Website Upgrade

Over the course of today and yesterday, my official page on the Internet, SevenBits' Tech Site, has received a face-lift. The original page, which was based around a shade of orange looked very dated, and to tell you the truth I never liked the design.

This update brings the website into the realm of other personal web pages and makes it look and function better on mobile environments such as iPhones and iPads.

Feel free to email me with any comments or suggestions.

OS X Yosemite

Apple today announced at its WWDC keynote the new version of OS X that will be arriving soon. Codename: Yosemite (YO-SEM-MIT-TEE). It shows great promise, but I'm not a fan of the new UI. Let's hope this doesn't become Windows 8.

What do you guys think? Comment below.

Mac Linux USB Loader: Declassified

So, for those of you who frequent this blog, you know about Mac Linux USB Loader, and how it is a huge project, at least when compared with some of the other stuff that I've done. You probably also know that Mac Linux USB Loader is currently being rewritten to be more future-proof and support more distributions. So, because not all of you can download and compile source code, I figure I'll share some more development screenshots.

This is the new persistence setup window. The layout is pretty simple and not all too complex. I made it easy to setup persistence, and you literally just need one mouse click, which is much different from the current set of instructions, which requires a command line and knowledge of how to use it. The default value used when setting up persistence is 128 MBs of persistent storage, which is usually enough for installing drivers and the like.

This is the distribution downloader. It doesn't really work yet and is currently in development. It is an expansion of the current distribution downloader panel in the current version of Mac Linux USB Loader. The distribution downloader offers a stable and reliable way to download ISO files of Linux distributions which can be used by Mac Linux USB Loader. I intend to have some sort of mirror support as well, so that you can download the distribution from a server closest to you, if supported by the distribution vendor. My plan is to open-source this whole process, so that everyone can download the mirror lists and make suggestions, etc from a site like Github. More details on this will be forthcoming.

So what do you think about the progress being made on Mac Linux USB Loader? Drop me a line and let me know your thoughts, and, as always, comments are welcome.

Mac Linux USB Loader: 1.0 Looming

The 1.0 release of Mac Linux USB Loader will be out very soon, within the next 2 to 3 days. Although I didn't make my initial target of a March release, the additional time figuring out Sparkle has allowed for a more stable final product.

Release notes will be coming very soon! I'll let everyone know when it's out via this blog, and if you told Mac Linux USB Loader to automatically check for updates, you'll know as soon as you start the application.

Small Update to Mac Linux USB Loader

Mac Linux USB Loader is now using Sparkle for updates, which will enable automatic updates of the application. In particular, it will enable smooth upgrading from the consumer preview to the release preview and then to the final release, as well as all releases after that.

I hope to see downloads to the program increase. Again, if anyone wants to contribute to the application, patches are always welcome.

File Incinerator on OS X: Nearing Completion

My file incinerator utility is nearing completion! The application now fully incinerates files, shows icons of the files being incinerated, and has many bug and security fixes. You can comment on this application in the comments below.

It is written in Cocoa and Objective-C with some C/C++ for the file incineration itself. There are some limits to the file size that this utility can erase, but it should work for most text documents, etc.

KNOWN BUGS:

1. The "Check for Updates" menu item does not work properly.
2. Applications as .app app bundles cannot be erased using this tool. Regular UNIX executable files do work however.

You can download this application by clicking the link below. Please note I am not responsible for any damage done with or by this tool.

Download

Product Review: Notepad++

Imagine a super fast, sleek, and easy to use text editor that doesn't give you shit. Well, Notepad++ is it. Sleek, elegant, and easy to use, it is exactly what I like to use everyday. Inspired by Scintilla, the editor component, but written in pure Win32, Notepad++ is perfect for code editing, HTML webpage coding, and other tasks that require plain text.

Although it is only available for Windows, it runs very fast on platforms such as Linux and Mac OS X through the use of software emulation layers like Wine. For instance, it runs fairly well under OS X:

It offers support for many programming and markup languages: from ActionScript to Matlab to Fortran to C, Notepad++ does any task for me (did that seriously just rhyme)? To get the lowdown on Notepad++ go over to their website at their website. And to download it, click here.

Invasion: Alpha 3

Here is the ultra-fabulous alpha version three of my FPS video game, Invasion. It contains bug fixes, improvements and increases general ease of use. There is a build for both Windows and Intel-based Mac OS X computers (using OS X 10.6+ and/or Windows 7 is recommended). Unfortunately, Linux is currently not fully supported due to restrictions in the underlying game engine.

DOWNLOAD 

Unity Forum Topic

Details:

1. Improves on overall performance and security
2. Upgraded Unity Engine version
3. Improved Windows executable size (may have increased memory requirements)
4. Light mapping
5. Overall scene improvements; upgraded character voices on 2nd mission; other fixes

Screenshots:

The New Linux Mint!

The team behind Linux Mint, a user-oriented Linux distribution, has released recently version 13, codename Maya, of their Linux distribution. Upon downloading the 32 bit edition, I jumped right in in a few days.

I'm very impressed. Linux Mint, based on the technology of Ubuntu, the third most popular operating system in the world, Linux Mint replaces the slightly buggy Gnome 3 desktop in version 12 with a new, streamlined interface. Here's a picture of the new desktop after I added a new panel to the top of the screen and changed the default desktop image:

As with previous versions, you can have multiple workspaces, emphasized by the workspace switcher at the top-left of the desktop. Simply click, and you have a new workspace. It's like having multiple monitors in one monitor.

One thing I love about Linux is your ability to customize where everything is. Oh, sure, in Windows and OS X you go get a certain amount of customization, but Linux, being owned by no one and for the world to share, caters to whatever you like. Want the widgets on the top, like they are in OS X? I'll move the clock, just to demonstrate:

And the interface for adding changing where everything goes:

Linux Mint, being free software, is contributed to by many of people from around the world, hoping to create the ultimate desktop OS, and is currently the number version of Linux on the market (http://www.distrowatch.com).

And this is just the Gnome desktop. You can install others, like KDE (an alternative to Gnome) and Xfce (a small, lightweight desktop) to name a few, from packages available once Linux Mint is installed.

Linux Mint can be the sole operating system on a computer, or partitioned to play along with Windows and OS X. In fact, the CD version (containing less applications so it can fit on a standard CD-ROM), contains a Windows installer so the Linux Mint can be tried and then removed from Add and Remove Programs if it doesn't suit your needs. No partitioning necessary.

Linux Mint is available in the form of an ISO image file at its official website. Linux Mint 13, the one reviewed here, can be found here, this is a direct download link to the version I used.

Simple Document Viewer: A Help Utility for My Projects

Considering I’m starting a large toolkit of tools for computer users, I’d figure I’d start by posting about my newest complete utility: a Simple Document Viewer designed to view online help for the rest of my toolkit in a fast and efficient manner. It renders pages in basic HTML, sadly CSS is not supported. I was going to add the Firefox renderer in, but that’s too large for my purposes here.

Here’s a screen capture:

As you can probably see, its GUI is more sophisticated and involved than that of my simple File Incinerator tool. It consists of the standard back and forward navigation buttons, as well as an HTTP address bar. This address bar, however, is most likely going to be removed and replaced with a label showing the current address. The drop-down options dialog box is used to view the About text as well as choose the application of which help will be displayed.

Any comments on how the GUI looks will be much appreciated and welcome in the comments form below.

Mint Linux: The Open-Source Future!

I just downloaded Linux Mint, one of around 300 active Linux distributions, onto a Live CD which I can boot from. I played with it, and really love it. I think that Linux is a fine and dandy OS. The first time I used it, I went like lightning. It did go a bit slower the second time, because I tried to download a bunch of stuff from the built-in package manager, even though it was running on a DVD.

I had to plug it directly into my Internet, and when I did, bang! Firefox was the fastest I’ve ever seen it. On my first run-through, I also played music directly from my Windows drive, which was great.

I’ll post screenshots in the future. You can download Linux Mint at http://linuxmint.com/.

Invasion Alpha 2 Released!

DOWNLOAD

The download link is above. Thanks to MediaFire for providing hosting! Also, you can see the Unity forum topic if you want to post there.

File Incinerator

Have you seen large pizza vans with small, opaque windows? That same van has been following for ages? Getting that weird feeling from your gut someone’s watching?

You need File Incinerator, a new tool by me. It securely shreds file so there’s no trace of them on your disc. Soon enough, you’ll want to get rid of something securely: only something my tool can do for you.

So Why Do I Need It?

Excellent question. When you delete a file, it isn’t actually gone. Using tools like Recuva, it is possible to go over a seemingly empty disc and potentially recover loads of files.

So It Removes any Trace of the File on My Disc?

Indeed it does, though this is not guaranteed. Due to the way the operating system handles files, it may be possible for some file data to remain – but likely not. So in all honesty, you probably have nothing to worry about.

Where Can I Find It?

You can find a command line version for Windows and Macintosh computers in the attached archive. A graphical user interface (GUI) version is nearing completion for Windows, but has not been started for Mac OS X.

Is This Illegal?

No. Incinerator works by writing over the selected file with random pieces of information equal to the size of the old file. All technology utilized in this software is legal, but how you use it is up to you. Just keep in mind I’m not responsible for how you use it.

Can I See Screenshots of the GUI?

Sure:

A screenshot of the basic, beta version of the GUI. The progress bar is not functional as of this time.

I hope you enjoy what you see.

What Are Your Planned Features?

Here’s a short list of planned features and how likely they are to be added:

1. Secure Empty Recycle Bin: Emptying the recycle bin only regularly deletes the file, so anything in there will be recoverable. Incinerator will soon be able to overwrite all files in the recycle bin. Likelihood: Excellent
2. Ability to customize the deletion process through the GUI. This can already be done through the command line version as a command line argument passed to the program (up to 32 iterations is supported). Likelihood: Good
3. Ability to incinerate the file, but not delete it (i.e allowing you to inspect its contents in a program like a Hex Editor). Likelihood: Good

Download:

You can download the files below in this ZIP archive.

 

Invasion Alpha Was a Success!

So far, the alpha I released on this blog had over 87 downloads and 271 views on that blog post! We received a lot of information regarding the game and what we should be doing, as well as what bugs can be fixed and the like.

In short, I am pleased how well this has gone, and in the future I hope to very shortly release the next chapter – the next alpha version – of the FPS. In the next alpha release, the map will take place in an underground sewer location. And no assets will be reused from the Unity sewer tech demo; it will be all a custom map. :)

Here’s a few photos of the new map in progress. Please note there is no light mapping just yet, and the scene looks sort of plain because shaders haven’t been applied yet.

A large room, with a siren.

One of the many long and expansive corridors.

At some point or another, most of the gun models will be revamped, and some scrapped totally and replaced. Also, a video will hopefully be uploaded at one point or another, but no guarantees. I’m going to keep you updated like this because it’ll awhile before the next build distribution.

If you don’t like the quality of the maps, suck it up; They’ll look a bit better later with tweaks and visual improvements.

Alpha 1 of Invasion Released!

Hello, everyone on the Internet and beyond. Another small post today where I’m going to discuss my FPS game that is currently in development with Unity Beta 3.5. The game’s overall concept I cannot yet disclose, but rest assured it is worth the wait.

The release is in the Alpha version and may contain bugs. There is only a single level, but aware there is more content than what’s in the download. I simply didn’t wish to put it all in there. For example, one feature in the works is the ability to drive on the backs and tanks and copters.

To download, please use the following link:

Thanks, and if you have any comments, please either comment here or on the Unity forums, if you’re a member. Some screenshots follow:

 

Happy Holidays!

Hey there!  Just wanted to wish all of you a fantastic happy holiday season; it couldn’t be more festive.  For me, Christmas came a little early, though, because of the release of the Unity 3.5 Developer Preview, which is a Beta version of the soon-to-be-released Unity 3.5.  The talk of the town in this grand new release?  The new Flash export feature.
You see, Unity Technologies, the makers of Unity 3D, has added a capability to allow developers to export their games as Flash applications so they can be run without a Unity Web Player plugin or JavaScript activity the browser.  Not only that, web games will run without a plugin in Google Chrome, thanks to Google’s Native Client API.
To quote Unity’s website:

Unity 3.5 is one of our biggest releases to-date. It’s packed full of new features and improvements that we think you are going to love. We can't wait to see what you will create with it, so we've decided to open our 3.5 beta program to the public. Starting today, you can download a time-limited beta version of Unity 3.5.
This release also provides a hands-on preview of Unity's upcoming Flash deployment add-on. Experience first-hand how Flash deployment in Unity opens up new publishing options, by enabling you to push your interactive 3D content to the web through Adobe Flash Player.

Some of those features happen to include a new Particle System (with Legacy particle support included, of course) and a built-in path finding system for Pro license holders (path can be run but not created under Unity Basic).  They’ve re-written the occlusion culling system to allow for doors that open and close, dynamically changing the viewable areas, and has built in LOD support.
They’ve also added multithreaded rendering, which will give a performance boost on multi-core systems.  To see all the new features, check here:  link.  Those of you who want to try the Flash should do it now, because once Unity 3.5 officially ships, you will be forced to upgrade and Flash support will require an additional license like the iOS and Android exports do.
Well, I’ll be playing on 3.5 Beta.  See you soon.
SevenBits

Product Review: CCleaner

CCleaner knows what to get rid of!
Hey, everyone!  Welcome to my first product review.  I’m going to start by going over a product I love and use frequently – Piriform’s wonderful CCleaner tool.  I like it because it allows you to clean your computer of unnecessary files and gunk.  For instance, your computer makes frequent use of log files, the order your programs appear in the Start menu and what files you’ve recently opened – and these are all stored in files on your hard disc (yes, I spell ‘disc’ with a ‘c’, for reasons I’ll explain some other time).

The worst case can easily be temporary files – these babies get created all the time by Windows and by programs by use, and they aren’t easy to get rid of because they aren’t easy to find.  Often, they are created in hidden folders like AppData in your user folder (in Windows 7, that is) and aren’t removed.

CCleaner is great about this, and all you have to do is go to the main screen (Cleaner), and press Analyze (Quick Note: If you don’t have admin rights, CCleaner can only look in folders you can access as a standard user).  Then sit back, as in a few moments it will present you with an estimate of how much space it can remove.  Click Run Cleaner, then the fun starts.  CCleaner’s icon of a brush was aptly chosen, as it cleans like your virtual slave.  You can even customize exactly what you want removed:

By choosing aptly about what you want removed, you can control what you do – or don’t – want trashed.

These file cleaning features are not the extent of CCleaner’s interface, no sir!  No, CCleaner can also clean your Windows registry.  The Windows registry, for those of you who don’t know, is a huge database Windows uses to keep track of program data, including settings and file history (a good read up on it can be found on Wikipedia here, but it’s a bit technical).  However, when you install/uninstall a program, your registry can be full of crap (dare I say s***?) from entries the program wrote but didn’t erase on uninstall.

Wow, that computer has a lot of issues…
CCleaner can also be an uninstaller, allowing you to remove programs with the Uninstall option in the Tools category, but this requires admin rights.  You can customize what programs can run when your system starts up, modify/delete system restore points, and wipe the free space of a computer hard drive or thumb/USB drive.

CCleaner also has additional options, such as a whitelist, under its Options panel.  I suggest you basically check it out.  Also, you Mac geeks out there haven’t been left out: Piriform has a public beta for you OS X 10.5 to 10.7 (OS Lion) users, and is downloadable as a DMG archive at this link.
Note:  All pictures in this article are from Piriform’s website for CCleaner.  I do not own these images, and have included them because they will help illustrate the software.  If Piriform does not want these images here, drop me a line on my comments page and I’ll remove them.