Re: DOWNLOAD THE ALL NEW FOG TOOLBAR!!!!!!!!

[Kathryn Lacey]

You aren't referring to the White Smoke grammar and spelling checker, are you? The one that's naturally on the toolbar when it's downloaded?

[Guest]

Yes, that one (White Smoke). I have to agree with Weiss about its uselessness. I'll remove it as a default tool; but remember, you can click the + icon at the very end of your toolbar anytime to get it back. I believe its a recommended widget so it shouldn't be too hard to find.

You can also use that find whatever other widgets you think would look neat to personalize your toolbar. That's a trick that no normal toolbar from Firefox allows you to do.

[Weiss]

Indeed, it's a recommended widget. I saw the information block for it when I clicked the + button and went looking for other useful widgets, and that's where I saw it referred to as a "grammer checker".

Anyway, I'm officially even more in love with this toolbar, because one of the radio stations is Beethoven FM Santiago, which plays nothing but classical music. As such, I will most likely be keeping that station on at all times.

[Weiss]

Would it be at all possible to trade out the checker/translator for a widget that can be used to look up words on Dictionary.com? I'm not sure if it's an option to request widgets, since I'm imagining we're restricted to the ones that already exist, but it would be incredibly useful to have a text entry field where you can type in a word and click either the Dictionary or Thesaurus button and be directed to the appropriate Dictionary.com page.

Just an idea.

[Guest]

I can add any widget in the market place to the toolbar. That's where White Smoke's Gammer Checker came from (I don't think we'll ever live that down).

Let me do some searching and see what I can find.

[Kathryn Lacey]

I actually prefer M-W.com, personally, but anything will do.

[Weiss]

I've just switched to using Opera, Agenda, based on your recommendation in the Complaints thread. However, it seems the toolbar doesn't work in this browser. Am I missing the option where I can add custom toolbars in Opera, or is it simply not compatible at the moment?

[Guest]

Sorry Weiss, Opera doesn't have compatibility for common toolbars yet. That went through my mind as soon as I made that post.

I switch up browsers about every 10 minutes because I'm a web designer and I like to make sure that what I'm viewing is also viewable in the most common browsers. Though I am forced to make an exception with the toolbar, I'm sure to make most AL projects as compatible as they can be.

The only browsers that support Conduit toolbars right now are:

Internet Explorer, Firefox 2.3+, and Safari

However, once I know some more coding, perhaps I can attempt to create an Opera widget which can be plugged right into the browser. That may take some time though and I can promise you it will be about a year before anything is released (by then who knows what will happen).

[Weiss]

Well, I've pretty much fallen in love with Opera. It would break my heart to switch browsers again - especially since Opera fits my new Blackout desktop theme very well after implementing one of the skins available for the browser.

Opera may be a tad glitchy, but it's very nice.

In short, I'll look forward to the day that you find a way to implement the FOG Toolbar for Opera, or Firefox is able to save text entries and have skins applied.

[Guest]

I do know how Opera Unite works however. Unite should come standard now for the Opera browser so you should already have it. Anyway, Opera's browser isn't required to be used by users for the next project I have in mind, which is using Unite (on my end) to host all sorts of files and content available for users of both FOG, AL, and whoever the hell else I deem worthy. >.<

The only issue that I have with Unite, though, is that I have to have the host browser running in order for others to use it (sort of like how you have to have someone in a chat room before you can message them).

Here's a video if you wanna know the jest of Opera Unite:

They've just released a new music streaming program for Unite. I'm testing it right now and seeing about using it as an option for FOG FM. It would be an alternative to using Wix's crap-ass service.

[Kathryn Lacey]

Spoiler:

Opera sounds like it could be pretty cool. However, I think I'll stick with FireFox. It suits me better, and I would really miss the FoG toolbar.

[Guest]

No I meant 'jist', but the spell checker said it didn't exist, so I made it happy our of sheer jest. >_>

[Kathryn Lacey]

It's a slang word, so it's not in any traditional dictionaries, but Urban Dictionary has it.

[Gadreille]

That's because it's gist, not jist. ^_^

I can't download the toolbar because we share a comp and it's complicated enough trying to remember who is logged in and stuff. Lol. Once we have two comps again I'd like to get it though.

[Kathryn Lacey]

Oh! Hahahah I knew that at one point, but I simply forgot. Thank you for clarifying, Ryona.

[Weiss]

The instant file sharing thing seems pretty awesome, but I'm kind of skeptical. I'd love to try it out if I knew someone who lived far enough away that the data gathered would be significant enough to merit the effort. I can understand the concept behind it easily enough, but even if you allow them to instantly access the directory where the files are stored, wouldn't the data still need to be sent from Location A to Location B before the images could be viewed (in the case of photos, as the video presumes)?

Anyway, if it's really as fast as they claim, I'd be impressed. All the more if that system can be used for more than just images, such as sending music, videos, etc. Well, not sending, but granting access, since that seems to be the concept.

That brings me to another question, though. Actually, this might solve the equation for me as far as why it would be instant at all. Since you're allowing them to pull the data directly from your computer, does that mean it would simply be uploading to a server through Opera and streaming (displaying) on the recipient's end without having to actually receive any permanent data?

Even if that's the case, it sort of distorts the claim they're making. You would be able to view those things instantly, but they wouldn't be saved to your PC at all, so to actually receive the files, you'd end up spending just as much time as ever to download the data from the host PC.

Maybe I'm just too tired to be thinking about this kind of stuff.

What you said about hosting: did you mean that your computer would constantly need to have the Opera browser open for others to access the data that you're hosting? I guess that would be sort of like running a MySQL server from a home PC for Ventrilo. Basically, you just keep the server running and others can access it. On the other hand, if the application somehow terminates or your computer is shut down or one of a variety of other problems, access to the service is nixed, which has the potential to be very inconvenient.

At the very least, though, it has potential as a data backup or a host mirror.

[Guest]

Indeed the files are relayed through Opera's servers in... I wanna say Norway, but don't quote me on that. However, nothing is even permanently saved on their servers. Think of it as your Temporary Downloads folder on a PC. Files that are sent to others using Opera are temporarily stored on Opera's servers.

Using Unite is indeed faster than using a host on the internet because of the explanation above. You're simply using a server to quickly transmit data, rather than rely on it to store your information. Most servers actually have the capability to allow users to access data within that 5 second time period. But the laws of business state that they can make more money by charging users for those faster speeds. Therefore, services like Box.net or MegaUpload, charge for premium accounts that are able to download at "optimum" (not really) speeds.

Opera Unite turns your computer into its own server. A server you control. Yes, Unite has to be running in order for the outside world to connect with it; but so do servers. So its really no different. Opera Unite can be used more effectively when you have two computers. One to do whatever the hell you want; and one to run Opera. That way, one computer can truly act as a server.

Opera Unite can be used for more than just photo content. Opera users are submitting ideas and sketch-ups for new Unite programs everyday. Several more have already been added upon the default programs that it glanced at, at the end of that video.

File and photo sharing, audio and video streaming (there's a new program that works similar to uStream.tv and allows you to stream your webcam live), poll hosting, bookmark sharing, a chat room (which is a hell of lot better than an IRC channel).... the list goes on.

Gunneh and I performed a test with two media streaming programs (the default one that comes with Unite, and a user-created one) yesterday afternoon. I began streaming the last FOG FM session files from my computer using Unite; while he tested their buffer time and quality on his end. I can also view the streaming a user, so I was able to see what he was seeing as well.

The audio files streamed at the average speeds of a youtube video. There were several moments where the file had to buffer; but pausing the file before it begins will allow it to buffer quickly (or so the tale goes).

So, Unite still has its kinks and bugs to work on. But the idea is phenomenal. Others have tried to do this before, but they have failed miserably. Opera Software is the only company I'm aware of that allows you to do this with ease. You don't have a computer genius to use Opera Unite. There's no "set-up" or installation steps. No contacting a provider. No searching for hosts. The user becomes the big server company, and the receivers are able to interact with your content as if they were on another social network page. Everything is familiar, fast, and super easy.

As a final video... they released this promo shortly before Unite was launched and made public:

[Guest]

Great news! Your first official donation of $5 has been completed and the money has been transfered to FOG's crediting account. That $5 has been converted to 360 credits; ready to use at the founder's (Fate) discretion.

And official news article will be released shortly at Agenda Labs, followed by a Twitter update (@FOGNews).

[Weiss]

Here's one for you, Agenda: would it be possible to make a black themed version of the toolbar? Not an entirely different toolbar, but perhaps an option where users could choose between either the white version or the black? I ask because I've started using Firefox again, as it seems Opera has a lot of compatibility issues, but with my Blackout theme, the buttons are very grainy and the Footsteps of Ghosts button is near-impossible to read. Since others might use themes for their desktop as well, having a darker color option would ensure that the toolbar is attractive no matter what you use.

Regardless, I plan to keep using it. I just figured I'd make the suggestion.

[Guest]

Actually yes! That will be the perfect way to test out Conduit's new ability to merge two toolbar's together. Users can switch between the toolbar without having to configure their browser's toolbar spacing. Its like the new theme-switcher Dion and I are working on; one site, but two different style sheets. In this since; one program, but to different toolbars.

It may take me a bit to copy and configure everything though, but I'll keep you guys posted.

Oh and Weiss, try using Opera's new 10.5 version. Its now compatible with nearly everything that CSS3 and HTML5 has to offer (if that's the trouble you're having). It even displays rounded corners (like we have here on FOG) correctly. Its also 3x as fast (and that's from my perspective, not something from a promotional article).

[Guest]

Update:

Thanks to Weiss' request (give him huggles and snuggles), I've created a version of the toolbar for darker browser themes. You can now experiment with different Firefox themes with your toolbar and not worry about hideous pixelation.

To see/switch to the new theme:

First find the new gray + button on the left at the beginning of the bar. Select it to drop it down and reveal the new theme(s). The theme you want to try out is called "BlackOut". BlackOut has nothing too different other than the "Footsteps of Ghosts" logo. It changes it from dark blue to a really light hue, allowing users to see it on darker themes or otherwise and without any pixelation around the edges of the characters.

You'll also notice the icons have changed (again). But this time, I'm really satisfied with their outcome. They're very "Macintosh" and slick. They also work on any theme your browser may have because they're pristine and have no ugly pixelation around them. And even though they work on any theme, they're freaking sexy on dark themes (you'll see why when you change it up).

Now, some of you may see a "Black" theme in the options list. This one was a screw up. Ignore it for now. Once Conduit realizes I no longer have that in my lists, it will remove the option. If not... then Conduit is stupid cause that shouldn't exist....

I'll update it later as a third option for AL-specific tools.

[Guest]

Very nice. Well done!