As with the others that wish you well, I'd like to add my meager but heartfelt thanks for the superlative contribution you've made to the world of computing. For a generation that preceded PCs, your site provided guidance that allowed us to comprehend the vast array of software that was out there, what it meant, and how to use it. From the earliest days, your contributions have been a guiding light for the uninitiated, and your creation has allowed many of us to acquire skills that we would never have earned without the overview you presented, and the software we could learn how to compute with. Thank you, and may your life be blessed with happiness and love.
Gizmo....Thanks for scaring the crap out of me. I've have been following Tech Alert for 30 some years (not a typo) just don't want people to figure out how old I am. From the bottom of my heart I THANK YOU for all the excellent advice you've given over the years. I always told my clients "if they didn't do anything else sign-up to Gizmo's Tech Alert" so many did and I was always told how useful they found your website. The thing is that 98% of my clients were single parents with God's Special kids or otherwise known physically or mentally challenged. I myself have been disabled for years so I really counted on donated hardware and software so when I had the parts I would build and give them a system totally free. I don't think I could have done it without the freeware or articles on your website. So truly I'm glad your site will still be around but those of us that's been around for a while need to slow down too. Thanks for all you've done to help me over the years...miss you is an under statement. God Bless and Keep You. Michael
I've not noticed any mention of Freeplane. I've been using this excellent mindmapper for many years. It's open source and still being updated with new features. It's similar to freemind but with lots more features.
https://www.freeplane.org
Wikipeadia has a decent comparison list of mind mappers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_concept-_and_mind-mapping_software
How about the perennially excellent [edited]? It costs money, but if you get the trial, it has this little quirk that seems to allow you to use it almost indefinitely. It does everything that these tools do, and a LOT more. Check it out and see what you think. It's been my favorite for years.
[Moderator's note: Mention and links to commercial not permitted. Edited out.]
My first reaction was - I have not had a need for such programs for 15 years.
However you mentioned config files (Settings.ini ?), and I have had a slight need a few times in recent years.
The excellent XYPlorerFree (which everyone should use) has released a newer version than the one I had been using for a few months.
I am setting up a PC to give to a neighbor, and am including what I consider essential programs. I downloaded the latest XYPlorerfree, and gave it a wee test run (It is portable, so I did not clobber my earlier version).
The latest has an annoying habit of changing the column widths, depending on which folder you set focus on. The earlier version is not annoying.
Had a quick look at the configuration file, and ran screaming from it, and decided to give the neighbor the earlier version.
I wonder whether your recommended program will help me here ?
Also do others know of another comparison program that would make that easier ?
Rob
PS If the lines layout is quite different, wouldn't that drive the program, (or me reading the results) crazy ?
Same here; I love WinMerge. I used to use ExamDiff but it got a bit buggy and started to crash on me when comparing a large number of files; which I do quite often. Especially with the Ignore Whitespaces option on.
Rob,
Nice find... but where do you see "Free"?
It's a subscription service, with the lowest price being $9/month.
Or perhaps you meant the 30 day free trial? If so, you should say so. That's not the same as "free."
The subscription plans relate to the monitoring service. The tools are free to access from your browser and use. MC - Site Manager. http://i.imgur.com/o5H2uYe.png
I tested a site of mine for the HeartBleed bug and according to site24x7 it was affected.
I contacted my hosting provider but he responded that the HeartBleed bug was already tackled long ago.
He passed this check site https://filippo.io/Heartbleed/ and there my site is OK.
So, apparently the HeartBleed check of site24x7 is not reliable.
Thanks Robert. A good app to add to my folder of portable apps. It even has a spell-checker which is a must in a text editor for me. Will use it alongside Notepad++, which has two shortcuts to run in multi instances: one opens in a small window on top of other windows to write notes and another in a full window to edit html files.
EditPad Lite looks a small bit like Notepad++ which is a good thing. Like it mentions has a search & replace.
There are a few other tools at the EP L site, think mainly for regedit work. Haven't checked WriteMonkey.
Rob, this is an excellent find. However, I am also a bit disappointed, when I read about the Windows download. There is only a 64-bit version of the program, and I run a 32-bit Windows. Also, from this page on their site about the Windows installer:
Nice program, however I would need to pay a subscription to get any use out of it. To print or download as a PDF, you are constrained to 72 DPI which does not create a very nice document for any kind of publishing.
Interesting concept
Im new to anonymous surfing and Tor (which I have heard about for years, but never touched)
So be gentle
Do Tails allow your IP number not to be broadcast to the internet at all ?
What other advantages are there to anonymous surfing with Tails in plain English ?
---Is there a simpler (portable if possible) Windows freeware application with Tor protection ?------------
---ie avoiding having to do a separate Linux bootup ?------------
Booting into Linux means that you have to devote your entire computer to internet browsing
This is difficult if you also have work to do with other Windows programs at the same time
The way the DVD loads Linux almost demands that you use a separate computer to do your anonymous browsing
Im betting the majority of us want as little to do with Linux as possible, apart from this anonymous browsing function, so dont suggest Linux word processing programs, image editors etc. Have you tried printing with legacy hardware with Windows drivers, on a Linux system ?
Im dreaming, but it would be much better if this DVD could log into Linux on a virtual drive, flawlessly connecting to the internet via this virtual drive, and running concurrently with Windows programs
Then we have perfection !
But still a great find for those who want some anonymous surfing before/after doing other work on their computers !
There is also a Linux distribution that allows Windows XP or 7 to be run in a virtual environment within itself or the same way inside one of a number of supported existing Linux installations. Their business model however currently requires a "donation" for the VM installers although I understand this might change. If it does I'll post the details to our Linux forum. MC - Site Manager.
I've used TAILS for several years with no difficulty at all. Also have used LPS from the Air Force SPI program. Also good.
Useful for those Starbucks moments.
Re the comments--I dual-boot on a laptop Win 8.1 and Ubuntu 13.10. And each OS has VirtualBox. So, in Windows I can run virtualized Bodhi; and in Ubuntu I can run Windows.
I stay away from MS productivity apps, instead using multi-platform apps; OpenOffice, LibreOffice, AbiWord, Thunderbird, TrueCrypt, etc.
No trick whatever. If you need help refer to the tutorial in the Brit Linux magazines.
By the way, I have a 8 GB pen drive with a lot of amazing and different SOs/Linux distributions thanks to YUMI. Now I'm downloading Tails and it will be the novelty of my "collection".
Serious Newbie here when it comes to this stuff, please be kind.
My question, I was told a long time ago to never access my banking site using Windows (My laptop is Windows 7) ...
I was told to use the Ubuntu operating system via burned DVD and boot to that system to do my banking.
Is Tails the same thing as using Ubuntu ??
Cable guy told me my internal wireless card was bad, disabled it and installed a WLAN but since he did this I can not get Ubuntu to find my wireless access.
MC are you referring to oracle VM virtual box? comes std with ubuntu flavours .dunno bout the other linux flavours. Im on mint and use it for a cadd package i cant get. with win7. Anyway its in the repos,no mention of donation.
This setup does not appear to hide your IP prior to the browser nor prevent your ISP from reading your web traffic as a default. Furthermore, it would appear that the NSA has at least partially penetrated TOR as reported by Edward Snowden.
At any rate, it is NOT very hard to completely hide your PC activity in windows for free and encrypt your traffic from the first hop & hide your IP /packets even from your ISP:
Run the first two after a session, bring up 3 prior to your session; good PC management to clean out any virus, trojans & malware are always good practices.
In reality, if the NSA wants to see what you are doing, there is no defense other than to run totally web disconnected PCs and ensure high physical security of your location.
IMO, you can either use reasonable precautions and take your chances with online banking or be safer by banking the old fashion way, in person, with written instruments (checks). Using PCs and debit/credit cards further expose you to fraud. In most respects, there is minimal difference between PC operating systems in this regard.
Ensure your deposits are largely protected from fraud by the bank or ensure that your homeowners / other insurance policy covers your banking liability.
Bankers are actually a likely source of fund loss and recourse to bank collapse depends on the FDIC in the US. Obviously you would likely lose all your bank money in a general currency collapse.
Forgive me if my old lazy brain has not grasped all the motives that readers may have
Could they be broken into two broad categories -
1) Stop anyone seeing what you are doing, as you do it
2) Don't leave any trace of what you were previously doing in an earlier session
(Forgive me for leaving out concerns about leaving a record of what you were doing, on servers/etc out there.)
Regarding '2' would using IceDragon (Comodo's FF) in portable mode allow one to delete all history from your hard drive, by deleting the folder it was running in ?
Or crushing a thumb drive, if that was where your folder was ?
Rob
PS I love the portable mode, and have many folders (on my hard drive) allowing me to have different browsing history, for say Software, Hardware, Programming(VB6), etc
Since I consistently allow Tabs to accumulate, having them broken up across different FF's is a boon.
PPS Anyone tempted to do the same, I never run two of the portables at the same time, as I suspect they may confuse each other. (One portable running at the same time as the traditional FF, works fine.)
No, there is a dedicated Linux distro that has been purposely designed to run Windows in a virtual environment (XP or 7). Additionally, you can use their purpose built VM installers in a range of other supported distros that you might already have installed. The problem currently is that a "donation" is required so we will not be promoting it here. I've been in contact with the developer however and it is possible this might change. He also states that some users have been provided with this for free but until this is listed as "free" on his website we won't be posting links to it. If you're interested though, please send me a PM and I'll provide the details. MC - Site Manager.
Also edited out was the generic item called VPN (virtual private network = virtual point-to-point connection employing virtual tunneling protocols, or traffic encryption.
The link to LifeHacker was NOT to a commercial service although the linked article itself linked commercial services. A bit of a stretch.
Hi MidnightCowboy. Not to be a dunce, but how does one initiate a PM to you? Posting a reply message on this board (which this is) which would not provide the private forum required if you did not want to publicize this donation-required Linux distro?
actually, even running disconnected from the web...they still have access! your machine needs a power source....and they can connect via the electrical outlet.
ebuyer and other companies readily sell such devices so you can run a home network that way....been around for years- did surprise me....how you can have data and 240 volts mains power running through same wires at same time....but it works!
I suspect this is harder than you think without the presence of a device to decode and encode signals to be generated over the power line. However, why even bother with the power lines when they can supposedly employ lasers for direct line of sight hacking, peeking in windows, radio frequency demodulators to interpret keystrokes and cpu response, compromised E-Proms, Roms, & software, and so on.
But all of the above assumes that your physical security kung fu is weak.
Yes, there is no escaping the NSA if they directly target you. Yet, the main usage I find for Tails/Tor is protecting one from criminals using your computer in free WiFi spaces (internet cafes/university/libraries...) to do their illegal work. Any criminal can do his activities using a random computer wile drinking a couple of bears outside an internet cafe, and they are untraceable...For all intents and purposes it was the ''targets'' computer doing the work.
Naturally, there is no protection without the usage of a good VPN service...currently there are many cheep options available (choose one that permits you to insert your own code).
Also, if you live in a small community, where everybody knows each other, you might not want the service provider, probably a friend or acquaintance, going around divulging all your activities, even if there is nothing illegal about them.
So the ideal package would be Tails/Tor/VPN...With Kali as your personal ''attacking'' software, just to be sure there are no major vulnerabilities. The idea is for you to regularly hack/crack/attack your Tails/Tor/VPN system using Kali, then gradually eliminate the vulnerabilities you discover.
There is no escaping Governments criminal activities, but there is a reason we all have doors in our houses and don't permit creeps looking into our homes, nor do we use glass walls in our bathrooms...
Total protection can only be achieved by going ''old School''...that means no WiFi on your mobo, even if allegedly disconnected, and no internet of any sort on your main server...''Let's get physical''...
Even if all your ''work'' systems are always offline, remember to physically destroy your mobo's WiFi connectors, since they can be remotely accessed, and no webcams (also must be physically destroyed).
Paranoia, Paranoia, Paranoia...''Tinfoil-hat people'' are always right, the Government is always out to get you...This should be your attitude in all things electronic/digital (phones/car/gps...)
Cheers.
This assumes you are a direct target and your system was ''worked on'' physically. Tails/Tor/VPN aren't meant to offer total protection, much less if you are the target of a criminal Government...They are meant to give you privacy from your peers, keep your computer safe from cloning, and protect you from generic spy tools (use by governments and corporations).
If you are a direct target nothing can protect you. Most people are not direct targets, but targets of clumsy software attacks (mainly from corporations looking for ''pirated'' software/music/movies/TV shows...)
Remember, Tails/Tor/VPN service(that was omitted from the article)...VPN is probably the most important of the three.
Cheers.
Thanks, I know exactly what you saying...being TI for at least fifteen years myself.....gets lot worse than just the spying and messing with computer equipment.....you targetted yourself is what I'm really wondering?
I'm not sure what changes are available between the free versions of Forte 5 and Forte 6 - at least, it wasn't obvious from their promotion of the product. The improved changes all seem to attach only to the commercial versions.
Both free Forte versions are very admirable editors but they have - for me at least - one serious limitation. Neither, as far as I can see, allows for layout adjustment, so you're stuck if you need fewer staff lines to the page (as, e.g., you'll want for many classical guitar scores).
If you're wanting a much more full-featured free notation editor, I'd recommend the latest version of MuseScore - version 2.0 beta 1 - which is, in my experience, even easier to use than Forte. MuseScore allows for layout changes not to mention a wealth of extras for score notation.
I couldn't find out how to make a comment of my own, only to comment on this comment by vandamme. I am a Linux user and so I will try MuseScore. I thought the tutorial for Forte was excellently done but in order to finish the install on WINE on Ubuntu you need to install Java. Well I already have Java installed ... so I should have been able to skip this step but it wouldn't let me and when I tried to reinstall using WINE internet explorer it wouldn't go to the JAVA web-site so I give up.
I am not impressed that the Setup program it didn't recognize that Java was already installed.
I may try to install Forte on my wife's Win7 laptop just to use it a little so that I can rate it. How do I start my own comment in here. I couldn't fine an empty box or a button that says leave a comment. Has anybody been successful in installing and running this on WINE?
rjl, when you are logged in on the site, then, at the end of the page of any article, you should see a heading "Post new comment", with your name, and a comment box. There you can write your comment and post it, and it will start a new comment.
Requirements: 96MB of RAM, 256MB recommended. Too Funny!
This does sound like a great idea for those old laptops I have sitting around. Keep us posted everyone.
I reckon the main reason I avoid Linux, is the incompatibility with all the 'windows' applications.
Shirley, ReactOS must have some similar limitations ?
The idea behind ReactOS is that it should be able to run standard Windows programs - but since it is in alpha, not everything will work. If you want to know if it works for the programs you would need, the best idea would be to run it in an emulator as suggested, and try loading the program to see if it works or not.
I admire the dedication of this lot but it's been in alpha for like 8 years! Also the list of what works is not good for doing very much. https://www.reactos.org/wiki/Tests_for_0.4.0#Stuff_not_on_the_Downloader...
IMO if there is a reason you cannot or don't want to use Windows 7 or 10, using ReactOS in preference to one of the many great Linux distros available doesn't make a lot of sense. MC - Site Manager.
I thought that this site doesn't promote alpha software because, among other deficiencies, alpha means that it is not ready for end users.
Twenty years since it started with Windows 95/98 and it hardly looks like delivering a stable platform anytime soon. In the meantime Windows has moved on another decade or so. Windows technology has changed so much that it is hard to see ReactOS every catching up.
@Remah:
"... not ready for end users ..."
Who claimed that and where?
"... hard to see ReactOS every catching up ..."
Well, I admit, I haven't even been on their web site yet, but who claimed that and where?
And, for the love of it, why shouldn't Rob mention something potentially exiting? I happen to know from experience with many thousands of typical home users that something sort of stable that can run a web browser and additionally eventually a word processor is enough for eight out of ten people.
AND: Old computers die 95% of the time because the disk drive dies and/or the OS gets so messed up that there is no hope to fix it. So something like ReactOS may be even better than Linux Lite if you put an SSD drive in the old box.
Appreciating that it's all too easy to generalize but mostly the type of user requiring only a browser and word processor is unlikely to have the ability to extricate themselves from system issues. ReactOS is alpha software, is full of bugs and crashes frequently. Support is patchy and often technically challenging. 99% of Linux distros come with both a browser and word processor preinstalled and even the buggiest will be more stable than ReactOS. MC - Site Manager.
The only reason I could see for ReactOS is if you have an old piece of gear that will only run Windows. A medical or scientific gadget perhaps. I had a milling machine that ran on a 386 for years and the driver only worked on Windows 3. (it's long gone.)
Before I'd go through the hassle of ReactOS, I'd see if my PC or gadget will run with Linux. Mint Cinnamon has been my favorite for years because I'm just used to the old XP menus, but Mint's is much cleaner. For old PCs, I like Puppy, Bodhi, or Lubuntu 32 bit. I'm talking 12 years old or more.
Linux has drivers for many of the gear that isn't supported in Windows 7 or newer. A lot of old programs will run on Linux using the Wine program.
I'm no script kiddie, nor yet a Compleat Coder, but my many-decades interest in Difference Engines shows me that those stalwarts at Gizmo's Freeware are worth encouraging, salted with the occasional pinch of praise. So they have my appreciation.
Sure, some of their 'finds' are more earth-shattering than others.... but, in the interests of 'stripping off the overburden to uncover the occasional gleaming nugget', I'm quite content to hear of a Windows clone which still has one or two 'glitches'.... just like all earlier and later Windows versions.
@crombierob
You shouldn't really say that Linux is incompatible with "all the windows applications". If you run Linux with Wine you can run many Windows applications.
In the system development lifecycle, one primary difference between alpha and beta software is its release to actual end-users. There is a reason why we don't usually recommend such products and running ReactOS will almost certainly drive most users into a wall.
ReactOS is very interesting but there are far better products for us to recommend. It was exciting at the dawn of the new millennium but most people would be better off just installing an old version of Windows to get the compatibility they need.
As to catching up with Windows The original project aimed for Windows 95/98. Then the target shifted to Windows NT/2000. It made sense to do so but they still haven't hit that target properly. The longer it takes then the larger the gap between modern devices and this museum technology.
I definitely think it's worth promoting, though - and the fact that it wouldn't necessarily be a good daily driver now is slightly beside the point.
Here's the thing: with Windows 95, 98, NT, etc. etc., some versions may have been buggy, while others were fairly stable (in that good-bad-good-bad cycle). But you usually just skipped the bad one - or if you had to use it, it was still decent.
Suddenly, now, we have Windows 10, which some would simply call spyware among other things - and that's really the key here. Microsoft does not seem interested in backtracking - they're doing the opposite, if anything - and they aren't bringing out another version of Windows after this version. Many people don't want to use it because of these privacy concerns.
But let's be honest, as praiseworthy as Linux is, it isn't what some fans claim it to be. Yes, as an OS in and of itself, it's great, and very capable. If you want to use Linux with programs written for Linux, perfect, no problem. But if you want to use it as a Windows replacement, well, it gets complicated. Yes, you have Wine. But it's not seamless, far from it - and not all programs work with it. Every time you want to install a Windows program, you have to start messing around with settings and what not. And yes, I know emulation is a possibility, as well, but that also uses up more power - fine on a desktop, not so fine if you're on a portable device.
Since ReactOS is built to resemble Windows as closely as possible, it's also better suited as a platform for running Windows apps in the long term, and that is really the promise. No twenty-five hacks to get all your Windows programs running, just install ReactOS and your programs, and you're good to go - at least that's the goal. Sure, it isn't as far as Windows itself, but let's be honest, it took a good while for Linux to turn into what it is today. And given what I mentioned about Windows 10, I'm expecting ReactOS to get a good shot in the arm when it comes to development and use, so that while it may not be a viable Windows replacement now, it just may be once Microsoft drops Windows 7 support.
I used ReactOS some time ago, and to be honest while it wasn't that bad, I could never get the network to work. Not sure if it's been improved since then, but that was a deal breaker for me. I must also admit that I just tried it on a VM, so I'm not entirely sure whether that was the problem or not, however, it is very easy to use, and certainly it won't hurt if you just try it for fun inside a VM.
So near yet so far. I own a laptop that's not fast enough to run Windows well. I've tried various Linux distros on it and they're OK. But I don't love Linux and at this stage I don't think I shall. Wine isn't the cure for everything - it certainly does not run the programs I want it to. Trying to get a printer to work is a pain in the ass and I had to buy a wireless dongle for the laptop to get wi-fi to work. It seems the one in the laptop doesn't work with Linux. So I don't buy the talk that Linux is the solution to every Windows problem out there.
I installed this on the laptop without any problems. That's when my troubles started. It would appear that my 7 year old laptop is too young for React OS so its drivers didn't work. The display was stretched and when I tried to change the resolution the OS crashed. I couldn't get it online either for love or money. So that was the end of my React OS experience. It is a pity because I liked how well it was running on the laptop. I'll keep an eye on the project but sadly I can't see it going anywhere. Back to Lubuntu I go.
It's difficult to comment constructively because you don't give any details about which Windows programs you need, the printer make or wi-fi card. Suffice to say there is a lot of variation between distros as to which hardware is supported out of the box. Having said that the fix for unsupported stuff is usually only a forum post away. Here for example is the information related to Ubuntu wireless support. MC - Site Manager. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WirelessCardsSupported
I'm happy to see Inoreader get some attention. When Google Reader shut down, I jumped to Feedly, but after growing increasingly unhappy with it, I found Inoreader last year and swtiched to it. It's fantastic!
Using it after Google Reader closed, tried many other RSS readers (online and desktop), and now I think Inoreader is much better than others (including Google Reader and Feedly).
This is a list of the most recently posted comments on the site sorted so that the most recent comments appear first.
You can however sort the list on Article title by clicking on the column heading. To see actual comments click the + sign.
As with the others that wish you well, I'd like to add my meager but heartfelt thanks for the superlative contribution you've made to the world of computing. For a generation that preceded PCs, your site provided guidance that allowed us to comprehend the vast array of software that was out there, what it meant, and how to use it. From the earliest days, your contributions have been a guiding light for the uninitiated, and your creation has allowed many of us to acquire skills that we would never have earned without the overview you presented, and the software we could learn how to compute with. Thank you, and may your life be blessed with happiness and love.
Thanks for all you've done Rob -- You will be missed!
He's definitely missed. :)
Gizmo....Thanks for scaring the crap out of me. I've have been following Tech Alert for 30 some years (not a typo) just don't want people to figure out how old I am. From the bottom of my heart I THANK YOU for all the excellent advice you've given over the years. I always told my clients "if they didn't do anything else sign-up to Gizmo's Tech Alert" so many did and I was always told how useful they found your website. The thing is that 98% of my clients were single parents with God's Special kids or otherwise known physically or mentally challenged. I myself have been disabled for years so I really counted on donated hardware and software so when I had the parts I would build and give them a system totally free. I don't think I could have done it without the freeware or articles on your website. So truly I'm glad your site will still be around but those of us that's been around for a while need to slow down too. Thanks for all you've done to help me over the years...miss you is an under statement. God Bless and Keep You. Michael
Thanks for your kind words. Gizmo and the crew are still here, the farewell post was from one of our editors, Robert Schifreen. We miss him. :)
I've not noticed any mention of Freeplane. I've been using this excellent mindmapper for many years. It's open source and still being updated with new features. It's similar to freemind but with lots more features.
https://www.freeplane.org
Wikipeadia has a decent comparison list of mind mappers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_concept-_and_mind-mapping_software
Excellent find. I also like KDiff3 for comparing text source code. Now I have two.
My own favorite is the excellent and totally free WinMerge.
How about the perennially excellent [edited]? It costs money, but if you get the trial, it has this little quirk that seems to allow you to use it almost indefinitely. It does everything that these tools do, and a LOT more. Check it out and see what you think. It's been my favorite for years.
[Moderator's note: Mention and links to commercial not permitted. Edited out.]
Good one! Thanks
My first reaction was - I have not had a need for such programs for 15 years.
However you mentioned config files (Settings.ini ?), and I have had a slight need a few times in recent years.
The excellent XYPlorerFree (which everyone should use) has released a newer version than the one I had been using for a few months.
I am setting up a PC to give to a neighbor, and am including what I consider essential programs. I downloaded the latest XYPlorerfree, and gave it a wee test run (It is portable, so I did not clobber my earlier version).
The latest has an annoying habit of changing the column widths, depending on which folder you set focus on. The earlier version is not annoying.
Had a quick look at the configuration file, and ran screaming from it, and decided to give the neighbor the earlier version.
I wonder whether your recommended program will help me here ?
Also do others know of another comparison program that would make that easier ?
Rob
PS If the lines layout is quite different, wouldn't that drive the program, (or me reading the results) crazy ?
I have been using ExamDiff for years and have the same opinion: this is a very good and very useful program.
Great suggestion, rob! :-)
Same here; I love WinMerge. I used to use ExamDiff but it got a bit buggy and started to crash on me when comparing a large number of files; which I do quite often. Especially with the Ignore Whitespaces option on.
Er yes!!
I can't get my network working I need help.
Just go to this web page!
Is there an OFFLINE version??
Rob,
Nice find... but where do you see "Free"?
It's a subscription service, with the lowest price being $9/month.
Or perhaps you meant the 30 day free trial? If so, you should say so. That's not the same as "free."
The subscription plans relate to the monitoring service. The tools are free to access from your browser and use. MC - Site Manager.
http://i.imgur.com/o5H2uYe.png
I tested a site of mine for the HeartBleed bug and according to site24x7 it was affected.
I contacted my hosting provider but he responded that the HeartBleed bug was already tackled long ago.
He passed this check site https://filippo.io/Heartbleed/ and there my site is OK.
So, apparently the HeartBleed check of site24x7 is not reliable.
I've been using EditPad Lite {https://www.editpadlite.com/} for years. Does everything i want, clean interface. 9.1 meg download. Updated regularly.
EditPad Lite looks a small bit like Notepad++ which is a good thing. Like it mentions has a search & replace.
There are a few other tools at the EP L site, think mainly for regedit work. Haven't checked WriteMonkey.
Rob, this is an excellent find. However, I am also a bit disappointed, when I read about the Windows download. There is only a 64-bit version of the program, and I run a 32-bit Windows. Also, from this page on their site about the Windows installer:
https://www.darktable.org/2017/08/darktable-for-windows/
It seems that the Windows version is pre-alpha development, so there might be bugs, and it might not be stable.
Users should read the FAQ too:
https://www.darktable.org/about/faq/
Definitely an excellent find for users of other platforms, like Linux.
Rob, another excellent find. Thanks.
An interesting comparison from a LightRoom user who switched to DarkTable. MC - Site Manager.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/59324818
Seems there is a MAC version too. I haven't tried it yet though ....
Nice program, however I would need to pay a subscription to get any use out of it. To print or download as a PDF, you are constrained to 72 DPI which does not create a very nice document for any kind of publishing.
Thanks for the great Hot Find !
Interesting concept
Im new to anonymous surfing and Tor (which I have heard about for years, but never touched)
So be gentle
Do Tails allow your IP number not to be broadcast to the internet at all ?
What other advantages are there to anonymous surfing with Tails in plain English ?
---Is there a simpler (portable if possible) Windows freeware application with Tor protection ?------------
---ie avoiding having to do a separate Linux bootup ?------------
Booting into Linux means that you have to devote your entire computer to internet browsing
This is difficult if you also have work to do with other Windows programs at the same time
The way the DVD loads Linux almost demands that you use a separate computer to do your anonymous browsing
Im betting the majority of us want as little to do with Linux as possible, apart from this anonymous browsing function, so dont suggest Linux word processing programs, image editors etc. Have you tried printing with legacy hardware with Windows drivers, on a Linux system ?
Im dreaming, but it would be much better if this DVD could log into Linux on a virtual drive, flawlessly connecting to the internet via this virtual drive, and running concurrently with Windows programs
Then we have perfection !
But still a great find for those who want some anonymous surfing before/after doing other work on their computers !
I haven't tried it yet, but:
I'd imagine that you could install Virtualbox & then point it to this DVD, as an ISO on your "real" computer?
Then, you'd be able to boot to Windows (if you must ;) & launch the ISO when you required a safe internet connection.
I'd appreciate if those more knowledgeable than I could please comment?
Ta!
One more thing:
tunlr.net
Cheers
Lol,
Shows my everyday use of IP-hiding? I'm so legal, it's crazy... ;)
I used tunlr a while ago (not that long?)...How odd they couldn't find a way to go commercial & simply killed it?
Cheers for the head's-up,
Me
I've used TAILS for several years with no difficulty at all. Also have used LPS from the Air Force SPI program. Also good.
Useful for those Starbucks moments.
Re the comments--I dual-boot on a laptop Win 8.1 and Ubuntu 13.10. And each OS has VirtualBox. So, in Windows I can run virtualized Bodhi; and in Ubuntu I can run Windows.
I stay away from MS productivity apps, instead using multi-platform apps; OpenOffice, LibreOffice, AbiWord, Thunderbird, TrueCrypt, etc.
No trick whatever. If you need help refer to the tutorial in the Brit Linux magazines.
Cheers
Good suggestion rob, thank you! :-)
Just leaving a humble opinion: better than burn a DVD is to use a pen drive and a boot creator software, like YUMI:
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-multiboot-usb-creator/
By the way, I have a 8 GB pen drive with a lot of amazing and different SOs/Linux distributions thanks to YUMI. Now I'm downloading Tails and it will be the novelty of my "collection".
Serious Newbie here when it comes to this stuff, please be kind.
My question, I was told a long time ago to never access my banking site using Windows (My laptop is Windows 7) ...
I was told to use the Ubuntu operating system via burned DVD and boot to that system to do my banking.
Is Tails the same thing as using Ubuntu ??
Cable guy told me my internal wireless card was bad, disabled it and installed a WLAN but since he did this I can not get Ubuntu to find my wireless access.
Would using Tails correct that problem ??
Thanks for any input on this.
Jenn
MC are you referring to oracle VM virtual box? comes std with ubuntu flavours .dunno bout the other linux flavours. Im on mint and use it for a cadd package i cant get. with win7. Anyway its in the repos,no mention of donation.
This setup does not appear to hide your IP prior to the browser nor prevent your ISP from reading your web traffic as a default. Furthermore, it would appear that the NSA has at least partially penetrated TOR as reported by Edward Snowden.
At any rate, it is NOT very hard to completely hide your PC activity in windows for free and encrypt your traffic from the first hop & hide your IP /packets even from your ISP:
1) general cleaning: CCleaner
2) RAM, disk cache & deeper cleaning: PrivaZer
http://privazer.com/
3)[Link to commercial services edited out]
Run the first two after a session, bring up 3 prior to your session; good PC management to clean out any virus, trojans & malware are always good practices.
In reality, if the NSA wants to see what you are doing, there is no defense other than to run totally web disconnected PCs and ensure high physical security of your location.
IMO, you can either use reasonable precautions and take your chances with online banking or be safer by banking the old fashion way, in person, with written instruments (checks). Using PCs and debit/credit cards further expose you to fraud. In most respects, there is minimal difference between PC operating systems in this regard.
Ensure your deposits are largely protected from fraud by the bank or ensure that your homeowners / other insurance policy covers your banking liability.
Bankers are actually a likely source of fund loss and recourse to bank collapse depends on the FDIC in the US. Obviously you would likely lose all your bank money in a general currency collapse.
LoLoL, well there you go .. NO totally safe way.
Thank you for taking the time to reply ~!!
Have a Gr8 Weekend and Keep Smiling. :-)
Jenn
Excellent information to check out.
Thank You.
Jenn :-)
Forgive me if my old lazy brain has not grasped all the motives that readers may have
Could they be broken into two broad categories -
1) Stop anyone seeing what you are doing, as you do it
2) Don't leave any trace of what you were previously doing in an earlier session
(Forgive me for leaving out concerns about leaving a record of what you were doing, on servers/etc out there.)
Regarding '2' would using IceDragon (Comodo's FF) in portable mode allow one to delete all history from your hard drive, by deleting the folder it was running in ?
Or crushing a thumb drive, if that was where your folder was ?
Rob
PS I love the portable mode, and have many folders (on my hard drive) allowing me to have different browsing history, for say Software, Hardware, Programming(VB6), etc
Since I consistently allow Tabs to accumulate, having them broken up across different FF's is a boon.
PPS Anyone tempted to do the same, I never run two of the portables at the same time, as I suspect they may confuse each other. (One portable running at the same time as the traditional FF, works fine.)
Also edited out was the generic item called VPN (virtual private network = virtual point-to-point connection employing virtual tunneling protocols, or traffic encryption.
The link to LifeHacker was NOT to a commercial service although the linked article itself linked commercial services. A bit of a stretch.
Hi MidnightCowboy. Not to be a dunce, but how does one initiate a PM to you? Posting a reply message on this board (which this is) which would not provide the private forum required if you did not want to publicize this donation-required Linux distro?
actually, even running disconnected from the web...they still have access! your machine needs a power source....and they can connect via the electrical outlet.
ebuyer and other companies readily sell such devices so you can run a home network that way....been around for years- did surprise me....how you can have data and 240 volts mains power running through same wires at same time....but it works!
I suspect this is harder than you think without the presence of a device to decode and encode signals to be generated over the power line. However, why even bother with the power lines when they can supposedly employ lasers for direct line of sight hacking, peeking in windows, radio frequency demodulators to interpret keystrokes and cpu response, compromised E-Proms, Roms, & software, and so on.
But all of the above assumes that your physical security kung fu is weak.
Yes, there is no escaping the NSA if they directly target you. Yet, the main usage I find for Tails/Tor is protecting one from criminals using your computer in free WiFi spaces (internet cafes/university/libraries...) to do their illegal work. Any criminal can do his activities using a random computer wile drinking a couple of bears outside an internet cafe, and they are untraceable...For all intents and purposes it was the ''targets'' computer doing the work.
Naturally, there is no protection without the usage of a good VPN service...currently there are many cheep options available (choose one that permits you to insert your own code).
Also, if you live in a small community, where everybody knows each other, you might not want the service provider, probably a friend or acquaintance, going around divulging all your activities, even if there is nothing illegal about them.
So the ideal package would be Tails/Tor/VPN...With Kali as your personal ''attacking'' software, just to be sure there are no major vulnerabilities. The idea is for you to regularly hack/crack/attack your Tails/Tor/VPN system using Kali, then gradually eliminate the vulnerabilities you discover.
There is no escaping Governments criminal activities, but there is a reason we all have doors in our houses and don't permit creeps looking into our homes, nor do we use glass walls in our bathrooms...
Total protection can only be achieved by going ''old School''...that means no WiFi on your mobo, even if allegedly disconnected, and no internet of any sort on your main server...''Let's get physical''...
Even if all your ''work'' systems are always offline, remember to physically destroy your mobo's WiFi connectors, since they can be remotely accessed, and no webcams (also must be physically destroyed).
Paranoia, Paranoia, Paranoia...''Tinfoil-hat people'' are always right, the Government is always out to get you...This should be your attitude in all things electronic/digital (phones/car/gps...)
Cheers.
This assumes you are a direct target and your system was ''worked on'' physically. Tails/Tor/VPN aren't meant to offer total protection, much less if you are the target of a criminal Government...They are meant to give you privacy from your peers, keep your computer safe from cloning, and protect you from generic spy tools (use by governments and corporations).
If you are a direct target nothing can protect you. Most people are not direct targets, but targets of clumsy software attacks (mainly from corporations looking for ''pirated'' software/music/movies/TV shows...)
Remember, Tails/Tor/VPN service(that was omitted from the article)...VPN is probably the most important of the three.
Cheers.
Thanks, I know exactly what you saying...being TI for at least fifteen years myself.....gets lot worse than just the spying and messing with computer equipment.....you targetted yourself is what I'm really wondering?
@ Rob,
I don't say thank you near enough so...
Thank You Near Enough,
michael clyde
I'm not sure what changes are available between the free versions of Forte 5 and Forte 6 - at least, it wasn't obvious from their promotion of the product. The improved changes all seem to attach only to the commercial versions.
Both free Forte versions are very admirable editors but they have - for me at least - one serious limitation. Neither, as far as I can see, allows for layout adjustment, so you're stuck if you need fewer staff lines to the page (as, e.g., you'll want for many classical guitar scores).
If you're wanting a much more full-featured free notation editor, I'd recommend the latest version of MuseScore - version 2.0 beta 1 - which is, in my experience, even easier to use than Forte. MuseScore allows for layout changes not to mention a wealth of extras for score notation.
Nice find, thank-you.
But I agree with your conclusion: MuseScore is way better. MuseScore is highlighted on the "Best free Music Notation Software" page: http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-music-notation-software.htm.
Rob Schifreen's contributions: always music to the ears.
MuseScore is open source, runs native on Linux, and...well, I think it's better.
I couldn't find out how to make a comment of my own, only to comment on this comment by vandamme. I am a Linux user and so I will try MuseScore. I thought the tutorial for Forte was excellently done but in order to finish the install on WINE on Ubuntu you need to install Java. Well I already have Java installed ... so I should have been able to skip this step but it wouldn't let me and when I tried to reinstall using WINE internet explorer it wouldn't go to the JAVA web-site so I give up.
I am not impressed that the Setup program it didn't recognize that Java was already installed.
I may try to install Forte on my wife's Win7 laptop just to use it a little so that I can rate it. How do I start my own comment in here. I couldn't fine an empty box or a button that says leave a comment. Has anybody been successful in installing and running this on WINE?
The "New comment" box is at the bottom of all the comments.
You can go to the Wine app data base and give a (thumbs down) report on Forte. It might help out other folks. https://appdb.winehq.org/
Another thing thant helps Linux is to contact Forte and explain you'd love to be a customer but can't get their trial to run on Ubuntu.
Good resource - thanks
Ms. rhiannon,
again one of your finds that make me elevate the pedestal I have you on anyway! ;-)
Thank you!
I'm happy you like it. :)
You're more than welcome, I'm glad you like it.
Rhiannon - My appreciative pedestal is taller and more elevatingerlyish than @eikelein's... AND has garlands and roses.
Rhiannon, your finds are amazing.
This is definitely in the top 1%.
Thank you!
Thank you, I don't think I've ever had a pedestal before, much less a decorative one. :)
Thank you. I'm glad you find them useful and interesting. :)
Requirements: 96MB of RAM, 256MB recommended. Too Funny!
This does sound like a great idea for those old laptops I have sitting around. Keep us posted everyone.
I reckon the main reason I avoid Linux, is the incompatibility with all the 'windows' applications.
Shirley, ReactOS must have some similar limitations ?
The idea behind ReactOS is that it should be able to run standard Windows programs - but since it is in alpha, not everything will work. If you want to know if it works for the programs you would need, the best idea would be to run it in an emulator as suggested, and try loading the program to see if it works or not.
I admire the dedication of this lot but it's been in alpha for like 8 years! Also the list of what works is not good for doing very much.
https://www.reactos.org/wiki/Tests_for_0.4.0#Stuff_not_on_the_Downloader...
IMO if there is a reason you cannot or don't want to use Windows 7 or 10, using ReactOS in preference to one of the many great Linux distros available doesn't make a lot of sense. MC - Site Manager.
I thought that this site doesn't promote alpha software because, among other deficiencies, alpha means that it is not ready for end users.
Twenty years since it started with Windows 95/98 and it hardly looks like delivering a stable platform anytime soon. In the meantime Windows has moved on another decade or so. Windows technology has changed so much that it is hard to see ReactOS every catching up.
I think dedoimedo sums it up pretty fairly. MC - Site Manager.
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/reactos-0-4.html
@Remah:
"... not ready for end users ..."
Who claimed that and where?
"... hard to see ReactOS every catching up ..."
Well, I admit, I haven't even been on their web site yet, but who claimed that and where?
And, for the love of it, why shouldn't Rob mention something potentially exiting? I happen to know from experience with many thousands of typical home users that something sort of stable that can run a web browser and additionally eventually a word processor is enough for eight out of ten people.
AND: Old computers die 95% of the time because the disk drive dies and/or the OS gets so messed up that there is no hope to fix it. So something like ReactOS may be even better than Linux Lite if you put an SSD drive in the old box.
YMMV indeed.
The only reason I could see for ReactOS is if you have an old piece of gear that will only run Windows. A medical or scientific gadget perhaps. I had a milling machine that ran on a 386 for years and the driver only worked on Windows 3. (it's long gone.)
Before I'd go through the hassle of ReactOS, I'd see if my PC or gadget will run with Linux. Mint Cinnamon has been my favorite for years because I'm just used to the old XP menus, but Mint's is much cleaner. For old PCs, I like Puppy, Bodhi, or Lubuntu 32 bit. I'm talking 12 years old or more.
Linux has drivers for many of the gear that isn't supported in Windows 7 or newer. A lot of old programs will run on Linux using the Wine program.
I'm no script kiddie, nor yet a Compleat Coder, but my many-decades interest in Difference Engines shows me that those stalwarts at Gizmo's Freeware are worth encouraging, salted with the occasional pinch of praise. So they have my appreciation.
Sure, some of their 'finds' are more earth-shattering than others.... but, in the interests of 'stripping off the overburden to uncover the occasional gleaming nugget', I'm quite content to hear of a Windows clone which still has one or two 'glitches'.... just like all earlier and later Windows versions.
I'll likely feel quite at home1
I'd be more prone to use https://sites.google.com/site/chaletoslinux/home.
@crombierob
You shouldn't really say that Linux is incompatible with "all the windows applications". If you run Linux with Wine you can run many Windows applications.
The actual list is here. MC - Site Manager.
https://appdb.winehq.org/
Haven't checked the Winelist lately, but the last i checked, the two apps i really need weren't supported.
Uhhh ... nope.
The real deal-breaker is Serif PagePlus.
I've tried the recommended open-source alternatives (mainly Scribus) and there is no comparison.
In the system development lifecycle, one primary difference between alpha and beta software is its release to actual end-users. There is a reason why we don't usually recommend such products and running ReactOS will almost certainly drive most users into a wall.
ReactOS is very interesting but there are far better products for us to recommend. It was exciting at the dawn of the new millennium but most people would be better off just installing an old version of Windows to get the compatibility they need.
As to catching up with Windows The original project aimed for Windows 95/98. Then the target shifted to Windows NT/2000. It made sense to do so but they still haven't hit that target properly. The longer it takes then the larger the gap between modern devices and this museum technology.
I definitely think it's worth promoting, though - and the fact that it wouldn't necessarily be a good daily driver now is slightly beside the point.
Here's the thing: with Windows 95, 98, NT, etc. etc., some versions may have been buggy, while others were fairly stable (in that good-bad-good-bad cycle). But you usually just skipped the bad one - or if you had to use it, it was still decent.
Suddenly, now, we have Windows 10, which some would simply call spyware among other things - and that's really the key here. Microsoft does not seem interested in backtracking - they're doing the opposite, if anything - and they aren't bringing out another version of Windows after this version. Many people don't want to use it because of these privacy concerns.
But let's be honest, as praiseworthy as Linux is, it isn't what some fans claim it to be. Yes, as an OS in and of itself, it's great, and very capable. If you want to use Linux with programs written for Linux, perfect, no problem. But if you want to use it as a Windows replacement, well, it gets complicated. Yes, you have Wine. But it's not seamless, far from it - and not all programs work with it. Every time you want to install a Windows program, you have to start messing around with settings and what not. And yes, I know emulation is a possibility, as well, but that also uses up more power - fine on a desktop, not so fine if you're on a portable device.
Since ReactOS is built to resemble Windows as closely as possible, it's also better suited as a platform for running Windows apps in the long term, and that is really the promise. No twenty-five hacks to get all your Windows programs running, just install ReactOS and your programs, and you're good to go - at least that's the goal. Sure, it isn't as far as Windows itself, but let's be honest, it took a good while for Linux to turn into what it is today. And given what I mentioned about Windows 10, I'm expecting ReactOS to get a good shot in the arm when it comes to development and use, so that while it may not be a viable Windows replacement now, it just may be once Microsoft drops Windows 7 support.
What you can or cannot do with Linux as opposed to Windows is relative to individual needs but in general terms for most users Linux has major advantages. All of my daily work, including what I do for this site, is done using Linux. The only time I boot into Windows proper or a VM installed Windows is to check out queries posted about Windows apps. MC - Site Manager.
Some views both ways.
http://www.cio.com/article/2917372/linux/7-things-linux-users-still-cant...
https://sites.google.com/site/ilugjammu/home/things-i-can-do-in-linux-th...
https://olimex.wordpress.com/2013/09/18/16-things-i-like-in-linux-which-...
...and, as i said, the majority of my work CANNOT be done on Linux.
Once i get a good emulator or Serif releases a Linux version ...
I used ReactOS some time ago, and to be honest while it wasn't that bad, I could never get the network to work. Not sure if it's been improved since then, but that was a deal breaker for me. I must also admit that I just tried it on a VM, so I'm not entirely sure whether that was the problem or not, however, it is very easy to use, and certainly it won't hurt if you just try it for fun inside a VM.
So near yet so far. I own a laptop that's not fast enough to run Windows well. I've tried various Linux distros on it and they're OK. But I don't love Linux and at this stage I don't think I shall. Wine isn't the cure for everything - it certainly does not run the programs I want it to. Trying to get a printer to work is a pain in the ass and I had to buy a wireless dongle for the laptop to get wi-fi to work. It seems the one in the laptop doesn't work with Linux. So I don't buy the talk that Linux is the solution to every Windows problem out there.
I installed this on the laptop without any problems. That's when my troubles started. It would appear that my 7 year old laptop is too young for React OS so its drivers didn't work. The display was stretched and when I tried to change the resolution the OS crashed. I couldn't get it online either for love or money. So that was the end of my React OS experience. It is a pity because I liked how well it was running on the laptop. I'll keep an eye on the project but sadly I can't see it going anywhere. Back to Lubuntu I go.
It's difficult to comment constructively because you don't give any details about which Windows programs you need, the printer make or wi-fi card. Suffice to say there is a lot of variation between distros as to which hardware is supported out of the box. Having said that the fix for unsupported stuff is usually only a forum post away. Here for example is the information related to Ubuntu wireless support. MC - Site Manager.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WirelessCardsSupported
I'm happy to see Inoreader get some attention. When Google Reader shut down, I jumped to Feedly, but after growing increasingly unhappy with it, I found Inoreader last year and swtiched to it. It's fantastic!
The Firefox Inoreader Companion Add-on is the official Inoreader extension - Last Updated: July 8, 2016.
Using it after Google Reader closed, tried many other RSS readers (online and desktop), and now I think Inoreader is much better than others (including Google Reader and Feedly).
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