Blog
Notes on software, hardware, and tinkering.
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Updated my personal site UI
I spent some time this evening (and morning) updating my site to a new layout I've been thinking of lately. It is much more clean and easy to navigate and uses less bandwidth, so the page comes off my cable modem much quicker! Check it…
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Create virtual directories in IIS using VBScript
I created a cool little utility recently that creates or removes a virtual directory in IIS by passing in the folder and name. It has saved me a lot of time already, just in the last few days by allowing me to drag a folder onto it.…
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LANDesk Handheld Manager
LANDesk got some good publicity yesterday. Federal Computer Week reviewed our Handheld Manager product. The article is located at http://www.fcw.com/article91688-12-12-05-Print. Some highlights are: “The Novell and LANDesk products…
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Customizing the Tools menu in LDMS
Here are instructions on how to add LDDiscover.exe to the Tools menu in the LDMS Win32 console. It is designed to be easily customized by LDMS users. First, create a new folder named Tools under the ManagementSuite folder. The default…
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Agent-less LDMS inventory using LDDiscover.exe
I was playing around with some of the components that come with LANDesk Management Suite (LDMS). I work for LANDesk Software, Inc. on the ISV team. My team comes up with solutions to integrate LANDesk and our partners’ products. Anyway,…
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Cross-platform development
A friend and I are creating a new software application. It has some new ideas, not revolutionary, but good solid features. What it does have, however, is a fantastic development paradigm. In creating and using my own developer toolkit…
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Computers of the Future
My vision of the Computers of the Future There has been a lot of talk about the future of the World Wide Web lately. Most of it is the normal fluff and excitement about the latest technology that is “new,” even though it’s been around…
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Google Classifieds
This evening I was thinking about the other areas that Google could receive advertising dollars from. One of things I thought of was personal classified advertisements. I, personally, would love to be able to properly sort and filter…
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Bookmarks application and search
With all of that being said (see previous Blog), I find it is usually easier (and faster) to perform a Google search for most things I’m looking for than trying to remember where I put the link and finding it in a menu. Since, this is…
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Online favorites and bookmarks
I’ve seen so many sites offering online favorites and bookmarks over the years and now Microsoft is making yet another version available. (I think this must be their fifth or sixth time re-creating that project.) I still don’t think…
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Handheld devices
Wifi handheld devices. What about wi-fi on my MP3 player? I’d like to be able to update my music files and lists from my computer automatically, without having to plug it in. I’d like to be able to share music wirelessly with my…
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Setting up a Pocket PC 2002 development environment
Instructions to get Pocket PC development environment setup Introduction to Development Tools for Windows Mobile-based Devices http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnppcgen/html/devtoolsmobileapps.asp…
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Sony DRM, part II
I’ve been thinking about Sony’s new DRM a bit this morning. I think it’s unfortunate that Sony’s leadership has given up on new ideas and instead they are crying foul for those who are still innovating. Why do I say that, you might ask?…
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Sony DRM
I read some interesting articles this morning about DRM. It seems that Sony has surpassed Microsoft as provider of the most invasive technology pundit. Here’s the article I found on engadget.com. A couple other links are here and here.…
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The difference between VarChar and NVarChar
I was asked recently by a solid developer (one of the best I know, in fact) about the difference between the TSQL varchar and nvarchar data types. I was surprised he didn't know this. So, I thought it might be helpful to post it on my…
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The future of the Web
Podcasts are becoming more and more popular, aren't they!? I was just thinking about where I would be right now had me and a few friends actually continued doing 4guystech recording sessions. We would have been about four years ahead of…
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Build wish list
After my little rant I went to Google to find alternative build tools. The first page brings up the usual stuff. I redid my search as .net build tools. That was much better (Hippo.net looks cool) but there are still things that I can’t…
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The State of Builds
I don’t care for NAnt. In this modern world of object oriented development, it feels like I’m being forced back into the Stone Age, editing Batch files. No, actually, I would prefer editing Batch files than NAnt XML files. At least with…
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Google Desktop Search 2 (beta 2) and Sidebar
I haven’t seen or noticed anything new about the file indexer, although there are a lot of new filters and plug-ins available. I did notice that it was apparently necessary to re-index my entire drives all over again. I would have…
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Google Talk
Here it is, the day after my little rant about wasting time and I find Google has come out with a couple of nifty little applications. Google Talk and Google Desktop Search 2 (with Sidebar) Beta 2. They look both look great. Google Talk…
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Productivity Lost
Where has all the time gone? I finally started using a Blog aggregator. Yup, I looked at a few and decided upon NewsGator.com’s free web interface to try out. I have successfully added some of the Blog sites that I like to read. Sites…
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WScript.Shell ExpandEnvironmentStrings
Many of you out there who’ve been developing for more than a few years might appreciate the value of Batch files. I still use them. I feel the same way about VBScript files (or JScript files if you prefer). More so, actually, because I…
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Problems with Pocket PC event notifications using CeRunAppAtEvent, CeRunAppAtTime and CeSetUserNotificationEx
I had a serious bug in an application recently that I found was being caused by the Pocket PC API; the CeRunAppAtEvent and CeRunAppAtTime methods to be precise. These methods are supposed to run an application based on a system event…