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March 23

Ubuntu and music play counts

Greetings. Does anyone know why Ubuntu, and probably Linux in general, don't include play counts in music players? Even the non-FOSS ones never seem to include this important feature, yet about 99% of Windows music players do. I've spent months wondering if it's a Windows metadata thing but even Itunes does it, so it's just Ubuntu/Linux missing it. I really miss play counts. Can anyone explain this? Thanks ツ Jenova 20 ^(email) 16:26, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Amarok has play count. It has a backend database. A stripped down media player, such as mplayer, won't have a play count because it doesn't store anything. It just plays music. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 17:15, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah, i've been looking at full fledged music players such as: Tomahawk, Lollipop, Rhythmbox, Audacity, etc. After scouring the web for 2 months and experimenting i now have a single option it seems...And it's one i didn't install because it's ugly. Any others you know of? I've been reading reviews for lots. Thanks ツ Jenova 20 ^(email) 17:28, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

First, Audacity is not a music "player". It is an audio file editor. I wouldn't expect it to have any features you want. Amarok is ugly and clunky. It used to be nice. Clementine forked from version 1.4 before the Amarok developers got stupid. So, you could try Clementine and see if the old Amarok is nicer. As for looks - aren't you using it as a music player? I don't look at my music player. I shove it into the taskbar and ignore it. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 17:42, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Minor mix-up. I've been scouring review lists such as this and this. Turns out i meant Audacious, not Audacity. Any recommendations other than Amarok? Thanks ツ Jenova 20 ^(email) 09:18, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Clementine gets my vote.--Link ^(t•c•m) 21:39, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

It took a while to get it looking half decent and learn where everything is. Thanks. I didn't appreciate it the first time but it'll do ツ Jenova 20 ^(email) 11:00, 27 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

FB page subscription

Not long ago I subscribed to a certain Facebook page, but don't receive any notifications about updates, be it on FB or via email (even though the notificication option is turned on in subscription). As such I'm forced to sift through their page manually to search for updates which usually appear somewhere below the top requiring scrolling. Today, for instance, I caught the update only 3 hours after publication, with no notification whatsoever. How to fix this? Brandmeister^talk 16:46, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I Googled facebook turning on all notifications and found stuff you've likely already tried. Rather unfortunately, FB hates the world and everyone in it, so advice on older webpages quickly becomes obsolete as FB endlessly changes their settings, setup, and options. If you're accessing via an Apple mobile device, this effect is doubled. Facebook does have a help centre, complete with a link to an online community where experienced users try to help with issues such as yours. One point you'll want to detail is whether you get any notifications at all (email or 'push') from other pages. If my tone earlier was not hint enough, I find FB endlessly frustrating and have encountered the opposite problem, where some pages just won't stop sending push and email notifications unless I unsubscribe completely. Matt Deres (talk) 01:46, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

You're fighting against the facebook EdgeRank sorting algorithm, which sorts posts based on a number of mysterious factors. Probably because Facebook makes money off of this algorithm (You can pay to have preferential treatment.) they make it difficult to turn off. (There's a thing you can click to see stuff sorted chronologically, but it's a per-session thing that isn't saved.)

There are third-party tools that try to make managing facebook easier. FB Purity is popular one, it may have a tool that does what you want. ApLundell (talk) 13:43, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Where do these lists come from?

I have Windows 10 and Microsoft Edge. Recently I had to reinstall Windows so this list (Top sites in File:Mercuryturnpike.png) showed up again in some cases when I would click on the URL ad the top of the screen. I don't know why it changes because I don't do anything to make it change. This list may not be the one that appears currently but when i get home I'll try to do it again.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 17:28, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Is there any reason you have to believe that the list is not created from your browsing history? Are you claiming that you have never, not once, been to GoComics? Are you claiming that you've never, not once, visited your contribution history on Wikipedia? You've never ever been to any of those websites? Not once? Never? Never ever? 209.149.113.5 (talk) 18:01, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I want to know why these sites? Why not others? And when I get home, there's a new list.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 22:04, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Do you seriously expect that a Microsoft Edge developer is going to read your question here? Microsoft Edge is not open source. Nobody can look at the source code and analyze their recommendation algorithm except the developers. Even then, I doubt that all of the developers can. I expect that there is one small group with access to that code. I do not understand why this is difficult to comprehend. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 12:42, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I don't understand why my question is so difficult for you to comprehend. Or maybe you just don't think it's necessary to be nice to people.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 15:40, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I did figure something out yesterday. I do keep going back to the gocomics a to z list, so I do use that one a lot. The same is true for "Main Street" on another site. In both cases I start with the master list and go to each comic strip or topic. Here, I keep going back to my contributions, but not nearly as often. "National TV" is not a master list on another site, though, and I don't go to "Ask Amy" that often either.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 16:06, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Rudeness aside, the IP touches upon a good point, though they didn't mention it directly. The algorithms that produce these suggestions are obviously going to be based in part on your history, but they're also going to be based on what the developers of the software think is a good method for predicting what you're going to type when you type in something novel. So it's also going to be based on other people's history, as well as a number of other factors, such as the current date and time (are you Christmas shopping? Doing your taxes? Planning a summer vacation?), whatever other information about you they have access to (do you run Photoshop every day? Do you regularly connect to the FTP server of a software development archive? Do you have lots of videos stored in your documents folder?) and similar information culled from people with similarities to you (do other Wikipedians often search for the names of college professors? Do people who use your banking service often search for loans from other banks online?). The actual method they use to wrangle this data into a prediction, and the specifics of the data they use are bound to be proprietary and highly protected, so no-one is likely to give you a direct answer to your question here. And if they did, they'd either be full of crap, or about to get fired from their job at Microsoft and sued for breaching their non-disclosure agreement. ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 16:26, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, thanks, I understand now.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 18:25, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

This is the third time he has asked this question and the third time he has been told that the suggestions are based on his history using some sort of algorithm. He will be back next week asking where the list comes from. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 16:50, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I don't disagree, but we have channels for handling disruption. When an editor is causing you frustration, we have methods for dealing with that, too. ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 16:56, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

This was the third time I had not gotten an answer, so it was the third time I asked. Here, I was given an answer to a separate question which I should have asked separately, but not to the question I asked here. Here, I asked the question the wrong way and was first told something irrelevant because apparently the person thought I expected behavior that wasn't possible, when my question was about the actual behavior which, because I reinstalled Windows 10, had to happen all over again. Then I was given sarcasm by someone else rather than a constructive answer. Greek mythology questions are not answered on this reference desk, so that's likely the only possible interpretation.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 18:25, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

It appears the list did not change like I thought it had. See File:Askamy.png. "Ask Amy" was in there before. However, this one has a list of searches too, though I don't recall doing any searches at home. With my slowIinternet and concern about going to unfamiliar sites on my own computer, I make a point of avoiding Google. Sometimes I make a mistake typing a URL that sends the computer to Bing or my phone company's search. How these got chosen I don't quite understand, but perhaps it's an algorithm I'm not allowed to know the details of.— Vchimpanzee • talk • contributions • 21:48, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

It doesn't matter if you searched on your phone or your tablet or your computer or your television. Microsoft/Bing knows that your IP address performed searches and viewed web pages. Therefore, it feeds information about that into the recommendation algorithm. Further, if you are signed in to an account, everything you do under that account is stored regardless of the device or where the device is located. So, if you are signed into Microsoft at work and do a search, that search will impact your recommendations at home. Further, it is clear that Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Facebook share information. For example, if I "like" a friend's comment about his new power drill on Facebook, I will suddenly see suggestions to look at new power drills on Amazon and both Google and Bing will suggest popular power drill web pages to me. It appears that you think your computer is making suggestions based solely on what you do on that computer. We live in a very connected world now. What you do anywhere - and what anyone who appears to be you does - is used to market to you. 71.85.51.150 (talk) 23:45, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Char array index

I came across this syntax feature to initialize an array (not associative array or hashtable) in Go:

 
var inverse = [256]uint8{
   'A': 'T', 'a': 'T',
   'C': 'G', 'c': 'G',
   'G': 'C', 'g': 'C',
   'T': 'A', 't': 'A',
}

Is there name for this syntax feature?

I'm trying to see which other languages have the feature, but it's kinda hard to do without knowing the feature's name. ECS LIVA Z (talk) 18:42, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

What feature are you referring to? The use of the word "var"? The bracketed 256? The colon separated pairs in the initialization? The latter is sometimes called an "associative array" and appears in JavaScript [1]. A similar concept appears in Perl where it is called a "hash" although it uses a comma or arrow between the key and the value rather than a colon [2]. In C++ it's called a map and again the initialization syntax is a bit different [3]. CodeTalker (talk) 19:49, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry, I should have clarified. It's the use of associative array syntax to initialize a regular array. As you mentioned, pretty much all languages have associative array, and easy and clear syntax for initializing them. However, the Go clip above is only one I've seen so far that allow you to initialize a regular array with the associative array syntax. I'm wondering whether there are other languages that allow you to do the same. ECS LIVA Z (talk) 20:17, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

This is basically designated initializers from C99, where the syntax would be

uint8_t inverse[256]={
  ['A']='T', ['a']='T',
  ['C']='G', ['c']='G',
  ['G']='C', ['g']='C',
  ['T']='A', ['t']='A'
};

--Tardis (talk) 14:25, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you! That's precisely it.

Did this feature first appear in C99? Or does any precious standardizations of C have it?

I checked C++ and this particular form of designated initializer isn't supported. Is there any other C derived/inspired language that have this feature? ECS LIVA Z (talk) 19:14, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

It is not uncommon. In PHP you assign key and value as 'key'=>'val'... So it just replaces the colon with an arrow. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:1004:B049:9B6:CCAC:5A12:84A3:24A4 (talk) 20:58, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Yep, you're right. Thanks! Though admittedly PHP is cheating a bit since their array is both the regular array and the associative array. ECS LIVA Z (talk) 21:54, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Try reading up on Lisp (programming language) for an even lower-level implementation of association lists: It used to have only two fundamental data types, Atoms and (association) lists. Even statements and function definitions are all coded as a list of atoms, though modern implementations have native support for the traditional array of data types. ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 16:33, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

In perl it is arguable that in some respects hashes are "even length array"s - and the syntax for initialising hashes may well work for arrays and vice versa, depending on whether strict is turned on or not. See fat comma. All the best: Rich Farmbrough, 22:21, 24 March 2017 (UTC).[reply]

DOT NET emulator for Windows 10

Please can you recommend me a DOT NET version 2 emulator for Windows 10. I have several DOT NET version 2 applications that no longer work on Windows 10. They are abandonware so will never be updated to the latest DOT NET version. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 168.10.85.15 (talk) 19:24, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

.NET 2.0 is still supported by Windows 10 but it needs to enabled (installed) as described here. So, go to the control panel/programs and features/Turn on and off Windows features and enable .NET framework 3.5. Ruslik_Zero 19:47, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

As Ruslik0 said: the best .NET2.0 emulator for Windows 10 is Windows 10. ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 16:27, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Programming language like the Unix pipeline

Is any programming language build like a series of filters in a pipe like the Pipeline (Unix)? It looks like a cool approach, comparable to OO or imperative. --Llaanngg (talk) 20:39, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Insofar as bash is a programming language (in addition to being just an interactive command interpreter), ... the bash language encourages the use of pipes. You can also use pipelines and coprocs (if you're using bash-4 or newer). These paradigms fit very well with traditional pipe | syntax.

Nimur (talk) 21:15, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

You could do this with any functional language, though it wouldn't be as easy to read as a bash script. e.g. output = FunctionThree(FunctionTwo(FunctionOne(x, y))); or possibly:

FunctionThree( FunctionTwo( FunctionOne(x, y) ) );

(though for obvious reasons, that second example won't work with any language that doesn't ignore linebreaks, like VBA). ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 21:35, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Does that mean that Bash is a functional programming language? If that's the case the corresponding article could benefit from a little updating. Llaanngg (talk) 22:54, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

No, I would say it's a command language, (personally, I would call it an imperative language with a few data state features if I had to classify it that way.) Just like a OOP language can replicate the functionality of a functional language, a functional language can replicate the functionality of an imperative language. ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 14:43, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

If you like pipeline, you would like the programming language Mathematica or should I cry wolf, er? Wolfram.

You can do

FunctionThree[ FunctionTwo[ FunctionOne[12.34] ] ]

or

FunctionThree@FunctionTwo@FunctionOne[12.34]

Or

if you like the postfix notation (aka the pipeline notation)

12.34 // FunctionOne // FunctionTwo // FunctionThree

Now if your function takes multiple parameters (and outputs a list containing multiple elements), for example two parameters x and y. You can put them into a list (think of a list as an array) and get the function(s) to take a list as if it were multiple parameters.

{x,y} // (FunctionOne @@ #) & // (FunctionTwo @@ #) & // (FunctionThree @@ #) &

or

{12.34,56.78} // (FunctionOne @@ #) & // (FunctionTwo @@ #) & // (FunctionThree @@ #) &

148.182.26.69 (talk) 22:57, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Do you realise the "dream programming language" you are talking about which uses pipelines would have to behave something like this

TheWorld={Value1,Value2,Value3,Value4,...,ValueN};

EndOfTheWorld = TheWorld // Function1 // Function2 // Function3 // ... // FunctionK;

DisplayFinalResultToOperator[EndOfTheWorld];

148.182.26.69 (talk) 23:51, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Of course you can do it all in one line! This is your ultimate pipe dream.

{Value1,Value2,Value3,Value4,...,ValueN} // Function1 // Function2 // Function3 // ... // FunctionK // DisplayFinalResultToOperator

148.182.26.69 (talk) 23:57, 23 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Method chaining? Asmrulz (talk) 12:15, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The phrase is dataflow programming. --Tardis (talk) 14:26, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

An older programmer I know once referred to that as a "debugging-based programming". Not that it's important, but I thought it was amusing and rather apt. ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 14:43, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

right. one thing doesn't preclude the other, though. And the shell itself is influenced not by OOP nor by any of that fancy dataflow stuff but by 60' job control languages ^{[citation needed]}. (I see that one Victor A. Vyssotsky who co-developed BLODI also headed Multics which inspired Unix, so who knows.) Asmrulz (talk) 18:49, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

March 24

WINE on Windows

I have old versions of Corel Paint Shop Pro that still ran fine on Windows 7, but on Windows 10, the installers just stall during the "module registration" step, in fact so badly I have to use the task manager to kill the installer. The entire programs are then on my disk, including a desktop icon, but when I click the icons, the programs will freeze on the start screen. All this also happens when I'm using the various backwards compatibility modes of Windows 10. The reason why I need these old Paint Shop Pro versions is because I have many self-made scanning and color balance presets for them that most likely won't work with newer versions.

Many people have told me to use Wine on top of Windows 10 to fix this by simulating XP or Windows 7 within Wine, but all the Wine wikis and how-tos tell me that Wine is not made to be installed on top of Windows. So how does this work? I've found [4], but those instructions seem a tad outside my abilities as a Windows user who's used to just click setup EXEs, or, at outmost, open .rar or .zip archives and drop a tiny program EXE anywhere on my harddisk.

Or is there any other XP or Windows 7 emulator I could use for this? --2003:71:4E33:E510:FC1A:665C:E7A8:5408 (talk) 02:10, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Don't damage Your installed operating system with old and now incompatible software. Btw I am using GIMP, Hugin (software), Inkscape and Dia (software) for such application.

On Windows 7 You can use Microsoft virtual pc. The link to kegel.com, You posted, lists scripts and commands with "/cygdrive", which sounds to my as cygwin or Cygwin/X is used to give Wine (software) an environment to run. The the Kegel website also wrote from a Windows 7 environment. Careful which software and versions were used. Emluated software is faster executed only when the original platform was much slower than CPUs from today. An other idea is to install VirtualBox and setup an old OS as virtual machine which may require a license in some cases. If Your computer does not have 8 GB of RAM and a CPU less 4 full cores, and/or a set of supported extra CPU registers to swap quickly into and from the virtual machine, I guess You may not be lucky with an host system which runs several other software on Windows 10. I mean save Your time. --Hans Haase (有问题吗) 10:21, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Long story short: If I have an old WindowsXP Professional 64-bit CD right here, I can use VirtualBox? --2003:71:4E33:E579:99A6:DDE:9236:745C (talk) 17:50, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Update: the path is set in the system varibles, run: sysdm.cpl --Hans Haase (有问题吗) 10:32, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I run XP on my W10 box using Bochs - works fine. I also have a couple of Linux distros running too. --TrogWoolley (talk) 12:04, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Uhhh...I've found this, which makes Bochs look more like a programming language for DOS than an OS emulator to me. As said, I'm only used to click setup EXEs. --2003:71:4E33:E579:99A6:DDE:9236:745C (talk) 17:59, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Um, that PDF opens with "Bochs is a C++ program which simulates a complete Intel x86 computer."

I'm sorry if this seems flippant, but using Wine on Windows is like using google translate to translate pages written into your native language into Swahili then back into your native language: Sure, it'll work, but the result will be weird and the effort wasted. Use a virtual machine and install an older version of windows using one of your old install disks. If you don't have any old disks, you can buy them online on the cheap (so long as they're not Windows 7). Personally, I recommend VirtualBox because it's simple to use, and most importantly, free. It's also one of those click-setup-and-then-just-keep-clicking-okay-until-you're-done programs. You can find the installation instructions here. For the record, I have years of experience working in CS and decades of experience with computers in general, and I'm right there with you on how I like my software to be installed. Any software (I'm looking at you, SLIME and AWS) that requires me to edit environmental variables and registry keys and write new permission policies to install is an example of lazy programming, IMHO. I've yet to encounter an install process that requires technical information that isn't accessible through the WinAPI. ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 18:40, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, due to Hans Haase's post above, I've already looked into VirtualBox, but after clicking through a lot of documentations and the forum for an hour, it seems to me like I'll have to study programming sciences at a university for a few years before I'll even understand 99% of the entire terminology used in the docs and tutorials there. Plus, it seems to me like it's an official requirement to work at a computer business company or even run a company like that if I just want to join the VirtualBox help forums run by Oracle. I'm used to just click setup EXEs or use a GUI like BootCamp where all I do is burn a CD with Apple drivers by means of one click, then pop in a Windows installation CD and click run within BootCamp, telling it on what HD it has to install Windows to. Watch it install Windows, boot Windows, pop in the Apple drivers CD, run setup, done. I'm not used to anything like a DOS box aka cmd or whatever it's called. I don't even understand 99% of all the caveats and myriads of bypackages I have to look out for as according to the VirtualBox documentation and tutorials or what all those supposedly critical components are even there for that I supposedly need or else I won't even be able to install VitualBox. The FAQs with "known bugs" and solutions seem to me like they're both written in Chinese. The VirtualBox docs make it look like I'll have to write Windows from scratch or something to even just install VirtualBox or any OS with it. I mean, if it's supposed to be so easy, there should be some step-by-step guide on how to run Windows XP on Windows 10 that somebody can understand who's been clicking install EXEs for 25 years, right? --2003:71:4E33:E579:99A6:DDE:9236:745C (talk) 18:50, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not used to anything like a DOS box aka cmd or whatever it's called. You don't have to use the command line. The first option on the installation page is "double click the executable". All of the other stuff mentioned there is about what to do if you require certain configurations, which I don't think you will need at all. The last time I installed it, I double clicked the setup file, then kept clicking okay until it was done. Don't let all the additional technical information fool you, it's really simple. As for the forums, I have an account there. If you have any questions that you can't find the answer to, I'd be happy to post them for you (if I can't answer them myself, of course). I'm sure there are a number of other editors here with the same access and willingness to help. ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 19:26, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Well, okay, I'll try download and run the EXE. Thank you for your offer to help me with the forums, but looking over those, I don't even understand any of the questions people ask there nor any of the answers they're given. --2003:71:4E33:E579:99A6:DDE:9236:745C (talk) 19:31, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I'll let you in on a little secret: That's true of me and most of the other members, as well, and that forum is probably the least technical one Oracle hosts. ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 19:35, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, first try to run the EXE and I've just aborted it. It tells me it's gonna mess with my network settings somehow. Will I not be able to get back on the internet and get help here? My "network setup" so far is that I've plugged the power sockets of my router and my PC in and turned both of them on, and that's how I got on the internet. I don't know what to do in Windows if VirtualBox changes anything in there, so I may get stuck without a way to get back here. --2003:71:4E33:E579:99A6:DDE:9236:745C (talk) 19:39, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not sure exactly what you're seeing, but it seems to me like what it's asking you is if this virtual machine should have access to your network settings. I know that you will be asked about network settings, USB settings and python support. You shouldn't need any of those to run an XP-era copy of Corel PSP. If you're very uncomfortable doing this (which seems to be the case from how you described your network setup), then I'd advise you to find someone willing to do the installation for you. It doesn't take much to buffer your system against damaging changes (it's functionality built right in to windows), but it's still a little bit in-depth, and adding that to what you're already doing seems like taking on too much. The Geek Squad should be able to help for not too much money, assuming you don't know anyone else. I'd offer to connect to your machine and do it remotely, but frankly, taking me up on that is an extremely bad idea. I could be the most malicious hacker in the world, for all you know. ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 20:07, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I remember that message, too. VirtualBox is just saying that you may get temporarily disconnected while it installs the virtual LAN adapter stuff (for shared folders etc.) Asmrulz (talk) 20:30, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, I should've probably been a bit more specific about the message. It's telling me it's gonna disconnect my network, but you can guarantee me it's gonna be restored? --2003:71:4E33:E579:99A6:DDE:9236:745C (talk) 20:46, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I'd like to, but the odds of ninjas suddenly attacking you and stealing your router before the installation finishes is non-zero. Ridiculously small, but non-zero nonetheless. ;) (In all seriousness, it should be just fine. If we are your only source of CS expertise, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take my earlier advice about letting someone else help you set it up.) ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 20:52, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I don't remember I had any network problems from installing VirtualBox, so I'd say, go right ahead Asmrulz (talk) 20:56, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, thanks to you guys, VirtualBox is installed, and now it's telling me to create a virtual disk. Is that like a Linux on-the-fly CD where I'm running Linux purely from RAM? But it's telling me I'll need a storage device of at least 10 GB. --2003:71:4E33:E579:99A6:DDE:9236:745C (talk) 21:55, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Once you've installed VirtualBox, click the "New" button. It'll ask you for the name and type of the virtual machine. The name can be anything but the type should match the system you're actually installing (Windows XP, say.) Next, it'll ask you for the amount of RAM and whether you want to create a virtual harddisk. That's just a (huge) file that is a sector-by-sector image of the hard disk the guest OS will be using. I'd just go with default suggestions here. A "dynamically allocated" harddisk only occupies as much as there is real data on the emulated hard disk, whereas a "fixed size" harddisk occupies whatever is the emulated hard disk's nominal size (this only matters to the "host" OS. From the p.o.v. of the "guest" (virtualized) OS, the hard disk is fixed size either way.) I'd choose dynamically allocated. Now you have created a virtual machine. Now click Start. It'll offer you to boot from a CD. Insert your Windows XP CD and choose "Host drive" (this just means the virtual machine can access the actual, physical CD drive - as well it should.) After this, the XP installation should start. When it's complete, you'll have a virtual machine running Windows XP that you can install PSP in Asmrulz (talk) 22:22, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Dynamically allocated is not available. The options given are No harddisk, Create harddisk, and Use existing harddisk. What worries me here is that it sounds a bit like I'm about to mount a new harddisk complete with formatting it, so I may somehow lose my current Windows 10 system by accidentally formatting my C: drive. --2003:71:4E33:E579:99A6:DDE:9236:745C (talk) 22:48, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I'm sorry, yes, "create virtual", then "create", then "VDI" -> "next" -> "dynamically allocated" Asmrulz (talk) 22:52, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Thing is, am I accidentally formatting my C: disk system this way? --2003:71:4E33:E579:99A6:DDE:9236:745C (talk) 22:54, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

(edit conflict) It shouldn't format the real hard disk, but XP (or 7) will offer you to format the hard disk. That's the virtual hard disk which of course you can format Asmrulz (talk) 22:56, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

and, generally, you can do whatever in the virtual machine ("guest" system), and it shouldn't break the "host" system Asmrulz (talk) 23:00, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

It's important to understand that the "hard disk" being referred to by VirtualBox is a virtual hard disk. That is, it's not a real hard disk, it's just a file on your Windows machine that VirtualBox is going to pretend is a Linux hard disk. As mentioned above, you can do anything you want to that virtual (fake) hard disk, including formatting it, and it won't affect your real disk. It will only affect the file that is pretending to be a hard disk. CodeTalker (talk) 23:39, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, Windows XP setup is running now (first time I'm ever able to use an old, discarded 64-bit XP CD originally bought for a first-gen Mac Pro that BootCamp always refused to acknowledge). Looks like this "VirtualMachine" is a tiny window rather than fullscreen (at least during the install so far). Top menu gives me the ability to fullscreen, but the keystrokes to minimize it again after that look a bit cryptic to me. What key is "host"? --2003:71:4E33:E579:784C:E95A:C19E:91BD (talk) 23:47, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, and another problem...how do I "register" this old XP 64-bit? I mean, it's gonna stop working after 30 days if I don't register it, right? Online registering doesn't seem to work as the VirtualMachine doesn't seem to be able to access the internet. --2003:71:4E33:E579:784C:E95A:C19E:91BD (talk) 00:01, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

right ctrl, I think. It should say the first time you go into Fullscreen. Install the Guest additions, too, after the install's done (Devices->Insert Guest additions CD, then open the CD in My Computer in the virtual machine), it'll improve interoperability (seamless mode, automatic resizing, mouse integration etc) Asmrulz (talk) 00:17, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I think box versions such as yours will register, but OEM versions which are tied to the physical machine, won't. As to internet access in general, there's a network icon in the lower right corner, right-click it and select "connect network adapter". And it should say "Attach to: NAT" in Settings->Network Asmrulz (talk) 00:17, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

a.) The shortcut it's telling me to use when displaying the fullscreen warning is "host + F1". As I have no idea what that means, I just cancel the fullscreen mode before it takes effect.

b.) When I select Insert guest additions CD , nothing happens at all.

c.) I don't wanna "export" anything from XP to Windows 10. I just wanna use these old versions of PSP that don't run under Windows 10. The templates I'm talking about only work in these old versions of PSP. So it seems I still need a way on how to register this old XP.

d.) Okay, I've been able to find the "Connect netowrk cable" button in the lower right corner, but both IE and the registration window still can't access the web. --2003:71:4E33:E579:784C:E95A:C19E:91BD (talk) 00:43, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

On second thought, I do wanna export stuff from XP to Windows 10, and that's the files I'll scan and edit with PSP. It seems I need "Shared directories" for that, right? But when I'm trying to create a "Shared directory" , it's telling me that no "guest additions" exist. Oh, and is there a way to switch the monitor setup from 4:3 to 16:9? That switch used to be integrated in the resolution slider at "Display" in "System control", but now, only 4:3 resolutions seem available. --2003:71:4E33:E579:784C:E95A:C19E:91BD (talk) 01:03, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

"host+F1" is Left Ctrl+F1 if the host key is actually Left-Ctrl. Mine is, but I don't know if that's the default setting or I changed it sometime. There's an icon in the lower right corner to set up the host key. Asmrulz (talk) 01:21, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The Guest additions CD will appear in the guest OS's CD folder. Open it like you would a physical CD and install what's on it. Asmrulz (talk) 01:21, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

No internet is very odd. Normally it just works Asmrulz (talk) 01:21, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

You'll be able to change resolutions after installing the Guest additions Asmrulz (talk) 01:21, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, set up Shared folders, then you can access a folder on the host system as a network drive (In the "guest" (virtualized) system: Connect network drive -> any letter -> Network neighborhood -> VBoxSvr). Anything you copy there from under either system will be visible in the other and vice versa Asmrulz (talk) 01:21, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, it seems the "Guest additions" feature works as wonkily as the BD drive when accessed by the VirtualMachine version of XP. In Windows Explorer within XP, the BD drive is always displayed as "Guest additions", no matter what disk is inserted, but when it's not my XP install CD, I get error messages when clicking the drive and nothing happens when I use "Insert guest additions CD" from the top menu. Having realized this, I've made it to install the guest additions now, and at least I now have a 16:9 display and shared directories work. But web access is still impossible from within XP, hence no XP registration. --2003:71:4E33:E579:784C:E95A:C19E:91BD (talk) 01:24, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Ah, thanks for telling me about this setting for the BD drive. In any case, the web issue is getting weirder by the minute: By now, I've made it to install and set up PSP, and after I've made it to install the "guest additions", re-booted and started PSP again, PSP was telling me that "free Corel updates" would be available for PSP. I clicked "Download free PSP update", and it did just that, but within IE and for XP registration purposes, the web is still as dead as a doornail. --2003:71:4E33:E579:784C:E95A:C19E:91BD (talk) 01:30, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

This can be. I had that recently where the old IE (IE7?) that comes with XP was saying there was no internet but there was. Downloaded and installed Firefox via the shared folder. I reverted my CD drive remark because edit conflictAsmrulz (talk) 01:45, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Hmph, now the issue that XP Professional 64-bit was so rare is making problems again. The XP itself is 64-bit, but the 64-bit version of Firefox can't be installed because it requires at least Windows 7. And Firefox 32-bit can't recognize XP Professional 64-bit as any legitimate OS at all, just like it used to be with BootCamp back on my 1st gen Mac Pro. --2003:71:4E33:E579:784C:E95A:C19E:91BD (talk) 01:55, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Hmmm...to be more exact, the exact failure msg on Firefox 32-bit was that it requires XP SP2, so I located that and tried to install it via shared directory, but turned out that it's not for XP Professional 64-bit and hence can't be installed. So I had to google again for the Windows 2003 version of Service Pack 2, a file that's so rare I found it uploaded to a forum. Installed it, then finally Firefox 32-bit would install. Web access just fine on Firefox now, but still not able to register/activate XP. Could it be they've discontinued the original XP registration/activation server? I wonder if I can still use phone activation/registration for XP...especially at 3:30am! --2003:71:4E33:E579:784C:E95A:C19E:91BD (talk) 02:41, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

the support for XP was discontinued in April 2014, yes. I don't know if that's the reason why it won't register, though Asmrulz (talk) 17:30, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

With support ended for XP, I would honestly just install a corporate or hacked copy. Microsoft is no longer even looking for people running bootleg XP, so while it's technically illegal, it's pragmatically legit. (Note before you worry about the technicalities, that kissing/hugging/patting/touching/getting too close to someone without asking permission first is technically illegal, as well.) ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 12:52, 27 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Success! Phone activation/registration still worked, if only as a series of tape-recorded messages to be navigated by means of typing in numbers on my phone! Everything is fine now and I'd like to thank you guys so much for your support with working VirtualBox out, especially Asmrulz and partly CodeTalker. I guess ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants was also meaning well, but in his replies he was kinda overestimating my knowledge in computer sciences. So far, everything looks fine now, but I may get back to you guys if I won't get my scanner to work in XP. It's a CanoScan 8400F which AFAIK was originally made for XP and which I've mostly used on Windows 7. On Windows 7, it installed itself once I plugged it in, and with genuine XP, it's too long ago for me to remember whether I've installed it in any way. --79.242.218.158 (talk) 17:29, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

hfc nbn in australia

Hi, I have the nbn in Australia, and I am in an HFC region. I've been trying to ask around for what I need to do, and no one, and not the internet, seems particularly clear. The nbn is live, now, and ready to go in my area. I do not have an actual cable (HFC) outlet in my apartment. Who installs the cable outlet? Do I need an electrician? Every website says a basic install is free, and taken care of by (I think) the provider (eg Optus, Telstra or iiNet). I don't know if the provider then gets reimbursed by the nbn, or exactly what happens, I'm just reporting what I've been told.

Then, if I need an electrician, do they come first, then I go to the provider (Optus etc)? Or do I get the provider first, and they sort out an electrician?

If an electrician comes, will they be able to add a cable outlet inside my premises? I don't see how they can rewire the house, and thread a cable through the walls. Not sure how exactly this is supposed to work. IBE (talk) 03:40, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not form AU, but in the article NBN notes „wholesale“ which I understand regarding the Wikipedia article the network services are being resold by providers. Taking a look to other nations, providers tunnel their customers data by VPN and feed at a backbone to the internet. There customers internet usage can be monitored. So I recommend You to ask local internet service providers (ISPs) for solutions and pricing. --Hans Haase (有问题吗) 08:34, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, naturally, I've been asking, but they don't seem to know everything, or perhaps even very much. Response times for email queries are also slow - you folks are generally the quickest ;) IBE (talk) 09:30, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

When every try would fail, see: Telecommunications in Australia#Regulation --Hans Haase (有问题吗) 10:05, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The ISP does the work. After you buy the plan from your ISP, they ring you up to make an appointment for their contractor to do the installation.
Sleigh (talk) 13:35, 26 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, but are you sure of this? I continued doing my own research, and came across this: [5]. This is an faq from Australian provider, Westnet. See the entry: "Can I use existing wiring/smart wiring?" It seems pretty clear to me that I have to take care of all cabling. But you may have more direct first-hand experience, or it may vary with different providers. So please let me know if this is the case, because it now appears (unhappily) like it's my problem. IBE (talk) 23:41, 26 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Installation to your specific residence (rather than just the property or street) is almost always done by the ISP or an electrician/technician contracted by the ISP. Westnet's FAQ answer that you've cited is referring to internal wiring on your local network, usually to have several ethernet access points around the house, and has no effect on the connection between the ISP and your modem/router. You'll note that the answer says that a typical installation does include "installation of the Network Boundary Point (typically the nbn™ Connection Box or first wall socket, depending on your nbn™ technology)", which is what you're after. Sellyme^Talk 02:19, 27 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Gee, thanks - I didn't get what the Connection box was - I thought it meant the thing outside the premises, not the thing into the premises - wall socket/main box. Information overload, plus Optus had told me something different. IBE (talk) 02:06, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Linux (Bash) expert?

You might be able to help here:

http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/353076/how-to-indent-an-heredoc-inside-an-heredoc-the-right-way

Ben-Yeudith (talk) 06:05, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

March 25

NUnit confusion

I need some education on NUnit package. I've never used it before but circumstances forced me to face it. My hardware is HP Pavilion with Windows 10. I need to explore and perhaps modify a C# solution with two projects developed by someone else. I have Community Visual Studio 2015 which handles C# and C++ handsomely. One of the projects devoted to testing of the other project and it has all the NUnit references. I therefore have:

using NUnit;

using NUnit.Core;

using NUnit.Framework;

I work on this solution piecemeal and during one of such short weekends I installed some NUnit related software and included NUnit.3.6.0.nupkg & NUnit3TestAdapter3.7.0.nupkg in Solution items for reference but they do not help and I still get numerous compile errors with statements like: [TestFixture], etc.

At the same time I found out that NUnit exists as a separate GUI and can be downloaded here[6]. Is it a reputable, safe place?

Any explanations will be highly appreciated. --AboutFace 22 (talk) 20:50, 25 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

March 26

Remote computers communicating== internet

If tow computers after communicating remotely after they always using the internet or are there alternatives?31.4.140.133 (talk) 14:00, 26 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The internet is made of two things: physical computers that move data around, and protocols about how that data is handled. As far as the physical layer goes, you can always hang a copper wire between two distant computers and make them communicate by this channel, and it would not be on the internet. Or use radio waves (in either case, check applicable law before doing it).

Depending on how you count, a virtual private network could be "non-internet" for protocol purposes, but keep in mind the data is still transmitted over the general network. Tigraan^{Click here to contact me} 14:17, 26 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Computers transferred data in a variety of ways before the Internet existed. You can start with our articles on XMODEM, YMODEM, ZMODEM, uucp, Arpanet, and Network Control Program. CodeTalker (talk) 16:23, 26 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

MS-DOS 6.x could communicate with a lapLink cable, using special crossover cables on parallel ports or null modem on serial port, but manual operating both computers was neccessary. HP 3000, HP 9000, IBM System i (AS/400) were made in a range from of PCs up to Mainframe computers. This machines could use one console. All other users used a computer terminal, with a serial connection to the central computer. A short distance is RS-232 / V.24, other serial links used differential signals on twisted pair cables for longer distances like ethernet or USB today. RS-232 was also a typical interface for dialup modems which allowed remote terminals. Radio modems also could be used. Therefore, the baudrate was reduced to fit the modem signals to frequencies of phonelines or even a bandwidth of radio. This caused that slow appering of letters on the screen in the 1970s and 1980s similar like constant fast typing a typewriter. BBS networks and other Pre–WWW online services were accessed over phone lines. Packet radio, which is modified X.25 was used on amateur radio, but strongly restricted even in some European countries. To transfer a program, computers with datasette could use a cassette tape adaptor. An analog datasette port (ear/mic/jack) to connect a cassette recorder can be connected to a radio or walkie-talkie. Often, this use was prohibited due it was called an "encrypted communication". But it also required manual operating the computers due the datasette had no extra hardware and used the whole ressources of the 8 bit home computer. Today some mobile apps for smartphones generate sounds to transfer any data to such old computers by using the earphone jack, using the app as a virtual datasette. --Hans Haase (有问题吗) 07:29, 27 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Charging Kindle with wall charger

Hi, I have a wall charger which states it's output is 5V DC 1A, but my Kindle says it requires input 5.25V DC max 500mA. Does this mean charging my Kindle with this charger is unsafe? I've done it several times but haven't checked the numbers till now. AvidReader98 (talk) 19:40, 26 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

If it works then it is okey though you may be slightly undercharging the battery. Ruslik_Zero 19:45, 26 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

5V is the standard USB voltage so it will be fine. It likely simply specifies 5.25V DC max as the maximum allowed voltage, which makes sense since +5% is the maximum allowed by the USB spec USB#Power. As for the current, there can be a risk that a device designed to supply 10A of 5V may not reliably supply 500mA or less at 5V so you do sometimes have to take care that there isn't a big difference between maximum current supply and what the device uses. But 1A and 500mA is too small to worry about unless there's a major design fault. And just as important, if the device is designed for USB power, it should be able to reliably supply 500mA or lower anyway even if it's designed for higher currents. Anyway the highest current generally supplied on a single USB port at 5V tends to be 3A. (5A is used at higher voltages. [7]) Some battery packs or chargers may have higher than 3A, but only if they want to be able to supply multiple ports at high current. P.S. I should clarify I'm only referring to situations where the maximum supply current is higher than the device current. In the reverse you perhaps should take a bit of care. Nominally if both device and power supply are USB and it's a standard USB cable, then it shouldn't draw more than 500mA unless the power supply is capable of it. But you still should take some care, especially if the USB power supply is of questionable quality. Of course if that's the case you should take care anyway. Nil Einne (talk) 11:07, 27 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I can tell you from experience that both the Kindle fire and the base Kindle (the second generation one with the e-ink display) will charge just fine from an inverter with those exact specs. It's a little slower than the provided charger, but I've noticed that there's actually a pcb with a chip in the provided charger, which is likely for optimization. ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 13:16, 27 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

My experience with the Fire is that it won't show that it is charging in the interface (no lightning bolt on the battery indicator), but it does charge, eventually. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 13:30, 27 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

March 27

Amazon app on Ubuntu

So, not talking about the online search results in the dash controversy. More about the Amazon app included on Ubuntu 16.04. Does anyone know if Canonical benefits financially if I buy through this instead of just using the website in a regular web browser? I assume so but i'd like a confirmation. Search results are filled with people asking how to remove it so it's hard to find an answer to my question. Thanks ツ Jenova 20 ^(email) 11:14, 27 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Using the Amazon icon in the launcher attaches an affiliate tag for Canonical to your purchase so Canonical gets a cut of the sale. Amazon is just the first step. The plan is to do the same for as many online stores as possible, embedding it all into the dash search. You search for "minecraft nightlight" and it will show links to Amazon, Walmart, ThinkGeek, etc... and embed a Canonical affiliate tag into each search result so if you make the purchase, they get a cut. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 14:35, 27 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Is that last part an assumption/paranoia or based on a statement from Canonical? Thanks ツ Jenova 20 ^(email) 08:33, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Canonical official statements have explained that they plan to expand what they are now doing with Amazon to everything else to raise funds. 71.85.51.150 (talk) 10:26, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Ah...So I was right not to use it...Thanks for that anonymous user ツ Jenova 20 ^(email) 12:01, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

The actual quote that stuck in my mind in response to asking if we should trust Ubuntu with handling our purchases and cramming their affiliate IDs into everything was: "Well, we have root." In other words, Canonical feels that they own your machine if you install Ubuntu on it and if they want to get a cut of your online purchases, they are justified in doing so. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 12:12, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I believe I read something similar to that quote on Reddit. And here was me looking to contribute financially lol. I withdraw that offer now...Thanks ツ Jenova 20 ^(email) 12:35, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

No Wikipedia article on data traps?

Wikipedia doesn't seem to have an article on data traps.

For those who are not familiar with the term, a data trap is something like a breakpoint, except that it is tied to a memory location, not a location in a program. When a trapped memory location is accessed, program execution is interrupted and control is transferred to a handler.

Data traps are not a recent invention. That makes it more curious that Wikipedia doesn't have an article on it.

May I suggest that one of the regular contributors here create one, if there's indeed no article on it? --134.242.92.97 (talk) 22:23, 27 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I've not heard the term "data trap", and a quick inspection of google search results doesn't seem to show that it's commonly used. This concept is usually called a "data breakpoint", and it's mentioned in our breakpoint article, in the Breakpoint Conditions section, and discussed further in the Implementations section. If you have references showing the use of the term "data trap", it could be added as a redirect to breakpoint. CodeTalker (talk) 00:23, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Interesting. I first learned of the concept in the early 80s in a book. An exercise in the book asks the reader to design a data trap, the concept of which is described in the exercise. The author used the term rather matter-of-factly, so I thought it was a widely used term. Apparently these days the concept is much better known as a data breakpoint. --134.242.92.97 (talk) 14:11, 29 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

March 28

iTunes data extraction

I have 18 340 tracks in iTunes and have been working to improve the Composer fields: standardize the names, fill in dates whenever possible. It would be convenient to export a list of Composers to a text file so that I can, for example, tell how many distinct entries there are. Is there a way to do that? —Tamfang (talk) 01:13, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

You used to be able to just copy and paste them, from the iTunes song list to a text document or spreadsheet. Not sure if that's still the case. - X201 (talk) 15:56, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Ah – File → Library → Export Playlist; choosing Plain Text gives a tab-delimited file, from which I took the third column. —Tamfang (talk) 23:11, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Resolved

When you edit the fields, iTunes should save this within the ID3 tags for each MP3 file. So these tags can by read by other software. eg try Mp3tag. It can read all of the tags, then export as a CSV file. --Fuaran buidhe (talk) 17:16, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

How do Google and Bing control search results?

I typed "suicide" into Google to check out what kind of result I'd get. And I got a big headline at the top that pointed to suicide prevention hotline. Bing? Same thing. Then, I talked into Siri, and Siri asked me if I wanted to connect to a suicide hotline. I said no. How do Google and Bing control the search results so that anti-suicide messages are shown at the top so that suicidal people can't find what they are looking for and will be directed elsewhere? 50.4.236.254 (talk) 03:35, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

strstr()? Asmrulz (talk) 06:38, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

That's not an automatically generated result. Their algorithms haven't decided by themselves to react this way. Google (as well as Bing, Siri, and others like Yahoo, AOL, and Facebook) decided that the standard answer to the search for 'suicide' (or related searches like 'suicide methods') is to offer a link to a suicide prevention hotline. --Hofhof (talk) 13:02, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Today's search engines list the search hits sorted on what could be relevant for Your or what they want You to see, depending on Your searches before. Expect a User profile is being created, based on Your search words an the time You click the search. Expect all this data is being aggregated with data of other users. A more detailed search will return better hits an build a more complete user profile.--Hans Haase (有问题吗) 10:06, 29 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

There is a real possibility that Google et. al. used tons of machine learning to find out who is a suicide risk and who is not, and this may get much better than just a "bad keyword list" as Hofhof seems to imply. The relevant articles are artificial neural network and links from there; a good example of application is this anti-vandalism bot (reading the bot's user pages taught me about this stuff). I could imagine that Big Brother learnt (without a human teaching it) that the succession of searches for "high cliffs in Arizona", "pain killer" and "writing a will" means the user should be shown the suicide hotline. Tigraan^{Click here to contact me} 15:12, 29 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry folks, but the correct answer is "Magnets". Better luck next time. ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 15:25, 29 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Animated Solar System Wallpaper

Could someone help please? 116.58.201.127 (talk) 15:44, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Help how? Help you get rid of the wallpaper you found? Help you find such a wallpaper? Help you design one from scratch? ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 15:48, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Googling "Solar System Wallpaper" brings up plenty of suggestions.--Mrs Wibble-Wobble (talk) 16:57, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Phone wi-fi connection going dormant after a while?

I'm sure this problem is googlable but I'm not quite sure what the terminology is. On my phone, a Samsung Galaxy S5, many wi-fi networks (but not all) that I'll connect to will work for perhaps a half hour or an hour, and then randomly cease working despite still showing that I'm connected on the status bar up top. Upon disconnecting and going back to 3G/LTE, I'll receive an influx of notifications that had accumulated while my wireless connection was dormant. I'll reconnect to the same network again and it'll work as it should, until ~30 minutes later of course. Anyone know what's up? Thank you! ReferenceDeskEnthusiast (talk) 16:55, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Many companies, like restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, car parks, etc., offer free wifi. But of course nothing is free of charge and unlimited at the same time. Most free wifi networks have time or bandwith limits, or both. A free lunch just doesn't exist. Jahoe (talk) 19:39, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Honestly, that sounds like an issue with your phone. You should be getting notifications even while connected to wifi. I don't know if there's a setting that can be changed, or if something's broken, but it certainly doesn't sound like normal phone behavior. (My current phone, which is a knockoff of the galaxy called the ZTE Lever doesn't do that, nor did my Galaxy S2 when I had that one). ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants Tell me all about it. 19:47, 28 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Googling samsung wifi disconnecting finds a suggestion to turn off the setting Settings > Network Connections > Wi-Fi > Smart Network Switch. Try if that helps. 91.155.195.247 (talk) 13:44, 29 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

@@ Line 330: / Line 330: @@
 ::Today's search engines list the search hits sorted on what could be relevant for Your or what they want You to see, depending on Your searches before. Expect a User profile is being created, based on Your search words an the time You click the search. Expect all this data is being aggregated with data of other users. A more detailed search will return better hits an build a more complete user profile.--<span style="color:#00A000;">Hans Haase ([[User talk:Hans Haase|有问题吗]])</span> 10:06, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
 ::There is a real possibility that Google et. al. used tons of [[machine learning]] to find out who is a suicide risk and who is not, and this may get much better than just a "bad keyword list" as Hofhof seems to imply. The relevant articles are [[artificial neural network]] and links from there; a good example of application is [[User:ClueBot NG|this anti-vandalism bot]] (reading the bot's user pages taught me about this stuff). I could imagine that Big Brother learnt (without a human teaching it) that the succession of searches for "high cliffs in Arizona", "pain killer" and "writing a will" means the user should be shown the suicide hotline. [[User:Tigraan|<span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:#008000;">Tigraan</span>]]<sup>[[User talk:Tigraan|<span title="Send me a silicium letter!" style="color:">Click here to contact me</span>]]</sup> 15:12, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
+*Sorry folks, but the correct answer is "Magnets". Better luck next time. <span style="text-shadow:grey 0.118em 0.118em 0.118em; class=texhtml">[[User:MjolnirPants|<font color="green">'''ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants'''</font>]] [[User_talk:MjolnirPants|<small>Tell me all about it.</small>]]</span> 15:25, 29 March 2017 (UTC)
 == Animated Solar System Wallpaper ==