Friday Funny: Dog training FAIL
June 12th, 2009
Fix your jailbroken iPhone camera
June 5th, 2009
Fix your jailbroken iPhone Camera
I jailbroke my iPhone a while ago to see what all the fuss was about. I’ll probably restore it when the update comes out because it has some great features. It’s great to have more freedom with my iPhone, but there were some quirks that I had to either deal with or try to fix.
One of the issues that I just could not live with and had to fix was a problem with the camera app. It act like it’s taking pictures, but they would just show up as a white image block in the picture viewer. I also could not delete or manage photos that were stored on the iPhone.
Here is how to fix it:
- SSH into your iPhone. I recommend PuTTY for a client
- Log in as root. Password is usually “alpine” if you have not changed it. If it is “alpine”, change it now to keep your iPhone secure.
- CD / var/mobile/Media/DCIM
- chmod 777 101APPLE (you might have a directory called 100APPLE, chmod that too)
After that, you should be back in the picture taking biz.
FREE alternative WoW: Runes of Magic
May 9th, 2009
Runes of Magic
I jumped into WoW when it was pretty new. I loved it and I played for a very long time. However, I just could not justify the 15$ a month for the service. I felt I needed to get my money’s worth, so a lot of time was devoured playing WoW. I also felt that if I was paying 15$ a month, I should not have paid 40$ (or close to that) for the software and updates / expensions should be free.
Yes, I am cheap.
Despite the fact that it takes an amazing force to pry a penny out of my clutches, I recently had the urge to get back into WoW. I kept resisting, but the Wrath of the Lich King was calling me. I almost caved. I saved up some cash and was ready to pay for 6 months up-front. Then, a game called Runes of Magic was mentioned in one of my favorite podcasts, Totally Rad Show. They said it was a free alternative to WoW! I did not expect it to be as good as WoW (being free), but I thought I would give it a shot.
An initial 3.5GB download for the client, plus a hefty update after the install made me doubt my decision. Once the software was installed, it took some “beyond the average user” skills to get the game going. I had to open firewall ports (which was expected), but then I had to make some strange entries into the config file. After the long, painful struggle, the game was finally installed and I was ready to make a character.
You can choose classes, but not races. This is not terrible but since the character customization is limited, everyone starts looking pretty similar. The nice thing that RoM offers that WoW lacks is a dual-class system. Once you are level 10, you can take on a second class and utilize their strengths. The quests are fun and overall it is a close, almost knock-off, version of WoW.
The servers are very responsive, but there is more down-times than WoW. Since it was free, I expected ads all over the place. I have been playing for quite some time and I have yet to see an ad. I think the way they make money is buy selling diamonds in the game. You can purchase diamonds which are used as currency to gain access to some upper level equipment. However, I have not spent a penny and I do not feel like I have been cheated out of any experiences.
Another thing I was worried about was the quality of players in the realm with me. Since it was free, would it be filled with punks? I have not been bullied or messed with at all since I have been playing. In fact, I have been treated very well by the other players.
If you are looking for a WoW game without the investment, this is right up your alley. Since I have started playing, I have not had any regrets with my decision to take a pass on the costly WoW.
Download and install RoM today!
Friday Funny: The world’s largest Cheeto eaten over the world’s most expensive keyboard
May 8th, 2009
FREE: Scripting utility
May 6th, 2009
AutoIt FREE scripting utility
A lot of work done in IT can be scripted. A lot of work outside of IT can be scripted too, but we will focus on it. Also, let’s keep it nice: no threats to replace people with scripts.
Anyway, a lot of work can be saved by automating the simple tasks. This will save you time to focus on the bigger projects. The best tool I have found to help me script and automate some of the more mundane tasks is AutoIt. Once the script has been complete and tested, simple drop it into Windows Scheduler (or your own schedule util) and <tada!> you have some more time free for other things.
It’s always a good idea to weigh the options before you begin scripting. This software is great, but you still have to do some simple coding and testing before the script is ready for a production environment. For example; A task takes 30 minutes of your daily routine to complete (generating a report and sending it via FTP to a remote site). It only takes you an hour to write a simple script to do this set of functions. This is a no-brainer: SCRIPT IT!
AutoIt v3 is a freeware BASIC-like scripting language designed for automating the Windows GUI and general scripting. It uses a combination of simulated keystrokes, mouse movement and window/control manipulation in order to automate tasks in a way not possible or reliable with other languages (e.g. VBScript and SendKeys). AutoIt is also very small, self-contained and will run on all versions of Windows out-of-the-box with no annoying “runtimes” required!
AutoIt was initially designed for PC “roll out” situations to reliably automate and configure thousands of PCs. Over time it has become a powerful language that supports complex expressions, user functions, loops and everything else that veteran scripters would expect.
Features:
- Easy to learn BASIC-like syntax
- Simulate keystrokes and mouse movements
- Manipulate windows and processes
- Interact with all standard windows controls
- Scripts can be compiled into standalone executables
- Create Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)
- COM support
- Regular expressions
- Directly call external DLL and Windows API functions
- Scriptable RunAs functions
- Detailed helpfile and large community-based support forums
- Compatible with Windows 95 / 98 / ME / NT4 / 2000 / XP / 2003 / Vista / 2008
- Unicode and x64 support
- Digitally signed for peace of mind
- Works with Windows Vista’s User Account Control (UAC)
AutoIt has been designed to be as small as possible and stand-alone with no external .dll files or registry entries required making it safe to use on Servers. Scripts can be compiled into stand-alone executables with Aut2Exe.
Also supplied is a combined COM and DLL version of AutoIt called AutoItX that allows you to add the unique features of AutoIt to your own favourite scripting or programming languages!
Best of all, AutoIt continues to be FREE - but if you want to support the time, money and effort spent on the project and web hosting then you may donate using the link to your left in the menu.
Take me to the downloads page!
Friday Funny: IT Pro Tombstones
May 1st, 2009
VMware ESXi Free is a great learning utility
April 30th, 2009
ESXi from VMware
More companies are turning to server virtualization. If you are not already using virutalization technology in your I.T. environment, I am sure you will have to start soon. There are so many positive features to come from virtualization such as:
- Makes I.T. more eco-friendly: Running multiple servers on a single piece of hardware shrinks the needs for power and cooling.
- Puts a smile on your CFO’s face: Less hardware and power use makes your budget look pretty nice!
- Improves disaster recovery: Virtual servers do not need specific hardware to run, so a server can be back online much quicker than before. There are also tools out there (like VMotion) that allow you to move a virtual server to another physical server automagically in case of a disaster.
- Network Operation Centers get smaller: Real estate is precious. Gigantic server rooms of the past can now be a server room / offices / I.T. lounge (save room in the budget for a ping pong table!).
If you want to stay competitive in the I.T. market, you will have to learn about virtualization. Several software packages are available for free that allow you to begin your wonderous journey into the virtual realm. However, you want something that is going to give you the closest experience to an enterprise virtualization system. That’s where VMware’s ESXi package comes into play.
The cheap iPhone video camera stabilizing mount
April 27th, 2009
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