#152693 - simonjhall - Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:52 pm
<teh rant thread, ignore me!>
Huh, I just installed some Java update on my computer (haven't done so in yonks) and after is finishes I get the message,
| the Java installer wrote wrote: |
Thank You!
You have Successfully Installed Java (tm) |
ok, that's fine. Interesting capitalisation. 'Successfully' is a proper noun, after all.
And below it,
| Quote: |
| The Java powered Internet is now available to you. You can experience the wide variety of fun, engaging Java applications and games. For more inforation on what Java can do for you, go to java.com |
I dunno what wound me up in here (I did just get back from a hard day at work...) but I mean, I've just installed your product - I know what it is. I've chosen it. I've already made the "buying decision". Why are you still trying to sell it to me? What Java can "do for me"? All the good stuff is in Flash anyway! I'm not sure what my point is here ;-)
Yeah that's pretty minor. The one that really gives aggravates me is the iTunes installer. You get advert after advert about how you should buy an iPod (I already own an iPod, piss off!) and how well they work together. I know that they work together, this is why I'm installing your program.
What I'm really waiting for is one day to have iTunes crash, and have some watchdog code catch this and say,
| the iTunes watchdog wrote: |
| iTunes has crashed. If you'd bought a Mac, it wouldn't have done so and your whole experience of this moment would have been so more peaceful. |
To top it off, you always get QuickTime with it which you've got to turn off! "QuickTime + iTunes, a perfect combination". So..who has used QuickTime on Windows in the last 5+ years?
Then there's the "best played on nvidia" and (much more recently) "best played with Intel Core2" (ding ding ding DING!) ads that come in game. I know it "plays better" with this kit, but you don't need to remind me every time I play your game! Can't it somehow scan your computer and see what cards you've had in the past, or how often you buy new kit or something and then show an appropriate ad?
| breathy-voiced nvidian wrote wrote: |
| You've not bought a new card for five years....nvidia? |
No, I've just bought a brand new ATI HD 3870, I won't consider a new card for a couple of years. Can I not just disable these nvidia ads for a while?
Anyone else got any 'eager' installers or in-product adverts that piss them off? Time for some alcohol I think ;-)
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#152697 - GoopyMonkey - Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:34 pm
Windows Live Messenger. When you download the installer and run it, it brings up a nice, clean list of what it's doing at the moment. Before you install it however, you get the option of other things to install too. Things like Windows Live! Rich Editor, which is just a blog editor, have their checkbox automatically checked for installation.
And beyond all of that, the installer itself makes a start menu entry! Just above WLM is a section named Windows Live Installer, which is just the same installer. I've known Microsoft loves product advertising, but come on! Cluttering up users' Start menus is not going to help download counts very much.
_________________
My favourite DS apps:
GBAMP Multiboot
Colors!
jEnesis
#152712 - nanou - Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:14 pm
| simonjhall wrote: |
| To top it off, you always get QuickTime with it which you've got to turn off! "QuickTime + iTunes, a perfect combination". So..who has used QuickTime on Windows in the last 5+ years? |
The QuickTime requirement for iTunes is one of the big reasons I won't buy an iPod. Not that I use windows much anyway. (Amarok is a fine media player and can talk to PMPs.)
| Quote: |
| Then there's the "best played on nvidia" |
I have an nVidia card, and the last game I played with such an ad (forget which) wouldn't work out of the box. Upon checking the the official website I found that it didn't run so well on nVidia cards and nVidia had to release some new drivers specifically to make it work. Lies, damn lies and... uh advertising.
_________________
- nanou
#152718 - josath - Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:33 am
hah, i'm usually in the opposite side of the fence. I want to play some online quicktime video, but I hate itunes, and don't want it mucking up my system.
#152722 - tepples - Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:00 am
There is a QuickTime installer for Windows that doesn't include iTunes. But its updater does badger you once a week to install iTunes.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.
#152725 - sonny_jim - Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:23 am
I find the Windows version of Mplayer handy for playing videos without having to install loads of stuff and it can run without being installed. Can't remember if it does quicktime though. You can use an mplayer plugin for firefox (under Linux at least) to use that for streaming rather than realplayer etc.
#152732 - gauauu - Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:13 am
| nanou wrote: |
The QuickTime requirement for iTunes is one of the big reasons I won't buy an iPod. |
Man, I got a used ipod from a friend, thinking that there must be a good reason why they are the most popular audio player. I just don't get it. The itunes interface is mediocre. The fact that you are forced to use itunes is lame. You can't copy files off the ipod....lame. The ipod interface itself for playing music is pretty good, but not worth the hype.
#152736 - nanou - Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:24 am
| gauauu wrote: |
| nanou wrote: |
The QuickTime requirement for iTunes is one of the big reasons I won't buy an iPod. |
Man, I got a used ipod from a friend, thinking that there must be a good reason why they are the most popular audio player. I just don't get it. The itunes interface is mediocre. The fact that you are forced to use itunes is lame. You can't copy files off the ipod....lame. The ipod interface itself for playing music is pretty good, but not worth the hype. |
It seems like PMPs all have nasty problems of one sort or another. I have a Zen which I quite like, but it's still got a lot of problems. The defacto media manager thing for it is really third-rate, but at least it's coming from the less-is-more direction.
A big plus is that you rarely have to convert video for the Zen. Unless you have really high quality video (or an unsupported codec -- rare in my experience) it will probably be able to scale it down during playback (and the media manager will offer to convert anything when necessary.)
_________________
- nanou
#152754 - bean_xp - Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:42 pm
Wow, I'm glad it's not just me that finds this stuff annoying. I for one can't stand the 'nVidia - the way it's means to be played' logo attatched to seemingly 90% of all PC games, and it is infact one of my main reasons for buying ATI gear.
I also hate iTunes and Quicktime for their epic bundleware and advertising, which ultimately made up my decision to never buy an iPod as long as apple takes this strategy (Fellow Creative Zen owner) [Note: Yes I am aware you can use an iPod without touching iTunes]. On the subject of apple, the adverts for Mac really annoy me in that they can be misleading to many people. One of my college tutors was demonstrating to the class how the "Mac is really clever, because you can run Windows on it aswell", well I'll be damned, what did you buy a Mac for again.
I also hate Microsofts approach of telling us every time we update that we really should upgrade to vista because it's the future of computing and whatnot.
And why Intel's logo is absolutely everywhere beats me, I don't see why the average consumer needs to be told that intel is better than the competition to the point that nobody seems to realise there are alternatives. So when I play games I really do not need to know who or what are producing the latest components which are so "obviously" better than their competitors components. Please, what happened to making informed decisions.
</rant>
#152767 - Lynx - Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:52 pm
| Quote: |
| (I already own an iPod, piss off!) |
FUNNY!
So far, everyone has mentioned mostly hardware. How long till we see this:
| EA Game Intro wrote: |
| If it isn't made by EA, you might as well be watching it on TV because your interaction will stink |
| id Software wrote: |
| If it's not like your there killing people, why even play? |
| id Software wrote: |
| UT is lame compared to our games! Download them now at idsoftware.com! |
As you install the software..
_________________
NDS Homebrew Roms & Reviews
#152775 - silent_code - Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:52 pm
qt plays .3gp, so i sort of have it installed. i also used the non-itunes installer and i don't get any advertising. maybe i shouldn't "update", then...
otherwise, i also prefer amd (damn!) gfx hw / cpus, so i kind of find it annoying with all this n'vidia / intel crap.
worst thing about this is, the games don't get cheaper with all the advertising in them!
... well, maybe they do, because of rather high development costs these days, but the consumer doesn't see that effect.
in most games you can edit the config and set which videos to display. it's hacky, though.
most of the time i think "couldn't they even make it interruptable, when they can't make it a one time show". and i'm waiting for a nice "best played on powerPC" display on the consoles... he, he. good i just have my trusty snes and ngc. ;^)
#152834 - antiaverage - Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:54 pm
| sonny_jim wrote: |
| I find the Windows version of Mplayer handy for playing videos without having to install loads of stuff and it can run without being installed. Can't remember if it does quicktime though. You can use an mplayer plugin for firefox (under Linux at least) to use that for streaming rather than realplayer etc. |
I find that MPlayer is the best for all systems. It's clean, small footprint and the fact that you don't have to install is wonderful. It also just plays everything, which is the best part. It plays the quick time videos, it plays .3gp, it plays .wmv, it plays every .avi i've thrown at it, it's excellent. Best of all, it's open source software so no advertising nags ;) and no loading overhead.
#152837 - silent_code - Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:33 pm
sounds interesting, i'll check it out! :?)
"gbadev.org, best browsed with mozilla firefox" <lol>
#152840 - simonjhall - Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:48 pm
| silent_code wrote: |
| "gbadev.org, best browsed with mozilla firefox" <lol> |
My god, the day I see that is the day that I delete my account!
Opera > IE > FireFox :-)
_________________
Big thanks to everyone who donated for Quake2
#153068 - GoopyMonkey - Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:50 pm
| simonjhall wrote: |
| Firefox > Opera > any other browser > IE :-) |
Fixed. ^^
_________________
My favourite DS apps:
GBAMP Multiboot
Colors!
jEnesis
#153072 - silent_code - Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:30 pm
| GoopyMonkey wrote: |
| simonjhall wrote: | | Firefox > Opera > any other browser > IE :-) |
Fixed. ^^ |
<LOL> ;^D i'm a "foxer", too ;^p
#153083 - gauauu - Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:06 pm
one word: lynx
#153098 - GoopyMonkey - Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:46 pm
| gauauu wrote: |
| one word: lynx |
That's the one I was trying to think of while making that post. Is it that text-based browser for Linux, or am I getting mixed up?
Speaking of which, am I the only one here who refuses to switch to Vista purely because of its harsh DRM restrictions?
_________________
My favourite DS apps:
GBAMP Multiboot
Colors!
jEnesis
#153099 - tepples - Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:01 pm
Three popular text-based web browsers are Lynx, Links, and w3m.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.
#153102 - simonjhall - Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:25 pm
Haha, couldn't resist a browser selection do-dah :-D
In other news, vomit moves faster than Firefox...
But on the Vista point, I didn't know about no DRM stuff. I thought XP has the same DRM restrictions as Vista?
Oh and what's the thoughts on RealPlayer? It was originally up there with QuickTime for me until I realised that it worked better with my MiniDisc than the diabolical SonicStage software that comes with it...
_________________
Big thanks to everyone who donated for Quake2
#153103 - dantheman - Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:33 pm
| tepples wrote: |
| Three popular text-based web browsers are Lynx, Links, and w3m. |
There's also Retawq, though I presume that's more popular in DSLinux where it remains the fastest text-based browser on the DS (from my experience at least).
#153154 - GoopyMonkey - Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:42 pm
| simonjhall wrote: |
Haha, couldn't resist a browser selection do-dah :-D
In other news, vomit moves faster than Firefox...
But on the Vista point, I didn't know about no DRM stuff. I thought XP has the same DRM restrictions as Vista?
Oh and what's the thoughts on RealPlayer? It was originally up there with QuickTime for me until I realised that it worked better with my MiniDisc than the diabolical SonicStage software that comes with it... |
On the Firefox point: that could be debated, with the Fasterfox extension. ;)
On the DRM point: XP does contain a bit of DRM that gets snuck in there with Windows Media Player 11. You can, however, stop it accessing the Internet and thereby pretty much stop it completely, by using the Group Policy tool (Open 'gpedit.msc' from the Run prompt.). Vista's DRM goes so far as to decrease the quality of HD-DVDs and Blu-Ray discs if the user doesn't have 'approved' equipment. This site is pretty much a campaign against DRM and also has a link somewhere to a forum post describing a problem in which the user could not watch low-resolution content from Netflix, but HD content was fine. I might have been made slightly biased from that site.
On the RealPlayer point: I never really use RealPlayer at all; I prefer Windows Media Player (which is fine since I'm on XP with DRM disabled ;) ). Urgh, SonicStage came on a minidisc with my MP4 player, which coincidentally, since it is part of the S1 MP4 player series, cannot play MP4s. I thought SonicStage was just an iTunes clone, and with everything I need set up in WMP, I see no reason to switch my player. Regardless of the Microsoft branding. ;)
_________________
My favourite DS apps:
GBAMP Multiboot
Colors!
jEnesis
#153204 - nanou - Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:10 am
| simonjhall wrote: |
Haha, couldn't resist a browser selection do-dah :-D
In other news, vomit moves faster than Firefox... |
I hate Mozilla. I mean I use Firefox* because I find IE unusable, but Mozilla really ruined Firefox with bloatiness and bad features (the worst gestures implementation ever, etc.) Apparently the ram usage is down below that of Opera's in FF3 though.
*: Not entirely true, I'm mostly using Konqueror and have been for quite a while. It blows for compatibility though.
_________________
- nanou
#153209 - lord_hardware - Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:53 pm
Actually... have you ever noticed that when you buy a shampoo they are always trying to sell you the accompaniment conditioner?
"For best results use with LoR'el Conditioning Scalp Treatment Creme Lotion"
if i have faith in your brand ill buy both! you don't REALLY need the extra ads ON your products!
_________________
NDSL: M3Real, EZ4 Lite Deluxe, 2x Kingston 1GB Micro SD, 1x Kingston 4GB Micro HCSD 1x Kingston 8GB Micro HCSD
#153211 - silent_code - Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:56 pm
i can't find my shampoo's installer! help me, PLEASE! ;?p
greets! :^D
#153213 - Lynx - Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:24 pm
| lord_hardware wrote: |
Actually... have you ever noticed that when you buy a shampoo they are always trying to sell you the accompaniment conditioner?
"For best results use with LoR'el Conditioning Scalp Treatment Creme Lotion"
if i have faith in your brand ill buy both! you don't REALLY need the extra ads ON your products! |
I agree that it seems like a dumb thing to do, but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't increase the sales of the conditioning scalp lotion just because people didn't take the time to know it even existed. When is the last time you browsed the shampoo isle to see what kind of treatments, revivers, conditioners, etc are available? Most people just walk up, grab what they use, and leave. The fact that you even read the bottle puts you above probably 80% of the people that use that product.
The nice thing is, you have the choice to read the bottle. Maybe we need a "Skip" feature for installers. "Click here to skip the adds and BS, and just install the damn software already". :)
_________________
NDS Homebrew Roms & Reviews
#153215 - silent_code - Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:47 pm
Girl1: "you know, then i tried out that new conditioner i saw in that ad, and what can i say? it's awesome!"
Girl2: "wow! i can see *that*! where did you see the ad again?"
Girl1: "oh, it was during the installation of my boy's new game 'Ultra Slayer of the Flesheating Zombie Crypta 5: Tales of Blood'. that game's got some awesome product placement, too!"
Girl2: "gosh, i *need* to get that game, right away!"
... a marketing managers dream? hope not.
#153217 - simonjhall - Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:24 pm
Heh, I'm sure that's how girls function :-)
Kinda reminds me of an episode of Seinfeld:
| Quote: |
New scene.
Exterior of Jerry's apartment building, then inside Jerry's apartment.
JERRY: What else did you two do?
ELAINE: Oh, I don't know, you know, girlie stuff.
JERRY: Ah, so, ah, flower shows and, shopping for pretty bows, and then
back to her place, strip down to bra and panties for a tickle fight?
(Elaine stands there for a good 6 seconds with arms crossed, blank
expression, just looking at Jerry)
ELAINE: That's really what you think girls do, isn't it?
JERRY: Yes, I do. (very serious) |
But seriously I would be *stunned* if there was an ad for Clairol's Herbal Essences at the beginning of the next big game, eg GTA 4. "Ever wondered how Niko gets that shiiine in his hair? It's not specular lighting - it's coconut milk extract!" Awe-some.
_________________
Big thanks to everyone who donated for Quake2
#153219 - silent_code - Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:54 pm
HAHAHAHAHA!!!
ow...
or an AD-FEST during the 30 minutes installation of "some" ps3 game... just *imagine* the *POSSIBILITIES*!
;?p
#153257 - lord_hardware - Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:58 am
come to thing of it... i don't think marketing companies are really HARNESSING the blue-ray... you have 20 GB's of free space after the games in WHY NOT CHUCK IN ADS!
_________________
NDSL: M3Real, EZ4 Lite Deluxe, 2x Kingston 1GB Micro SD, 1x Kingston 4GB Micro HCSD 1x Kingston 8GB Micro HCSD
#153261 - keldon - Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:52 am
The way Live Messenger entices users to install lame ad-ons is pure genius...
'Windows Live Messenger is searching your computer for existing products ...'
... yeah right, they just want me to click those stupid check boxes!
#153269 - Lynx - Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:04 pm
Ya'know, if you think about it.. if the advertising doesn't suck, it could make for a more pleasurable install. I know I hate just sitting there watching a bar move across the screen or reading the BS info about the application I am installing. Instead of your everyday commercial, it could be generational-ish ads (not to generalize on gamers) for musicians albums (with concert video), movies, etc. Most of the time spent is data transfer anyway, so it's not like it would slow down the install much processing the advertising and I don't think it would turn off gamers if it wasn't a blatant "in your face" ad for something they wouldn't want. I don't think most people would mind watching movie trailers if they have to wait for the install anyway.
_________________
NDS Homebrew Roms & Reviews
#153270 - sonny_jim - Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:49 pm
My personal pet peeve is progress bars that go up to 100% and stay there for another ten minutes. Why can't they take into account that it's not finished yet, ergo it shouldn't be at 100%?
#153278 - simonjhall - Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:37 pm
Ha, or the reverse of that - the Windows installer time estimaterer when it's removing a fat program.
Ten seconds to go.
Five seconds to go.
One second to go.
One second to go.
<off for a cup of tea>
One second to go.
/sort of off-topic:
Does anyone know how to get make to somehow return the number of targets left to build when it's running a makefile? (maybe through a builtin variable or function)
I write the build scripts for my group at work and it'd be nice to get make to show something more informative than "compiling fred.cpp to fred.o". If I could somehow compute a percentage of how many targets built/to build and then whop it in an echo that'd be well lush.
_________________
Big thanks to everyone who donated for Quake2
#153282 - silent_code - Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:18 pm
before i install anything, i make sure i have something to read at hand. either digital or analog. if the program being installed isn't related to the following activities, i just keep programming or paint a picture. ;^p
#155562 - SevenString - Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:33 pm
| simonjhall wrote: |
Heh, I'm sure that's how girls function :-)
Kinda reminds me of an episode of Seinfeld:
| Quote: | New scene.
Exterior of Jerry's apartment building, then inside Jerry's apartment.
JERRY: What else did you two do?
ELAINE: Oh, I don't know, you know, girlie stuff.
JERRY: Ah, so, ah, flower shows and, shopping for pretty bows, and then
back to her place, strip down to bra and panties for a tickle fight?
(Elaine stands there for a good 6 seconds with arms crossed, blank
expression, just looking at Jerry)
ELAINE: That's really what you think girls do, isn't it?
JERRY: Yes, I do. (very serious) |
But seriously I would be *stunned* if there was an ad for Clairol's Herbal Essences at the beginning of the next big game, eg GTA 4. "Ever wondered how Niko gets that shiiine in his hair? It's not specular lighting - it's coconut milk extract!" Awe-some. |
I don't know about that. I could certainly see an add like that in pretty much any Final Fantasy...
_________________
"Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity."
#155789 - HyperHacker - Sun May 04, 2008 8:43 am
| simonjhall wrote: |
4 hours to go.
20 minutes to go.
Ten seconds to go.
Five seconds to go.
One second to go.
One second to go.
6 minutes to go.
-12 seconds to go.
38 years to go.
Done. |
Fixed. :-p
Any kind of advertising on my computer = me hate.
As for Vista, no, DRM isn't the only reason I refuse to use it, though it is a pretty big part. I just got sick of Windows in general, basically.
_________________
I'm a PSP hacker now, but I still <3 DS.
#155793 - kusma - Sun May 04, 2008 11:25 am
| simonjhall wrote: |
/sort of off-topic:
Does anyone know how to get make to somehow return the number of targets left to build when it's running a makefile? |
perhaps this will work?