe Firefox doesn't have a security edge after all

10. Website of the Month
Each month we honor a website we love.  It shouldn't be a surprise to find software addicts gravitate to this month's site of the month, BetaNews.  It's one of the few sites that treats Beta releases as special treasures.

• July's Site of the Month: BetaNews.com

Special thanks to jgpaiva for preparing this month's newsletter, and to ampa for handling all the discounts and giveaway stuff!

Support DonationCoder.com:

Do you have your free DonationCoder.com member kit yet?

[mouser]

ok another newsletter is up!
big thanks as always to JGPaiva, who has collected the posts and organized them!

and a huge special thanks this month to Ampa, who did all the work of getting discounts and donated copies and updating the discount and drawing page (some of the program discount codes aren't posted yet - they will go online in the upcoming week).

[hamradio]

This one is a big one!  Hehehe! Thanks! 

[housetier]

One of the highlights during a month's time: the dc newsletter!

Yay for busy editors finding the good stuff for us