Software

Torchure 1.1.1 Released

I’ve uploaded a minor bugfix release for Torchure to the Android Market, which fixes the buggy systems preference not taking effect.

Don’t remind me of the irony…

Torchure 1.1 Released

My first Android Market update!  Hope this goes well.

This update includes:

• A new colour! You can change the screen to red, to help preserve night vision. This makes the torch less effective, mind.
  • To switch colour, either swipe sideways on the screen or use the new menu option!
• New preferences have been added to let you choose what colour you want on starting Torchure: white, red, or whatever you last used.
• The Lock Brightness preference has been fixed, and now actually works.  (Locking via pressing the trackball or the menu option worked fine)
• Added a new Hints & Tips screen, to highlight the little things I can’t fit anywhere else!

Torchure for Android

Ever found yourself in need of a torch, but only had your phone handy?  Look no further!

Torchure (for Android) is a pretty simple application.  It turns the screen white and, as default, whacks up the backlight to maximum.  I did say simple, didn’t I?

However, it also lets you change that backlight brightness (useful if, say, you’ve been to a particularly wild party and you need to step over some people without waking/blinding them) and lock it so you don’t go accidentally changing it.  Torchure is designed to work for you, not make you work for it!

It marks my first release on to the Android Market, and it requires no permissions whatsoever — it is a torch, after all.

Even though Google is telling me this link will not work, go check out Torchure on the market now!

And if you’re not using an Android handset, AndroidZoom has you covered until Google release their updated Market.

NB: The link does work (on Android 2.2). Guess they forgot to update the documentation.

My Personal Ninite Installer

This is basically for my own future reference, but the last few Windows installs I’ve done I’ve used Ninite to install most of my favourite software — easily and quickly!

If you’ve yet to discover it, check it out!  Or if you’d rather just install software other people recommend wihout thinking, you can install my particular favourite software loadout.

Update 15:42 UTC+0100: Just a couple of things that I should mention about the Ninite installer:

• All programs install with a desktop shortcut, which I don’t use.
  • They’re very easy to delete, mind.
• Skype is set to start on Windows start up.
  • This is easy to change on Skype’s log in screen, or using Autoruns below.
• Steam is also set to start on Windows start up.
  • Change this by logging in and disabling it in the Interface tab of the Steam > Settings window, or using Autoruns below.
• Java constantly runs its update scheduler (jusched.exe).
  • Use Autoruns for this one.

The latter three can be easily fixed by downloading Autoruns and deleting their start up entries from the list.  Just don’t go too crazy in Autoruns, as you could cause Windows to stop booting etc. etc.

Update 2010-07-30: My new personal Ninite installer, to reflect new software being added to Ninite!

Introducing BitButcher — An Open-Source NDS ROM Trimmer

I’ve always wanted to make a software headline like that.  Eee!

Welcome to BitButcher, a small program designed to do one thing and one thing well: trim Nintendo DS ROMs.

I got a bit fed up of the ones already out there, most because they were either closed-source or they had bad GUI design combined with clashing backgrounds.  Search as I may, I couldn’t find anything that fit my demands.

So I did what any self-respecting programmer would do — code my own!

This program is rather simple, but it’s designed to be just that.  Oh, and fast.  Very fast.

Trimming the excess fat off of DS ROMs isn’t exactly a hardest task in the world, but I figured that people would still be interested in what I have made.  As such, I have made the code entirely open-source under GPLv3.

It’s coded in Java, meaning I get cross-platform support for free!  It is however command-line only, so don’t expect any amazing GUI.

If you want to get hold of the program, or would like to help contribute to a better trimmer, then just head over to GitHub:

http://github.com/XanderXAJ/BitButcher

Any help improving the program would be welcome and awesome.  In addition, you can also report any issues you have at GitHub, on the Issues tab.

That’s it for this time — hope you manage to shave off some bytes!