One of the quickest ways to find problems, is for the development enviroment to be moved from XP to Vista. So relunctantly, I am seting up a Vista Business virtual machine for this purpose.

I was quite suprised, however to discover that my Bed’s Printer Switcher application works perfectly in it. I was impressed to discover that OSX did this all for me – I don’t know if Vista does (it bloody well SHOULD), but if it doesn’t at least that will work without fiddling.

Bed’s Printer Switcher is a small utility for Windows XP and Vista that enables automatic switching of the Windows Default Printer depending on what network you are connected to. It installs into the system tray and can be configured to exit after switching a printer – I generally have it start it up with windows, 60 seconds later it will change my printer to the appropriate one depending if I’m at home or work and then go away.

Note: This software is no longer being maintained by me, due to moving to Apple’s OSX from windows. If you would like the Delphi source code to this application, please contact me.

Download – Installer – 493KB

HISTORY
1.0.2.2 2007-03-21
- Fixed issue with constantly setting the same printer
1.0.2.1 2007-03-19
- Proper printer switching for Win2K/XP/Vista. Now won’t get errors in Word etc, after automatic switching
1.0.0.1 2006-11-21
- initial release

LJBackup is a GPLed (see LICENSE.TXT) win32 application for backing up and searching through livejournal entries. It currently supports the following functions:

• backup

• re-backup (from given date)

• re-backup (single entry)

• Displays text entry

• Display entry in default browser

• Filter entries by date

• Filter entries by keyword (on Entry, Subject, Mood, Music)

Note: LJBackup is nolonger maintained by me. Source code is available below.

Download

• Zip File – 505KB

• Delphi 6 SourceCode – 38.9KB

This is a small utility that aids in converting bitmaps, gifs and jpegs into windows icons. It works best with all the icon pages on the net that store the pictures in an OS-neutral format.? Freeware- source available below.

Download:

• Installer – 448KB

• Delphi 5 source code – 95.7KB

BedPoing was a homage to a great little freeware game I used to play on my Amiga called “Poing!”. Its a standard breakout clone with the slight variations of your bat is on the left side of the screen and you need to advance through past the right side of the screen. If you’re on level 3 and you miss the ball; you go back to level 2 and get a chance to recover; then back to level 1 if you miss it again. This game is pretty much complete except for the UI graphics. I just could never be bothered finishing it. The level sets can be generated or all pre set and are just flat text files so anyone can create their own levels easily.

Download:

Executeable – 725KB

Bedter was renamed from Bedtris after legal threats from The Tetris Company!

The ultimate in tetris style games. With all the features that I wanted in a tetris game because I couldn’t find one I liked, so I wrote my own. Now at version 2.52. Bedter is freeware so download and distribute to all of your friends.
Features include:

• Customisable Gameplay

• Customisable Scoring

• One or two players

• Agressive or Points mode

• Multiple Difficulties

• Customisable Controls

• Full Screen mode

• Sound and Music

• Piece Preview

• High Scores

• Freeware

Download:

• Bedter 2.52 – Windows – 336KB

• Bedter 2.9 – linux – 350KB

Most likely you will also need the Qt runtime libraries libqt.so.2.gz (2.6MB) and libqtintf.so.gz (440KB).

If you already have version 2.2.4 of these libraries (as libqt.so.2.2.4 and libqtintf.so.2.2.4) you can use these by creating symbolic links libqt.so.2 and libqtintf.so to point to the existing libraries, respectively.

Run “tar xzvf BedTer.tar.gz”. If you need to install the Qt runtimes do so to a common library path (ie /us/lib) and then run /sbin/ldconfig as root.

Bedter Resources

Bedter is fully customisable in regards to graphics and sound/music. Here are a few graphic resources for Bedter. Simply copy over the existing files. Remember to make a backup of the originals; but if you forget, the original Bedter resources are also here. If you have created Bedter resources feel free to send them to me and I’ll make them available here. Do not distribute the Bedter executable zip file with customised resources.

• original.zip – 55.2KB. The original theme including graphics, music and sounds.

• purple.zip – 55.4KB. A purple background with nicely shaded pieces (graphics only).

• contrast.zip – 9.1KB. A high contrast theme (piece graphics only).

• doom.zip – 298KB. Sounds based on the game Doom.

People’s Responses

Here’s what people have to say about Bedter:

“The game’s pretty cool. It’s one of the better Tetris clones out there and it doesn’t even take up that much memory either.” — Matt P. , SoftSeek WebPage

“I’d like to commend you on bedtris…it is by far the best tetris clone that I’ve ever seen, and i’ve spent quite some time playing it.” — David Ham

“I’m really enjoying Bedtris. I had been using another shareware (BLOCKED) previously to satisfy my Tetris addiction. Yours is much better.” — Mike Morgan

“I just downloaded Bedtris from shareware.com and I love it! Excellent job! I too have been looking for a good copy of Tetris for my home PC and yours is the best!” — Paul LaBouve

“Downloaded Bedtris from the Net last night. Been playing ever since.” — Barry Kendal

“You have done an incredible job with this game. It is definitely one of the best tetris clones for windows I’ve ever seen.” — David Ko

“FINALY!!! My wife has had me searching the net far and wide for a tetris game and now it’s finaly downloaded for her. Although she has not tried it as yet I have and it’s great!! Now all those others can stop taking up room on my disc.” — Rodger Banda

“Bedtris v 2.0 has everything I could possibly want in a tetris game, the music and sounds are awesome, and the graphics are the best I’ve seen!” — Rick Chern

“I’ve been a BedTris supporter since V1.0 came out.” — Daniel Segall

“I’m now the lucky owner of your game “Bedtris”. I wish to tell you it’s really great stuff, and the soundtrack from the point mode-fantastic!” — Wolfgang Hinz