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August 5

laptop versus Ipad

Daughter going to college. We just spent over two grand on a new laptop. My work keeps me away from home four weeks at a time. My wife informed me last night our daughter insisted on having an Ipad as she could not do certain things on laptop the Ipad could, take notes in class was only example given. What are the advantages of having an Ipad along w/ a computer while/when going to college? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Twbtr (talk • contribs) 11:15, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

Except for being somewhat being more portable and theoretically more "trendy" I would say there are none whatsoever, she could just as easily take notes on a laptop, in fact probably more easily since I imagine she's more experienced using a keyboard than a touch screen--Jac16888 11:25, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

I would have agreed with Jac16888 until about five months ago when my wife got an iPad. I'm a hardcore computer nerd; on the face of it, the iPad didn't appear to me to be much other than provide a very pretty machine to look at cats and buy stuff. But my wife is not a computer nerd — she's just someone who wants to use a computer and not worry about it. If you pair the iPad with a bluetooth keyboard (there are some good models out there with real keys), it suddenly becomes an ultra-compact, ultra-easy, ultra-light laptop. No joke. My wife basically doesn't use her laptop anymore at all, because it adds a huge amount of weight and general laptop cruft that she doesn't need — all she wants to be able to do with a computer is write documents, check e-mail, surf the internet. And an iPad (with an external keyboard!) does that just fine. (We find the "on screen keyboard" thing just too unreliable to use for serious work, but maybe younger hands have an easier time with it.)

As a second point of data, I will just say that in my experience as an educator, students today are indeed using iPads as a replacement for both notebooks and laptops. It's very common, and they get a lot out of them. Many get stuff out of them that at the moment you can't do with a laptop, like using a stylus that honestly works well (instead of typing).

I will also just say that carrying around an iPad is usually a lot lighter than carrying around a laptop, even a very small and thin laptop. Keep in mind that women in general already carry around more stuff than men do because of the purse; my wife was finding that years of carrying around a MacBook AND a purse were taking a toll on her shoulder muscles; switching to the iPad made a noticeable improvement in the reduction of weight. Whatever you get her, be aware that its weight will likely make the difference between whether she actually feels she can take it to class, versus leaving it at home and essentially serving as a desktop.

So I'm not weighing in one way or the other here, except to say that on a site like this, you're talking to people who are above average when it comes to our expectations of what computers should do — but that's not necessarily tailored to the work your daughter will need to do in college. I wouldn't be able to substitute an iPad for a laptop, but I'm not your daughter. The students I have seen that are her age, and even my dear wife, actually find iPads to be significantly more useful than that. (And if they do need "real computers," all colleges have computer labs where they can use them, these days.) --Mr.98 (talk) 13:06, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

If the weight factor is the only real difference though I would consider spending more money on an Ipad after already spending 2 grand on a laptop for college to be unnecessary. OP you could always look into other tablet computers, you can get ones with much the same functionality for considerably less money--Jac16888 13:42, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

My experience is that most of the other tablets on the market don't really compete when it comes to user interface, apps, etc. That will probably change, but if you compare them side by side, the iPads usually kick their butts in every category. They cost a lot, but they're also the result of a lot of careful R&D. Again, it depends on what you're trying to use them for. I wouldn't have much use for one myself. But for something that is much smaller than even a netbook, and works a hell of a lot better than any netbook I've seen (and a better screen than even any laptop I've owned), it does do the trick. --Mr.98 (talk) 18:04, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

Indeed. iPads are more expensive than non-Apple tablets, but you can get them for less than $2000.
You can also for less than $2000 get an incredibly swanky Lenovo Thinkpad convertible tablet, which is essentially both a tablet and laptop in one, as well as being significantly more powerful and useful in every respect than an iPad, and also having a considerably more useful screen which includes not only touch (finger) based input (like an iPad), but also what is called an active digitizer (which is much more precise for taking notes and/or drawing with a stylus, like a wacom tablet). Taking notes in class on an iPad as I understand it tends to require a very large-ended stylus to simulate the size of a finger. I'm sure it would suffice, but technologically speaking it's a step back.
Lenovo (and HTC) also have some non-convertible tablets (cheaper) that are more like iPads but still have the superior touchscreens (finger + stylus, not just finger).
Any of these alternatives would be a better choice than an iPad, IMO, but not everyone wants an iPad because they think it's the best choice... some just want one. :p ¦ Reisio (talk) 16:48, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

Have you personally used a tablet/laptop? I've played with them but they've never worked well. They seem to suck both as laptops and tablets both. Anyway, long story short, there are differences between the different models. I know the "boo Apple, you're paying too much for proprietary products just to be cool" line of argumentation, but personally if I were picking a machine for a non-nerd, the iPad is the easiest damned thing they'll ever use, and everything "just works." That's not been by experience with other operating systems and hardware. My wife has had both a Toshiba tablet/laptop and the iPad; the Toshiba one turned out to be a complete piece of junk, the iPad is the one she uses all the time. We're not Apple fanboys or anything like that — it's just easier to use, looks better, etc. --Mr.98 (talk) 18:04, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

I agree, a version of Mac OS is going to be less awful in general than a version of Microsoft Windows, but Android is also in the mix, and we can only speculate as to what OS his daughter is used to and what her competency is, and competitors _are_ cheaper (though obviously cost isn't an issue in this case), and the screen I mentioned is immensely more useful for writing/drawing with. The only thing that is perfectly clear is that from a hardware perspective, you can get something cheaper and with a more useful screen for note taking by not buying Apple. ¦ Reisio (talk) 18:20, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

Put simply, an iPad is a primitive, hard-to-set-up computer. Simple things like printing require extra setup work on your part. For example, to print, you can't just install print drivers on the iPad and then hook up a USB cable to a printer. Instead, you first have to install an application on both the iPad and a real computer. The drivers also have to be installed on the real computer. The real computer then prints the document once it receives it from the iPad. Other tasks like transferring files between an iPad and a real computer require that you use Apple's proprietary dock connector and an adapter you purchase separately. Then you have to install the buggy iTunes application on a real computer and use it to transfer the files. Other tablets and phones typically don't have proprietary connectors and can use the file explorer that is built into your operating system. So, you're paying for a ball and chain that will cost you far more money than the purchase price of the device. Some people say these devices are great for people who are new to computers, but is your daughter brand new to computers? If not, don't buy it. And if you're not really good with them, you'd probably have to pay someone to set it up and maintain it for you. Apple decides which applications you can purchase from their app store and which devices can use the store. If they decide that your iPad is too old, they may cut you off from the store. They haven't done that, yet, but it's one of the many things they can do since they control it. It may be smaller than a laptop, but doing things like typing a letter or e-mail on the device will be slower without a physical keyboard. So, then you purchase a Bluetooth keyboard, which diminishes the portability of the device when deployed, and it reverts to the size of a small laptop.—Best Dog Ever (talk) 20:58, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

Just to set the record straight, Best Dog Ever, AirPrint is built in to iPad. AirPrint is a standard technology supported by most printer models, produced every major printer manufacturer I am aware of. (Over two hundred printer models currently support this technology). That means that in practice, you will never need to install any driver or buy any cable to print a document from an iPad. All you need is a WiFi connection, and any one of several dozen compatible brands or models of printer. Granted, if you're trying to print to a 15-year-old dot-matrix printer, or an IBM 4019, you might need a Unix hacker to set up a CUPS relay... but let's be serious, this is 2012. A brand new printer costs under fifty dollars, so if you've found yourself spending more than an hour setting up drivers for a defunct, out-dated printer on any platform or computer (iPad or otherwise), you've probably wasted more time than it's worth.

I was a little bit offended by the "primitive" description used above; but it is a totally unsubstantiated claim and is very easy to refute. iPads are great for a variety of tasks. Many users check email, take notes, and use applications from the store. Other users who are technically proficient write their own software for the iPad. In addition to its easy user-friendly interface, the iPad is great for programmers. It is a fully-programmable, Turing-complete system, with an advanced Unix-based operating system. iOS provides numerous facilities to allow programmers to use the latest and greatest hardware - for example, accessing iPad sensors like the MEMS accelerometers that aren't even present in most Intel-style computers today - or the iPad's state-of-the-art, low-power 3D graphics accelerator hardware. The developer program is not free to join - but it costs less than my Deitel & Deitel "How to Program" textbook, and the iOS Developer Tools come with a lot more example code, documentation, and up-to-date information. Were I in school today, I would seriously consider purchasing an iOS developer subscription instead of an introductory programming textbook. So, whether you're a novice computer user or a kernel hacker, you'll probably be able to do something useful with these machines.

On a last note, you do not need to purchase a dock-connector separately. It is included in the box with the iPad. While I respect your right to your opinion, which is clearly biased against the iPad, I can't see how you justify resorting to factually-incorrect statements to slander the product. Nimur (talk) 22:40, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

I purchased a good Canon printer a couple of years ago and it didn't come with Airprint support. I doubt the laser printers at her school support it, either. And in any case, I don't feel like replacing a good printer with a cheap, $50 model just to work around the iPad's limitations is worthwhile. And again, that workaround proves my point about the iPad being hard to work with.

If you do business with Apple, they will exploit you every step of the way to get more money out of you. Is your battery dead? Sorry. You can't replace it. You have to buy a new iPad. You want a new application? You have to buy it directly from us via our App Store, not online from anyone else.

I won't get into a debate about the technical underpinnings of the iPad. The fact is that it is primitive because of the end-user features it lacks -- not because of any theoretical limitations in the technology that underpins it.

Anyone who wastes lots of money on a product will get offended when you point out they wasted their money. They will also attempt to justify their purchase in a classic case of cognitive dissonance. For example, you will get an identical reaction to yours from BMW owners when their brand-new cars break down. They will start talking about how fast it is, how good it handles, etc., in an attempt to overlook the fact that it's just not a very good car. The same is true with iPad owners.—Best Dog Ever (talk) 23:28, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

The only thing more irritating than frothing pro-Apple fanboys are frothing anti-Apple hater. It's easier if you just admit that you're not the target audience. It's a machine which proudly proclaims that it is built for a certain type of use, and constrains your usage as part of the trade off you get with no viruses, ease, and simplicity. It's not for everyone, but calling such a thing "primitive" is as erroneous as saying that dogs are "lesser evolved" because they can't do calculus. --Mr.98 (talk) 02:42, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

Another thing that makes iPads hard to use is their over-reliance on "apps." It's largely due to Apple's refusal to allow Java and Flash on their mobile devices. So, if you want to do simple things like watch online videos, you often have to go to the Apple Store and get an app just for that web site. Some charge money for their apps, so add that to the price tag of the device.—Best Dog Ever (talk) 23:49, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

Somewhat OT but unless you're doing very little printing a $50 printer is usually a bad idea anyway as they tend to have extremely high ink costs. More expensive printers, even inkjet ones tend to be better from a cost standpoint particularly if you shop around and look for useful features like seperate ink catridges. Also AFAIK, you still need a Mac OS X computer to develop for iOS . I've been wondering whether to get involved in either this or the earlier discussion on iPads. I have a resonable amount of experience with an iPad 2 and limited experience with a crappy/cheap Android tablet (as well as experience with an Android phone).

I admit to never being an Apple fan and even with my iPad 2 experience this hasn't changed. Yes the iPad is a great device in some areas but using it has also reaffirmed my believe that with Apple devices it's usually a case of their way or the highway. Uploading files was mentioned above but in reality, transferring files to an iPad isn't easy even with the dock connector (which does AFAIK come with the iPad, you couldn't charge otherwise). You either have to use iTunes or some external iPad app or do it over the network (e.g. run a webserver locally or do it over the internet e.g. transfer it via email or upload it to some cloud storage solution). And even after you've transferred files, the iPad doesn't expose or allow access to the filesystem unless it's jailbroken. So if you have a file transfer app and a media player, you have to make sure they're playing together nicely, otherwise you transfer your files only to find out they can't be played even if the media player is capable of it.

Speaking of jailbreaking, it's something talked about so much that you may think it's guaranteed. I reality, Apple is serious about not wanting their devices to be jailbroken, more so then many Android devices barring perhaps some Motorola device. For example the iPad 2 I was playing with came with iOS v5 and it was only several months before there was a public method of jailbreaking.

The battery issue was mentioned, another case is the screen glass. If it cracks, the only option Apple offers is a refurbished iPad for US$350 or whatever it is. If you want it repaired, you need to go to a third party. (Apple may repair them by sending them back to China.) And from what I've read and seen, it isn't actually that hard to crack, drop it the wrong way and there's a fair chance it will crack. (There's some suggestions at least some Android devices are better in this regard however I haven't seen any good evidence. But definitely unlike the the iPhone and with some tablets from what I can tell precisely what sort of glass is on the iPad has never been confirmed.) You may say be careful, but given the way the device is meant to be used and carried around, I don't think you can say everyone who breaks one was simply too careless. Apple do offer their accidental protection insurance and of course you can rely on your contents or credit card insurance if it exists, but their refusal to offer repair as an option does to me seem to be another case of their way or the highway. (From what I've read in the past you may have been able to get your device replaced for free if it was the first time, particularly if you had lots of Apple devices, at an Apple store if you were lucky. But of course that relies on luck and having an Apple store near you. In any case, from what I've read they've abandoned it after they started offering AppleCare+.)

As for the interface, I'm not the sort of user it's targetted for and as I've said I haven't really used a good Android tablet (although I did have a limited amount of experience with 4.0 to see something which I think would have preferred if it was actually working well). But from what I've seen and read, starting from 3.x and particularly with 4.x, Android is moving away particularly on the tablet front from simply trying to copy whatever Apple does to trying to make their own distinctive interface which IMO seems better for an experienced user who wants more from their tablet then simply watching video, simple internet browsing, a few quick emails, chatting and the odd game. (This doesn't mean the Android device is extremely hard to use, it may be slightly harder but it also provides a far greater ability to customise and modify things to your preference. A common criticism of the iPad from those in the Android community is interface wise it's basically just a big iPod Touch.)

BTW, writing documents was mentioend above. I have to say from my experience with the iPad, trying to do any serious writing work with the iPad using only the soft keyboard is an excercise in frustration. Perhaps I just didn't use it long enough to get used to it and I also never tried any of the fancy document editing apps, but I don't think so. Typing is one thing, you can get to a decent level although probably still not close to a touch type level. But trying to do basic tasks like copying and pasting or going back to edit something can be very annoying, I'm sure people get much better then me at selecting via the touchscreen but I doubt they ever get close to the level of a decent typist using a physical keyboard with cursors keys. So I'd have to agree with the other suggestions that for serious writing work particularly of the sort I presume would be necessary for university, you'd almost definitely want a physical keyboard (and depend on the user, I'd suggest a mouse or some other mouse like selection device). Don't get me wrong, the touch screen interface is great and far simpler to use for some purposes but this sort of precise and accurate editing work isn't it. Incidentally speaking of the soft keyboard, this is another area of Apple's way or the highway. Unless you've jailbroken the iPad, the ability to customise or replace the keyboard is limited.

When it comes to comparing features, it's worth cutting thru the hype and actually looking at the difference. For example the iPad(3) LCD gets a lot of attention. I don't know enough to comment on whether in pure display terms it's really better then every other Android tablet. But IMO the issue of resolution and PPI gets way too much attention. While it may be better then most other Android tablets, I haven't seen any real evidence that level of resolution or PPI actually make a significant difference to the user in itself. Remember that (AFAIK anyway) whatever Apple's marketing department may have claimed, no one in Apple has ever denied that the primary reason why they ended up with 2048 x 1536 instead of the 1920x1200 or 1920x1080 which some Android tablets use is primary one of legacy. Apple choose the 4:3 resolution of 1024x768 for the original iPad and it was simpler by far to just double it for their retina display. In other words, it's not that the Apple 2048 x 1536 4:3 resolution is some super improvement in quality terms, it was chosen for technical reasons (these may be somewhat biased but I don't see any evidence the basic claim is incorrect). Of course the lack of fragmentation, general use of bitmaps and limited scaling in the iPad means that many apps will look good on the iPad3 whereas as I understand it things can be far more hit and miss with Android tablets.

One thing I will say is Apple does have a clear cut advantage in the app market in most areas, particularly when it comes to games. (I'm not just talking about numbers, there are plenty of games I've heard of or tried for the iPad which weren't n Android. It's also not uncommon to come across an indie developer, e.g. on kickstarter mentioning the iPad but not Android.) This is somewhat noticable with phones but it's particularly noticable with tablets where many developers still aren't bothering with Android. The issue of fragmentation also directly concerns the user here because even if the app is released, there's a chance the developers may decide not to support you device meaning you won't be able to get it via the Play store without some degree of hacking or convincing the developers your device will work. There are of course a few areas were Android has the advantage. Anything which Apple doesn't allow. Also in the free software community I would say from what I've seen Android tends to win out both because the questionable legality of releasing code under the xGPL on the iOS store (meaning unless it's your own code you'd want to be careful) and also because of Apple's control. (Although the size of the community and even the jailbroken community does mean that the iPad doesn't always have as much advantage as you may expect.)

BTW, while I'm not a developer from what I've seen and read, if you're interesting in hacking and generally fooling around, the Android is the far better option, again primarily because of Apple's control and limitations even after you've paid the $99 fee. If you're seriously interested in developing apps, the iPad may be the better reason for the same reason that so many other developers chose it (market share etc) unless you've interested in developing an app which isn't an option there. However given how fast things can change, I would suggest it's a bad idea to completely ignore Android even if you decide it's not worth your efforts at this time.

In simplication, IMO the iPad is great for some tasks but while it's likely more polished and will have less problems given the limitations and cost. Either go with a cheaper Android tablet if you primarily want it for stuff like gaming (even bearing in mind the limitations), video, browsing, email and chat (unless you're very rich); or go with a better one if you want to do more complex stuff (again unless you're very rich and can afford both). I may come across as a bit of an Android fanboy but if anything I'm more of a Microsoft one. I do think it'll be interesting to see whether the Microsoft Surface (or some other Windows 8 device) can really pull it off since as I've said from where I stand, the tablet is great for some uses but there are other uses where a physical keyboard and other features which I haven't mentioned but you expect from a traditional laptop like real multitasking.

P.S. Sorry I missed someone already mentioned the requirement for the iTunes until now.

P.P.S. While I do somewhat agree about the overeliance on apps comment, I don't think it applies to watching videos online. If you want to watch videos you've either converted yourself or downloaded from source (dodgy or not) you may need a media player. If you want to watch videos many sites are moving to providing HTML5 as an option but if not and they're still using Flash, you're usually screwed. On some occasions an app may be available for the site which provides videos when they don't provide HTML5, but from my experience this is rare.

Nil Einne (talk) 19:05, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

How many bits?

How many bit does the number 0, 4 or 23 or whatever occupy in binary, hexadecimal or decimal? OsmanRF34 (talk) 18:53, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

Bits are always binary -- the word "bit" stands for "binary digit". The number of bits that a number occupies depends on how it is encoded. You might benefit from reading our bit article. Looie496 (talk) 20:29, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

(Edit Conflict)

For it to occupy bits, it must be either be stored directly as a binary number (the "b" of bits stands for binary), or encoded into some form which is then encoded into binary...

If you store it directly as a binary number, then the the minimum number of binary digits (bits) needed to store a number n is log ₂(n) (rounded up to the next non-zero positive integer). Most calculators won't allow you to calculate logarithms with arbitrary bases, but thanks to this property of logarithms you can use log(n)/log(2) - the answers for the three examples you gave are 1 bit, 2 bits and 5 bits respectively - . This is a bit of a simplification - in particular:

1 - the number of bits isn't actually a function of the number you're storing, but the longest number you may wish to store

2 - I've glossed over the question "how many digits does it take to store zero" (in a way, this is a special case of point #1)

To store a number as BCD takes 4 bits per decimal digit

To store the number as text will typically take 8 bits per digit, plus 8 bits as a termination character

Hope this helps, cheers, davidprior /_c 20:38, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

Perhaps you meant to ask the minimal number of digits needed:

"0" is the same in all systems, so just 1 digit is needed (but leading zeroes can change that, like "0000").

"4" is 1 digit in either decimal or hex (where it's also "4"), and is "100" in binary, or 3 digits minimum.

"23" is 2 digits in decimal or hex (where it would be "17"). It would be a minimum of 5 digits in binary ("10111"). StuRat (talk) 20:41, 5 August 2012 (UTC)

Yep, I made an out-by-one error :-) Thanks StuRat for spotting it, davidprior /_c 10:39, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

So the corrected formula would be 1 + int(log(n)/log(2)) - where int() is a function which always rounds down. davidprior /_c 13:02, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

Just as an oddity - the minimum number of bits required to store a number is one less than you quote. Since the top bit is always 1, it can be inferred - 4 would be 00 and 23 0111. Not sure the cost of disk space makes this worthwhile, though :-) --Phil Holmes (talk) 09:35, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

That would leave you unable to represent 0. Also you would need some way to represent how long your number was. It's correct that 4 could be 00 and 23 could be 0111, but what do you do when you need to store both? If you always have 4 bits then you can't infer the leading 1 because then 0111 would be 23, and not 7. Floating point numbers is a different matter because you store additional informationTaemyr (talk) 12:46, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

You have variable length numbers, just like we do in decimal.--Phil Holmes (talk) 12:55, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

Yeah, but if you have variable length numbers, you some way to identify where one number ends - which will itself add to the overall length. davidprior /_c 12:59, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

Technically, you don't need any bits to represent a zero. You can have an object that takes up no storage space and know that whenever you reference it, you have a zero. You only need storage if you need to distinguish one value from another (say 0 from 1). As for the general question, it depends on representation, range, and precision. The most common numeric binary representations may not be the only choices depending on range and precision needs. Offset binary representations encodes a range of values using fewer bits than would be needed when using a common unsigned or signed binary integer representations. Fixed-point_arithmetic can define the least significant bit as having a value other than one. Often this may be a fraction, such as 1/32,768 for a real-time clock or 1/10,000 for some binary representations of currency values, but the the implied radix point could also be offset in the opposite direction where the least significant bit represents a value greater than one.

For example, the MSDOS FAT12 file systems (and successors) packed a file's last modification date and time into two 16 bit values which were further subdivided into bit fields (see ). To save space, the year was represented using an 1980 base, where 7-bit binary values 0000000 to 1111111 represented the years 1980 through 2107. The seconds values used 5-bit binary values 00000 to 11101 to represent the range 0-58 in two-second increments. (This is still be apparent in FAT32 systems such as thumb drives, where the modification time will always be stored as a multiple of two seconds.)

An even more general question could be asked regarding a discrete set of N distinct values, such as a {1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000}. In this case, each value could be mapped to a bit pattern unrelated to its binary representation.

Bottom line: The answer depends on the representation, range, and precision that ultimately defines the set of values to be considered. The general question could be restated in any of the following manners, yielding different answers for the same value:

• Q: How many bits does it take to represent X as an unsigned binary integer?
• A: ${\displaystyle \lfloor \log _{2}(N)\rfloor +1}$ bits when positive. Zero bits when zero. (where "${\displaystyle \lfloor ...\rfloor }$" represents the Floor function)
• Q: How many bits does it take to represent X as an signed two's complement binary integer?
• A: ${\displaystyle \lfloor \log _{2}(N)\rfloor +2}$ bits when N is positive. ${\displaystyle \lfloor \log _{2}(-N-1)\rfloor +2}$ bits when N is negative. Zero bits when zero. (This is consistent with normal rules of sign extension.)
• Q: How many bits does it take to represent all integer values in the range X to Y?
• A: ${\displaystyle \lfloor \log _{2}(Y-X)\rfloor +1}$ bits using an offset representation. (Zero bits when X = Y.)
• Q: How many bits does it take to represent all values in the range X to Y with a resolution of P?
• A: ${\displaystyle \lfloor \log _{2}((Y-X)/P)\rfloor +1}$ bits using an offset and scaled representation. (Zero bits when X = Y.)
• Q: How many bits does it take to represent any value from a set of N distinct values?
• A: ${\displaystyle \lfloor \log _{2}(N-1)\rfloor +1}$ bits using discrete assigned representations. (Zero bits when N = 0.)

The value 23 would require 5 bits to represent as an unsigned binary number (10111), 6 bits as a signed binary number (010111), 3 bits for a set that only needs to represent the values 20.0—23.5 in 0.5 increments (possibly 110), or 4 bits in a set of prime numbers less than 50 (possibly 1001). And I haven't event touched on floating point or variable-length codes. My apologies for being long-winded — I got on a roll. -- Tom N (tcncv) talk/contrib 01:43, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

August 6

upgrade android

hello. I have an android tablet running honeycomb and i can now upgrade to ice cream sandwich: but if i do this, will my apps and settings disappear? thanks Amisom (talk) 11:48, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

The short answer: You should always back-up all your data, including apps and settings, before upgrading. See here for a walkthrough of the process.

The long answer: You should always back-up all your data, including apps and settings, before upgrading, but you probably don't need to. Unless the upgrade process involves a factory reset all your photos, videos and documents should remain saved on your SD card. Your apps might disappear, but the first time you sign in to Google Play (formerly the Android Market) all your apps will be available to download. Contacts and mail are synced to Google's servers if you have turned the option on, so these will sync back again. I've done a number of upgrades where nothing bad has happened, everything's gone smoothly, and all my data's been there waiting for me when it's all finished.

But: doing a back-up will only take you 5 minutes. It's very unlikely something will go wrong and force you to use your back-up, but if it does, that'll be the best 5 minutes you spend all day. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 16:09, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

Aaaand... I've answered the wrong question. My maths teacher would be very disappointed in me. Anyway, to answer the question you really asked, no, your apps and settings should be preserved through the update process. Without knowing what device you have I can't say that for definite, but I've never had to reinstall apps and change settings after upgrading. But, like I say, take a back-up first just in case. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 16:13, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

If it's an official upgrade from the phone company or manufacturer, then it should preserve apps and settings (though you're advised to back up, and also read any "small print" they provide with the upgrade). If, however, you've got a ROM from somewhere else, then it's likely to wipe your phone, requiring re-installation of everything. --Colapeninsula (talk) 17:23, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

Forcing a timeout with Google cdn

Hi folks, I'm using the google cdn (ie the google include files) for jquery with javascript, and I've found a neat way (here) to include jquery if the google server should be down. The code seems to be working fine, but after a pathetic evening spent waiting for a response from the server, I've realised I desperately need a way to just force the pathetic computer to just get the message that the server at the end just isn't interested in hooking up, and just cut its losses and go for the slightly less attractive option closer to home. Is there any way to force a computer to just accept a timeout? The code is here, although I do not know exactly which include is causing the problems:

<script type="text/javascript" src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.7.2/jquery.min.js"></script>

Thanks in advance, IBE (talk) 13:07, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

The script you linked to adds a new SCRIPT element to the DOM. I figure you could set a timeout at the same time, and in the handler for that check again whether jquery is loaded (as that script as done already) and if it hasn't, remove that element from the DOM (with, I guess, removeChild). I've not tried this personally, so if this is what you end up doing, let me know how it turns out. -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 15:37, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

how can I submit a review on Rotten Tomatoes?

The FAQ on flixster says "You can rate and/or review movies on their details pages, underneath the poster image.". But I can't find any link to post a review. All I can find below the poster image is a link to netflix and another one to itunes. There's also a trailer play button, but no link to reviews.

Please help me.

Thanks

Taking this movie as an example, I get 3 columns: (from l-r) the poster image, the title above the 'Tomatometer', and a list of links to other movies. Underneath the 'Tomatometer' is a section headed 'My Rating', with buttons entitled 'Want to see it' and 'Not interested', stars I can click to rate the movie out of 5, a text box which says Add a Review (Optional) and a 'Post' button. Are you seeing something different? - Cucumber Mike (talk) 16:18, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

If the above doesn't work, are you using the iPhone or Android app, the mobile interface, or the website on a desktop computer? --Colapeninsula (talk) 17:24, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

Virtualization of existing OS?

If you have two OS systems, and you install some virtualization tool like VMware; can you run the installed OSs without tweaking it, and with all its settings, files etc? Or you just run something like an image derived from an installed OS? Comploose (talk) 16:54, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

Well, you have to run the installed os first to run vmware. (What are you asking, again?)65.49.68.173 (talk) 17:25, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

If I have Windows on c: (sda1) and Linux on d: (sda2). I run, for example, Linux from sda2 and run the virtual machine. Can I tell this virtual machine to run that c: (sda1) installation? Or it doesn't work like that? Comploose (talk) 18:09, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

I have successfully done this using VMware, though in the other direction (Linux guest, Windows host). You just create a new VM and direct it to use a real hard disk partition instead of a file. You need to be careful that no partition is ever mounted by the host and guest OS at the same time, since that would certainly cause data loss. And you may have problems with hardware drivers, as others have said, since the VM hardware has nothing to do with the real hardware (except for the CPU). -- BenRG (talk) 21:52, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

You have a copy of an operating system installed on your PC, and want to move it to a virtual machine? It's potentially tricky, because the virtual machine may be set up to use different hardware than what you have on your actual installation. That's why with VMware the easiest way is to start off with a standard installation with a clean version of an operating system in place, or you can also get an empty virtual machine and install your own operating system. There are software tools that allow you to move a copy of an existing hard disk into a virtual machine, such as Microsoft's disk2vhd which claims to let you move a real Windows installation to a virtual machine, and there's VMware's vCenter Converter which is designed to move a physical installation into a VMWare virtual machine, but I'm not sure how effective they are - or how expensive they are. --Colapeninsula (talk) 17:38, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

No Comploose, it doesn't work the way you imagine. Virtualization software creates virtual hardware inside a program running on the 'host OS' and the real hardware. The virtual hardware includes virtual disks on which you install a 'guest OS'. When you start the virtual machine it boots the guest OS installed on the virtual disk. Once the guest OS is running, you might have the possibility of mounting real disks. So in your case, you can boot into Linux on sda2 and run your virtual machine, but that virtual machine cannot boot the existing Windows installation on the real sda1. You will need to reinstall Windows on a virtual disk, or maybe use the disk2vhd tool that Colapeninsula mentions above to copy your windows installation from the real sda1 to a virtual disk. Astronaut (talk) 07:20, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

Actually, that's not the case. It's possible to use VirtualBox to boot a virtual machine with a physical partition (i.e. sda1), or even an entire hard disk. It's tricky to do, but there are instructions here, if you want to try it. WikiPuppies _bark 14:10, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

I would really like a new desktop sidebar

Google pulled one of the wrongest moves in the history of their company by discontinuing Google Desktop support, so they no longer maintain their Sidebar. I can no longer find a currency converter widget for said sidebar, and my Gmail feed hasn't updated since June 30.

So what sidebar does a better job and stays up-to-date? I'd like realtime stock widgets, currency, and what all a good sidebar would provide. Thank you kindly. --70.179.170.114 (talk) 19:39, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

You might want to try a different venue. It hasn't been that long since the last time you asked this. BigNate37_(T) 19:47, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

Indeed. If someone here hasn't given you another option yet then it's getting pretty likely that nobody here knows of another option. Trying a different group of users might have better results. Dismas| 19:59, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

You could take a look at Rainmeter. It's not a direct sidebar replacement, and it has a very steep learning curve, but if you have your heart set on a currency conversion widget it may be your only option. Nothing's gonna bring back Google Sidebar though, I'm afraid. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 20:27, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

And in fact I'm pretty sure the alst time wasn't that long since the time before. Nil Einne (talk) 21:21, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

Google search might be helpful too for these type of question! --Tito Dutta ✉ 23:22, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

CS without programming

Is it possible that a computer scientist is unable to write code? Is there some field in CS that is so "philosophical" that no code writing is needed? Comploose (talk) 23:08, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

That would be like a mathematician who can't do arithmetic. Of course anybody can choose to call himself a computer scientist, but people in the field would never agree. Looie496 (talk) 23:19, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

Plenty of mathematicians are not very good at arithmetic. It's not an important skill for mathematicians. -- BenRG (talk) 05:44, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

But, in a real life scenario, some college could offer CS courses for hardware developers or about the history of CS or Math of CS, these guys could be more like engineers and still call themselves computer scientists. Comploose (talk) 23:27, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

There are lots of jobs in the computer science field which don't require writing code, including hardware engineering, installation and maintenance. Unfortunately, many computer programming managers and spec writers also don't have a clue how to program, and the results suffer accordingly. Database management might involve writing code, but doesn't always. Customer support and testing doesn't require coding. Most technical writers don't need to code either. Then there's the vast number of people who use computer programs at work, such as animation software, but never code themselves. StuRat (talk) 23:56, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

There are people who study theoretical computer science in CS departments who do not code. Some of the subsets of the field are as "philosophical" as it gets — i.e. mostly mathematics plus formal logic. A friend of mine used to do it and always had to emphasize at length that he didn't do coding for his field of study. --Mr.98 (talk) 00:08, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

I don't know where I read it, but I understand the second family of IBM mainframe computers were designed with the first family of IBM computers. Hardware designers write code, although not all of it is in languages familiar to the vast majority of programmers. Examples include VHDL, SPICE, and Library Exchange Format. Some of the code is higher-level programs to generate lower-level code. For example, I have written Java programs to create Library Exchange Format. Jc3s5h (talk) 00:23, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

Fundamentally, programming is about algorithms. While algoroithms are sometimes realised as computer programs, they don't need to be, and it is possible to focus on algorithm design without writing code as such. A very talented algorithm designer could never touch a computer and still provide value to computer science. That said, you are writing code, you just aren't expressing it in a particular computing language. :)

As StuRate mentioned, there are a lot of areas in IT that could be taught as computer science but don't necessarily involve coding. Personally, I think some understanding as to how to program is valuable in all areas of computer science (noting that I'm a programmer, so I'm not unbiased), but there are areas where it isn't a core requirement. So I think that systems analysis is better done by people who know how to cut code, but I know some people who work or teach in the field with little or no programming knowledge, and while I think coding is more valuable for systems design, it is still possible to be a good designer and not know how to program. (Although I'd be inclined to argue that you would be a better designer if you did). - Bilby (talk) 00:58, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

• All of the responses above make sense in theory, but the simple fact is that you can't even get an undergraduate degree in Computer Science without doing a lot of programming, much less a graduate degree. Looie496 (talk) 02:34, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

It's easy to get a graduate degree in CS without writing any code. This is a CS paper. So is this. Even in undergraduate CS, though you'll inevitably write a lot of code, learning to write code is not the point. Computer science and software engineering are different things. -- BenRG (talk) 05:44, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

Edsger W. Dijkstra springs to mind. "Dijkstra was known for his habit of carefully composing manuscripts with his fountain pen ... Despite having invented much of the technology of software, Dijkstra eschewed the use of computers in his own work for many decades." Not quite what you asked for, but similar.  Card Zero  (talk) 12:14, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

Video to GIF in Ubuntu

Can anyone suggest a software which can convert video to gif ext images? Software centre softwares will be preferable! --Tito Dutta ✉ 23:19, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

GIMP can do it using the GAP package, if it can handle the type of video you have. Looie496 (talk) 23:25, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

ffmpeg can do it thus: ffmpeg -i in.mpg -pix_fmt rgb24 out.gif -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 23:28, 6 August 2012 (UTC)

August 7

Cannot access internet on laptop

Just a few hours ago my internet connection on my laptop stopped working without warning. I checked the modem/router and everything appeared fine, all the lights were on. I can access the internet on the same network through my smartphone, so I can definitely conclude that the problem is with the computer itself. I restarted it several times, nothing changed. I tried connecting directly to the LAN, not working there either. Rebooted in safe mode, still nothing. Performed system restore, again no improvement. I last performed a virus scan with AVG a couple days ago, nothing turned up then. I have the latest updates installed on my computer except for an update for my network adapter, which I ironically is what I had planned to download and install before my connection went kaput. Can anyone help me out here? I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 on an Emachine E625 if it helps. 70.52.77.249 (talk) 07:14, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

If you open a command window and type ipconfig, what do you get?--Phil Holmes (talk) 08:07, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

I get "media disconnected" for my tunnel adapter. 70.52.77.249 (talk) 08:18, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

Hmm. I'm not really interested in that. Do you have an IP address for a real network adapter?--Phil Holmes (talk) 19:58, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

192. 168. 1. 134 is what I can find. 70.52.77.249 (talk) 23:32, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

Try the following:

• ping www.google.com
• ping 74.125.132.147
• nslookup www.google.com

and let us know the results.--Phil Holmes (talk) 09:16, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Pinged the IP address, got "Reply from 192.168.1.1: Destination net unreachable." I tried nslookup, and it said that it can't find the address for google.com. 70.52.77.249 (talk) 21:16, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Have you tried restarting your router? Ssscienccce (talk) 19:46, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

It's not the router, it's the drivers that are the problem. Specifically the Internet Access Server that apparently doesn't have a driver. Problem is, I can't update it without internet access. I obviously can't download Windows Updates on my phone to send it to my PC. The only upside is that I'll be buying a new computer within the next week, so it'll be easier for me to resolve the issue and at least I'll a computer with working access to the internet (assuming this isn't a hidden problem with my modem). Still, I need my computer to function properly right now. There's a lot of things I can't do on a phone. 70.52.77.249 (talk) 23:55, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

Could be a hardware issue. Is this WiFi or a cable connection ? If you have spare hardware available (like an extra network cable), I'd try that. StuRat (talk) 09:39, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

It's both. I can't connect through wifi or the cable. 70.52.77.249 (talk) 17:07, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

Are you using another computer to type all this, or your smart phone ? StuRat (talk) 20:02, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

I'm using my phone to access the web in general. 70.52.77.249 (talk) 23:11, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

I just ran Network Diagnostics for the umpteenth time, and it finally detected connection issues which it attributes to my modem. But I know it isn't the root of the problem, or no device would be able to access the internet through it. 70.52.77.249 (talk) 23:18, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

Standards for device-side of AC adapters

Are there any standards for the usually cylindrical ends with a hole in them with metal on the outside and inside that you plug into your device? I've never seen one made for one product that fit just right with any other product, leaving alone the issue of different voltages coming out of the transformer in the other end with the wall plug. I'm just talking about device-side dimensions. Are there any standards at all or does every device have an unregulated geometry? If there is a standard, I'd love to see a link to it. 20.137.18.53 (talk) 12:06, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

There are standards, but unfortunately rather too many - listed at coaxial power connector. The EU is trying to coax mobile phone manufacturers to standardise on a MicroUSB-based charging standard (ref) rather than a coaxial connector - perhaps some other devices will converge on that standard (a Raspberry Pi is powered that way, for example). -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 12:15, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

There's even variation on whether the negative is on the inside or outside (barrel positive or barrel negative), which means 2 connectors with the same size and same voltage can still be incompatible. It's rather horrible, as the article explains. --Colapeninsula (talk) 13:48, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

I have several gadgets such as these, which have multiple different connectors and support both polarities. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 12:38, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Videogames

Does ebay allow you to sell a case of 24 diffrent videogames together as one item? For instance, can I can put 24 videogames together in one box, and sell the whole box for 90$ under one listing? This is so I wont have to pay the 0.5$ insertion fee for each game.

I called up customer service, and it required people to have ebay accounts. I dont have one,so they couldent answer my questions. — Preceding unsigned comment added by anon(talk) 17:19, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

Yes, you can sell it as a lot on eBay. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 17:37, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

I am aware that you can sell identical items together as a lot. I was wondering if you can sell a case of 24 different video games together in one box for 90$. — Preceding unsigned comment added by anon 17:43, 7 August 2012 (UTC)<!- Template:Unsigned IP --> Also can you sell a case of 24 different video games together in a box for 90$ on craigslist?--99.146.124.35 (talk) 17:46, 7 August 2012 (UTC)anon

I can't speak for Craig's list but I'm pretty sure eBay doesn't forbid you to list multiple different items in one listing provided all of the items are okay to sell on eBay. . Their primary concern is people avoiding fees. While you mentioned avoiding fees, it doesn't sound like the sort of fee avoidance they are normally concerned about which is sellers trying to get buyers to do transactions outside eBay (for example by listing one item and saying the buyer can get another of the same item for the same price or can negotiate for other items). I'm presuming of course you plan to do as you say and sell all the items together (with the final price being the price paid for all items) without offering the seller any options. If you intend to suggest buyers can pick and choose which items they want or they bid on one item and can pay extra for any additional items, this would likely be something eBay would not agree with. Of course only eBay can answer your question for sure.

Bear in mind though that copyright infringement is generally a concern with software on eBay and if you're offering 24 different items together, I suspect even more so. (And being a new eBay user would be even more of a kicker.)

Also if your only concern is avoiding insertion fees, consider that in financial terms, there's no guarantee you will actually end up better off since it's easily possible there will be different buyers interested in different items but have no desire to pay much for the additional items you are offering. E.g. if you're selling 24 items for $90 + shipping (including handling), selling each item for an average of $4.50 + shipping (including handling) should more then make up for any additional listing fees (presuming the fees you quoted are correct and in the same currency of whatever your proposed price). The bigger concern would seem to me to be convienience for you as the seller, not having to package and ship multiple different items to multiple different buyers even if it means you won't make as much overall (ignoring the cost of your time), particularly for relatively low value items.

BTW, are you sure you have eBay fees correctly? As far as I know (not being an eBay seller), non business low volume sellers (under 50 items a month) don't generally have to pay insertion fees for auction style listings even with BIN (although they may have to pay for additional features) . Now 50 US cents is the normal fee for fixed price listings (BIN only). However this isn't the case for video games if sold via the eBay catalog on eBay US . More importantly perhaps, I'm not aware of any real advantage to using fixed price listings as opposed to auction style with BIN and an appropriate starting price other then a possibly lower final value fee and of course possibly lower insertion fee but the later is unlikely for a low volume seller. Since you don't even have an eBay account, it seems strange that you would be a high volume seller.

P.S. If you ever do get an account and ask eBay, I would avoid mentioning anything about avoiding fees. Just accurately describe what you plan to do, the reasons would likely not be their concern.

Nil Einne (talk) 19:34, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

Firefox tabs on Ubuntu

I'm using FF 14.0.1 on Ubuntu 12.04. When I shut down FF I usually have several tabs open. Sometimes when I start it the only tab that updates is the one I am on. The other tabs all show the name but are white instead of grey and when clicked on are blank and only then begin to update. Any idea why and where is the update all command? CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 18:13, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

In the General preferences section, there should be a checkbox marked "Don't load tabs until selected." Un-check that, and voilà - they should all load when you start Firefox. WikiPuppies _bark 21:26, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

Thanks. Found it but it was greyed out. Disabled Tab Mix Plus and then removed the check and then re-enabled Tab Mix Plus. See if that works later. Thanks. CambridgeBayWeather (talk) 23:38, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

Misplaced Pages Featured Article RSS Feed (Google Reader)

How can I make Google reader RSS feed for Misplaced Pages FA? I know about this, any other suggestion? --Tito Dutta ✉ 18:49, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

I don't know if there's a Misplaced Pages-specific solution, but I often use Page2rss to keep track of webpages in GReader and find it entirely satisfactory. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 19:34, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

What URL I'll put there? --Tito Dutta ✉ 01:49, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

http://en.wikipedia.org/Category:Featured_articles ? - Cucumber Mike (talk) 06:41, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Windows screen grab

Is there a way to do a screen grab, and store it to a file, from the Command Prompt, in Windows XP SP3 ?

This thread has suggestions. NirCmd is probably the easiest if you don't mind PNG as the output format. -- BenRG (talk) 21:12, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

Thanks, have you used this yourself ? StuRat (talk) 09:49, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

I've used NirCmd, IrfanView and ImageMagick and I'll vouch for all of them, but I've never used any of them for command-line screenshots. -- BenRG (talk) 19:25, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

The simplest way is to hit PrtScrn (or alt-PrtScrn to get just the foreground window) and paste it either into a document, or into Paint, where you can save the file.--Phil Holmes (talk) 09:12, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

You seem to have missed the part where I need to do this from the Command Prompt. The idea is that, if I can get that to work, I can then call that command from a program I write, and thus have the program do screen grabs. StuRat (talk) 09:49, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

If you're writing the program for Windows, it is pretty straightforward to do without external tools. It is just a few lines of GDI calls. Get a handle to the window you want to capture (or the desktop window for the whole screen) and get it's DC. Then you GetCompatibleDC and CreateCompatibleBitmap. Use SelectObject on the compatible DC and bitmap, then BitBlp from the window DC to the compatible DC. The compatible bitmap will now contain the contents of the window. 209.131.76.183 (talk) 12:03, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Not op, but what is DC? 190.60.93.218 (talk) 12:15, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Device Context. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 12:35, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

That's BitBlt. This is a fantastically simple and pleasing thing to do with GDI calls, it's true. What language are you writing it in, Stu?  Card Zero  (talk) 13:48, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

FORTRAN. The calls 209.131.76.183 mentions look like C calls. I'm not sure how to call those from FORTRAN, but I can run any Command Prompt instructions, and can read and write graphics files. StuRat (talk) 19:34, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

NirCmd looks like it does the trick very easily. If you don't like the PNG files, you can always use ImageMagick's convert.exe shell to change them to something else. --Mr.98 (talk) 22:24, 11 August 2012 (UTC)

Yes, that was my plan. Have you used NirCmd to take snapshots ? StuRat (talk) 23:57, 11 August 2012 (UTC)

Pretty print database

Are there any tools (preferably free and for linux) which can generate a pretty printout from a MySQL database as pdf (or any similar format)? As an example, let's say I have a database with names of people and (links to) their images. The generated pdf should then show images and associated names in a grid. If there are no such tools, perhaps there are tools which take image files and text files (with names) directly, i.e. not from a database. bamse (talk) 23:40, 7 August 2012 (UTC)

You could... call them from a web page and then use something like wkhtmltopdf to get an inferior format like PDF. ¦ Reisio (talk) 01:18, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

I think List of reporting software has the kinds of programs that do such things. 88.112.47.131 (talk) 09:46, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

August 8

Guitar Controller USB Utility

I recently purchased a used copy of Rock Band 2 for the Wii as well as the matching guitar controller (I know it's the correct one because of the diagram in the instructions). However, not included was the wireless USB "dongle", the function of which the instruction manual was unclear but the purpose seems essential. What does this thing do, how does it work, and where could I find one sold individually, even used? 75.73.226.36 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 14:16, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

You should be able to insert a Wiimote into the guitar. It has a Wiimote sized hole in it and a connector like on the nunchuck attachment. 209.131.76.183 (talk) 19:37, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Here is a picture of what the standard controller should look like - you can see the wiimote installed in it. If yours looks different, you may have a third-party one or one made for a different system. ] 209.131.76.183 (talk) 19:40, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Sorry to post again, but I just realized I was describing the Guitar Hero hardware. It does look like Rock Band uses a dongle, probably because the controllers don't work like normal Wii controllers. You'll need it for the guitar controller to be able to talk to the Wii. Used game stores may have them available, but they probably bundle them with the guitars. eBay may be your best bet. 209.131.76.183 (talk) 19:44, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

I would guess that the dongle has the software license. This makes it harder to make illegal copies. StuRat (talk) 19:39, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

The small box that plugs into the USB port appears to just be the wireless receiver. It appears Rock Band uses the same* guitar controller and USB wireless receiver for multiple systems, instead of having to create a specific Wii version that connects to a Wii Remote or uses the Wii Remote's wireless protocol. (The Rock Band 2 wireless guitar setup instructions seem to show the same "USB dongle" for the Wii and PlayStation 2/3, and no USB dongle for the Xbox 360.) --Bavi H (talk) 03:18, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

* Well, maybe not exactly the same. The official Compatibility page says "Instrument controllers and wireless microphones are specially designed for each game console and are not interchangeable between platforms (Xbox 360, Wii, etc.)". But perhaps they re-used some of the wireless equipment instead of designing a Wii-specific version.--Bavi H (talk) 04:22, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Up and down arrows at bottom of scroll bar in Word

I've just had my mac upgraded to Mountain Lion and along with that, my Word was somehow downgraded to Word for mac 2008, version 12.1.0, from 12.1.1. I don't know if it's a function of to OS install or the word downgrade, but the scroll bar on the side no longer has the regular up and down arrows that you can click on to move a page up and down in a Word document. Instead, it has double up and down arrows at the bottom of the scroll bar, and when you click on those, it jumps you to the next page of your document, rather than moving the page down smoothly to where you want it. I can, of course, grab the side bar and move the page up and down, but I am used to and have relied on the up and down arrows for years. Any help?--108.27.100.125 (talk) 14:53, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

No clue, but I will just chime in that Word on new Mac OSes has gotten progressively buggy and weird. I had to stop using it altogether (I switched to Pages, which works well enough for me and can export to Word docs). The bug you are describing sounds like an incompatibility with Mountain Lion's GUI controls, but I don't really know. As for the "downgrade", did you already have 2008 installed on your system? It could just be an incompatibility or a change of defaults with 2011 or whatever your "upgraded" version is. --Mr.98 (talk) 16:32, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Internet reply

So, I know that servers listen to an specific port and reply to any queries directed to them, but the users act like servers too? Do they listen for the reply on a specific port? How do servers know where to reply? (If we are on a NAT network or something like that, how does the router know which computer has to receive a reply?) 190.60.93.218 (talk) 17:55, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

The Transmission Control Protocol and User Datagram Protocol both require their packets to include return port information in the header, so that the receiver knows which port the sender is listening on. TCP and UDP packets are wrapped up as Internet Protocol packets (i.e., a TCP or UDP packet is formed then inserted into an IP header to form an IP packet), and the IP header includes the return IP address. BigNate37_(T) 18:58, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

As to NAT, the clue is in the name: the gateway translates network addresses. Say you're behind a NAT gateway with the IP address 80.4.4.4, but your computer believes its IP address is 192.168.0.17. When you make a connection to a server at, say, 91.198.174.225, the gateway transparently turns your attempted connection between 192.168.0.17 and 91.198.174.225 into a connection between 80.4.4.4 and 91.198.174.225. The server at 91.198.174.225 doesn't know about 192.168.0.17; it believes it's talking to 80.4.4.4. Your NAT gateway is clever enough to remember the combination of source port, target address, and target port, and to use this as a key to know where to send the packets back to. Does that make sense? Marnanel (talk) 19:37, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Oh, something else I should have mentioned: you are probably thinking of TCP connections here. Although they consist in fact of separate datagrams, they are designed to provide the illusion of a connection (the sort of thing you get when you make a phone call). Every TCP connection is from a particular IP address and port to a particular IP address and port; with web traffic, the "from" port is generally random and the "to" port is generally 80 (or 443 for encrypted connections). Marnanel (talk) 19:41, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Space in file names

What was the problem with spaces in file names a while ago? Why weren't they allowed? Comploose (talk) 18:22, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

See the "allowable characters in directory entries" column in comparison of file systems#Limits. All the main desktop/server filesystems listed there allows spaces; even FAT added support for spaces in LFN, which NT and Windows 95 supported by 1995. All the restrictions there, old and new, are just "by definition" - that's what the specifiers chose for their own convenience. -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 18:42, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

But, weren't they using the spaces for something else? Hence disallowing them for file names? Comploose (talk) 18:49, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

In what environment? -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 18:55, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Windows. I remember that it was part of their marketing that their files "now" could have longer file names with spaces, if I remember correctly. Comploose (talk) 19:29, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Most environments which discourage spaces do so because it causes problems with naming files on the commandline. Consider the command "del alpha beta": should it delete two files, "alpha" and "beta", or a single file named "alpha beta"? Marnanel (talk) 19:33, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

(edit conflict) If you mean Windows NT and its successors (2000, XP, Vista, 7 and Server equivalents) they've always supported long filenames, including spaces. If you mean the non-NT "flavour" of Windows (Windows 1.0 - 3.11 and 95, 98 and ME), then they gained long filename capability in Windows 95

In terms of using spaces for "other" things, many (almost all) command shells including cmd.exe use spaces to separate command from argument, and separate one argument from the next. So using spaces in a filename often means you have to put quotes around it, or an escape character in front of each space. But this is not a limitation of the filesystem itself. Cheers, davidprior /_c 19:43, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Yes, they were (and still are) using spaces as separators on the command line. As parsers became more sophisticated, spaces as separators were distinguished from spaces as part of a name by using escape characters or quotation marks. BigNate37_(T) 20:10, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Drivers in linux

How high are the chances of not finding linux drivers for some device, which can be quite old or quite new? Comploose (talk) 18:36, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

It just depends on many things. 190.60.93.218 (talk) 18:46, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Many things beyond quite old/new or quite unknown? Comploose (talk) 18:50, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Toasters, refrigerators, automobiles, battleships -- all of these are devices that lack linux drivers. Looie496 (talk) 19:13, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Well if we're on that level of intellectual integrity, I believe SaskTel has a fridge that runs on Linux. Not that it's in mass production or anything, but I imagine at some level of design they're using a kernel module to interface it. If memory serves they take it to tradeshows to show off the LCD TV built into the door that has Digital TV connectivity. BigNate37_(T) 19:34, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

You are not right on this one Looie. Something interesting is definitely developing on the embedded systems front. Linux with its support for a wide range of hardware is increasingly showing up (or hiding) in places that may surprise you. A growing number of electronic devices used in cars, at home, in the field and many other places are being developed and deployed, with Linux being the operating system. OsmanRF34 (talk) 19:36, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

And when it comes to automobiles, I'm pretty sure there is OBD software for linux

OP, when you get a chance to add more specifics in terms of what types of devices/etc, it'd also be useful to know whether by "linux drivers" you include binary-only drivers - which regardless of the philosophical arguments, typically are only available for versions of linux which run on intel-compatible processors. Cheers, davidprior /_c 19:52, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Let's try a layman's answer. The chance of not finding a driver for any given device such as a video card (especially) or sound card is higher on Linux than Windows. Manufacturers usually concentrate on making things work under Windows first, then look at Linux (if they bother at all). However, there are a number of third-party drivers available - http://www.linux-drivers.org/ is a good place to look - and there's normally a good chance that you can find a way to make a particular device work in some way with whichever Linux flavour you like. Sometimes you don't get all the bells and whistles that come with the Windows version, but the basic functions should be ok. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 20:17, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Graphics cards are a poor example, as they are one of the most common examples of proprietary drivers being released for linux. You may not get updates as quickly as Windows users, though. It seems as though nVidia even has open source Unix drivers. BigNate37_(T) 20:26, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Yes and no. You are more likely to find a modern Linux driver for an old piece of hardware than you are to find a modern Windows driver for that piece of hardware, because once Linux gets a driver for something, it tends to keep it, where Windows drivers often aren't updated for newer versions of Windows. You are less likely to find a modern Linux driver for a modern piece of hardware than you are to find a Windows driver for it, because almost every time someone develops a piece of hardware, they also develop a driver that lets it be used with the then-current version of Windows. --Carnildo (talk) 23:55, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

How high are the chances of not finding a driver for Linux? Lower than with any other OS. You should still check online to see if what you're interested in obtaining is in fact supported. ¦ Reisio (talk) 16:47, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

TV "brightness"

One problem I often have on my current TV is that I can't make out any detail in dark scenes, particularly those recorded digitally. I turned the brightness and contrast up to max, turned off all the room lights, and put blackout curtains on all the windows, but it's still not good. When buying a new TV, what stats will tell me if it will show detail on dark scenes ? It's not just brightness, as that would just make an almost uniformly black scene look almost uniformly white. Contrast ratio is closer, but I get the impression that is designed to replicate the contrast in the original, while I need to expand the contrast well beyond the original. Also, would I do better if I used a computer monitor (either with or without a computer) ? StuRat (talk) 19:51, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Don't know the answer to part 1 of the question... But as for using a computer & monitor - this would probably give you the ability to make gamma adjustments which may help. Maybe try current TV with a PC before spending any money though :-) Cheers, davidprior /_c 20:02, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Turning the contrast up is exactly the wrong thing to do -- it increases contrast for mid-tones at the cost of reducing it for the extremes. Also many TVs nowadays have various modes available that handle brightness ranges differently -- you might investigate your model. Looie496 (talk) 02:24, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

The way it's supposed to work is that brightness adjusts the black level and contrast is a multiplier with black held fixed. In other words, the displayed intensity is (raw intensity × contrast) + brightness. So increasing the contrast is what StuRat wants to do. However I don't know how many TV makers actually use the terms that way. I've seen a lot of devices on which the "brightness" setting is actually gamma, and the contrast adjustment holds grey fixed instead of black. In that case you might try reducing the contrast (the default setting is likely too high) and increasing the brightness-that's-really-gamma. -- BenRG (talk) 19:36, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Maybe it would help if describe what I would want it to do. Let's say just 3 dark colors appear on the screen, with RGB colors listed on a 0-255 scale:

AS BROADCAST   AS I WANT TO SEE IT
------------   -------------------
(0,0,0)        (0,0,0)
(1,2,4)        (31,63,127)
(2,4,8)        (63,127,255)

So, is this only possible using a gamma adjustment ? And does this mean I need to use a computer to watch TV ? StuRat (talk) 05:05, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Listings of features like that are hard to come by and often are filled with marketing speak that doesn't really explain what it does in detail. Your best bet is probably to find a store that will let you play around with settings on the display TVs to see if they have settings that help. If I recall, you're from the Detroit area, so you probably have an ABC Warehouse with a Paul's TV nearby. I think their salesmen get commission, which means they might be motivated to help you try it out. Best Buy or Meijer staff may let you change things as long as you're changing them back, but it probably depends on the person working there. 209.131.76.183 (talk) 14:38, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Are you sure that the detail you want to see is actually there? Common video compressors tend to do a bad job on dark scenes because they tolerate a certain amount of local error in the brightness independent of the overall dynamic range of the scene. -- BenRG (talk) 19:36, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Contrast control on a CRT will increase luminance proportional to intensity. Brightness will add luminance to the whole signal. In LCD's, brightness will more likely increase the backlight intensity, which has about the same effect as the contrast control on a CRT.

For a HDTV, PCWorld gives this advice:

"Brightness actually controls the black level of the TV; so when adjusting it, look for detail in blacks and shadows. To alter the setting, pause the movie during a dimly lit scene that includes background scenery or shadowy areas. Turn the setting up or down until you can distinguish shadowy details without washing out the foreground. The contrast control is sometimes called the white setting. Find a sky scene or one with many white objects in it, and adjust the control until the lighter objects' edges don't blur into their surroundings but you can still make out the details and textures in the white." http://www.pcworld.com/article/132928/finetune_your_highdefinition_tvs_settings.html

But a dark scene will contain less detail anyway, not only because you've got a limited range of possible values like 0,0,0 to 9,9,9 (1000 values) but also because dark scenes often contain little or no useful color info, so instead of 1000 different shades you may only have 10 shades of grey. Stretching this range (with level adjust in some video editing program) usually gives poor results because much of the detail you amplify is actually noise, and as mentioned by BenRG details may already be lost due to digital compression. You may want to try video editing first to see if you really are missing much in those dark scenes before you go look for a new tv. I suspect dark scenes are also a cheap alternative to detailed film set design; ever seen a chemistry lab as dark as what those CSIs are working in?... Ssscienccce (talk) 21:04, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Changing processor name

this page claims to know how to change processor name, what are the possible consecuences? also, does it change processor name or what the operative system thinks?`190.158.212.204 (talk) 23:44, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

You're not changing the processor name - you're just changing a text string in Windows displays when you ask it what the processor is. Doing this is probably harmless, but is entirely pointless. 91.125.245.1 (talk) 00:04, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

But it may feel faster, as claimed in The soft CPU upgrade --Unilynx (talk) 05:34, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

August 9

PHP processing time per function

Is there a way to break down a PHP process and have that process output what amount of time it is spending in what function? Magog the Ogre (talk) (contribs) 00:48, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Let me rephrase; is there a tool that will help me do it without the brute force method of $a = time(); echo time()-$a; Magog the Ogre (talk) (contribs) 00:49, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

That's a code profiler. You can use APD to profile (http://uk3.php.net/apd) and then pprof to process that to produce a report. -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 00:52, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Or some people use xdebug's profiler -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 00:54, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Thank you! Xdebug has worked brilliantly. Magog the Ogre (talk) (contribs) 01:46, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Why does mass-pinging an IRC channel produce the (near-)worst of humanity?

When I'm on an IRC channel and ask for help, no one responds. After I ask, "Is ANYONE there?," no one responds. Yet there are over 50 users in the channel.

So in order to guarantee responses, I highlight the whole userlist (on Webchat) or type "/names #channel" (on other clients) and press Ctrl+C to copy all usernames.

Then I paste all usernames, and hit "Enter" to submit.

I get responses fairly quickly, but they're usually not friendly. Some say, "I hope you go die in a fire." Others say remarks that aren't worth repeating here.

What is it about mass-pinging that causes such incredible ill-will from fellow chatters? (Even though I wish somebody responded before the ping in the first place.) What real-world action(s) would best equate to mass-pinging an IRC channel anyway?

And is there an ill-will-free method to procure a timely response?

Lastly, are ill responses to mass-pings just a hallmark of the Freenode IRC network? What other IRC networks will not mind them as much? Which would?

--70.179.170.114 (talk) 07:54, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

The mantra is generally "just ask, don't ask to ask". In other words, rather than asking for somebody to put their hand up without knowing what they're volunteering for, you will generally get a better response by simply coming straight out and asking your question. Assuming these are technical channels, remember that IRC channels are often populated by people with a range of skills and specialities, only a small handful of whom may know the answer to your question and have time to do so; by asking your question up-front without waiting for somebody to volunteer, you're being polite by allowing the people whose skills don't relate to your question to pay attention to something else, and being efficient by giving useful information up-front.

To me, the real-world action that most intuitively equates to mass-pinging an IRC channel is coming into a room with lots of people - perhaps a party or perhaps a library, depending on the activity level - and shouting "hey everyone, pay attention, I need help" at the top of your voice. That's the sort of thing that may well get a response, but if it turns out not to be a life-threatening emergency it might not be a very kind one in real life either! Not that I'd ever condone things like "I hope you go die in a fire", certainly; but after you've seen this kind of pattern a few times, particularly if you've been polite and said hello only to end up in an hour-long "support call" about something you don't really know much about, it can get a bit frustrating, so it's worth following the norms of the medium.

--Colin Watson (talk) 09:13, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

It's spammy, Spam produces rage, frustration and confusion. 65.49.68.173 (talk) 12:54, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

First, you're technically using "ping" incorrectly when talking about IRC. A ping in IRC terms would be a "test" to either see if someone's connection hasn't failed (you receive a "ping reply"), or to test latency. Servers also do this to all users on a regular basis to ensure you're still there; your client automatically responds to this in the background. Anyway, in some cases (but I assume most non-techy people don't; I, for one, have it set this way), people have their IRC client set to play a sound when their name is said. In my experience, if someone isn't specifically asking for me, it can annoy me when the loud sound I have set to play (to ensure I hear it) is from someone who doesn't want my direct attention. Another reason is that it's just considered plain bad IRC netiquette to do so (in my experience, trolls tend to do this to intentionally anger people). -- 143.85.199.242 (talk) 16:05, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

laptop switching off itself

am using dell laptop N4050,when am using it it happens sometimes it switch off itself without providing any message — Preceding unsigned comment added by 196.43.65.200 (talk) 10:09, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Two possible reasons: it's overheating (take the case off and clean/check the fan), or else it's a dry joint (a solder joint has cracked) and a critical electrical connection is being lost (by & large, throw the machine away and get a new one). --Tagishsimon (talk) 10:41, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Plus another possible reason: maybe the battery is of no use anymore and the power supply is faulty. In this case, it's worth repairing. OsmanRF34 (talk) 15:40, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

In my experience repairing laptops, it's far more likely to be a heating issue than anything else. If you're comfortable, take it apart and remove the dust; if not, take it to a professional. Magog the Ogre (talk) (contribs) 16:30, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Another possibility is that the on/off switch is faulty. It should have a nice crisp click to it. If it "smooshes", or doesn't always turn on the first time you push it, this can be a sign that it's bad. StuRat (talk) 04:07, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

Also, are you running on battery or plugged in when this happens ? If only one or the other causes it, this might be a clue to the problem, as well as suggest a workaround (use the other method). StuRat (talk) 04:07, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

What were the dates of connections for the ARPANET nodes?

I see lots of references to years even months but what was the date of the connection to the ARPANet, specifically Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University)? This would have been in the 1969-1971 range. Thanks so much user:MarketdiamondMarketDiamond 10:49, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Free web hosting in the Arab States

Hi, I would like to have an adress for free web hosting in one of the Arab Sates which is not: Syria,Lebanon,Yeman,Iraq,Jordan,Egypt and Saudi Arabia I would prefer if it will be in UAE... Exx8 (talk) 15:09, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Uh, why? ¦ Reisio (talk) 16:50, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Because I want one. Exx8 (talk) 17:36, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Why not Syria,Lebanon,Yeman,Iraq,Jordan,Egypt or Saudi Arabia? 65.49.68.173 (talk) 12:39, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

A Google search is probably the best way to find this kind of thing. Astronaut (talk) 17:24, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

Yes, but I haven't found nothing. I don't speak Arabic, can someone be helpful? Exx8 (talk) 18:58, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

Possibly a psychiatrist. ¦ Reisio (talk) 23:48, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

Max my pc speed on the internet.

I have a custom desktop computer and i wanted to know how to max out my internet speed, as of right now my speed is sort of slow i bought a new router linkeys 1500 and it did not seem to improve the speed much it is still slow and does not buffer videos well can anyone help? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.142.178.36 (talk) 17:13, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Eventually Google Fiber might be available in your community.

—Wavelength (talk) 17:29, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

A good first step would be to check whether you are getting close to the speed you pay your ISP for. Go to http://www.speedtest.net and run the test. (Once is fine but to get a really accurate result you can try it multiple times over a few days and at varying times. But just do it once for now.) Then compare this with what your ISP is saying you should get. If the speeds are about the same (say, within 10-20%) there won't be much you can do other than pony up for faster internetz. If not, though, it might be something on your end. Post back here and we'll see what can be done. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 17:36, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Like that answers my question. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.142.178.36 (talk) 17:41, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Results from online "speed-test" websites should be treated with caution. At best, they tell you about the connection between your client and the web-site's host. In reality, they tell you almost nothing - the host could be transparently cached, proxied, or relayed through the internet by your service provider or by some other provider upstream. And of course, because The Internet is an internet, and not a point-to-point connection, there's very little useful information you can derive from a speed-test to a single host. For example, when I used to downlink data from my campus network servers to my on-campus apartment on the residential network, I could obtain internet connectivity speeds upwards of 1 gigabit per second, even though both hosts were on the Internet. It so happened that "the internet" route I was using happened to pass entirely through campus-owned-and-operated routers that were incredibly fast.

After I left school, connecting from the same host to the same server, but now routed over a different, commercially-provided internet service router, I would typically max out at a few megabits per second. My speed to Google did not change; but I don't happen care how quickly I can downlink data from Google. (Perhaps I'm not an "ordinary" internet user, in that most of my data is raw binary scientific data from a select few servers).

If you want to "max out your internet speed," you should figure out what you want to connect to, and buy a fast router, high quality cabling, and own every link between your host and your server. Otherwise, you're relying on some other network engineer to do the best job possible at the lowest cost.

If you want to "max out" the connection to Youtube, ... you're just plumb out of luck: you're relying on your ISP, and Google (and their proxy affiliates, the content distribution networks with whom Google conducts business). They are delivering the fastest connection to you that is cost-effective for their business needs. Nimur (talk) 17:48, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Getting a programming job without academic credentials

I'm wondering how likely it is to get a computer programming job with only a BS in engineering and self-taught programming skills. I was hired by my current employer as a process engineer, and I officially became a programmer when I took over for a programmer who left. I have 15 years of programming experience in various languages (C, C++, C#, Java, VBA, MS Access, SQL, Matlab, Lua, x86 Assembly, and probably a few others I can't think of right now.) So how do I prove my abilities to a prospective employer? Are there worthwhile certifications I can get? I've done some freelance development on Rentacoder.com and got only positive feedback, but that site doesn't exist anymore, so I don't know how I could back that up on a resume. Jerk182 (talk) 22:54, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Just list the languages you've used and the projects you've used them for, and let the person who interviews you figure out how to verify your skills. The market is hungry for good programmers, so there are going to be people out there who care more about whether you can do the job than about which pieces of paper you can flash. Looie496 (talk) 23:14, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Any reasonable employer who is seeking somebody with 15 years of experience will put more stock in your experience than in your credentials. Have you worked on projects that demonstrate your ability to perform in a future job role? Your resume should reflect that. Nimur (talk) 23:55, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Plus it would be good to have an online portfolio of things you have done that your prospective employer can see Horace Grundle (talk) 12:13, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

August 10

Audio-only video on iPhone

I often listen to video lectures on my iPhone. Sometimes they are in podcast form, other times they are on YouTube. I would like to listen to these videos with the iPhone in auto-lock mode, with the screen off. I can do this with all kinds of audio but not video. Is there a way around this? Otherwise, when I'm listening to a video lecture when I'm walking or jogging with the phone in my pocket, it's using up the battery. Viriditas (talk) 10:57, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

Load the video, start it playing, then lock the screen. The video will pause, but you can double-tap the 'home' button to restart it, without turning the screen back on. See the first comment here. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 10:59, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

Thanks! Viriditas (talk) 11:02, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

Tweeting on a phone

Hello, I love to tweet via my computer on twitter but I would really like to be able to tweet from my mobile phone. I live in the UK and have a pay as you go telephone (I am a poor man). I understand there is a procedure where I can "align" my twitter account with my telephone and then text tweets to a certain number, but I have no idea of the following items:

• Which number I need to call (I have an orange phone)
• How much each tweet will cost
• Whether I will get @ replies texted to me
• Whether it will cost me to receive @ replies

Can anyone shed any light on this situation? Horace Grundle (talk) 12:11, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

Unfortunately, you won't be able to use the full features of Twitter from your Orange phone, since Orange is not one of Twitter's 'Supported Mobile Carriers' in the UK. You will, however, be able to send tweets by using the number 07624800379. Follow the instructions here under 'To add your phone to your Twitter profile via long code:'. You will not be able to view tweets or receive replies by this method. In terms of how much it will cost, this will depend on what Orange charges you! The text should be charged the same as any other text to a (non-Orange) phone, although if you're concerned you could always call Orange customer services (dial 150) to check.

If you want to use all the features, including replies, over SMS, you will need to switch to another carrier - either 3 or O2. You should be able to get a SIM-only deal on a comparable pay-as-you-go tarrif, and be able to keep your existing phone number - just go into your favourite mobile phone shop and ask the nice man about it :) - Cucumber Mike (talk) 13:29, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

Unless I'm seriously misunderstanding the list you linked, Orange is not only a supported carrier in the UK but even has slightly broader (MMS) support than 3. 77.97.198.48 (talk) 22:53, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

HDMI to monitor

My custom built PC has a hdmi port and it will not display on my Monitor(hd). How can i get it to work? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.142.178.36 (talk) 16:23, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

What graphics card are you using? And what operating system? Looie496 (talk) 16:50, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

ios:windows

Graphics card is nvidia geforce i dont know any more stats for the graphics card — Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.142.178.36 (talk) 18:13, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

Windows 7 ? Has this computer ever displayed anything on any monitor ? If so, please describe what changed between then and now. StuRat (talk) 20:55, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

You can check if it's a problem with the monitor or the computer by trying out a different monitor, preferably one that you know works on a different computer. Alternately, find another computer that has a working HDMI port, and try it out on your monitor. Does the monitor have different possible inputs? Make sure that the source of the monitor is set to the correct port (my TV, that I sometimes use for a monitor, has 2 HDMI ports. Once, I was frantically trying to figure out why it wasn't displaying an image from the computer - I had the wrong HDMI port selected). It would help to give the make and model of the monitor as well. Buddy431 (talk) 22:11, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

Hotmail Code

Hello. I received an email from what, according to Outlook.com, is a trusted source, Microsoft Account Team (account-security-noreplymicrosoft. com), claiming that my Microsoft account has been verified along with a code. I don't remember verifying my account. What would one do to receive such an email? The email asks me to change my password if I didn't request this code. Has my email been infiltrated? Thanks in advance. --Mayfare (talk) 16:38, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

oldest website

What is the oldest still active website. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.142.178.36 (talk) 18:14, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

It would potentially depend on your definitions but if you follow similar ones to those used in our article History of the World Wide Web, the first website is hard to beat as the oldest still active one.

Clothing android app?

I don't know if this is the right type of question for the reference desk, but...

I really need a good app (preferably free, but beggars can't be choosers) for my phone that allows me to take pictures of my clothes and sort them into categories (for instance, business casual, casual, etc). I've tried looking around for one myself, but I haven't found a good one. Does anyone know of one? - Purplewowies (talk) 18:44, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

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