Non quis, sed quid.

I’ve fixed the post ratings, sorry about that.

Although no one really told me it wasn’t working…so it’s not entirely my fault.

I can’t fix a problem I don’t know exists so please do inform me of any bugs you might find on my blog or any blog on my.malloc.us for that matter and I’ll look into it and try and get it fixed.

So what are you waiting for? Get rating!

On a side note, I’ve enabled registrations so you can reserve your nick to make sure it is really you making those comments

Update:
Hmm, it doesn’t seem to be completely working for me… Is this the case for everyone?

Program Description
There’s two applications from QuizoApps that really transform your explorer. One of them, which I have previously covered, is called QTAddressBar. Add QTTabBar to the mix and we have a near-complete Windows Vista-like Explorer on Windows XP. And man, is it useful.

QTTabBar brings a popular feature usually found on web browsers (like Opera) – tabs – to Explorer. This is a great feature on its own as it reduces the clutter in the taskbar but that isn’t the only feature this program provides as you’ll see when you try this program out.

I think it is safe to say that these are two of the first applications I’ll be installing on a fresh install of Windows. QuizoApps’ have really provided us with some quality programs that increase productivity and make things easier to use and find with Explorer.

I can’t see me using a Windows install without these two applications unless they come out of the box. Thanks QuizoApps!

The many features QTTabBar provides not enough for you? No problem! Check here for some useful plugins for QTTabBar and if you don’t find something to your taste, you can easily make your own.

Don’t like the way the buttons look on the QT Tab Standard Buttons toolbar? No problem. QTTabBar has skin support.

License Type
I’m happy to tell you that this program is completely free. If you find this program useful, please consider donating to its developer by clicking on the Donate button on this page.

System Requirements
Windows XP (only been tested with 32bit) with .NET Framework 2.0 or higher OR Windows Vista is required for this program to function.

Installation

1. Download QTTabBar.
2. Extract the ZIP.
3. Run QTTabBar.exe and follow the onscreen instructions.
4. Restart Windows or Log out and log back into Windows.
5. Open Explorer
6. Right click the part of the Address Bar that says “Address”
7. Click on “Lock The Toolbars” to unlock it if there is a tick beside it.
8. Right click the part of the Address Bar that says “Address”
9. Click on “QT TabBar” and re-arrange it in a nice spot (I have it under the QT Breadcrumbs Address Bar)
10. Right click the part of the Address Bar that says “Address”
11. (OPTIONAL) Click on “QT Standard Buttons”. If you want, you can disable the normal Standard Buttons toolbar by going through the same processing and clicking on “Standard Buttons” so that it is unticked. Then reposition the QT Tab Standard Buttons toolbar so that it is in the same place where the normal Standard Buttons toolbar was (this is how I have mine setup).

Uninstallation

1. Run QTTabBar.exe and follow the onscreen instructions.
2. Restart Windows or Log out and log back into Windows.

Download: QTTabBar by QuizoApps.
Info: Check out other QuizoApps.

Suffice to say, these are two applications I simply can’t use Explorer without. First, we’ll take a look at the before and after pictures:

Here we have a video showing off QTTabBar’s Search feature (a feature I find to be very useful and one I really can’t live without):

More videos showcasing the many features that QuizoApps’ QTAddressBar and QTTabBar adds to Explorer may follow.

Program Description
Stumbling around in my sickly state, hoarse – actually voiceless – and coughing like crazy, I managed to find a really nifty application.

Personally, I used to find Windows Vista’s address bar a hindrance to my productivity on my computer…but that may have just been me. One thing I thought you couldn’t do was access an easy way to copy and paste the location you are currently at (like with Windows XP’s Explorer’s address bar) but I was wrong.

My good friend, x3sphere, showed me that Vista’s address bar does allow you to easily copy the current folder’s path, and so I no longer find Windows Vista’s address bar a hindrance. Note: I have only used Vista for a short amount of time, my hard drive died with it on it.

Anyway, this Curious Finding, made possible by QuizoApps, allows you to have Windows Vista’s address bar functionality on Windows XP.

Notes:
Con: You need to logout and back in to Windows XP. Can’t you just soft-restart explorer by killing it in task manager? Hmm.

I couldn’t get this working on my current system but could in the past, I think it might be due to my having .NET Framework 3.0

License Type
I’m happy to tell you that this program is completely free. If you find this program useful, please consider donating to its developer by clicking on the Donate button on this page.

System Requirements
Windows XP (only been tested with 32bit) with .NET Framework 2.0 or higher is required for this program to function.

Installation

1. Download QTAddressBar.
2. Extract the ZIP.
3. Run QTAddressBar.exe and follow the onscreen instructions.
4. Restart Windows or Log out and log back into Windows.
5. Open Explorer
6. Right click the part of the Address Bar that says “Address”
7. Click on “Lock The Toolbars” to unlock it if there is a tick beside it.
8. Right click the part of the Address Bar that says “Address”
9. Click on “QT Breadcrumbs Address Bar”
10. If you want, you can disable the normal Address Bar by going through the same processing and cliking on “Address Bar” so that it is unticked. Then reposition the QT Breadcrumbs Address Bar so that it is in the same place where the normal Address Bar was.

Uninstallation

1. Run QTAddressBar.exe and follow the onscreen instructions.
2. Restart Windows or Log out and log back into Windows.

Download: QTAddressBar by QuizoApps.
Info: Check out other QuizoApps.

Update:
Finally got it working again thanks to Pedr0_F19.

You need to right click the toolbar to enable QTAddressBar and, if you like, replace the normal address bar by disabling it. I tried this before posting but it didn’t work. For some reason, it works now. Thanks again Pedr0_F19!

It seems I have a reputation for magically knowing all the best applications (or the rarely known) out there(?) or so I’m told anyway. So I thought…why not start a series on it?

Whereas the Quest for the Holy Grail is a long process to find the best of the best software, this new series will be a “collection” of interesting, useful or just plain cool applications I stumble across on the internet.

I can’t guarantee that I’ve tested out and tried all the applications I find, nor do I promise any reviews for these – and as a result, this series will be updated often…or as often as I find a curious finding anyway.

I think I should clarify: the Quest for the Holy Grail is a series where I compare a few applications and decide which is the best of the lot until I ultimately find the Holy Grail – the best of the best software in each group.

This series is a documentation of any cool, interesting or useful (among other things) applications I find while surfing the internet.

I am constantly on the lookout for the best software to use on my PC. And even when I find the best software, I am always looking for a better alternative. It is this habit that makes me believe that when I do come across a nice find, I should post about it. So that is exactly what I will be doing. From this point onward I will be posting about software I find useful for a person using Windows (XP, if it matters) along with a few details about the software.

Hopefully some of you may find this useful, but primarily, I am doing this as a way for me to keep track of the programs I enjoy using for whatever reason.

So it begins.

Just thought I’d let everyone know where I have been and what I have been up to since it appeared to some people that I had just disappeared. Oddly enough, I have not been “busy” as I usually am; I’ve been working on trying to fix my system and avoid having to purchase new hard drives… This has resulted in my inability to work on any projects I may have started and to fully be available. Not to forget prevented me from writing on my blog.

Anyway, I’ve been busy.

Whatever happened to this age old courtesy?

Definition:
give someone the benefit of the doubt

to believe something good about someone, rather than something bad, when you have the possibility of doing either. After hearing his explanation, I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.
-Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms

It seems to have sadly been vaporised from existence in this Scene. Each time some new face tries to become known they are faced with more skepticism than any Developer should ever get in their entire time as a Developer for this Scene…well unless you suck or are a poser developer of course… Why is it that every time someone new makes something Noobz or one of the big groups/developers could not make people love to flame them? If you think about it, this brings up a few points of concern:

Are you seriously the right person to be attacking anyone?

What gives you the right to flame someone for something you haven’t even attempted nor done yourself? Or to flame someone when you’re nothing but an ungrateful member of the “great” PSP Scene?

Why do you believe you have the intelligence to call out someone for lack of ability when you, yourself, lack the exact same thing you’re assuming the developer has nothing of?

In order for a Scene to prosper, we need to be open minded, mature and welcoming. All of which this scene really annoyingly currently lacks. And which has caused a few knowledgeable, skilled developer (groups) to leave your precious Scene. Too bad really, your really big loss because some really great groups have not shown their potential; have not released some amazing things you will probably never see the light of as a result of your immaturity and lack of respect. But like a wise friend of mine once said – and many other wise persons – “people as a whole never completely acknowledge a problem until it is too late.”

This time I am ranting in the hopes that people might notice my rant, read it and realise what they’ve been doing wrong all this time.

Seriously, why does anyone have to prove to you that they are skilled enough to contribute something worthwhile to the Scene? Chances are none of the Developers you see get paid for what they do for the Scene; are developing for the Scene because they have to. So why does everyone expect people to care about what misguided and ignorant opinion they have?

If you’re a respected developer like jas0nuk, MaTiAz and the rest of the Malloc crew then I’d understand and I’d probably support your efforts in making sure none of these phonies see the light of day. But if you aren’t anyone of their level of skill, expertise or knowledge then you really have no right to tell others to “go die”, “get a life” etc. etc. because regardless of if you think they’re a worthy addition to the Scene – unless you’re a Developer yourself, you have little to no legitimate say in the matter. When you finally do become known in the Scene through releases or contributions then, and only then, will you truly understand what it means to be a part of the Scene. And then, and only then, will you have a right to expose people for their lack of skill.

Until then, you really have no right to push new developers around or set a standard for the Scene of what requirements a “real developer” should meet before they are taken seriously.

But please, have a heart and give people a chance. I assure you, if people are fake – we’ll have their heads mere minutes after their debut. You guys aren’t the only ones who really, really hate posers in the Scene. We’ve shut down a few projects – one more notable one being Project EE – and we will continue to do so until lamers see that there is no point in trolling this Scene. Or so one would hope…

How many of you have taken a few seconds to reflect on the one thing you all apparently hate happening – developers leaving your precious Scene? That’s right. A mere few seconds – possibly even one second – of thought would have brought you to the realisation that your actions do in fact impact what Developers do or not do. So, consider the following and then see if you can tell me why any of us need to sit here taking crap from the “Scene” and still have to release things to keep you happy:

You are a PSP developer.
And by PSP developer I do not mean that YOU think you are one but that you have proven yourself as a PSP developer through releases, contributions to the PSP SDK or something of similar nature. That means you are not the equivalent of test30, becus25 (or whatever the hell he goes by now – Dark_Moon [someone idolizes someone too much]), noob2psp or whatever (other) bullshit developer wannabe that respectable developers like jas0nuk, MaTiAz and FreePlay have flagged as being posers. Still, at least test30 and bec…Dark_Moon actually do *some* work unlike retards like Project EE and Team AoP.

You’ve just released some really big project.
Be it a custom firmware, a great discovery or…whatever. You get a lot of praise for your hard work…and then you get the usual trolls that seem to purely exist to put down your work – which, sadly, you are used to. But what you don’t expect is the lamers that decide to hex-edit and remove your credit before posting it on their site, hex-edit your work and re-release it under their own name or take your work and other Developer’s work, throw it all together and claim it as their own.

How do you feel now?
How would YOU feel if you had a team like AoP claiming to be better than you when all they are doing is stealing your work? How would YOU feel if a website removed your name from the things you’ve worked SO HARD on and then released it? How would YOU feel if I were to take your program’s source, change a few things, recompile it and call it my own?

How do you think Dark_AleX, Mathieulh, jas0nuk, FreePlay, Wildcard and the rest of us feel? I’ll tell you how some of us feel. We’ve had enough of this crap and we’re thinking of leaving.

Face it people. The PSP Scene sucks. It might have taken some of the Developers a while to realise – or maybe we were just in denial the whole time, but we’re slowly getting there. Having people piss on our hard work by releasing our work modified and under their name or having groups pop up that don’t know their left from their right yet insist on belittling the better Developers by stating they’ll “show [insert good Developer (group) here] how it is done” is really the last straw. If any of you truly care for the thing you call “our Scene” then you’ll stop supporting these phony startups and show them that they are not wanted here.

This rant is of a very serious nature. Choose to ignore it at risk of losing the best Developers in the Scene because some of them feel the same way. And some of them, like myself, have contemplated leaving the Scene because they – or we – are really tired of having to deal with the crap that people give us and the appalling lack of support or thanks.

So before you decide to throw out a “you suck!”, “[developer] is better than you”, etc. take a few seconds to think things over. Who knows, maybe the developer or group or team you are targeting has had enough and that one small comment sends them over the edge? Or, even worse, maybe they were working on something much more advanced and unheard of…and your seemingly small comment is the last they want to hear, forcing them to give up and leave the Scene? Don’t believe this is possible? Well, all I will tell you is that it has happened. Yes, there are a lot of things you have not seen released by many very skilled Developers because of the immaturity and lack of respect the Scene has.

If you truly want for the aspiring Developers out there who are near Dark_AleX’s level to stay, then the Scene seriously needs to wake up, grow up and show some respect for everyone else. When a new developer (group) shows up, don’t attack them…give them the benefit of the doubt until a respected individual or a known, proven, Developer shows that they’re fakes. And PLEASE, when that happens, don’t go flaming the known and respected Developers and don’t even think of stating they’re “just jealous” – instead, help them in ridding the Scene of the filth and trash that has caused a few of your most favourite developers to leave.

Lest you lose more than your precious Dark_AleX.

Another weird thing that happens when you switch the storage systems you use on the pastebin script is that, for some reason, you lose the ability to flag pastes as yours (through the usage of the remember me checkbox) and as such are unable to delete pastes that you made. I admit, I completely overlooked this built in feature – somehow – and decided to add my own paste flagging mechanism.

I decided to not use cookies and instead to associate your IP to your pastes so that you may delete ANY paste you make, provided your IP is the same as when you made that paste. Still, for those people who are cursed by damned dynamic IPs, this implementation obviously does not work and I’ll probably make my other features work with the cookies pastebin sets (if you check the remember be checkbox) or implement another way of flagging pastes as yours.

pastebin.com’s script has two storage methods: sql and flat-file based storage.

Though I prefer SQL for ease of use and easier interaction with code, I did not like the “public” way the script  handled pastes (the paste ID was associated with a primary key in the SQL database which was how paste IDs were assigned too – a clever way to not have to worry about IDs getting re-used) as anyone could just guess URLs to find pastes: http://pb.malloc.us/1, http://pb.malloc.us/2 etc. I really preferred the way pastebin.com currently handles it – which is also the way the flat-file storage method handles it.

Since Malloc’s pastebin was meant to be more tuned to the needs of developers, it needed to be less public than the stock pastebin script was. As such, I modified pb.malloc.us to use a more random ID assignment system and I think it works out just fine.