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iTunes w/o Quicktime; Bundlers or Bungholes! ;-)

Apr 8, 2008 2:53 AM by Discussion: Community
How's everybody doing?  :)

I've been having the iTunes dulldrums since it's bungholed, oops... I mean, bundled with Quicktime which steals all of winxp's file associations upon instalatoin. After fighting for a week to get my file associations back from Quicktime I finally  uninstalled Quicktime, uninstalled iTunes and I'm back to Windows Media Player 9 (with security patch and runtime 9). Don't even know if I should upgrade to WMP 11 at this point???

A few things I didn't like about iTunes. If you add folders to your default music folder they do not show up in your new library until you drag them from the folder where they reside into iTunes Music browser while it's open. Editing song names and info has to be done in iTunes or the library does not recognize the changes if you make them directly to the stored files. Too much hacking involved to keep iTunes happy. Argh!!!

Things I did like were the radio streams, the store, and ocassional podcast. I usually only stream radio but have built up quite a collection of songs too.

I heard that Windows Media Player 11 will recognize folders of music that are dragged into the default music folder and add them to your library automatically without all the problems of iTunes. I haven't tried this yet though.

The main thing that made me uninstall the beasty was the fact that Quicktime stole all the friggin file associations for every form of media on this WinXP/Pro?SP2 rig, and it's hard if next to impossible to get them reverted to WinXp default file associations. For example, there is now way in hell to get WMP to be the default avi player once Quicktime steals this file association. This can cause real havoc when trying to play your avi vids with any ease of use. 

Also, I googled how to install iTunes without quickitme and found a few work-arounds but I imagine that I couldn't update iTunes ever agian without going though a complete hacked iTunes install again. Here's the basic tecnique I found on a couple of sites.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/07/19/download-and-install-itunes-without-quicktime/

or

http://digg.com/software/Itunes_without_quicktime

Maybe I'll give it a shot this weekend and post back. It will be interesting what 'yall are using and why you like what you use. If your up to it, go agead and post some pros and cons about your favorite (ror not) music player, so we can get a better picture on the best music players out there. pros =  :CONGRAT: , cons =  X-(

Cheers,
f
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Mar 21, 2008 11:28 PM by Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Since nobody posted anything fun for this Friday, check out some of these funny vids. Which one is your fav? I like the bike park and gillette. LOL. Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

http://www.friday-fun.com/index-vids.shtml
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Career Changes

Feb 27, 2008 3:26 AM by Discussion: Networking

How many careers have you had? It's amazing. Think about it. How many jobs have you had, how many times have you said; "I'm tired of this shit. I'm going to do something else with my life."?

I'm changing careers, and have been there and done that; so I was wondering how many people out there have dropped it all just to start something new. 

From high-tech to natural resources, from restaurants to university, from parenting to construction...

What changes are you going through? Please post your stories and experiences here because they may give hope to others going through the same changes you're going through right now.

Now is a time of change. So feel good about yourself and your decision to make a change in your life. A change for the better.

Peace,

f

 

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Feb 19, 2008 5:29 PM by Discussion: Stardock Support General
Hello, I can't download any skins. Keeps taking me to the subscription page.

https://www.wincustomize.com/download.aspx?skinid=5939&libid=1

I am already a member though. Maybe it has something to do with the site updates.

When I login via FF or IE (both current versions) I cannot log out either.

Page refreshes with my icon and name and I am still logged in. I have cleared cache and deleted cookies, tried again and no go.

Can somebody check it out for me?

Thanks,
f
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Hello,

Does anybody know how to get rid of the dark shadow surrounding desktop icon fonts? I'm not talking about the 'use drop shadows for labels on the desktop' option in System Properties/Advanced/Performance Options/Visual Effects. The shadows are under the icon text itself (like text shadow, not that box thing) and only go away with a dark background, but I like to use light backgrounds sometimes.

I've tried everything in WB6 v6.09a.[b].114, WinXPPRO/SP2, and IconPackager settings, with no luck but there has to be some way to display normal text under icons without shadowing a shadow. Also, I'm using ClearType on an LCD Inspiron 600m notebok.

Okay then. Let me know if you have any ideas. :)

Thanks,
f
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Hi all,

Does anybody know how I can get rid of the line between the top of my taskbar and the bottom of whatever app I'm using. It's just blank space and I can see my desktop wall through there.

Just kind of an eye catching/non ergonomic annoying thing is all. I'm using winxpprosp2. This has always been there with many skins (Diamond now), and previous versions of WB6 as well.

I already tried 'don't use per pixel borders' w/no change.

Cheers,
f

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.1 (build 46 x86)

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

(Default Monitor) 1 is attached to MOBILITY RADEON 9000

Wblind.dll 2008/02/13 16:15:20
Wbsrv.dll 2008/02/13 16:15:10
Wbconfig.exe 2008/02/13 16:15:42
Wbload.exe 2008/02/14 11:05:14
Wbhelp.dll 2007/08/27 11:54:07
Wbui.dll 2007/12/01 16:43:05
Tray.dll 2007/09/12 17:58:21
Screen.exe 2008/01/11 12:14:18


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Feb 9, 2008 8:22 PM by Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Chegidout,

[link="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9ao_vOsZkg&feature=related"]Guitar Hero 3 Through the Fire and Flames XPERT![/link]

My son has been trying to beat this song on PS3 on medium level. This kid spanked it on Expert!

Here is the band doing the real song. They are pretty incredible!
[link="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3H4liC2sWg"]DragonForce - Through The Fire And Flames (Video)[/link]

Enjoy,
f
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Feb 8, 2008 3:01 PM by Discussion: Personal Computing
If any of you Firefox users have your auto update turned off Firefox had a new update including security and stability fixes. Be safe out there kids. :)

[link="http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/2.0.0.12/releasenotes/"]Firefox 2.0.0.12 release notes[/link]
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Feb 1, 2008 7:03 PM by Discussion: Community
TASER GIFTING

This is one of those stories where you begin to chuckle....then find yourself laughing out loud. (Not to mention the tears that come with the laughter)

Pocket Taser Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife. A guy who purchased his lovely wife a pocket Taser for their anniversary submitted this:

Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 15th anniversary and I was loo king for a little something ex tra fo r my wife Julie. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized taser. The effects of the taser were supposed to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety....

'WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home.

I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button AND pressed it against a metal surface at the same time; I'd get the blue arc of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs.

AWESOME!!!

Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.

Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two triple-A batteries, right?

There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (tr usting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target.

I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised. Am I wrong?

So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, and taser in another.

The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries. All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and (loaded with two itsy, bitsy triple-A batteries) thinking to myself, "no possible way!"

What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best... I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, "don't do it master," reasoning that a one- second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad. I decided to give myself a one-second burst just for heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and ..

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION!

I'm pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again.

I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be fo und, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs.

The cat was standing over me making meowing sounds I had never heard before, licking my face, undoubtedly thinking to herself, "Do it again, stupid, do it again!"

Note: If you ever feel compelled to "mug" yourself with a taser, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one-second burst when you zap yourself!

You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor.

A three-second burst would be considered conservative.

SON-OF-A-... That hurt like **%!!! A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape. My bent read ing glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. How did they get up there??? My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had be en shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I'm still looking for my testicles! I'm offering a significant reward for their safe return!! Still in shock!

P. S. My wife loved the gift, and now regularly threatens me with it!

"If you think Education is difficult, try being stupid."
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I just opened up SDC and WB updated itself to 6.02.025. I googled this number and got some funny stuff. :LOL:

[link="http://www.mrsc.org/mc/lynnwood/Lynnwd06.html"]Lynwood 6.02.025 Dangerous animal [/link]

[link="http://www.qcode.us/codes/temecula/view.php?topic=6-6_02-6_02_025&frames=on"]Temecula 6.02.025 Control of unspayed and unaltered cats [/link]

...and the funniest one

[link="http://www.codepublishing.com/wa/edgewood/html/edgewd06/edgewd0602.html"]Edgewood 6.02.025 Poultry running at large [/link]

Hope you got a chuckle. :LOL:

Cheers,
f
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