Random Question Thread.

[Kerberoz]

^kayak

fixed.

Well, damn. Should have added

0. Buy an android phone

[AoE]

Don't just use one cheap flights site. I ended up finding a cheaper flight on Expedia than Kayak when I flew to London last year just by being diligent as hell, and waiting for the best deal.

[Anoat]

Need some gift ideas for my parents' 40th anniversary next month. My dad is 65 and my mom is 59, and sad to say I don't think they will both live to see a 50 year anniversary together, so this is probably gonna be "the big one". I wanted to get them concert tickets to a show they wanted to go to, but they already went and bought them for themselves. I also thought about sending them on a small vacation, but they just got back from a 2 week vacation in December as well. My budget for this is a few hundred bucks, tops, since I am not on baller status. Any good ideas?

[Aksannyi]

Are they the adventurous type? Take them up hot air ballooning or hang gliding or something crazy that they probably won't ever get to do again. If your parents are afraid of heights (or just trying new things) then nothing beats taking them out to a really nice dinner somewhere. In my family, if all else fails, go for food.

[Mrf]

Any good site to get ringtones/alert noises for my iphone for free? I dont want to pay 1.29 for a freaking ringtone

I've found some good ones at http://www.zedge.net/ringtones/ in the past.

[Anoat]

Are they the adventurous type? Take them up hot air ballooning or hang gliding or something crazy that they probably won't ever get to do again. If your parents are afraid of heights (or just trying new things) then nothing beats taking them out to a really nice dinner somewhere. In my family, if all else fails, go for food.

Thanks for the advice, unfortunately they are both of the not adventurous type, and both are terrified of heights. Dinner is all well and good, and I might end up doing that, but I take them out on their birthdays already as it is, was just looking for something different. I'll keep brainstorming though.

[Rabidelly]

Do they like broadway shows at all? You could get them tickets for a nice show (wherever you are) and then a gift card for a nice restaurant nearby after.

[Fereydoon]

What's the rule for using a stolen program to make something? E.G. I use a stolen copy of Maya to make a short film, and try and sell the short film.

[zoobernut]

What's the rule for using a stolen program to make something? E.G. I use a stolen copy of Maya to make a short film, and try and sell the short film.

What do you mean rule? The rule is that it is illegal to use stolen software. If you start making money off of that software and you get caught you will get the shit sued out of you. Not only that but it could ruin your career permanently if you want to work in the movie or video game industry. (It is illegal even if you are not selling your work and making money but they seem to usually go after people making money using stolen software)

[Fereydoon]

I suppose I phrased that wrong. Obviously stolen software will get you in trouble. But if they had no idea it was stolen, nothing would be wrong, no?

If you write a book on stolen paper, how would anyone know? Do they ask for the Maya License information when you attempt to publish a work created with it?

The only other option to learn how to use the program is either pay almost 4k, or go to school for it?

[BaneTheBrawler]

if you're just looking to learn how to use the program, pirate the fuck out of it. Then, once you've gotten the hang of it and want to make stuff you want to sell, buy a real copy. Covers all your bases, unless you do something to attract attention and they catch you while you have the pirated version. But that's always been the advice I've gotten with stuff like photoshop.

I don't know the actual processes involved in publishing, though, so they may actually be able to tell if you made the file with a cracked copy.

[hey]

How could anyone ever possibly know you used a cracked copy...

[Fereydoon]

if you're just looking to learn how to use the program, pirate the fuck out of it. Then, once you've gotten the hang of it and want to make stuff you want to sell, buy a real copy. Covers all your bases, unless you do something to attract attention and they catch you while you have the pirated version. But that's always been the advice I've gotten with stuff like photoshop.

I don't know the actual processes involved in publishing, though, so they may actually be able to tell if you made the file with a cracked copy.

This is pretty much my intent, you hear about Maya being used way more than Blender in both industries. It seems like it would be easier to start with Maya, publish stuff in Blender later, go back to Maya when you can afford it or have a place of employment that uses it. I just have no idea how you'd go about making a portfolio of prior work to show any interviewers/etc. if they asked for proof of purchase of any sort.

How could anyone ever possibly know you used a cracked copy...

I have no idea. That's pretty much what I was wondering.

[Cream Soda]

What's up with the forum color changes? I don't like it

[Silenka]

What's up with the forum color changes? I don't like it

Yeah same here, stuff is harder to discern between now. Weird.

[hey]

This skin is shit, where do i file my complaints?

[Niiro]

I want my easily discernible colored new post icons back.

[hey]

Is there even any difference in the icons for threads you've posted in with this new shit skin...?

Seriously, who is responsible for this?

Oh, i see, orange vs red flap.

Or a 1 pixel dot.

[Kerberoz]

Just turn automatic thread subscriptions on.

[zoobernut]

if you're just looking to learn how to use the program, pirate the fuck out of it. Then, once you've gotten the hang of it and want to make stuff you want to sell, buy a real copy. Covers all your bases, unless you do something to attract attention and they catch you while you have the pirated version. But that's always been the advice I've gotten with stuff like photoshop.

I don't know the actual processes involved in publishing, though, so they may actually be able to tell if you made the file with a cracked copy.

This is what everyone did when I was in school. Fuck staying at the school labs all night long till morning just to get your HW done. If you are just using it to learn then fine pirate the hell out of Maya. It is an expensive program. But they can and will catch you if you pirate it and make money off it. Hey, I have no idea how but I know that Autodesk did go after companies and individuals when I was in school that were making money off pirated versions of their software. I believe due to the fact that the software is so expensive and it requires a yearly license for support and updates they can pretty easily keep track of who actually has licenses to use it even more so than normal programs. You don't just buy Maya and then own it indefinitely. Even for a single license you generally pay an up front sum for the program itself and then you pay a yearly fee to keep the program working and have support and updates.

Feyedoon if you are selling work or doing contract work then do not use a pirated version of Maya or Lightwave or XSI or Max or whatever you decide to learn. If you are worried about the costs and don't want to pay then use Blender. Blender is an open source free 3d modeling program.

No one cares how you made your portfolio they won't check to see if your software is legit for that. They only really go after you if you start making money off your models. But by that time you should either be able to invest in the program or have a job where they provide it to you.

Let me know if you have any other questions about Maya I might be able to help you out.