Filed under: Internet, Utilities
This tiny tool will definitely catch your eye of interest if you’re downloading a lot of files from Rapidshare, Megaupload or hotfiles: pyLoad, entirely written in Python, is a download manager available for GNU/Linux, Windows, Mac OS X and most interestingly for routers!
Its functionality is similar to JDownloader with the aim to be extrem lightweight and stable to run smooth on servers or hardware routers. As of now there are several tutorials available to install pyLoad on a Buffalo Linkstation Live or ASUS router. Once installed downloads can be added and controlled via a GUI, Terminal or web interface from wherever you are.
It supports all one-click hoster “waiting time” and CAPTCHA recognitions, enabling batch downloads without user input. One-click hoster Premium users have the added advantage of using multiple connections per downloaded file, without any waiting time. Furthermore it supports link decrypter as well as all important container formats.
pyLoad is definitely worth a look and easily replaced JDownloader on my system. The latest stable version is available for download here. If you’re a Linux user Python comes with your system from the box, Windows and Mac users should follow the install instructions from the official pyLoad wiki.
pyLoad, lightweight and powerful one-click hoster download manager originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Education
One day, I will play the bass guitar. Seriously. I will, I’m telling you. And when I do, I will definitely be supplementing my lessons with studybass.com. The website was created by a bass teacher so the information seems solid, but it’s also surprisingly rich in technology. Some lessons come with video demos, and some come with Flash-based exercises you can do (like the one in the screenshot).
The site takes a very gradual approach, and is aimed at people with no musical background whatsoever. If you do have a bit of background, you can always skip ahead. The lessons aren’t overly long, and the tone is pleasant and practical.
It does require patience — you have to sit there and actually take time to read and understand the text; it’s not some zany Flash-filled attraction. But the lessons are very clear and well laid-out, and the expectations it sets seem to be realistic — it’s not some “become a bass fiend in 10 days” thing.
Studybass.com is a good resource for aspiring bass players originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
A year ago, we mentioned that Sony Online Entertainment had opened up their EverQuest II database to researchers, allowing scientists from noted universities the ability to study the demographics of their server in an anonymous fashion. Slowly but surely, more studies are coming out that are using this information, and one of the newer studies takes an in-depth look at roleplayers.
While the study is over 40 pages long and packed with information, Raph Koster has broken down the big findings on his website — namely the fact that hardcore RPers only make up 5% of the player population and don’t care about playing on an RP server. RPers also commonly belong to minority groups of some sort, play less hours per week than the average player, and have a higher rate of turning in-game social connections into real-world connections.
It’s all interesting stuff, and Raph has it broken down on his site, or you can check out the full study in Word’s .doc format.
Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Culture, News items
Latest EverQuest II data study covers roleplayers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Anyone who thinks that we in the blogging, Twittering, Facebooking universe have hastened the death of the long-form magazine story as we know it needs to take a look at this Esquire profile of Roger Ebert, written by Chris Smith.
As fans of ‘At The Movies’ know, Ebert’s been off the air for almost four years, since complications from cancer surgery on his jaw left him unable to eat, drink, or speak. The pictures of Ebert that accompany the story are stark; no matter how many times I see it, the image of the withered lower half of his face is tough to see.
The article, though, is inspiring; it shows an Ebert who has been able to come to terms with how he’s currently living his life and how he navigates through it, mostly through the excellent writing on his Chicago Sun-Times blog. But the most emotionally-charged moment in the whole story was his visible anger at seeing that the video of his 1999 Gene Siskel tribute show has been pulled off his 2009 blog entry about his partner and friend’s death.
Continue reading Roger Ebert Angry Over Siskel Tribute Video’s Removal
