Prelude

[update:]
next update of blog - friday, 14 Oct
for those with alpha, the 64bit version is ready

The tests are over, although the app will be maintained as needed
WinXP, Win2008, Win7 - I haven't got anyone with Vista though :)
[/update]

Therefore private beta starts today (anyway - after I'll take a nap) and at the top of the next week we are going "public".

The HKLoops and the whole shortcuts, gestures & smarter hacks will remain in developing&testing and I hope it will see its beta somewhere in the next week also.

What? What is alpha, beta and what's that thing with private testing? Hey, what about Win 8?
Alpha means it would not break your computer (in imaginative ways) and that I want to see some out-there stats. Beta is when I decide all the basic features are round, and finally - private means I need your identity before you are going to test the product. Your identity will remain private, unless you decide to brag about or voluntary opt in to me to be published in a possible future credits presentation.

Win 8 might be coming and although there is a lot to it, there is still also before it. Furthermore I "don't steal their shiny" - I have altogether other things in mind, more bent to giving a new experience from the point of view of *really* new designing.

Also next week, apart from what's evident, I'll highlight the pluses for the roles I'm looking for: C++, Javascript, HTML5; and I want to somehow outsource a nice web page where the experience would have begun even before the first download.



Well... Ah! I've just remembered, the promised links. Cognitive science, games and fun - kept from being tweeted only by the lack of time. Roughly > here they are <, curated as simple bookmarks, but I've resynch'ed with twitter so follow me there for a better presentation and more story like.

Have fun and come join the codding, in many it can be uber-fun! :)


[update]
App: _hidecursorIDLE will be known in a few days as IdontKNOW. Your answer will be simply and witty when asked why your comp still works so well under pressure.

For researchers: if I've ever been touched by your research, this app is free with sources for your use only (if I haven't had to pay extra for the article)
For researcher (still) anonymous: if you('ve had) participate(d) in alpha or beta, the app can be free for your use only but without the sources. Tempt me anytime with a good one though (neuroscience research) ;)

For you and the rest of the world, the beta starts today (26 Sept or depending.. where you are on the globe!) and is open until I say so but my guess is no latter than the 10th of October.
And as I happen to love the first good old days of Bullfrog Productions' style, after beta: the app will be free of the need of any documentation and free of bugs (ok, a departure from their early days) and you'll have to start to pay for buying it (with the exceptions aforementioned).

[update]
So, the shortcuts relevant to tests are here:
gain [Control] of the [Alt]ernative and [ESC]ape!
- this wonderful combo will send all apps back to their designated processors and send all but the current app into low/idle mode
- ideally you won't need it, but it might be handy if one application decides to "get crazy" and lock your resources
- also needed if you want to speed up things... "RIGHT NOW!!"

[Control][Win]1 :: forces the focused app to gain normal priority
[Control][Win]2 :: forces the focused app to gain high priority
[Control][Win]3 :: forces a normal cycle, setting the focused app to the designated state
^^ the above are just temporary, for a cycle: (if you go to another app, it will retain the designated state instead of lowering back, but after you come back, things will get back on track)
[Control][Win]NumpadMinus :: forces the focused app to be expelled from the cycle, retaining the current priority and processor configuration for the whole life of... well until you restart the app again

Again, these are not needed for a normal usage, but when you want to get things done faster and have more control, you can do it. I've made a quick draft to the widget that would point to the shortcuts and explanations but right now I'm too jaded to make it fit into a sidebar. I'd rather invest the effort into the automatization of the testing process so you'll have to do next to nothing but to run the app once. Ah, na laetha gael m'óige! :)


I'm looking forward to hearing from you,
DanP.