BeBits Stuff
What is BeBits for, anyway?
tbd
It would be really cool if you could add [insert feature here] to BeBits...
Are we missing a feature? Is there a way that we could make BeBits better? Go ahead and tell us about it! We're open to suggestions, and in fact many of our coolest site features were originally suggested by people like you. So go ahead and let us with any ideas you might have! Check out our contact page for ways to get in touch with us.
Can I create a link to BeBits on my Web site?
Of course! Click here for more information, as well as graphics and that sort of thing.
My computer, hard drive, printer, scanner, mouse, software, operating system, etc. is not working. How do I fix it?
We get quite a few of these questions from time to time. However, there's really very little we can do to answer them! Even though we know quite a bit about BeOS, we're not the best people to ask for BeOS support information. So, if you need help, visit... (drumroll, please)... Be, Incorporated! They have a groovy Support Page that will help get you started.
Can you tell me if BeOS supports [insert hardware here]?
Again, we can't do much to help you. Go to Be's Support Page for the real scoop.
What are the white/yellow dots on the latest software list?
A yellow dot means the application is a new addition to BeBits. A white dot means that application's entry was updated with a new version.
BeOS and Be, Inc.
What is BeOS?
BeOS is the Be Operating System. Find out more here.
Is this site run by Be, Incorporated?
No. BeBits is not officially affiliated with Be, Incorporated in any way. It is an independent Web site run by an independent group of individuals.
Where can I find more information about BeOS?
There are a lot of other great BeOS-related sites out there... check out our links page to see a few of the good ones. Or, get it straight from the horse's mouth at Be, Incorporated.
Applications on BeBits
Can you add [insert specific driver/application/program here]?
We don't actually add applications to BeBits ourselves; instead, we rely on the developer or publisher of the application to submit it. There are a number of reasons for this, but the most important reasons are time and accuracy. If we had to do everything ourselves, we would miss important details and everything would go out of date really fast. It's a better solution all around to have the developers do it.
So what can you do if you'd like to see an application listed? Find out who wrote it or is responsible for it, email that person, and ask them to submit the application to BeBits. A few users have done this already, and we've found that when the users of BeBits are the ones asking, developers are much more likely to submit their apps and keep them up to date than if it had been us asking. It lets them know that you care and that it's worth their time to get their apps listed on BeBits. So go ahead and ask... you'll help make the site better for everyone!
I'm looking for [insert specific driver/application/program here]. Do you know where I can find it?
We get quite a few of these questions. To put it simply, if we know about it and it's available, it's probably on BeBits. Not all of the software for BeOS is here, of course, but chances are that if what you're looking for isn't on BeBits, then we'd have to go digging to find it. In any case, the search feature will really come in handy... and if you find BeOS applications that aren't listed on BeBits, e-mail the author and tell them you'd like to see it here!
Where can I find more information about BeOS?
There are a lot of other great BeOS-related sites out there... check out our links page to see a few of the good ones. Or, get it straight from the horse's mouth at Be, Incorporated.
Ratings, Rankings & Lists
[insert appname here] has more downloads/pageviews than [insert appname here]. Why isn't it ranked higher?
If the statistics for the first application are only slightly higher than the second's, You may have caught the rankings between updates. Rankings are updated every few minutes, and while this is often enough to avoid problems most of the time, the rankings can look incorrect if things change too fast. Wait a few minutes and reload the page and things should be correct.
Why is [insert appname here] ranked #4 for ratings, but on the "best rated" list it shows up as #6?
In this situation, look carefully at the list; #4, #5, and #6 probably all have the same rating. Since the application is tied with two other applications, all of them are ranked number 4. The application in question just happens to show up on the list as #6.
I gave [insert appname here] a rating, but the number of votes didn't increase! Why didn't my vote count?
You've probably voted for this application before. BeBits has a system that attempts to prevent you from voting multiple times, and it probably blocked your vote.
Just how "recent" are Recent Downloads?
The Recent Download count, as used in the downloads counter and rankings for each application, is the number of times that application has been download in the last four days. This is also how applications make it onto the Most Popular list; the applications that have been downloaded the most in the past 4 days are the ones that get displayed.
BeBits Accounts
Why would I want a BeBits account?
Having a BeBits account will let you access parts of the site that would be unavailable to you if you didn't have one. For example, you need a BeBits account to post user reviews, to automatically receive application updates, to rate applications, and for a few other things. We also may add features in the future that require you to have an account. However, if you just want to browse BeBits and download software, then you'll get along fine without one.
I can't login to my account! What do I do?
First, make sure you're using the right username; since you can change this, it's possible that you changed it and have forgotten what the original username is. If you've forgotten your username or password, click here to have a reminder e-mail sent to you containing your username and a new, temporary password. You should then be able to login and change your password.
Technical Stuff
Is the BeBits server running BeOS?
No. BeOS is one heck of a great OS, and it's good for many things; however, it's not the best choice as a server platform. BeBits uses Linux, an operating system that was designed to do this sort of thing and is very good at it. Check out our Marvin Page for more information.
What software and hardware does BeBits use?
BeBits is powered by Marvin, our trusty GeekTek server. Marvin runs Debian Linux, since we here at BeBits are of the collective opinion that Debian rocks. Marvin used to run FreeBSD, but the wonderful package system Debian provides was enough to make us switch sides. The site itself is generated dynamically by PHP and mySQL. For more technical details about BeBits, check out our Marvin Page.
We spend most of our time logged into Marvin using ssh, and while logged in, nano and vim are the text editors of choice. The content for the site is developed using normal text editors (both of us code our HTML by hand!). The graphics are done almost entirely in Adobe Photoshop, because there's still nothing like it.
Miscellaneous Info
Can I advertise on BeBits?
Sure! We offer competitive rates, decent-sized volumes, and a BeOS-savvy audience. For details, check out our advertising page.
How does BeBits handle privacy issues?
We've got an entire page dedicated to this very issue. Check out our Privacy Page.
Does BeBits have a "backend", so I can automatically post the latest apps on my site?
We sure do! We offer a few backends; one uses the relatively-standard Slashdot format, another presents information using XML and can be customized somewhat for your needs. Click here for more information on our backend systems.
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