Idea Of The Day. A new Idea Each Day. Some Don't Suck.



We post an all new idea every day. If you find an idea you like... do something about it. Make it happen.

Our Latest Posts About: Operating Systems

I Wish Windows Updates Were Like Apple's

My MacOS is version 10.12.3. What's YOUR Windows version?


Microsoft and Apple have two entirely different ways to handle operating system versions and updates. Every time Apple updates iOS, MacOS, TVOS, and WatchOS, they update their version numbers to reflect the changes. This means that EVERY iPhone with version 10.2.1 has EXACTLY the same system files, and every MacOS version 10.2.3 has the same system files and capabilities.

This is particularly important for Application Developers. All they need to do is check the version number to know if their software is compatible, because they know every device with that particular version has the same capabilities and system files.

Microsoft on the other hand uses an altogether different approach to version numbers and update... [More]

Continue...I Wish Windows Updates Were Like Apple's...

Why are File Searches So SLOW?

Why does it take so long to find a file... even when you know the name?


I'm a database guy, so it drives me crazy when it takes as much as 5 or 10 minutes to search for a file name on my computers. That's because most computers these days can have as many as a million or more files, and there is no real database storing all the filenames.

Because there's no built-in, always on database of filename, whenever you search for a file, the operating system needs to literally scan through each and every directory to find the file you're looking for. That's pretty crazy, considering how much larger today's hard drives are getting.

By contrast, if filenames were stored in a REAL database like SQL Server, you would be able to find any filename in a fraction of a second, even if the... [More]

Continue...Why are File Searches So SLOW?...

Sticky Notes Linked to Files

LARGE-505

Do you have trouble remembering what some of your files are?


I'm a digital packrat. I've got more files than I can count, and that means I often have no idea what a file is until I open it. In many cases, I have so many versions of the same file, I still have trouble figuring out which is which, even after opening the file.

I love the way Apple's Mac OS X lets you "Tag" files, making it somewhat easier to categorize files with tags like "Draft", "Final", "Personal", or "Urgent", but I would like to create full fledged notes for each file. This would allow me to say much more about a file without opening it up.

Unlike a Tag or even a Live Preview of the file, the notes could allow me to say things like "This is the older version before adding the new logo", or "Rejected pr... [More]

Continue...Sticky Notes Linked to Files...

Driverless Printing

LARGE-502

Every printer should be capable of printing without drivers.


In the early days of computing, you could plug any brand of printer into a computer and it would print. Drivers weren't needed. You just plugged it in and it simply worked... sort of.

As newer models came along with support for fonts, graphics and various paper sizes, each manufacturer created their own proprietary ways to support their specific features, which led to the creation of printer drivers. This made everything much more complicated. If you use the wrong driver, you can't print. What a pain in the neck.

To make matters worse, whenever a new operating system comes out, the old drivers are often incompatible, and the manufacturer may decide not to create an updated driver, forcing you to buy a new pri... [More]

Continue...Driverless Printing...
LARGE-433

Why is Windows so bloated?


Since I mainly use a Mac, I don't have ANY documents, photos, music or videos stored on my Documents folders on my Windows systems, yet my boot drive is reporting that it's using over 62 GB of data.

Each day, it keeps growing and growing, even though I never add any new programs or data.

Since I rarely install programs, and I don't have any data stored on my Windows systems, you may be wondering why it takes up so much space. It's because the c:\Windows folder takes up almost 50GB. That's 50 GB just for the operating system. That's crazy.

The reason for this is that every time Microsoft does a software update, it downloads the update to your computer in compressed form... after it archives the older versions, it expands the compressed downlo... [More]

Continue...Windows Updater Files Should Remain In The Cloud. They Take Up Too Much Space!...

Portable, External Home Folders.

LARGE-178

If you have more than one computer, or share your computer with other people, you need a Portable, External Home Folder.


Portable, external drives have come a long way in the past few years. A $25 flash drive can can store hundreds of times more information than the best home PC could store just a few years ago, but most people consider them nothing more than a simple backup device.

Right now they are completely underutilized by today's desktop operating systems. When you insert one into a typical computer, there isn't an option to use the device for anything more than a place to store a backup.

I used to think of USB devices that way, but about 8 years ago, I made the switch. I decided that my USB devices were now large enough to store most of my day to day documents, s... [More]

Continue...Portable, External Home Folders....

A Firewall... for SOFTWARE.

LARGE-177

Why are there no firewalls for software on regular computers?


I've had a computer since the 70s, and I've seen so many people lose all their family photos, videos and other important files because they were too inexperienced to know when they were installing a malicious program.

I can't blame them. As doctors, lawyers, and business executives, they were all very intelligent people, but time and time again, they would come to me to help them get their files back. The reason they were victims of these kinds of software attacks was because they never imagined that the programs they were running were specifically designed to destroy their files, and in some cases steal information or money.

Don't most computers already have a Firewall?


No. What most computers have is... [More]

Continue...A Firewall... for SOFTWARE....
LARGE-147

Maybe it's me, but I miss the DOS days when you could easily print a list of files in a folder.


Let's say you're the kind of person who likes to put things on paper. There's a certain comfort in seeing something on paper that you can sit back in your comfy chair with to review with a bright red market or highlighter.

Maybe you're just the kind of person who likes to print a list of the files you've put on a CD, DVD, or other backup media. Whatever the reason, the fact is neither Microsoft or Apple has a "File... Print.." option in their file managers. To me, that's a bit odd. Just about every program that has a File... option, has a Print... option, but somehow they don't think anyone would want a list of their files.

As somebody who has had a computer since the 70s, it... [More]

Continue...We Should Be Able to PRINT a List of Files in a Folder....

Session Undo. Groundhog Day For Your Computer.

LARGE-137

Can I use your computer?


For many people, that's one of the scariest questions since cavemen first asked... "Does that tiger bite?"

Put it this way, even if you restrict access to your private files, there's a strong chance that giving access to your computer to a stranger, or even a close friend or family member can lead to more trouble than it's worth.

An inexperienced user may accidentally change settings, install unwanted programs, and even completely crash your system by moving or deleting system files.

Apple has a great "Guest Login" option, that pretty much gives your guest access to the Internet and not much else. I applaud them for that, because for many guests, that's all they need. However, some guests may require access to other programs and features. That... [More]

Continue...Session Undo. Groundhog Day For Your Computer....

Top 25 Posts


* Note: The ideas on "Idea of the Day" were posted without any formal research into existing inventions.

In some cases, patents may already exist for these ideas, in other cases, there may not be any existing patents and you are free to develop and explore the viability of developing and patenting the ideas.

The authors make no claim that any of the ideas are safe, practical, or suitable for any particular purpose. You are responsible for the results of trying, developing, patenting or using any of the ideas on this site.

For some people, our ideas are just an interesting read, but our goal is to encourage you to take action. If you see an idea that you like, do something with it... Take action.


- Joe
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