A day in the life of a moderator

I generally do things on the site in batches, usually once a week.  I decided to detail out some of the changes I did in a single day ...

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New stuff

• Suggest the "Meld" file/directory comparison tool

Entry Edits:

• Created a screenshot slideshow (animated GIF) for FreeMeter
• Fix links for EverEdit as the freeware version has gone offline
• Try to test (and update) the WinMend File Copy file extraction process
• Updated MP3-Splt, including a new screenshot and a move from the WinPenPack to PortableApps version (there's an old version update that one caught that the other didn't)

Other

• Added some additional websites to some older threads on Pass-O-Meter and Flash Xtractor
• Get some File Data (hashes) for a few different programs on the site for safety/mirroring purposes
  Updated a few entries, including .GIF -> .PNG conversion
• Posted about FoxIt issue from earlier in the week
• Thread split - break PDF XChange Viewer and Editor posts

Why portable?

Something I'm constantly trying to answer.  Here are 3 approaches:

• Analysis of junk created by installers.
• Advantages your users gain with portable
• From a developer who writes portable software  (thanks smaragdus)

Arguments for local software (programs not run over the Internet)

Of course the worst security flaw is something that directly hurts you with identity theft or otherwise, but this is a great argument for just not doing things online.

Certainly some things can be done safely, but I paradoxically get less and less enamored with technology the more and more I learn about it.

"I don't think I'd want tools for manipulating local media tied even loosely to the uptime of a remote computer (or network connection)." (source)

Today's reason to love LibreOffice

The program can handle HUGE files with no weird crap happening to the formatting.  I've had some gigantic Word files just fall apart with some kind of formatting oddity.  I've never had that happen in the multiple years I've been working with 50+ page LibreOffice docs. (website)

Adware vs bundleware

Although we tend to avoid adware just because people hate it, strictly speaking I'm more concerned about bundleware.  If developers end up taking any route to make money off their work, adware is to usually the least bad.  Especially if it's for other, related software.

Some of this has to do with what ads developers have traditionally been putting in their applications.  If large, blinking, animated monstrosities start showing up, you might see me take a different view but that's just not what is happening.

Softpedia writers

Occasionally the templates that Softpedia employs as examples for it's writers appear in very clear terms.  My favorite and most recent example of this is GazeRecorder.

Here's text from what is obviously their "scientific entry" template:

While conducting various scientific experiments can be rewarding since you can make ground-breaking discoveries, running many of them would not be possible without appropriate tools.

However, thanks to the ever growing interest for technology, nowadays it is possible that you can choose from a wide palette of software solutions that can simplify your work.

You don't say!

I also love how the final paragraphs in Softpedia reviews all have variants on "As a conclusion".  Sigh.

As websites and journalism sources increasingly can't afford good writers, I've been seeing more and more awkward writing and badly-used templates like this.  I do love Softpedia but wish they'd forego their write-ups and reviews.

On your keychain: Easy Screencast Recorder

Although I tend to recommend a number of other programs ahead of it, it's going to be a rare day where I don't have this program handy. This program has saved my bacon a few times when other tools hesitated.  Although by default the program saves to the low-quality, low-compression .ASF format, it's reliable and sometimes that's the crucial thing.

Easy Screencast Recorder homepage and on PFW