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How come I'm always the last to know about anything about everything? Looks
like TechTV revamped their
Web site over the weekend. In fact, it appears as though a new show is
on the horizon: Eye Drops
(Cartoons Like You've Never Seen). That sounds awesome! I wish we'd rerun
episodes of Reboot, too. That, and play some good "tech" movies every once in a
while. Ya know, all four: TRON, Sneakers, WarGames, and Hackers. Well, until
then, I'll keep y'all infotained on Call for Help - even though I'm not
incredibly popular in certain circles on the Web. All those little annoying
things I do are done just to upset them further. Don't ya just love those
people whose sole purpose it is to make sure you have the most rotten day?
Yeah, me too. In grade school, we felt bad for them. In adult life, we have to
put up with them. Who will laugh the last laugh first?
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It's time to launch another new Lockergnome newsletter!
Our Webmaster Week includes: HTML basics, PHP tips, Webmaster tools, WAP / WML
/ XML information, elements of page design, useful books, and a variety of
other Web resources delivered from the perspective of HotDog users. If there's
something you'd like to see covered in the scope of the subject, please let us
know. We're co-branding this with Sausage software, which has been delivering
the Sizzler for years. Since we needed good Web development content, and they
loved the Lockergnome brand, it was a match made in heaven. Don't expect this
to come out every day, though. As its name implies, this is only distributed
four times a month (like our Windows digest). Perhaps one of these days, we'll
launch Apple and PDA missives, too. Perhaps. Anyway, if this button doesn't
work for you, just swing by and
subscribe on our site.
I received this message from recently-renewed Lockergnomie Raychel Holt
earlier: "Hi Chris, suddenly my e-mail has decided to start displaying
Lockergnome newsletters again, and they're great. This isn't much of a
suggestion, but I always love the subject lines of the daily newsletters. May I
suggest using 'cantilevered rainbows' for one if you haven't done so already?
Just a thought, keep up the good work." On the surface, I couldn't do it. Why?
Because the subject line is comprised of two random (somewhat unique) words
found somewhere within the GnomeREPORT. Since Rachel asked nicely, and since
those two words now appear in this section, today's subject line is go for
launch. Don't ask me why I started doing this. I was trying to be different.
While a more functional headline would be helpful, it could also be a
hindrance. "Oh, I don't wanna read about THAT." Don't expect a table of
contents anytime soon - for the exact same reason.
See You in
August,
Chris
Pirillo
WinSize v.1.6 Beta 1 [548k] W9x/2k/XP FREE
Unearthed by David Grossman
http://www.daimi.au.dk/~maxx/progs/winsize/ws16-b1.zip
http://www.daimi.au.dk/~maxx/maxximum-windows.html
http://screenshot.lockergnome.com/winsize.png
{Keep those window positions} There you are, working away on your PC. You're
composing a letter to your mother, working on a term paper, reading the latest
issue of Lockergnome (natch), and even playing a bit of Windows-brand solitaire
- all at the SAME time. You multitasker, you. To make sure Windows remembers
the exact position of all those open windows, use this utility. It stores the
position of a program whenever it changes, and it sits silently in the System
Tray. You can also enable / disable the screensaver with WinSize. "It will even
remember the View settings you have chosen (Large icons, small icons, details,
list) and will also remember whether you had the toolbar and/or status bar on
in a given window."
Remote Dialer Basic v2.1 [1.3M] W9x/2k/XP FREE
Unearthed by Wayne Clark
http://www.birusoft.com/basic.zip
http://www.birusoft.com/
http://screenshot.lockergnome.com/remotedialerbasic.png
{Dial-in remotely} If you're looking for an easy way to dial into an Internet
connection from a remote computer, then look no further than this program -
because that's exactly what this dandy doohickey does, dude. Now you can dial,
hang up, lock or unlock a connection, and even send messages from one client to
another from a remote location (if you register). "[It is a] really a good
companion to use with ICS (Internet Connection Sharing)." Now you won't have to
wake up your roommate when his connection gets dropped. Redial it yourself. Or,
ya know, walk across the room and do it manually. But where's the fun in that?
I have to save every calorie.
Recommend
It!
How to Use QFixApp.exe in Windows XP
Unearthed by a Gnomie
http://microsoft.com/WINDOWSXP/pro/using/itpro/compatibility/qfixapp.asp
"You can use Qfixapp.exe to quickly apply various program fixes (AppFixes, also
known as "shims") to a program to determine their effectiveness. Qfixapp.exe
reads the %SystemRoot% \ windows \ apppatch \ sysmain.sdb database to produce a
list of available fixes. When you select an AppFix, you can start the program
executable (.exe) file, and the AppFix will be applied. If a suitable AppFix is
found, the tool eventually helps you to generate and test matching file
information. If you click ViewLog, you could see what AppFixes are being used.
If you click Advanced, you could see information about the .exe file. You can
click Add Matching Info, and then select files that are related to the .exe
file to identify that particular program."
Recommend
It!
Game Console Confusion
Scribbled by Patrick Stuart
Xbox - too new, only a few games and a planned obsolescence model (wait for
Xbox II) Frankly, the Xbox specs where impressive from the PC world over 2
years ago. Now, it's too slow to run the latest games for the PC. Microsoft's
biggest push when promoting the Xbox when it announced it was the fact that PC
game companies could easily port their games [over] to the Xbox. That may be
true, but now that the specs are that of a slow computer (733 MHz PIII
processor, 10 GB HD, etc.), all you are buying is an old computer with a great
video card to play PC games. Also, Xbox is only the start from Microsoft; there
is more to come. Think TiVo and Xbox combined. If you like the Xbox, wait for
the next model - which will make it more complete towards Christmas.
GameCube - if you like kids games or simple games, then this might be the box.
Have a GBA (GameBoy Advanced)? Then they work together. Graphics are not
impressive, controllers are awkward, but give it a chance. Granted, there are
"adult" games for the GameCube, but unless you want something with a handle and
small discs to take over to your friend's house, the GameCube just doesn't hold
a candle to a PS2 or Xbox. I would encourage you to look at it, since it does
have some niche games that you won't find on other platforms (Luigi's Mansion,
Zelda, etc.).
PS2 - hundreds of games, problem is picking the best ones. Backwards-compatible
with PS1 games. Great controllers, expandability coming, will be able to run
Linux later this year. USB ports, Firewire ports, soon a Hard drive and network
card. Plays DVD's at no extra cost. Dolby 5.1 digital outputs (Makes sound
great)! Component video out (5 wires to your TV) for great video. Games: Grand
Theft Auto 3, Final Fantasy 10, Metal Gear Solid 2, Gran Turismo 3, any EA
Sports Game, SSX Tricky, and so many more. What are the PS2's downsides? Some
say it's slow and doesn't have enough memory, etc. True, but here's the facts:
don't be swayed by the MHz myth.
Speed of a machine doesn't mean everything. Games are specifically written for
the "emotion engine" that the PS2 has - not just PC games moved to the Xbox. In
a way, this is what separates the PS2 and GameCube from the Xbox. Also, we are
now seeing 2nd generation games that are pushing the limits of the PS2 and it
is doing some amazing things no one thought would be possible when it launched.
Xbox has a Hard drive. True, but so will the PS2 this summer, and really, what
are you going to use the hard drive for? Save games? Caching the game data to
give the allusion that the Xbox is faster than it really is? The Xbox can play
DVD's as well. True, but you have to spend $30 to add that option. Of course,
you do need a memory card for a PS2 to play DVDs as well.
So my recommendation: go with a PS2 you won't regret it. If you can afford it,
buy both a PS2 and a GameCube. If you can only afford one machine and want to
play DVDs, the PS2 wins. If you want to play the Mario-type games, then the
GameCube wins. I've played them all, and to be completely honest, the Xbox was
failed from the start. It will succeed - eventually - but right now, the only
two serious platforms are the PS2 and GameCube. One of the other reasons I
failed to mention was based on the fact that these are Japanese-developed
consoles with years of experience in the gaming world. Microsoft is new to the
arena, and doesn't have [many] Japanese ties yet. One other thing to consider
is possibly renting each system from a video rental place for a couple of days
with a few headline games. Then you will know for sure which one you truly
like.
Discuss
This Topic |
Recommend It!
KB Alertz
http://kbalertz.com/
{Help from Microsoft} All right, stop, collaborate and listen. You really need
to check this site out. We all know that Microsoft is always publishing those
helpful Support and Knowledge Base Articles, right? That's fine and dandy, but
who checks Microsoft's Web site every day? It's not like every last one of
those articles applies to you directly, anyway. Courtesy of a very smart and
very nice Gnomie, now you can receive e-mail alerts (in text or HTML) with
direct links every time Microsoft publishes one of these bad boys. You can also
specify which technologies you want to be alerted about. Ya know, there's no
point in getting XP alerts if you ain't running XP. Seriously, this is a must
have.
Recommend
It!
I've lamented the fact that Lotus Notes is the most unintuitive piece of
garbage on the market - and I'm definitely not alone in this belief. For one,
it can't handle HTML mail very well. Of course, some would say that this is a
"feature, not a bug" - but I say it's an "annoyance, not a benefit." I have
several safe HTML newsletters that I receive on a daily basis (ours included),
but I can't see embedded images at all when I'm at TechTV. Perhaps you use an
e-mail program that doesn't render HTML mails properly? Or, perhaps you're
thinking of switching away from Outlook or Outlook Express? Best check to see
if that "upgrade" will be to your liking. Our good friends at WOPR.COM (the
ultimate Microsoft Office resource) have set up an e-mail alias which was
designed to test your client's HTML capabilities. Blast a blank message to HTML
@ WOPR.COM and wait a few minutes for it to come back with a diagnostic layout.
Thanks again, Woody! By the way, Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q307594 may
provide further insight for Outlook 2002 (XP) users who wish to render
non-secure e-mail as plain text.
Recommend
It!
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