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I think this sign says everything I want to say about Barry Bonds and his most recent homer. My take? An asterisk isn't good enough. Barry Bonds should be stripped of his records. |
This version of PictureSaver has been a long time coming, and here it is! This version features improved multiuser support and several enhancements for exporting your groups (or now, your picfolders too), as well as a ton of tweaks and fixes to improve performance and stability. This is the first batch of many planned enhancements, so stay tuned! And yes, I'll be trying for a bit more frequent updates from now on :)
In any case, you can get more details about PictureSaver here, or just download the new version here.
As you can see, I've made a few changes to the site. These should make it easier to update, which is a good thing, as I'm planning to step up the amount of new content (yeah, yeah, I know, any new content is a step up, bear with me here). I'm also experimenting with a few other things in an attempt to bring more dynamic content to the site. So keep checking back!
Do you like PictureSaver (or RandomSaver, or GullBlaster)? Have a website? Wanna make a buck? Then why not sign up to be an affiliate? Signing up is free, and taking advantage of it is easy, just add a "Buy PictureSaver" link to your website. What could be easier?
I'll be adding an affiliate support page with some additional content you can use to help promote things if you're so inclined, so check back for that. Being an affiliate is an easy, no risk way to help promote some software you like and make a buck or two doing it. So go ahead and sign up!
If you happen to be visiting the 'Shed and have a sudden urge to buy something besides my software, please consider using the amazon.com links over on the right-hand side. It doesn't cost anything extra for you, and it'll get me a few extra cents to help maintain this site and the software on it. Thanx!
In case you need any ideas on stuff to get, here's a few of my favorite things:
Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted anything, hasn't it? I apologize to all the visitors of the site and users of my software and code snips. Believe it or not, I haven't been ignoring anybody. Unfortunately real life has been intruding rather heavily over the past year and sucked up quite a bit of my time and energy. I've been slowly working on a variety of projects here and there when I have the time though, and hope to release a few things soon (including the Webulator I mentioned about a year ago). But in the meantime, a few issues cropped up with PictureSaver that I had to track down, and while I was at it there were a few feature requests I'd been twiddling away at, and so, here it is...
This release of PictureSaver adds a few new features and a few bug fixes, and even boasts a smaller download package, courtesy of the new compression features in Inno Setup, the installation compiler that I use and highly recommend. The primary new features are with PicFolders: subfolders can now be configured to be separate groups instead of part of the parent folder's group, and for registered users, separate sound and music folders can be specified for each configured PicFolder. You can see a complete list of changes on the PictureSaver page, or you can download the new version directly from here.
This release marks the first of a few major updates that I'm planning. A few features have been requested that will require some extensive changes to PictureSaver, which I am just beginning. These include: group-specific options (like background colors and fonts), multi-user support, and multi-monitor support. While I won't put a timeframe on the appearance of these features, I am working on them even as you read this. I have some ideas for additional features as well. And if you have some things you'd like to see, and let me know, and I'll work them right in. .
But I haven't spent all my time playing with CSS. In the near future, you should see PictureSaver 4.1, which will address some issues that have been reported as well as adding a few minor options. I'm hoping for a March-ish release, if my day job doesn't suck all the life out of me. Stay tuned for more.
Beyond that will be the thing that I've really been devoting most of my attention to: a freeware .x-file viewer. It'd be done by now if I could just stop rewriting some of the infrastructure code! While most people won't have the least bit of interest, programmers may - I intend to release it with source. It uses Direct-X 8.1, and MSVC .Net - but I've taken pains to make it very standards-compliant, so others should be able to use it as well. I'm hoping to use the code as a stepping stone to bigger and better things, like a new game.
Those are all the updates for now. Sure, there's another screen saver percolating, and maybe a few other things. But they're off in the future somewhere - where exactly depends really on how much of my life my day job sucks out of me.
I just posted a few updates to the XML parser code to fix a few recently uncovered bugs. You can download the new version here.
Well, I managed to corrupt the .zip file for PS4. I just re-posted it, this time it seems to be ok, you can get it here. My apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.
After several delays, I am finally happy to announce that PictureSaver 4.1 is now released! This version features new features for higher-quality stretching and picture folder management, new transitions, and a few features and improvements. See it's page for more details, or click here to download it.
PictureSaver isn't the only thing I've been working on. I've nearly completed a completely new, completely different product that I'll soon be releasing as freeware. The product is called Webulator - it'll take a bunch of pictures, and create an HTML photo album from them. The initial version includes resizing and thumbnail creation, plus of course generating the HTML. Future versions will include some website integration features and uploading via FTP. Other features you want to see?
| FontViewer recently received the "Most Popular" award from the editors at softpile.com. Thanx to everyone who has given it a try, and thanx to softpile.com for the recognition. If you haven't tried it yet, check it out! |  |
Ok, so March-ish didn't happen. Neither did April-ish. But, PictureSaver 4.1 is finally almost here. The hold up has been partly the day job sucking the life out of me, and partly an annoying bug in one of the new features that I think I have licked now. A little more testing, then we'll see. I'm hoping for a release around the beginning of June, if all goes well.
As I watched the snow fall outside my window, I realized that's it's been a while since I posted much of anything, so I figured now might be a good time to clue everyone in to what's been happening around here.
One of those things is hopefully painfully obvious - I've been playing with the HTML for the site. I started learning about CSS as something more than a font formatter, and thought I'd give it a shot. This page is the result. I think it's a nicer looking, faster loading, friendlier page than what I had before. Except, FrontPage doesn't handle CSS very well, so updates are a more manual endeavor. I'll be getting the rest of the site up on the new-and-improved CSS sheet over the coming weeks.
A new version of PictureSaver is now available. Version 4.0.5 fixes a bug with the registered version of the program that prevented .wav files from playing when only one picture is displayed at a time. Also added was an error logging capability, so that if a file can't be read or isn't found, PictureSaver will log it to PictureSaver.err. All users are encouraged to install the new version.
Earlier today, Donovan McNabb suffered a broken leg which looks like it will put him out for the rest of the season. Our thoughts are with him and we wish him a speedy recovery.
Although this is definitely a setback for the Eagles, it seems like they'll be in good hands with backup quarterback Koy Detmer - he knows the offense, he's started and won for them in the past, and he has the respect of the players. We'll see how well he and the rest of the team make out on Monday night - GO EAGLES!
I've added a few links to the links page over the past few weeks: DigitalCameraUtility.com - a digital camera file renaming utility. Graphics Converter 2003 - converts image files to any formats in normal and batch mode. Check them out!
I am slowly making progress on a new product, a screen saver for flipping through all those pithy sayings you always see on bumper stickers, in books, and on the web. And here you thought I was just ignoring the web site :) No estimated release date yet, but I'll be posting updates as I get closer to releasing it.
Earlier this evening some bugs were found with PictureSaver: the registration button went to the wrong website, and when there aren't any pictures configured, it helpfully said "Loading...". I've corrected both of these and uploaded the new version. This version is most important for people who have not registered, but plan to, to make sure you go to the correct website.
Of course I find all the bugs after I post the code :) A corrected version of the XML Parser has been uploaded, along with minor updates to the code snip. If you checked it out yesterday, please check it again. The main problem was with error checking and the lack thereof, at least in certain situations. While I was at it, I implemented the (formerly future plans) tag nesting checks.
I know, I only said I'd do it a month and a half ago. Here it is. This snip is An Event Driven XML Parser, geared mostly for configuration files, but useful more generally for all your XML needs. Hope you enjoy it!
I was never able to get the old menus to work properly under Mozilla, so I replaced them instead. I'm now using the JavaScript/DHTML menu component available from Milonic, which is available free for personal use, or for a nominal fee if you're using your site for commercial purposes.
In the meantime, I haven't forgotten about the other code snip I said I'd write, it's just taking much longer than expected, due to my unfortunately busy schedule.
Happy 4th of July! May your day be a happy and healthy one.
I noticed the other day that under Mozilla, the JavaScript menus didn't work. It turns out that it's a minor HTML tweak, but that's led me down the path of curing as many compatibility problems as I can. I'm using the validator at HTML Help to give me a hand, if you're putting together a site of your own I highly recommend it.
In any case, you'll probably notice a lot of little tweaky changes to the site over the next few days while I implement these updates.
I thought it would only take minor HTML tweaks to get the menus to work in Mozilla. Apparently I was wrong. Back to the drawing board, I guess.
I've just finished writing a new code snip (the first of the two I mentioned last weekend) for a policy-based window wrapper. I've also started moving some of the old news off to an archive page, for those who like that sort of thing.
One other change that you're likely to notice is some minor changes to the navigation style at the top of each page. I've been playing with Microsoft Frontpage, trying to make things a little simpler to maintain here at the 'Shed. Let me know what you think.
I created a little graphic you can use now to the link to the 'Shed:
Cut and paste code is available here to make it easy for you.
GSI Studios Photography & Music Page - he's got some great photos (except the seagull) and MP3's he's recorded; if you give it a listen, that's him on lead guitar.
Updates are now available for both RandomSaver and FontViewer. Give 'em a try!
Thank you everyone for persisting through the recent downtime. My provider, Beach Computers, has just completed a number of upgrades that should result in better, faster service. They've been great throughout their upgrades in terms of keeping everyone informed of what's happening at every step. If you're looking for a hosting company, check 'em out.
Ok, ok, updates have been slow, I know. I do have some things in the pipeline, though:
So a lot is happening here, as you can see. Check back often for updates! Or if you prefer, use the ChangeDetection box over to the right to receive email updates whenever the 'Shed is updated.
I've completed some minor updates to PictureSaver. There was a bug in the button logic for previewing sounds that's been fixed, plus some other minor changes. You can get it here.
It's that time of year again, when them gulls start flyin' around snatchin' hot dogs out of people's hands and leaving little presents to show their appreciation, usually right on top of the car you just washed. To celebrate, I've updated GullBlaster to work on Windows 2000. Hope you enjoy it!
I thought I was done with downtime. I wanted to be done with downtime. My web service provider had other ideas, though.
It seems that my former web service provider, www.ThatHostingCompany.com, went under. Dot bombed. Disappeared. A call to them left me with a "that number is no longer in service" message. Oh, and by the way, they owned my old domain name - www.thewebshed.org.
So, feeling like I should have known better, I set out to find a new provider - and here it is. Beach Computers has some reasonably priced plans, seems reasonably diverse, and from what I can tell has a good reputation. This time 'round, I'm hoping to last at my own domain for more than a few months!
In any case, it's going to take a little while to update all the links to here, and all the links in all the stuff that is here (like the weblinks on the About tab in PictureSaver), so please bear with me while I get my site in order. Besides the cleanup, I've got a few code snips and a random bit or two in the pipeline, so there'll be some new stuff to see soon.
Looks like I'm done with scheduled down time for the time being. Thanx everyone for your patience!
My hosting company, ThatHostingCompany, has indicated that they have merged with another hosting company, and as a result of some transition activities there may be some downtime experienced over the next week or so. They expect the transition period to be about five days, so if you can't click in, check back over the weekend.
I just wrote up a new installment of Random Bits, a review of the latest Yes album, Magnification. Give it a read and what you think.
I've also been busy posting things to eBay and Amazon.com zShops, you can get listings of my stuff from the drop down menus at the top, or you can click these links:
Here's a new code snip, this one presenting a logging libary. Take a look, what you think.
RandomSaver has been updated. The only change was to the site address. You can grab it here. Enjoy!
I just posted the first installment of Random Bits, a true story about one of my cats. Hope you enjoy it!
PictureSaver 4.0.2 is now available, it fixes a few bugs and adds a new feature to set the last displayed picture as wallpaper. Check it out!
...to the Philadelphia Eagles on their victory last night. It was a great game and it's great to see them advance to their first Conference Championship in over 20 years. Good luck!
...the most important thing this week:
Welcome (or welcome back, as the case may be!) to the 'Shed! Moving the 'Shed out of the free server arena and getting my own domain name are things I've been considering for quite some time. As the new year drew closer I thought that maybe it was about time I got off my duff and did something about them, so here's the result. I hope you like it!
Moving onto a server I have to actually pay for has its cons (I have to actually pay for it), but also has a lot of pros - most notably, space. And with that space, I plan to start providing some content (for a change) on a regular basis - hopefully weekly, but please, please, please don't hold me to that. Here's the first few bits of what I'm planning:
Sound good? Want more? Let me know!
One thing you may be wondering is, if I'm adding more content more regularly to the site, am I going to bother developing any new software of my own? The answer is absolutely yes, new software will be forthcoming. My plans right now include updates and improvements to PictureSaver (of course), a stand alone screen saver builder (much improved over what PictureSaver does now), and a few new games using Direct3d. I don't have any idea when or if any of these will be done, this is a hobby after all, but rest assured they are all in progress and I'll keep you posted with new developments as they occur.
That's enough for one day. More to come!
| Latest Releases |
| Webifier 1.1.0 - 11/14/2007 - Show your pictures to the world with this web photo gallery creator. |
| PictureSaver 4.2.5 - 03/10/2006 - Turn your pictures into a slideshow screensaver; great with digital cameras! |
| RandomSaver 2.0.3 - 06/14/2002 - Got a lot of screen savers? Why watch just one? RandomSaver lets you watch 'em all! |
| GullBlaster 1.1 - 05/12/2002 - Tired of them seagulls? Now you can get even! Blast them before they blast you! |
| FontViewer 1.1.1 - 06/13/2002 - Preview all the installed fonts on your system. |
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