Archive for April, 2008
OK, Mahalo Vlog Idol Is Funny
Posted on April 29, 2008, under Media, Search, Tools and Services.
As Jason Calacanisis behind it and he is a master at promotion, I do not need to promote Mahalo, Mahalo Daily, or probably even Mahalo Vlog Idol. But just incase you live under a rock, basically they are spoofing American Idol looking for a replacement for Veronica Belmont. I know they are definitely having fun with it, but I have to imagine that they are really looking for a host and one of these contestants will be it. Either way it’s funny and entertaining, check it out.
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Why Is Yahoo Motivated All of Sudden?
Posted on April 24, 2008, under Search, Tools and Services.
Maybe Microsoft should threaten mergers of other companies, because to me it seems Yahoo has been on fire releasing something new almost every week since this whole merger game began. I just read about Yahoo and SearchMonkey.
I am not sure what is driving the sudden progress, management realizing they had a problem, or the merger. Just taking a look at the Yahoo blog you can see the progress. I like it, good things are coming from Yahoo, but I do not think it will get Microsoft off their back.
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Free-Codecs.com
Posted on April 22, 2008, under Media, Tools and Services, Windows.
I personally find codecs extremely annoying. For something like music and video that is suppose to be entertaining, fussing with codecs for fifteen minutes before you are able to be entertained really is a mood killer. This is the unfortunate side of technology, when something that should just work doesn’t.
Free-Codecs is a site that has compiled just about every codec you will ever need, and they have done so in a easy to install packages. They also have codec packs where you can install packages of commonly used codecs.
The site has really save me time and frustration, and I am sure it will do the same for you.
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How to Take Care of Your Passwords and Security Questions
Posted on April 16, 2008, under Security, Tools and Services.
It’s real easy telling which sites store your password, and which sites store a one way hash. At any web site, click on the "forgot password" link. If the web site gives you the option to reset your password, then chances are they are only storing a one way hash. If the web site emails you your password, then they are storing your password, and sometimes what is worse they might be storing it in plain text.
I always advise to use a a different password for each site, even if it’s a slight variation of one. All major browsers offer the option to remember your passwords for you, which helps if you have numerous logins like most people do. You can also use an application like KeePass, to generate and store your passwords for you. Multiple passwords is manageable, and makes it harder for someone other than you.
Your email password should be the strongest and absolutely unique, because your email is far too important to be compromised. Put data theft and identity theft aside, which are very important. But your email is where reset password links are sent, where passwords are sent, where verification links are sent. If you lose control of your email, you are finished. If you work within a company, everyone else’s security is only as strong as the weakest user. With online services becoming more and more popular, shared documents can be compromised very easily if someone still has the default password set for their account.
Your security questions are just as important to protect as your passwords, if not more important. These days social engineering has become very popular. Where someone who knows enough about you can fill out the form to recover or reset a password, just the same as you can. So here are some tips to use with security questions:
- Never use the same question for more than one service.
- Do not use one word answers. For example for the question "Your dogs name?" Don’t use "Fido" as an answer. Use "Fido my Jack Russell Terrier".
- Change your questions and answers often.
- Add a unique word, something to do with the web site or service to your answer.
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Learning to Not Re-Invent the Wheel is Hard For a Developer
Posted on April 8, 2008, under Flickr, Software, Tools and Services.
I have a backlog of things that I have been meaning to do for some time. In the spirit of cleaning house, I have started in on the list. One of the items that I have wanted to to for a really long time is get my photos organized in an online album. I have installed several PHP photo galleries on a spare domain, and they all worked OK. My logic was I had the server, I had the disk space, and I had the bandwidth. There was no need to pay for a Flickr account, no need to invest in a service I can do myself for free.
And then the hassles begin. Updating the software, staying on top of security patches, installing plugins for it to do what I want, themes to look the way I want. So needless to I signed up for a Pro account over at Flickr. At the end of the day, part of the reason this has been on my to do list for so long is because of the time it takes to get everything setup. Why reinvent the wheel, when Flickr does a very good job of providing a service I need. I now have more time to take care of other things, important things.
It’s the decision that every software developer has to make at some point in time. Being one that likes to crate things, make things better, be an inventor, and have creative control; it’s not always easy to make the right decision.
My online album is here, and will be ever updated as time goes on.
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I Will Buy a 3G iPhone
Posted on April 7, 2008, under Apple, Mobile, iPhone.
Lots of rumors circling about a soon to be launched 3G iPhone, and I must say I will be first in line. Why? For one reason, browsing. I hate web browsing on my current Windows Mobile solution, and I use it every day. There is no sign of when the Windows Mobile devices will be powerful enough to do what the iPhone does with web browsing. Android looks promising, but I fear that Google has a lot of challenges ahead of themselves and that revision 1 will be nowhere as mature as the current or future iPhone.
I am just done with the slow moving wireless industry. It’s the same thing that has happened with processors. There is no money in making the best right now. They need to sell incremental versions in order to bring in profits. It’s 2008, there is no reason why Apple is the only one raising the bar in the wireless industry. There is no reason we are just now starting to see unlimited plans, and yet they still are not truly unlimited. Apple is just as guilty at this as anyone else, but at least Apple is offering more now.
If people are more productive with their mobile devices, it means more is getting done, it means more options for web services, it means jobs, and so much more. Enough is enough.
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I Am Still Here
Posted on April 4, 2008, under Personal.
Hello everyone. Sorry for the personal post, but I wanted to explain my sudden leave of absence over the past month. I have had a very unfortunate/fortunate (depending on the way you look at it) event occur over the last month which has put an immediate halt on all things Code and Coffee/BlueCrestStudios. Without getting too detailed: I have been making a lot of life decisions over the last five years with someone else in mind. That person and I are no longer together, and I have learned that I have held myself back from pursuing my dreams and what I want to do with my life.
In the immediate future I will be making a major move in my life. I am %90 sure toward the Bellevue Washington area. I was up in that area in August, and have always had a draw toward the area due to it being a major technology hub in the world. I am looking forward to the move, can’t wait actually. I am really excited to finally be around people with the same interests, no offense to Indiana, and to get out and meet a bunch of people. So the house is on the market, and the gears are slowly moving. Anyone in that area care to reach out, please do. I am excited, but scared to move to a place I know absolutely no one.
More good things to come soon…
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