Recommended Posts

Hey there guys I made a small and interesting program for you guys, read on for more info :D:

Neowin NewsTray v1.0 (build: 23) BETA

for Windows ME/2000/XP

---------------------------------------------------

This little program will display the latest news on your system tray, and it will check news on the Neowin. Incase it finds new content it will

pop-up a windows 2000/xp style balloon notifying you. You can select which type of content (news or forums) you

want by right clicking on the tray icon and by clicking on the desired type and the pressing refresh to save

your changes, so next time it starts up it will load your preferences.

If you double click on the icon it will go to the latest headline listed. If you click on a headline in the menu

it will open the selected headline you requested.

I hope you guys enjoy this program!!! E-mail me if you find any bugs. I will add more features time by time.

Stop by the thread in the forum for any suggestions or comments:

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?s=&a...=0entry579042

--------------

Known Bugs:

Some people reported that the pop-ups and tooltips appear behind the taskbar or program, it is

not the programs fault it is some other program stealing away the focus from it.

If you click on a headline it will popup in the same browser window (if you have one open).

Sorry if I can't fix everything quickly since I am working and doing other errands while I

make this program, I just made it for fun and to experiment with some features that win2k/xp has.

--------------

P.S. Please let me know who made this Neowin icon I am using so I can give credit

to the person since I didn't make it.

Changelog:

1.0 Build 23:

? First release, might have bugs, please notify me!

Future Updates:

Will add submenus for each news listed, add a start-up option, installer package, verify the memory

hog issue (it really isn't, since its a feature of the compiler, lol), and other suggestions are welcome!

-----------------------URL to Download:b>

http://www.infraredpr.com/neotray_1.0.23beta.zip

Edited by codezero
Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/57546-neowin-newstray-v10/
Share on other sites

Some things you might like to take a look at and maybe change:

- Disable single left clicks on the icon (just because it can get annoying if you accidentally click it)

- Have an option to change the rate at which it refreshes (maybe introduce and Options form)

- If I select Forum Updates and I refresh it it says in the balloon "Latest News". You need to change this title to suit whatever the user has selected to update... so it should be "Latest Posts" etc...

Also you should change "Refresh News" to "Refresh" in the menu, because the user might not have selected News

- The program takes up 10mb of memory. That's quite a lot for a such a little program in the system tray. Maybe look through your code and take out what you don't need. Also make sure you unload forms or code from memory when they're not needed

- It may look better and be more effecient if you remove most of the menu options and stick them inside a form called Options. Then you can stick the option for update time in there and also move the option to select what type of News to update in there as well

Michael Lerner Posted on Jan 2 2003, 13:08

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I spotted a bug, when I click refresh news the yellow balloon pops up with the second news item on the list.  

Ive spotted that too :cry:

Ok this is a great program- which is why im going to be really critical - to make it even better.

When you click refresh news- it should do it for all of them - not just the one you are on.

Also - i think a better way of doing it would be in 4 seperate menus for news, software, gamers and forum. That way you dont have to click out of it each time you want to change category.

I really hate the way it scrolls through all of the things each time it refreshs - i.e every 20 mins. It really ****es me of in that way...!

Can you make an options tab? I think a great few options would be to choose whether or not :

- when you refresh the news it pops up all of the news items in a box or just the latest

- whether when you click on a news item it opens in a new window or in an existing one- this severly ****es me of atm btw- i hate it when you click a link and you loose what you were just looking at

- You could put a start up option into this options tab also

OK - if you do that- it will be a sweet program!

omg :woot: i never knew this would even get posted in the software news :laugh: lol

Ok this is a great program- which is why im going to be really critical - to make it even better.

When you click refresh news- it should do it for all of them - not just the one you are on.

Also - i think a better way of doing it would be in 4 seperate menus for news, software, gamers and forum. That way you dont have to click out of it each time you want to change category.

I really hate the way it scrolls through all of the things each time it refreshs - i.e every 20 mins. It really ****es me of in that way...!

Can you make an options tab? I think a great few options would be to choose whether or not :

- when you refresh the news it pops up all of the news items in a box or just the latest

- whether when you click on a news item it opens in a new window or in an existing one- this severly ****es me of atm btw- i hate it when you click a link and you loose what you were just looking at

- You could put a start up option into this options tab also

OK - if you do that- it will be a sweet program!

Ok those suggestions are very welcome, but can you clear this up for me: I really hate the way it scrolls through all of the things each time it refreshs - i.e every 20 mins. It really ****es me of in that way...!

I am kinda confused with that :huh:

- Have an option to change the rate at which it refreshes (maybe introduce and Options form)

- If I select Forum Updates and I refresh it it says in the balloon "Latest News". You need to change this title to suit whatever the user has selected to update... so it should be "Latest Posts" etc...

Also you should change "Refresh News" to "Refresh" in the menu, because the user might not have selected News

- The program takes up 10mb of memory. That's quite a lot for a such a little program in the system tray. Maybe look through your code and take out what you don't need. Also make sure you unload forms or code from memory when they're not needed

Yeah in the next release I was figuring out to add those options, ok about the 10MB of memory I gotta check if there is any other code I can clean up. There must be something wrong since yep it is a very simple program lol

I spotted a bug, when I click refresh news the yellow balloon pops up with the second news item on the list.

Ok but I just tried that right now, I see a second person experienced the same problem, did anybody else had this same problem?

Stay tuned for the next release today or tommorow, I might make an installer package for it, not sure tho yet :)

Thanks guys I will investigate the memory hog leak (I guess I might port this program to C++ :D),

I added the current features in my private build:

  • Update Interval (5 mins, 15min, 30min, 1hr [good for forum updates])
  • Added a Sub Menu for the Content type (Main News, etc)
  • Fixed the balloon for the new forum posts, now if selected it will say "Latest Forum Post"
  • Fix that 2nd headline refresh bug, I found it I guess :unsure:

Anybody interested if I added an animated neowin icon when there is new content? Anybody

have an animated icon? It has seperate icons per animation frame.

Hope to release it this night :ninja: .

Kevin

Edited by codezero
Thanks guys I will investigate the memory hog leak (I guess I might port this program to C++ :D),

I added the current features in my private build:

  • Update Interval (5 mins, 15min, 30min, 1hr [good for forum updates])
  • Added a Sub Menu for the Content type (Main News, etc)
  • Fixed the balloon for the new forum posts, now if selected it will say "Latest Forum Post"
  • Fix that 2nd headline refresh bug, I found it I guess :unsure:

Anybody interested if I added an animated neowin icon when there is new content? Anybody

have an animated icon? It has seperate icons per animation frame.

Hope to release it this night :ninja: .

Kevin

Hey man, what about a taskbar 'Bar' that shows the latest news? I dunno if that's hard to do...

Lemme give an example, jic you don't get it :)

WMP9, when u minimize it, makes a 'Taskbar' in your start bar, I talkin bout that :)

Personnaly I almost flood Neowin, I go there every 5 mins, so that would be sweet ;)

O and if bandwidth does an issue, tell me we can do an arrangement ;) I know that that lil proggy goes to read a file on Neowin, what about we put that file elsewhere? :)

That would reserve all the Neowin Bandwidth... for Neowin ;)

O and if bandwidth does an issue, tell me we can do an arrangement I know that that lil proggy goes to read a file on Neowin, what about we put that file elsewhere?

Actually the program reads the Neowin XML Backend, which is basically text file (an XML File), but I dunno if that uses alot of bandwidth, any admins reading this thread? Let me know if its alright with you :happy: or if there is another way to do it.

I really wanted to display the comments near the news posts like for example

Neowin NewsTray v1.0 (7 comments), but the xml file doesn't have that information. Even tho I really don't know if thats useful for you guys :)

O and if bandwidth does an issue, tell me we can do an arrangement ?I know that that lil proggy goes to read a file on Neowin, what about we put that file elsewhere?

Actually the program reads the Neowin XML Backend, which is basically text file (an XML File), but I dunno if that uses alot of bandwidth, any admins reading this thread? Let me know if its alright with you :happy:y: or if there is another way to do it.

I really wanted to display the comments near the news posts like for example

Neowin NewsTray v1.0 (7 comments), but the xml file doesn't have that information. Even tho I really don't know if thats useful for you guys:))

no prob, it's a lil proggy, I wouldn't mind putting it somewhere I know there'S a fast line...

EDIT: I think the comments record on the MySql dbase, which is normally unaccessible elsewhere than 'localhost'......

Edited by aStRaLgOd
and plz change it from a config file to a registry key, perhaps HKCU\Software\Neowin\, current user because a machine might have several neowinians, one that likes software news and one that likes gamers news.
Ok I finished adding that into the program, works like a charm, now more neowinians in the

same computer can have there own prefrences. :yes:

Working on making an installer package.... :blink:

Have you considered making something like this for other news sites, too? We'd never have to visit the frontpage again...

I could make some others, just PM me with a site that has XML content so I can check it out.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Flip 8, Z Fold Wide: Everything you need to know The ONLY thing I need to know is the price, which I know will be way higher than I (and most people) are willing to pay for a phone... so basically nothing here I need to know. PS: Nice job getting that Apple reference to a non-existent and unrevealed product as "competition" in there. Cheque is in the mail.
    • Well I really think the repasting helped if your higher clocks have returned, maybe the next thing to look at is if there is a problem with your case airflow? I guess this because your 3080 has returned to optimal state, but is still staying too warm, which might suggest it was thermal throttling before you repasted, of which the only logical conclusion could be outside factors.
    • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Flip 8, Z Fold Wide: Everything you need to know by Hamid Ganji Galaxy Z Fold 7 - Image via Samsung The next generation of Samsung foldables is set to be unveiled next month at the second Unpacked event of the year. Samsung’s 2026 foldables are not expected to offer significant upgrades over their predecessors, with the Korean firm instead focusing on design refinements and conventional upgrades such as faster processors and better cameras. However, Samsung is reportedly planning to unveil an all-new passport-style foldable this year to rival Apple’s first foldable iPhone, which is expected to debut this September. Here’s a roundup of everything we know about Samsung’s upcoming foldable devices ahead of their official debut. When can we expect Samsung’s new foldables? The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 series were unveiled in July, and Samsung is expected to maintain this timeframe in 2026. Based on previous reports from Korean sources, Samsung will hold its Unpacked event on July 22 in London, UK, to pull back the curtain on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. The devices are also expected to hit the shelves a few weeks after launch. However, Samsung has yet to announce an official date. A new naming scheme? One of the most interesting changes we might see this year is a new naming scheme for Samsung’s latest foldables. SamMobile reported that since Samsung is expected to unveil three foldables this year, it has adopted a new naming strategy to simplify product identification for customers. Accordingly, the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 will reportedly be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and will serve as the direct successor to last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7. The “Ultra” suffix suggests the phone could feature higher-end specifications, such as additional rear camera modules. Samsung’s new passport-style foldable is expected to carry the Galaxy Z Fold 8 name without any suffix. This model is reportedly equipped with two rear cameras. No major changes are expected for the Flip model. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 anticipated specs Rumors over the past few months suggest Samsung is preparing several upgrades for its upcoming foldables, although the devices may continue to rely on larger batteries and faster charging speeds rather than dramatic design changes. The primary focus this year is expected to be the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and its wide-screen design. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra official CAD renders - Image via AndroidHeadlines Here are the anticipated specifications for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra based on previous leaks: 6.5-inch outer display and 8-inch inner display, 120Hz refresh rate, and 2,600 nits peak brightness Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, paired with 12GB or 16GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage 4.1mm thickness when unfolded and a weight of 210g 200MP main camera, 50MP ultrawide camera, 10MP or 12MP telephoto camera, 10MP cover camera, and 10MP selfie camera 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging Android 17 and One UI 9 As for the Galaxy Z Flip 8, the device is not expected to be a major departure from its predecessor, although it could become slightly slimmer. Expected specifications include: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or Exynos 2600 processor 12GB of RAM with 256GB and 512GB storage options 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner dispaly and 4.1-inch Super AMOLED outer dispaly 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide camera, and 10MP selfie camera 4,300mAh battery with 25W wired charging Android 17 and One UI 9 Samsung’s foldables are also expected to launch with Gemini Intelligence, Google’s AI suite for automating tasks in Android ecosystem. Moreover, given current memory and component costs, some Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 variants could see a price hike. Galaxy Z Fold 8 adopts a wide-screen design The centerpiece of the upcoming Unpacked event could be the Galaxy Z Fold 8, previously rumored as the Galaxy Z Fold Wide. This model adopts a passport-style form factor and is expected to compete directly with Apple’s iPhone Fold. Galaxy Z Fold 8 official CAD renders - Image via AndroidHeadlines Here’s what to expect: 7.6-inch primary OLED display and 5.4-inch cover display, 120Hz refresh rate, 2,600 nits peak brightness, and 4:3 aspect ratio Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, 12GB or 16GB of RAM, and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage options 4,800mAh battery with 45W wired charging 50MP main camera, 50MP ultrawide camera, and 10MP selfie camera Android 17 and One UI 9 The three new foldable phones are unlikely to be the only devices unveiled at Samsung’s Unpacked event. The company is also expected to introduce the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and the Galaxy Watch 9 series.
    • Thanks
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      rolfus earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      Leroy Jethro Gibbs earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Conversation Starter
      flexorcist earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • One Month Later
      AndreaB earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Month Later
      agatameier earned a badge
      One Month Later
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      505
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      196
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      140
    4. 4
      ATLien_0
      89
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      81
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!