Waynester Gadget
My droolings over the latest Gadgets to hit the market
I have been moving everything over to Windows 7 64 bit recently. As such I have been playing around with its new built-in Virtualization. I have used VM Workstation for several years now. Since Win 7 only works with VHD files, the question arises - "How do I convert them?" Googling for a solution didn't turn up anything promising - third party tools that cost or server solutions that I didn't want to invest the time in.
Enter SysInternals Disk2vhd
The thought occured to me - I could run this lightweight tool from inside the vmware workstation environment and have it write the vhd file to mapped...
That's right. There's no need to even use a Promotional Code for SnagIT now. I know of at least two alternatives that most folks don't even know about! It's so off-the-radar I would consider them secretive. You probably have read my previous postings concerning promotional codes and discounts here, here and here.
Do you really want to know what I found out?
Click here then ==> Tell me about the Free alternatives and the $19.95 one!!!
I found a free tool that will convert Hyper-V (VHD) files to VMWare (VMDK) and vice-versa.
Here's the link: V2V Converter - Free
This past weekend I upgraded this blog. I run my blog on subText, a fork of the old .TEXT blogging platform. I went from version 1.9.3 to 2.1.2 and it wasn't a smooth migration path, let me tell you.
At the same time, I moved all of my websites (including this blog) from webhost4life to the fairly new WinHost.com. These guys are doing it all right. It fits exactly what I was needing and has cut my hosting cost in half. They bill on a monthly basis and have top quality support. The control panel is very simple but yet powerful. I went...
Scott Hanselman documented it best on his blog recently Windows 7 has built-in virtualization and provides a way to boot from them. Check it out on Hanselman's posting...
http://www.hanselman.com/blog/LessVirtualMoreMachineWindows7AndTheMagicOfBootToVHD.aspx
SNAGIT version 9 has been released. The initial price appears to be $49.95. The upgrade price (from version 8, until August 12, 2008) is only $19.95. I have not upgraded yet myself. If you are not upgrading then the price is pretty steep and I would use a promotional code from them. [CLICK HERE] to find my most current information regarding codes and information for SnagIt.
Otherwise, if you have read my two previous postings regarding version 8 you were able to get it for $20.
I HIGHLY recommend that you check out an alternative called CamStudio Pro. I understand that it has the features of...
[CLICK HERE] to get the most current SnagIt Promotional Codes I have available. I believe TechSmith frowns on me disclosing these methods so I'm making it a Click-Per-Request approach.
I posted a few weeks ago on how to get SNAGIT from TechSmith for $29.95 with a promotion code of '****' (CLICK HERE to get this code). Many folks left comments thanking me for saving them money. Well, fellow blogger Nick has alerted us to a way to get SNAGIT for only $19.95 ! I'm not sure how long this will last, but it is sure worth the effort. Here's how to get SNAGIT...
Perhaps the biggest leap in technology was announced two weeks ago by Microsoft. Microsoft SURFACE takes the computer to a much more user-friendly level. When you watch the video of the applications currently out there you'll comprehend the potential. I see similarities in what Steve Jobs is doing with the iPhone. However, the SURFACE is a Personal Computer on a desktop surface - an appliance, if you will. This is something I would expect from Apple. It looks like Microsoft had this one under wraps for a while.
It is still a ways from being affordable to the average home user, mostly...
I have always enjoyed building my own PC's. One of my favorite websites to keep up-to-date on the latest gadgets out there is arstechnica.com ; they usually keep an updated list of hardware Do It Yourself Options:
Budget Box
Hot Rod
God Box
If you are into building your own geeked up box, check them out at ...
http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/guide-200703.ars
I just read a posting by Keith Richie that explains his typical work day. He explains how he has a two hour decompression time and then "disengages" from work totally. The rest of the day is devoted to his family. It is well written from the heart and has caused me to think of incorporating something similar. I have a coworker that does something similar. We three have something in common, working from home or remote. I have a small office outside of my home about 3 blocks away. So, it can be difficult seperating work from family - mainly because...
I just purchased a copy of SnagIt from TechSmith. I can't remember if it was Hanselman or AC (Andrew Connell) that first turned me onto this software gadget - but I'm glad I found it. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it provides screen video capture as well as screen captures. It does more than first impressions. I look forward to using it and adding it to my gadget toolbox.
Also, I wanted to pass this on to anyone who is interested in purchasing SnagIt. I, being frugal (some call me cheap), noticed the promotional code before the purchase. So, what...
I couldn't help but think about Scott Hanselman's recent trip to Africa and his experience with bandwidth there when reading the following article...
[ via MoneyCentral.msn.com ]
For the past 40 years, the Consumer Electronics Show has served as a mecca for the latest technological marvels geared to the tastes of affluent first-worlders.
But at this year's show in Las Vegas, one new device aims to suit some of the world's poorest consumers. The One Laptop Per Child Initiative unveiled its final industrial prototype of the XO, a laptop computer with a toylike look.
But to say it's a toy is misleading. The device...
During the month of July 2006, for 7 nights, I was busy remodeling my office. During the day, I would work from Panera Bread via wireless connection. With the help of some very good friends it came out looking pretty good.
Here are some pictures of before:
And here are the after:
I would like to thank those that helped out. It would have never gotten done without your involvement - I feel loved ;-)
Paula Kaye Compton for seeing the vision before any of us ever did (designer)
Odus Compton - removed old fluorescent lighting units, drywall prep, can and pendant lighting...
I really look forward to this new leap in technology. I don't know about you but I'm all about hardware that uses less energy, makes less noise and easy to maintain. The Flash Drive is all that. Sony has just announced there plans to introduce a 16GB Flash Drive into one of their line of laptops.
You can read the details here...
A laptop with no hard drive?
Carl Franklin has always been a communication programming kinda guy. He helped me out with his serial and socket examples back in the day. Now, he's announced an exciting product for the world of podcasting - Pwopcatcher Alpha.
Features (in a nutshell):
Subscribe to RSS feeds that contain enclosures (of any kind).
Each feed’s enclosures can be downloaded to a unique folder, or a common folder.
Each feed can have a different interval (minutes between reloading the feed).
You can specify (for each feed) a maximum life in days of enclosures. Only podcasts X days old or newer will be downloaded.
Files are pruned locally: they are deleted after...
I received the 2nd collectible SourceFource character in the mail today - Visual Studio Guy. Already, the two are discussing the arrival of SQL Server Gal. But, guess what? Yours truly needs to schedule two live webcasts before that happens. With my busy workload lately I haven't gotten to sit in on any.
So, if you haven't gotten onto the SourceFource bandwagon, jump on board and start sharpening your skill sets. There are some pretty good teachers, er, webcast guys teaching some cutting-edge coding techniques out there.
See Visual Studio guy cheering you on? Isn't he the poster-boy of...
If you have been following my posts (here, here and here) on the MSDN SourceFource Collectible's you'll agree that the previous two haven't been all THAT great. But just when you let your guard down you're bound to get blindsided - hence the third addition to the Limited-Edition Developer Action Figures...
SQL SERVER GAL
She's an Oprah fan and her favorite band is the Beach Boys (Little Server Girl)?
Why do I look forward to these things each month (sigh)?
Check out the full sphill here...
Meet the Fource
[via Andrew Connell]
AC has an article every Virtual PC user should check out. Some good schtuff...
HOWTO: Squeeze Every Last Drop of Performance Out of Your Virtual PCs
I got my collectible SourceFource MSDN Webcast Guy in the mail today. Casey Picker got his too, as well as other coworkers of mine - call us geeks, go ahead. MSDN has three other Courageous Coding Heroes on the way in the coming months. They've lowered the requirements from 4 live webcast events to 2. So, if you haven't gotten onto the SourceFource bandwagon, jump on board and start sippin' the caffeine and pull some all nighters.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/events/hero
I was getting tired of buying batteries for my FujiFilm FinePix 2 megapixel camera. I inherited it after we finally splurged on a Canon Digital XT Rebel (sweet camera, btw). I use this Fuji camera to take pictures of things I sell on eBay from time-to-time. Anyways, it seemed like I was using this camera about 2 or 3 settings max and the batteries would expire. Well, I found this accessory, including rechargeable batteries on eBay called a Picture Cradle. Transfers pictures, recharges, etc. I got it for like $5 when it retailed for $75 brand new. This guy was...
[via MSDN]
Thing is, if you don't attend at least four live MSDN webcasts or virtual labs per month, from January through April, you won't get to collect the Source Fource action figures. And then where will you be? While everyone else in your office is playing with their Source Fource action figures at lunch, you'll have to paint a potato red and blue and squint your eyes. Oh, sure ... everyone will pretend to play along as you run through the room, holding your potato over your head and making "whoosh" noises ... Scared? Good. Here's the skinny: From January...
[via Carl Franklin]
==================
Introducing dnrTV!
==================
Listening to .NET Rocks! we sometimes wish we could show you what we're talking about, instead of just talking about it. Now we can! dnrTV is a weekly flash screencast, that's a video of the screen. My guest will write code (sometimes involving me too) while I'm interviewing them.
In our premiere episode of dnrTV, I interviews Miguel Castro, who demonstrates how to build a useful composite Web Control right before your eyes using Visual Basic 2005 in Visual Studio 2005. This is the first of a two-part series with Miguel on Web Controls. In next week's...
As the Waynester foretold it back here...
[via Carl Franklin of PWOP Productions]
Hanselminutes is a weekly audio talk show with noted web developer and technologist Scott Hanselman and hosted by Carl Franklin. Scott discusses utilities and tools, gives practical how-to advice, and discusses ASP.NET or Windows issues and workarounds.
Add http://hanselminutes.com to your weekly agenda
[via Dan from del.icio.us]
Are you tired of multiple applications fighting over who'll play a MP3 file? Playtagger (a.k.a ClickNipples) is a cool one liner that'll fix the problem for you and your guests. It even allows the user to tag it to their del.icio.us account. I found this here and here. Below you'll see a screen snippet of some mp3's I posted on my blog recently here.
And here's the one liner javascript you can place anywhere in your HTML to make it happen...
I placed this inside of my news link config section within my .Text 095 install. This allows every MP3 link to...
I needed to find a CD audio to MP3 ripper program for a friend of mine. I wanted it to be legit (free) so I went with an Open Source Project called CD-DA X-Tractor.
[via CD-DA X-Tractor]
CD-DA X-Tractor is a fantastic open source development project that includes a ripper and incorporates the latest LAME mp3 converter. Ability to encode to the OGG Vorbis format is also provided.The program uses AKrip, an open source ripper with great jitter correction that produces accurate WAV files and fast speeds. Ripping on my Plextor 16/10/40 took only 33 seconds. When output settings were changed to rip...
[via Scott Hanselman]
Scott put together a cool Mame Gaming System. Check out his steps and save some time if you are planning on doing the same.
Creating my own Mame Arcade Cabinet, Mame for Media Center PC, and the X-Arcade Joystick
Summary:
MAME32 - $0 - Arcade Emulator
GameEx - $15 - MediaCenter Front End for MAME (and other emulators)
XArcade - $99.95 (limited time) - Arcade Joystick
A few weeks back I posted an entry on Yahoo's purchase of Konfabulator, the desktop Gadget platform. Microsoft is doing its own thing and taking it a bit further with Start.com (with Ajax as the glue). This is some very cool stuff that I wish I had time to play with more. This post related to searching Feedster caught my eye.
[via Scott Isaacs]
“Did you know that Gadgets for Start.com let's you build also custom experiences that can also consume any RSS feed? In this demo, I created a Feedster Gadget for searching for blogs via Feedster within Start.com. The results...
via Pandora.com
Were you one of those forerunners in high school or college who was on top of all the British, European or U.S. College bands out there? Or perhaps, did you have a friend like that who you relied upon to recommend those killer bands you would enjoy? Well, the Music Genome Project has created a web site that'll be your friend. I just fired it up and entered U2 as my point of reference. It plays the first 10 hours free of similar bands that you'll enjoy. I'm into my 3rd song and it's doing a good job so...
Believe it or not, scientists in Singapore have developed a battery powered by urine. The prototype battery produced about 1.5 volts, the same as a standard AA battery, and runs for about 90 minutes.
Benefits include:
Compared to batteries they are
smaller
more efficient
less expensive
biodegradable
The most applicable use of these batteries are for healthcare test kits called biochips.
Read more about it from these sources:
National Geographic article
Scientists develop pee-powered battery
New urine-powered battery
I just stumbled upon this interesting offering on Yahoo! - Konfabulator 2
» Yahoo! Widgets
Some notable widgets:
TiVo Control
A remote control Widget that uses TiVoWeb to send keys to your TiVo. Requires TiVoWeb or TiVoWeb Plus to be on your TiVo.
Includes 30 Second Skip, Sort, Now Playing, Quick Display shortcuts.
HAL9000
A novel Widget where HAL9000 periodically speaks
GeoLocation
Looks up an IP address and displays the known geographical location of that IP address
Alienware Build Tracker
Tracks the build process (phase) for a new Alienware PC.
TremorSkimmer
view in near-real time all of the recent earthquake events on this planet.
What is KONFABULATOR : 2 ?
» Here's the info
via [Scott Hanselman]
Since I was on Scott's site looking at the FormsAuthentication Timeout issue, I remembered he had a Developer and Power Users Tool List that Rocked! It just does. Makes me wanna have more hours in the day to look at the ones I haven't used.
Here they are:
Scott Hanselman's 2005 Ultimate Developer and Power Users Tool List
Well, it was leaked by the Scobleizer and is called MSN Virtual Earth!
Looks like some cool competitive stuff available. There's a MVE Team Blog here.
Check out the Channel 9 Video Interview here.
I bookmarked my office location here
Thanks to AC and Angus Young, er Logan for the heads up. I enjoy cool stuff like this.