How to disable the annoying audio warning to clear cache

 Annoyances, Google Software, Google Toolbar, Software, Utilities  2 Responses »
Nov 292011
 

1951881 blog 300x219 How to disable the annoying audio warning to clear cacheDo you keep hearing a voice message warning you to clear your cache and cookies? I don’t, but my father experiences it and when he described it I could not believe it. Why would such a pointless and stupid message be played every time you opened the browser?

At first I thought it was something wrong with Internet Explorer but removing the Google Toolbar solves the problem. Further investigation results in problem with Google’s data gathering process (surprise surprise).

If you wish to keep the Google Toolbar this is what you need to do:-

1. Click the Toolbar’s wrench OR the dropdown arrow beside the search .
2. Click Manage.
3. Click Privacy.
4. Then select Turn off features that send information

However this has not worked for everyone – with some claiming they disable it and it automatically enables itself again later.

On the subject of People have said….

Some think this is a ploy by Microsoft to stop people using or supplying information to Google. No one has suggested that it might be Google trying to get people to switch from IE to Chrome which is a more likely result (Google Toolbar does not work in Chrome!).

I think it is more likely a programming error and the issue, apart from being extremely annoying, Google are taking so long to fix it.

As for whether this is a Microsoft or Google problem IMO it is Google at fault, if they want to offer their Toolbar on IE then its up to them to get it to work properly.

 Posted by Martyn at 1:19 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Stop Skype Auto Updates, Don’t want to upgrade Skype Thanks

 Annoyances, Business, Microsoft, Software, Updates, Upgrades, Utilities  17 Responses »
May 232011
 
Important Update

Chris has found a better solution for some installations and explained how to stop Skype updating by modifying the policies applied to your PC. Click here to jump to his post in the comments. I would try his suggestion first and return to mine only if his doesn’t work. If my solution is brutal then his is subtle; should the Skype installed on your PC follow common standards, it will comply despite Skypes T&C’s

Like several million people I have utilised and enjoyed Skype for many years. Having lived in four different countries in the last 10 years it has been useful to keep in touch with friends and family. Best of all its free.

Stop Skype Auto Updates
Click here to cut the BS
I have it installed on two PC’s and a Laptop, version 5.1.0.112, but now and then I get asked to upgrade and each time it tries the result is the same. Skype no longer works. This has been going on for several versions. Skype support have not been able to fix the problem and forum suggestions have not worked. This is the same for the three machines I use.

So something I have done, some software on each of these three machines is to blame but each machine runs all the software I want from them without problem and as long as I stick with Skype 5.1 then everything is satisfactory.

Forced Upgrades

Skype is the only software I have ever used that forces upgrades. I know how ridiculous that sounds, all software gives you the option to upgrade or not and for good reason. Normal software gives you the choice so that you can manage compatibility issues, if any exist, between it and other sub systems.

Skype is different. They think its OK to take control of your desktop, without permission, and force an upgrade. This is wrong on so many levels that I do not believe they have considered how seriously this could damage their reputation.

Over the last few months I have experienced the following problems because of forced downloads:

1. While rendering videos causing the desktop to freeze. Support says I should not use Skype on the same PC. Nice solution Skype, very intelligent.

2. While completing an online payment form, with my credit card information, address and several fields painstakingly filled a Skype forced download forces a reboot in the background too. No questions asked, no chance to cancel. My time wasted and potentially a security risk. Nice solution Skype.

3. While watching a movie. Do you remember the days when adverts interrupted movies? Well it was a bit like that except on reboot the movie doesn’t start and or find your place again.

The fact that the upgrade never works and means I will have to uninstall and reinstall 5.1 again is more than annoying, its enough for me to look for alternatives.

Read our T&C’s…They Say

Perhaps the most remarkable situation in this horrid affair is the attitude of the Skype folk themselves. Until this issue arose I always imagined them to be a happy bunch of fluffy bunny kind of business men and women who want to do no more in life than please their customers. How sad and let down I felt when I discovered they are actually a bunch of tossers, at least the ones answering forum questions and support enquiries are.

Here are a few replies to people asking why they cannot stop forced downloads:

SKYPE may do things we do not like, but NEVER “dishonest”
It’s in their T+Cs that we all agree to

Yes, you can turn off automatic updates.
BUT
You can NOT turn off forced updates

Skype rarely does that, but their T+Cs allow it

and perhaps the best (and seriously misguided response)

You may not like it, indeed I may not like it, but the Law is The Law.
You agreed to SKYPES Terms and Conditions, and that IS the law.

I’m not sure which country has enshrined the use of Skype on to its statute books but I am sure I don’t live in it.
 

How to Force Skype to stop Forcing Updates

..or here’s one solution to all this nonsense

If Skype 5.3 and 5.2 do not work for you and you want to stick with the version you have and you want to block Skype updates then this may work for you. While hunting the Skype entries in the registry for clues they have an entry called DownloadEtag. An ETag is usually used to find the version of something, usually a cached page in a browser, but I suspect they are using it to decide the last time a forced download is used. Currently the value is set at 12150 but you may see a different value depending on when you read this (possibly depending on whether they have read this too).

Since setting this blank none of my machines have gone through the forced installation process. You can find it in your registry here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Skype\Installer\DownloadETag

Just set it to blank. Alternatively I have put together a .reg file to do it for you, just download and double-click the .reg file in this zip

And Skype, if you are reading this

I cannot believe you really want to do this. What makes you think you have the right to force people to do things against their will? My desktop belongs to me, not you. I paid for it, I support it and I decide what software I put on it and what I don’t. You cannot legislate away people’s rights through unreasonable “T&C’s”. Just ask Microsoft, they tried it in the 80′s and 90′s and look what happened to them, what makes you think you can do better?

Really, I *love* Skype the product, but this stupid policy is untenable, especially when TWO versions of the upgrades have failed (and judging by your forum continue to fail). Sort it out or you will be on the receiving end of a major disruption. There are huge players waiting for you to screw up, but that’s just the opinion of one, for now.

 Posted by Martyn at 10:12 pm  Tagged with: , ,

WHMCS Support Monitoring System Tray Application

 CSS, Hosting, Javascript, MySQL, On The Front Line, PHP, Programming, Tech  1 Response »
Dec 302009
 

Sales and support monitoring tool for WHMCS

A growing sales and support requirement inevitably leads to more hands on keyboards which is also the most expensive side of technology, so anything that can help better utilise the human resources already available can be a godsend.

whmcs monitoring tool WHMCS Support Monitoring System Tray Application

WHMCS support module has matured to something very usable, with two caveats.  First it seems a shame the authors have not heeded the calls for the ability to send rich media replies and thus incorporate videos and images in predefined replies.  Their excuse that you can send a link to those if you wish is nothing short of lame, even worse they site “security issues” as the reason when the real reason is surely they just cannot be bothered (after all, if they have customers that agree with them, how difficult would it be to supply the solution as an option).

But I’m not here to rip them a new one, their latest release is truly fantastic and better than any other host billing system I have used, it makes Modern Billing look tedious and infezible (which indeed it is).  Utilising their API and the includes/hooks folder enables unlimited customisation, indeed I have bent it to supplying electronic products and license management with great results.

The second caveat is the lack of an alert system.  Up until recently I used a very old Kayako support system but the balance of power is back in WHMCS court except that Kayako had a simple “flashing beeping” thingy that would notify you when a new ticket or customer reply had been received.  It was a basic product and rather featureless yet it did an important job and as I missed it so much decided to write one for WHMCS.

download WHMCS Support Monitoring System Tray Application

Ticket Review (setup.msi) Windows Setup MSI, download and double click.

Ticket Review (manual) Zip file contains program EXE, a php file and readme.txt with instructions for manual installation.

Installation Instructions

Ticket Review monitors up to two support departments in WHMCS and alerts you of a new ticket by changing the color of the system tray icon and optionally playing a wav file too.  Ticket Review can be used by an unlimited number of sales and support staff.

1.  Unzip and place files in a directory.
2.  Upload ticketreview.php to your WHMCS install direcory on your host webserver.

Configuration

To configure your application double click the Ticket Review.exe  When you first run the application you need to complete some of the fields.  The Tickets Link is the URL to your WHMCS and will look something like this:-

http://yourdomain.com/client/ticketreview.php

If you only have one support ticket department you need only complete the Red Department Id.  We operate two departments and allocate the Red to Sales and the Green to Support.

How to find the Department Id

Login to WHMCS as admin, the select Support Departments from the Setup dropdown.  Hover your mouse over the edit icon and a link is displayed in the status bar, at the end of the link there is &id= the number following this is your department id.

How to add sound

Sometimes it is useful to add sound, if you don’t want it just leave the WAV fields blank.  Google for fancy wavs to produce bings or bongs or whatever takes your fancy, I prefer to hear a voice telling me whether a sales or support ticket is in and use ATT’s Text to Speech demo tool to create a WAV which can be found here:-

http://www2.research.att.com/~ttsweb/tts/demo.php

What next?

After setup you should create a couple of test tickets to make sure it all works.  If it doesn’t check the link to the PHP file is correct and try running it directly in your browser to make sure there are no errors.

What is supposed to happen?

When a new sales or support ticket arrives the icon will begin to flash.  If you have added a wav that will be played each time the application checks and finds a ticket that needs your attention.  This will probably get a little annoying after a while so you can delay the check by 5 minutes by double clicking the system tray icon (which will also stop flashing).  The idea is this application will bug you until you answer your ticket!  But you can delay that nuisance for 5 minutes as often as you like!

Support

This is a simple application and shouldn’t really need support.  You can probably think of hundreds of ways in which to improve the application and while I do not wish to steal your thunder I have probably thought of them too, this application is intended to just alert you of new tickets, stats and integrating with facetwitter are all cool ideas but they don’t really improve it.  However if you need a contractor to write additional features then please contact me at mwdev@ventrino.com or call UK +447850018933 and ask for Martyn

 Posted by Martyn at 5:56 pm  Tagged with: , ,
© 2011 Martyn Walker | Software Architect | Hiker And Hacker Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha