We as people need to set standards on the way we use the Internet - General

We've all been there where we've been frustrated with a file type, website etc. You download a file and it comes in some weird format, you have to download an extra program to convert this file just so you can use it. When the author could have just used the common file type. Videos, with file formats like avi, mpeg, mp4, etc. Let's start using one (or a couple common) format(s). Nothing sucks more when you download a video and you can't watch it without downloading 50 other codecs. Downloading sites like Rapidshare, people still use it even though it has time limits and download limits, sure we could get a subscription for unlimited use, but why when we can use another site for free with no limits. Image hosting sites, there are plenty of them, some better than others, some have upload limits, bandwidth limits, and some don't. Nothing is more frustrating when you can't view an image because it has been seen 1000 times (random number) that month. Programs, there are a lot of great programs out there, unfortunately some of them are pretty expensive. Let's post the best programs (photo editing, music, video editing etc.) and also free alternatives (if they exist). So let's build a thread on what to use, so that we can use the Internet easier and save time. I know the answer to a couple of these, but there perhaps are better answers, so feel free to post any information backing up your statement. I mean maybe people use one thing only because they do not know what is available. Also news sites, gaming sites, pornography sites, social networking can be added, let's start thinking! I hope people contribute, I'll try to update as often as possible. [B]Websites[/b] Video Hosting Sites ------------- Social Networking ------------- Steam Facebook ------------- File Hosting Sites ------------- MediaFire [B]File Types[/B] ------------- Videos ------------- I'm not sure which are better than others, loseless formats, size, maybe someone could help me on that. Common video types mpeg, avi, wmv, flv ------------- Music/Audio ------------- You are pretty safe today using MP3 format for audio. It is used by all music players, most CD/DVD players and works in your mobile music player like the iPhone. Compressed Files [B]Programs[/B] ------------- Videos ------------- VLC media player VLC is a very good media player, it plays most video and audio file types. It is also free ------------- Music/Audio ------------- VLC media player VLC is a very good media player, it plays most video and audio file types. It is also free ------------- Compressed Files ------------- Free WinRar or 7-Zip Works great with many file types, including ZIP, RAR, 7Z. ------------------ Image Editing/Creating ------------------ Free GIMP Buy Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop ------------------ Flash Creating ------------------ Free Swish Buy Adobe Flash

VLC, Irfanview. You're set right there.

Delete this post admins, if you want

I hate it when people share files with extensions that only a certain program will use. It's one thing to try to spread word about your program, but making program-exclusive file types is just low.

Or we could all remain compitent enough to use any format we desire.

why use any format you desire, why not use what already works right?

We need a standard program, not a standard format.

We already have standard video codecs, I extremely rarely come across video files in formats that wont play in CCCP and VLC. I'd say 98% of online videos are either .avi of Divx or Xvid .mp4 of h264 or mpeg4 .flv from websites(h264 or soresson h.263, playable in vlc or cccp) .mkv almost all of which will be covered by cccp and vlc.

Why should there be standards in an environment that encourages the creation of new formats and mediums? Moreover, in capitalist environments, new formats will constantly one-up each other.

File formats aren't just there cause some guy decided to use that one. Some are compressed file formats and some aren't. It's like comparing .WMV to .AVI; .AVI is compressed and .WMV is uncompressed, as well as .WAV to .MP3 you need at least 2 to be around. But we should start lowering the amount of file extensions in use, which we are already starting to do. But there will always be new ways of compressing and all that. But i never have problems in any incompatible file, really.

[QUOTE=Root Beer;18433230]We need a standard program, not a standard format.[/QUOTE] This.

Also lossy/lossless formats.

[QUOTE=Root Beer;18433230]We need a standard program, not a standard format.[/QUOTE] Ohh, i see what you mean. We should have a small lightweight inbuilt to the operating system program that opens any file you desire.

Of all the compatibility conflictions in the computer world online things are the least of concern.

[QUOTE=phill977;18433242]File formats aren't just there cause some guy decided to use that one. Some are compressed file formats and some aren't. It's like comparing .WMV to .AVI; .AVI is compressed and .WMV is uncompressed, as well as .WAV to .MP3 you need at least 2 to be around. But we should start lowering the amount of file extensions in use, which we are already starting to do. But there will always be new ways of compressing and all that. But i never have problems in any incompatible file, really.[/QUOTE] I agree, some formats have pros and cons, but yeah we also don't need 10 file formats

[QUOTE=1nfiniteseed;18433240]Why should there be standards in an environment that encourages the creation of new formats and mediums? Moreover, in capitalist environments, new formats will constantly one-up each other.[/QUOTE] I agree.

New formats are not the problem, 10 additional programs to hunt for, download, just to use them. It's nice when they finally build a program that covers everything

[QUOTE=Take_Opal;18433220]Or we could all remain compitent enough to use any format we desire.[/QUOTE] Qft

Imo, another neat idea would be automatic conversion in explorer.exe if you changed the file extension, but this could cause problems and would take ages to do.

[QUOTE=Root Beer;18433727]Imo, another neat idea would be automatic conversion in explorer.exe if you changed the file extension, but this could cause problems and would take ages to do.[/QUOTE] I think I understand but could you be more specific

Quicktime :argh:

GIMP? No. Paint.net Yes. File Hosting: mediafire Social Network: Steam Community

I forgot about Paint.net, added! I'll add Steam, which is good, but is not necessarily for everyone

I don't get why .mkv isn't popular

[QUOTE=phill977;18433242]File formats aren't just there cause some guy decided to use that one. Some are compressed file formats and some aren't. It's like comparing .WMV to .AVI; .AVI is compressed and .WMV is uncompressed, as well as .WAV to .MP3 you need at least 2 to be around. But we should start lowering the amount of file extensions in use, which we are already starting to do. But there will always be new ways of compressing and all that. But i never have problems in any incompatible file, really.[/QUOTE] *.mp3 is compressed format. try .flac

Sounds to me that the only reason this thread exists is because the OP doesn't know how to manage codecs for video. Also, .mkv is the de-facto standard container format for high-quality, high-definition video right now. Yes, VLC Media Player can play everything with it's built-in codecs, but it is SLOW and inefficient. However, as many have mentioned, get the codec pack from [url]http://www.cccp-project.net/[/url] and ANY video program will now play ANY current video file you care to throw at it, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. As for audio, WinAMP is widely known to also play any file you care to throw at it, and is free. I will admit that it's about time a compressed format was agreed on - far too many different types float around. However, WinRAR opens them all (even iso files, linux tarballs, Mac .dmg files, some Microsoft .cab files, etc) so you still have a one-stop solution. Unfortunately it's not free, but nag-ware. Basically, it all sums down to these issues have already been tackled, and you just need to search a little more to find the answers.

Just because you can't get a rapidshare premium subscription doesn't mean you have to ruin it for everyone else.

[QUOTE=The Epidemic;18435074]Just because you can't get a rapidshare premium subscription doesn't mean you have to ruin it for everyone else.[/QUOTE] Premium sucks dick anyway, you have like a 2.6GB per day download cap even paying a few bucks. Megaupload is far superior in that aspect because even free users can download 1GB links and there's little waiting time too

[QUOTE=Kim Il-Sung;18435087]Premium sucks dick anyway, you have like a 2.6GB per day download cap even paying a few bucks. Megaupload is far superior in that aspect because even free users can download 1GB links and there's little waiting time too[/QUOTE] Yeah but Megaupload is blocked in this beautiful country so Rapidshare will have to do [editline]11:43AM[/editline] Besides, my internet can't even download 2.6gb per day so its alright

File Hosting: uploadffs.com I don't know why this wasn't suggested before.