What I hate #1

In the computer world:

• App word:

I fucki** hate this word, "app".
My hate destroys me every time I hear "app".

iOs has "apps"
there is an "app" for everything
Android has "apps"
"app"-stores
Chrome has "apps" (extensions-plugins-someothershittyword)
This OS has "apps"
did you download this "app"?

And now...

Microsoft has called programs ... applications? None. Software? None. User software? None.
APPS!!!

Kill me! I don't deserve to live

It's all so trendy-fashion-casual!

• Facebook integration

I hate with all my heart software that want integrate Facebook functions or Facebook account.

"Like Button" is ok, but your Skype account linked to the Facebook account linked to the Google account linked to the Firefox account linked to the Live account linked to the Blogger account linked to the Youtube account linked to the Steam account linked to Facebook account integrated in your Office suite is MADNESS.

Let's try Soluto: anti-frustation software!

Let's try this software that promises to detect and fix some pc problems and speed-up your computer.

Download it from the website:

http://www.soluto.com/

The install procedure is easy, the installer checks if you have the .Net Framework up to date, creates a Restore Point and then downloads the program.

What  a nice graphic-style!

and........ on XP doesn't work, some error. My fault? I don't know.

Let's try on Seven...

Yeah, it works!

The software is calculating the first boot time... (you can avoid this if you want)

There are 3 modes: 

• Chop Boot: reduce boot time (it shows you the removable software in the boot and calculate the time earned)
• Lighten Web Browser: speed-up your browser (toolbars and other crap destroying)
• Heal Crashes: collects all crash/freeze/fault reports (I have no crash so I can't use this feature)

I perform some upgrades in this first boot, normally the system is ready in 1 min.

There is a timeline with the improvements of your system and so on... nice.

Imho, the software is useful for this "chop" function, but it's a Beta version, so I hope that will be more features in the complete final version.

Customize your Windows

Some software (free and not) to customize your Windows.

This is a very good website with themes/skins/icons/wallpapers and tools to personalize your Windows:

WinCustomize

PSU calculator

If you have to buy a new PSU you must calculate the max wattage you need.
This site helps you to choose the right PSU for your pc configuration.

eXtreme Power Supply Calculator

Shock 4way 3D

I tried some virtual desktop manager... Shock 4way 3D is very nice, good graphic, good interface and customization.
You can set different effects to change desktop with a customizable hotkey.
Useful and beautiful, compatible with Xp, Vista and Seven.

http://www.docs.kr/entry/Download-Shock-4Way3D-en

The software is a bit old (2008) but if you never tried it... download it now!!

4 desktops, do it with style...

An Italian story: Olivetti

I like the stories of the past, where small companies led with passion and courage faced challenges that today seem small and insignificant, but at that time were of a unimaginable greatness.

This time I want to talk about an Italian company, Olivetti, born in 1908 and dedicated to innovation in the field of mechanical, electronic and computer products.

This company began producing typewriters and calculating tools such as mechanical and electromechanical Divsumma14 the first calculator in the world with the four operations and printing (1948).

Divsumma14

In the 1957 the first mainframe computer called Elea and in the 1962 the first "Personal Computer" called Programma101:

It worked with the precision of 22 digits and 15 fixed-point decimal. Programming language was similar to Assembler, but simpler. 

For more (but this voice is incomplete): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivetti

Now the good times when passion drove innovation are over.
Only the big companies for reasons of economic power can meet the challenge in designing and manufacturing their idea completely.

Windows Tweaks

Tweaks tools are very useful software that allow the users to change some deeply features of the OS.
For some changes you can edit the registry, but with these tools you can do this in an easy (and secure) way.

This is for Windows XP (sp 1 and higher):
http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/c/a/fca6767b-9ed9-45a6-b352-839afb2a2679/TweakUiPowertoySetup.exe
This software is from Microsoft, don't be afraid to install it, but take a look at what are you doing.

Old Tweak UI

You can also use a new tool for Vista, Seven...etc, it's TweakNow Powerpack, downloadable from:
http://tweaknow.com/

TweakNow

I used the first tool for removing the big arrow in the link icon on Windows Xp:

A small blu arrow is better than the big arrow in the white rectangle.

These software are secure, but pay attention changing settings.

Increase your CPU speed by downloading hertz!

Do you wanna increase you computer speed? Download some hertz for your CPU!
It's free and easy :-P

http://hertzdownload.altervista.org/

Goodbye Windows Xp

Microsoft will release the updates for Windows Xp till 2014.
Windows Xp is the Microsoft's OS released on the 2001, based on the NT kernel and widely used till now.
This OS thank to the updates is still working fine and most of users didn't changed it for Vista.
In the 2014 (or before) users can choose Windows Seven (that works better than Vista [battery drain, resources management, more tools,...]) or Windows 8 (2012).

Windows Xp was released in these versions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_XP_editions

There is a special version for old pc, but you can build your Xp version for old pc (less space, less ram usage, ecc...) with a WXp cd and the software nLite.

If you wanna pass to Seven consider to take a look to this video:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd671583.aspx

Lion is here

C'mon, buy it and dowload it.

http://www.apple.com/it/macosx/
Download : http://itunes.apple.com/it/app/os-x-lion/id444303913?mt=12&ls=1

It's better? Finally you can enlarge windows?

3D Printers, how do they work? (like magnets?)

Take a look at this video:

I am a bit surprised how it detect moving parts scanning the tool.


In the near future where the prices will be lower and the distribution will be for regular customers ... what will you create?

I have some ideas ...

Waiting for these products become widely deployed, you can build one:

RepRap: http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page

Another Lego post + start to build!

Lego is very useful and is not only for kids.
With Lego you can fix things...

Ok, if you wanna start building without buying tons of Lego bricks you should download this:

Lego Digital Designer

Download it for free from: http://ldd.lego.com/  (Win e Mac)

Do you like bridges?

Bridge Construction Set is a very nice game where you must build the "perfect" bridge in the proposed environment with the proposed materials and budget.

  

Download the demo:
http://www.chroniclogic.com/bcs_download.htm  (Win, Mac etc...)

It's amazing!! Awesome!!

Dropbox & Company

Dropbox is a software that allow you to put your files in a remote server under the protection of your account.
It is a storage where you can access with your devices: there is a software for your pc, an app for your mobile or you can use the Dropbox website to navigate your files.
You can also share files in the Public directory giving links to your friends.
Very usefull if you must work with a file in several devices (desktop - laptop).

Dropbox has 2 GB of free space for you: http://www.dropbox.com

There are many services like Dropbox:

Sugarsync - https://www.sugarsync.com/ : 5GB + 500MB for referral

MiniMedia - http://www.mimedia.com/ : 7GB

Skydrive - http://www.windowslive.it/skyDrive.aspx : 25GB

A "Photoshop" in your browser

If you don't have a good photo-image editor or you are in another computer away from your trusted editor, you can use a browser based editor like Pixlr Photo Editor.

http://pixlr.com/editor/

Indie games with YoYo

http://www.yoyogames.com


This is a interesting website that collects a bunch of homemade games made with a tool called GameMaker.

Follow this link for the game list: http://www.yoyogames.com/browse

The tool is for beginners and for developers a bit more expert,  there is the possibility to use a scripting language for coding and the support of plugins and DLLs written in other languages. I'm reading that in the next times this tool will support the publishing in other devices and OS (iOs, Android, PSP, Mac, etc...).

There is a huge amount of games...  like:


http://www.yoyogames.com/games/123139-uin

http://www.yoyogames.com/games/120852-flying-scrap

Mixcraft 5 multi track audio / midi software for your needs

Mixcraft is a very good piece of software that promises to break ass to other digital audio workstation.

It's very easy to use and it has a very large collection of loops/effects and you can use MIDIs too, has plugins and exports in mp3, wav, ogg.

I'm trying to compose something good ;-)

This is the website: http://www.acoustica.com/mixcraft/

The software is not free, but is more cheaper than others (80$).
It's a trial version and after the end of the trial period you can extend it for two more days.
After that you can't export anything.
Try it!

Design your room

This is a very good tool for design rooms.
You can add walls, windows, doors and other models and you can add your models too (created with other software).
You can export the room in the .obj format or in a render.

A mac pub. With a poster of uncle Steve.

This is my first try, a geek/nerd basement:

You can download this tool in the official site:
Sweet Home 3D : Download

OS Nostalgia #3: Windows 3.1

And now, Windows 3.1!

It has an awesome tutorial for the mouse/gui use.

OS Nostalgia #2: MS-Dos 7.1

Let's install Dos (7.1).
What do you need?

- Ms-Dos 7.1 (or lower) floppy images;
- a virtual machine manager installed in your pc;
- one minute.


1) Create a new VM with one floppy drive and put in this drive the first floppy image (disk01.img)
2) Create a hdd virtual drive, start the virtual machine and boot from floppy
3) Install DOS and when it asks the second floppy, change the floppy image via menu
4) Ok, Dos is installed!

I have 7.1, you can install on this Dos the OS Windows 3.1.
I found only this version of Dos, but a lower version is ok too.