Want to add text-to-speech to your projects? Here's how to set up Piper TTS with Python in a few simple steps:
You don't need to do 1 & 2. Go directly to #3 in Calibre. (AI sources told me I needed it)
Install the Latest Python
Ensure you have the latest version of Python installed on your system.
Install Piper TTS
Open your command prompt and run:
pip install piper-tts
Manage Voices
Ctrl + S on an open book to launch the audio interface. Be advised: Calibre already has one default voice installed. This is only if you want more.
This is the settings section. The highlighted voice is the currently active voice. If you select a voice that is not downloaded a download option will appear.
Blogger is great for quick posting. However, if you ever need to edit the HTML when Blogger has done something that requires alteration, it's a real hassle to find anything. Everything is in one long continuous string.
A simple solution is to ask Grok to convert the plain text of the post into HTML. Grok does not change the phrasing or add personality to the post unless you request it. It formats the original text into HTML traditionally, not in one continuous stream.
Now you can edit the HTML more easily and find what you are looking for.
Claude will default to adding personality, attitude, and rearranging everything. This is fun if that is what you are seeking. I love interacting with Claude.
For the Gimp post below, I asked Claude to create a blog post. I downloaded as an HTML file, opened in Brave, viewed source, copied and pasted it into Blogger's HTML edit section. It didn't show on the Compose section. I told Claude what happened and he fixed it.
Claude told what was done. When I try again, I will add this to Claude's instructions:
"I am using Blogger so keep the HTML simple and use inline styles instead of CSS blocks. Do not included the full HTML document structure withChatGPT suggested this prompt to create a post for Blogger.<!DOCTYPE html>,<html>,<head>, and<body>tags. Blogger's HTML editor expects only the content that goes inside the post body, not a complete HTML document." Please create a Blogger post from the following text. ""
Convert the following content into a Blogger-compatible HTML post.
Please avoid full HTML structure like
<html>,<head>, and<body>. Only output content suitable for pasting directly into the Blogger editor in HTML mode.Use only simple inline styling if needed (no
<style>or<script>tags), and stick to basic tags like<h1>–<h6>,<p>,<a>,<img>,<ul>/<ol>,<blockquote>, and<div>.Format the content clearly with subheadings and paragraph spacing, and include line breaks where appropriate.
The key is choosing the right tool for your needs and providing clear instructions about your platform's requirements. Whether you want straightforward formatting or creative enhancement, there's an AI assistant that can help make your blogging workflow smoother.
Extends Windows Update pause options from default to max of ~7,300 days.
Copy to Notepad, save as ExtendWait.reg file, run as administrator:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings]
"FlightSettingsMaxPauseDays"=dword:00001c84
Prevents automatic upgrades to newer Windows versions while allowing security updates.
Copy to Notepad, save as LimitUpgrade.reg file, run as administrator:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"TargetReleaseVersion"=dword:00000001
"TargetReleaseVersionInfo"="24H2"
Keep Edge from requesting to be the default browser. EdgeNoDefault.regWindows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"DefaultBrowserSettingsEnabled"=dword:00000000
GIMP 3 handles high-resolution screen scaling much better than version 2.10. I've been using 2.10 on my XPS 13 for years with poor scaling results.
The official GIMP 3 installation loads very slowly, which isn't practical for regular use. I removed it and tried Samj's portable version instead.
This version loads faster but slower than 2.10. It is usable. It's a significant improvement over the official installer.
If you need better scaling support on high-resolution displays, Samj's portable GIMP 3 is worth trying. The performance improvement over the official installer makes it more practical for regular use.
This guide shows you how to safely test software installations using Windows Sandbox - a feature that creates a temporary, isolated copy of Windows on your computer. Think of it as a practice area where you can install programs without affecting your main system.
We'll be using a tool called Winget (Windows Package Manager) to automatically install multiple programs simultaneously, which is significantly faster than downloading and installing each program individually.
Different versions of Windows behave differently with Sandbox. If something doesn't work as described, it might be due to your Windows version.
Windows 11 24H2 users: You'll need to add --source winget to the commands because the Microsoft Store isn't accessible in Sandbox. This means you can't install apps that are only available through the Store.
Helpful tip: You can copy and paste text between Sandbox and your main computer, but you can't drag and drop files.
Open Command Prompt and create these folders on your main computer:
mkdir C:\Sandbox
mkdir C:\Sandbox\winget_install
The C:\Sandbox folder will be shared with your Sandbox environment, and winget_install will contain the installation files.
You'll need to download three files from the Microsoft Winget GitHub page:
* 1 & 2 are a single zip file. Open the x64 folder and extract the two files.
Place all three files in your C:\Sandbox\winget_install folder.
Create a file called Sandbox.wsb with this content:
<Configuration>
<MappedFolders>
<MappedFolder>
<HostFolder>C:\Sandbox</HostFolder>
<ReadOnly>false</ReadOnly>
</MappedFolder>
</MappedFolders>
</Configuration>
This tells Sandbox to share your C:\Sandbox folder.
<Configuration>
<MappedFolders>
<MappedFolder>
<HostFolder>C:\Sandbox</HostFolder>
<SandboxFolder>C:\Users\WDAGUtilityAccount\Desktop\Sandbox</SandboxFolder>
<ReadOnly>false</ReadOnly>
</MappedFolder>
</MappedFolders>
<LogonCommand>
<Command>powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -NoExit -File "C:\Users\WDAGUtilityAccount\Desktop\Sandbox\winget_install\install.ps1"</Command>
</LogonCommand>
</Configuration>
This automatically runs the installation script when Sandbox starts.
Create install.cmd in your C:\Sandbox\winget_install folder:
powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File install.ps1
install.ps1 in your C:\Sandbox\winget_install folder:# Install required dependencies
Add-AppxPackage "C:\Users\WDAGUtilityAccount\Desktop\Sandbox\winget_install\Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop_14.0.33728.0_x64.appx"Add-AppxPackage "C:\Users\WDAGUtilityAccount\Desktop\Sandbox\winget_install\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.8_8.2310.30001.0_x64.appx"Add-AppxPackage "C:\Users\WDAGUtilityAccount\Desktop\Sandbox\winget_install\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msixbundle"
# Wait for winget to be ready
Start-Sleep -Seconds 10
# Remove Microsoft Store source to avoid errors
winget source remove msstore
# Install programs
This guide shows you how to safely test software installations using Windows Sandbox - a feature that creates a temporary, isolated copy of Windows on your computer. Think of it as a practice area where you can install programs without affecting your main system.
We'll be using a tool called Winget (Windows Package Manager) to automatically install multiple programs simultaneously, which is significantly faster than downloading and installing each program individually.
Different versions of Windows behave differently with Sandbox. If something doesn't work as described, it might be due to your Windows version.
Windows 11 24H2 users: You'll need to add --source winget to the commands because the Microsoft Store isn't accessible in Sandbox. This means you can't install apps that are only available through the Store.
Helpful tip: You can copy and paste text and files between Sandbox and your main computer, but you can't drag and drop.
Open Command Prompt and create these folders on your main computer:
mkdir C:\Sandbox
mkdir C:\Sandbox\winget_install
The C:\Sandbox folder will be shared with your Sandbox environment, and winget_install will contain the installation files.
You'll need to download three files from the Microsoft Winget GitHub page:
* 1 & 2 are a single zip file. Open the 64 folder and extract the two files.
Place all three files in your C:\Sandbox\winget_install folder.
Create a file called Sandbox.wsb with this content:
<Configuration>
<MappedFolders>
<MappedFolder>
<HostFolder>C:\Sandbox</HostFolder>
<ReadOnly>false</ReadOnly>
</MappedFolder>
</MappedFolders>
</Configuration>
This tells Sandbox to share your C:\Sandbox folder.
For automatic installation when Sandbox starts, use this version instead:
<Configuration>
<MappedFolders>
<MappedFolder>
<HostFolder>C:\Sandbox</HostFolder>
<SandboxFolder>C:\Users\WDAGUtilityAccount\Desktop\Sandbox</SandboxFolder>
<ReadOnly>false</ReadOnly>
</MappedFolder>
</MappedFolders>
<LogonCommand>
<Command>powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -NoExit -File "C:\Users\WDAGUtilityAccount\Desktop\Sandbox\winget_install\install.ps1"</Command>
</LogonCommand>
</Configuration>
This automatically runs the installation script when Sandbox starts.
Create install.cmd in your C:\Sandbox\winget_install folder:
powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File install.ps1
Create install.ps1 in your C:\Sandbox\winget_install folder:
# Install required dependencies
Add-AppxPackage "C:\Users\WDAGUtilityAccount\Desktop\Sandbox\winget_install\Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop_14.0.33728.0_x64.appx"Add-AppxPackage "C:\Users\WDAGUtilityAccount\Desktop\Sandbox\winget_install\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.8_8.2310.30001.0_x64.appx"Add-AppxPackage "C:\Users\WDAGUtilityAccount\Desktop\Sandbox\winget_install\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msixbundle"
# Wait for winget to be ready
Start-Sleep -Seconds 10
# Remove Microsoft Store source to avoid errors
winget source remove msstore
# Install programs
When you run the Sandbox with these configurations:
Sandbox.wsb file to startYour Sandbox will open and automatically begin installing the test programs. If everything works, you should be able to continue testing and manipulating other software and scripts.
