Quote: DaButt @ November 19 2011, 4:24 PM GMTYour anger is misplaced. You should be fuming at Adobe, not Google, for they are the ones who are bundling their software with Chrome (in exchange for a fat check from Google.)
True. But I wanted Adobe. Now my anger has doubled!
How can I search for a GIF (i.e. a moving image) on Google?
Y'know...like this one, but with Japanese Knotweed as the topic rather than Charlotte's bosom:
Quote: TopBanana @ November 19 2011, 6:26 PM GMTHow can I search for a GIF (i.e. a moving image) on Google?
You can search for GIFs with Google Image Search but not all GIFs are animated.
Quote: DaButt @ November 19 2011, 5:13 PM GMTI'm using a Mac as well and Chrome seems much faster and more responsive than Firefox. I guess it's just a matter of personal preference.
We should both be using Safari, I suppose.
No thanks!
Quote: AJGO @ November 19 2011, 5:19 PM GMTTrue. But I wanted Adobe. Now my anger has doubled!
Adobe Reader itself has become horribly bloated.
Version 5 was a lean mean display machine that did all that was really needed for PDF files, but Adobe kept adding 'features' to Acrobat the PDF generator, & those who used it generated PDF files that could not be read by Reader 5, so we had to upgrade.
Then to cap it all with incredible stupidity (in my opinion) they added the capability to include executable programs (in Javascript) within what is esentially a DATA file (Portable Data File = PDF). THe facility was intended for PDF files containing forms, but they didn't restrict the Javascript to those functions. In my opinion as a very long term computer person, putting excecutable programming capabilities into a DATA file is an insane security risk.
Worse still Adobe turned ON this Javascript feature by Default and they STILL DO! Essentially it should not have been a problem, but Adobe are such crap programmers (in my opinion) that Adobe reader is riddled with bugs & security openings, such that crafty criminals were able to write viruses hidden in PDF files.
At one stage (I think 2008 or 2009) viruses in PDF files were responsible for about 80% of all the world virus infections.
And there are still lots of bugs & security flaws; you can find a list on Adobe website, though it is in a pretty obscure location & I would have to do a fresh search to find it. Mean while I strongly reccommend that you all turn OFF Jacascript in your Adobe reader. Any Document that really needs it will tell you that you need to turn it back on for that document & if that comes up when not expected then it is probably a virus.
To turn it off go to Reader's Edit Menu & select Preferences. Then highlight Javascript in the Left Column and then clear the tick box that says "Enable Javascript". Then click OK.
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Alas Foxit also has a security flaw, shared with Adobe Reader, even without any Javascript!
Quote: DaButt @ November 19 2011, 6:35 PM GMTYou can search for GIFs with Google Image Search but not all GIFs are animated.
Ah - thanks.
Is there a way of searching for animated ones only?
Quote: TopBanana @ November 20 2011, 1:56 PM GMTIs there a way of searching for animated ones only?
Not that I know of. Google's results are static thumbnails.
There are GIF hosting websites. Don't know of any of the top of my head. There are also GIF creating websites, if you ever wanted to make your own.
Here's a head scratcher. Just bought a PC to set up a media centre. We still need to buy video cards n that but my question is thus. How do I connect it to two different TVs? For example one in the living room and the other in the bedroom, both playing different videos. Basically the TVs have their own media centre in one box, is what I'm trying to say. Do I actually need two PCs? Two video cards? Run it through a media server/router? I can't seem to phrase it well enough for Google to answer me.
Quote: Leevil @ November 24 2011, 2:41 AM GMTDo I actually need two PCs? Two video cards? Run it through a media server/router?
Do both TVs have some sort of device or built-in capability (including wireless(?) network access) to play media streamed from a media server? If so, all you need is one computer and both televisions should be able to play from a single server.
I've never run it on a PC, but I use Plex with my Macs. A Mac Mini in the living room is connected to the main TV via HDMI and runs the Plex media server and client. I have another Mini in my bedroom that is connected to another TV via HDMI and plays media that is streamed from the Plex server on the first set. I also run Plex clients on my iPhone, iMac and Macbook that stream from the Plaex server.
I think there are Plex plugins for devices like Roku boxes if you need connectivity for your TVs and one or two manufacturers are also including Plex clients that are built-in to their televisions.
At the moment the bedroom TVs are CRT and have nothing fancier than a SCART connection. The living room TV is the only one with all the modern ports. That's going to be connected directly to the PC via HDMI.
We have the Wii in the bedroom that can stream via SMB but I want the interface from the media centre, rather than the Wii's boring file system. We have the Mac mini in the bedroom too, but it's used (I'm using it right now) as the main computer. Plus I need to look into upgrading it. As it's from 2006 and has no TV connections. I may end up sticking the Mini under the TV though at some point. So maybe that's my answer there.
Just to clarify the media centre pc can act as a server as well, which as far as I believe means it can host all the media?
I've had a play with Plex before, but for the Windows PC we're going with XBMC. I don't think Roku is available here yet.
Cheers Randy. 
Quote: Leevil @ November 24 2011, 1:16 PM GMTWe have the Wii in the bedroom that can stream via SMB but I want the interface from the media centre, rather than the Wii's boring file system.
I assume the Wii wouldn't display the pretty interface, so I guess you'll need some sort of external box? Apple TV or Google TV, maybe?
As it's from 2006 and has no TV connections. I may end up sticking the Mini under the TV though at some point. So maybe that's my answer there.
They make great media players. There's probably some sort of adapter available; I have an HDMI adapter that connects my ancient Mini to my bedroom TV.
Just to clarify the media centre pc can act as a server as well, which as far as I believe means it can host all the media?
Yeah, I would think so.
I have no experience with XBMC, but Plex is a spinoff of it and seems to be the best bet for Macs.
Do you have a dvi-hdmi cable?
Because I'm pretty sure that would work on my old mac mini.
I think I'd end up using XBMC on the PC and Plex on the Mac then if it's more compatible. With the PC acting as the server. My head hurts.
Quote: Leevil @ November 24 2011, 3:24 PM GMTDo you have a dvi-hdmi cable?
I think that's it.
I think I'd end up using XBMC on the PC and Plex on the Mac then if it's more compatible. With the PC acting as the server. My head hurts.
Might as well just stick to a single media server. I'd imagine that XBMC would work on the Mini if that's your preference.
I'm glad to see that dvi-hdmi cable does work, I thought I was going to have to buy expensive video converters from Apple. But a cable for £2 will work fine, according to what I've read elsewhere. *gulp*
Thanks for the help, Randy. I'll get there in the end.