After my post yesterday on Kevin Lynch’s move to Apple (link), Infinity Softworks CEO Elia Freedman sent me a followup question:
“This line is interesting: ‘You can’t set a standard in tech and maximize short-term profit at the same time.’ Talk more about this?”
He’s right, I did assert that without explaining it. So here goes:
There are a couple of different tech industry things that we call standards. The first type of standard is a product that almost everyone uses because it has critical mass: Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer, etc. The second type of standard is a technology or tech specification that almost everyone builds on or incorporates into relevant products: HTML, JPEG, etc.
Once in a while you can establish a standard without limiting your short-term revenue (Adobe Photoshop is probably an example; it's carried a premium price ever since it was introduced in 1990). But in most cases, to establish a tech standard you have to limit your near-term profitability. Sometimes that means lowering your margins for quarters or years until the standard is established. In other cases it means permanently giving up some revenue streams in order to create a position of power.
A few examples:
—Adobe gradually gave away PDF in order to solidify it as a standard for document interchange. At first Adobe made the PDF reader free of charge, and eventually it gave away the PDF standard itself, enabling other companies to create PDF readers and creators that competed with Adobe. This move enabled PDF to become one of the most resilient standards in computing. Think about it – despite the hostility of much of the Internet community, and full-bore attacks from Microsoft and others, PDF continues to be a standard today.
When Adobe gave up control over PDF, it reduced the near-term revenue it could have earned through selling PDF readers and creator apps. This undoubtedly lowered Adobe’s quarterly revenue for a while, but it enabled PDF to survive as a standard when many other Adobe standards have withered away. Plus Adobe managed to keep a nice business selling PDF management software to large companies.
—Amazon has been selling e-reader devices at cost for several years in order to jumpstart the market for ebooks. I doubt Amazon will ever make much money from its hardware, but it’s willing to make that sacrifice in order to control the ebook transition and establish itself as the standard electronic bookstore.
—Google doesn’t charge license fees to use Android in a smartphone. This played a huge role in the early adoption of Android by phone makers; I think there’s a good chance the OS would never have taken off if Google had tried to charge for it. Google obviously hopes to make the money back through bundled services, but it’s not clear how successful that will be, and in the meantime Android is a huge cost sink for Google.
—Many open source companies operate by giving away their software and then charging for services or other ancillary products related to them. This approach defers revenue until the software becomes established as a widely-adopted standard.
As I explain in Map the Future, strategies like this are very problematic for an analytical company that focuses on logical cost-benefit planning. The benefits of establishing a standard are usually nebulous and risky, while the costs are immediate and painful. Faced with that kind of choice, most analytical companies will focus on tangible near-term opportunities. Thus Adobe made the prudent and logical decision to make money from Flash Lite when it had the chance, rather than sacrificing revenue to possibly make it a standard in the future.
You made your choice, now you have to live with it.
In the tech industry, the road to hell is often paved with prudent business decisions.
Kevin Lynch and Adobe: Shooting the Messenger
There’s been some nasty commentary about Apple’s decision to hire Kevin Lynch from Adobe. John Gruber at Daring Fireball has been especially acerbic, and there certainly are some things Lynch has said that look dumb when you read them today. But while I usually agree with the Fireball, in this case I think you need to look beyond Lynch’s statements and understand the situation he was in at Adobe.
Let me start with a little history. Adobe is a software powerhouse, with a long and very successful history in publishing and multimedia. But despite all its successes, I think it deserves to go down in history as the company that choked when it had the opportunity to rule the world, not once but twice.
In the formative years of the Internet, Adobe could have set the standard for formatting web pages. Adobe PostScript was far more sophisticated and capable than HTML, which became core standard for displaying web pages. HTML is basically a text formatting specification. You give it a bunch of text tagged with suggestions for things like “this should be bold” or “underline this” or “this is a link,” and then the browser does its best to interpret the tags. HTML was derived from a formatting standard used in academia and government publishing, and it’s great for long text-only reports. But it was not designed to mix text and graphics. That’s why we still struggle to fully integrate great graphics with the web even today.
In contrast, PostScript is a programming language designed to mix text and graphics effortlessly. You can use it to control exactly where every pixel and image goes on the screen, and exactly how it looks. It was so powerful and so far ahead of its time that Steve Jobs’ NeXT chose it as the graphics language for its workstations. Using PostScript, you could easily draw things twenty years ago that we still can’t do on web pages today. The nagging incompatibilities and formatting weirdnesses we have to cope with from HTML, the fragile hacks and workarounds that web page designers live with every day...none of that had to happen.
Unfortunately, Adobe was so obsessed with making money selling PostScript interpreters that it was unwilling to make PostScript an open standard when it could have made a difference. And so Adobe missed the chance to set the graphics standard for the web.
Fast forward a few years, and Adobe again fumbled the chance for greatness, this time with Flash. This wasn’t just Adobe’s fault; it was a joint project with Macromedia, which Adobe bought in 2005. Flash became the dominant animation and video playback standard for the web because, unlike the situation with PostScript, the player was free. There was no cost for users or tech companies to adopt the standard, and so it spread wildly, boosted by a bundling deal with Microsoft (link). There was a time in the early 2000s, prior to the iPhone and Android, when the mobile phone world was ripe for a takeover by software that would let you produce great visuals on a smartphone. Palm OS was too weak for the task, Windows CE was a mess, and Symbian was, well, Symbian. Macromedia, and later Adobe, could have set the standard for mobile phone graphics if they had given away the Flash player for mobile phones. But Macromedia had lucked into a licensing deal under which Japan’s NTT DoCoMo paid to put Flash on millions of mobile phones (link). Macromedia and Adobe fell in love with that revenue stream and decided they could extract money from every other mobile phone company in the world by charging for the player.
I’d call that move arrogant, but it was more than that – it was stupid. You can’t set a standard in tech and maximize short-term profit at the same time. For a few years of profit, Adobe sacrificed the opportunity to dominate the mobile phone market for a generation, and in the process fatally weakened Flash on the PC as well.
I could go on and on about the opportunities Adobe squandered: AIR, e-books...it’s a depressing list that reminds me of the stories people tell about Xerox PARC. If I thought Kevin Lynch was the executive responsible for those moves, I’d be shocked that Apple hired him. But as far as I can tell, they were made by other people, and he was stuck playing out the hand he was dealt. I’ve been there, I’ve done that. If you’re part of a team you do the best you can and trust that the folks around you will do theirs. If you want to fault Kevin for something, fault him for staying so long at a company that was putting quarterly profits ahead of long-term investment.
So my reaction to the Lynch hiring depends on what Apple’s going to ask him to do, and we don’t know that yet. If Apple wants him to run business strategy I’ll be worried, because I don’t think he had great role models at Adobe. If Apple wants him to run marketing I’ll be alarmed. But I think Apple has hired him as a technologist. In that role he’s extremely smart and easy to work with, and Apple fans, I think he can be an asset to the company.
Disclosure: I did a little bit of consulting for Adobe in the past, and have met Kevin Lynch. This article doesn’t include any confidential or inside information.
Let me start with a little history. Adobe is a software powerhouse, with a long and very successful history in publishing and multimedia. But despite all its successes, I think it deserves to go down in history as the company that choked when it had the opportunity to rule the world, not once but twice.
In the formative years of the Internet, Adobe could have set the standard for formatting web pages. Adobe PostScript was far more sophisticated and capable than HTML, which became core standard for displaying web pages. HTML is basically a text formatting specification. You give it a bunch of text tagged with suggestions for things like “this should be bold” or “underline this” or “this is a link,” and then the browser does its best to interpret the tags. HTML was derived from a formatting standard used in academia and government publishing, and it’s great for long text-only reports. But it was not designed to mix text and graphics. That’s why we still struggle to fully integrate great graphics with the web even today.
In contrast, PostScript is a programming language designed to mix text and graphics effortlessly. You can use it to control exactly where every pixel and image goes on the screen, and exactly how it looks. It was so powerful and so far ahead of its time that Steve Jobs’ NeXT chose it as the graphics language for its workstations. Using PostScript, you could easily draw things twenty years ago that we still can’t do on web pages today. The nagging incompatibilities and formatting weirdnesses we have to cope with from HTML, the fragile hacks and workarounds that web page designers live with every day...none of that had to happen.
Unfortunately, Adobe was so obsessed with making money selling PostScript interpreters that it was unwilling to make PostScript an open standard when it could have made a difference. And so Adobe missed the chance to set the graphics standard for the web.
Fast forward a few years, and Adobe again fumbled the chance for greatness, this time with Flash. This wasn’t just Adobe’s fault; it was a joint project with Macromedia, which Adobe bought in 2005. Flash became the dominant animation and video playback standard for the web because, unlike the situation with PostScript, the player was free. There was no cost for users or tech companies to adopt the standard, and so it spread wildly, boosted by a bundling deal with Microsoft (link). There was a time in the early 2000s, prior to the iPhone and Android, when the mobile phone world was ripe for a takeover by software that would let you produce great visuals on a smartphone. Palm OS was too weak for the task, Windows CE was a mess, and Symbian was, well, Symbian. Macromedia, and later Adobe, could have set the standard for mobile phone graphics if they had given away the Flash player for mobile phones. But Macromedia had lucked into a licensing deal under which Japan’s NTT DoCoMo paid to put Flash on millions of mobile phones (link). Macromedia and Adobe fell in love with that revenue stream and decided they could extract money from every other mobile phone company in the world by charging for the player.
I’d call that move arrogant, but it was more than that – it was stupid. You can’t set a standard in tech and maximize short-term profit at the same time. For a few years of profit, Adobe sacrificed the opportunity to dominate the mobile phone market for a generation, and in the process fatally weakened Flash on the PC as well.
I could go on and on about the opportunities Adobe squandered: AIR, e-books...it’s a depressing list that reminds me of the stories people tell about Xerox PARC. If I thought Kevin Lynch was the executive responsible for those moves, I’d be shocked that Apple hired him. But as far as I can tell, they were made by other people, and he was stuck playing out the hand he was dealt. I’ve been there, I’ve done that. If you’re part of a team you do the best you can and trust that the folks around you will do theirs. If you want to fault Kevin for something, fault him for staying so long at a company that was putting quarterly profits ahead of long-term investment.
So my reaction to the Lynch hiring depends on what Apple’s going to ask him to do, and we don’t know that yet. If Apple wants him to run business strategy I’ll be worried, because I don’t think he had great role models at Adobe. If Apple wants him to run marketing I’ll be alarmed. But I think Apple has hired him as a technologist. In that role he’s extremely smart and easy to work with, and Apple fans, I think he can be an asset to the company.
Disclosure: I did a little bit of consulting for Adobe in the past, and have met Kevin Lynch. This article doesn’t include any confidential or inside information.
Deal with Windows 7 Slowdown and Program Compatible Issues
Although, Windows 7 operating system is better than its predecessors but it does not make it perfect. Some Windows 7 bugs must be annoying and do not let us to concentrate on whatever we are doing. All we need is to quick fix them. There are various problems that may arise in Windows 7 but in this article, we have pooled most common issues and their solution such as compatibility with other programs and slow performance. In this article, you will get to know how to fix these annoyances.
Windows Slow down
Windows 7 have more graphical features that makes it cool but these effects draw heavy load on graphic card and memory, which ultimately decreases performance of PC. If you experience system slow down, there are good chances that turning off effects, system may gain some speed. To do this, follow this:
1. Go to Startmenu
2. Type performance
3. Select adjust the appearance and performance of windows
4. Got to visual effects Tab
5. Select Adjust for best performance
Windows aero out of work
First, make sure that your graphic card is up to date. If your computer came with Windows 7, it must not be an issue. It can be disabled, all you need is to learn that how to edit registry. Beware that it can permanently damage your registry. To avoid this, download free registry cleaner windows 7 and backup registry.
Go to Start menu and type regedit. Launch registry and browse to KEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM
Right click on it then modify, set value of entry EnableAeroPeek to 1 from 0
I hope that this will help. Moreover, you may experience Windows compatible issue. To deal with this, follow the procedure.
Compatibility with Older programs
Before you upgrade to Windows 7, it is recommended to have a recheck either programs are compatible. You can do it by Windows 7 upgrade advisor checks but it is limited to most common programs only. If you have already upgraded and you find that one of your programs is not compatible, there is a solution to it.
1. Right click on installation file
2. Select properties
3. Select Compatibilitytab
4. Check Run this program in compatibility mode for (choose one)
5. Choose version of window which you know that program were working
Moreover, you can change setting for programs, depends on the issue. I am sure this article will help you in determining issues and their solution.
Optimizing Windows 7 for Efficient Performance
You are observing for long time that your system is no longer fast as in past. The time is not to being worry, sitting lame, or thinking about re installation of Windows. You just have to track some optimizing landfills. Surely, system seven will work meteoric again and save your time. All you need is to learn how to speed up Windows 7 with its optimizing options.
Windows 7 is with the optimizing options. You can make changes according to your preferences to avoid slackening and optimizing Win 7. With the following smashes, you can enjoy working on your system:
Delete Unused Programs:
Some of the programs are built in with demo versions. If you feel like you certainly do not need such programs, delete them. Keeping such, software may slow down system efficiency. Uninstallation of unused programs will save system memory usage, disk space, and increase speed.
Limit Programs at Startup:
You would have observed when Windows starts, many programs run and are launched automatically. Manufacturers have designed these programs as to launch by default with startup of Windows. Point these programs not to start in startup.
Go in the notification area, click on show hidden icons, and select the programs you want to keep.
Auto runs for Windows, is a program for advanced users, assists you to clear the checkbox near to program names you want to stop from startup. This will also help you.
Defragment System Hard Disk:
Fragmentation puts more burdens on your system to work more and results in slow down system. Defragmentation program will align and allocate all disk data in same place. Thus, your system works well than before.
Turn off Visual Effects:
By disabling some visual effects, you can improve system performance. There are many visual effects in Windows 7. Moreover, you can adjust visual effects for system to work flawlessly.
You always have choice either to perform faster PC or look attractive. Therefore, for speedy choice you need to follow the procedure:
1. Click Start Menu
2. Type Performance Information and Tools in search bar
3. Select Performance Information and Tools from results
4. Click Adjust Visual Effects on left side
5. Click Visual Effects
6. Click Adjust for Best Performance
7. Click OK to confirm
Scan System:
Scan system with a security program because, viruses and spyware causes slow down system and affect in many ways. Most of the times destroy system files and create distortion in registry. A reliable security program will keep safe system files by running it frequently. With the help of safe and free registry cleaner for Windows 7, you can clean registry. This will speed system-working capability. If the registry is corrupted, ultimately performance will be affected.
The only way is not to reboot system or uninstallations of necessary programs. Make sure, only important programs are running at same time. Because too many opened programs at same time causes slower system performance. Make a clear check of the programs you work on.
How to Deal With Windows XP Black Screen
Do you find black screen error on Windows XP? You tried your best but of no vein and ready to change PC. It is time to change your mind, with few steps get rid of this problem. Uninstallation and re-installation of Windows might damage computer. Look for a solution to fix your PC problems instead of just reinstalling system.
People take it as immense disaster in system but do not go in details. If you are regular user, so with few instructions make machine good to work. This usually occurs when your system stops responding, thus results in black screen.
There may be three expected reasons for this problem:
Reason 1: Faulty RAM or Video Card in the Motherboard of the System
Solution: Fix them at proper location and make sure their working. Faulty RAM or Video Card creates problem in startup of Windows and a Black screen error may occur.
Reason 2: If any USB, DVD, or any floppy disk (inserted) in their drives when system starts.
Solution: Remove any DVD, Floppy, or USB stick when u starts system. At times, they halt system to load files and to precede Windows.
Reason 3:Corrupted Master Boot Record
Solution:Follow the procedure:
1. Insert disc of Windows XP and restart system
2. Press Enterat welcome setup screen
3. Press f8to the license agreement
4. With option of arrow keys select repair installation by pressing R
5. Windows XP setup will repair the installation files
6. System will restart automatically
7. Then setup program will complete the repair of XP installation.
8. Now follow the reaming steps for this, you must have Windows product key
9. Once issue is resolved make it sure system firewall is enabled.
If this procedure does not work properly, you can take some actions in command prompt to get best results. Follow these actions:
1. Enter administrator password.
2. You can repair he master boot record using the “fixmbr” command.
3. In Recovery Console command prompt, type “fixmbr” and press Y to confirm.
4. Recovery Console is to be installed in Windows.
5. This will repair the master boot record and will work better.
6. Moreover, if this command does not help you type “fixboot”and press Y to confirm (in case the primary boot partition is a FAT partition).
7. Now system will work competently without any error.
How to Install Windows 7 from a USB Stick
Windows 7 is still the favorite operating system these days, even though Microsoft has launched Windows 8 with new features. People are still searching for Windows 7 and finding the easiest way to install. DVD and USB Stick are the most adopted ways to install Windows. When you know your DVD is out of order, the only way left is to install Windows 7 from USB.
Here you will find procedure about how to install Windows 7 from a USB stick and some tools to optimize Windows for better performance. You need to have Windows files in USB stick to run setup:
Create ISO File:
First, you need to create ISO file for Windows, which is a quick process and once you done with it follow the next step.
Download Tool:
Here you will download the “Windows 7 USB/DVD download Tool” from the Microsoft. Complete the files after downloading and proceed to the installation wizard. This is a free program provided by the Microsoft. It will properly format the USB, in addition copy the Windows 7 file ISO in drive. From the Start Menu or Desktop, start the Windows 7 USB download tool program.
Select ISO File:
When program runs, you will see an option to select ISO file screen by browsing, selecting Windows 7 ISO file, and click OPEN to proceed.
Selection of Media:
In next step, select the media as USB and insert USB device screen. Now choose the drive where you want to install files.
Copy Files:
Here you will click on Copying Files. You will need to click on Erase USB Device if you see “Not Enough Free Space Window.” Moreover, click “Yes” for the confirmation of this step. If this message does not come, it mean the drive or another connected disk is already erased. Because in this step all the data will be erased from USB disk.
Create Bootable USB Device:
After done with formatting, Windows 7 downloading tool will copy installation files from it to the provided ISO image. Here on screen you will find the formatting status along with copying files in process. It will take around 30 minutes to complete this step depend on the speed of your system and USB connection. At the end of this step, you will see on screen that “Bootable USB device created successfully.”
Boot From USB to Install Windooes7:
Restart your system and select “Boot from USB Device” to install Windows 7 further on. If the process does not start you will required to make changes in boot configuration, in order to boot from USB device.
When you are done with these steps successfully, ultimately the installation of Windows 7 will take place. After installation, optimize windows 7 to enjoy best performance. Limit the programs run at startup and delete the unnecessary programs. Run registry clean software to clean your system and scan the whole computer. Keep your system virus-free with any reliable security program.
Facebook Updates Its Photo Experience To Be More “Immersive” In News Feed, Timeline And Albums
Today, Facebook has announced sweeping design changes to its News Feed, along with a total overhaul of its Photo experience. Photos are a huge part of what makes Facebook so engaging, and the company says that this new design is more “immersive.” Basically, the design highlights your photographs in the News Feed, your Timeline and Photo Albums.
Photos from third-party apps like Pinterest and Instagram are also getting a better treatment, with larger and better-highlighted images. Additionally, photos that show up with location check-ins will get more love.
“In the new design, we’re making sure that this media type is front and foremost” said Julie Zhou, Product Design Manager at Facebook. What we’re being shown is what Facebook calls a “richer, simpler” Facebook experience over all devices, including desktop. This consistency is key, as it’s something that Facebook has struggled with in the past.
Facebook’s reason for acquiring Instagram has never been clearer. Photos are the entry point into so many people’s Facebook’s experience. For example, being tagged in a Facebook photo is one of the main hooks that keeps people coming back. It’s difficult not to click a link in the email you get when you’re tagged.
Photos from third-party apps like Pinterest and Instagram are also getting a better treatment, with larger and better-highlighted images. Additionally, photos that show up with location check-ins will get more love.
“In the new design, we’re making sure that this media type is front and foremost” said Julie Zhou, Product Design Manager at Facebook. What we’re being shown is what Facebook calls a “richer, simpler” Facebook experience over all devices, including desktop. This consistency is key, as it’s something that Facebook has struggled with in the past.
Facebook’s reason for acquiring Instagram has never been clearer. Photos are the entry point into so many people’s Facebook’s experience. For example, being tagged in a Facebook photo is one of the main hooks that keeps people coming back. It’s difficult not to click a link in the email you get when you’re tagged.
mobile-inspired FACEBOOK
The idea of “desktop only” design seems to be dead, at least at Facebook HQ in Menlo Park. It’s all about mobile. What does that mean exactly? It means a more intimate experience, more responsive to touch and clicks, and way less clutter.
“Now you can get to any page on Facebook to any other page on Facebook without going to your home page” said Cox. The best designers in the world say that to make people engage with a product, you have to make the “tech” disappear. That is of course done with beautiful and responsive design, and that’s the approach that Facebook is taking.
One example of why Facebook had to take this approach is that Cox said 35% of Facebook users on the web never see the chat bar on the right hand side because of their browser width, so the company was missing out on a lot of message traffic because of that. The new responsive web design will fix that.
These changes will roll out on the web today and then to mobile devices in the coming months. The roll out will be very slow, to make sure that the company gets incremental feedback.
The rallying cry for the day at Facebook? “Goodbye Clutter.”
Ads weren’t discussed at all, which is where I find that most of the clutter is. It will be interesting to see how advertisements evolve with this new design, and if we’ll see more of them. The definition of “clutter” is subjective, so we’ll see if Facebook’s definition will delight its over one billion users.
Click on Image to view in full size....
Smoother 720p and 1080p playback
This is just a quick walkthrough to get those HD-rips to play more smoothly, as not all of us have fast & bleeding-edge computer hardware.
First things first, uninstall all and every codec-pack you might have installed. This is done so that the codecs won't clash with each other, which in return reduces the smoothness of playback in most cases.
Next, grab CCCP (Combined Community Codec Pack). Don't install the Haali Splitter or FFDShow (or Matroska Splitter) that comes with it. If you need FFDShow for DivX/XviD/etc. then remember to disable the H.264 decoding from the Video Decoder & VFW settings (Codecs -> H.264/AVC -> set to "Disabled").
Get the latest Matroska Splitter and install it.
Get CoreAVC (it's not free, but you'll find it easily) and install it.
Get Ac3filter and install it.
Get Media Player Classic Home Cinema and install it.
Open up MPC-HC, go to the settings, internal filters -> check, that Matroska is disabled. Go to External Filters -> press Add filter -> add CoreAVC video decoder and AC3Filter.
For even better optimization, check CoreAVC settings and enable "Always skip deblocking". This will decrease the quality slightly, but not enough for it to be too noticeable.
Also, be sure to convert your subs from .SUB to .SRT, as the .SUB format tends to cause lag and/or go OOS (out of synch) after some time. You can use Subtitle Workshop for this.
If you have a newer graphics card, you can always use hardware rendering (refer to the stickied tutorial on the forum), which will take most of the stress out from the CPU.
Upload Files To Seedbox Without Tracker
This is a simple way to bypass FTP transfer to your seedbox and actually is faster than a FTP transfer (has been argued but what I was originally told). In this process you will actually create a torrent and seed to your box without having to use a tracker. Also, helpful if you don't have access to you seedbox via FTP access.
In the past I was given advice like..."create a torrent on a public tracker and give it a crappy name or something".
For those that have not caught on yet...
This is how you transfer files faster from your home computer to your seedbox...
We'll start by creating a torrent file using uTorrent.
In uTorrent first go here and change: options -> preferences -> advanced -> bt.enable_tracker = true
Now go to File -> Create New Torrent
Set the torrent tracker url to http://YourIP:ConnectablePort/announce
* ConnectablePort = Preferences -> Connection -> Listening Port
** Get your IP easily here...http://whatismyipaddress.com/
When torrent file is created and saved simply double click it so that it loads into uTorrent (I am not certain that this step is necessary but at the least will allow you to monitor your upload progress easily without going to seedbox webui).
Now simply load that same torrent file into your seedbox and leech!
Bam! Shazam! Your done!
Install & Configure vnc4server
ok I thought this might be helpful a few out there. I had trouble my self and all the tutorials I found were basically for people who now linux and terminal. so I thought I would redo the tutorial and add all needed commands and steps...
You also need root credentials to be able to complete this tutorial.
After Install of Ubuntu
Next step is to install secure shell ssh.
open terminal and type the following, and agree at the prompts.
(1) #sudo apt-get install ssh
(2) #sudo apt-get install vnc4server
After it is installed you should be logged as normal user and not root.
(3) #vncserver :1 -geometry 1024x768 -depth 16
or
#vncserver :1 -geometry 1024x768 -depth 24
Once you type the above command u will prompt for password. This is the password, this is the password u will set for vnc to connect to the server. Once it is complete we can change the setting for the server. Before we do that we have to kill the server.
type the following command into terminal
(4) #vncserver -kill :1
Then
(5) gedit /home/userXX/.vnc/xstartup and paste all this code into it
(userXX = your user name)
Code:
#!/bin/sh
# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
unset SESSION_MANAGER
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
gnome-session &
[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
# xterm -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
twm &
Now everything is done. All you have to do is to restart the system which is good for the setting to work properly. Once you have restarted, start the vnc server by typing the following into terminal & your done.
(6) #vncserver
and then for the next user follow on from step (3)
i.e (3) #vncserver :2 -geometry 1024x768 -depth 16
to (5) then restart again and start vnc server..
Also make sure to start vnc server in the same order as the ports originally assigned for each user, otherwise which ever user u start first will be on port :1 etc
Play MKV files on Playstation 3
What you will need:
- An MKV file
- MKV2VOB - Found here ---> hxxp://download.videohelp.com/download/mkv2vob224.exe
- A PS3 (duh!)
What MKV2VOB does is remux an MKV file with x264 video and AC3 audio into a VOB file which is playable on your Playstation 3. Before you ask...no, this will not result in the loss of quality because the audio or video are not touched. The streams are split and mixed into the VOB file.
So you've got your MKV file now and you are ready to start remixing it:
- First, you have to open MKV2VOB and select the file which you would like to work on and then select where you would like to save the finished file. When you have done this, click "Save".
- You will then have a dialog box pop up that asks if you want to enable automatic MPEG2 transcoding. It is recommended that you click "Yes".
- Another box will then pop up when you start the whole process. Do not close this box. Wait for it to complete what it is doing.
- When that box has closed, another box will open. Again, do not close or mess with this box. Wait for it to complete what it is doing.
- When that box has finished doing what it is doing, yet another box will open. Leave this alone and do not close it.
- When that box has closed the task is complete and you should be presented with a "Remuxing Complete" box.
You're probably thinking "Oh no, but my Playstation 3 can't store/play files with a size this large"..well, for some reason..it can!
Also, PS3's can run data files from external HDD BUT they have to be FAT32 and when your converting
make sure the output file is no larger then 4gb as the fat 32 will not accept anything larger then 4gb.
I hope this guide is somewhat helpful for those who are not sure about how to play MKV files on their PS3.
Fix a dead pixel on a LCD
Software Method
1. Try running pixel fixing software (see Sources and Citations). Stuck pixels can often be re-energised by rapidly turning them on and off. If this fails, complete the following steps.
Pressure Method
1. Turn off your computer's monitor.
2. Get yourself a damp washcloth, so that you don't scratch your screen.
3. Take a household pen, pencil, screwdriver, or some other sort of instrument with a focused, but relatively dull, point. A very good tool would be a PDA stylus.
4. Fold the washcloth to make sure you don't accidentally puncture it and scratch the screen.
5. Apply pressure through the folded washcloth with the instrument to exactly where the stuck pixel is. Try not to put pressure anywhere else, as this may make more stuck pixels.
6. While applying pressure, turn on your computer and screen.
7. Remove pressure and the stuck pixel should be gone. This works as the liquid in the liquid crystal has not spread into each little pixel. This liquid is used with the backlight on your monitor, allowing different amounts of light through, which creates the different colors.
Tapping Method
1. Turn on the computer and LCD screen.
2. Display a black image, which will show the stuck pixel very clearly against the background. (It is very important that you are showing a black image and not just a blank signal, as you need the backlighting of the LCD to be illuminating the back of the panel).
3. Find a pen with a rounded end. A Sharpie marker with the cap on should be fine for this.
4. Use the rounded end of the pen to gently tap where the stuck pixel is - not too hard to start with, just enough to see a quick white glow under the point of contact. If you didn't see a white glow, then you didn't tap hard enough, so use just slightly more pressure this time.
5. Start tapping gently. Increase the pressure on the taps gradually for 5-10 taps until the pixel rights itself.
6. Display a white image (an empty text document is good for this) to verify that you haven't accidentally caused more damage than you fixed.
Be careful of not breaking the lcd glass with pressure
Convert FLAC to 320 kb/s with foobar2000
The Night of the Hunter Review
(Talking about his hands with HATE tattooed on fingers of the left and LOVE tattooed on the right) "You see these fingers, dear hearts? These fingers has veins that run straight to the soul of man."
The Night of the Hunter is a milestone in the thriller genre. It is creepy like no other film before it, full of suspense, surprises and innovation. It influenced and was imitated by countless films but none have ever equaled it for its unique combination of suspense, dread, beauty, innocence and thrills.
“One of the greatest of all American films. An expressionistic oddity… what a compelling, frightening and beautiful film it is." "It is one of the most frightening of movies, with one of the most unforgettable of villains, and on both of those scores it holds up ... well after four decades”
– Roger Ebert
It was the product of three remarkable men and one remarkable woman.
James Agee was an American poet who died young and left behind two major books, a group of poems and two full-length screenplays that had been made into movies. Both these films rank high in the ranks of cinema. This is one of them; the other was "The African Queen." A gifted and articulate author with a strong sense of the worries, the fears and the beauties of the ordinary person, he brought much to the film.
Robert Mitchum, created in this film, a legendary screen villain. Mitchum was known as the bad boy of Hollywood. He made it a point of showing up late, picking fights, smoking pot (at a time when this was not viewed well) and saying outrageous things. Much of this was a pose, but after all that is what actors do. I don't think anyone else before or since could play the roll of the con-man preacher with such a perfect balance of piety and evil, of holy inspiration and cloaked insincerity, friendly charm and criminal insanity.
A good villain needs someone to balance him in the film. Few people could have played opposite Mitchum in this roll, without being upstaged, but Lillian Gish managed it, and managed it well. She had not played a major role in a film for many years, although she was well known and appreciated on the Broadway stage. Her trademark had always been a frail looking body with a will of iron. Sitting on her front porch at night with a shotgun across her knees her personality was just as strong and potent on the screen as Mitchum's. There is an unforgettable moment in the film where they sing together in the dark - each singing the same song, but one projecting evil and the other projecting good.
Shelley Winters also does an excellent job as the passive and vulnerable wife.
Bringing all the elements together is director Charles Laughton, who was famous as one of the greatest actors of his day. He brought his remarkable theatrical sense of timing, atmosphere and drama to the film. He told Agee he needed to cut the script by a half and Agee did it. I respect Agee as a writer, but I am sure the film is better for it. He wanted to astound and surprise the audience as then had not been surprised by films for many years, and didn't want the film to have anything that wasn't useful. His instincts for pacing are incredible. He used quick dramatic pacing with quiet and incredibly peaceful moments that then slowly and imperceptibly build again to moments of intense tension. He used long forgotten but effective techniques from expressionist films and silent films to create a dense and menacing atmosphere. Aside from being frightening and horrific, the film is also strikingly beautiful. Laughton uses the beautiful moments to contrast and give the audience a breathing space from the suspense. Yes, you do get surprised by this film.
It was his first and last solo effort as a film director. The film was too experimental and new for the audience and critics of the time. Poor reception of the film discouraged him from ever making another. The film got no awards or nominations. However, recognition did come for the film in later years. In 1992 it was chosen for preservation by the Library of Congress as historically, artistically and aesthetically significant. It is #2 on the list that came out in 2007 of the "100 Most Beautiful Films," by the Cahiers du Cinema, the influential French film magazine, and is #34 on AFI's list "100 years… 100 Thrills."
Looking at it today, it is still vital and surprising. All the elements work in this film. There are no jagged edges, the actors play off each other perfectly, the pacing of the suspense and the action is flawless. No moment is the film is wasted or fluff. It is difficult to think of another suspense/thriller film that is this well crafted. I did feel the last few minutes were not up to the rest of the film. Perhaps the studio stepped in to make a ending they liked. However, this is easily forgotten and did not mar the rest of the film.
Gone with the wind Review
Reviewing a film like Gone with the Wind is a bit like reviewing God. It is so well known and so much a part of our culture that being objective is rather like being objective about one's mother.
It is #4 on the AFI Greatest Films list, took 8 Academy awards in 1938 including best picture, best screenplay and best actress, and still holds the record for the most movie tickets sold. Even if you haven't seen the film it is part of you just as the bible is part of you and the Constitution even if you haven't read them. They are simply part of the air we breathe.
Technically speaking, the film is beautiful. The studio pulled out all the stops and used their best craftsmen on this one. Seeing it on the big screen is breathtaking. Say what you will about Hollywood in those days, they made the best-crafted movies in the world and perhaps in all time. It was a film that was not so much a product of one mind as a product of the studio system. The director, Victor Fleming, was never a great director but certainly a skillful one. The cinematographer, the editor, the set designer: they were all veterans of many a fine film and would make many others after this. The leads were exceptional. Vivian Leigh was a fairly unknown British actress who had a mischievous air about her and sparkling eyes. She was a big risk for this role but whoever cast her couldn't have found a better person to play Scarlet. Although Clark Gable was a well-known actor, no one thought he would be able to mix the gentleman and the scoundrel so perfectly. The lesser supporting roles were cast with actors who usually held staring roles when they appeared on film.
With a film this old we have to wonder if it has dated much. You can answer that question with one of the film's most famous lines. "Frankly Scarlet, I don't give a damn." It was shocking and electrifying when it was first said on screen in the 30's, not because no one had ever head such language, but just not in a film. Today it would hardly be noticed. But not all lines are like this some of them still resonate deeply. The film is also a bit overblown. The first half of the film is quite good, but the second half seems to drag. Somehow, however, the fact that it is a bit dated doesn't really matter. The characters of Rhett and Scarlett are so compelling so well acted even today, that we are quickly enchanted.
Rhett and Scarlet: Why do we love these characters so much? Certainly they are charming and beautiful. They are adventurous and they are not afraid to tell it like it is. But they are also selfish and self-indulgent. They are crude at times and don't seem to be at all ashamed of it. Not everything they do is for the best. Sometimes what they do is hurtful to others and only selfish. But we can't stop loving them.
Both Rhett and Scarlet are not phonies. They are themselves without apology. They struggle to have happiness in the second half of the film and they don't achieve it. They are the victims of their own flaws. Although they may be unhappy or crude, or selfish they are survivors. When all others have given up or couldn't stand the embarrassment or couldn't give up their scruples, there are Rhett and Scarlet doing what needs to be done. In fact, they are very much echo the American character. It is no wonder we love them. They are just like us.
It is #4 on the AFI Greatest Films list, took 8 Academy awards in 1938 including best picture, best screenplay and best actress, and still holds the record for the most movie tickets sold. Even if you haven't seen the film it is part of you just as the bible is part of you and the Constitution even if you haven't read them. They are simply part of the air we breathe.
Technically speaking, the film is beautiful. The studio pulled out all the stops and used their best craftsmen on this one. Seeing it on the big screen is breathtaking. Say what you will about Hollywood in those days, they made the best-crafted movies in the world and perhaps in all time. It was a film that was not so much a product of one mind as a product of the studio system. The director, Victor Fleming, was never a great director but certainly a skillful one. The cinematographer, the editor, the set designer: they were all veterans of many a fine film and would make many others after this. The leads were exceptional. Vivian Leigh was a fairly unknown British actress who had a mischievous air about her and sparkling eyes. She was a big risk for this role but whoever cast her couldn't have found a better person to play Scarlet. Although Clark Gable was a well-known actor, no one thought he would be able to mix the gentleman and the scoundrel so perfectly. The lesser supporting roles were cast with actors who usually held staring roles when they appeared on film.
With a film this old we have to wonder if it has dated much. You can answer that question with one of the film's most famous lines. "Frankly Scarlet, I don't give a damn." It was shocking and electrifying when it was first said on screen in the 30's, not because no one had ever head such language, but just not in a film. Today it would hardly be noticed. But not all lines are like this some of them still resonate deeply. The film is also a bit overblown. The first half of the film is quite good, but the second half seems to drag. Somehow, however, the fact that it is a bit dated doesn't really matter. The characters of Rhett and Scarlett are so compelling so well acted even today, that we are quickly enchanted.
Rhett and Scarlet: Why do we love these characters so much? Certainly they are charming and beautiful. They are adventurous and they are not afraid to tell it like it is. But they are also selfish and self-indulgent. They are crude at times and don't seem to be at all ashamed of it. Not everything they do is for the best. Sometimes what they do is hurtful to others and only selfish. But we can't stop loving them.
Both Rhett and Scarlet are not phonies. They are themselves without apology. They struggle to have happiness in the second half of the film and they don't achieve it. They are the victims of their own flaws. Although they may be unhappy or crude, or selfish they are survivors. When all others have given up or couldn't stand the embarrassment or couldn't give up their scruples, there are Rhett and Scarlet doing what needs to be done. In fact, they are very much echo the American character. It is no wonder we love them. They are just like us.
Alice & Aladdin 2 Child Silents Review
Two children's films from the silent era have been uploaded. "Alice in Wonderland" from 1915 ( http://thedvdclub.org/details.php?id=13329 ) and "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp" from 1917 ( http://thedvdclub.org/details.php?id=13346 ). Both are silent but more importantly both are from a different era with a different idea aboutf films for the young.
Alice in Wonderland stars a 16 year old Viola Savoy, who did only two films but became famous as THE Alice for a generation of children. The film is refreshing because it is pre-Disney and thus does not fall under the all pervading influence of his version of Alice. I do not wish to criticize Disney's version, but it is nice to see a different view also. The silent film is influenced by the actual books by Louis Carroll and the illustrations of John Tenniel. The makers of the film worked very hard to duplicate these illustrations. In fact you could say that this is an amimated live action film of Tenniel's illustrations.
The costumes are extensive and very elaborate. Theywould tax the skills of costume makers today, if they could even make them. Although not everything from the books is covered, it is amazing how much of it is in 20 some minutes,
The title cards are direct quotes from the book, even to quoting (and showing the action from) one of the poems. You get more of the sense of Alice's world as Carroll saw it, rather than an adaption. You also get much of Carroll's satire on human nature.
Aladdin is a different type of movie. It is faithful to the story, but instead of adults the main characters are children of about 8 or 6. They do a wonderful job of acting, and you can see they are really enjoying themselves.
Because they act so well, you can't help but com pairing them to adults. The silliness of that comparison adds a great deal of humor to the film. Whenever you see one of the kids plotting to do evil, falling in love, seeking revenge, defying authority and so on, you also see the childishness of adult actions. While being humorous, the film is also a bit satire of human nature.
But most of all, you see the fun the cast is having. It is obvious they (both child stars and the adult supporting cast) are having a ball doing this film. Their enjoyment is infectious and you can't help feeling that way yourself.
The British have a word, "Twee." It means sickeningly sweet sentiment. It comes from the way a child will say "sweet." Many of the "family films" I see today annoy me by being very "twee". Or they annoy me by having jokes that have a double meaning which is supposed to go over the heads of children but makes the adults laugh at some "adult" humor. Adult humor is alright in its place, but does it really have to be in children's films? You won't see either of those things in these two films. It is just a lot of good fun for kids, and the things that adults appreciate are not jokes with a possible sexual meaning, but a bit of satire on human nature that might make us a little wiser in the end - and trust me, the kids get it too.
Alice in Wonderland stars a 16 year old Viola Savoy, who did only two films but became famous as THE Alice for a generation of children. The film is refreshing because it is pre-Disney and thus does not fall under the all pervading influence of his version of Alice. I do not wish to criticize Disney's version, but it is nice to see a different view also. The silent film is influenced by the actual books by Louis Carroll and the illustrations of John Tenniel. The makers of the film worked very hard to duplicate these illustrations. In fact you could say that this is an amimated live action film of Tenniel's illustrations.
The costumes are extensive and very elaborate. Theywould tax the skills of costume makers today, if they could even make them. Although not everything from the books is covered, it is amazing how much of it is in 20 some minutes,
The title cards are direct quotes from the book, even to quoting (and showing the action from) one of the poems. You get more of the sense of Alice's world as Carroll saw it, rather than an adaption. You also get much of Carroll's satire on human nature.
Aladdin is a different type of movie. It is faithful to the story, but instead of adults the main characters are children of about 8 or 6. They do a wonderful job of acting, and you can see they are really enjoying themselves.
Because they act so well, you can't help but com pairing them to adults. The silliness of that comparison adds a great deal of humor to the film. Whenever you see one of the kids plotting to do evil, falling in love, seeking revenge, defying authority and so on, you also see the childishness of adult actions. While being humorous, the film is also a bit satire of human nature.
But most of all, you see the fun the cast is having. It is obvious they (both child stars and the adult supporting cast) are having a ball doing this film. Their enjoyment is infectious and you can't help feeling that way yourself.
The British have a word, "Twee." It means sickeningly sweet sentiment. It comes from the way a child will say "sweet." Many of the "family films" I see today annoy me by being very "twee". Or they annoy me by having jokes that have a double meaning which is supposed to go over the heads of children but makes the adults laugh at some "adult" humor. Adult humor is alright in its place, but does it really have to be in children's films? You won't see either of those things in these two films. It is just a lot of good fun for kids, and the things that adults appreciate are not jokes with a possible sexual meaning, but a bit of satire on human nature that might make us a little wiser in the end - and trust me, the kids get it too.
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