General
On my main machine, a T60 Thinkpad, I’m still using XP. Next month, I’ll be getting a new Thinkpad which I’ll install Vista 64 until then I’m still dealing with a small problem. When I’m at work with the dual monitors every thing runs just fine but when I get home and restart some apps they are stuck on the non-existent second monitor. Sometimes, I’m able to get into the registry and change the X, Y window coordinates but most time I’m stuck. Until now. To get the window back right click on the application in the task bar and...
I'm back. It's been a long time since my last post. Since then Alexa is 1.5 times older, I've been promoted at work, I've gotten more involved at church and I'm busier than ever. I did have a good logical reason why I stopped blogging but I'm going to save that for later. I've also been able to move the blog from .Text to Community Server thanks to Kevin Harder and his migration tool. I was able to move web hosts as well. I'm still going to keep the personal stuff on Jorriss.com and the technical stuff at Jorriss.net. The design of...
http://maximized.com/freeware/scriptsforitunes/documentation.htm http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/iTunesTray.asp http://blogs.msdn.com/dancre/archive/2004/05/08/128645.aspx
Here’s an interesting article on the ten rules for web startups. Is it easier now to start a web company than ever before? Yup! But the key is in the idea. If the idea sucks the site will too.Now Playing: Third Day - King of Glory
I'm gonna need this for later. How to Make a Category 5 / Cat 5E Patch Cable.
This is the coolest do it yourself project that I’ve come across in months. Systm, the IP TV show, has an episode on how to create your own audio visual cables. Now you don’t have to pay fifty bucks for one monster cable! The great thing about creating your own cables is that you can create them for specific lengths. So what are you waiting for? Create your own cables today!Now Playing: - cgs-episode059
This weekend Lucy and I attended the Night of Joy concert festival at Walt Disney World. We brought along our Canon Digital Rebel EOS 300D SLR camera. We bought this camera so we could use our SLR lenses with it. One of those lenses is a Sigma 70-300mm lens. When I tried to use this lens at Night of Joy I was receiving an error 99. This would of been a perfect time to use the lens being in the middle of all of those concerts but alas it didn't work. I did some research on this error and it appears that...
Because I’ve been using the phonetic alphabet way too much over the past two weeks here is the NATO phonetic alphabet.
The new PSP v2.0 firmware is now available for download. This is what we’ve been waiting for people. This is the update that installs a web browser on your PSP. From the sounds of it the browser might actually be pretty capable with sizing features and *gasp* tabs. Grab this one folks. Via Scoble. Update Instructions: - Connect your PSP to your PC via USB cable. - Goto the directory /PSP/GAME/ in your memory stick. - Create a sub-directory named "UPDATE" (MUST be uppercase) - Copy the downloaded PBP file into this directory. - Rename it to "EBOOT.PBP" (MUST...
I’ve got to check the Channel 9 Video feed more often. Channel 9 posted a ten minute chat with MS head honcho Steve Ballmer. It’s an interesting video. The one thing that I found surprising was Ballmer’s energy. I always thought that his energy level was more of a sales pitch thing than anything else. Kinda like the way radio DJ’s are always over exaggerating things. But it seems like he’s really like that. Now it could be that he’s just hamming it up for Channel 9 but I don’t think so. Note to self: a good leader should...
Today, Microsoft announced that Office will have a new XML file format. This format will have an open schema so any developer can incorporate Office data into their applications. The new extensions will be DOCX for Word, XLSX for Excel and PPTX for PowerPoint. This marks a dramatic shift for Microsoft who always held their Office file formats close to the vest. Another interesting tidbit is that the new format will be one quarter the size of the current format. This is because the XML and other files will be placed in a zip container. The new XML format will be...
PS3 or Xbox 360? I think this question is for the sages. My official response is idunno. In the end it’s all about the games. In the beginning it’s all about the hardware. Major Nelson, who works on the XBox team breaks down the PS3 and Xbox 360 specs and compares them in four parts (part one, part two, part three, part four). Great read but we still won’t really know until the hardware has been released. Via Scoble
Now Playing: Third Day - 40 Days
Microsoft has announced the next version of Windows Mobile and it’s not called “Windows Mobile 2005”. The official name will be “Windows Mobile 5.0”. I’ll never understand why MS marketing has to continually change the names of their products. How can you present a stable brand when the name changes with each version? Anyways, here is the feature list courtesy of Engadget. This sounds like a great release for developers.
· New mobile versions of Word Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile Viewer, and Excel Mobile.
· Improved one-handed navigation so you don’t have to use a stylus.
· A new camera API that’ll make it...
Engadget scored an interview with Bill Gates. The interview focused on Windows Mobile, Windows Media Center, the Xbox and the TabletPC. Part one and part two can both be found on Engadget. They will have a podcast version of the interview available next week.
Update - 5/5/05 5:37 PM - The podcast can be retrieved here.
Now Playing: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Impression That I Get
I have installed Virtual Server 2005 thinking it was the upgrade for Virtual PC 2004. I guess I was wrong. Brian Randell (who is an excellent speaker) has written a post describing the differences between the two products. Let the uninstalling commence! …I wanted to post a few differences between the two products. The biggest difference is purpose. Virtual PC is designed primarily for running desktop operating systems & applications in interactive mode. Can Virtual PC run server operating systems? Yes. Will Microsoft support you? No. Virtual Server is designed to run server operating systems & server applications in...
Scott Hanselman writes about a new task switcher called TopDesk. It uses the corners of the screen as “hotspots” to scale all of the windows to fit on to the screen. All in all it works well. An for $9.95 I might purchase it. Scott has also made a video of TopDesk in action.
From The Wall Street Journal: The PlayStation Goes Portable “Our verdict: The PSP is an impressive hand-held game player with great graphics, good game controls and strong multiplayer capabilities. But its added multimedia capabilities, while potentially strong, are hobbled by design and cost issues, at least at launch. The PSP isn't likely to replace the iPod or the portable DVD player anytime soon.” I suspected as much. It would be just like Sony to release functionally that would blow the doors off the competition and implements it a half-baked fashion. How many more people would buy the PSP if...
I just found an instant messenger for my Windows SmartPhone called IM+. IM+ supports AOL, Yahoo, ICQ, and MSN. I must say that having all of my IM contacts on my phone is quite handy. Now if I can only get used to typing on a twelve key keypad.
Now Playing: Starflyer 59 - When You Feel the Mess [Live]
While browsing through SmartPhone.net I encountered this little gem: Doom is now available for your Windows SmartPhone and it’s free. The name of the port is CellDoom and I’m very impressed. It’s a little tricky to install so here’s some help.
Download CellDoom from SmartPhone.net.
Unzip the file you just downloaded.
Connect your SmartPhone to your PC.
Run the Installer.exe application.
Download Doom 1.9 from Download.com.
Unzip the file you just downloaded.
Run the Deice.exe program.
Follow the instructions and Doom will be installed onto your PC.
Find the Doom1.wad file from the Doom instillation directory.
Copy the Doom1.wad file to your SmartPhone \Storage directory by using the ActiveSync Explorer
Turn...
In a recent post Joystiq posted the comments of Kamalot who makes some good observations on the PSP’s battery life. I will be making up my mind on March 24 when I pickup the system and promptly board a plane for Cubs spring training in Mesa, AZ. The PSP’s battery is a topic of huge debate. Depending on use, a single charge can last anywhere between 6 hours all the way down to 1.5, depending on which features the handheld utilizes. Why is this? I seriously ask, should you as a consumer and gamer, have to juggle volume and...
Here’s a pretty good article on the differences between TiVo, Microsoft Media Center and a cable DVR. It sounds like this guy likes the MS media center a log. Wouldn’t it be great if someone came out with a DirecTV PC card? Via Engadget.
Sony’s new handheld device, the PSP, will be arriving on shelves in three weeks. But you better be prepared to wait in long lines at retailers that aren’t taking preorders like Worst Buy. EB and GameStop have stopped taking preorders on the hot new device. This essentially means that if you aren’t on the list you’re out of luck. So to get your juices flowing here is a video review of the PSP. It’s going to rock!
I have a problem with iTunes. I’ve been using iTunes for over a year and a half now and I love it. But there is one thing that I haven’t used much of in iTunes is the music store. I’ve got a problem with spending money on music that I can’t archive or use with another mp3 player. That is until now. The hymn project allows you to use your iTunes music store music anywhere. The purpose of the Hymn Project is to allow you to exercise your fair-use rights under copyright law. The various software provided on this...
Just in case you've been living under a rock for the past six months Gmail is Google's e-mail service. It offers one gigabyte of storage space and a simple interface. Currently, you can only get a gmail account by invitation. If you don't have an invitation you can get one at the gmail invite spooler.
I think it's time for a little experiment. The first person that e-mails my new gmail account I will send them a $15 iTunes gift card. The trick is I'm not going to give my gmail address. This isn't as hard as it looks. First a...
Rory is on another rant, but this time he’s right. His target is 3D desktops like SphereXP.
“Human beings have 7 +/– 2 memory “registers” for short term memory. In other words, you can keep anywhere from 5 to 9 pieces of information in your short term memory before you run out of space and have to commit something to permanent storage (which, unfortunately, isn’t as easy as it sounds) or discard it to make room for new information (much easier than it sounds).”
Rory, for once I agree with you. Just because the interface is “cool” doesn’t mean it would equate...
Sony just released information on the new mobile gaming device the PSP. The PSP will be available on March 24 in a “Value Pack” for $249.99. The PSP Value Pack will contain the PSP unit, 32 MB Memory Stick Duo, headphones with remote, batter pack, AC adapter, case and a UMD demo disc. The first one million PSP Value Packs will contain a UMD version of Spider-Man 2 the movie. It looks like the PSP is set to smash Nintendo into tiny pieces. My lovely wife has already pre-ordered the PSP for me at EB. I'm so lucky!
Now Playing: Tobymac...
Since I’ve been taking more pictures I’ve been using Photoshop Elements 2 more often. One of my biggest pet peeves about Photoshop Elements 2 is the red-eye tool. All it does is replace the red of the eye with a big grey blob. I’ve found this review of the new Photoshop Elements 3 and it upgrades the old red-eye tool with a new one that actually works. I might pick this up on the way home.Now Playing: The Prayer Chain - Humb
Who was the brainaic who did this? Someone apparently has created a version of Pac-Man in Excel. Why? The dev used each cell as one pixel to create the game. Cool but dumb. (via Chris and Scott.)Now Playing: Steve Taylor - This Disco (Used to be a Cute Cathedral)
ExtremeTech has posted a four part article on display technologies. I for one have been completely blown away by the variety of different technologies in the flat-panel arena. Just walk into your favorite electronic store and ask them the difference between plasma, LCD, rear-projection and DLP. Your eyes will be glazed before he finishes a sentence. The article is very technical and is written like an academic paper. (Which makes sense since a PhD wrote it.) I suggest that you skip parts one, two and three and jump right into part four. Part four reviews the different display technologies and gives...
Microsoft has released their new AntiSpyware application. I must say that the app looks great. Be aware that this is beta software so install at your own risk.
Now Playing: Luna Halo - Running Away
Interested in creating a custom case for your computer? Well, Bit-Tech has posted an article on the creation of the Hypercube, a custom built case that looks phenomenal.
Now Playing: Jars of Clay - Worlds Apart
I've got a bunch of music in my iTunes database. But the iTunes database doesn't just store music file location data it also stores all of your playlists, play count and other meta data. Since I've rated all of the music in my database I really needed to move the entire database over to the new machine. So first I started to copy all of my music files to the new machine. Make sure you copy the music to the same folder(s) on the new hard drive. If you don't then you have to edit the "iTunes Music Library.xml" to...
I'm currently migrating from my old notebook to the new one. Here's a trick I've found regarding the Windows XP built-in zip utility. My major problem with the Windows XP zip functionality is that when you view a folder in Explorer the zip files in that folder a are listed as zip folders. Now, if you're like me and like to keep an archive of downloaded files the explorer tree will start to get real long. So here's how you turn off the built-in zip utility. In the Run dialog box type regsvr32 /u %windir%\system32\zipfldr.dll. Then, rename the %windir%\system32\dllcache\zipfldr.dll to...
I've been issued a new notebook for work. It's a brand spanking new IBM ThinkPad T42. I couldn't of gotten it a moment too soon. You see my old notebook, a ThinkPad T30, is a piece of junk. I've already had the motherboard replaced three times already due to a faulty DIMM slot and two weeks ago it happened again. That makes four bad motherboards in two years so the new computer couldn't of come at a better time. The specs on the new T42 are Pentium M 1.7 processor, 1GB memory, 75GB hard drive and a fingerprint reader. That's...
PBS has made The Elegant Universe, a show discussing the current theories of physics, available online. Could be worth checking out.
A friend of mine just asked me the differences between XP Home and XP Pro. So here's the answer. In short, if you're a home user you should go with XP Home 95% of the time.
While using the new Windows Shell I had a small problem with the current version of ASP.Net 1.1. For the new shell to work I had to install the .Net Framework 2.0 Beta 1. So when I came in to work this morning and cracked open Visual Studio 2003 I got smacked with an "Error while trying to run project: Unable to start debugging on the web server." error. So I googled the problem and found a solution. I changed the ASP.Net version to 1.1.4332.0 (from 2.0.40607.0) in the IIS properties of the web site and everything worked just fine. So...
Channel 9 has recently posted some incredible videos on the new Windows Command Shell (WSH) code named Monad. All I could say was "holy crap Batman!" Monad is an extremely powerful shell interface that let's you do practically anything in the shell. I was so impressed I signed up for the beta at beta.microsoft.com. (The ID for the beta is mshPDC.) I've just installed it and have started toying around. This thing is quite impressive.
Here's are some articles on MSDN regarding developing for the Windows Smartphone using the .NET.
Develop for Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphone Using the .NET Compact FrameworkCrafting Smartphone User Interfaces Using .NET Compact FrameworkSmartphone 2003 Application Deployment DemystifiedGames Programming with Cheese: Part OneGames Programming with Cheese: Part TwoGames Programming with Cheese: Part Three
Yesterday, Microsoft unveiled the new Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. Essentially this is Microsoft's attempt at placing a PC in the middle of your entertainment center rack. What's cool, is that it saves HDTV content. What's not cool, you can't use DirecTV natively. You need to use a IR blaster. Although I love the idea of having a PC in my rack until it can use DirecTV properly I'm sticking with my TiVo. Here's a good overview of the Media Center Edition 2005. Also, thegreenbutton.com is another good resource.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I implore you to read Scoble's post on security. It will give you a better idea on how you can keep your computer(s) safe from the bad guys. Scoble has mapped out fourteen points on how to be secure. Do I follow every one? No. But I have made a conscious decision on why I do and why I don't. If you are a home user or a novice user take the time to understand the issues and learn why security is important. Microsoft shouldn't be the only one to blame if something awful happens.
A few weeks ago I picked up wired-wireless-bridge-USB-print-server-analog-optical-audio-source-thingie from Apple. They officially call it the Airport Express. I personally like my name better but I don't know if anyone would remember it. Just so you know my home network is composed of the Buffalo WBR-G54 router and the WLA-G54C repeater bridge. After blowing through Linksys and and Netgear routers I moved to Buffalo and have been very impressed. Their tech support is friendly and helpful. Their interface is a little complex but with that complexity resides great flexibility and power. I also don't have to figure out what firmware I need to install...
Windows XP Service Pack 2 has been released. It is installing on my machine right now. You can find it at www.windowsupdate.com.
Friday night after work I popped into the Apple store for the wired-wireless-bridge-USB-print-server-analog-optical-audio-source-thingie and lo and behold they actually had iPod Mini's in stock! I couldn't pass that up so I got a silver one and it rocks. My Dad and I was bowling in another tournament yesterday (I've been doing that a lot huh?) so I brought it along. Once we got to the center my Mom confiscated it and practically drained the battery. I almost forgot, I did pick up Doom 3 on my way home from the Apple store (EB was next door). Damn, is it impressive. The...
This morning I had to download Internet Explorer 6 for distribution to a couple of people around the company. I went to the IE home page and clicked on the download section. I chose to download the IE setup and ran it. And it installed on my machine. Great! This is not what I wanted. So I googled it. I found this page oddly titled "How to download Internet Explorer 6 SP1." What I was missing was this: "C:\WINDOWS\Windows Update Setup Files\ie6setup.exe" /c:"ie6wzd.exe /d /s:""#E" Now isn't that straight forward? Why can't the setup just ask me if I want...
Channel9 has been busy recently posting some really great videos. Here's some highlights. Click and enjoy.
Iain McDonald - What's the secret to being a good leader?Boyd Multerer - The best developerStewart Tansley - Robot Building ClubLarry Hryb - Meet Major Nelson of Xbox LiveRich Davies - Smart Personal Objects TechnologyPeter Wengert - Inside Microsoft AutomotivePeter Wengert - More on Microsoft AutomotiveDan Fernandez - Demo of C# Express (pull images from Google) - A UM grad. Thankyouverymuch.Chris Gray - A super small file serverKevin Schofield - Tour of Microsoft Research's Next Media groupKevin Schofield - Tour of Microsoft Research's VIBE group (large...
My wait is over. For those of you who cannot read my mind I'm talking about the wait for a new smartphone. (For those of you who can read my mind get out!!! This means you Xavier!) Motorola has announced two new phones the Mpx and the Mpx220. Bask in the glory of these phones my children! They should be out by September. Thanks to Scott W. for the heads up.
Scoble writes about the new Visual Studio Express Editions. Think of Visual Studio for beginners. In other news, Scott Hanselman collects cool little registry tweaks. Use at your own risk!
Right now I'm in training. Brio, now Hyperion, training to be precise. Now I'm not saying I'm bored but I'm bored. Anyways, I've decided to update my MCSD to MCSD.Net. I've already passed one exam and I've got four more to go. Hopefully I'll be finished with this latest venture sometime this fall. For those who are wondering how I'm going to study I always use the Transcender practice exams. They are the best tool for exam preaparation. I haven't failed a MS exam yet. Yet.
Those of you who are wondering how I finished in the city tournament, I didn't...