Thank you for all of your contributions and for writing about things in such a way that this great-grandma understands. Much happiness and have a great retirement.
Thank you for the time you contributed to Gizmo and the articles you wrote on the Free Software. I enjoyed reading about the software, but didn't see a lot of use for me to down load most of them. The ones I did get I still use and glad someone else had input on how helpful they would be for me. My son is also a programmer, but his programs are for the space and defense departments for the US government.
Enjoy your retirement and stay busy with fun things in life.
Thank you for all your work. It was greatly appreciated by myself and others that I pointed towards your articles. You will be missed by many.
Enjoy your well earned retirement.
I haven't registered before but I thought it was important to do so to express my deep gratitude for all the helpful suggestions and all the hours of effort that made them possible. Many, many thanks.
Many thanks, Rob, for all your excellent service and advice over the years. Your hard work in finding, testing, and writing about your Hot Finds has made my computing life much easier and better, for which I'm truly grateful, as (manifestly) are the others commenting here.
I wish you a long, peaceful, and healthy retirement, with perhaps - dare we hope? - the occasional Gizmo contribution when you come across some excellent piece of free software and just can't help yourself!
You have helped take this senior citizen from computer illiterate to well, someone who has a handle on most computer issues. Thank you Rob and all the best in your retirement.
All the best Rob. Hoping a rock won't fall into your swimming pool and an old colleague come to coerce you back etc. Maybe you'll be tempted to make the odd contribution still. Thanks for all your good work.
Many years of excellent advice and discussions, your act is going to be a tough one to follow. I have been retired no for about ten years. The first one was the hardest, trying to unwind into a less driven lifestyle. Wishing you well on yours.
I'm a longtime fan of this site. Your reviews have always been spot on and helped me a lot when searching for new programs. Many thanks for your work and enjoy your retirement.
The Portuguese people are generally so nice, and way too understanding about my lack of language skills. Not only do many of them speak enough English to get by, they frequently apologise for not speaking it better. Which makes me feel even worse.
I used to get very frustrated during our first couple of years here because of my inability to master the language but now I accept it just ain't gonna happen. :D Unlike Portugal and many other parts of Europe, English is not widely spoken here at all and it's virtually impossible to engage with any official function without having a translator. Same applies to banks and doctors/hospitals although there is more English spoken in the main tourist areas. 99% of Brazilians who do speak English assume I'm American and immediately launch into political debates about stuff I care little about until I'm able to reveal my true heritage. MC
Thank you kindly Rod, for all the hot finds emails, and gems, you have forwarded to us over the years. Sorry to see you go. Certainly it is one of the few email I always looked forward to opening and discovering what new gems you had discovered. Cheers to you..
Rob, your career of top-shelf reviews of software has had an amazing effect on solidifying and strengthening my trade--the trade of software development I love. Thanks.
Well, I guess everyone has to retire sometime. Your contributions to the vast community of users has have been invaluable. Thank you so much. I understand that I may still look forward to the occasional post. May you live long and continue to prosper.
Yep, I'd like to also add a fond farewell to you Robert. I have been using this website for some years, and it's greatest benefit is to point me towards useful, well-functioning freeware. As you point out, a lot of software can be poorly constructed; additionally I would like to add that another procedure with software is to have to download it to check whether it does exactly what I need. Your pages take away most of that tiresome stuff, here I am able to refine my software palette. Another benefit, is I end up with LESS software on board, because I have been able to choose my software more accurately.
I am a self-taught semi-geek, and I help friends and family keep their electronica under control, and I am always promoting this site as the go-to for safe, quality software. Cheers!
Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the freeware cause !
I have been using this site for about 15 years now... and I would not like to be without it.
Which is why I donated the other day -- and will continue to.
This site is of great value -- and we appreciate it.
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:
I use Jitsi weekly, and I love it. I recommend it.
One correction: it's most decidedly NOT secure. When you create a room, all you do is create a URL. The same URL works over and over, as the room isn't created until someone visits that URL. Anyone with that URL will automatically join your room. The only way to be "secure" is in the sense that you have a unique URL that someone else will never visit. It's not a problem, but it's not "secure" as one would use the word when talking about software.
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.
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.
Rob, thanks and you will be missed. May God continue to watch over you in your new ventures.
All the best Rob. You will be missed.
Thank you for all of your contributions and for writing about things in such a way that this great-grandma understands. Much happiness and have a great retirement.
Many many thanks - to Rob and Gizmo and the whole team.
Good luck and best wishes, Rob!
With deepest thanks for your many years of dedication, and every best wish for the next phase of your journey!
May the rains be light, and the wind remain at your back.
I'm happily adding my thanks to the others. Your insights and recommendations have added much to my enjoyment of the internet.
All the best!
Thanks for all your good work
Thank you for the time you contributed to Gizmo and the articles you wrote on the Free Software. I enjoyed reading about the software, but didn't see a lot of use for me to down load most of them. The ones I did get I still use and glad someone else had input on how helpful they would be for me. My son is also a programmer, but his programs are for the space and defense departments for the US government.
Enjoy your retirement and stay busy with fun things in life.
Maxine
Thank you for all your work. It was greatly appreciated by myself and others that I pointed towards your articles. You will be missed by many.
Enjoy your well earned retirement.
I haven't registered before but I thought it was important to do so to express my deep gratitude for all the helpful suggestions and all the hours of effort that made them possible. Many, many thanks.
Many thanks, Rob, for all your excellent service and advice over the years. Your hard work in finding, testing, and writing about your Hot Finds has made my computing life much easier and better, for which I'm truly grateful, as (manifestly) are the others commenting here.
I wish you a long, peaceful, and healthy retirement, with perhaps - dare we hope? - the occasional Gizmo contribution when you come across some excellent piece of free software and just can't help yourself!
Vá com Deus!
I have been a subscriber for years and always looked forward to great articles from Rob.
You will be missed mate, wishing you all the best in your retirement...
You have helped take this senior citizen from computer illiterate to well, someone who has a handle on most computer issues. Thank you Rob and all the best in your retirement.
Thank you for all you do (have done). Many blessings to you and for your future. I will miss you.
All the best Rob. Hoping a rock won't fall into your swimming pool and an old colleague come to coerce you back etc. Maybe you'll be tempted to make the odd contribution still. Thanks for all your good work.
Many years of excellent advice and discussions, your act is going to be a tough one to follow. I have been retired no for about ten years. The first one was the hardest, trying to unwind into a less driven lifestyle. Wishing you well on yours.
I'm a longtime fan of this site. Your reviews have always been spot on and helped me a lot when searching for new programs. Many thanks for your work and enjoy your retirement.
Thank you Robert - have been enjoying these daily emails for years
[replaced offensive word with thank you - moderator]
Thank you kindly Rod, for all the hot finds emails, and gems, you have forwarded to us over the years. Sorry to see you go. Certainly it is one of the few email I always looked forward to opening and discovering what new gems you had discovered. Cheers to you..
Rob, your career of top-shelf reviews of software has had an amazing effect on solidifying and strengthening my trade--the trade of software development I love. Thanks.
Well, I guess everyone has to retire sometime. Your contributions to the vast community of users has have been invaluable. Thank you so much. I understand that I may still look forward to the occasional post. May you live long and continue to prosper.
Yep, I'd like to also add a fond farewell to you Robert. I have been using this website for some years, and it's greatest benefit is to point me towards useful, well-functioning freeware. As you point out, a lot of software can be poorly constructed; additionally I would like to add that another procedure with software is to have to download it to check whether it does exactly what I need. Your pages take away most of that tiresome stuff, here I am able to refine my software palette. Another benefit, is I end up with LESS software on board, because I have been able to choose my software more accurately.
I am a self-taught semi-geek, and I help friends and family keep their electronica under control, and I am always promoting this site as the go-to for safe, quality software. Cheers!
Thanx Rob..!
Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the freeware cause !
I have been using this site for about 15 years now... and I would not like to be without it.
Which is why I donated the other day -- and will continue to.
This site is of great value -- and we appreciate it.
Thanks for your hard work and service to all your readers. Don't let the typing fingers rest too long. Again many thanks.
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 ....
I use Jitsi weekly, and I love it. I recommend it.
One correction: it's most decidedly NOT secure. When you create a room, all you do is create a URL. The same URL works over and over, as the room isn't created until someone visits that URL. Anyone with that URL will automatically join your room. The only way to be "secure" is in the sense that you have a unique URL that someone else will never visit. It's not a problem, but it's not "secure" as one would use the word when talking about software.
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. :)
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