[X] My Assistant

yeah, It was not a joke. My powerbook actually does that. It worked fine until somewhere in the FF 40 or 50 version numbers.
video playback is always tinted blue like that in the browser.

I was talking about a blue border around the focused element. Can be the url bar, the search, or various places where text can be written.
In the case of the box on the forum where I'm writing posts, the borders get cut and have no top, so it's very ugly.

Ohh, you meant the "input is active" border thing?
Interesting.

Here's a probable solution for your issue. I'm on FF 92 on one of my machines and don't think I've seen it yet, though.
[old.reddit.com] https://old.reddit.com/r/FirefoxCSS/comment...elds_userinput/
[old.reddit.com] https://old.reddit.com/r/FirefoxCSS/comment...nd_input_field/

Feels like FF releases have just gotten faster and faster. I hate it. "Agile" development is so shitty/sloppy if you have a team larger than maybe four people.
In my opinion, 'agile development' is an 'industry acceptable' codeword for messy development without any set goal in mind.

I hate bureaucracy as much as the next guy, but for large products like the Mozilla backend it really is a shit methodology. They need to have steady goals and consistency, but instead they're just getting worse and worse.

See also the firefox android redesign, which I still refuse to use two years on.

This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Nov 12 2021, 07:59

I think it is not a good time to use microprocessors or similar things, and for example is the Steam Deck that was delayed until February 2022, good news for GPD Win

There's going to be a HAM radio convention really soon here; I'm getting pumped.

Most of my best old technology stuff comes from HAM radio conventions.

Last time there was a robotic assembly machine that ran a PDP-11 architecture internally. Didn't buy it, it was just awesome.
I missed the sun sparcstation by about an hour, though.

I'm running low on cash but I'm worried that won't be enough to stop me.

This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Nov 13 2021, 00:07

I just got a "portable" '486 PC with a dead plasma panel. When I say "portable," i mean that it has six ISA slots and a briefcase handle.

It has a vga card, too, though, so that's okay.

Looking forward to messing with it.

This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Nov 13 2021, 18:54

That's pretty neat. What make and speed of 486, does it have a coprocessor, and what OS(s) if any are on it?

Turns out the computer doesn't run anything.

PSU is fine, cpu and such heat up, but nothing else happens. HDD spins up only if I disconnect the IDE ribbon.
IDK why, exactly; the motherboard looks pristine; everything is spotless. But I'll reseat chips and try to figure it out.
It does not have a coprocessor installed, but it does have the socket for a 4167. If I can get it booting, I'm going to try OpenBSD on it. Or maybe a linux distro, but I'd like to try OpenBSD on it and see what happens.

it's a 486DX and i have no idea what it's clocked at.

We'll see if I can make it work. If not, the keyboard does work (I'm typing on it now) so for $30 I came out ahead, with at least some of the following components functional:

• WD Caviar 280 85MB hard drive
• 486DX
• a bunch of L2 cache DRAM DIP chips
• four 30 pin SIMM 1MB ram sticks
• a VGA ISA card
• IDE controller ISA card
• an eprom programmer interface ISA card
• a working original style PC PSU
• an AT keyboard with (clicky) white alps key switches inside, in a small-ish form factor with a tenkey.
• a fuckton of oscillators and crystals
• a 3.5" 34-pin floppy drive.

Also, I got a Tek 468 oscilloscope that is currently functional for $25, and a a thinkpad 310ED for $10 (currently untested, but looks physically in good shape and has a yamaha FM chip in it so I am happy to take a chance). And a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS.

Gave a friend my old discrete-transistor-only oscilloscope today, since I have the Tek now. I was sad to see it go. Asked that he let me have it back again if he got another one that was better (because it's my first oscilloscope and i've gotten attached to it).

This friend of mine experiments with electricity a lot, he made a vectorscope out of a regular consumer TV set (which works somewhat, even if it's kind of terrible). I think he'll enjoy it.

This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Nov 14 2021, 04:49

Which would you recommend - VLC or SMPlayer?

Which would you recommend - VLC or SMPlayer?

mplayer (not smplayer) - starts fast, portable, light weight.

VLC otherwise for easy-ish gui

Which would you recommend - VLC or SMPlayer?

just use mpv without any wrapper frontend, only complicates the experience and causes issues.
mpv will play anything ffmpeg can deal with.

even though I doubt you'll go with it, if you do, heres a minimal config for dealing with subs nicely.
which is really all the config you'll ever need, no need for menus or dropdowns with a million options

sub-auto=fuzzy
slang=eng,en,english,English
alang=jpn,jp,japanese,Japanese,eng,en,english,English

This post has been edited by cate_chan: Nov 14 2021, 15:27

just use mpv without any wrapper frontend, only complicates the experience and causes issues.
mpv will play anything ffmpeg can deal with.

even though I doubt you'll go with it, if you do, heres a minimal config for dealing with subs nicely.
which is really all the config you'll ever need, no need for menus or dropdowns with a million options

in my experience mpv is half baked crap and suffers from many of the poor design choices that I see in other modern software projects.

It also starts slower than mplayer and has fewer video output options, and broke the command line syntax of mplayer for no good reason. And it enabled the mouse control overlay by default for seeking and whatnot (which was unwanted for me), and it removed the ability to use a mouse to navigate DVD menus.
It also removed a ton of video output types that were handy on older systems (like framebuffer output).
For instance, color correction works, but if you try to use it to also color correct subs (useful for SSA subtitles) on my laptop it will refuse to color correct anything at all because apparently the GLSL version is suddenly too old (even though it works perfectly when correcting the video and then overlaying the subs on top of that uncorrected).

So it has some nice ideas, but holy shit there is so much that is crap about it.

Thus, I use real mplayer 90% of the time.

This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Nov 14 2021, 16:35

I prefer mplayer, if a system can not run mplayer then VLC.

I prefer mplayer, if a system can not run mplayer then VLC.

I don't know any systems that cannot run mplayer but can run VLC (though you may have to compile it for some).

I've personally built it for Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and FreeBSD.

This is the motherboard that's misbehaving (or not behaving at all) that I mentioned.
Still need to try re-seating the socketed chips.
I wonder if the CPU\ could be dead? This thing looks spotless. Doesn't even beep with the ram removed if I try to boot it (it should make a long continuous beep).
Going to need to take my oscilloscope and see if all the crystals are oscillating, too, probably.

[i.imgur.com] (IMG:[i.imgur.com] https://i.imgur.com/rH1xRV2g.jpg)

Also I found a nice program package called 'trx' for playing audio on a remote machine's speakers. Handy for stuff on my LAN. (For ALSA audio; doesn't require pulseaudio).
[www.pogo.org.uk] http://www.pogo.org.uk/~mark/trx/

This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Nov 15 2021, 07:21

Is there meant to be a barrel battery there or hook up to external battery pack? I can't see the mobo battery anywhere.



I can't see close enough.

Would it need certain expansion cards to boot?

This post has been edited by EsotericSatire: Nov 16 2021, 00:30

Is there meant to be a barrel battery there or hook up to external battery pack? I can't see the mobo battery anywhere.

Yes, and that is where the battery used to be. it was just starting to leak (like they all do), so I removed it, cleaned, and then disabled the rtc with a jumper for now. I might get around to it later.

Would it need certain expansion cards to boot?

Yes, and I have a VGA and I/O card for it. The problem is that even without those and with no ram installed it should be able to put out a BEEEEEEP if turned on. It's stone dead, which means something's not getting power or something is damaged on the motherboard.

Didn't find time to mess with it today. Also I have no PLCC puller so I really hope that's not the chip with an issue, if indeed something just needs reseated. Unfortunately (and unlike my Amiga) there's no hole in the PCB underneath the PLCC to facilitate removal without a specialized puller.

Also, did you try clicking the image? It is a hyperlink to [i.imgur.com] a 4032x3024 source image. Like many of my imgur links are.

I guess it's possible that the EPROM has lost its memory for the BIOS ROM or something. Really hope not, but with something this old and generic I am guessing I can find some way to make it work if that's what happened.

I am at least pleased to say the keyboard's working quite nicely on my desktop. Nice and small for when my desk is cluttered, and clicky, too. Layout isn't too bad, actually, especially compared to boards that don't even have a nav cluster. Although it fails with one of my two PS/2 to USB adapters (an old "blue cube" one). Works fine on my actual PS/2 port with an AT -> PS/2 converter, though, and also works well enough with my other adapter.
I have swapped right shift and '/', since I never actually use right shift for anything at all and can still type at a good clip without it. Also the placement was pretty awkward. Most of the rest feels similar enough to my Sun type 5 that it's not been a difficult move. Has nicer key feel, though.
Not sure if I like it more than my Apple alps board, though (orange switches). The sound is better, but the lightness of the oranges is quite nice.
[i.imgur.com] (IMG:[i.imgur.com] https://i.imgur.com/Fjt4gqzg.jpg)

Unfortunately I think I will need to build my own AT/PS/2 to USB adapter if I want to use both the print screen key and the separate 'sys req' key separately from each other on machines without PS/2 or AT keyboard ports. The adapter I have that is working translates them both to the same keycode (the print screen one), since USB doesn't distinguish between them like AT and PS/2 scan codes do (in set 2 at least), and this adapter therefore conflates them. Works fine when connected directly to my PS/2 port on my desktop, however. I have Sys Req mapped to compose on it.

I know I can make an adapter (I've made an ADB -> USB one and a Sun -> USB one before), but I'd need to get the parts. Ugh.


This whole computer feels like it was never used, though. The only evidence it was used at all is the dust caked onto the PSU fan. Even smells like new electronics inside. And despite it obviously not working, it doesn't feel like a "low build quality" or anything either - though I've never used a real compaq portable III (the machine this was probably based on). My Amiga 500 feels like it has much lower build quality than this thing does (probably just because Commodore). Really hope I can get it going.

Also feels higher quality than early macs, just because it has a goddamn fan to keep it cool and doesn't try to keep you out of it.

This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Nov 16 2021, 08:31

What is really your opinion on downloading Youtube videos for offline viewing? One of Pale Moon developers called it "stealing", "illegal" and "criminal". Do you agree? The mere mention of yt-dl (including all of its forks) are now being censored in PM's forum.

What is really your opinion on downloading Youtube videos for offline viewing? One of Pale Moon developers called it "stealing", "illegal" and "criminal". Do you agree? The mere mention of yt-dl (including all of its forks) are now being censored in PM's forum.

If this was Tobin (and I am 95% sure it is based on what you said there), tell him to go pull the five foot stick out of his ass and then swallow it whole. He's [github.com] a fascist cunt and does more to defame pale moon and drive away contributors than any other single person or thing could.
I know that doesn't invalidate his argument, but I don't care. I have absolutely no respect left for him whatsoever, no matter his technical contributions.

He also takes unprovoked shits on other mozilla forks regularly, even though they should be collaborating. Devs of the other mozilla fork projects have learned to ignore pale moon on account of him (i have this from the horse's mouth on some IRC channels), and even refuse to move to goanna as a backend because of that toxicity.

If, on the other hand it was any of the other devs, I'm interested to hear why and have a reasonable debate. Tobin however is incapable of reasoned and civil debate and has shown that many times over.

My opinion on downloading videos: if you are allowed to stream it, you are being given a copy of the video. It's like bitching about recording a TV show on a VCR for personal use as being "piracy."

And if the copyright holder is big enough to have had an IPO, they are no longer allowed to complain about loss of sales due to people downloading stuff that they themselves offered on a silver platter.

This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Nov 16 2021, 08:56

fascist cunt

Well, something happened to him. I recall he said having "lost patience against stupidity" since 2014 or 2015.

Well, something happened to him. I recall he said having "lost patience against stupidity" since 2014 or 2015.

I don't usually call people out this hard; I think he just decided to stop trying to be a polite human being (or at least a rational one) and turned into a massive dick who seems to enjoy causing strife and being stupid himself.
I think most people have redeeming qualities socially. I find it hard to see anything in tobin.
Was it him who was whining about video downloaders, then?

BTW when I say 'fascist' i mean in the sadistic authoritarian sense. Not that he actually is of that political ideology (though it would hardly surprise me if that were true too).

He's a tool and given his stances on people distributing pale moon or even building it for any platforms other than their officially blessed ones with that branding he's just pissing people off. Mozilla is at least sane enough to give Debian the benefit of the doubt when it makes its own builds, for instance, and lets them use the firefox branding. Tobin's mindset feels more at home working for someone like IBM of the 80's than a developer of "free software." I honestly don't know what drives hm to keep doing this, since he seems to revel in driving away interested parties that want to package the software and bring people into the fold.

And when I say "cunt," I mean that he opens issues like this instead of saying "please."

You will revise your mozconfig located at www/palemoon/files/mozconfig to remove the following:
=snip=
We do not allow system libs to be used with official branding because it deviates from official configuration. You must comply with the directive or you must disable official branding for your builds.
=snip=
Additionally, you will please explain and justify the patches you are applying in www/palemoon/patches.

I bet this fucker, if he somehow managed to not drive off every potential romantic partner in a twenty mile radius, would say "you will marry me." and force the engagement ring on their hand after the first eye contact, since he has no patience for stupidity like being a decent fucking human being or asking for consent.

Is typing those six keys on a keyboard ("please") really so arduous a task that you can't be bothered to anymore, but you'd rather right "you will" (more letters) to come off as a rude and obnoxious prick instead? What fucking piece of human garbage opens like this when they want someone to do something?

Even mozilla, that company that never negotiates with anyone, was okay with letting Debian do its thing. Tobin is a shylock if I ever saw one (solely concerned with the letter of the law rather than the spirit thereof, even though absolutely no good can come from being so inflexible).

Tobin probably abandons shopping carts in a parking lot after ramming them into someone's car intentionally.

Oh, yeah, this isn't tobin, but another wonderful line from that github issue:

you think trademark law is ajoke?

…well, yeah, actually.

This issue is now officially resolved. There will be no Pale Moon browser, official or not. The port has been removed. Farewell, petulant children.

And the commit message:

Remove. clearly, they don't want users, and we're not gonna give them any.

Shit like this is the primary reason I won't use it, too.

This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Nov 16 2021, 19:05

What is really your opinion on downloading Youtube videos for offline viewing? One of Pale Moon developers called it "stealing", "illegal" and "criminal". Do you agree? The mere mention of yt-dl (including all of its forks) are now being censored in PM's forum.

AFAIK (though that's not very far), Youtube is not Discord. You don't give up all rights of ownership, exploitation (commercial or not) and everything to Youtube when uploading something on it, so it's the uploader that matter.
So there can be people that upload things and are ok, and maybe even honored, if somebody deems their content good enough to be downloaded to be preserved and more easily accessed in the future.
On the other hand, if there's youtube and youporn already, might as well in the future has a yougreedyselfishassholescontent (need to find a shorter name though), for those that want to monetize and absurdly protect their content, and for uploaders using that, the world would be appropriate.
Otherwise, the developer in question is just being selfish and centered on a subset of users in an inappropriate way.

This post has been edited by uareader: Nov 16 2021, 10:03

Yes, and that is where the battery used to be. it was just starting to leak (like they all do), so I removed it, cleaned, and then disabled the rtc with a jumper for now.

Does that work? Do some mobo need to have 3-3.5v there to post? I was reading that on the older boards the most common upgrade is to add a battery pack that can be changed easily.