After a bit of playing today, it seems Open Live Writer will publish posts okay.
The problem{?} is the OLW composing screen which, for some reason, gives a very small width of typing area and thus is very unfriendly for typing. I’m doing this brief post in a word processor the I’ll copy and paste into OLW then post to the Wibbly Wobbly Web and see how that works/looks.
I did try overwriting all OLW settings with those from the old Tap-Top wot gave a normal typing area but, sadly, no change. Damn! Copying the old Profile folder for Firefox worked perfectly.
My last fiddle will be a look and fiddle with the application settings in Billy 11. Would scree resolution have some bearing on this? Doubtful as all other software I’ve installed looks fine on screen.
Thinking about the preinstalled programs on this thingy, and giving it some thought – okay, a moments thought – I guess computers, for the younger generations, are in selling competition with a new, top of the range{?} smartphone thus loaded with unsociable media kit. Just a thought. Pardon? Thinking? No, it didn’t hurt at all.
How about emberating a video? Let’s try this quite relevant one suggested by Rick a few posts ago.
Okay, let’s post and see the result. Well that worked okay I’m happy to see.
Quote; Mokokoma Mokhonoana.
“People who smile while they are alone used to be called insane until we invented smartphones and social media.”
Douglas Adams.
“First we thought the PC was a calculator. Then we found out how to turn numbers into letters with ASCII — and we thought it was a typewriter. Then we discovered graphics, and we thought it was a television. With the World Wide Web, we’ve realized it’s a brochure.”
14 comments:
Mac,
I never get these pop-ups nowadays, so don't use UAC-Pass. I spent ages playing around with permissions in the Admin account, and now my user account has ownership of most if not all system folders and drives. What's the point of owning a single user computer, if some virtual admin can dictate what I'm allowed to do on it?
Since we are talking software, which we have discussed the merits of in the past (and got some useful tips from you), I would like to return the favour. I note that you say how you copied your Firefox profile over, and though that is relatively easy to do, I wonder if you know about Heckasoft Backup and Restore - I use it mainly for Firefox, Thunderbird and FileZilla, but the list of programs it covers is massive, from Avant Browser to Skype to Yandex.
Since I got rid of all the W10 garbage I've been looking around for portable software - truly portable, not where you have to have an umbrella program to run them. Just create a folder, stick the .exe in there and create a desktop shortcut. Can't do everything portable but I've sorted a few good ones besides the Heckasoft.
JPEGView - small, fast default picture viewer with some image manipulation.
MP3 Tag - for tagging and ordering my music collection, has many secrets.
MP3 Direct Cut - music editing/chopping/clipping and volume equalizing.
Anyburn - all CD/DVD and conversion utilities all in one.
Media Player Classic - virtually plays any video/music format
Radiola - internet radio, any station in the world.
Bandizip - archiver, used strangely enough for archives other than .zip. That's because the .zip format has been built into Windows for a while now.
Geek Uninstaller - replacement for the System/Programs applet in Control Panel that didn't remove everything. Geek does, including registry items.
To be continued...
For programs that I can't get fully portable versions of.
Paint.NET - I prefer to use this over Photoshop because it works on plugins and is simpler and not so gimick laden. Doesn't do everything but enough to keep me happy.
Pontes Media Downloader - I like to grab the odd video clip for posperity and this program does that with great efficiency on a lot of video sites, especially the tube of You.
Firefox add-ons that I can recommend...
Adblockers, anti-fingerprint - for this I use a combination of Privacy Badger (EFF) - puts up in its icon, the number of potential trackers on any page as well as blocking them and UBlock Origin - this has been useful for the fact that you can create custom filters, which recently have allowed me to circumvent the page blocking popup on Twitter and rid myself of the "misinformation warnings" on some posts. Also got rid of the cookie bar.
404 Bookmarks - this scans all your bookmarks then presents you with a list of those no longer active, giving you a chance to delete them without actually going through thousands (in my case).
Psiphon 3 - an open source VPN, which I use when a website is blocked, just as Russia Today has been in the last few days. Only use this program occasionally but its extremely handy when I need it.
I also have another method of using Firefox to grab video clips in instances where Pontes does not work and there's no way of downloading. Doesn't always work but has been useful on sites such as Reddit. I can let you know more about that if you're interested.
TinyCAD - a very small footprint CAD program that I use for electronic circuit diagrams (hobby) and woodworking plans for the house. Has the capability of creating your own libraries of components. Saves project files as PNG images, useful for printing and is a good alternative to the notebook and pen when there are a lot of measurements to work out and remember.
Mac,
Just a quick note on the new W11 puter.
My desktop is what one would call "getting on a bit" I bought it in 2105, it had 4GB single channel memory, a 500G hard drive and ran W10 on a quad core i7 processor. Since that time I've upgraded it a bit myself, I installed a graphics card so that the graphics didn't use the main memory pool, making it faster. Then I got a DVD version of W10 and got rid of all the pre-installed garbage. This W10 system now runs on a 500G solid state drive, whilst all the rest - docs/music/pictures etc is on a 2TB conventional drive. Memory is now 8G Dual Channel and its very fast. Discounting the time it takes to enter my login password, bootup time is well below 10 seconds.
Although my old desktop can probably give your new computer a run for its money, and could probably run every incarnation of Linux, all at the same time, Billy informs me that my computer is not up to standard for running W11 and has stopped bugging me about it. My own thoughts were "thank god for that".
Linux is probably where I'll go full time when Billy stops support of W10.
Ripper,
I like portable stuff. Also, all the software I use, not too much these days, allow for storing all input data to a thumb drive for security and - obviously, portability. Computer crash? All lost? Save data safe.
Have you looked at XnView Portable? Pretty good.
https://portableapps.com/news/2019-09-04--xnview-portable-2.49-released
Thanks for the software list; some I have, some I know and some I’ll be sure to check out.
My go to two programs at present are Pop Peeper and Essential PIM which has got a tad pricey now but I’ve had a lifetime reg for years now. E-mail, great calendar and reminder, tree like note keeper and more. There is a free version;
https://www.essentialpim.com/features
Linux you say? I occasionally threaten myself with it but I’m too old and stuck in a bloody Billy rut to start all over with learning a new system. But Billy 13 might be the breaking point...
Oh, and Roboform...
https://www.roboform.com/lp?frm=rfp-010&gclid=CjwKCAiAjoeRBhAJEiwAYY3nDAfIlox_f4dJCIFEE0U76-RiDgKNosjdyut8atPxVbjmxQYHeo2NKhoC0YUQAvD_BwE
Mac,
Yes I used xnview at one time. Did you know that originated as a Linux program? Anyway, I spent a lot of time and went through many programs to find the right default graphics viewer. For a long time I used Irfan but required something small and fast, which only pops up when I double-click on a file in Explorer. JPEGView was the only one that ticked all the boxes. Likewise, Editpad replaces Notepad, though I've left that so that I have access to it outside Explorer.
I notice email is one of those things where you can't change anyone's mind, once they find something that suits them its theirs for life. My mate argues with me about it regularly, he uses Qualcomm whereas I'm a Thunderbird supporter. I'm an advocate for open source and he prefers proprietary software which he says because it isn't free its better, but the Mozilla program has all the gadgetry that the Qualcomm has, and more - calendar, event scheduler/reminders, multiple accounts, add-ons, browser capability and excellent composition facilities. He's also used Roboform for years, but there's only a couple of sites where I need to login so I can't justify it. If I need to get at any login details, Firefox holds those securely and are also backed up by the Heckasoft program I told you about. I'm always too cautious about letting websites have any personal data.
Linux isn't that hard Mac, in fact its easier. I would have migrated full time a long time ago but there are a couple of programs I use that are just not available on Linux. There are alternatives but they are not user friendly.
I started with computers in the early 80s on a Commodore VIC 20, with a massive 3k of memory. First things I learned were BASIC programming and how to use two cassette units to copy games. After that came a Commodore 16 then a Commodore 64. Kids were toddlers at the time and I was determined that as they grew up into this age, they would never be able to teach me anything.
Then as I moved on, in 1987 I got a Commodore Amiga and that was the one that changed my life. The OS was based around Unix, so the Amiga was closer to Linux than the PC is now. I just 'slotted in' to the Amiga, it was as if I already knew everything about it before I even got one. I had the Amiga for years and was the first (to my knowledge) to get one on the internet by butchering an external 33k PC modem and connecting it to the Amiga's serial port. I asked a small local ISP if I could get the Amiga online and they said we don't know, its your risk, but if you are successful we will give you a free account if you will support the Amiga on our system.
I got my first PC in 1998, running Billy 95 and it was a sack of shit. The rest is history. But it did have USB ports, and the presses at work had one too, and they also ran Billy 95 behind the scenes, so solitaire magically appeared on the press when there was nothing to do...
Ripper,
The computer chain from the beginning sounds spookily similar to my path although I never got into fiddling with hardware - wish I had - but was more of a searcher for software what'd do what I wanted rather than what the code writer thought I'd want to do.
My own biggest find in the mists of time was a spreadsheet. It came on a 5" floppy and with that I put together the calculation required to keep a jack-up rig standing straight and keeping its shiny side up and barnacle side down during afloat rig moves. So impressed was the boss he got the marine dept. a computer. First on the rig!
Over time, as all things became computed and the cleaver coding kiddies took what worked and butchered it.
I well remember getting one of the first portable drives; a huge 8 MB and the size of a house brick...
As a by-the-by, you tried this if you do any typing in your browser? Good for even the odd security for filling;
https://www.qfxsoftware.com/
Mac,
Am already running a program which does the same as the QFX plus a bit more. I can't provide you with a download link because this software is only get-attable via some banks, but if you do any online banking its the best. Its from IBM and is called Trusteer Rapport Endpoint Protection. End to end encryption on everything, preventing key logging on wireless keyboards and man-in-the-middle attacks on websites. It puts an icon up in the browser address bar which is usually greyed out but turns green if you visit a protected site. To protect any site all you have to do is right click the icon and select "Protect This Site".
Its presence isn't noticeable unless a)I'm under an attack or b)it wants to update. In the case of an attack, the attacker gets blocked, his IP gets harvested and I get presented with the logs.
Which brings me to another Firefox add-on called Geotool. This is another one that puts an icon in the address bar, showing the flag of the country the visited site is in. If I hover the mouse it gives Domain name, IP, location and security status. If I right-click on the icon I get a whole range of net tools - whois, server status, precise location via Geotool (with map), Alexa, Google Translate, SSL server check, TinyURL and more. Right now, being on Blogger, you are shown as in the USA - Cheney Reservoir, Kansas, and your HTTP is insecure. I've used this in the past, to help track down scam emails, also using the email header.
The hardware part came easy to me since I've been into electronics as a hobby since the early 70s. I've been into every aspect of it, auto wiring, house wiring, repair of TV/Radio/CB Radio and built my own audio equipment at one time. Latest enterprise was on the Triumph Motorcycle forum. Several commercial accessory manufacturers came up with keyless ignition switches. These worked from an RFID tag presented to a sensor (like tapping your card in the shop). Problem was, these cost a few hundred quid, so I came up with a home made one for less than £50. Some time later I beat my own record and came up with a fob operated switch (like the central locking on your car key) and that was less than £20 to build. Anyway am sure I'm getting boring now, just one more thing to say - if you are interested in trying Linux you can dual boot it you know. If it isn't for you then you just remove it with nothing lost. I haven't yet seen W11 but if W10 is anything to go by, MS is trying to imitate Android.
Also might have a little hack for your TV if you're interested.
Sorry Mac, the Firefox add on is called Flagfox, not Geotool, which is one of its elements.
Ripper,
Rapport; got it and that was another tip I forgot. Key scrambler is just a just in case bit o' kit. Just pops up a little bar when you start typing anywhere in your browser to let you know it's paying attention and doing its scrambling.
I'll give some of your suggestions a look, thanks for showing such interest.
As you seem to enjoy a challenge, you'll just, like, love Billy 11. I've just about got him beat. Just about...
Ripper,
Okay. While I'm here, you tried Firefox add-on Privacy Badger?
Mac,
Yes I run Privacy Badger, as said earlier it works even better when run with UBlock Origin. Privacy Badger mops up new stuff that UBlock doesn't recognise between updates. And you would love what you can do with UBlock custom filters.
Ripper,
And thus you get a brief glimpse into the muddled mind of this old man. I read your comment, loaded Privacy Badger, liked it and so a short time later, forgetting all that came before, I recommended it to the person who recommended it to me.
This is the same mind that’s declared war on Bull Billy and his coding cohorts. Hello?
Oh, and have you tried Irfan view? Pardon? Oh, right...
Mac,
You surprise me. A Scotsman who doesn't put it down to a bit of booze! Still, the mind muddle hasn't done anything to dent your unique style. Thanks for the smile buddy, if that comedic style ever fades I'll know that something is really wrong.
Now go get UBlock Origin, and I'll show you how to lurk on Twitter and get some good news snippets without that "log in or sign up" screen blocker.
PS - My daughter once bought me a bottle of Ouzo back from Greece. One small sip and I couldn't breathe properly for a couple of hours and my throat was on fire. I went blind for a fortnight. Weak beer always for me.
Ripper,
Thanks for the kind words. I parted company with strong drink many years ago but I’m still a tad hung over as the old saying work hard and play hard was, for the oil field, more a requirement of employment rather than just a saying.
I’ll load that recommendation of yours so don’t be surprised if you get a recommendation in a few days...
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