After using a virtual machine to run windows xp and then ie 6, I have finally found a very good solution to working with every version of Internet Explorer. It is a free download called IETester.
IETester is a free WebBrowser that allows you to have the rendering and javascript engines of IE8 RC1, IE7 IE 6 and IE5.5 on Vista and XP, as well as the installed IE in the same process.
Today I downloaded the wordpress for iPhone app and I am currently writing this post from my iPhone. I am able to upload photos from my iPhone’s photo library and make edits to existing posts. All I can say is wow and go download it yourself.
For those of you who want HTML signatures using Gmail’s web interface, there is a Firefox add-on that supports HTML signatures for multiple email accounts and using soda pdf for customizing contents.
Download Blank Canvas Gmail SIgnatures
You must get an account with mozilla in order to download the add-on because it is an experimental plug-in. I haven’t had any problems with it.
Grant Skinner created an amazing regular expressions tester which is available as a web application or as a desktop air application.
This application allows you to create regular expressions and then test them on the fly. I highly recommend downloading this application for testing your regular expressions. I used this to successfully debug some regex parsing errors taking an SVG into flex.
At work we ordered a Inspiron 530S as an upgrade to my previous machine. Dell tech support stated that the system would be able to support dual monitors with an extended desktop.
Here’s what happened:
Once the Inspiron arrived, we purchased a PCI Nvidia 5500 GeForce MX card. This NVidia card overpowered the ATI Radeon 2400 Pro due to a setting in the bios that gives preference to PCI over PCIe. So in short, I could never get both video cards to play together. Once I removed the NVidia card from my computer, the ATI Radeon 2400 started functioning properly for the first time. (Dell Tech Support took over my computer and they couldn’t figure out why).
Next, talked to Dell Tech Support on the phone. Their sales rep claimed that a DVI Splitter cable would support dual monitors with extended desktop. We ordered two of them. There is no setting on the ATI drivers to support a DVI Splitter cable with extended desktop. Don’t have faith in Dell Sales Reps. Do your homework before you purchase something from them.
After this failed, I noticed a black cap on a VGA port. I took it off and tried plugging in my second monitor into it and rebooted. At start up an warning message displayed stating that my video card configuration wasn’t supported and I had to press F1 to continue. I continued. The integraded graphics card on the motherboard took control over my PCIe ATI Radeon 2400. I couldn’t even get the PCIe card to show up in device manager.
I talked to a senior tech support over at dell, let’s call him, Rasheem, and after dissecting what he was saying, he stated that the only way to get dual monitors with extended desktop was to purchase a video card with a DMS-59 connector. This DMS-59 connector outputs two DVI outputs to a dongle which you can connect two DVI cables to, to support two monitors. Some even support up to four monitors.
Solution:
Purchased an ATI Radeon X1300 PCIe card that comes with a dongle for $125.
Shoot me an email if you come up with a better solution or if this saved you a few hours.
When attempting to load external compiled css swfs that have an embedded font into my flex application I was getting this error: Unable to load style(SWF is not a loadable module). This is reported as an official bug on adobe’s site at: Enable Local App to load RunTime CSS.swf from Server
To solve this, you require two things.
Regardless if this is a bug, the host server still needs a crossdomain policy at the root of the domain. Here’s an example crossdomain.xml policy.
The next problem is that you cannot load external compiled swfs from a
document root (c:/my documents/flex projects/myProject/myProject.html) until the bug is fixed.
PC Users:
What I did is installed easyphp. Next, I set up an alias in easyphp. Right click on the ‘easyphp’ icon in the taskbar -> administration. I set the alias to my bin folder of my project so that when I access the url http://127.0.0.1/myProject/myProject.html it loads up my bin directory. Also in my debug settings in flex I set the default debug and run path to launch as http://127.0.0.1/myProject/myProject.html.
Now my css/style swfs are loading great remotely. The only downside is having to run easyphp on top of everything just to load in my external compiled font swfs.
Mac Users:
Thanks to Bryce Barrand
Alias /nameOfAlias /pathToYourFlexBinFolder
Options Indexes FollowSymLinks MultiViews
AllowOverride None
Order allow,deny
Allow from all
should be good to go after this. you can see the results by going to http://localhost/nameOfAlias in your browser
For anyone that is confused about whether or not it is legal to use your neighbor’s wireless internet access point (router), please read this. It is illegal. After being annoyed out of my mind by an acquaintance claiming that it is legal to use your neighbor’s wireless access point if it is unsecured, I did one google search to find this:
Is It Legal to Use Open Access Wi-Fi Internet Connections?
He claimed that the “Internet Privacy Act” made it legal to use your neighbor’s wireless access point if it wasn’t secured. Too bad the “Internet Privacy Act” was a hoax.
Using Public Wi-Fi Hotspots
Many public places such as restaurants, airports, coffee shops, and libraries offer free Wi-Fi connections. It is usually legal to use these services. Using any public Wi-Fi hotspot is legal when you have the service provider’s permission and follow the terms of service. These terms may include:
Restrictions on the time of day when, or locations where, you can access the public internet.
-Limits on the amount of network bandwidth you use.
-Restrictions on the viewing of inappropriate websites or engaging in questionable online activities.
Using a Neighbor’s Wi-Fi Connection
Using a neighbor’s unprotected wireless access point without their knowledge and permission, known as piggybacking, is a bad idea even if it isn’t illegal in your locality. It might not be legal even with permission. The answer depends on the policies of residential internet service providers and plans. If the service provider allows it and the neighbor agrees, using the neighbor’s Wi-Fi connection is legal.
Tonight I needed a fast php google sitemap created for my site. Here’s how I did it.
Sitemap it up.
Elliot Swan has posted a great article on how to speed up your css development. Check it out
Try them out, I love finding great things online.